Insidus

Friday, February 21, 2020

Coming Up In April 2020 On Real Time Africa

Evan Goes Wild
From Tuesday 21 April at 13:30
Internet sensation and veterinarian Evan Antin travels the globe observing, helping and healing exotic wildlife. He may have been born and raised in Kansas, but his love for animals covers the whole world and he has a long list of creatures he wants to see up-close and in their natural habitat. Whether it's swimming with humpback whales and lemon sharks off the coast of Tahiti, rescuing orphaned baby bearcats and wrestling water monitors in the Philippines, or walking with Elephants in Nepal, Dr Evan brings his passion and medical skills to each adventure.

Betrayed
From Wednesday 15 April at 22:00
This series follows the lives of apparently normal people who aren't aware their days are numbered. The clock ticks on their lives, as family, friends, and lovers start to reveal hidden jealousies and wicked secrets, all leading to the ultimate betrayal - murder. Coming up this season is the case of confident, motorcycle-riding Diane Snellen. The single is mum trying to make her way in the world while navigating the dating scene of Georgetown, Kentucky - but her life ends abruptly when she's brutally stabbed in her own home. And, driven by youth, music, and her faith, Janet Chandler has dreams and aspirations of a life much larger than the small Midwestern town where she grew up. Sadly, those dreams are cut short when she's betrayed in the most horrific way possible. Nothing is as it seems in these tragic and shocking cases of betrayal.

Coming Up In April 2020 On Discovery Family Africa

BattleBots
From Tuesday 21 April at 18:30
It's ultimate robot carnage as mechanical gladiators battle it out in a tournament - for glory, mayhem and destruction! Sparks fly and robots will die in this epic battle of machine versus machine. This series brings all the thrills and nail-biting tension of a major sporting contest, coupled with the latest in robot engineering and larger-than-life inventors. Follow the action as 67 robots from 9 different countries duke it out over several rounds of competition all leading to a final that decides which home-made robot or 'Bot' is the baddest of them all, as teams of builders and fighters compete for the championship. Each episode gets fully immersed in the action with high tech on-board technology and cameras and combat analytics. Who will have what it takes to win the most epic robot competition of all time?

Flying Wild Alaska
From Tuesday 14 April at 21:00
There's one unconventional family ruling Alaska's most dangerous skies. Operating their family-run airline, Era Alaska, the Tweto family battles unforgiving weather and terrain to transport life's necessities to one of the most remote and extreme regions of America. With no motorway system for hundreds of miles, Era Alaska is the lifeline for the isolated rural inhabitants of the Bering Sea coastline, but where the roads end, life for the quirky Twetos begins. Wildly determined Jim runs his company with passion and looks to his tiny but fierce wife, Ferno, for support. Battling -40F degree winters and hurricane- like winds, the airline's intrepid pilots are among the best in the world, transporting champion snow dogs bound for the Iditarod race, medicine for sick children and groceries for miners working on the North Slope. Year round, Jim and his family are motivated by the fact that the livelihoods of thousands of people depend on their business and employees every day.

Coming Up In April 2020 On TLC Africa

7 Little Johnstons
From Wednesday 8 April at 21:00
In some ways, the Johnstons are an average American family of seven, pursuing the American dream. However, this is no ordinary family - they are the largest known family of little people in the world. All seven Johnstons have Achondroplasia Dwarfism, a genetic condition that affects their size - but action in their lives is bigger than ever! Dad, Trent, and mom, Amber, have a total of five kids under the age of 16: Jonah and Elizabeth, their biological kids, as well as three adopted children, Anna from Russia, Alex from South Korea, and Emma from China. Juggling the demands of a family of seven while living in your dream home that is being renovated because it's a fixer-upper is anything but easy, but the Johnstons are up for the challenge. How will the Johnstons deal with their next set of challenges?

