New Channel Alert (Rumour): Hilaal TV, The Best Islamic Channel In Africa Is Coming Soon To DStv

In April, MultiChoice operated a Muslim based pop-up channel Ramadan TV which was open as part of a celebration of the same name to all their DStv customers showcasing live and melodious recitations from the Quran alongside other content.

Last month, MultiChoice announced the discontinuation of ITV Networks which came at a time consumers lost e.tv's 4 channels and Lifetime with fliekNET set to join the following month. They also promised to announce a portion of these channels in due course.

With only a few weeks left of ITV, it looks as if MultiChoice already found a candidate to the supposed channel which most assumed would be the UK based Islam Channel which ITV took over in 2008 for viewers in South Africa.

But it turns out that a permanent version of the Ramadan TV might be launching on the DStv platform as MultiChoice list a bunch of content formerly seen on the pop-up including Tafseer Of Surah Kahf By Sheikh Suliman Moola and Live Crossing For Zohr From Madinah Munawwarah.

This pop-up won't be called Ramadan TV but instead Hilaal TV likely the ones responsible for this pop-up channel which kind of brings several theories into question.

Is it possible Ramadan TV was just an experimental channel for Hilaal TV and was ITV Networks demise planned close to the launch of Ramadan TV?

Judging by the info presented I'm guessing that Hilaal TV will also be accessible to viewers outside South Africa unlike ITV Networks which was region based and will likely take up the channel number 346 and 347 is already occupied by Islam Channel in the rest of Africa.

Roundups #64: House Of Dragons Coming Soon To M-Net, Tiny Homes Returns For A Twenty Second Season On People's Weather And Disney Channel Africa Welcomes The Third Season Of Walk The Prank

Some details regarding M-Net's much anticipated GOT spinoff

Set two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, the events leading up to the Targaryen civil war, known as the "Dance of the Dragons", and the war itself.

It is a prequel to the television series Game of Thrones and is based on Martin's 2018 novel Fire & Blood. The project is a reworking of the rejected spin-off concept from Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman, on which HBO officially passed.

The series will debut on August 21st in the United States and M-Net will likely air it as an Express From The U.S. title.

People's Weather primetime lineup for June 13th

18:30
Sailing Mokara
Explore the beautiful tropical islands, diving colourful reefs to get dinner, socialising with other cruising families, marvelling at the night sky and having front row seats to the most amazing sunsets.

19:00
Tiny Homes Season 22
Discover the dwellings of those who choose to live in tiny houses, vans, RVs, and boats; and people who are exploring long-term travel, minimalism, zero waste living, renewable energy and living off-grid.

19:30
Ironvan Adventures
Dirk Smit and Alti Fouché are adventure travel filmmakers with a passion for wildlife, conservation, hidden treasures and interesting people...Join them as they travel Southern Africa, capturing their journey in the Ironvan, a formidable overlanding beast proudly powered by Ironman 4x4 Africa.

Some Disney XD faves are back on Disney Channel

2 years ago, The Walt Disney Company ripped away Disney XD from African audiences with very little content available on the Disney Channel.

For several months, Disney Channel had begun to zombify their lineup mostly with past XD shows like Guardians Of The Galaxy, Big City Greens, Lab Rats and DuckTales with newcomer Walk The Prank.

Set to be on its third season from 13 June, the prank show follows Herman, Chance, Bailey, and Dusty, who set up elaborate pranks and find real people to perform the pranks on. Their pranks usually involve supernatural, scary, funny or gross elements.

Pierre Branco Appointed General Manager, France, Benelux And Africa, Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery today announced that Pierre Branco has been appointed General Manager, France, Benelux and Africa, Warner Bros. Discovery. He will continue to report to Priya Dogra, President and Managing Director, EMEA (ex Poland). In this role Pierre Branco will be responsible for Warner Bros. Discovery’s combined businesses working in close coordination with the company’s global functions across Streaming, Sport, US Programming, and the Studio and for each line of business, developing territory-specific strategies to drive growth and efficiencies. These include pay and FTA networks, leading significant efforts in marketing and monetising US content across lines of business including theatrical, licensing, consumer products, games and home entertainment and shared responsibility for the streaming services.

 

Priya Dogra, President and Managing Director, EMEA (ex Poland), said: “Pierre is an accomplished leader with a deep understanding and experience of these markets where he has already played a pivotal role in driving strategic business decisions. I am confident that his strong leadership and strategic acumen will continue to drive our businesses forward and connect our beloved brands and consumers in these important and competitive marketplaces.”

Pierre Branco said: "I am enormously proud to be part of this new chapter of Warner Bros. Discovery. I look forward to building on the legacy and values that have made both companies so successful in these regions, and to contribute to building the world’s most dynamic media company in these important markets. The opportunity to lead these fantastic teams is very exciting and I can’t wait to get started.”

