SABC To Treat Sport Fans To Live Tennis Games From This Saturday

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), through its sports channel SABC Sport, has entered into a partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation to broadcast the Adria Tour Tennis Series live on SABC TV.

The Adria Tour Tennis Series is the brainchild of the ATP number 1 ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic.

The tennis series will take place over 4 weekends. The matches will be played on clay court in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Montenegro. The tournament will feature top ranked ATP Tour tennis stars including Djokovic, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov as well as Croatian pair Borna Coric and Marin Cilic.

SABC Sport GM, Gary Rathbone says: “The partnership with the Novak Djokovic Foundation allows SABC Sport to bring a world class tennis tournament to all our sports loving audiences. SABC Sport, as a Free to Air sportscaster is a key link between all South Africans and some of the best sports content locally and from around the world. The next four weekends will be nothing short of exciting, exhilarating with end-to-end high impact tennis action and we are putting our fans in the best seat in the house to consume this world-class tennis content,  #ItsTimeForTennis.”

The partnership between SABC Sport and the Novak Djokovic Foundation comes at a time when sport fans around the world have been starved of live high octane sports action due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Adria Tour Tennis series will broadcast live on SABC 3, every weekend from this Saturday till 05 July.

Below is the line-up:

June 13th – 14th in Belgrade
June 20th – 21st in Zadar
June 27th – 28th in Montenegro
July 03rd – 04th in Banja Luka

July 2020 On FOX Africa | Killing Eve S2 | Continuing Episodes | Catch-Up

KILLING EVE S2
Wednesdays at 20:45 from 1 July
Repeats on Fridays at 14:00, Saturdays at 19:25, Sunday at 22:00.

An award-winning spy thriller starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, Killing Eve centres on two women; Eve is a bored, whip-smart, pay-grade MI5 security officer whose desk-bound job doesn’t fulfil her fantasies of being a spy. Villanelle is a mercurial, talented killer who clings to the luxuries her violent job affords her. Killing Eve topples the typical spy-action thriller as these two fiercely intelligent women, equally obsessed with each other, go head to head in an epic game of cat and mouse. 

FRESH OFF THE BOAT S4
Sundays at 13:35 from Sunday 26 July

In the fourth season of this comedy series, the Huang family moves in with Honey (Chelsey Crisp) and Marvin (Ray Wise). Jessica (Constance Wu) realizes her dream of participating in Wheel of Fortune. Meanwhile, Eddie (Hudson Yang) is going through relationship troubles. Emery (Forrest Wheeler) is excited to start a year of school without his brothers around, but is shocked to discover that Evan (Ian Chen) has skipped a grade. Plus, Louis (Randall Park) has to contend with the fact that his kids are growing older and not appreciating his company anymore.

THE RESIDENT (S3) SUNDAYS (Marathons)
Sundays 5 and 12 July, from 11:40

In season 3, Red Rock Mountain Medical has taken over, inserting its own doctors – including new neurosurgeon Dr Barrett Cain (Morris Chestnut – Rosewood) – and nurses into the well-oiled machine that was once Chastain Memorial Hospital, and causing the doctors to fight harder than ever against the corrupting influence of money in healthcare. The hospital is being run like a profit-hungry corporation – reaping huge financial gains, while risking the lives of its patients.

THE SIMPSONS S21 - S23
Monday – Friday at 16:40 [Double bills]
An animated comedy series about a blue collar family – The Simpsons, who live in Springfield. Homer, the lovable father, stumbles apathetically through his family life and work at the local nuclear power plant. Marge, the overbearing, but responsible mother, Bart, the fourth grade underachiever and nemesis to Springfield elementary's principal, Lisa, the brainy and responsible eight-year-old, and Maggie, the oft-forgotten baby, make up the family.

GREY’S ANATOMY S15 (25 x 60)
Tuesdays at 20:45 from 9 June (ends 24 November)
Repeats on Saturdays at 20:15 and Sundays at 19:10

Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital — the toughest surgical residency program west of Harvard was a brutal training ground but now the former students have interns of their own to mentor. The doctors deal with life-or-death consequences on a daily basis — it’s in one another that they find comfort and friendship.

