Recap To Last Year: MultiChoice And Ngwato Nkosi Group Are Slowly Replacing SABC And eMedia Investments On DStv

Since last year, MultiChoice had been having an on/off relationship with eMedia Investments regarding the carriage of their 4 Openview channels. Prior to that, negotiations for carriage fees to SABC 1-3 had reached a dead end with the brands also retained on DStv. 

Honestly speaking, MultiChoice seems to have built a contingency plan which sort of revolves around SABC and eMedia Investments. Take for instance, Zee Zonke which is basically eExtra in Zulu then there's lesser known films on both Movie Room and eMovies.

Hailing from Easyview, Magic Showcase which is somewhat similar to the SABC 1 is flooded with local programming if not old content. Now we have a multilingual eToonz channel from Ngwato Nkosi Group joining the circuit in the coming months, Play Room.

Ngwato Nkosi Group manage Newzroom Afrika and Movie Room and from what's already seen here they are basically building themselves up as the eMedia/SABC of DStv as each of their brands are tailored to their audience.

With the launch of Play Room consumers remain curious on the number of channels Ngwato Nkosi Group plan to rollout on the pay-tv platform. Considering the feedback of Newzroom Afrika and Movie Room, it wouldn't seem far fetched if more channels were underway.

Some concepts I've seen by the media include a telenovela channel dubbing content in local languages (Story Room), an M-Net/eSeries inspired channel (TV Room or Entertainment Room), sports channel (Sports Room) and a music channel (Music Room).

Other names that were also brought up which revolve on the above-mentioned include Action Room, Fight Room, Series Room, Lounge Room and Novela Room.

Although the timing of some channels don't correspond with each other, MultiChoice has been doing a lot of quality control in the past year e.g. Hilaal TV (ITV Networks), Qwest TV (MTV Hits) and Racing240 (Tellytrack).

Could SABC Education Alongside Further New Channels No Longer Be Moving Forward On DStv And StarSat?

For three years, consumers on pay-tv platforms have wondered if plans were still underway to get SABC Education alongside other channels from the public broadcaster such as SABC Sport and SABC Lehae to DStv and StarSat as these brands are currently exclusive to free-to-view platforms.

Prior to the pandemic, SABC had unveiled an educational channel and as mentioned they were looking to get it on more platforms. Now the question is whether that's still on the cards or similar to the duration of SABC News on DTT those plans had been halted.

In recent years, MultiChoice had limited the broadcast rights to select sporting content to their consumers while as SABC removed their local content from DStv's catch-up service leaving consumers to rely on SABC 1-3 or to stream further repeats on SABC+.

It wouldn't really some far fetched to some if SABC Education alongside other channels by the public broadcaster never got the time of day on DStv (and it possible StarSat). The public broadcaster had been looking to charge pay-tv platforms if not collect TV licence for their channels.

Although, SABC Sport and SABC Education aren't under must carry regulations as seen with SABC 1-3. They are operated by the same company which kind of jeopardize their position on the platforms.

Another issue a viewer had brought up was the trust deficit for these channels. As seen with SABC Encore and e.tv's 4 Openview channels each had a 5 year duration on DStv and if SABC Education or SABC Sport lasted much longer then you'd know it's a success with MultiChoice.

News Shorts: Cbeebies Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Big Lizards, Dumisa TV To Debut A Gender Based Talk Show And Supernatural Comedy Love In 40 Days Makes A Landing On Novela E Plus

CBeebies is set to go on a comedic adventure

CBeebies and France Télévisions have teamed up to co-commission Big Lizard, a CG-animated co-pro for preschoolers from Beakus in the UK and France’s Watch Next Media and Je Suis Bien Content.

The 52 x seven-minute toon will premiere on both public broadcasters’ linear channels in fall 2024, and Aardman is handling global distribution.

The comedy-adventure sees Big Lizard and his best friend Cosima (a young female astronaut) exploring an alien planet while teaching kids about science and prehistoric Earth.

Beakus founder Steve Smith co-created Big Lizard with French animation designer and illustrator Amaël Isnard. Smith will produce the preschool show with Je Suis Bien Content’s Franck Ekinci (April and the Extraordinary World), and Isnard is on board to direct.

