Insidus

Friday, March 26, 2021

(Updated 25 June)Status: SABC Education On DStv And Starsat

SABC Education launched in May 2020 through YouTube and DTT decoders with digital streaming version accessible through the SABC Education portal and virtual academy.

At the time, SABC stated that more platforms will hopefully add the channel later. Through an interview they mentioned that they were in talks with the likes of MultiChoice and StarTimes in the hopes that they can open up space for the channel and that was a year ago.

Within that same year, SABC Education expanded to only 1 additional platform which is none other than Telkom's streaming service, TelkomOne while SABC Education appeared for several months on DStv's i-Plate section and StarSat's website.

From 2021, DStv scrubbed the channel's EPG from that area viewers only noticed it the channel's presence once MultiChoice had some system upgrades while Starsat removed all info about the channel through their website.

Through the info obtained from Starsat's website the channel would have occupied channel 313 on their Max, Special and Super package with DStv the suspected occupation was channel 316 (since it was the only available space last year) to all their DStv customers (including Easyview).

Through an enquiry regarding the channel's status on DStv and StarSat, it was stated that plans for their rollout are "still underway".

It's been over a year and they're still planning to launch them. Could it be possible that there's more to this deal that meets the eye I mean Telkom partnered up with SABC giving them SABC 1-3, Sports, Education and their 19 radio stations which can be found on DStv.

Updated section

In March 2021, SABC formed a partnership with eMedia Investments giving OpenView customers access to their sports channel and 19 radio stations alongside "two general entertainment channels".

Could these two entertainment channels be the reason for the delay. In an interview SABC COO mentioned that these two channels coming to OpenView are non-exclusive meaning they'll be transmitting them on other platforms as well.

Not much details have been unveiled about these two channels except for them supplying extensive and archived content with the goal of having 20% fresh content.

With that in mind, is it possible that SABC Education's fate lies on these one or two channels and that as long as SABC and eMedia Investments remain silent that viewers on DStv and StarSat should keep waiting. OpenView currently has the SD versions of SABC 1-3 could these channels switch to HD once these channels arrive.

4 years ago, e.tv launched their 4 channels (altogether) at the time on DStv. Could SABC be trying to do the same with SABC Sport, SABC Education and these two entertainment channels?

SABC And eMedia Investments Expand Partnership, Will MultiChoice And StarTimes Follow?

eMedia Investments, owners of free-to-air satellite service Openview, and the SABC have reached a business agreement that sees Openview continue to broadcast high-definition channels SABC 1, 2 and 3, as well as 3 additional television channels from the public broadcaster, as well as all 19 radio stations owned by the SABC.

The business agreement means that the SABC is officially entering the free-to-air satellite market, with SABC Sports Channel the first of the 3 additional SABC channels bring added to the Openview service.

SABC radio brands Ukhozi FM, Metro FM, Lesedi and Umhlobo Wenene are among the radio stations now also available on Openview, transmitted via digital broadcasting on a free-to-air basis.

Commenting on the new multi-year signal distribution and channel carriage agreement, eMedia Investments COO, Antonio Lee, says, "This is an exciting development for both the SABC and ourselves. The agreement ushers in a new level of collaboration between a private free-to-air satellite platform and public free-to-air broadcast services. There is no doubt it will boost the offering of Openview and will extend the SABC’s audience reach. We can now offer our Openview audience additional quality content and access to digital broadcast radio in the widest variety of languages possible in South Africa. We hope this is the start of a stronger and more fruitful relationship between Openview and the SABC".

SABC’s COO, Ian Plaatjes, adds, “This agreement enables the SABC to grow its channel offering and reach into the digital broadcasting space with three additional HD television channels. The first channel to be launched will be an SABC Sport Channel and will be distributed simultaneously across Openview, DTT, Telkom One and other streaming platforms. This collaboration will enable the SABC to optimally exploit its rich sport content rights and leverage the Openview reach to provide an improved integrated sport value proposition for our advertising clients across platforms. The agreement also enhances the distribution of SABC radio stations to create an increased value proposition for our radio advertising inventory. The other two TV channels, to be announced within the next 3 months, will leverage extensive SABC content and archived material.”

"The other two TV channels" "leverage extensive content and archived material" - SABC Education being the first with the other possibly being SABC Encore maybe it will launch under another new name perhaps or with an updated look. It would be shocking if it was SABC News.

Openview and the SABC believe that this agreement will expedite digital migration from analogue-only households to digital broadcasting platforms with more compelling free-to-air channels and content. Together with the DTT platform, Openview provides audiences with a free HD alternative to both analogue terrestrial and pay satellite options.

According to a source, this development was in talks with pay-tv platforms as well. SABC Education has been showing signs of launching and my guess was May which is the same time the channel launched.

Not long ago, even eMedia Investments entire set of channels were rumoured to be added onto DStv so far only 4 reside on that platform.

Britbox Video Streamer To Launch In South Africa Later In The Year With Content From ITV And BBC

Another video streaming service will be launching in South Africa in the second half of 2021 with BritBox, the joint 50/50 streaming venture between BBC Studios and ITV, that announced that it will become accessible to South African consumers later this year.

BritBox, an ad-free subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service will join the quickly getting crowded video streaming market in South Africa where Netflix SA fiercely compete with the likes of MultiChoice's Showmax, VIU, Vodacom Video Play, TelkomONE, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.

Meanwhile the South African public broadcaster is working on launching its own SABC streaming service, while Discovery+, Paramount+, HBO Max and Disney+ are still to launch in the territory and across the rest of Africa as well.

BritBox will serve as somewhat of a replacement for the ITV Choice channel and the BBC First channel that both shuttered on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform during 2020.