 

Most recently, Branco was Country Manager for France, Benelux, Middle East and Africa and Head of Affiliates and Ad Sales for EMEA at WarnerMedia. During his 15 years at the company, he has held a number of roles across Europe, Middle East and Africa including SVP Northern Europe, MENAT, France & Africa and VP & General Manager France and Africa. In these roles, he significantly grew the company’s business and launched new brands in the region: Boing, Toonami and Warner TV.

Roundups #63: A Repeat Of Young Love Coming To Glow TV, MTV Africa Welcomes Another Shore Series And Survivor SA Returning This July On M-Net

More repeats

Following the possible demise of Glow TV on the Openview platform, the channel seems to be doubling down on repeats with the return of Young Love replacing A Love To Die For from 13 June.

Young Love revolves around the life of Nandini and how much the people around her influence her life. She undergoes a complicated situation because of the interference of her family in her relationship. The experience makes her believe that there is no meaning in love.

The series illustrates various challenges that lovers face. Apart from the love issue, other matters revolving around backstabbing and infidelity are some of what you will find in this show.

 

 

Survivor SA has a premiere date

The world’s greatest game returns to M-Net on Monday 18 July with plenty of familiar faces as 20 former Castaways return to right wrongs on Survivor South Africa: Return Of The Outcasts… all under the watchful gaze of Survivor host Nico Panagio.

Back in the game are a mixture of strategists, schemers, risk-takers and record-breakers from five previous Survivor South Africa seasons who’ll do anything to avoid having their torches snuffed for a second time, over a bumper four episodes a week.

“This isn’t an ‘All Stars’ season – in fact, it’s a totally unique concept,” says Executive & Creative Producer Leroux Botha. “All of the Castaways returning to the game this season have demons to lay to rest, with the added challenge of everyone knowing exactly how everyone else played their game, before”.

M-Net’s Senior Manager: Marketing and PR, Shireez Latief says that the four episode per week schedule will give Survivor SA superfans the chance to feast on what is set to be some stellar game play. “Having four hours a week to explore the full intricacy of the game is going to lay bare every machination,” she says. “It’s also a great way for newcomers to the magic of Survivor SA to get to know these returning Castaways and appreciate why they’re such masters of the game”.

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Returning shows in July on MTV

Deliciousness S3
From comfort food cravings, to BBQ disasters, to home chef failures, we’ll serve up the funniest clipsto satisfy the foodie inall of us. Hosted by Tiffani Thiessen. S3
10 x 30 mins // 16 July 2022 @21:00

Teen Mom:Young and Pregnant S3B
Young moms Kayla, Brianna, Kiaya,Rachel, and Madisen navigate the highs and lows of parenthood in an all new season. As the group comes together for
the first time, they’ll form bonds and learn to lean on each other through the trials of family dysfunction, absentee partners, relationship woes, and all of the responsibilities that come with having a child. When it feels like there’s nowhere else toturn, these moms have each other. 90 mins // 5 July @ 22:00

Buckhead Shore S1
The shore franchises moves to ATL. Don’t miss it, its going to be insane
10 x 30 mins // 19 July 2022

Glow TV Will Likely Go Dark On Openview Without Warning, Here's Why

Glow TV is a South African based entertainment channel operated by Nismedia that celebrates Hindi culture featuring a variety of drama series, movies and reality shows. As of November 2021, the channel's only reliable outlet is StarSat as beef is still brewing between Openview's parent company, eMedia Investments.

In October 2021, the channel was suddenly snatched from the Openview platform as somewhat of a blackout with many consumers curious about the sudden termination eMedia only responded to say the contract had ended while Nismedia filed an application for breach of contract.

According to Nismedia, eMedia forcefully removed Glow TV which is unethical on many grounds as the current agreement concludes in February 2023 with that came in the court application which came back in their favour.

 

Glow TV was reinstated and drama bomb Zee One was introduced.

The beef between Zee Enterprises and Nismedia went public in 2018 when Glow TV was scrapped from MultiChoice's DStv due to poor viewership but Nismedia believes that the pay-tv platform was being anti-competitive and sided with Zee TV but then came the launch of Star Life.

3 years down the line, eMedia tried pull the same manouvre but couldn't just wait another 2 years. Now the Bollywood offering maintains a huge share of Openview with 3 and a quarter filled with Indian content while 8 are strictly local (Mindset and DBE included).

Of course, eMedia still views them as two and a half just browse their website or better pay careful attention to the adverts on screen and you'll see no utter mention of Glow TV implying that the channel became roadkill.

 

Personally, I'm not a fan of Glow TV but if there's one thing I can applaud the channel for is the mixture of content. Most channels like dramas and movies as that's where the most views are coming through. Glow TV managed to offer as much and still left space for other content like reality, lifestyle, kids shows and even local content.

Over the years, this Bollywood phenomenon has been repetitive but in my opinion I don't think that's entirely the reason for its demise but more on the competitive side of the things and also seeking a bigger brand like Zee One and Star Life.