June 2025 On National Geographic Wild Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Ocean With David Attenborough | Beneath The Waves Stunt | More

BENEATH THE WAVES STUNT 

Sundays at 18:00, from 1 June (ends 29 June)

Join Nat Geo Wild for a special programming event dedicated to exploring the wonders of the ocean. Through breath-taking documentaries and expert insights, we’ll dive deep into the mysteries of the deep sea, uncover the impact of human activity, and highlight the urgent need for conservation. Together, we can inspire change and protect the blue heart of our planet. Don’t miss this immersive journey beneath the waves!

Programming includes: 

Secrets of the Penguins - Sunday 1 June at 18:00

In Antarctica, emperor penguin societies reveal mysterious bonds forged from birth. They are the secret to surviving their extreme world.

Premiere: The Secret Life of Orcas – Sunday 8 June at 18:00

Orcas captivate with their intelligence and family structures. Recent attacks on boats near Gibraltar raise questions: Are they threatening us or just playing?

The Secret Life of Orcas – Sunday 15 June at 18:00

Exploring Orcas' remarkable ability to pass down knowledge through generations, marine biologist Florian Graner delves into the diverse cultures of orca populations.

Deep Sea Dwellers - Sunday 22 June at 18:00

Forget Hollywood; there are aliens in the deep. Octopus, squid and cuttlefish are shapeshifters with three hearts, blue blood and holes in their brains.

OCEAN with David Attenborough - Sunday 29 June at 18:00

The world’s leading natural historian draws on a lifetime of knowledge to reveal how Earth’s vast, interconnected waterways can be restored.

HEARTLAND DOCS 3 (8 x 60)

Mondays at 18:00, from 2 June (ends 21 July)

Heartland vets Drs. Ben and Erin Schroeder dedicate their lives to the health of their four-legged friends in their Nebraska community. Here, the Schroeders revive a juvenile bald eagle, tend to a dog overwhelmed by its litter of puppies and rescue a show horse with a near-fatal leg injury.

UNDERDOGS (5 x 60)  

Saturdays at 18:00, from 28 June (ends 19 July)

This ground-breaking series tells the stories of the heroic underdogs natural world - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, the series will spotlight the unique and unpredictable behaviors of a cast of little-known animal characters in the natural world, including their camouflage techniques, parenting skills and courtship rituals.

June 2025 On National Geographic Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Ocean With David Attenborough | Returning Shows Including Lawless Island | More

LAWLESS ISLAND S8 (10 x 60) 

Mondays at 19:40, from 2 June (ends 4 August)

In Port Protection, the summer and fall are proving grounds for its residents. Villagers must work unceasingly to commercial fish, stock firewood, build cabins, collect water and hunt for red meat. The younger generation must figure out how to grow and expand, while the old-timers find unique ways to reinforce their bodies after decades of struggle on the unforgiving island.

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

Friday 13 June at 20:30 (1 part documentary) 

OCEAN with David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean.

The celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests, and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.

Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT: UNLOCKING THE TRUTH (3 x 60) 

(FIRST 2 EPS DOUBLE-BILLED)

Sundays at 21:00, from 15 June (ends 22 June)

A groundbreaking look at one of history’s most notorious psychology studies through the firsthand accounts of the original prisoners and guards, many of whom are speaking on camera for the very first time. Their stories unravel a narrative that interrogates the motives of the man in charge, Dr. Philip Zimbardo, while exploring larger questions of human nature and the power of perspective.

COLOSSEUM: THE RISE AND FALL  (3 x 60) 

Wednesdays at 20:30, from 25 June (9 August)

New discoveries and cutting-edge research reveal the history of Rome’s Colosseum and its intricate relationship with the empire that created it. Combining the latest archaeological  evidence from the Colosseum itself, with clues from ancient sites in Europe and North Africa, we explore the building’s extraordinary archaeological and cultural history, and its role in Rome’s rise and fall. 

CONTINUING SHOWS

AMSTERDAM CENTRAL 24/7 S1 (5 x 60)

Thursdays at 18:50, from 29 May (ending 26 June)

Amsterdam Central Station, an architectural marvel, stands tall as a gateway connecting Amsterdam to the rest of the world. Over 250,000 passengers pass through its doors every day. Inside it, there is a melting pot of cultures and stories. Diverse travellers from different backgrounds, people who arrive in search of adventure, love, or a new beginning. From backpackers to businessmen, this station welcomes them all. 

TUCCI IN ITALY S1 (5 x 60)

Tuesdays at 20:30, from 21 May (ends 18 June)

The Italian peninsula is a battleground for the proud and passionate culinary traditions of rival regions. Stanley Tucci is visiting ten of the most distinctive to discover how food can unlock what makes them so special. In each episode, who he meets, what he eats and what he learns will all lead to the creation of a meal that captures that region’s very essence.

