New Channel Alert (Rumour): FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Family And FilmBox Action Coming Soon To StarSat + New Prices For Each Package

StarSat has lost over 20 channels during the past years ranging from from FOX, Discovery Family, Investigation Discovery, The Smithsonian Channel, Fine Living, SA Music, Soul Music, DreamWorks and St Eyethu. Since then, several channels have made way to the platform.

You have channels like Russia Today, Zee Bollymovies, C12 TV and Fashion TV while some may come off as useless to most consumers none of these brands can fill up the void of the above mentioned channels.

 

MultiChoice, a rival to the pay-tv platform had undergone the same procedure with customers expressing their dissatisfaction for almost a month I mean they've got new channels in place with 6 more coming in the near future but just like StarSat they too have got negative feedback.

While MultiChoice let the cat out of the bag with some upcoming channels with StarTimes you could hardly get them to crack as they're usually discreet about these things but thanks to the StarTimes app we got to view potential new channels.

FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Action and FilmBox Family hail from SPI International the company in charge of the top entertainment channel Timeless Dizi Channel. These channels are said to be on a trial phase.

 

FilmBox Africa - A premium entertainment channel carrying series as well as adrenaline-pumping movies from Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and many others. Suitable candidate to FOX.

FilmBox Action - targets action lovers with the likes of Cinema legends Steven Seagal, Al Pacino, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Jason Statham and many others. Another suitable candidate to FOX.

FilmBox Family - Popular movies for the entire family appealing to both children and adults: great adventures, comedies, fantasy movies, popular series and entertainment programs. An added bonus.

 

On top of the possible new channels here are the prices consumers will pay from July:

- StarSat Special Package will now be R120 previously R109.
- StarSat Super Package will now be R230 previously R209.
- StarSat Max Package will now be R330 previously R299.

DStv Is Set To Lose CBS Reality And CBS Justice In Revamped Channel Offering By Paramount Global And AMC International

2022 brought a whirlwind of changes for viewers on the DStv platform as MultiChoice scrapped e.tv's 5 channels, ITV Networks, fliekNET and Tellytrack. They where those brands that went out unexpectedly and beyond anyone's control like Russia Today and Lifetime.

As the world continues adapting viewers should expect more changes I mean not all changes are good (e.g. Me) but the point one would have for these changes is survival which is where CBS Reality and CBS Justice reside in.

 

By the end of June, the British counterpart of these channels which also manage the channels in Africa will be revising their channel offering by scrapping CBS Justice for Legend while as CBS Reality is shortened to Reality.

Due to the launch of Paramount+, AMC and Paramount are eliminating the CBS branding from all their products or at least on their linear channels and shocking turn for these two channels is the programming.

 

CBS Justice's replacement Legend will not only cover the crime but the supernatural section of their portfolio while the UK had CBS Horror viewers in Africa relied on CBS Reality for this offering. On top of paranormal, they'll offer thriller and sci-fi.

Reality will likely focus on softer programming such as Judge Judy, Animal Hoarding, Cheaters, Three Day Nanny and Shocking Emergency Calls, as consumers likely lose out on shows like Haunted Case Files and Scariest Night Of My Life to Legend which is technically a premium channel.

 

The change is expected to be completed by the end of June and it hasn't been stated exactly when this format will rollout in other regions or or look identical to the main feed.

As seen in Poland and several Portuguese speaking regions, the channels were given alternate brand names or shuttered down as there's rumours going around that Paramount Global and AMC International are disbanding due to the rollout of Paramount+.

DStv Updates: fliekNET To Become A Pop-Up Channel From July 15th, eExtra's Kuiertyd To Be Replaced By KykNET And Rumoured Developments For The New Afrikaans Channel By Media24

fliekNET South Africa's only Afrikaans movie channel is set to be the 10th channel that exits from the DStv platform in 2022 joining other brands like Tellytrack, Lifetime, ITV Networks, Russia Today and e.tv's 5 channels (including eAfrica).

fliekNET began as a pop-up channel in 2014 as part of the holiday and grew popularity for its selection of movies that it joined other popular franchises like Big Brother and Idols to return on a yearly basis.

Amidst the pandemic, MultiChoice launched a permanent version of the channel which some found repetitive as the pay-tv company struggled to incorporate as much variety to the schedule opted to make it a pop-up channel from July 15th.

 

kykNET will be rolling out a Saturday night block kind of like the one seen on eMedia's eExtra channel but instead of licensing a batch of movies it will be similar to M-Net's Sunday Night Movies where you get the latest movies with more original productions coming in 2023.

They could have tried adding some of the content to M-Net Movies but oh well.

kykNET & Kie which serves as a sister and duplicate channel to kykNET will be rolling out two Turkish dramas in July competing with eMedia's existing offering with In Die Ysterhand Se Greep going head to head with Droomvelore on e.tv with Kind Van Die Noodlot with Dokter Ali and Fenix for those with Openview excluding Fridays.

