Could The Via Duplicate Channel From Media24 Be A Replacement To eExtra On DStv?

MultiChoice was scheduled to remove e.tv's 4 additional channels currently seen on the DStv platform earlier this month with their fate hanging on a cliff for another 2 months as MultiChoice sources more channels.

Recently, MultiChoice registered an untitled Afrikaans channel which was revealed to be an extra Via channel likely for their Access customers as all the content hits the restart button on the supposed station.

Although MultiChoice won't say anything, the idea of them pawning this brand should they remove eExtra by the end of May doesn't seem far fetched at this point.

 

Why this channel might replace eExtra?

In March, MultiChoice put up a termination notice redirecting viewers to several other channels currently seen on their platforms and eExtra's alternatives were Mzansi Wethu and kykNET - local channels.

Further replacements were announced but none of them were for eExtra.

 

kykNET and Via are kind of niche compared to eExtra as they're distributing actual local content and not dubbed soapies. At this point, most of the focus is directed at the content and not the language.

eExtra is a telenovela channel and this upcoming channel is more or less another eReality but for local programming.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

eMedia Investments Launches A New Sports Channel On Its Streaming Service, Might Be Added Onto eReality

360 Sport is one of South Africa's leading live streaming companies that specialise in streaming sports for event owners whose content is not on major networks like SuperSport which can be deemed expensive.

360 Sport ran a TV show on the defunct News And Sport channel on the Openview platform which went off air earlier in the month with further sports programming added onto eReality and the newly launched Xposed.

 

Of course, 360 Sport wasn't present in the lineup likely due to this new distribution agreement with eMedia Investments which sees several content from the brand such as Simola Hillclub, Battle Of The Warriors and National Blackball Federation.

360 Sport joins Microblast TV as one of the few channels that can't be viewed on the Openview platform. eMedia Investments is competing with other brands such as Showmax, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, VIU and the soon-to-be-launched Disney+.

It only seems logical for the brand not put all their eggs in one basket.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

Roundups #38: ePlesier's Primetime Lineup Has Been Revealed, Breaking Hillsong Documentary Coming To Discovery+, Mzansi Magic Music HD Coming Soon To DStv, MultiChoice To Run Afrocinema Pop-up Channel For The Second Time

More details on ePlesier

During the past weeks, eMedia Investments has been giving bits and pieces about the new channel ePlesier from the rollout date to the list of repeats launching on the channel. Thanks to some insiders we got a peak of their schedule.

From April 18th, the schedule goes as follows on weekdays:
14:30 Gebroke Harte
15:20 As Die Skoen Pas
16:10 Bittersoet
17:00 Doodsondes
17:50 Stiletto Vendetta
18:40 Voëlvry
20:20 Deur Dik En Dun

From April 23rd, the schedule goes as follows on Saturday:
16:30 Die Wiel Draai (double bill)
18:15 Vierspel Vuurspel (double bill)
20:00 Die Put (triple play)

From April 24th, the schedule goes as follows on Sunday:
16:25 Kurt En Shura (double bill)
18:15 Vierspel Vuurspel (double bill)

*Please note all shows start from scratch

 

Hillsong Church documentary coming to Discovery+

Following last year's resignation of former Hillsong Church NYC pastor Carl Lentz after an extramarital affair and other moral failures, two dueling TV docuseries are in production about the scandal and megachurch culture that enabled it.

Streaming platform discovery+ has announced a three-part "Breaking Hillsong" documentary series with exclusive interviews. Concurrently, Scout Productions is also working on a docuseries about the controversy-laden megachurch and its trendily tattooed former pastor.

Both docuseries are planned in partnership with separate news organizations and based on their respective coverage of ongoing scandals plaguing Hillsong Church, founded in Australia by Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie, in the 1980s. The evangelical network of churches has 130 worship centers around the globe.

 

Out with the old and in with the new

In February, MultiChoice and M-Net have updated the look of its Mzansi Magic Music channel with the channel proposition that is also shifting to be "synonymous with Afro Soul and home of the classic tunes".

