SABC 1 Title Card Had Been Registered For The Openview Platform

If you're probably reading this then you must have realised that that the public broadcaster once again missed the deadline to rollout their OTT platform accompanied by their additional channels which are set to join the existing SABC 1-3, Sport and Education.

At this point, I wouldn't be shocked if people forgot about these channels or pay attention to them as eMedia Investments had already found other means to keep viewers occupied. This year alone, Openview welcomed eXposed, ePlesier, The Home Channel+ and probably BBC UKTV.

Most of which are basically premium channels and are nothing like what ePlesier and the long awaited channels are going to be - repetitive as they were highlighted to get archived material.

Although we haven't gotten official confirmation toward the existence of SABC Children and any other SABC channel. The public broadcaster alongside eMedia Investments seems to have registered a brand known as SABC 1.

I know some viewers are thinking how absurd this appears but interesting fact about this SABC 1 was often referred as the defunct SABC Encore channel. Even had its logo swapped while transmitting on both Openview and TelkomOne.

Taking that to account, it's possible SABC 1 is just a cover up for another channel they don't want to mention e.g. SABC Encore, SABC Parliament or SABC Children. At this point, I'd be more shocked if none of these brands happened to be the reported channels.

I mean there's a lot of evidence staggering against them one is that DTT still has a slot for SABC Encore and the second is that SABC Education beforehand was available digitally on Tuluntulu before launching on DTT.

MultiChoice Might Have Scrapped Another New Channel On The DStv Platform

In March, MultiChoice announced plans to terminate eMedia's 4 channels on which they were reluctant on retaining its status on the DStv platform for another 6 months but the pay-tv idol already sourced the necessary alternatives which were somewhat bizarre.

Firstly, they just took an existing batch of channels and made them accessible to more consumers as if the higher ups weren't watching those channels and put most of their efforts on channels 101-106 worse is when they left a single channel to fill the void of eMedia's channels.

They also added DreamWorks which has been viewed as a replacement as opposed to a new offering considering the similarities with eToonz shocking was how expensive it got considering how the cheaper offering was ahead. Joining the channel is Movie Room which is somewhat niche from eMovies.

As several consumers had noticed eExtra was the only channel fortunate enough to not get replaced and this was before the announcement of kykNET's Turkish offering on kykNET & Kie that a new Afrikaans lifestyle channel would be making way soon to the DStv platform.

In May which was the same period of eMedia's demise, they had begun tests on this channel and from the looks of it this HD channel had a lot of already viewed content from Media 24's Via which led to believe that maybe this channel was curated for Access customers.

I mean Via hasn't been on DStv for that long I mean they launched around 2013/4 which is almost 10 years but a portion of content can be viewed on the main channel and plus this wouldn't be the first channel to serve as a catch-up.

MultiChoice has a long list of catch-up channels such as Mzansi Wethu, kykNET Lekker, Moja 9.9. and Novela Magic so the idea of Via getting similar treatment doesn't seem far fetched considering how most of these are local channels.

Of course the question that's been bottling up my mind is why the channel hadn't launched as intended. MultiChoice already launched further channels like Hilaal TV, INX Prime and the already mentioned Movie Room but not this Via duplicate.

Could it have something to do with those transponder constraints as they don't have a lot of space for more channels so they often need to remove one to launch another or do they feel that the amount of viewers on Access particularly those watching kykNET Lekker just can't cover it.

Honestly I can see them launch this channel if they aren't planning to make Via accessible to Access consumers as seen Media24's other channel HONEY which is said to be not getting that much attention by audiences which is why it was added to more consumers.

New Series Alert: Nature Cat Coming Soon To PBS Kids Africa

PBS Kids the #1 educational brand for children aged 2-8 with content that helps improve on their maths and sciences and even dwells on the creative side to life will soon rollout a new wilderness series titled Nature Cat.

The series follows an adventurous house cat goes on crazy trips and adventures with his friends to learn all about animals and nature. Through the learning experiences of the characters, this series intends to encourage children to similarly engage with and develop understanding of nature.

It debuted back in 2015 and was nominated for an Emmy Award and at the time there wasn't a linear PBS Kids channel. Back to the basics, it's currently in its fourth season overseas which is what consumers in Africa will be viewing as a fifth is currently underway.

PBS Kids debuted in Africa back in 2019 and is the first international feed to gain the brand. But since it's launch, the channel is very much behind with most of what the overseas feed currently has in stock for their audiences.

You even find shows shows such as Wild Kratts currently on the second season with Peg + Cat and Peep And The Big Wide World old content further back from their conclusions. The channel even unveiled a new look none of which is currently seen on the feed as yet.

It's one of the reasons Nature Cat will continue on the fourth season thereafter as time goes by it will do what Arthur and Cyberchase did by playing various past seasons.

Nature Cat S4 airs 1st November as part of the fresh at 4pm timeslot.

 

New Series Alert: Waves Of Life Coming Soon To Novelas E Plus

Novelas E Plus, a general entertainment channel home to various English dubbed telenovelas from Turkey, Phillipines and Mexico will soon be launching a brand new drama titled Waves Of Life (Kleun Cheewit) starring Prin Suparat, Urassaya Sperbund, Louis Scott (actor) and Jarinporn Joonkiat.

Jeerawat is a famous model and actress. On the surface, Jeerawat has a perfect life but deep down, she is in danger of being raped by her stepfather and longs for her mother's love. After Jeewarat's rich and powerful stepfather drugs Jeerawat, she manages to escape by driving away. Unfortunately, she hits a young woman on the road, who later dies at the hospital.

The dead young woman has a fiancée, Sathit, who is a lawyer who believes strongly in justice. He vows revenge on the female driver who killed his beloved fiancée. Unfortunately, Jeerawat's stepfather and mother use their influence and money to hide and hush all evidence. After coincidentally running into each other on many occasions, their fated encounters starts to change them both, as their bond deepens, Sathit becomes conflicted between the evidence that Jeerawat was involved in the car accident and between the good and kind person he finds underneath her public appearance, who risks her life for him. What will Sathit do when he gradually falls in love with Jeewarat?

The series was met with a lot of praise during its run in 2017 across various regions such as Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia and many more. It even got one of the most liked episodes by fans on Google and Twitter.

Waves Of Life airs at 20:40 from November 3rd.

What To Expect On Comedy Central Africa In November 2022?

SEASON 28
THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH
TUESDAY – FRIDAY FROM 4 OCTOBER @ 23:30
HostTrevor Noah delivers satirical news related to international and American political matters in an entertaining way. His wit, charm and charismatic persona allows viewers to kick- back, relax and take in a dose of current affairs in an entertaining way.

THE QUEENS OF COMEDY
TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER @ 22:00
Four of today's hottest black comedians headline this Queens of Comedy video special and present a very provocative adult program with riffs on everything. Prepare for loads of laughter and those “I know right …”, raw moments of relatability. This stand up of comedian royalty: Miss Laura Hayes, Adele Givens, Sommore and Mo’Nique, leaves no stone unturned in ensuring an evening of giggles, adulterated laughter and irreversible trips of nostalgia.

BOB HEART ABISHOLA S2
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER @ 21:00

A love story about a middle-aged compression sock businessman from Detroit, who unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack. He sets his sights on winning her over, undaunted by Abishola's lack of initial interest or the vast differences in their backgrounds. Bob is determined to win Abishola's heart, in this comedic examination of immigrantlife in America.