StarSat Issues Out Official Statement After It's Services Were Closed In South Africa With Transmission Disrupted For The Rest Of Africa

Not long ago, we reported that SAPS and ICASA had raided StarSat offices in South Africa after operating illegally for over a year with failure to shutdown as warned. With over 500000 consumers inactive, this will only lead to disaster for On Digital Media and StarTimes as paying consumers will likely raid their offices demanding for their money.

Since March, they were advised to settle their affairs and close by last month but didn't so and now consumers have raided their social platforms demanding answers on when the broadcaster will settle it's affairs with ICASA. Just to let you know, these things take time and we don't know what action awaits them.

If StarSat were to apply now that they were forcefully closed one result is a temporary ban meaning they'd have to wait a stipulated period to reapply which again 500000 can't afford. Consumers will likely just flee from their services and by the time they do return there may not be much to salvage as this market them and DStv harvest is crashing.

Below is a press statement from the company 

StarSat, operated by On Digital Media (ODM), confirms that earlier today, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), accompanied by the South African Police Service (SAPS), entered its Midrand offices and disconnected services.

During this process, not only were ODM’s services impacted but also those of StarTimes Media’s pan-African broadcast. As the service provider to ODM and a subsidiary of the larger StarTimes Group, StarTimes Media holds a valid individual electronics communication network service (ECNS) licence for transmissions across Africa.

While we acknowledge ICASA’s mandate to shut down ODM’s South African services, we are appalled by the manner in which ICASA disregarded ODM’s reasonable initial request for a discussion regarding which equipment should be removed, should the execution order be carried out.

Instead, ICASA opted to remove all equipment, including that belonging to StarTimes Media, which has adversely affected its pan-African broadcast services. This disconnection is highly concerning as it affects legitimate operations under this licence.

While ODM acknowledges an ongoing dispute, it strongly contests the disconnection of a valid StarTimes Media connection, which it believes to be unlawful.

ODM is exploring all legal avenues to resolve this issue swiftly and restore services. The company’s legal representatives have urgently approached the courts and will continue to keep all stakeholders, including customers, employees, and the media, informed as the situation progresses.

As Expected, StarSat Shuts Down In South Africa After Operating Illegally For Over A Year

Last month, it was reported that StarSat which serves as DStv's only competitor in South Africa was suppose to shut down by mid September. Since then, they continued to maintain an active presence in the market by selling their decoders, employing staff and promoting their bulk of entertainment to the media.

At the time, StarSat had stated they had no intention of closing their doors in South Africa as they look to take on ICASA in the hopes to stay on air. They left several consumers and staff members in the dark about their closure and also the fact they were distributing their services illegally not even channel providers Disney and BBC were aware of this.

In recent developments, it was confirmed that both ICASA and SAPS had ordered the shut down of StarSat services in South Africa imagine the feds are now on their tail. The only thing StarSat consumers can see now is a message on screen alerting them of "connection failure or bad whether".

Like I said a month ago, those using StarSat should get their affairs in order and opt for DStv or an Openview if they wish to enjoy a similar offering. Them operating illegally for this long would have dire consequences and there's consumers that probably paid in advance and you wonder if they'll get reimbursed.

StarSat was gloating for a month that they were dealing with financial constraints with part of it stemming from COVID-19 and if they wanted to take legal action or try to retain their services where else would they get these funds. Now over 500000 consumers are now going to be wondering aimlessly with jobs lost. 

The next step in this scenario would be if StarSat's license holder On Digital Media were to apply for a new license and this time on legal grounds they're going back to square one. DStv is already experiencing a decline in consumers due to the current economic climate and also the rise in internet usage.

Now with StarSat being off air, consumers are likely to dump their decoders and explore other means but should they come back these consumers would have moved on. This whole process they are engaging in will take up a lot of time something the "fans" and members of StarSat can't afford at the moment.

StarSat could as well just end up in the same nutshell as Telkom Media or Cell C's Black with On Digital Media that will likely disband. As for StarTimes, they could as well focus on the other pay-tv services in Africa leaving MultiChoice as the only pay-tv provider in South Africa.

October 2024 On Disney Channel And Disney Junior Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Primos | Returning Shows Including Firebirds | More

Disney Channel 

PRIMOS

Season Premiere

Monday – Friday from 21 -30 October at 16:30 CAT

“Primos” is a coming-of-age animated comedy that follows Tater Ramirez Humphrey, an eccentric girl with big dreams, determined to find what makes her extraordinary. When her 12 chaotic cousins (“primos” in Spanish) move in for the summer, they help her discover her true self.