LIBERATION: D-DAY TO BERLIN (4 x 60) 

Tuesdays at 20:30, from 13 May (ends 3 June) 

80 years on from the fall of Nazi Germany, we experience the liberation of Western Europe through modern eyes. Unrivalled restoration and expert colourisation of the surviving archive transports us into an emotional and hard-hitting story that balances heroism and tragedy, hope and despair, and exposes the reality of warfare conducted with a ferocity that left no-one untouched, or unchanged.

NORTHWOODS SURVIVAL S1 (8 x 60) 

Mondays at 18:50, from 12 May (ends 30 June)

Northwoods Survival follows a diverse group of young Canadians as they embark on a challenging four-season mission: to build a life in the vast and unforgiving Canadian wilderness. The series takes viewers on an adventure through some of the country's most remote and rugged landscapes as these aspiring homesteaders face the harsh realities of living off the land and strive to not just survive - but to thrive in these wild places, they now call home.

Investigation Discovery Explores The Dark Side Of Fame In Upcoming Six-Part Series, Hollywood Demons

Investigation Discovery announced today a riveting new six-part series, HOLLYWOOD DEMONS, that pulls back the glamorous curtain of fame to expose the hidden struggles, sacrifices and scandals of life in the spotlight. From the seemingly cursed dynasties like the Von Erich wrestling family to iconic figures like 7th Heaven’s pastor dad, Stephen Collins, who are far from their beloved characters, and series plagued by peril and misfortune like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and The Real Housewives, this new series unveils the shadowy underbelly of Hollywood. Each gripping two-hour episode features accounts from Hollywood insiders, project collaborators, and survivors who endured harrowing abuse and struggles. Insight and perspective are provided by addiction specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky and culture writer, Scaachi Koul. HOLLYWOOD DEMONS will air weekly beginning Friday, 16 May from 21:00 – 23:00 CAT on ID Africa, DStv channel 171.  

 

For 11 years, Stephen Collins graced the screen as the altruistic Rev. Eric Camden on 7th Heaven. However, his squeaky-clean image is shattered when a recording of him admitting to inappropriate sexual conduct with underage girls is leaked. In this intense and emotional two-hour premiere of HOLLYWOOD DEMONS, one of Collins’s alleged victims comes forward in a shocking tell-all interview, revealing the disturbing truth about the actor she once idolised. Crew and castmates from the iconic series, including Jeremy London, also share their reactions to the bombshell accusations, leaving them reeling in the aftermath. The premiere episode of HOLLYWOOD DEMONS, “Stephen Collins, America’s Dad,” premieres on Friday, 16 May at 21:00 CAT.

 

A complete rundown of episodes this season includes:  

Child Stars Gone Violent  

Premieres Friday, 23 May at 21:00 CAT  

In the golden era of ’90s family-friendly TV, child actors weren’t just stars—they were America’s sweethearts. But for some, the transition out of the spotlight dragged them down a path of crime, addiction, and violence. Former child actors Brian Bonsall (Family Ties) and Dee Jay Daniels (The Hughleys) unpack the harsh reality of life after fame, while producers from Home Improvement and That’s So Raven reveal their brush with young stars who ended up behind bars. 

 

Dark Side of the Power Rangers 

Premieres Friday, 30 May at 21:00 CAT 

Every ‘90s kid remembers Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the ultimate live-action superhero show. Beneath the bright spandex and high-flying karate kicks lies a grim reality of tragedy and scandals. Viewers will watch never-before-seen footage of a fan-turned-gunman who had one horrifying mission: to assassinate the show’s most legendary star. And just a few years later, the same actor meets a grim fate. 

 

Housewives Gone Bad  

Premieres Friday, 6 June at 21:00 CAT 

The Real Housewives began as a dazzling display of wealth and luxury, but over the past two decades, tragedy and criminal activity have shaken their glamorous worlds. For the first time, a former colleague breaks down how one housewife built her multimillion-dollar empire on deception. And The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’s Taylor Armstrong speaks out like never before, shedding new light on her husband’s alleged abuse and the unsettling rumors that still surround his death. 

 

SABC Looking To Curate Exclusive Content For SABC+

SABC+ is a South African based streaming service that served as a promotional window to the current SABC 1-3 alongside it's 19 radio stations. Since it's inception, the streamer has only managed to accumulate 850,000 registered users on the platform.