BritBox carries on-demand content in the form of British box sets, drama premieres and live events, as well as new and exclusive original commissions.

South Africa will be BritBox's 5th worldwide territory to launch in, following launches in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

"The launch of BritBox in South Africa is yet another step in the platform’s trajectory towards international expansion. We’re delighted to bring the service to a brand new territory and continue towards establishing BritBox as a premium VOD brand across the world," says Martin Goswami, ITV group strategic partnership and distribution director, in a statement.

Paul Dempsey, president of global distribution at BBC Studios, says "We know that South African audiences have a real connection to British television and we can’t wait to bring them even more great shows, on-demand, that we know they will love".

HBO Max To Rollout In 60 More Countries By The End Of 2021

Some consumers are no longer waiting for these streaming services to rollout in Africa as they've found several torrent sites to stream content like WandaVision, The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Apparently, HBO Max will launch in 60 countries and territories by the end of 2021, 21 of those countries/territories will be Europe (the countries where content is available direct through HBO and not through a third-party local partner, the 21 countries are located in Nordics, Central Eastern Europe as well as Spain and Portugal).

Africa is likely not listed in those 60 countries for the same reason as Disney+, they want to put their focus on the major parts of Europe before anywhere else while Disney+ is estimated to be in Africa by 2022/3 with HBO Max it's likely to be 2025-7.

Reasons being they have existing contracts with other providers in those regions so they're likely to cancel some of those agreements and wait on others if possible launch when they have enough content despite those contracts.

Friday, March 19, 2021

New Series Alert!: The Red Room Coming Soon To SABC 3

It seems like eExtra won't be the only free-to-air station for Turkish telenovelas after all. Apparently, SABC 3 will reserve a space in their lineup for The Red Room (Kirmizi Oda).

Adapted from the book with the same name, the events of the series revolve around a psychological clinic, and the stories and attitudes of a group of psychiatric patients who frequent it, and who lived different events between pain and joy, narrated by one of the psychiatrists who own the clinic, supervising their follow-up and trying to treat them.

Besides local, SABC will also be competing on an international scale with telenovelas meaning they join the likes of e.tv (and eExtra), Telemundo, TLNovelas, tvN, Zee World and Star Life.

The Red Room airs Thursdays and Fridays at 18:30 from 8 April while the Brazilian telenovela, Orphan Of The Nation occupies Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 April.

A new local drama, The Estate will also air on the channel likely from 19:30 which comes right after these two. This move will keep viewers occupied as SABC can source out more shows for their channels.

New Series Alert!: Stiletto Vendetta Coming Soon To eExtra

eExtra decided to pull the Turkish romcom Kamer 309 from its release schedule and a new air date is yet to be finalized. For now viewers can indulge in the crime mystery drama, Stiletto Vendetta (Ufak Tefek Cinayetler).

Four beautiful, successful women - childhood friends that are brought back together as adults - have old scores to settled, and new rivalries set to develop.

As teenagers, Arzu, Merve and Pelin played a cruel prank on their over-achieving best friend Oya, leaving her shamed, devastated and suicidal. Over the years the three remained close but didn’t hear again from Oya, never daring to make contact, fearing the worst - that they had driven her to take her own life. When fate brings the foursome back together, Oya is determined to get close to the women who threatened to ruin her life, and seek her final revenge.

The series have many star names; Gökçe Bahadır, Aslı Gürbüz, Bade İşçil, Tülin Özen, Mert Fırat and many others.

The series replaces Begeertes from Monday 6 April at 20:30 on eExtra with repeats at 10:30 on e.tv

WarnerMedia Kids Brands Remain Ahead Of The Curve In Africa

Cartoon Network and Boomerang have kicked off 2021 with new original shows and local productions.

WarnerMedia kids’ brands, Cartoon Network and Boomerang, continue to be firm favourites for African youth. Between 2019 and 2020, Cartoon Network’s reach increased by 10%, with more than 6m households tuning in. On the other hand, Boomerang also increased its reach by 31% – bringing the channel to over 5.5m households. With a combined share of 47% of the kids’ pay-TV channels viewing, the two brands account for almost half of the kids’ market.

Cartoon Network Africa’s and Boomerang Africa’s audience ratings have improved over the past year, with the channels now ranking first and second amongst all kids’ pay-TV channels. Boomerang’s performance has grown by 50% in its year-on-year performance between 2019 and 2020. South Africa’s Cartoon Network confirm its number one spot of all pay-TV kids’ channels with a gap of more than 143% over its next competitor.

With the increased consumption of content on digital platforms, Cartoon Network and Boomerang rank within the Top 10 YouTube channels in the Kids & Entertainment Category in South Africa at #2 and #5, respectively. Boomerang Africa’s YouTube channel came out as a strong contender with a more than 100% increase, boasting 1.8m subscribers. In comparison, Cartoon Network Africa upped its numbers by 55%, reaching 1.5m subscribers. Traffic to both webpages also showed impressive results, with visits on Cartoon Network Africa’s local website increasing by 180% and Boomerang Africa’s website climbing 171%.

Teen Titans Go!, DC Super Hero Girls, The Regular Show, South Africa’s very own pan-African association football-themed series, Supa Strikas, rank among Cartoon Network Africa’s top-performing shows.

Boomerang Africa’s top shows include Mr Bean: The Animated Series, Zig and Sharko, and Masha and the Bear. The channel’s films, including the Scooby-Doo Movies and Tom and Jerry Movies, continue to contribute to the audience numbers.

Both the channels have kicked off 2021 with brand new channel original shows and local productions. In March, Cartoon Network Africa has launched Elliott From Earth, with Africa being one of the first two countries to premiere the show as part of the global launch and Boomerang has launched Kikoumba, in the same month. WarnerMedia will continue to show its commitment to unravelling and working with local African talent to develop content that resonates with the audience by launching brand-new local productions throughout the coming year.

