Wang’kolota Coming Back To Mzansi Wethu For Season 3 With New Host

Are you a ‘skepsel’ in need but a ‘kleva’ in the streets? Well, Wang’kolota is coming back to Mzansi Wethu for a third season with new host, Trevor Gumbi, from Sunday 18 August and they are coming for you!

Wang'kolota puts a spotlight on individuals who openly and freely spend their money while neglecting to pay back those they owe. The host and his crew step in to help the lender retrieve what they are owed from the borrower after the he/she has been struggling to get back what is owed to them.

However, it’s not just about going to get what’s due to you since there might be legal implications and consent from all partiers is crucial. For this reason, the show engages a legal representative for advice on the most suitable legal approach to seize the accused’s property to find ways to repay the debt, should the need arise.

It is important to ensure that the accused is capable of consenting, fully willing, under no duress, and in full knowledge of the risks and consequences involved.

Can the host and his team help retrieve it or are there deeper unresolved issues standing in the way? Tune in to Wang’kolota on Mzansi Wethu DStv Channel 163 from Sunday 18 August at 20:00

Recap To The Month: Canal+ Looking To Make MultiChoice A Global Powerhouse Against The Likes Of Disney And Netflix By Making Local Content Go Global

During the month, Canal+ Group CEO was approached by journalists where he addressed several matters regarding MultiChoice. As reported, he's been given the greenlight to acquire the remaining shares and is currently drawing up a proposal to appease legislation. 

Together the merged company would have reached 50 million households (30 million reside within Africa). It would make it the biggest entertainment company across the world that's not based in the United States.

Apart from the MultiChoice deal in Africa, the group had increased its share in the Hong Kong-based streaming platform Viu to 30% - with the option of increasing it to 50%. Viu has accumulated 15 million subscribers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Canal+ plans for MultiChoice's local endeavors 

Saada says the new, merged company will take a "very, very different approach" than the American companies, by focusing on the highest quality local content. "And it's not necessarily very difficult, but it needs resources. And once you reach a scale of 50 million subscribers, then you have the resources."

Implying that local content from M-Net and various of other brands like Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic and KykNET will likely resurface in parts of Europe and Asia. Now that funds coming into MultiChoice will have additional outlets and possible increase local commission. 

MultiChoice Studios' offering was limited to Showmax and various M-Net channels. With Canal+, we'll probably be seeing more of Blood Psalms and Recipe For Love And Murder and possible content distributed in France before Africa. 

Where does this leave brands like eNCA and SABC News?

Nothing can be for certain in regards to that as Canal+ does supply various local channels from DStv onto their platforms in Francophone Africa. These include Africa Magic Epic, M-Net Movies, SuperSport La Liga and Premier League and Zee World.

South African content has been known to be kind of pricey one of the reasons eNCA is not viewable on a platform like Openview. It's not necessarily about exclusivity but the fact that there's not much competitors that can aid in MultiChoice's pursuit in that regard.

If anything, it would probably be a miracle if some content from these channels wind up on French based news channel Canal+ 8 (C8). There's been scenarios where TV channels would just invest in regional content it was like that with BBC News and CGTN.

Media24 To Close City Press, Daily Sun, Rapport And Beeld In October

Media24 will reportedly be closing 4 of its print publications in October, including Daily Sun, Beeld, Rapport and City Press.

This according to a report by Moneyweb which cites four sources have confirmed the media house’s decision to shut down some of its mainstream publications.

In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Media24 considered the closure of 5 magazines and 2 newspapers.

A total of 510 positions were impacted and the company consolidated several positions in a long-term restructuring process.

It is now reported that a rapid decrease in circulation numbers has led to the decision to shut down the 4 publications mentioned above.

As reported by Moneyweb, it is unknown whether Media24 will continue with the online brands for these publications which lives as sub-sections under News24 and Netwerk24 websites.

Rapport’s circulation reportedly fell from 335 000 in 2000 to just 60 000 in 2024.

City Press declined from 233 000 to just 14 000, while the Beeld dropped from 100 000 to 20 000.

News Shorts: TPA Noticias Broadcasts The Angola ICT Forum 2024 For Consumers In South Africa, DStv Access Gets More Kids Channels Alongside SuperSport Football And TBN And Disney Channel Potential HD Feed Likely Scrapped On DStv

Angola ICT Forum 2024 is also viewable to DStv consumers in South Africa 

Mário Oliveira welcomed the participants to Angotic/2024. On the occasion, the minister listed the sector's challenges that began 45 years ago and that now allow the country to be at the forefront of leadership in the ICT sector in Africa. Despite all the achievements already achieved, the leader of MINTTICS said that the focus continues on ensuring infrastructures capable of revolutionizing communications on the continent with a focus on optical fiber and cable networks. These commitments, according to the minister, are visible in the quality of ICT services and the continuous training of national staff, to respond to the country's challenges.

MultiChoice allocated TPA Noticias on channel 530 to all DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact, Family, Access and Easyview customers from June 13th to 15th as part of the commemoration.

DStv Access gets more entertaining 

MultiChoice decided to add Cartoonito, Disney Channel, Nicktoons and DreamWorks to DStv Access from June 15th to July 7th as kids are at home for the school holidays. Weirdly enough, no open window had been announced for their Family to Compact audience.

Older audiences can enjoy the best sporting action on channel 205 until July 16th. Other content also offered on SuperSport Football include Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Serie A and La Liga.

TBN and Disney Channel HD is a bust

A few years ago, MultiChoice was working on two HD feeds for both TBN and Disney Channel, and from the looks of the duration had been in development hell. Now TBN had been phased out for Zambezi Reloaded while Disney Channel by Racing240.

Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network are already in high definition and were commonly known as the big 3 alongside Disney Channel. Those numbers continue to fall short on MultiChoice's end while with TBN I think what's more shocking was its nomination for such frequency. 

Developing Story: StarSat Scraps Possibly Delays Price Increase Following News Of Its Possible Closure In South Africa

Not long ago, it was announced that StarSat would implementing a price increase effective from July 1st. Now the pay-tv company has removed any mentions of such across their social platforms following possible news of its closure in South Africa. 

On Digital Media, the parent company and license holder for StarSat's broadcast license was said to be revoked by ICASA. With sources mentioning that they had until September 18th to address staff and the various parties affected by this matter.

StarSat in these regards is exploring all the regulatory and legal issues regarding its licencing. This could have been the contributing factor as to why any mentions of these prices had since been taken down.

But StarTimes continues to sell their decoders when in such regards you would have to pause the distribution of your products. Various consumers worried and concerned wonder what will happen with AMC, One Free Televisual and Da Vinci.

MultiChoice had packaged and once distributed some of the channels viewed on their platform. The demise of StarSat means none of this content would be available in South Africa while others like CBS Reality and National Geographic reside on DStv.

Another downside pertains to the local offering viewed on the platform such as One Freestate Televisual and Rising Sun TV. Unlike the latter above whose reach extends to Africa, these are regional channels and as such don't have much avenues to stay on air.