Joining Mzansi Magic Music will be a HD feature from what was stated by several outlets the plan is to make all M-Net channels HD.

M-Net Movies Afrocinema is back by popular demand

MultiChoice and M-Net ran the Afrocinema pop-up channel in celebration of Africa month in 2021. The channel featured local movies that celebrated and reflects Africa's diversity, talents and resilience.

It's evident that the channel became a massive success for DStv customers as MultiChoice registered another movie under the Afrocinema branding titled Dark September.

The brand will likely commence in May as it is Africa month.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

Disney Channel And Disney Junior Have Been Zombified

The Walt Disney Company has closed several channels across the world including the UK, Latin America, Australia and Asia with Europe and Africa expected to lose more channels once Disney+ enters the market.

Disney Channel and Disney Junior seem to be repeat padded as South Africa gears up for the launch of Disney+ in May.

Although consumers won't be losing the channels until at least fall 2023 or early 2024. The pair seem to be going the route of their former sister channels FOX and Disney XD where the lineup is stacked with repeats.

Disney Junior shifted most of their primetime to weekends while reruns of their programs often surface on Disney Channel. Walk The Prank which is an XD original launches on the main channel. All the more reason to think these channels are done for in Africa.

 

If I had to guess what fate awaits the remaining channels it would be easy. The Walt Disney Company will increase the load of reruns in an attempt to lure consumers onto Disney+ and continue sourcing out more content even if it was seen on other stations.

Conspiracy theory
The question only boils down to the closures
I know the agreement with MultiChoice expires by the end of 2023 or sometime in 2024 but is it possible that there could be more to the deal.

Since South Africa will be the first market to get Disney+. What if 2024 included a set of dates for their linear channels some of which are for 2022.

 

In Asia, the channels closed down in phases and the idea of the same fate awaiting for these ones in Africa doesn't seem far fetched as the market has a history of such phases. Take for instance, Animal Planet which was shuttered in 2015 for DStv in the rest of Africa and two years later in South Africa.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

Countdown To The Wildest Stories From Dark Side Of The Ring


10. Ric Flair's actions

Plane Ride From Hell was one of the worst instances of nothing going to plan. On that fateful day during WWE's tour of the UK. The plane was delayed for 7 hours and they were on a charter plane WWE stars consumed alcohol and waited for the plane to get going unfortunately the plane stayed long enough for the stars to consume multiple carts of alcohol. While some fooled around with Dustin Rhodes or his wife, Brock Lesnar and Perfect Brawley even cutting of Michael Ace's ponytail.

Things went wrong in a different direction, Ric Flair wore a robe with nothing underneath. According to a flight attendant and several other people, the wrestler cornered her in a plane forcing her to touch him. No one who knew bothered to help except Dustin Rhodes.

Tommy Dreamer revealed the flight attendant a bribe and compared the situation to his haircut which led him to get suspended from Impact Wrestling while Ric Flair possible losing any chance of getting into AEW.

9. Owen Hart's death

One of the saddest episodes of Dark Side Of The Ring, WWE had planned his entrance at the last minute which led to tragedy where he would fall and pass from the impact.

It was revealed in the show that the original plan was to have him lowered from the ceiling but they instead used a new rigging system from one they had initially.

It turned out that the rig that was holding Owen had been built for a sailboat which was designed to hold 6 pounds of pressure. On top of that his wife and son blamed WWE for his death and chose not to let him into the Hall Of Fame. According to people at the scene, Owen Hart's last words before plummeting to his death was "LOOKOUT".

 

8. Life of Dino Bravo

Bravo was a heel of a wrestler who enjoyed a rich lifestyle. In Montreal, he was famous and respected and was suppose to face Hulk Hogan. WWE couldn't handle having their Babyface being booed at so they swapped the matches and event.