July 2020 On FOX Life Africa | Reality Stunt | Grey's Anatomy S12 | Continuing Episodes

STUNT “THE TRIPLE HUSTLE”
HUSTLE AND SOUL S1 – S2
Monday – Friday, at 9:50, 13 – 17 July (Three episodes at 09:45, 09:50, 11:15)
 
Hustle and Soul follows Chef Lawrence Page, owner and head chef of The Pink Tea Cup (PTC) restaurant. Lawrence resurrected the former West Village landmark and moved to the Fort Greene, Brooklyn on his quest to rise to the next level and score a coveted Michelin star. While Lawrence struggles to find the perfect recipe for success, he and his team will learn that it takes more than just good cooking and a good-looking staff to become Michelin elite. Heading up The Pink Tea Cup crew as General Manager is Lawrence's hot-tempered girlfriend Ana; including Sana, the flighty flirty hostess who is not afraid to stand up to Ana and go after everything she wants; Thandi, the PTC's lead server who is next in line to move up; and Candice, the head bartender who is as sweet as her drinks, but far from Michelin ready. The twins, Dominic and Stef, provide some much-needed comic relief at the restaurant where they can't seem to get anything right.

GREY’S ANATOMY S12 
Monday - Friday at 20:50 from 3 July (ends 5 August)

Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital — the toughest surgical residency program west of Harvard was a brutal training ground but now the former students have interns of their own to mentor. The doctors deal with life-or-death consequences on a daily basis — it’s in one another that they find comfort and friendship.

TELENOVELAS

ALONG CAME LOVE
Monday to Friday at 15:50

Along Came Love follows the beautiful Luciana who, after being deported, returns to the USA to reunite with the only family she has left: her mother and brother. After arriving at the vineyard where both have worked for many years, she meets David, the landowner and finds something unexpected: love.

SECRETS OF THE HOTEL
Monday to Friday at 16:40

A young man of humble origins travels to the Gran Hotel on outskirts of the San Cristóbal Tlaxico village to visit his sister Cristina who works as the floor supervisor. There, Julio discovers that more than a month after being dismissed for allegedly stealing from the hotel, she has disappeared from everyone’s memory. He decides to stay on as a waiter to investigate her disappearance but does not expect the love, mystery, death and betrayal that follow.

SHADOWS FROM THE PAST
Monday to Friday at 17:30

Two rival families living in the village of Santa Lucía, the Mendozas and the Alococers, are involved in a whirlwind of passion, pain, and revenge. Severiano Mendoza and Candela Santana are a rich and powerful couple who live at the ranch, "Las Ánimas", along with their young son, Cristóbal. Roberta and Raymundo Alcocer have a daughter named Alonza. However, they do not enjoy the same luxuries as the Mendoza family, which causes frustration and resentment in Roberta as nothing is enough to fill the inferiority complex that follows her like a shadow.

ROAD TO DESTINY
Monday to Friday at 18:20 

Luisa Fernanda Pérez, a beautiful, 18-year-old student, has two passions: mastering the violin and gardening, a skill she inherited from her father, Pedro, the former groundskeeper of the wealthy Altamirano family's estate. A chance encounter with destiny alters her life when she is injured in a car accident caused by Luis (her biological father), a playboy lawyer. In the process, Luisa falls for his stepson, Carlos, the attractive, young doctor who treats her in hospital.

TELENOVELA WEEKEND OMBINUSES

Saturday: 06:00 – 18:30 and 20:00 – 00:00

Sunday: 06:00 – 18:30, and 20:45 – 00:55

Please see schedule for details

REALITY WEEKDAYS

HUSTLE AND SOUL S1 – S2
Monday to Friday at 19:10 from 28 July (ends 16 August)

VINTAGE Z
Monday to Friday at 20:00 from 2 July (ends 17 July)

JUSTICE BY ANY MEANS
Monday to Friday at 19:20 from 17 June (ends 27 July)

INTERNATIONAL DRAMA

EMPIRE S6
Monday to Friday at 20:50, from3 July (Ends 28 July)

Golden Globe®-nominated EMPIRE enters its sixth and final season as one of television’s most popular and ground-breaking shows. A powerful drama about a family dynasty set within the glamorous and often dangerous world of hip-hop music, the show revolves around the Lyons and their media company, Empire Entertainment.

As Season Five hurtled toward its conclusion, Lucious (Terrence DaShon Howard) was forced to flee New York City, with the Feds hot on his trail. To make matters worse, Cookie (Golden Globe® winner Taraji P. Henson) refused to accompany him, declaring that he and Empire were no longer good for her. Season Six begins with the Lyon family splintered. Lucious is on the run and Cookie is finding success on her own. With Jamal residing in London and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) starring in "Empire: The Movie," Andre (Trai Byers) finds himself finally sitting on the Empire throne. Faced with threats from all directions, the Lyons will have to reunite to survive. They will have to decide what's most important – Empire, or their family.

