Since 2022, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice had been undergoing a carriage dispute with the Competition Tribunal. After the p...
Unfortunately our OUTtvSA Pop up channel has come to an end.
We hope you guys enjoyed our teaser month with DStv.
We’ll be back with more Diverse, Vibrant and Bold content, including some exciting LOCAL shows.
So please stay tuned into our Social Media.
#joburgpride #prideofafrica #authenticyou #prideatmelrose #pride #green #growth #proudlyafrican #lgbt #pridemonth #channel #outtv #outtvsa #entertainment #gaychannel #gaytertainment #dragqueens
SPI International/FilmBox is launching Timeless Drama Channel (TDC), a new worldwide TV network devoted to Turkish drama series and movies.
TDC will feature such hit dramas as Kurt Seyit and Sura, 20 Minutes and The End. It will broadcast in HD and is now available for distribution on DTH platforms, cable networks, mobile and smart TVs as well as OTT services around the world.
“SPI’s brand new Timeless Drama Channel has broad appeal to anyone who loves big-budget drama and series, and will captivate your audiences and subscribers,”assures Berk Uziyel, CEO of SPI/FilmBox.
“These shows are now in demand across new territories in Central and Eastern Europe, South Africa, Asia and Latin America, so SPI International is responding to this by offering TV operators a linear HD channel with mesmerizing top quality Turkish series that drive record-breaking ratings.”
M-Net City, channel 115 on DStv, has great news for DStv Compact series fans: The channel is adjusting its prime-time slots to create a jam-packed schedule and a seamless viewing experience. From 31 October 2018, viewers will be able to enjoy their favourite shows in prime time between 18:20 and 22:50 with fewer breaks. The tweak in the schedule then also allows for an additional late-night slot (at 22:50) during which viewers who missed series with a high age-restriction can catch up on those episodes.
“As M-Net City is the place where DStv Compact viewers see the hottest series from Hollywood exclusively for the first time, we often receive requests or suggestions from viewers to amp up the schedule. The tweak to the starting times of shows allow us to address some of these requests,” says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard.
"Even though M-Net City often showcases shows that have previously been on M-Net 101, available to DStv Premium customers only, it should not be seen as a ‘repeat’ channel,” Lombard adds. “Over the past few months, an exceeding number of series have made their African debut on M-Net City."
Among these premiere shows are the new seasons of popular series Supernatural and The 100.
The new M-Net City line-up and times will look as follows:
· Each evening at 18:20, Mondays to Fridays, the hot and charming former Criminal Minds star Shemar Moore swoops in to save the day in S.W.A.T. season one. Starring as Sgt. Daniel Hondo Harrelson, Moore’s character helms a special tactical unit in Los Angeles. The dedicated actor was captivated by the similarities he shared with his alter ego on the show, and has since received a tattoo inspired by his character. Catch this tattoo up close, along with the action, in the season premiere of S.W.A.T (starts Thursday 1 November) .
· Mondays to Thursdays at 19:10, the channel will air a variety of international dramas: viewers can watch Emmy award winner Dick Wolf’s Chicago Fire season six on Mondays and Chicago PD season five on Tuesdays. The season finale of Elementary will air on Wednesday, 31 October and a brand new series starting on Wednesday, 7 November is the fast-paced medical instalment of the popular Chicago series, Chicago Med, season three. On Thursdays, catch the intriguing medical drama The Good Doctor season one, starring Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel) as Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism who uses extraordinary medical gifts to help patients at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
· Then, at 20:00 the Superheroes come to the rescue, Mondays to Thursdays:
Mondays: Supergirl season three episode 2 continues on Monday 5 November at 20:00 and she takes to the skies to battle the many villains rising up in an era of disruption.
Tuesday: (from 30 October)- Arrow season six shows how Oliver (star Stephen Amell) is determined to embrace his new role as a father in this season, while still serving and protecting his city as the Mayor and the Green Arrow.
Wednesdays (starts 31 October) - In The Flash season four, the Fastest Man Alive continues his quest to protect his city after being struck by a dark matter lightning storm.
Thursdays - In the usual style DC's Legends of Tomorrow season three starts on Thursday 1 November at 20:00.
The multi-talented Jennifer Lopez stars as Harlee Santos, a charismatic single mother and resourceful detective at the heart of a tight-knit crew of Brooklyn detectives, in Shades of Blue season three. The unit is led by enigmatic Lt. Matt Wozniak (Ray Liotta) who often directs the team to step outside the limitations of the law in order to effectively protect their precinct and their own. Season three of Shades of Blue picks up after a near-death experience on Wednesday, 21 November at 20:50.
