New Channel Alert: Newzroom Africa On DStv Channel 405

Newzroom Afrika, which won a bid last year for a new channel on Multichoice's DStv platform, says it has started recruiting staff.

"Newzroom Afrika promises to be an innovative and interactive multi-media news service that is impartial, unbiased, unapologetic and disruptive," the news channel, which won the bid out of 111 contenders, said in a statement.

The channel is the brainchild of former news anchor and entrepreneur Thabile Ngwato and television production entrepreneur Thokozani Nkosi. It is looking to recruit for positions including a multimedia designer, senior news reporter and an assignments editor, as well as positions in business and production.

"We’re looking for journalists who share our commitment to the values of our magnificent Constitution and the highest standards of principled journalism," said Nkosi.

Ngwato added: "It’s been incredibly exciting to see our vision taking shape after months of hard work and we can’t wait to put a really strong editorial team together to put it all into practice."

Newzroom Afrika has an editorial advisory board headed by journalism stalwart and former press ombud Joe Thloloe and public advocate on the South African Press Council Dinesh Balliah, while former eMedia group executive for stakeholder management Malebo Phage and former Power 98.7 head of news Dianne Hawker will be among the editorial executives.

"We will work hard to develop a professional news service for South Africans which, while pulling no punches, will consider nation-building as an ultimate good," Ngwato said.

The channel is expected to announce its launch date soon.

HGTV Launches Soon In Germany And Possible Next Target Is EMEA

Discovery is launching HGTV, its home and lifestyle network – and the #3 most watched US cable network – in Germany as a free to air channel. The launch of HGTV will take place in June and marks the first European launch of this brand since the Scripps acquisition – with further launches to come.

HGTV celebrates the spirit of home and its expansion into Europe will give people access to content across six pillars; buying and selling, home renovation, flipping, home improvement and dream homes. As well as an extensive library of existing content, the HGTV audience in Germany will be able to watch more than 500 hours of content per year. Key programme franchises include Flip or Flop, House Hunters, My Lottery Dream Home and Good Bones. Discovery research has identified that 209 million people across EMEA are interested in home decoration, DIY and home improvement and billions of Euros are spent each year on DIY and home improvement.

Kasia Kieli, President & Managing Director, Discovery EMEA, said: “We are incredibly excited to be announcing the launch of HGTV in Germany and start using our scale and expertise across EMEA to expand HGTV and other key real-life entertainment brands into new territories and reach millions of new people throughout EMEA. Discovery’s strategy is to connect with passionate audiences across the Globe and the HGTV brand creates a very powerful opportunity to provide a dedicated home brand that fuels people’s passions, builds a community spirit and works across multiple platforms for audiences and commercial partners.”

Presenting JimJam Middle Eastern First Ever Highlights For May 2019 And Middle East Also Shares A Feed With Europe And Africa

LITTLE BROWN BEAR – 13. MAY 2019
EVERY DAY
7:40 AM; 3:09 PM CET
from 13rd of MAY
Everybody knows Little Brown Bear! He’s kiddies’ mirror hero.
He lives in the country with his Mum and Dad. In these new adventures, meet his older cousin, Big Red Bear, who just moved in next door with her family. Now, Little Brown Bear and Ruby Bear, his favorite playmate, are an inventive and dynamic duo!A whole new world of discovery and adventure opens up to the little bear.
S1 –52X7’

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO – 20. MAY 2019
EVERY DAY
5:27 PM; 10:04 PM CET
from 20th of MAY
Animated and live action preschool series that follows our host, Monkey, and his good friend Parrot as they learn about friendship, animals and the importance of movement. In each episode, Monkey invites children at home to have fun imitating the actions of animals while learning about their natural habitats through engaging song and dance.
S1 –26X7’

THE ADVENTURES OF CHUCK AND FRIENDS
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY from 9:01 AM CET
5 eps.
MARATHON
THE ADVENTURES OF CHUCK & FRIENDS
Chuck is a smart, adventurous, creative, funny dreamer and doer with the world at his wheels! Chuck and his friends push the limits, of their imagination and what they can build and do, with great adventures, which always end with a lesson learned and the kid trucks totally covered in mud! 