Dr. Pimple Popper
From Saturday 18 April at 21:00
Top dermatologist, Dr. Sandra Lee - AKA Dr. Pimple Popper - specialises in diagnosing and removing mysterious lumps and cysts from patients' skin - helping them return to normal life. She never knows who will come in on any given day and what she will need to do in order to help them fix their pimple-related problems. But one thing is certain; they have to be seen to be believed. Featuring special bonus footage, the most incredible moments from the series go under the spotlight as Dr. Lee looks back at her stand-out cases. From a 'horn' growing out of the back of a woman's head to a patient whose body is covered with mysterious bumps, each episode is bursting with fascinating insight.

My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?
From Friday 24 April at 20:00
This emotional series catches up with the lives of formerly super-obese women and men as they continue their turbulent weight-loss journeys. While under the care of weight-loss expert Dr. Younon Nowzaradan, they shed hundreds of pounds. But along the way, each encountered new emotional and physical challenges. After undergoing life-saving weight-loss surgery, they must adjust to the changes to their bodies - which can include painful flaps of extreme excess skin that requires additional surgery. As well as undergoing drastic physical transformations, these individuals are also reassessing their relationships, with their families and loved ones as well as with food. Is excess weight the only thing they stand to lose after surgery?

Buddy Vs. Duff
From Saturday 25 April at 19:00
The best cake makers in the world are back! Cake Boss Buddy Valastro challenges previous winner Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes, to another round in the ultimate baking battle. In this high-energy series, Buddy and Duff assemble teams of elite cake artists to help them supersize and elevate their cakes to new heights and deliver them to East and West Coast celebrations. Expert judges Kimberly Bailey, Florian Bellanger and Waylynn Lucas score Duff's and Buddy's creations and declare the King of Cake. Who will win the ultimate showdown and take a slice of victory?

Coming Up In April 2020 On Discovery Channel Africa

Rob Riggle: Global Investigator
From Tuesday 28 April at 20:00
From an early age, actor, comedian and retired Marine Rob Riggle had an explorer's spirit. His sense of wonder was fuelled by his grandfather, who filled Rob's head with incredible myths, mysteries, and legends from far off places. Now, Rob is taking his passion for adventure across the globe in a bid to solve some of the world's greatest mysteries. This thrilling series follows Rob's journey, as he meets local guides and invites people who don't think he's up to the challenge to join him. Relying on his mental toughness and self-taught karate, Rob will take on some of the biggest, most daring challenges he's ever faced in the ultimate adventure.

Expedition X
From Tuesday 14 April at 20:55
Real life Indiana Jones, adventurer Josh Gates, has decided it's time to really explore the dark side of the planet. So, he's put together a top team to undertake investigations delving into realms beyond the 'unknown.' They include scientist Phil Torres and paranormal researcher Jessica Chobot, who have been brought in to investigate reports of supernatural encounters, mysterious creatures, and astonishing extra-terrestrial phenomena. Whether it's tracking paranormal activity in Mexico City or trekking through the remote jungles of Cambodia in search of a legendary ape-man, they embark on unprecedented expeditions into the unexplained and perhaps... unexplainable.

Ed Stafford: First Man Out
From Wednesday 22 April at 20:00
Survivalist and explorer, Ed Stafford, heads to the wilds of China to face off the planet's top survival experts in a real- life race to get out of the country's most hostile environments. In every episode, Ed faces a different and equally skilled opponent in the race to be the first to reach a pre-determined extraction point, on a journey fraught with danger. From the huge cliffs and bamboo forests of Bashan to the mountains and waterfalls of Yunnan Province, he may be able to survive almost anywhere or anything, but so can these extraordinary people. With speed as important as survival, who will be the first to escape these lethal landscapes in a country with some of the world's most extreme climates?

Mystery Stunt
From Friday 10 April at 11:40
Behind every mystery lies curiosity. This compelling strand of thought-provoking shows follows intrepid explorers investigate the world’s longest-running mysteries, using cutting-edge technology in their quest for the truth. Expedition Unknown follows explorer Josh Gates as he examines unsolved stories around the world, interviewing key eyewitnesses and uncovering recent developments. Lost Secrets sees historian Justin Jampol unlock the secrets of the past through recently unearthed artefacts, using advanced scientific testing to reveal new details. In Mission Declassified, investigative journalist Christof Putzel unlocks the secrets of cold cases by using declassified government files to get to the truth. And, Storming Area 51 follows UFO Bros Joe and Emmett Hayes as they head to the Nevada desert to observe, investigate and fully embrace the pandemonium of the storming Area 51 event. These shows and more explore the unexplained to unravel the fascinating truth behind the legends.