The brilliant and critically acclaimed historical period drama Jamestown returns for a second season on M-Net City – with as many twists as before. It will be screened from Tuesday, 13 November at 21:45. Viewers will enjoy yet another season of dazzling ventures in love, war and diplomacy.
On Fridays, viewers can enjoy double episodes of Seth McFarlane’s offbeat sci-fi comedy The Orville at 19:10 and 20:00 (starts Friday 2 November). Set 400 years into the future, Captain Ed Mercer of the U.S.S. Orville and his crew, ex-wife and best friend explore space and try to figure out how to deal with life on a spaceship. With advanced species and galaxies light years away, how difficult could it be?
Looking for only the best international series on DStv Compact? M-Net City channel 115 is the place to be this November. The channel features never-before-seen series and great family entertainment.
Be part of the M-Net City conversation on mnet.tv, or follow the conversation on Twitter @MNetSeries (#MNetCity) or on the official M-Net Facebook page.
The channel is based on Canada’s OUTtv, which is also available in New Zealand and Australia.
While the LGBTIQ video streaming service PrideTV.co.za is already up and running in South Africa, OUTtv SA will be the first traditional broadcast LGBTIQ channel in the country.
The announcement took the community by surprise and many of us had questions about the channel. We spoke to Warren-Lee Whitcher, MD of OUTtv SA, for more about how the initiative came about and its plans for the future.
Who is behind OUTtv SA – who are the players and what is their background?
OUTtv SA is made up, mostly, by the same team that applied for a pay-TV license from ICASA back in 2012. This license was finally awarded in 2015. The team is comprised of innovative and talented broadcasting and broader media folk with extensive experience across multiple m media platforms. I, myself, am an investment banker by trade, however my first job out of varsity was with the Sabido Group (now eMedia Investments) which managed eTV, eNews, YFM etc. and I have been passionately involved within the broader media value chain ever since.
Are any of those behind the local channel members of the LGBTIQ community?
Yes, our team is highly diverse and inclusive, with a voice from most communities: Heterosexual, LGBTIQ, male, female, white, black, coloured, South African, Canadian…a little bit of everything!
Was there any consultation with the LGBTIQ community before launching the channel?
Of course, over the process of getting OUTtv SA to air – a six-year long process – we have consulted extensively with various bodies, members and allies of the LGBTIQ community, both locally and abroad. We have built a great working relationship with Johannesburg Pride and plan to leverage this relationship to build stronger ties within the local community going forward, especially with regards to local content opportunities, CSI initiatives etc.
Why has it taken so long for DSTV to get an LGBTIQ channel on the air? We as a community have been clamouring for this for many years. What was right about now?
Look, I cannot comment on any of the DStv specific details, however we have taken the view that we want to ‘be part of the change we want to see’ and are grateful that DStv have bought into this vision going forward.
From a timing perspective, I think there is very strong momentum towards embracing and nurturing the spirit of diversity and inclusion – across many different lines; sexual orientation, gender, race, creed etc. – so I believe the timing to be absolutely spot on for OUTtv SA launching in South Africa.
Why was it decided that OUTtv SA would only be a month-long pop up? Is this a test run with the possibility of an ongoing channel?
OUTtv SA is a premium channel that is extremely expensive to programme. As such, and as is normal for launches of new or niche offerings, it was decided to take the pop-up channel approach first, in order to assess demand and appetite. We are quietly confident that the channel will be very well received and are, of course, hopeful of building it out into a permanent fixture.
A link has been made between the channel and [Gauteng’s] Pride month in October. Is the channel intended to celebrate Pride or is the timing a coincidence?
Yes, October, as Pride month, seemed like a natural choice in which to launch OUTtv SA.
Do you think that the content on OUTtv will resonate with local audiences?
Yes, most definitely. Great stories are universally appealing so we are sure that most viewers will find one, two or ten shows or movies that they will absolutely love! In addition, around 80% of the programme line-up will be premieres within SA, so there is also that to consider.
Will OUTtv SA feature any local content?
OUTtv SA has had a long relationship with the [now defunct] OUT in Africa (OIA) film festival and it was always intended to leverage their extensive library of local content to support the launch of the channel.