Guillaume Coffin, Head of Affiliates & Advertising France, Benelux, Middle East, Turkey, Africa & General Manager for Turkey, said: “WarnerMedia has been present in Africa for more than 20 years, operating six channels across the continent in 56 English, French and Portuguese speaking countries. It is encouraging to see that our kids’ multiplex brands are continuing to grow in popularity across the continent and that our fans rate our kids’ channels highly in the kid’s entertainment market. This once again confirms that our localisation strategy, as well as our dedicated line-up of original, local content, is meeting the growing demand of our fans across the region.”

StarTimes' Timeless Dizi Channel Is Getting An Upgrade, Will This Affect DStv?

Timeless Dizi Channel (TDC/Dizi) made its way to Africa in mid 2020 to StarTimes just like tvN on DStv which offers the content in their original language with English subtitles the same thing has been lurking with the one on this platform.

Eventually, a seperate version of the channel was made available on DStv with all the content dubbed in English. The odd thing here is the fact SPI International acknowledges the one on DStv even though the one on StarTimes is ahead with the programming.

Dizi Africa has a website and a social media handle dedicated to the one on DStv perhaps they're looking at the bigger investor which is what led to the decision in the first place.

Now StarTimes TDC will be adding an English audio to the channel very soon which is what DStv had from the very beginning. If the one on DStv included the original language with English subtitles is there a reason for these two cable providers to still provide alternate versions of the same channel.

There is a slight possibility that the feed on StarTimes will be discontinued or aligned/submerged with DStv depending on whether all the content there is available in English and the fact that DStv version is acknowledged as mentioned earlier. For some channels which have this feature only selected content will be excluded so we basically have to see what transpires from this point forward.

[Breaking News| RSA] Analogue Tv Hits Its Last Days In South Africa!

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies has announced that together with broadcasters, it has started with the phased switch-off of analogue television transmitters in the Free State.

This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address last month that the phased switch-off of analogue TV transmitters would begin this month.

The department said it is anticipated that this process, which will be done on a province-by-province basis, will be completed by the end of March 2022.

On Monday the analogue signal was switched off in Boesmanskop and surrounding towns in the Xhariep District Municipality, the department said. This will be followed by Ladybrand and surrounding towns on Tuesday.

“The switch-off in each province will be systematic and in phases, moving from one analogue transmitter coverage area to the other, until all district municipalities within the province are completed,” the department said.

The department is working with provincial governments and district municipalities to recruit local installers of government-subsided digital decoders to accelerate the implementation of the broadcasting digital migration.

This will, in turn, free up previous high-demand spectrum for use by mobile operators, resulting in better networks and cheaper mobile data for South Africans.

Analogue TV switch-off dates
The analogue TV switch-off dates for each province is shown below.

Free State – March 2021
Northern Cape – April 2021
North West – May 2021
Mpumalanga – May 2021
Eastern Cape – May 2021
Kwa-Zulu Natal – July 2021
Western Cape – November 2021
Limpopo – December 2021
Gauteng – January 2022

Note that this timeline is an estimate and the department will provide further detail in future.

Installing and subsiding decoders
This switch-off of analogue television transmitters follows a reviewed implementation process initiated.

You can visit your local post office to apply for a STB or go to your other branches and purchase either a OpenView, Starsat, DStv and soon PremiumFree decoder.

Here Are The 44 Developments Coming To Paramount+

Paramount+ will include a library catalogue of 30 000 hours of shows and 50 exclusive and original new series that will debut over the next two years - including a Frasier and Rugrats series revivals and HALO - with 36 of these that will launch in 2021.

In a virtual investors' presentation done from inside a studio on Los Angeles' iconic Paramount lot, adopting the same style and format that Disney for Disney+ and Discovery Inc. used for Discovery+ the past few months, ViacomCBS executives unveiled its new Paramount+ - and with it the glut of content it plans to place on it.

"We know how to make hits. ViacomCBS has been and remains a consistent hitmaker, across genres, across demographics, across formats and across platforms," said Bob Bakish, ViacomCBS president and CEO.

As with HBO Max, Disney+ and Star, Discovery+, as well as peacock, ViacomCBS didn't announce or say anything about a rollout date or timeframe for South Africa - Africa's most developed TV market.

Paramount+ will launch in the United States, Canada and Latin America on 4 March, the Nordics on 25 March and in Australia later in 2021.

ViacomCBS executives did however say that the plan is to aggressively launch Paramount+ globally and wants to have between 65 and 75 million global subscribers by 2024.

That makes it highly likely that Paramount+ will eventually be made available in South Africa where it could also foreseeably be included as a tile on MultiChoice's latest DStv Explora Ultra decoder that already carries Netflix SA and Amazon Prime Video.

Paramount+ will cost $9.99 (R149.28), but a cheaper ad-supported version costing $4.99 (R74.56) will launch later this year.

ViacomCBS said that Paramount+ will cost considerably less outside of America - very likely in order to aggressively compete with Netflix and Disney+ as the two top global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services.

"We're leveraging the massive global reach of ViacomCBS to distribute Paramount+. We have a deep history of relationships with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and telco partners in every major market around the world," the company said. Nicole Clemens, the head of Paramount Television Studios, said that ViacomCBS is harnessing "Paramount's incredible library to create shows that come with a built-in fanbase for Paramount+.

While we have no shortage of source material, we're being very selective and strategic in choosing what IP is best positioned for modern streaming consumers".

From a Grease prequel to a fatal attraction Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will be a TV series with both classic and new songs and a diverse cast as serve as a prequel to Grease. It will tell the story of how Frenchy's older sister Jane founded the Pink Ladies.