Coming Up In April 2020 On Discovery Channel Africa

Telemundo Africa Debuts A New Season Of The Anthology Series, Decisions

If you've watched Christmas Miracles (Milagros De Navidad) meet it's elder sister Decisions (Decisiones: Unos Ganan, Otros). This is actually the revival for the 2005 version which Telemundo titled Decisiones (Decisions without the extended title) doesn't seem interested to air anytime soon but don't worry the stories change constantly there's not much to miss out from the first season.

The new season is more inclined towards thriller, suspense and action - tell stories that are affecting ordinary people today. Inspired by high profile research, cases of human identity, social and political struggles, each episode focuses on a transcendental decision that will change the lives of the main characters in a moving, extraordinary and radical way. At the end of each episode, current statistics related to the central plot will be included, which were prepared by Noticas Telemundo to create awareness and reflection on the issues.

The series has a variety of stars including Luz Ramos, Jorge Luis Pila, Litzy, Laura Flores and many more.

The series airs weekdays at 20:00 CAT from Monday 27 April

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

BBC Africa Content Goes FTA On Soweto TV

BBC Africa TV programmes are now available to viewers in South Africa on the free-to-air channel Soweto TV.

The deal means viewers to Soweto TV also gain access to the BBC’s global news programme for children produced by Angelina Jolie, My World, multi award-winning investigative series Africa Eye, weekly health, fitness and food programme Life Clinic, and women’s discussion show # TheSheWord.

Simon Kendall, Business Development Director for BBC World Service, said: “We are delighted that audiences in Gauteng and throughout South Africa will now be able to view an exciting selection of BBC programmes through our new agreement with Soweto TV. We look forward to working more closely with Soweto TV and to building on this exciting new presence in South Africa.”

South Africa: DStv Easyview Is Better Than OpenView

OpenView is a free-to-view platform owned by eMedia Investments that offers quality entertainment while DStv Easyview is a pay-tv platform supplied by MultiChoice at R29p/m (formerly R39p/m). Ever since OpenView took the market by storm a lot consider it a better alternative to some of DStv's package like Easyview.

Before I get to what makes Easyview swell let's look at what makes OpenView superior starting with general entertainment section. For years e.tv has constantly restructured that section back in 2013 it was a kind of crappy compared to now where's so much entertainment including reality, international and local drama series, telenovelas and quality movies. With Easyview they basically have a Telenovela channel that's already found on OpenView except OpenView has 2 more channels for telenovelas, a repeats channel except OpenView's repeats channel also airs international programming, a dull reality channel which is accessible 24 hours a day compared to eReality on OpenView and a movie channel that airs somewhat classical films relying on a portion of channels found on OpenView for modern movies (ouch). Community channels also air a bit of everything in this section but most would rather stick with OpenView for quality entertainment over MORE low quality programming there. If you want quality entertainment get OpenView and if you want more channels with low quality get Easyview. The winner is OpenView.

Sports, at launch viewers only turned to SABC for that on OpenView with Easyview they have a highlights channel and sport-infused programming and old matches on a variety of community channels besides SABC giving them the edge overtime OpenView grew their lineup with their first sports channel now defunct Kwesé Free Sports and went on to bring Fight Sports and use OpenNews for sports and turning it into e.tv News & Sports for reruns and exclusive sports matches with some news remaining. None of these platforms will give you soccer 24 hours a day but OpenView wins this round as well.

Now we get to the rest of section that makes Easyview "superior" even though it's a section operators put less investment onto its definitely bigger on Easyview side of things. Whatever you read from below just know Easyview wins it all and takes most of the cake compared to OpenView.

News, OpenView offers 2 news channels and only 25% of that channel is local with news programming being carried out on SABC and e.tv daily while Easyview has more than double the news channels alongside community channels and a weather channel with two of them being local news channels besides having SABC and e.tv for daily news.