Catch the brand-new series Primos from Monday, 21 October at 16:30 CAT on Disney Channel

HAMSTER & GRETEL

Season 2 Premiere

Monday- Friday from 7 -16 October at 14:50 CAT

The music-filled “Hamster & Gretel” introduces Kevin and younger sister Gretel, who are about to be bestowed super-powers by space aliens. But something goes awry, and it’s Gretel and her pet hamster (named Hamster) who suddenly have new abilities. Now, protective older brother Kevin must figure out how to work with both Gretel and her pet Hamster to protect their city from mysterious dangers.

Highlights of the Season 2 episodes include an episode where Gretel gets stressed out when Kevin returns from a relaxation camp with a laid-back attitude.

Catch Season 2 of Hamster & Gretel from 7 October at 14:50 CAT on Disney Channel 

Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales

Disney Channel Movie Premiere

Friday, 25 October at 17:00 CAT

Just in time for Halloween - all-new scary special from Lucasfilm and the LEGO Group that will have fans ready for a frighteningly fun time. After the events of “The Rise of Skywalker,” Poe and BB-8 must make an emergency landing on the volcanic planet Mustafar where they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa, and Dean (a plucky and courageous young boy who works as Graballa’s mechanic) venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé. Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. 

Catch the fun animated series Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales On Friday, 25 October at 17:00 CAT

KLIK KLUB

Season 2 Stunt

Weekends, 26 & 27 October at 06:50 & 12:20 CAT

Wandi & Kabz, a live-action meets animation comedy series, is anchored by Ogadinma Ngobili (14) as Wandi and Marang Neo (10) as Kabz. These besties go on grand adventures together, meeting popular African historical figures, thanks to Wandi’s special antique, time-travelling pocket watch. After a quick and playful interaction, the historical figures whisk Wandi and Kabz off to the past for a light-hearted glimpse into significant scenes from their lives. From the bustling streets of gold rush-era Johannesburg to the epic battles of the Zulu Kingdom, Season 2 of Wandi & Kabz brings history to life with trademark humour and wit. Viewers can expect to learn fascinating facts while laughing along with the show's infectious energy from figures that include Queen of Sheba, King Moshoeshoe and Albertina Sisulu.

Catch 3 episodes on each day in the morning from 06:50 CAT and two episodes later both days from 12:20 CAT on Disney Channel.

Disney Junior

Firebuds

Season 2 New Episodes

Monday - Friday from 14 October at 10:00 CAT 

Set in a fantastical world where talking vehicles live, work and play with the humans who drive them, Disney Branded Television’s “Firebuds” follows a boy and his firetruck as they team up with their first responder friends to help others in their community with problems, both big and small. Whether rescuing a young car that’s stuck in a tree, tracking down lost Dalmatian puppies or helping their neighbours stock up on emergency supplies during a blackout, the Firebuds highlight the importance of teamwork and helping your fellow citizens. Each episode is comprised of two 11-minute stories and features at least one new original song.

Catch Firebuds Monday - Friday from 14 October at 10:00 CAT on Disney Jr.

Halloween Fun with Mickey

Halloween Themed Episodes & Shows

Saturday & Sunday 26 & 27 October from 08:30 CAT

Find all the Halloween fun kicking off with Season 1 of Mickey Mouse Spooky Stories on Saturday, 26 October at 08:30 CAT and again on Sunday, 27 October at 10:30 CAT.

Mickey and Friends: Trick or Treats is a stop-motion Halloween special starring Mickey and Friends on Saturday, 26 October at 11:00 CAT (and again on Sunday, 27 October at 10:30 CAT). Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy are trick-or-treating when Donald spies the spookiest mansion he's ever seen and assumes it has the best treats. After he convinces his friends to risk a visit, the owner, Witch Hazel, casts a spell that turns them into their costumes.  

