Ultraview's Future In Doubt As OUTtv Proud Launches On eVOD With The OUTtv Channel Coming Off Openview By The End Of April

OUTtv will be coming off the subscription Ultraview platform on Openview at the end of April. eMedia Investments has yet to mention a replacement for EDGE consumers unless that's being discontinued as FUSE would be the only TV channel currently priced at R75 per month.

Ultraview launched as a pay tier to the current free-to-view Openview platform comprises of two packages each with their own set of entertainment. Spice TV is a Bollywood package offering Zee Family and Star Select from India's largest broadcasters while EDGE is youth oriented for OUTtv and FUSE.

eMedia Investments has yet to disclose any further details on subscriber numbers for Ultraview but it is believed to be small bunch. Majority coming from Spice TV due to the existing involvement from Zee One and Star Life which serve as sister channels to the channels in question. 

EDGE would air in the later nights between 9pm and 11pm where consumers are either watching Uzalo on SABC 1 or Isitha: The Enemy on e.tv. Besides that viewership within these hours particularly for such channels are usually low.

Although OUTtv would be signing off from Openview this isn't necessarily a goodbye as the latter would be allocated on eMedia Investments other platform, eVOD. Similar to MultiChoice and NBCUniversal's endeavors with Showmax its likely that further content will surface on eMedia's other channels.

Prior to the introduction of OUTtv Proud, there were rumours flying around that OUTtv would be debuting a streaming service in the market. As companies are looking to consolidate and further reduce spending costs this was the probably the best chance OUTtv had in terms of survival. 

Press statement about OUTtv Proud

OUTtv Proud is proud to announce its exciting new home on the popular eVOD streaming platform. eVOD users can now see the popular and colourful OUT tv content at no extra cost.

After captivating audiences on Ultraview, OUTtv Proud is taking its critically acclaimed slate of content to the ever-growing world of streaming. eVOD viewers can now enjoy a wide range of colourful programming, from captivating dramas and comedies to thought-provoking documentaries and reality shows on South Africa’s first FAST channel.

“OUTtv Proud is already highly popular in the United, States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and we look forward to building on that success in South Africa,” said Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv. “South Africa has a rich, dynamic and vibrant LGBTQ+ community and we are excited to partner with eMedia to bring the world’s best LGBTQ+ TV series, movies and documentaries to them.”

New Series Alert: Jhanak Coming This May To Star Life

Star Life, a general entertainment channel operated by Disney Star that is home to various Bollywood drama series and movies all of which are dubbed in English is set to rollout another series in the coming months titled Jhanak.

Jhanak follows the titular character as she faces many challenges and obstacles in her life due to her poor background, but she never gives up on her passion. She meets Anirudh, who offers her support and encouragement, but fate separates them. 

It stars Hiba Nawab as Jhanak Raina, Krushal Ahuja as Aniruddha Bose, Chandni Sharma as Arshi Mukherjee, Dolly Sohi as Srishti Mukherjee, Sachin Verma as Shubh Basu and Kajal Pisal as Tanuja Basu.

The Hindi drama debuted on November 20, 2023 on StarPlus and 80 episodes have reportedly been filmed. It was met with a lot of praise by viewers and even surpassed the rankings of Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin better known as Lost In Life.

Jhanak will air daily at 18:00 CAT from 24 May replacing Faltu which comes to a close days prior. Zee One is also slated to air a new show titled Never Late For Love in the month.

Development Alert: Kelders Van Geheime Will Have A Simultaneous Broadcast On eExtra, Elif And Other Primetime Shows From Kuiertyd Revert Back To Previous Timeslots

Last month, it was reported that e.tv will be debuting its first original Afrikaans soap Kelders Van Geheime from 6 May. This comes after SABC failed to replace one of their longest running shows 7de Laan in 2023 and moved further Afrikaans content to SABC 3. 

Kelders Van Geheime, which is based on the wheelings and dealings of the community that lives on Soebatskloof (a wine farm in the Cape), focuses on three families. As they stand together to earn their bread and butter – and a glass of wine!

As some readers are aware, the show will be airing at 18:00 on e.tv replacing Ouma Sarie. This is the same timeslot SABC 2 aired 7de Laan which garnered 800,000 viewers while Ouma Sarie pulled 1.8 million viewers which is almost double. 

As we're browsing the schedule, there's no daily repeats (for now) as the bloated e.tv has stuffed its schedule with eExtra's scraps. But as we turn to eExtra there is a listing for Kelders Van Geheime weirdly enough its a simultaneous broadcast from e.tv.