ViacomCBS Will Be Launching A New Channel Carrying Content From BET And Showtime, Will This Perhaps Get Added On StarSat Or Serve As A Replacement To BET Africa On DStv?

ViacomCBS is to launch SHO*BET by the end of the year to do that it's taking up Showtime's Showcase channel in the United States.

The company is planning to relaunch the channel, which currently airs films, documentaries and comedy specials, with scripted series from both Showtime and BET.

It is the latest example of synergies between Viacom and CBS since its merger in December.

President and CEO Bob Bakish, speaking on the company’s investor call following its fourth-quarter financials, said, “We see an even bigger opportunity to grow Showtime subscribers by making better use of its plex channels, some of which are currently underutilized. To that end, we will be rebranding and relaunching Showcase as SHO*BET this summer featuring AA scripted series from Showtime and BET.”

He added, “We see this as a compelling value creation play that will allow us to benefit from the growing demand for premium, African American content across platforms.

Now in Africa, where the channel can be seen through MultiChoice's DStv platform. It's currently stuffed with movies leaving less space for all the crappy and decent programming.

BET Africa, has become a strong brand in the market with its local productions like Black Tax and iSono so the chances of them replacing it is very little at the same time these brands merged so anything is possible.

Genius Brands Launches Their Very Own Kiddies Channel Online, Will DStv Or StarSat Perhaps Get It?

Former Fox Kids Networks head Margaret Loesch and former Disney exec David Neuman are to be tasked with growing the soon-to-launch kids OTT.

Genius Brands International announced two new hires as it prepares to launch its upcoming digital channel. Former Fox Kids Networks Worldwide president and CEO Margaret Loesch was named executive chairman of the California-based company’s upcoming Kartoon Channel!, and former Disney Television president David Neuman takes the role of chief creative officer.

Loesch previously held roles with Marvel Productions and The Jim Henson Company. She has also served on Genius Brands’ board of directors since 2016. Neuman, meanwhile, joins Genius Brands from media company Happs, a live-streaming news app. He previously served as president of Walt Disney Television from 1996 to 1998.

In their new roles, Loesch and Neuman will be responsible for building viewership, market share and advertising demand for Kartoon Channel! as well as attracting creative content. Neuman will work closely with Caroline Tyre, who was hired by Genius Brands as SVP of international distribution in June 2019.

Kartoon Channel! will launch in the US on June 15 and target kids ages two to 11. More than 4,000 episodes from shows including Baby Genius, Shark Academy, Dino the Dinosaur and Super Geek Heroes will be available on the channel. The OTT channel will not require a subscription, and will be available through a number of platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Roku, among others.

SABC Envisioned Plan For DTT And OpenView Rise To Glory

Back in the early 2000s SABC and e.tv had plans to launch their own STB which included more channels from these rivals and also more choice in what to watch.

SABC DTT plans started out with 18 channels you had: SABC 1-3, SABC 4, SABC 5, SABC Sports, SABC Movies, SABC Education, SABC News, a children's channel, a SMME channel, a health channel, a parliamentary channel, a music channel, a history channel and timeshift channels (1 show air an hour later).

While e.tv envisioned having 18 channels and never stated how many of these channels will be supplied by them.

Even though only 2 managed to materialize with 1 still on a test phase, SABC was likely to go bankrupt with all these channels in place even if pay platforms were to carry parts of these channels it wouldn't do much to keep all of them since they're likely to waste a fortune trying to build content for these channels.

Back in 2013/4, SABC former CEO Hlaudi implemented a 90% quota on their channels which led to a decrease in viewership particularly on SABC 3 and a loss of income. Due to this local quota most companies severed ties with the station even Disney was part of the back giving SABC access to 10% of the content with e.tv gaining the rest of it. They tried reducing the quota to 80% but that didn't work out for them.

Now imagine if that quota never existed and SABC managed to get all 18 channels running. The problem here would be the amount of money they'll waste on local content. It's proven to be challenging for the SABC to supply local programming on 3 channels imagine doing that with 18 channels especially if you don't charge monthly fees and most of your viewers don't pay TV licence.

e.tv also had plans to grow their channel lineup. They started with eMovies+, eToonz+, eAfrica+ and eKasi+ so far only the first two survived with newcomers eExtra, eReality, News&Sports and Rewind. Back then they had OpenView and their main concern was quantity so they added a bunch of crappy channels and hoped viewers would be glued to their screens that was not until 2017 came that they were more concerned about entertainment which led to decrease of channels in order to give better programming. Along the way they were struggling to make some doe and the viewership was weak so they added some of their channels on DStv for more income and viewership.