However, the passing of time has seen the OIA library being donated to the UCT film library, which is great for posterity, however it makes the licensing deals far too complex for a pop-up channel. We will certainly be re-investigating this avenue should the channel become permanent as this is amazing content that fully deserves a national distribution platform. That being said, we have partnered with Johannesburg Pride to develop and produced an extensive list of short-format (10-15 min pieces) episodic content, featuring LGBTIQ community members and allies; that should make for sensational and informative viewing!
What kind of response have you received to the launch? Has there been any backlash from conservative DStv viewers?
The size and overall positivity of response to OUTtv SA has been overwhelming! We always expected a great response, but even we were blown away! And it’s getting bigger and stronger by the day. As regards negativity or backlash, none that I have seen… and even if it does come, our approach will not be one of defensive explanation. We will simply listen to and try and understand the message or concerns and then encourage everyone to give the channel a watch and embrace the spirit of diversity and inclusion with which it has been launched in South Africa.
Do you ever see the possibility of a channel such as OUTtv SA being offered to the rest of Africa?
That is a far bigger question than I am able answer. Obviously, we would love to distribute the channel as far and wide as possible, however we need to be responsible first and foremost and in some countries, being part of the LGBTIQ community is, literally, a danger to your well-being! Again, in the spirit of being part of the change we wish to see, we will happily play our part in promoting acceptance and positive change across the continent, but only at a pace which makes sense for all parties and stakeholders.
OUTtv SA is on DStv channel 198 until 4 November.
DStv Compact customers will get to enjoy an even wider variety of football with Spanish league football (La Liga), the home of superstars like Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann, soon to be available on the package.
SuperSport 7 HD, the channel dedicated to La Liga, will go live on the Compact package on Wednesday, October 24 from 8am.
“The DStv Compact customer has generally over the last few years evolved from being a local football purist into one that also shows appreciation for international football. It’s this appreciation and their loyalty that we’re rewarding by making La Liga football available to them,” explained SuperSport’s chief executive Gideon Khobane.
Fittingly, the switch comes just in time for the famed El Clasico, the match between super giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, which takes place on Sunday (kickoff 5.15pm, SS7).
The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus and Lionel Messi’s elbow fracture means that football’s greatest club rivalry of the last decade will be without the illustrious duo for the first time in 11 years.
However, their absence presents a great opportunity to the likes of Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez, and young guns Marco Asensio and Ousmane Dembele to be the heroes when the two sides face off.
Even though both teams come into their first meeting of the season on the back of ordinary league form - both winning just once in the last five matches - it’s hard to pick a winner. More certain is that the football will be world class.
The addition of La Liga on Compact will further enhance what is already an attractive package for local football fans, boasting PSL football, Premier League and Italian Serie A and continental football.
The move to Compact will also open La Liga up to a wider South African audience.
“La Liga’s South African office has been doing some tremendous work in growing the league on the continent.
The fans of Mehak will get a reason to rejoice as the show has been chosen to air original episodes for a new channel of Zee TV to launch in South Africa.
Producer Saurabh Tewari helmed banner, Parin Multimedia has given the TV viewing audience in India the entertaining concept of Zindagi Ki Mehak. The show which starred Karan Vohra and Samiksha Jaiswal garnered huge popularity and reached its closure recently after a good run.
Now, the fans of Mehak based outside India, especially in South Africa will get a reason to rejoice as Mehak has been chosen as one of the latest shows of Zee TV to air original episodes for a new channel of Zee TV to launch in South Africa.
Yes, you heard it right!!
This only means that in addition to the 500 plus episodes of Mehak, the viewers in South Africa will see nearly 150 plus original episodes.
News coming to us is that Karan Vohra has agreed to be the face of the channel, and will shoot for the original content that will be shot in South Africa.
A source states, “Karan has been offered huge money for this shoot in South Africa while Samiksha Jaiswal has not taken the offer. She will not be seen in the original content.”
With this, Parin Multimedia will be producing the South African series and become the first production house to shoot original content for South African network.
We hear that Karan Vohra along with Sharma family and new South African actors will shoot for the original content.
We buzzed Karan, Producer Saurabh Tewari and channel spokesperson but did not hear from them.
Are South African viewers ready to watch Mehak?
KNIGHT SQUAD
In this all new episode The Princess defies her father's orders and attends the Party of Darkness, but when the Shadow Ghost appears and threatens to possess her, the Phoenix Squad fights to save their friend in “Fight for Your Knight to Party”
Thursday 01 November @ 16:10
RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Here’s what to look forward to in the
brand new episodes:
• After learning that the Jupiter Jim moon
buggy has been repossessed, the TMNT
need to do a job to get it back.
• Donnie's newly built Turtle Tank goes
missing.