At the time, the SABC had remained hesitant in bulking up its offering for the streamer as it's cable networks continue to lose revenue. According to recent reports, the plan is to make SABC+ a flagship platform going forward which could hint at a major restructuring for its cable networks.

When MultiChoice unveiled Showmax 2.0 in partnership with Comcast this led to the consolidation/axing of Me and 1Magic. Even eMedia Investments made some adjustments to its linear platform with eExtra's Kuiertyd that had become the dumping ground for eVOD.

With SABC 2 and 3 continuing to run at a loss estimated guess is that SABC will try to minimise or scrap further commissions from these platforms in favour of SABC+. These channels will likely turn to archived material and third party programming while optimising for the streamer.

"We are seeking partnerships with organisations that traditionally would be viewed as competition for the SABC. This includes MultiChoice; also streaming services like VIU, Netflix and all the rest."

On the streaming front, it appears SABC is on a rationality process as they're hoping to ink deals with Netflix and MultiChoice for programming. When Netflix launched in the market it become another DStv in general a shark hovering around smaller fish.

Warner's head at Max had a long talk with corporate about the performance of the streamer and it was agreed that Max (small fish) will never the reach of Netflix. If there's anyone who has better luck to compete it's Disney+, SABC+ very much like Max is fighting for stability.

Last year, Max dumped most of Cartoon Network's library of content as these weren't core to their viewers so it's likely SABC+ will adapt to a similar trait when commissioning content. Prioritizing IPs in an attempt to boost consumer growth at SABC+ while other content that goes unnoticed on the platform will garner traction on Netflix.

Canal+'s MultiChoice Ongoing Battle With Regulators

As noted, Canal+ had been looking to acquire MultiChoice with the deal that was expected to close in April 2025 now aiming for October 2025. The deal currently being scrutinized by regulators is regarded as a larger merger with MultiChoice valued at over R50 billion it would make sense why they couldn't cross their initial deadline.

MultiChoice filed this transaction with regulators by 30 September 2024 and the Competition Commission usually takes about 40 business days but for larger mergers they can extend from 6 months to 12 months with this deal already past 7 months presuming regulators wanted more info about the deal.

Compared to previous larger mergers (e.g. Walmart and Massmart), the MultiChoice deal is the most complex due I mean most others would have this done within 6 months (excluding consultations with the Tribunal). This is due to the ECA which limits decision making to 20% and Canal+ addressed that with LicenceCo.

Others hurdles would have to be the effects this transaction has on competitors (like eMedia Investments) and the economy. MultiChoice has been a dominant force (via SuperSport) but as we've seen in recent years Netflix is starting to catch-up as they've licensed WWE for a number of countries.

If MultiChoice wants to continue outshining Netflix they have to assure this deal gets greenlight between now to early July if they want to meet the October deadline. The tribunal will need 3 months at least if approved to hold public hearings and set the ground work.

Major delays to October would have to be the Competition Commission's recommendation to block the deal or a minority shareholder (like Alan Gray) wanting more money. But if I'm being honest the deal has a moderate to high rate of getting to Scenario A than B.

Scenario A

MultiChoice is in financial distress and serves a responsibility in growing the local landscape. Regulators could greenlight this deal as a means to keep these operations around for the foreseeable future although Netflix is a dominant foe it can't replicate SABC News much less DStv Diski. 

If Canal+ is able to swallow up MultiChoice as there's a moderate to high chance of the deal being greenlight by regulators mainly because of the company's financial position. Although, Netflix already curates content within the market it's not to the scale of SuperSport much less SABC News.

Expect this deal to come with numerous clauses the first I presume would be local quotas even for LicenceCo. Canal+ could be told that 40-60% of its earnings must be used to fund the local landscape and with a 20% cap they'll likely want a detailed report on their activities.

Another which I don't think would be the case is a divestiture of core brands maybe Canal+ could sell a stake in SuperSport which I doubt even DStv. Canal+ is more likely look to offload assets such as Namola and Aura as they generate very little revenue for MultiChoice.

Scenario B

Regulators have been known to block deals in the past with Vodacom and Maziv deal that had remained ongoing since 2022. On the MultiChoice's stance, the issue would stem from its dominance within the TV spectrum particularly sports, a deal like this would further isolate competitors.

Another may have to do with economic factors, regulators may fear that this ordeal will lead to jobs cuts or loss of local content. Although Canal+ doesn't have an existing foothold, MultiChoice has been loss making and the acquiring company always looks to reduce operational expenses.

Lastly the structure, MultiChoice plans to curve out it's broadcasting license into a separate entity to ensure its compliant with legislation. Regulators may not be convinced that MultiChoice will comply with that 20% cap as the loophole to this would be MultiChoice Africa.