BREAKING. Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if FOX Crime is coming to TopTV.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) is talking about the "sudden" and absolutely shocking demise of Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from TopTV from which it disappeared without warning or explanation; why Fox Retro viewers and TopTV subscribers were not told until after the Fox supplied channel disappeared; and whether Fox Crime which is coming to DStv from 19 July will also be added to TopTV in the place of Fox Retro.

I just got off the phone with Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager who is based in Johannesburg and who oversees Fox's Africa business in South Africa and across the African continent.

Sir, thank you you for you time and willingness to talk to me. I woke up today and heard from a lot of very upset, shocked and angry TopTV subscribers and I got a lot of email from people which usually happens when an operator suddenly no longer has a TV channel. 
In May Fox International Channels Africa said that the Fox channels supplied to TopTV will remain on TopTV. When was the decision taken to end Fox Retro and why was the channel shut down?

Alessandro Tucci: The decision of shutting Fox Retro is not related to TopTV. It's more related to overall Fox channels and that performance management. What we're trying to do in South Africa is to bring our big brands to subscribers and pay-TV customers. 

We launched our channels on TopTV a few years ago and Fox Retro was a good proposition then, but very quickly we have seen that bringing TV shows from the 70s 80s and 90s was not the best proposition going forward as a single channel for a new market growing very fast in Africa. So we decided that the channel as Fox Retro was, was not the best we could do anymore. 

We also added FOX recently to MultiChoice's DStv and in a couple of weeks were launching FOX Crime on DStv on 9 July as well. So we decided to shut down Fox Retro to concentrate on our key brands going forward such as FOX Crime.

Also, the rest of our channels are all still on TopTV and still available to TopTV clients.

TopTV subscribers and Fox Retro viewers are really upset that they were not told before the channel was discontinued that Fox Retro was being taken away. 
Why did Fox International Channels Africa make the announcement that Fox Retro ended only today after the channel was terminated? Why couldn't people be told earlier?

Alessandro Tucci: The customers are right. It is miscommunication between us and TopTV management; we didn't properly communicate this decision. 

However, as we said in our PR release, the Fox Retro customers will see their content didn't disappear; we have created a strip into the FOX channel and we're bringing the best of FOX Retro content to viewers now on that channel. 

If someone was a fan of Quantum Leap or M*A*S*H they can still enjoy it through that block. As you say, it was a little bit of bad communication between us and TopTV; we didn't properly communicate that.

Is FOX Crime going to be added to TopTV as a TV channel, or will it not?

Alessandro Tucci: On 19 July we will start with FOX Crime on DStv and we are now in discussions with TopTV management. We really hope we can find an agreement this week soon, and to then add FOX Crime to TopTV possibly very, very soon.

Thank you very much for your time sir and for your willingness to talk to me and to answer these questions.


ALSO READ:  TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the channel after saying in May that all Fox channels are safe. 
ALSO READ: Analysis: An awful, "old" ending for Fox Retro on TopTV - and another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.