Is SABC Still Planning To Expand Their Operations To MultiChoice's DStv And eMedia Investments' Openview?

In 2021, reported rivals eMedia Investments and the SABC had extended the agreement to include SABC Sport alongside SABC's 19 radio stations. This would sit alongside SABC 1-3 with plans to add two entertainment channels to the existing line-up. 

These channels never came to fruition to Openview consumers since the agreement was announced despite promises to unveil them. The only thing known about these brands is that the premise is similar to SABC Encore with plans to include new content. 

Prior to this, MultiChoice and StarSat were in discussion to launch another TV channel from the public broadcaster, SABC Education. Similar to these two untitled channels on Openview, SABC Education hadn't launched yet and only resides on SABC's DTT and SABC+.

There had been mentions that MultiChoice similar to eMedia Investments could be looking to add more TV channels from the SABC which is delaying the rollout of SABC Education. Another that an SABC Encore based channel was in development. 

Since last year, the public broadcaster was only able to launch two channels SABC Lehae and SABC Variety. Although, they hadn't officially announced the channels or properly marketed them they are however viewable on SABC's DTT with Lehae also on SABC+.

Speculation going around is that these channels would also be allocated on eMedia Investments' Openview. The public broadcaster is low on income and the only reason they would even greenlit a channel would be if they had some form of funding.

These two channels do match the description SABC provided about these Openview channels - repeats. SABC Lehae would give consumers access to local news following the dismissal of News And Sports in 2022 while SABC Variety would compliment ePleiser. 

Not much is known on why SABC hadn't expanded their services as intended but some guesses have to do with the restructuring of SABC 1-3. The SABC is currently reviewing the content on these channels in an attempt to revamp themselves. 

Maybe these endeavors would lead to the creation of more TV channels or restructures for their other brands.

Another reason could be the corporate management of these brands, they had promised to launch SABC+ by 2018/9 but did so successfully by 2022. Same thing with SABC Lehae, no announcement or media briefing on its launch as promised last year.

Recap To The Week: DAZN Secures Global Rights To Broadcast AEW’s Double Or Nothing And NJPW: Forbidden Door

The global streaming platform, DAZN has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for All Elite Wrestling‘s (AEW) two Pay-Per-View events – AEW: Double or Nothing and AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.

Starting this weekend, fans globally will be able to buy AEW PPV events directly on the DAZN Platform. On May 26, AEW will return to Las Vegas with AEW: Double or Nothing for its sixth season. A thrilling evening of professional wrestling is anticipated at AEW: Double or Nothing, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pete Oliver, CEO of Growth Markets at DAZN, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with AEW to bring their exhilarating Pay-Per-View events to audiences across the globe. By providing fans with access to these blockbuster events, we aim to elevate the sports viewing experience and enable wrestling fans to experience every moment of the action, from thrilling matches to surprise appearances.”

The combined pay-per-view event AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door, presented by AEW and NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling), will air live from UBS Arena on Long Island, NY, on June 30 on DAZN.

Ten fights have been announced for Sunday’s pay-per-view, with seven championships on the line, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator battle.

Australia, Afghanistan, India, Japan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the Maldives are among the territories that are not included in this agreement.

Was Anyone Surprised That eMedia Investments Removed TNA (Formerly Impact Wrestling) From Openview?

By late 2019, TNA (formerly IMPACT Wrestling), a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, had announced a new multi-year television deal which will make e.tv the home of TNA across more than 50 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The exclusive broadcast deal would showcase TNA Wrestling’s flagship weekly shows TNA Wrestling IMPACT! and TNA Xplosion, plus four annual pay-per-views, monthly event series and library content from TNA+.

Since its inception, the show went through numerous timeslot changes on e.tv and often pulled a houdini. To top it off, TNA was overshadowed by the likes of the DStv Premiership on SABC 1 as they aired in the same timeslot.

That was never the case with WWE and even if it were e.tv would allocate repeats throughout the week and none of those efforts were seen with TNA. Even with PPVs, e.tv would reserve a timeslot for Summerslam or WrestleMania while the latter went to Openview. 

eMedia Investments' attempts at substituting TNA went unnoticed and was heavily criticized by viewers. Some of which criticized the dialogue and storyline and went as far as making comparisons with WWE.

After 5 years, eMedia Investments opted not to renew their agreement with TNA which led StarTimes acquire those rights. This would bring TNA Wrestling's offering to 30 countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa and Ivory Coast.

Samurai Jack: The Amulet Of Time (GBA)

The game follows Jack's quest through seven areas to obtain the elemental gem pieces of an amulet that can send him back to his own time. As more gemstones are collected, the player unlocks more of Jack's weapons and abilities, such as a super jump and a battle hammer.

For an emulator please visit Regular Nick: Games

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"The DStv Purge": Why Consumers Shouldn't Expect A Follow-Up To M-Net's Me Anytime Soon?