Catch Mickey's Monster Musical on Saturday, 26 October at 12:00 CAT - a Halloween special of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It is a parody of the 1970s cult classic musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

On Sunday, 27 October, catch Mickey's Tale of Two Witches at 12:00 CAT. On Halloween, Mickey tells Pluto a story about two witches-in-training, Minnie the Wonderful and Daisy Doozy, who must pass four tests to graduate from the Witch Academy in Happy Haunt Hills. While Daisy isn’t confident about passing, she and Minnie join forces, along with Count Mickula and the gang, to defeat a mischievous ghost. Minnie and Daisy learn that working together makes their magic and their friendship stronger.

Catch all the Halloween fun with Mickey and friends on Halloween weekend, 26 & 27 October from 08:30 CAT on Disney Jr. 

"The Bollore Effect": Could SABC News, eNCA And Newzroom Afrika Also Be Impacted By Canal+ Possible Takeover Of MultiChoice?

MultiChoice is technically insolvent a position in which the liabilities weigh more than their assets meaning the company won't be able to cover most of their expenses and could go bankrupt. So they're reliant on Canal+ transaction in order to remain afloat as they take the matter to legislation.

As some readers are aware, there was reports going around about the potential owners Canal+ and Vivendi that similar to MultiChoice would buy up shares in a company before staging a hostile takeover. But most of the attention was pointed toward the editorial staff and the effects this transaction had on them.

eMedia Investments' Openview and StarSat already package the French news channel France24 alongside MultiChoice's DStv in the Eastern and Western parts of Africa. This channel has been subjected to "editorial interference" or as the media would brand this situation "corporate bullying".

The owners in question would force a channel like France24 to express certain views about a topic and failure to abide by those policies would risk that individual their job. Corporate would go about hiring someone who is willing to follow guidelines which is why France24 looks the way it is now.

With Canal+ obtaining almost half of MultiChoice shares there's fear lurking around that SABC News, eNCA and Newzroom Afrika heading down a similar route. Although Canal+ wouldn't own these channels they would own MultiChoice which in turn owns France24 and would want to level the playing field.

With Canal+ already prioritizing C8 and BFM alongside France24 in Africa another fear surrounding these channels would be budget cuts. The first thing that will happen once the transaction concludes would be corporate downsizing with lower to upper management seeing cuts with branches closing down.

BBC Brit Brings South African Talent And Wilderness Adventures To Screens This October

BBC Brit (DStv Channel 120) is turning up the excitement this month with two must-watch additions to its lineup: Tempting Fortune and Strictly Come Dancing. These family-fun entertainment shows are set to captivate audiences across the country, and the best part? They come with a unique Mzansi twist, showcasing the best of South African talent and landscapes.

 

Tempting Fortune, which premieres on 02 October 2024 at 21:00, takes viewers on a thrilling adventure deep into the heart of the South African Wilderness. Twelve strangers must resist lavish temptations and endure a gruelling 18-day trek for a shot at winning an epic cash prize.

 

With Top Gear’s Paddy McGuinness as the host of this social experience, viewers will get to see stunning local landscapes across the Eastern Cape – showing off South Africa’s breathtaking beauty.

 

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC Brit for its glittering 20th anniversary, airing every Sunday at 19:00 on DStv Channel 120. Hosted by the dynamic duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, celebrity contestants take to the Strictly dancefloor with their professional partners, aiming to deliver show-stopping performances that will impress the judges and keep them in the competition until the very end.

 

The show’s glittering new season promises even more spectacular performances, featuring South Africa’s very own Motsi Mabuse and Johannes Radebe returning to their roles as judge and professional dancer, respectively. Their presence on the stage brings international recognition to South African talent while also adding to the legacy of one of the world’s most beloved entertainment formats.

When asked about how she feels about the new season’s contestants, Mabuse said, “The class of 2024 is shaping up to be something extraordinary! Each year brings new personalities and new dynamics, and I’m excited to see how they’ll all evolve throughout the season. There’s so much potential, and I can’t wait to see the stories unfold on the dance floor. It’s going to be a phenomenal year!”

Catch all the wild adventures of Tempting Fortune and the sparkle of Strictly Come Dancing only on BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120, this October.

 

As well as South African personalities and locations, BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle (DStv Channel 174) and BBC UKTV (DStv Channel 134) offer a feast of local programming.

 

Joining BBC Lifestyle’s local line-up in October is the brand-new show Listing Mauritius. This follows the success of Listing Cape Town and Listing Jozi, showcasing the island’s breathtaking properties with familiar South African agents. The 10-part property reality show starts on Wednesday, 16 October at 20:00 and is produced by South African production company PD Production.