Bravo signed a new deal with WWE which would see him with new look but was repackaged as a heel. When it came time for him to retire, he didn't know what to do as he didn't save money and to try and keep his lifestyle going worked with his uncle in a crime family and a year later he would be found dead with drugs worth $400000 being confiscated.

7. Jimmy Snuka

The controversial wrestler sparked attention for allegations made on the death of his wife. Even before Snuka had killed Nancy. The family had doubts about him with her mother being supportive of their relationship.

There was a time where Snuka would struggle her throat and slapped her and she fled the scene seeking comfort with her sister who encouraged her to exit the relationship but continued on until her death.

Snuka was under investigation as he told different versions of his wife's murder saying she would fall and hit her head and that she was sleeping while he had a match.

There were allegations that WWE founder Vince McMahon offered Nancy's mother hush money of which hasn't been confirmed as there was no evidence of course the case was reopened and Snuka was unable to stand trial due to his dementia and cancer.

6. Godfather Hates Pimps

Despite his character being a pimp, it turned out in his personal life he had a history with pimps before WWE he worked as a bouncer. It was revealed he would hit any pimp that entered the strip club.

 

5. Brawl For All

JBL wanted to find out who was the toughest man in the locker room though Vince Russo was the one who conceived it. Russo didn't like JBL for the way he was bullying everyone so he figured someone would embarass him.

All those involved suffered immensely while JBL was forced to eat dirt.

4. New Jack's storyline

Jack passed away around the time he was trying a minor who had hoped to face him. Hunter Ray punched him in the face and Jack angry stabbed him multiple times only for Jack to get arrested. Red came to visit him in prison hoping to turn it into a storyline and he agreed and the two never contacted each other again.

 

3. The killing of Bruiser Brody

One of the most disturbing stories, Brody was one of the most respected wrestlers with his style being influencal. Invader and Brody didn't like each other.

When Invader came to WWE, Brody beat him badly which resulted in Invader holding a grudge. Brody went to WWC and told that he was owed money there. They were also talks of him becoming minority owner there.

Tony Atlas said the locker room there was tense and Brody wasn't looking good asked Tony to sketch a sign. Atlas came with a towel to speak with Brody and heard a punch only to see Invader holding a knife trying to stab Brody again and Tony protected him and laid him on the floor.

The ambulance arrived 45 minutes later, he needed surgeries for the cuts and bruises and Brody was alive when he left the hospital and died later in the morning. No one was arrested, Invader (Jose Gonzalez) got off saying it was self defence while police thought it had something to do with their jobs.

Brody was portrayed as a loving husband and father in Dark Side Of The Ring.

2. North Korea

In 1995, WCW teamed up with North Korea to hold a wrestling event. Ric Flair, Scott and Rick Steiner and several others made the journey. Muhammad Ali managed to make the event thanks to the organizer of the event, Antonio Anoki.

According to Eric Bishop, there was an attendance of 300000 with the audience being forced to attend. A group of wrestlers were confronted by security after trying to play pool. Scott getting his call interrupted as he had to fight with the country.

According to Too Cold Scorpio, he had considered playing the role of Warrior Hog with him taking a hit with a chopstick. Chris Benoit urged him not as he would regret it and Scorpio listened.

1. Grizzly Smith

He wrestled between the 50s and 70s and was father to including Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Rockin' Robin, and Sam Houston. Despite Jake being the most famous no one knew he was part of a wrestling family.

His siblings were estranged to each other as they lived separately for part of their childhood where Jake had to live with his grandfather then abusive husband.

Jake was sexually assaulted by his stepmother when he told his father she abused him. He found out Grizzly had been doing the same to his sister Robin from the time she was 8.

Robin revealed her mom left with her when she told her of the situation. Grizzly's fifth child was married and had a child by the time she was 18 then she was kidnapped and her husband was convinced although no body was found.

Robin believed that her father may have some involvement in the death of her sister. One time, he showed up at her house with a 9 year old girl and discovered Grizzly had been treating her the same way as her.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).