Fox is assuring TopTV subscribers and South African pay-TV viewers, and the South African TV industry that it will not be removing any of its Fox-supplied TV channels from the struggling TopTV's line-up.
Fox has no plans to do what Discovery Networks International (DNI), Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and other channel distributors did by suddenly pulling their TV channels from TopTV's bouquet without any warning.
Fox says none of its 5 TV channels on TopTV will disappear despite Fox being owed millions by On Digital Media (ODM) which runs the beleaguered satellite pay-TV platform and that Fox is committed to stay with TopTV during the satellite pay-TV operator's financial bail-out and restructuring.
Fox International Channels (FIC) has been running FOX (TopTV 180), FX (TopTV 110), Fox Retro (TopTV 181), FuelTV (TopTV 255) and BabyTV (TopTV 257) on TopTV since the satellite pay-TV platform commercially launched in May 2010.
FIC will not be pulling its channels from TopTV in the way that Discovery Networks CEEMEA, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and Manchester United Television did (and then not publicly be willing to talk about it, despite TopTV owing Fox International R43,8 million. TopTV debt to Fox amounts to 3% overall of TopTV's debt to creditors.
"FIC has committed to stay through the business rescue process that TopTV is currently undergoing," FIC Africa tells me.
"We subsequently have no plans to remove channels whilst this process is underway. We are presently in negotiations with the new shareholders to jointly plot our future with the platform. At present we have not defined the terms of any agreement but we are confident that a way forward will be found between both parties," says FIC Africa.
FIC says its committed to having its TV channels in Africa and is determined to remain here for viewers and to grow.
"As a company we are committed to Africa and are determined to support the growth of pay-TV on the continent. Our Johannesburg office is rapidly expanding to ensure that we can service all emerging and established platforms in Africa."
"We are exceptionally proud of being the only international pay-TV channel supplier who is delivering high quality channels to all African affiliates. Full distribution of our channels to the African market is key and with this in mind we are delivering content specifically relevant to an African audience," FIC Africa tells me.
Here is where FIC Africa currently has channel distribution in Africa:
DStv: FOX, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, FOX Life, FOX Crime
TopTV: FOX, FX, Fox Retro, FuelTV, BabyTV
MyTV: FOX, FX, Nat Geo Gold
Star
Times: FOX, FX,
Nat Geo Gold, BabyTV, National Geographic
ZukuTV: FOX, FX, Nat Geo Adventure, BabyTV
Mi.T: FOX, BabyTV (French), Nat Geo Gold
Canal+: National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, Voyage (in French)