Kids, OpenView had 4 kids channels, two educational, one factual and the other entertaining now it's been reduced to just 2 channels the same channels found on Easyview with programming on SABC and e.tv found on both platforms. Now getting to the part where Easyview wins there's a standard preschool channel alongside content from community and religious channels and possibly even that upcoming youth channel(s) and maybe the African animation channel.

Music, I know OpenView no longer has one and won't have one yet for another foreseeable future but let's look at the time they had one which was the trainwreck Beatlab TV along with content and segments from SABC and Glow TV not everyone likes indie so yeah the options are lacking on OpenView side even the radio channels seem weaker in comparison(your phone has a radio even the no internet or camera phones have it so use that). Easyview has segments from SABC, community channels, 3 music channels (2 gospel), DMX (international music only) and radio channels so no matter what happens OpenView will never beat that package when it comes to music.

Religion and community channels, OpenView had a couple of them and that didn't go so well Easyview has a ton of them even community channels have religious programming that ain't fading away from anyone's screens, it's enough to even launch a standalone package. These genres don't attract much attention to most of the media so does it matter if OpenView has one if they'll all be treated in the same manner.

If you tally up everything OpenView is only good for general entertainment and sports which is premium game changer while Easyview is better with the smaller and sometimes overbooked sections which has less impact and seems niche in a way overtime it could grow on both sides in the end OpenView might have each of these missing gaps but I doubt they'll be much growth in these sections compared to Easyview after all you need to pay R29p/m as opposed to OpenView free entertainment.

Statement From Chairperson Of Soweto TV Regarding The Mismanagement Of The Channel

Soweto TV (DStv 251/Starsat 488) was mismanaged for almost a decade and was on the verge of liquidation when all the members of the board resigned with immediate effect leaving only 1 member who was also the founding members of Soweto TV. The regulator ICASA instructed the remaining member to properly constitute a team of directors who will stabilize the channel and take it forward.

The new board member appointed an investigator and the following was discovered:
- Soweto TV has not been compliant with the regulator in regards to news and factual content.
- The channel accumulated an unpaid SARS bill amounting to R54,439,400 million rand.
-No performance management or monitoring contracts to measure deliverables and accountability.
- The channel had excessive amounts of repeats for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 with constant incorrect electronic program guide for viewers.
- The previous management never submitted tax returns for years with violations and penalties from the revenue service
- There was no policy or any form of governance on the day to day operations, service providers were appointed with no procurement processes and business processes were compromised.
- Churches and key community organization's terminated their contracts with the channel.
- Channel had 84 staff members, a couple of them were "ghost" employees earning a salary with no trace of working at Soweto TV, some have been with the channel for almost a decade with no contribution to the channel.

Interventions to date
- The Board has alleviated the risk of the channel being liquidated.
- The Board has engaged ICASA and relevant stake holders on its plans to stabilize the channel and ensure that Soweto TV succeeds.
The board took a resolution to appoint Mr Thabo Molefe as the new CEO and the following has been affected:
- Since September 2019, the channel has committed to paying R14,439,400 to R4,567,000
- The channel has complied with the local content regulation and continues to reflect the community back to its audience.
- The channel has instituted both an acquisition and editorial policy putting Soweto TV amongst the leading broadcasters in South Africa.
- We've implemented new automated commercial systems that enable advertisers and sales agencies to monitor their investment and maintain schedule stability.
- The channel has formulated policies that speak to governance, accountability and performance.
- The channel has attended MultiChoice content and management workshops.
- The channel has hosted auditions for new shows with new faces to be introduced in February 2020.
- 9 new shows have been produced by and being released throughout the next months
- The brand of Soweto TV has been revived and in 2020 the audience will have an opportunity to view more local content and engage with a number of new initiatives.

The new Board is committed to the success of Soweto TV, once we have achieved programming and commercial stability, the Board will roll out the next phase of their work program which will comprise of increased community engagement including scheduling editorial consultants as well as membership rules to enable increased community participation.

The new board will not be directed by the opportunistic campaigns which are waged by people who have failed the Channel before. The community must not be misled by such people.