The film Flashdance is becoming a new drama series and will pick up from where the story left off but will be set in the present day.

The film Love Story is also becoming a series from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage who were responsible for Gossip Girl and The O.C.

Fans of The Italian Job and The Parallax View can also look forward to series based on these iconic films.

Fatal Attraction is also being turned into a TV series for Paramount+, described as "a deep-dive reimagining of the psychosexual thriller" that starred Glenn Close and Michael Douglas.

An intriguing series is The Offer as a fictional series, but based on real-life, detailing the mafia-filled drama behind the making of the film The Godfather.

The Star Trek universe is expanding with Strange New Worlds with Anson Mount as Enterprise Captain Pike, while the kids animation series, Star Trek: Prodigy has abruptly moved from Nickelodeon to Paramount+. There will also be a second season of Star Trek: Picard.

The crime procedural Criminal Minds is also revived as a TV drama series and bringing the gang back together with the same showrunner, same breaking down of the criminal psyche and catching the bad guy. "Instead of a new case each week, it will be a single, fascinating case-story told over 10 episodes each season," said Nicole Clemens.

The Real Criminal Minds will be a "true crime" documentary series where a real FBI profiler analyses real cases and real criminal behaviour, illustrated by clips that viewers will remember from the series.

Paramount+ will also do a follow-up to the miniseries Waco as part of an anthology series entitled American Tragedy. Each season of American Tragedy will tackle difficult and complicated conspiracy-riddled moments in history.

The dramedy Younger is also moving to Paramount+ for its 7th and final season. Paramount+ will also have 6666 (working title) as a spinoff from the Yellowstone drama series that will basically tell the story of how cattle ranches started and grew in America.

"Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666."

"The 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing. The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavour to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world-class cowboys are born and made".

Yellowstone is also getting a prequel series, Y: 1883. It will follow the Dutton family as they embark on a journey "west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana".

Mayor of Kingstown will follow the McLusky family in Kingstown "where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither".

Land Man, also set in West Texas is described as "a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics".

"One of the most successful comedy series of all time - Frasier - is coming back," Nicole Clemens said, exclusively to Paramount+." The new series will have everything you love about the original: Coziness, great writing, and of course a cast led by multi-Emmy winner, Kelsey Grammer. It's nostalgic and contemporary all at once."

In a statement released at the same time, Kelsey Grammer said "having spent over 20 years of my creative life on the Paramount lot both producing shows and performing in several, I'd like to congratulate Paramount+ on its streaming world entry. I gleefully anticipate sharing the next chapter in the continuing journey of Frasier Crane".

The science-fiction drama series HALO based on the hugely-popular video game that would have been on Showtime is abruptly shifting to Paramount+ as an exclusive where it will launch in early-2022.

HALO, filmed in Budapest where Netflix's The Witcher also shot, stars Pablo Schreiber in the role of the iconic Master Chief and Natascha McElhone playing both Dr Catherine Halsey, the creator of the Spartans soldiers, and Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history who could save the human race.

"The upcoming HALO series will weave intimate personal stories with incredible action and a lavishly imagined vision of the future," said David Nevins, Showtime Networks CEO.

"HALO has been in production in Hungary and I can tell you it's visually stunning, totally thrilling; and significantly it offers true 4-quadrant general.audience appeal. We all believe that HALO is going to be a defining show for our super-service. We see this as another example of us marshalling the finest resources of the company in service of Paramount+".

Paramount+ is also doing a The Man Who Fell to Earth series that will star Chiwetel Ejiofor based on the iconic science-fiction novel and film. "It tells the story of a man who arrives on Earth and reveals more about human nature than humans ever could," said Nicole Clemens.

Guilty Party is a dark comedy with Kate Beckinsale as a journalist who gets in over her head when she tries to salvage her career by investigating the story of a young woman in jail for murdering her husband.

BET's The Game is revived with a mix of original cast and new players. It will offer an examination of black culture through the prism of American pro-football.

Ray Donovan is returning, this time in a feature-length movie to wrap up the TV series, and possibly setting up a movie franchise.

Michael C Hall also made a brief appearance during the investors' presentation with the series Dexter that is being revived as a limited series about the serial killer. The revived Dexter will however stay on Showtime.

Tyler Perry is producing All The Queen's Men for the BET+ streaming service - a new drama series revolving around the female owner of a strip club in Atlanta and her group of male strippers.

Trevor Noah working daily - and now weekly South Africa's Trevor Noah hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central (DStv 122) is expanding his workload and appeared at the investors' presentation to announce that he is doing The Weekly Show With Trevor Noah - an initial 6 episodes that will be available on Paramount+ and that he will also be producing.

In The Weekly Show with Trevor Noah he will talk to people "behind the headlines". Amy Schumer is returning to her original sketch comedy series and will be doing 5 Inside Amy Schumer TV specials for Paramount+. The comedy series Reno: 911! is revived with Reno: 911! The Hunt for QAnon based on the original series.

The MTV animation characters Beavis & Butt-head are coming to Paramount+ in a new and as-yet-untitled feature film, as will a film based on the Comedy Central series Workaholics.

The Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is making a non-scripted series for Paramount+ based on his mother's book with the 6-episode programme that will tell the stories of the special relationship between successful musicians and their mothers.

Paramount+ will also roll out several new MTV Unplugged specials and is also reviving its music documentary series, Behind the Music.

Kids
Meanwhile the original voice cast of the kids animation series Rugrats is returning for a revival series on Paramount+.

"Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience," said Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon Animation.

ViacomCBS is creating Avatar Studios that will be entirely dedicated to creating content based on the animation series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra with new series and films that will be created telling these stories further.