 

All the more reason to believe kykNET is replacing eExtra but not on Easyview with Access having to wait at least a year or so to view these shows on kykNET Lekker likely as 4 days a week series.

Onto new channels, despite MultiChoice using an existing brand as an alternative to eExtra. They will be rolling out another Afrikaans channel on top of returning the pop-up channel Woordfees to more consumers in July.

The new channel is nothing is like eExtra except for the target group as the channel features reality and lifestyle kind of like eReality but local which in turn happens to be Media24's Via duplicate likely for Access customers as seen with kykNET Lekker.

 

MultiChoice had tested the channel later in April onto May with further information about the channel nowhere in site with the lab rat either being delayed or terminated but delayed is more believable.

The 140 section is crowded with Afrikaans channels perhaps part of the reason fliekNET is being phased out is to make space for this channel and 149 would make a suitable channel number as it makes the main Via channel superior.

Considering how most of this happened amidst eMedia's demise on the DStv platform, you could say that the Via duplicate in a way is there to make up for the loss of eExtra.

Roundups #70: Iron Rose Reloads On Telemundo Africa For Second Season, Turkish Drama Full Moon Starring Can Yaman Launches On Novela E Plus And ZNBC 3 Launching Soon On The DStv Platform

Iron Rose is not done just yet

Popular demands has been taking Africa by storm offering already viewed content like My Heart Beats For Lola, Woman Of Steel, A Passion For Revenge and Lord Of The Skies as Telemundo works on sourcing out more content.

Ahead of its anticipated return, StarTimes acquired rights to Iron Rose while Telemundo loaded one of Aracley Arambula's other projects from the channel, The Boss with Iron Rose following immediately after it ended.

 

 

The second season of Iron Rose is set to load on the channel from June 27th at 6pm replacing current season of the series.

Can Yaman is coming to StarTimes

The actor and model is currently seen on e.tv's Droomvelore portraying the role of Can Divit. Just like stars Demet Özdemir, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Dilan Çiçek Deniz viewers will be getting double the action as Novelas E uploads new series, Full Moon.

Nazli Pinar a young culinary student who is hired as Ferit's private chef and must deal with his specific rules for preparing his meals. The two initially clash and form a beautiful friendship. What will happen when the two fall in love?

 

 

The series airs at 8pm from June 26 on Novelas E which comes 3 hours and 30 minutes after Droomvelore on e.tv.

MultiChoice Africa continues sourcing more local entertainment

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is a Zambian television and radio station, formerly state owned, now owned by Zambians. It is the oldest, widest and largest radio and television service provider in Zambia.

 

ZNBC also supplies a set of linear and radio stations offering news, public affairs, sports, religion, education and sport similar to the supposed channel set to launch on the DStv platform soon.

MultiChoice has begun testing out a channel titled ZNBC3 which was believed to be a religious channel at the time but turns out to be plus channel to the current ZNBC 1 & 2 which carries the above-mentioned.

eMedia Updates: e.tv And eExtra Currently Streaming On eVOD, Cool Catz Returns To e.tv's Craze Block, Depp Vs. Heard Documentary Makes Its Free-To-Air Debut On eXposed

eVOD launch two new channels

During the week, Eskom began the usual power cuts and from what is seen through several businesses it disrupts the workflow with cable providers seeing a shortage in viewers.

Consumers on the DStv platform relied on the DStv app in case shed happens for several years and it was only a matter of time till more businesses adapt to this concept.

 

Yesterday, it was announced that e.tv and eExtra brands which carry the most local content will be funneled on the streaming service, eVOD between 5pm and 10pm sort of as a trial but viewers will be able to watch their shows in case things don't go as planned.

We are the Cool Catz

Cool Catz is an educational kids show that follows the life of 4 cats as they reside in a treehouse engaging viewers with music, games and creativity and it was one of few original show from eMedia Investments.

In 2019, the show exited Craze's primetime offering alongside the block's remaining local series as e.tv opted for more international series with Cool Catz airing in the early hours of the day (5am).

 

 

After 3 years, Cool Catz will make a comeback in the primetime section of e.tv's Craze from 4 July at 14:30 as Cool Catz New Masters with the rest of the program's catalogue available to stream on eVOD's kids corner.

More courtroom action for Openview

A few years ago, Johnny Depp was involved in a media scandal with his former partner Amber Heard as the Aquaman actress claimed the Pirate star abused her throughout her marriage and "feared for her life".

It lead the former Pirate actor to get kicked off the franchise and also Fantastic Beasts as he was blacklisted from Hollywood.

 

TLC launched a documentary earlier in the month detailing the relationship of the famous actors now eXposed is expected to highlight various details mentioned during their trial which was publicly screened on YouTube and various outlets.

Viewers on the Openview platform can catch this documentary June 26th at 9pm.