• Leo unseats Raph's idol as pro wrestling
champion of the world.
NE (103-106)
Weekends from 11 November @ 17:05
HENRY DANGER
• Captain Man and Kid Danger get
jealous when a new crime-fighting team
emerges in Swellview
• When Ray runs into an ex-girlfriend, he
tries to impress her by pretending that
Henry, Charlotte, and Jasper are his
children.
• After Henry's dad gets an offer for a new
job in Bordertown, Henry and Ray go
undercover to try and stop Henry's dad
from getting the job and prevent Henry
from having to move.
NE (409, 413-316, 419-422),
Weekdays from 19 November @ 18:55
Saturdays and Sundays @ 08:20 respectively
03rd
The Loud House
10th
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
17th
Star Falls
24th
Welcome to the Wayne
04th
The Loud House
11th
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
18th
Star Falls
25th
Henry Danger
Saturdays & Sundays @ 12:55 CAT respectively
03rd
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
10th
Star Falls
17th
I Am Frankie
24th
Henry Danger
04th
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn
11th
Star Falls
18th
I Am Frankie
25th
SpongeBob SquarePants
RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Rise up! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles get an all-new look, new weapons, and awesome new powers! Join the legendary heroes, Raph, Leo, Donnie and Mikey as these brothers discover a Hidden City beneath New York, learn amazing mystic ninja skills, battle absurd mutants…and always find time for a slice of their favorite pizza! Cowabunga!
NS (101-106), Saturdays: 03 November to 08 December at 17:10 CAT/ 16:10 WAT/ 18:10 EAT
DORA THE EXPLORER
This play-along, animated adventure series stars Dora, a seven-year-old Latina heroine who asks preschoolers for their help on her adventures.
Along the way, they'll meet friends, overcome obstacles and learn a little Spanish!
NS (101-126; 201-226; 301-314, 316-323; 401-420), Every day from 05 November at
08:30 CAT/ 07:30 WAT/ 09:30 EAT
ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS
A single dad has his hands full raising six rambunctious chipmunks in this animated comedy. Here’s some of the mischief that they get up to:
• Dave gets temporary amnesia so the boys trick him into letting them skip school and go on a ski trip instead.
• The town is under attack when Simon creates a drone that can not only deliver pizzas but has the ability to learn.
• Alvin lies to Theodore about a fake holiday to get out of chores, so Dave forces Alvin to make the holiday real.
• Alvin worries the Chipmunks are responsible for making Dave boring when they find out he used to be a rock star.
NE (314-320), weekdays: 19 to 27 November At 14:15 CAT/ 13:15 WAT/ 15:15 EAT
PROGRAMMING STUNT
16:00 CAT/ 15:00 WAT/ 17:00 EAT
04th Winx Club
11th T.U.F.F. Puppy
18th My Little Pony
25th ALVINNN!!! And the Chipmunks
MAGICAL, MYSTICAL, MAYHEM
STUNT
You've nearly made it! You're SOOO close! Don't think you'll make it?
Of course you can, with a little bit magic.
NickToons is here for you and bringing some magic to help end off the school year.
MONDAY
The Fairly OddParents
TUESDAY
My Little Pony
WEDNESDAY
Winx Club
THURSDAY
Mysticons
FRIDAY
Regal Academy
Weekdays from 14:50 CAT/ 13:50 WAT/ 15:50 EAT starting on the 26th November for two weeks…it’s going to be magical
BBC Studios in Africa revealed today the vibrant and playful new look branding for BBC Lifestyle, channel 174, at its bi-annual Upfront event held in Johannesburg. The number one international lifestyle channel on DStv has a chic and contemporary new on-air look featuring a fresh set of palates, designs and objects around the channel’s aspirational and entertaining lifestyle content. The brand makeover will launch from 20th November with new series Give It A Year, fronted by the UK’s ‘First Lady of Football’ Baroness Karren Brady which illustrates the channel’s ambition to always entertain, inspire and empower viewers. Using her prowess as one of the UK’s leading business women, Karren works with people wanting to create change and start their own businesses by visiting them at the start and end of their first year, to help guide and coach on what it takes to make it big and thrive in the business world.
The event also showcased the BBC’s stellar summer season of programming across BBC Lifestyle, BBC Earth, BBC First, BBC Brit and CBeebies. Exclusive to DStv, viewers in South Africa can look forward to a vast array of world class shows over the next six months, featuring stars such as Sir David Attenborough, Richard Gere, Idris Elba, Mary Berry, Lily Collins and Benedict Cumberbatch to name a few.