Get ready for a Dora the Explorer live-action series based on the iconic character and aimed at an older kids audience aged 6 to 11, as well as an iCarly revival series in which the original cast members Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor join new friends for a look at their characters' present-day lives, adventures and comedic mishaps.

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years is the first-ever SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff series with the new series that will take viewers back to when the iconic characters of Bikini Bottom met for the very first time in a summer camp like no other.

The Fairly OddParents is a live-action revival of the long-running Nickelodeon animation series.

Reality
RuPaul’s Drag Race is getting a singing
competition spinoff at Paramount+ entitled Queen of the Universe in which drag queens from all around the world will compete to see who sings the best.

The Real World reality series is also being revived with the original cast and will now be entitled The Real World Homecoming: New York as a " multi-episode docuseries".

The reality series Road Rules is also being revived in which strangers are dropped in a far-flung location, have to live in motorhomes and complete challenges as they drive from location to location.

The Challenge: All Stars will see former contestants of the reality series Real World and Road Rules return to compete again.

The tattoo reality series Ink Master that was cancelled last year is also being revived and will now continue on Paramount+, with the reality dating series Dating Naked that was cancelled in 2017 that is also being brought back for new episodes for the streaming service.

Read Also:
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- Will Paramount+ lead to the shutdown of several linear channels?
- Utsav branding takes affect on Vijay TV, will StarPlus and Star Life follow in Africa?
- The history of Qubo
- R.I.P. FOX, long live Star, will other markets follow?
- Update on the 5 pop-up channels on DStv
- Could Court TV rollout across the rest of Europe?
- The History Of PBS Kids

April 2021 On Da Vinci Kids | 2 New Kids Shows With 1 Returning | 2 Documentaries For Family | World Creativity And Innovation Day

Kids Programmes – Premiere
PinCode – NEW EPISODES
From April 4th
Monday to Friday 14:30
Captain Pin and his colourful crew zoom through space, time, volume and dimension in their trusty spacecraft, the Umflier. In each episode they encounter a different problem that can be solved and explained by science.

Xploration Nature Knows Best – Season 1 – BRAND-NEW (Series)
From April 12th
Monday to Friday 20:00
Hosted by marine scientist Danni Washington, Nature Knows Best is a fascinating series that looks at the fun and clever ways today’s scientists, engineers, and innovators use nature to create some of the world’s most exciting advancements.

Darwin and Newts – BRAND-NEW (Series)
From April 17th
Saturdays & Sundays 09:00
The latest extravaganza in the franchise of an eccentric scientist rambling around the globe in search of adventure with teams of young explorers. They explore remote parts of the Western Cape in South Africa, visiting the cradle of humankind.

Adults Programmes – Premiere
Can You Fix a Brain Like Mine? – BRAND-NEW (One-off)
Sunday, April 11th at 22:00
Presented by Lotje Sodderland, herself recovering from a devastating brain hemorrhage that has left her unable to read, this is part first-person road trip, part futuristic glimpse into the ethics and advances of neuroscience.

Hyper Evolution: Rise of the Robots – BRAND-NEW (2 episodes)
Wednesday, April 21st at 20:30
Robot sceptic and evolutionary biologist Dr Ben Garrod joins robot enthusiast and electronics engineer Prof. Danielle George to investigate the cutting edge of robot technology. They explore the potential positive and negative effects robots could have on our lives.

Special Highlight
World Creativity and Innovation Day
Wednesday, April 21st
From 16:30 22:30
16:30 Marvelous Makes - Leaf Masks
With an autumn leaf and some help from the studio characters, we’ll show you how to make a marvellous mask.
16:35 Marvelous Makes - Cardboard TV
Create this fantastic cardboard contraption to watch your very own paper-view movies.
16:40 Marvelous Makes - Beaky Biter
With an extending cardboard body, this make is a wonderful pecking pop-up device.
16:45 Marvelous Makes - Sponge Boat
Strap on your sea legs and prepare to set sail! We’ll show you how to make a sponge boat that really floats.
16:50 Marvellous Makes - Eggbox Bug
This time we’ll be making an Eggbox Bug! Design your very own imaginative insect.
16:55 Marvellous Makes - Crazy Cone Head
Wild wall hanging wonders! Get your imaginations fired up. In this episode we’ll be making a crazy cone head.
17:00 Totally Rubbish - A Carrot Pen and Marcel Duchamp
Michelle and Nigel get musical with some old tin cans and show how to make a charm for a bag and a carrot pen to fool your friends. They check in with Marcel Duchamp and build a cool den on the beach.
17:30 Totally Rubbish - A Daft Disguise and Chris Ofili
Michelle and Nigel get arty with driftwood and show how to fool your friends with a daft disguise. Leftover balloons are used to create a smashing spider pinata. They check in with Chris Ofili and show how something yucky can be turned into a thing of beauty.
18:00 Xploration DIY SCI - DIY Toys
Steve Spangler shows how you can use science to make toys and a mystery can that moves on its own. He creates some amazing bubbles.
18:30 Do You Know? - Car Brakes & Car Factory
Maddie uses a microscope camera to see how car brakes work, and learns that the brake pedal is connected to brake discs and pads that slow the car down. She also visits a factory to see how robots work with people to build cars out of large rolls of steel sheeting.
18:45 Do You Know? - Hand Wash and Vacuum
Maddie finds out how hand wash is made, and visits an appliance testing centre to find out how a vacuum cleaner works. She takes apart a vacuum cleaner to show us how air gets sucked up through the machine so the filter can collect all the dirt and dust!
19:00 Did You Know? - Gadgets to Revolutionise Your Daily Life
Drones are increasingly being used day to day. Household robots can change our lives dramatically, and we may be soon using a 3D printer to build a home.
19:30 Did You Know? - Revolutionary Innovations for Everyday Life
Technology is rapidly changing how things are done: from sports to building to doing household chores.
20:00 Xploration Nature Knows Best - Mastering the Mimicry
Biomimicry refers to inventors being influenced by nature. Join Danni Washington as she visits inspiring new biomimicry hubs such as schools, zoos, and the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington D.C..
20:30 Hyper Evolution: Rise of the Robots
Robot sceptic and evolutionary biologist Dr Ben Garrod joins robot enthusiast and electronics engineer Prof. Danielle George to investigate the cutting edge of robot technology. They explore the potential positive and negative effects robots could have on our lives.