THE ADVENTURES OF CHUCK AND FRIENDS is all about rugged action, the thrill of discovery, big adventures, and most of all, having fun with your friends.
S1-S2

LEARN SOMETHING NEW TODAY! EDUCATION BLOCK
EVERY DAY
8:00-9:00 AM; 4:00-5:00 PM CET

Learning English with Badanamu figures
Doodleboo – 2 episodes
Draw animals, people and everyday objects with ease, using circles, squares and triangles.
Doodleboo's playful way with shapes will excite your imagination!
Messy Goes to Okido – 2 episodes
OKIDO is a comedy adventure, science-educational series following a curious, adventure seeking and unruly monster called Messy as he finds the answers to everything a 3-5 year old child wants to know...
What’s The Big Idea? – 2 episodes
Philosophy show for preschool children.
Hugo takes us on a journey of philosophical enquiry confronting big questions like
'What is the difference between thinking and dreaming?', 'Can it ever be good to be angry?' and 'Why do people feel sad?'
Animanimals – 2 episodes
In each episode, a different animal has an absurd adventure that can only happen to him.
Robocar Poli Traffic Safety – 1 episode
It will deliver daily traffic safety tips and rules such as the safe ways of getting on the school bus, how to read traffic signs and etc. through the real available traffic accident

Possible New Channel And HD Channel Alert For DStv

NEW CHANNELS:
eReality was introduced as a member of the eFamily of channels owned by eMedia Investments and began broadcasting on 19 November on Openview. The channel positions itself as a broadcaster of "the world's most popular reality programmes, featuring real-life stories, fascinating personalities and human emotion in its rawest form."
The channel includes shows themed around crime, paranormal activity, nature, adventure, medical anomalies, outrageous obsessions and bizarre behaviour.

EXCLUDED:
OneZED is a general entertainment channel and home for family viewing where authentic local stories meet international narratives. The channel will be available to all DStv customers in Zambia on DStv Channel 172 from Monday, 1 April 2019. DStv customers will find the best of Zambian entertainment in ONE place with a mix of talk shows, dramedies, music shows and documentaries on OneZED.

THE HD PURGE:
SABC News (DStv 404) which is carried on MultiChoice's DStv through an exclusive clause which prevents operators like ODM's Starsat from carrying the channel.

Entertainment Upgraded!

From Monday, 1 April, eExtra viewers will enjoy a revamped schedule with their favourite eBella telenovela titles moving to the channel to create a weekday guilty pleasure afternoon block. This will be followed by a serving of some court drama, the Afrikaans and viewer favourite ‘KuierTyd’, and other riveting local and international series.

This merger of the two channels will give our audiences the best of both with a 24-hour entertainment offering. “eBella built a loyal following over the last year and gave us the opportunity to showcase and test new content that celebrates the lives of women around the world,” says MD of e.tv channels Marlon Davids. “Following the success of eBella, we are excited to incorporate our viewers’ most-loved telenovelas and series into our main schedule on eExtra. This move gives us the opportunity to provide eExtra viewers with a bigger and bolder content offering throughout the day, with all their favourite shows in one place.”

The daytime lineup will see fan favourites like Fatmagul, The Girl Named Feriha, Caribbean Flower and Naagin, to name a few, featured alongside many of the best telenovelas from Latin America, India and Turkey.

The channel will bring audiences more courtroom reality with a new series, Hot Bench. ‘KuierTyd’ will also be extended to include Die Wiel Draai and another hit local Afrikaans drama series, Vallei Van Sluiers on Sundays.

eExtra will still feature award-winning local dramas, like Umlilo and Traffic, international series’, comedies and more. eExtra is available on Openview (channel 105) and DStv (channel 195).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is eBella ending?
We are moving your favourite eBella shows to eExtra to provide you with a bigger and bolder content offering throughout the day. You can now enjoy all your favourite shows in one place. eExtra will now air 24 hours a day with a revamped schedule.

What is happening to all my favourite eBella shows?
Many of your favourite eBella telenovelas and drama series will continue on eExtra. These include Fatmagul, The Girl Named Feriha, Caribbean Flower and Naagin. eExtra will also continue to bring you the best telenovelas from around the world as well m as other quality local and international content.

What about KuierTyd?
eExtra’s popular Afrikaans slot ‘KuierTyd’ is staying put. In addition to brand new episodes of Bittersoet (weekdays at 7pm) and Nuusdag Om 8 (daily at 8pm), you can also enjoy Die Wiel Draai (every Wednesday to Friday at 8.30pm), and Vallei Van Sluiers (Sundays at 7pm). Nuusdag Perspektief now airs every Sunday evening at 8.30pm, delving deeper into the week’s top news stories and current affairs.

What else is new on eExtra?
eExtra boasts some of the best local and international television series. The channel offers back-to-back telenovelas. A brand new Afrikaans-dubbed Turkish drama will launch in the next few months and fans of Gebroke Harte will see their favourite characters return for a second season which starts in July. 

Court Hour has also been improved and now features 3 court shows back to back.

Where can I view the eExtra TV guide?
You view the eExtra TV guide on your Openview or DStv decoder, or by visiting www.etv.co.za

Where can I watch eExtra?
eExtra is available on DStv channel 195 or Openview channel 105.