During the year, MultiChoice had axed both 1Magic and Me from the DStv platform. Unlike the other 9 TV channels to have closed, further content from these brands had consolidated under Showmax which inherited its own TV channel, 1Max.

Of course, MultiChoice further reduced its availability to the consumers of 1Magic being Compact Plus. Despite most consumers already having a Showmax subscription it would make sense to extend the reach to Compact and Family.

But 1Max's inclusion could only be a piece of the puzzle to Me's closure from MultiChoice and M-Net's initial statement:

M-Net is streamlining its channel offering to provide a more seamless entertainment experience for DStv customers...newer fresher content as well as existing shows will be available on the remaining M-Net channels and platforms such as DStv Stream, Catch Up and Showmax.

From what is implied on the statement above, M-Net is looking to go down this path alone as seen when it Iaunched back in 1986. As Mzansi Magic continues to support Mzansi Wethu, M-Net would rather offer content that airs on a respective brand.

There hasn't been much of that in recent years as M-Net's offering continues to remain under pressure from Netflix and Disney+. From what we've seen recently, Netflix becoming the exclusive home to WWE in 2025 with promotions Raw and Smackdown. 

When M-Net picks up a show from the BBC or Paramount Pictures instead of that going onto Me. They're redirecting these efforts onto Showmax as it becomes and continues to be the avenue of fresher releases alongside ones viewed on DStv. 

There were rumours that a replacement was being explored with some citing a third-party. If that happens to be the case, don't expect it to be anything like Me but more like Universal and Comedy Central with its own avenue of content with select from M-Net.

Development Alert (Rumour): CNBC-e Eyeing A Potential Relaunch In Turkey By 3rd June

CNBC, which withdrew from Turkey in 2015 due to the expiration of its broadcasting rights, is planned to start broadcasting again soon. CNBC Turkey, headquartered in Istanbul, will broadcast at least 10 hours of live content a day covering finance, economy and various topics. business news. The channel's programming will be supported by international broadcasts from CNBC bureaus around the world, including Abu Dhabi, London, New York and Singapore. 

The leading economy and television network CNBC Turkey will be relaunched with the support of İlbak Holding. CNBC International President and CEO John Casey expressed his thoughts on the merger as follows: "As a global brand, we understand the importance of providing local business news, insights and analysis. We are excited to announce its partnership with CNBC Turkey. İlbak Holding and CNBC-e To bring the unique and dynamic content of 's to Turkish audiences.

Murat İlbak, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of İlbak Holding, stated that they are happy to bring CNBC back to Turkey with its Turkish content and made the following evaluations: "CNBC Turkey will undoubtedly be a success with the complete, unbiased, accurate information and news content that we have committed to. It will be a breakthrough in the job markets in our country. Turkey has a vibrant and versatile economy with a population of 85 million and a growing investor base. Our aim is to provide an advanced information flow that will facilitate decision-making processes and to reveal the full potential of the business world and markets in Turkey. CNBC Turkey will help its viewers make informed decisions and seize opportunities in the ever-changing global business environment." 

İlbak noted that the TV channel will also play an important role in the development of Turkey, which is among the world's top 20 economies, and added that this strong partnership with CNBC International He emphasized that it will also show the strength and dynamism of the Turkish economy.

Brief History of CNBC-e 

CNBC-e started broadcasting on October 16, 2000, under the leadership of Ercan Kumcu and with the contributions of the Central Bank. Founded by Doğuş Broadcasting Group, the channel was one of the first channels in Turkey to include foreign TV series as well as economic and financial news. CNBC-e works in partnership with CNBC, NBC's renowned business channel, to deliver important market news and analysis to its viewers from around the world. 

Why Did CNBC-e Close? 

CNBC-e ceased broadcasting in 2015. This decision was due to both economic reasons and strategic changes in the media industry. CNBC-e, which broadcasts popular foreign TV series as well as finance and economy programs, was replaced by TLC Turkey after its closure. TLC tried to appeal to CNBC-e's audience with more lifestyle and entertainment content. 

When Will CNBC-e Start Broadcasting in Turkey? 

Recently, rumors have begun to circulate on social media and various platforms that CNBC-e will restart broadcasting. Many viewers hope CNBC-e will reopen. CNBC-e's legacy audience eagerly awaits such a return due to its interest in financial and economic news. CNBC's advertising posters have started to appear on the streets and is expected to open on June 3.

Credits: Anadolu

eMedia Investments Won't Be Able To Offer The T-20 World Cup To Openview Consumers

eMedia has said in a statement that it will not be broadcasting the T20 World Cup in June because of a constrained bidding time frame provided by MultiChoice.

This comes after MultiChoice, which acquired exclusive rights to the World Cup, only opened a tender for free-to-air broadcasters to bid for sub-licensing rights five weeks before the tournament’s start.

As a result, eMedia said bidders are “unlikely” to receive confirmation of broadcasting rights until less than two weeks before the event.

eMedia said it hasn’t submitted a bid, as there will not be enough time to secure sponsors, arrange advertising, and adjust programming schedules.