Da Vinci Kids is available on DStv, GOtv and StarTimes (Starsat).

SABC, e.tv And DStv Ratings For February 2021

New or returning entry (*) Higher peak (#) Lower peak (~)

SABC 1:
Uzalo - 8 054 922
Generations the Legacy - 6 575 503
Skeem Saam - 4 929 197
Zulu News - 3 700 755 #
Xhosa News - 3 436 189 ~
Sgud'snaysi - 3 171 835 #
Nyan Nyan - 2 981 100 #
Uzalo (Repeat) - 2 632 389 #
My First - 2 482 881 #
Khumbul' Ekhaya - 2 458 505 #
Women Year - 2 416 079 #
Skeem Saam (Repeat) - 2 409 185 #
Live Amp - 2 310 247 #
Uzalo (Omnibus) - 2 213 112 #
Slumber Party - 2 159 197 *
Real Goboza - 2 130 713
Lobola - 2 121 240 *
Shaka's Mask - 2 076 153 *
Selimathunzi - 2 072 466 *
Siswati/Ndebele News - 2 054 532 *

SABC 2:
Muvhango - 4 331 877
Presidents Address on Covid-19 - Vaccine News - 3 626 419
Live Lotto Draw - 2 690 749
S2 Ses/Tsw/Sep News - 2 664 602 #
Presidents Address on Covid-19 - Update News - 2 350 410
State of the Nation Address 2021 - 1 988 228
Mamello - 1 366 521 #
7De Laan - 1 361 154 ~
Tholwana Tsa Sethepu - 1 208 258 ~
Mohlolohadi 2 - 1 024 741 ~
Nuus - 971 013 #
Speak Out - 969 763 *
Muvhango (Omnibus) - 839 418
Music - 808 779 ~
Budget Speech 2021 - 729 331
Tko Total Knockout - 694 390 *
Skeem Saam (Repeat) - 694 090 #
Touched by An Angel - 682 613 *
Muvhango (Repeat) - 669 502 *
In the Long Run - 668 643 ~

SABC 3:
Desert Megapride - 620 419 *
Boteti - 605 883 *
Dynasties:Making of - 557 496 *
Buffalo Fortress - 553 038 *
News - 530 295
Emirates Fa Cup Manchester United vs Wes - 465 823 ~
Emirates Fa Cup Barnsley vs Chelsea - 460 494 ~
Celebrated Love - 440 517 *
Music - 432 333 *
Street Dance 3 - 422 919 *
Hayden Quinn South Africa (Repeat) - 410 726 #
Mela - 389 689 ~
A Midnight Kiss - 384 076 *
Dating No Filter (Repeat) - 369 817 *
Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt vs Fc Bay - 366 080 #
Miami Vice (Drama) - 341 042 *
Matchmaker - 332 688 *
Afternoon Express - 331 580 *
Generations the Legacy (Repeat) - 325 194 #
Kaatrin Mozhi - 323 436 *

e.tv:
Scandal - 5 293 969
Imbewu - 4 155 983 #
Rhythm City - 3 912 113 #
Anacondas: the Hunt for the Blood Orchid - 3 578 437 *
Baywatch (Movie) - 3 232 568 *
Anaconda - 2 806 345 *
The Rundown - 2 606 146 *
Lara Croft Tomb Raider:the Cradle of Lif - 2 592 478 *
Durban Gen - 2 416 689 #
E.TV News - 2 410 300 ~
Guardians of the Galaxy - 2 273 318 *
Suicide Squad - 2 050 744 *
Imbewu (Repeat) - 2 031 020
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - 1 933 579 *
Scandal (Repeat) - 1 839 954 #
Checkpoint (News) - 1 668 684
Rhythm City (Repeat) - 1 631 824 *
Durban Gen (Repeat) - 1 554 367 "
Anaconda 3 :Offspring - 1 526 989 *
Family Feud South Africa - 1 525 305 *

DStv:
MZAN The Queen - 1 315 024 & 1 612 716 #
MZAN Gomora - 1 299 189 & 1 567 448 ~
MZAN Powerball - 887 024 & 1 119 796 #
MWET Our Perfect Wedding - 836 833 & 1 070 388
MZAN The River - 831 980 & 1 060 771 #
MZAN Ehostela - 808 868 & 969 090 ~
MZAN Isibaya - 797 686 & 955 706 ~
MWET I Blew it - 736 265 & 899 089 *
MWET The Queen (Repeat, Drama) 727 908 & 877 950 #
MZAN The Powerball Draw Quiz - 639 532 & 773 626 ~
MZAN Mnakwethu Happily Ever After - 621 125 & 766 606
MZAN Date My Family - 607 926 & 695 025 ~
MWET The Queen (Omnibus) - 577 106 & 680 382 #
MZAN Mzali Wami - 562 579 & 709 041 ~
MZAN The Ranakas - 548 241 & 635 540 ~
MWET The Herd - 533 888 & 655 540 #
MOJA Umndeni - 518 942 & 656 548 *
MWET Isibaya (Omnibus) - 489 765 & 645 627 *
MZAN Abandoned - 483 718 & 586 924 *
MWET Ikhaya - 480 690 & 552 607 *
MWET The Throne - 473 600 & 543 040 *
MWET The Queen - 461 067 & 562 637 ~
MBIO Losing Lerato - 457 361 & 591 939 *
MWET Ubizo - 456 267 & 536 106
MZAN Gomora (Repeat) - 441 008 & 509 367 ~
MBIO Iculo Lokugcina - 437 002 & 565 677 *
MWET Isibaya (Repeat) - 429 242 & 504 015 ~
MOJA Rea Tsotella - 414 691 & 509 706 *
MWET The Throne (Repeat, Drama) - 412 842 & 506 249 *
MWET Isithembiso - 410 592 & 489 203 *