Since then, OpenView has managed to get their platform in 2 million homes and it famous in neighbouring countries that people there are using it illegally in order to avoid the entertainment available in their countries. It has become a charity case but this is to ensure that viewers get more entertainment on the platform.

If SABC got 18 of these channels running by now they would have scrapped a couple of them like SABC 4 & 5, children, SMME, movies and music which would bring them to a total of 10 channels. Even though they rely on funding and partnerships, those partnerships are likely to dissolve and those funders are likely going to take their money elsewhere. In the end, SABC new proposed channels are just the useful and not entertaining batch of channels which include education, sports, health, parliamentary and if possible history running which shows that they're trying to the PBS of South Africa. They're struggling to keep viewers glued to their screens so they want channels that other people will see useful in their everyday lives.

SABC Sports might be used to get new faces in sports another use for the channel is to help minimise disruption of sports on the main channels, Parliamentary might be the toughest one for them since it's not another channel for recycled goods, Health and if possible History will curved through partnerships since there's less content in these fields while archived Education channel is just a reruns channel in partnership with the department of education.

July 2020 On Disney XD Africa | Disney's 11 | Stunt | Endless Phineas And Ferb

DISNEY’S 11
Every episode ever
Daily from 1st July to 4th September at 11:00

July sees a big treat for fans of Disney XD’s popular football series Disney’s 11, with every episode ever airing from 1st July. There are three episodes every day from 11:00, repeated at 19:00.

The series tells the story of Gabo Moreti, a teenager with a passion for soccer, who lived with his grandmother in a small town, Álamo Seco. His soccer skills did not go unnoticed by Francisco, head coach of the prestigious Instituto Académico Deportivo (IAD), who decided to grant him a scholarship. The series follows his career at the academy, and the fortunes of his team.

Every episode ever of Disney’s 11 airs on Disney XD on weekdays throughout July, with three episodes a day, starting on 1st July at 11:00 and repeated at 19:00.

DISNEY XD’S SPECIAL BLOCK
Programming event
Weekdays from Monday 13th July from 09:00 to 17:00

Disney XD is kicking off the entertainment with a block of episodes of top shows, every weekday from Monday 13th July, between 09:00 and 17:00.

This immensely entertaining selection of episodes features such popular shows as Phineas and Ferb, Supa Strikas, Lab Rats (including Lab Rats: Elite Force), Big City Greens and DuckTales.
Tune in to Disney XD, for our special programming block every weekday from Monday 13th July, between 09:00 and 17:00.

PHINEAS AND FERB
Every episode ever
Weekends throughout July from 12:30 to 16:05

Perenially popular characters Phineas and Ferb are much loved by Disney XD viewers. Now there is a chance to see every episode of their adventures ever made, in our great new weekend event. Every Saturday and Sunday there is a special block of back to back shows from 12:30 to 16:05, starting with a special on Saturday at 12:30.

The series follows the adventures of Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher. Each day, the boys and their friends take on some ambitious new project, sometimes to help someone in need, but often just to create some fun. This annoys the boys' sister, Candace, who constantly attempts to get them in trouble by revealing their actions to her mother. Meanwhile, across town, the wannabe-evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz continually attempts to take over the Tri-State area with his various “inator” devices, and Perry the Platypus, the boys' pet and a secret agent, consistently foils his plans on behalf of the O.W.C.A and his commanding officer, Major Mongram. At the end of each episode, the two plots intersect to erase all traces of the boys' project just before Candace can successfully show it to her mother.

In the first of this month’s specials, The Summer Belongs to You (Saturday 4th July at 12:30) Candace is put in charge of Phineas and Ferb while their parents go away on vacation. When she discovers that Phineas and Ferb are going to travel around the world to make the longest day of summer even longer, Candace, against her better judgment, goes along. Buford, Baljeet and Isabella join the trio as they travel to Japan, then France, where they learn in their own way how to believe in the impossible.

Every episode ever of Phineas and Ferb is airing on Disney XD at weekends throughout July from 12:30 to 16:05, starting with a special on Saturday at 12:30.

July 2020 On Disney Junior Africa | Repeats & Repeats

STUNTS
Programming event
Daily throughout July
weekdays: 09:00-15:30 weekends: 11:00-15:00

Disney Junior has plenty of fun-filled shows to keep viewers entertained. We have lots of super specials and blocks of episodes featuring favourite shows every weekday from 09:00 to 15:30 and at weekends from 11:00 to 15:00.

