I can reveal that eKasi+ is the name of e.tv's brand new local content TV channel which e.tv will start on the OpenView HD satellite platform operated by Platco Digital.
e.tv plans to roll out 4 new e.tv branded TV channels of which eKasi+ will be one; the others being a kids channel, a movie channel, and a Pan-African content TV channel.
It's not clear whether any, or all of these free-to-air TV channels from e.tv will be available on MultiChoice's DStv platform and, or on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV platform.
I can tell however that e.tv management and ODM management have been talking about adding the new additional e.tv channels to TopTV, but there's not been any decisions yet.
The programming on eKasi+ which will be geared to wards entertainment and lifestyle shows, will largely cater to South Africa's black, aspirational, urbanised market.
The eKasi+ name is taken from e.tv's successful "eKasi" programming strand in which e.tv has been showing local dramas as part of an ongoing anthology series produced by different production companies.
So far e.tv is silent on the four new e.tv TV channels which will start on OpenView HD but is the first of the channel's planned group of additional channels for digital terrestrial television (DTT).
eKasi+ will have new and originally commissioned content but given the cost of local content and starting off with zero viewership, its a given that e.tv will repurpose content and mine its archive for repurposed local library content to help fill out the eKasi+ schedule when the channel starts.
One of the new commissions for eKasi+ will for instance include a brand-new local lifestyle magazine show for black 18 to 35 viewers, with the weekly half hour show which will start on the channel in 2014.