April 2021 On Curiosity Channel Africa | Super Science Mondays | History Lovers Tuesdays | Wildlife Wednesdays | Travel & Adventures Fridays | Human Story Saturdays | Best Of Curiosity Sundays

SUPER SCIENCE MONDAYS

BONE DETECTIVES
Brand New Series - premieres 05 April 2021 at 18:00 CAT
An adventurous archaeologist journeys to the farthest reaches of the earth on a quest driven by the belief that the secrets of the past have yet to be revealed. Carefully preserved mummies and entombed skeletons are a link to ancient civilizations. Each presents a mystery to unravel, a life to understand, a world to explore and a death to reveal. But these long-hidden remains do not yield their secrets easily.

METEORITE MEN
Brand New Series - premieres 05 April 2021 at 21:00 CAT
For thousands of years meteorites have slammed into the Earth's surface, carrying an invaluable record of the origins of our solar system. But finding meteorites on Earth, some buried over centuries by thick layers of dirt and sediment, is no easy task.
Meteorite hunters Steve Arnold and Geoff Notkintravel to some of the most remote locations around the world to explore the scientific and financial value of meteorites. Featuring treks in Chile, Sweden, Australia, the US, Mexico, and more, these meteorite men meet with top scientists, geologists, astronomers, and meteorite experts to reveal a deeper understanding of how meteorites have helped to build our solar system and shape our planet.

HISTORY LOVER TUESDAYS

SIGNS OF EVIL: THE RUNES OF THE SS
Brand New Documentary Special –premieres 06 April 2021 at 20:00 CAT
In October 1945, the Allies passed a law banning the Nazi Party and all associated organizations, including the SS. The young Federal Republic even forbade all Nazi symbols. This documentary tells the gripping story of the SS symbol, from the Middle Ages to the present day.

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAYS

MONSTERS AND MYTHS
Brand New Documentary Special - premieres 07 April 2021 at 20:00 CAT
Monsters have always been part of our nightmares and fairy-tales. But where do they come from? What is true about them and what belongs to the realm of fiction? Together with scientists, the makers of this film explore the myth of dragons hunt in Texas for traces of the "chupacabra."

MASAI MARA: THE BIG HUNT
Brand New Documentary Special - premieres 14 April 2021 at 20:00 CAT
When the food supply in the Serengeti dwindles, the MasaiMara is a paradise for predators. As the black wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, and antelopes make their yearly trip from the south of the Serengeti to the north, nature’s best-laid trap, the Mara River in Kenya is waiting ahead.

WILDEST INDIA
Brand New Series - premieres 21 April 2021 at 18:00 CAT
Episodes: 5x 60 mins –ends 19 May 2021
India is an exotic mix of wildlife, secret locations, epic landscapes and colourfulbeauty. This landmark series is a celebration of India’s most spectacular locations and wildlife. From the epic Himalayas, we travel to the Ganges, lifeblood of India, as it carves out its dramatic path across the subcontinent. Thar, the great desert: where the bleakness of the environment is juxtaposed with the striking coloursof the wildlife. This biodiversity hotspot is home to epic waterfalls, hill tribes, hidden caves and stunning wildlife.
Join us in the heart of India and discover one of the most incredible, beautiful and exciting places on Earth. Too-little explored on film, here is a chance to savour the wilds of India in all their glory.

MEET THE MUSTELIDS
Brand New Documentary Special - premieres 28 April 2021 CAT: 20:00 Episodes: 1x 60 mins
To many ears, the name mustelid might sound mysterious, but this family of hunters is probably much more familiar than you think. They’re tiny terrors; ankle-height tigers of the undergrowth. Some are elusive hunters while others stand together and fight.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE FRIDAYS

DREAM ROUTES
Brand New Series - premieres 09 April 2021 at 18:00 CAT
"Dream Routes" is a three-part film project dedicated to exceptional travel routes through six important Southern and Central Asian countries. These journeys take us on adventurous routes through diverse landscapes, as well as to culturally diverse people, rich in traditions of various religions. Due to the political situations in the region, these are incredible experiences that are often inaccessible to many.
The series itself is a plea for greater acceptance of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. The third episode is especially important in that it offers people the opportunity to see incredible landscapes, and that it is a counter-statement to current ideas of intolerance: these dream routes are a symbol of diversity and togetherness, which have always been the key to economic prosperity and progress.

HUMAN STORY SATURDAYS

WILDEST ISLANDS – Season 2
Brand New Episode - premieres 03 April 2021 at 19:00 CAT
Islands can be home to the most extreme examples of life, as nature evolves in the most dramatic way. Sometimes isolated for hundreds of thousands of years, pockets of individuals adapt to survive, fueling a rapid and continuous development of new species.
Some of the Zanzibar archipelago’s bizarre creatures have developed to an enormous size. The world’s largest crab scales trees in search of coconuts, and clouds of giant bats fill the skies at dusk. Under the cover of darkness, giant leatherback turtles visit Trinidad’s beaches to lay their eggs. Dominica’s volcanic heritage gives it fertile soils, making the island rich in flowering plants. Situated 1,000km west of Ecuador, the Galapagos archipelago has been so little exposed to humans, it allowed Charles Darwin to study and rethink the laws of nature.