Dumisa to debut a gender neutral program

Set your reminders. Gender Space is the Commission for Gender Equality’s own TV talk show that will focus on thorny societal gender issues affecting men and women in South Africa. The talk show will divide the gender topics in twelve episodes wherein our CGE’s Commissioners, Legal Officers and other officials will share information on the Commission’s impactful gender-related programmes and interventions. Hosted by well-known TV and radio personality, Seipati “Twasa” Seoke, and CGE’s own officials, the talk show will tackle topics such as challenges faced by widows; the changing laws that govern marriage; gender-based violence and femicide; human trafficking; the compensation of domestic workers; teenage pregnancy challenges faced the LGBTQI community and women with disabilities. Watch the first episode on 05 October at 18:00 on DUMISA TV, channel 340 on DSTV. The show will air every Thursday at the same time from 05 October – 21 December 2023.

StarTimes to debut a new supernatural romcom

After getting involved in a fatal car crash, a competitive career woman arrives in an uncanny purgatory. While settling her unfinished businesses as a lingering spirit, she meets and finds her soulmate in a rebellious scion with a third eye.

The series starred Loisa Andalio as Jane Marasigan, Ronnie Alonte as Edward B. Montemayor / Nathaniel Rosal, Leo Martinez as Patricio Guzman and Janice de Belen as Ofelia Abanilla / Jocelyn "Josie" Rosal.

Since the series debut, a total of 110 episodes had been produced each with a duration of 18 - 30 minute duration. The Filipino drama also conceived a soundtrack featuring the talents of Jeremy G and Sam Milby.

Be sure to tune in 25 September on Novelas E Plus at 20:40.

Development Alert: SABC News Has Reportedly Been Blocked From DTT Platforms And Possible SABC+, Replaced With SABC Lehae

During the week, it was reported that the public broadcaster had renewed their agreement with MultiChoice for SABC News. It was also revealed that they officially launched their second news channel SABC Lehae although not much marketing was put to welcome the new channel.

Following the arrival of SABC Lehae, several viewers on SABC's DTT had reported that SABC News is no longer available on the platform cause as viewers browse to view the channel all they get is a coloured screen. So we assume that this new agreement with MultiChoice prevents consumers from accessing SABC News.

SABC Lehae has been added as collateral and likely a backup to SABC News but unlike the pay-tv counterpart it is very much riddled with old programming as well as telecasts of SABC 1-3. We assume the public broadcaster couldn't retain SABC News on their DTT platform for an extended period.

As my hunch suggested previously, SABC Lehae is basically what Zee One is to Zee World but with SABC News - competition. As one brand is confined to a paywall while the other is filtered to its likeness with some variation added every and now then which kind of removes any possibility I had of it being included on MultiChoice's DStv.

If anything, it wouldn't surprise me if the channel were to surface on eMedia Investments' Openview platform to replace the news part of e.tv's News And Sport. As that too was also riddled with repeats and licenced content from various other broadcasters so to speak.

If there's one thing that these recent SABC and MultiChoice developments had suggested there's a lot of beef brewing between the two. Initially, it was reflected on sports but now it's reflecting on other areas of the business with SABC's content removed from catch-up.

Just curious to wonder what's next for these two, my guess would be the carriage of SABC 1-3 as the two had been negotiating for fees but it reached a dead end. Honestly speaking, would it be surprising if SABC 3 were to exit the platform and program changes awaited SABC 1 and 2.

For a while now, SABC had managed to divide the content between platforms and honestly the chances of their channels particularly SABC 3 undergoing a similar scenario wouldn't seem far fetched as the channel hasn't been sustainable and is the least watched amongst the three channels.

Recap To The Week: SABC Extend Agreement With MultiChoice For News Channel, Rolls Out Second Local News Channel SABC Lehae On DTT Platforms

During the week, it was revealed by the public broadcaster that they extended their carriage agreement with MultiChoice for SABC News that promises to keep redefining the broadcasting landscape. Although, the duration of this agreement remains unknown.

Interesting to note, the public broadcaster finally gave an official brand name to their second news channel currently seen on DTT and DTH, SABC Lehae. After failing to officially roll it out during the year sources mentioned it had a soft launch.

Formerly known as SABC Parliament and SABC eKhaya, the public broadcaster views SABC Lehae as an alternative to SABC News. Not sure what that means when it comes to the multilingual brand's chances on pay-tv cause as seen with SABC Sport that's not seen on DStv.

But from what we've observed in a previous story, it's likely that the channel could be added onto eMedia Investments' Openview platform. The public broadcaster had promised the company as well as consumers two additional channels to accompany SABC 1-3 and Sport.

Aside from that, Openview doesn't offer a local news channel and SABC Lehae could help fill that void seeing as Newzroom Afrika and eNCA reside with DStv. Similar to these brands, SABC Lehae would hold an significant position keeping viewers up-to-date with daily happenings.