Viacom Africa and MultiChoice are removing the outdated VH1 Classic channel and replacing it with a third MTV channel on its DStv satellite pay-TV platform, MTV Music 24 (DStv 323), with the standard definition channel that will continue to play just music videos from 5 March.
Meanwhile Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) kids channel Nickelodeon (DStv 305) will be upgraded to high definition (HD) in South Africa, and MTV Base (DStv 322) will be made available to DStv Access subscribers from the same date.
VH1 is getting swapped out for MTV Music 24, and will play music videos from all genres, including pop, dance, rock and urban.
"As we celebrate the 14th year of establishing VIMN’s local presence on the continent, we continue to value our strong partnership with MultiChoice to deliver great entertainment experiences to subscribers across Africa," says Alex Okosi, VIMN Africa executive vice president and managing director.
"The expansion of MTV Base's reach to DStv Access, the arrival of MTV Music 24 and the upgrade of some of our channels to HD are part of our commitment to provide dynamic channels that speak to diverse audiences".
VIMN Africa says the move to HD forms an important part of VIMN Africa's distribution strategy with MultiChoice with the network launching 4 channels across the Southern Africa (SADC) region - BET, Comedy Central, MTV and MTV Base - to high definition next month.
Nickelodeon will be upgraded to HD in South Africa from 5 March.
Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice executive head for content strategy, says "DStv is always thrilled with the innovative customer solutions that come out of the Viacom stable. We are inspired by their focus on producing local content and putting local talent in the limelight through well-established international brands".
"Our DStv Access customers will thoroughly enjoy the programming on MTV Base, which really speaks to this audience and the addition of MTV Music 24 is a current and relevant evolution that will delight viewers."