When e.tv airs the show at 18:00, eExtra will be airing the exact same thing probably to avoid competition with Elif which airs 30 minutes later at 18:30. Everything Turkish on eExtra from Doodsondes (19:30), Chrysalis (20:30) and Die Put (21:30) join the list.

Now the matter in question, considering e.tv is already airing this at 18:00 it would have made sense to air it by 20:00 or 22:00. Again, e.tv has all these other repeats some like Chrysalis have afternoon repeats on eExtra so Kelders Van Geheime could air in that spot.

Another issue why are we just killing off timeslots for simultaneous airings on e.tv (e.g. Annekan Die Swa Kry). eExtra also offers Asian and Bollywood programming those could have been inserted there to avoid any conflict with the programming. 

Annekan Die Swa Kry and even Kelders Van Geheime could have aired around 15:00-17:00. No need to kill off viewers on eExtra unless there's households that aren't picking up e.tv which would make zero sense.

New Series Alert: Justice League Action And Jessica's Big Little World To Rollout In May On Cartoon Network And Cartoonito Across Africa

After debuting on Cartoon Network in most parts of the world by 2016, Warner Bros. Discovery suddenly decides to license the show for the network in Africa 8 years later. It was made available on Toonami 4 years after it debuted in other countries. 

It follows Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other superheroes join forces to form the Justice League that aims to fight villains. The series will air daily at 17:50 CAT from 6 May on Cartoon Network and similar to other countries no daily reruns. 

Unlike Teen Titans and Beware The Batman that were heavily ignored by Cartoon Network. Justice League Action is getting some exposure now the issue here most of the channel's audience at the time had grown up and probably aren't tuning into the network.

Not that Justice League Action is doomed to fail or anything as Cartoon Network has a huge fanbase in the market but some consistency would have helped now those who use it to view the network by 2016 are probably missing out.

Warner Bros. Discovery in some markets opted to further distance themselves from the preschool content. This was revealed by the one of the crew members of Craig Of The Creek, as Jessica's Big Little World will not be moving forward with a second season. 

The series follows the titular character as she navigates her way through a world where everything seems much bigger than she is; inspired by the grown-ups around her, she persists in conquering monumental children's tasks.

Jessica's Big Little World will air daily at 17:00 CAT on Cartoonito from 6 May will daily reruns at 07:35 CAT and 13:55 CAT.

MultiChoice Has Announced Imtiaz Patel’s Exit As Chairman, Just Weeks After Saying He Would Stay On In The Role

Just weeks after announcing that its chairman, Imtiaz Patel, would stay on to oversee a possible deal with Groupe Canal+, MultiChoice Group on Tuesday announced Patel’s exit from the role with immediate effect.

The move comes amid concerns about corporate governance at the broadcaster, which is the subject of a takeover bid by France’s Canal+.

In a surprise move, MultiChoice said on 2 April — following a board meeting before the Easter weekend — that it had rescinded a previous announcement that Patel would step down, with board member Elias Masilela due to take up the chairmanship from 1 April.

“In view of the recent ruling by the Takeover Regulation Panel that required Canal+ to make an immediate mandatory offer to all MultiChoice shareholders … the MultiChoice board has reached an agreement with Imtiaz Patel to remain on as chair,” the company said at the time.

“The board believes there is significant benefit in continuity at this time, and Mr Patel has agreed to extend his tenure until the conclusion of the Canal+ transaction or such sooner date as may be determined in light of progress on the transaction,” it said then.

Now, just three weeks later, Patel is stepping down – this time apparently for good.

Explaining why Patel is leaving, just three weeks after the board decided he should stay on, MultiChoice told investors that at the time of the announcement on 2 April, discussions were in their final stages on key terms of the proposed transaction with Canal+.

‘Next phase’

“These culminated in MultiChoice and Canal+ entering into a co-operation agreement on 7 April and issuing a firm intention announcement on 8 April, with the material terms of the proposed transaction recorded in these documents,” it said.

“Given these developments, the progress that has been achieved thus far and the fact the independent board has been constituted and will fulfil its obligations under the takeover regulations, the proposed transaction has now shifted to the next phase.

“The board and Mr Patel have therefore agreed that now would be an appropriate time for Mr Masilela, the current deputy chair, to be appointed as chair as planned and for Mr Patel to step down from the board with effect from the date of this announcement.”

Patel will remain as an adviser to the group on a consultancy basis as originally planned, it said.