To revel in the excitement of what’s to come and express their enjoyment for the BBC and its shows, popular celebrity faces, Anele Mdoda, Chef Nti and Gareth Cliff were all in attendance at the event championing hits such as Strictly Come Dancing (currently airing on BBC Brit, channel 120), Come Dine With Me South Africa (BBC BRIT) and many more.
Joel Churcher, Vice President and General Manager, BBC Studios for Africa said, “2018 got off to a fantastic start with some record ratings coming through for several incredible TV moments, including Blue Planet 2, the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the return of Come Dine With Me South Africa (s4). In this ever competitive world of TV, our BBC Channels continue to deliver strong audience growth as our programming line up showcases the very best creativity the UK has to offer, alongside hugely successful local formats and international stars.
“We are not taking our foot off the pedal this summer and are excited to be bringing, new and exclusively to South Africa, shows including the TV adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel Les Miserables, the latest adventures of Jamie Oliver through to the absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley’s excursions in Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventures.”
Full details of the programming can be found here www.bbcsouthafrica.com
Highlights include:
BBC BRIT:
Coming in 2019, new and exclusively from the US is the hilarious Child Support a brand new, laugh out loud gameshow, starring Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) who plays hosts to adult contestants, the award winning comedian Ricky Gervais (The Office) and a group of five children between the ages of 6 and 9. The contestants are asked to answer 10 questions to earn the prize. If they cannot correctly answer a question, they have the chance to be saved by the kids who have been asked the same question by Gervais. It’s tense, it’s funny and a totally fresh take on a gameshow.
Formidable British documentary maker Louis Theroux is back in 2019 with his latest instalment of three hard hitting, provocative investigations into monogamous v. polyamorous relationships, the rise of private adoption in the US and also a look at the debate surrounding the right to decide when you die. All three will raise questions and shed light on controversial subjects occurring today in the United States of America.
BBC Lifestyle:
Dating can be a challenge at the best of times. This December, BBC Lifestyle brings South African audiences the Australian version of one of the world’s most popular dating shows. Farmer Wants a Wife Australia sheds light on how it can be even harder for farmers living in the ‘Aussie outback’ miles away from anyone. In this heart-warming series, which has had global success in orchestrating eight marriages so far, Farmer Wants A Wife Australia will have audiences charmed with the hopeful rural guys, all looking to find love.
One of BBC Lifestyle’s favourite property gurus is back in the New Year for a fifteenth instalment of the hit series Grand Designs. Presenter Kevin McCloud once again puts on his hard hat to follow some of Britain's most ambitious self-building projects, as more intrepid individuals attempt to design and construct the home of their dreams. Expect ambition, extravagance and elite designs to infiltrate the series and have you all trawling through Instagram and Pinterest for new interior inspirations to bring some grand designs to your own homes.
BBC FIRST:
This December, comes the breakout hit from the UK – The Cry starring Jenna Coleman (Victoria, Doctor Who). This cryptic series packed full with curiosity and intrigue follows a young couple whose baby is abducted during a trip to Melbourne, Australia. All is not as it appears on the surface and audiences will be kept glued to their sofas trying to solve what really happened to baby Noah.
Sherlock fans will be pleased to hear that Benedict Cumberbatch is returning to BBC First in the New Year, as the lead in Brexit, from Olivier Award-winning writer James Graham. The political thriller explores the campaign behind one of the most contested, controversial government referendums in modern history and unpacks the tactics employed to swing one of the most surprising political votes in living memory as well as the powerful and divisive figures driving Brexit from the shadows.
BBC Earth:
Dynasties is the latest offering from the BBC’s multi-award winning and critically acclaimed Natural History Unit and once again features the iconic voiceover of Sir David Attenborough. Enter a world of dynastic power struggles and family treachery that’s more dramatic than any work of fiction. This intimate, landmark series pulls viewers into the lives of some of our most iconic animals- chimps, emperor penguins, lions, painted wolves and tigers, showing their incredible determination to dominate their landscape and do whatever it takes to see off vicious challenges to their leadership and dynastic line – often from close family members.
From the man behind hit music acts such as the Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson and iconic TV formats Pop and American Idols – Simon Fuller, comes a new venture for families to enjoy called Serengeti. The landmark series offers a ground-breaking approach to natural history storytelling, allowing the animals to share the unpredictable narratives, intertwining relationships and emotional moments they face – all from their own perspective. Step inside the world of a real-life animal drama set right in the heart of Africa.