Due to this conduct, the broadcaster believes MultiChoice has violated the Electronic Communications Act and the Sports Broadcasting Regulations, which mandate prompt notification to free-to-air broadcasters.

“eMedia views the issuing of these late invitations to tender by MultiChoice as undermining fair competition and ignoring a recent Competition Tribunal order designed to prevent such restrictive practices,” the broadcaster said.

“This behaviour is not only unfair to E-tv’s dedicated viewers but also detrimental to the South African broadcasting industry as a whole.”

This is not the first time eMedia has called foul on MultiChoice’s behaviour around sports rights.

Last year, MultiChoice and the SABC concluded last-minute deals allowing the public broadcaster to show key matches from the Rugby and Cricket World Cup tournaments.

This included all matches featuring the Springboks and Proteas, as well as the semi-finals and finals, regardless of who was playing.

However, the deals explicitly blocked the SABC from broadcasting the matches on any channels carried by eMedia’s Openview.

eMedia claimed that these restrictions were anti-competitive and launched legal action against MultiChoice as a result.

The Competition Tribunal recently granted eMedia an interdict forcing MultiChoice to allow the SABC to broadcast live sports sub-licensed from SuperSport on Openview.

Newsflash: Sibongile & The Dlaminis Returns For Season 2 Introducing Nsikelelo Mthiyane As The New Sibongile

If you thought season 1 of Sibongile & The Dlaminis was serving nothing but sgaxa after sgaxa, Season 2 will have you hooked even more because the story continues and introduces the new Sibongile on Mzansi Wethu (DStv Channel 163).

The story of Sibongile (formerly played by Luyanda Zwane), a vibrant small-town girl’s dream of studying to better her and her family's lives continues to unfold after her drama-filled and short-lived romance with Kwenzo ends. In season 1, viewers saw Sibongile’s heart being crushed by Nomalanga’s pregnancy with Kwenzo’s child, she had to go back home to the village in Ixopo and deal with her ‘not-so-motherly’ stepmom, Deliwe, and face her disappointed father until the truth about her circumstances came out.

In season 2, newcomer Nsikelelo Mthiyane takes over the role of Sibongile, and the story continues as viewers will see even more explosive secrets exposed, more confrontations and of course, more gossip from Nomfundo’s squad (the Dlamini helpers). Most exciting is the addition of new cast members to the story, who are sure to shake things up for both the Dlaminis and Sibongile’s family.

“Sibongile & The Dlaminis has been a gift that keeps on giving for our audiences, with season 1 surpassing one million viewership numbers and we can proudly say that it has been a resounding success,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director for Local Entertainment Channels. “We are excited to embark on this second chapter of Sibongile’s journey and we know that the new additions and changes will make this story even more exciting.”

So, does Phetheni find out about the love triangle she is unknowingly part of? Will Vuma ever forgive Deliwe and take her back? What of Nomalanga’s pregnancy and Gcina’s involvement? Most importantly, does Sibongile finally get to have her ‘Cinderella’ moment with Kwenzo?

Tune in for the premiere of Season 2 of Sibongile & The Dlaminis on Mzansi Wethu, DStv Channel 163, from 29 July Monday-Wednesday at 18:30.

New Series Alert: Mzansi Wethu Presents Vuka Mjita, A Show Dedicated To Men

Many have heard the saying ‘Indoda ayikhali’ (a man does not cry) as this may be taken as a sign of weakness. From July 14 July, Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163) will be introducing Vuka Mjita, a show where men will unashamedly, honestly, and vulnerably express their feelings.

Hosted by Mondli Makhoba (The Wife, Shaka Ilembe), also known as Bhut’Omdala, Vuka Mjita is all about taking men on a therapeutic journey that breaks their walls and helps them unlock the doors to the side of healing. This is with the hope that the process will assist them reflect on the men they are becoming and what role they are playing in their families and in society.

“This show is like being part of a journey to ‘empower‘ men and we are looking at it as giving a platform to help understand, nurturing and try to heal the mental state of our brothers and sons where it’s needed,” says Director of Local Entertainment Channels Shirley Adonisi.

“Our Mzansi brand is all about entertainment that resonates with our audience, and we hope that Vuka Mjita will be more than just that but will also be a show where men can be vulnerable and talk openly and honestly.”

Thanks to the therapy plan which was designed by Clinical Psychologist & Author, Thabang Tlaka, each week a therapist will sit with a different gentleman who needs a remedy or therapy to deal and change a predicament they are faced with. As an expert in the field, the process he takes them through helps each candidate to break down the walls, speak up, confront their fears.

As uBhut’Omdala says: ”Kuwumsebenzi wethu to find out why we exist, for there is a bigger purpose.”

Tune in to Mzansi Wethu DStv Channel 163 from Sunday 14 July at 8pm to see how men in our modern-day society try to find their purpose for existence through emotional healing.