On weekdays we have one of our top specials every day at 09:00. Each week features one or two favourite characters, ranging from Mickey Mouse and P. J. Masks to The Lion Guard and Doc McStuffins. During the first week, as just one of the five great specials that week, we have Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Super Adventure (2nd July). In the second week there’s The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar (10th July), the third week sees Sofia The First – The Floating Palace (13th July), the fourth week has P.J. Masks: Teamwork (21st July) and the last week of the month features P.J. Masks: P.J. Robot (29th July).

Following the specials every weekday are blocks of top shows back-to-back from 10:00 to 15:30. For the first two weeks an episode of Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures can be seen either side of these blocks, which showcase T.O.T.S. and Bluey, P.J. Masks and Fancy Nancy Clancy. Following weeks see other shows featured, including Vampirina.

Weekends follow a similar pattern, with specials at 11:00, followed by blocks of episodes of top shows from 12:00 to 15:30. For the first three weeks the special is followed by six episodes of Doc McStuffins (Saturday) and Vampirina (Sunday). The last two weeks of the month see Sofia the First and Fancy Nancy Clancy take over on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

July is certainly a fun and action-packed month on Disney Junior, with our super stunts containing specials and blocks of top shows every weekday from 09:00 and at weekends from 11:00 to 15:00.

July 2020 On Disney Channel Africa | Gabby Duran And The Unsittables | DCOM | I Didn't Do It

GABBY DURAN AND THE UNSITTABLES
Series premiere
Weekdays from Monday 27th July at 16:35

July sees the launch of a brand new series on Disney Channel, featuring the adventures of a very unusual babysitter! Premiere episodes of Gabby Duran and the Unsittables air on weekdays from Monday 27th July at 16:35.

Gabby Duran constantly feels like she’s living in the shadows of her uber-polished, successful mother Dina, and whip-smart younger sister Olivia. But Gabby finally finds her moment to shine when she lands an out-of-this-world job babysitting an unruly group of very important extraterrestrial children who are hiding out on Earth. Fearless and unapologetically bold, Gabby steps up to the challenge to prove she’s the best babysitter in the galaxy. In the second premiere episode Wesley and the Fischman (Tuesday 28th July at 16:35) Gabby must choose between keeping her new secret alien-babysitting gig a secret or risking it all by confiding in her extra-terrestrial obsessed best friend Wesley.

Premiere episodes of Gabby Duran and the Unsittables air on weekdays from Monday 27th July at 16:35, on Disney Channel.

DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIES
Fridays throughout July at 17:00

Great news! This July we continue June’s treat for movie fans – the chance to see a classic Disney Channel Original Movie every Friday at 17:00, repeated on Saturday at 10:40.

The season starts with High School Musical 2 (Friday 3rd July), continues with How to Build a Better Boy (Friday 10th July), Good Luck Charlie – A Road Trip Movie (Friday 17h July), 18 Wishes (24th July) and. Last but never least, we have Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure (Friday 31st July).

In How to Build a Better Boy (Friday 10th July at 17:00), science and math tests are no sweat for Gabby Harrison and Mae Hartley, but fitting in at school doesn't come as naturally. Using design software that belongs to Mae's father, the girls engineer a high-definition version of Mae's fake boyfriend, Albert, who she's dreamt up as everything a high school girl could want in a guy. However, when Albert comes to life as an advanced robotic soldier, the two best friends soon learn that Mae's father works for a top secret military branch, which is now in pursuit of Gabby and Mae, as well as Albert, to ensure he doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Fans have a chance to see these great Disney Channel Original Movies again on Fridays throughout July at 17:00, repeated on the following Saturday at 10:40.

I DIDN’T DO IT
Weekdays from 6th July at 18:40

July offers viewers a chance to see top Disney Channel comedy series I Didn’t Do It from the beginning, as it airs on weekdays throughout the month, from Monday 6th July, at 18:40.

I Didn’t Do It tells of the hilarious twists and turns in the lives of five teenagers – ultra-competitive fraternal twins and their three best friends. Each episode begins at the end of a predicament, just after an adventure has gone absurdly haywire, and just as twins Lindy and Logan and their friends Jasmine, Garrett and Delia somehow try to explain - with flashback scenes - exactly what happened! In the first episode, Pilot (Monday 6th July at 18:40), Lindy and Logan's parents wonder why the house is covered in foam, why a pizza is falling from the ceiling, how a goat got into the house and what happened to the babysitter?

Episodes of I Didn’t Do It air on weekdays throughout July at 18:40 on Disney Channel.