HOT ROADS
Brand New Series -premieres 10 April 2021 at 21:00 CAT
A risky expedition along thoroughfares that harbor mortal danger for those who use them or live on them. They run through deserts, ice and snow, deep in the jungle, along water and over mountains: the world’s most dangerous roads. Many risk their lives along these roads. Yet for lack of alternative routes, locals continue to use them for transportation. This series tells stories that take place along the routes, of the people who live along them and for whom these are part and parcel of their personal destiny.

BEST OF CURIOSITY SUNDAYS

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
Brand New Series - premieres 04 April 2021 at 18:00 CAT
The hidden origins and turbulent evolution of the world’s largest religion.

Available on DStv

Friday, March 12, 2021

NEW SERIES ALERT!: Dare To Love Coming Soon To eExtra

As much as the word 'new' flies around on screen this one will shock those with access to Zee World. It will benefit those without the channel and likely those who've watched it.

Zee World viewers knew it as Fire & Ice now eExtra will introduce it under the title Dare To Leave.

Dare To Love (Tashan-E-Ishq) follows the story of Twinkle Taneja, (who is beautiful, blunt and outgoing) and Yuvraj Luthra, (who is fearless, pompous and impulsive). The two love each other, and would've gotten married had it not been for their mothers. The series starred Sidhant Gupta, Jasmin Bhasin and Zain Imam.

During its debut in 2015, the show won two awards.

The benefit to this new repeat is that you might get the uncensored and original dubbed voices under the Zee TV branding instead of the re-edited version from Zee World.

The series replaces Bepannah weekdays at 15:45 from 22 March

ZooMoo Has Been Extended On DStv + Other Controversies Regarding The Current Pop-Up Channels

Back in August 2020, MultiChoice previewed 4 pop-up channels + 1 full-time channel which were TLNovelas (Mexican telenovelas, September), TDC (Turkish telenovelas, November), tvN (K-dramas, November) and ZooMoo (preschoolers, November) + KIX (Action movie channel, October).

All were suppose to launch within that year but for some reason tvN didn't make the deadline. They only popped up a year later through a Facebook post without any explanation from them or MultiChoice on why they didn't fill the end of their bargain.

Maybe MultiChoice wanted to put more focus towards TDC since they were gonna launch together. They couldn't do December since less people will be glued to their screens, January everyone is up in arms, February was occupied leaving March open.

tvN is the first channel that doesn't offer a ton of dubbed programming for English viewers. Will we ever know why this one is unscathed while others are put out of their misery.

TLNovelas has the longest promotional period amongst all of them. Ever since it's launch there's been technical difficulties (in South Africa) for which DStv is seemingly taking a while to resolve and this will just leave the channel without potential consumers.

ZooMoo which was suppose to end in March 2021 alongside TDC has been extended until June which is the same time tvN promotional run ends. It's obvious MultiChoice doesn't monitor performances entirely through viewership.

Timeless Dizi Channel (TDC) makes a ton of last minute changes which doesn't reflect their schedule. They went from using an outdated schedule to airing marathons without notice. Imagine, recording an episode only to realise this issue exists. This channel is set to close by the end of March.

In the end, ZooMoo is the only channel that hasn't stirred up problems for viewers.

PremiumFree Satellite TV Launches From May As A Rival To OpenView

New PremiumFree satellite TV service to take on DStv and Openview in South Africa
AfricaXP will expand its free-to-air satellite TV service, PremiumFree, to millions of satellite dishes in South Africa on 1 May 2021.

AfricaXP is a digital content distributor and themed linear channel creator which is focussed on Africa.

Through its PremiumFree service it aims to become the default multichannel satellite TV offering on the continent.

PremiumFree is already offering free-to-air satellite TV services in many African countries through two Eutelsat satellites.

In 2020 AfricaXP signed multi-year agreements with Eutelsat Communications for Ku-band capacity on two Eutelsat satellites, positioned at 16° East and 7° East.

This capacity enabled AfricaXP to extend the reach of its PremiumFree service from only West Africa to Eastern and Southern Africa.

AfricaXP is now further extending the reach of PremiumFree through a partnership with Intelsat IS-20 which covers most of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Many South African households have IS-20 aligned dishes connected to “closed” decoders that lock out other channels.

These viewers could now buy any low-cost free to air decoder and connect it to their LNB cable coming from the dish to receive the PremiumFree channels.

The 18 channels that will be available on PremiumFree TV are:

BongoTV: Tanzanian Swahili movies.

True African: A mixed-genre of African channel that has movies, lifestyle shows, factual reality and music content, and sports and soaps. Formerly available on OpenView and once a product of eMedia Investments.

Africawood Blockbusters: A variety of films from across the African continent.

fresh: A lifestyle and reality show channel.

Limelight: Family, action and kid movies.

Romanza+ Africa: A telenovela channel.

LOL Africa: A comedy channel with short-form humourous content, funny videos and sitcoms.

Sports Connect: Sports magazine shows, profile series, documentaries and sports news channel.

Kiddiwinks: A toddler channel aimed at pre-school viewers.

Pulse: An African youth and music channel.

Afriwood Series: African soaps and drama series.

Riverwood: Kenyan movies and series.

RPM: A motoring and motorsports channel.

LifeTV: A factual channel covering crime and investigation programming, disasters and culture.

DIVA: Entertainment news, fashion, gossip, music, reality, dating shows and makeovers. It could be the one operated by NBCUniversal International.

Gospellife: A mixed-genre Christian values channel.

Fight Night: A mixed martial arts and boxing channel.

synapse: An e-gaming channel.