Colin Asiimwe returns as MultiChoice Uganda head of marketing

by Thinus Ferreira

Colin Asiimwe has returned to MultiChoice Uganda and his previous job as head of marketing, which he left three years ago in March 2022.

Colin Asiimwe replaces Lois Aber Kwikiriza who replaced him in 2022.

In his new-old job Colin Asiimwe will be responsible for the marketing of DStv Uganda, GOtv Uganda, as well as MultiChoice's streamer Showmax and its M-Net-run Pearl Magic TV channels.

Colin Asiimwe originally joined MultiChoice in 2019 and left in 2022. He returns from Kigali in Rwanda.

BBC News rebrands Click as Tech Now

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC News (DStv 400) has rebranded its long-running technology programme Click as Tech Now with the first episode under this renamed title which will broadcast on the TV news channel from 29 March and will also stream short videos from the programme on BBC.com as well.

Tech Now will continue to cover global trends and advancements happening in the technology space from AI and robotics, to health, climate, transport and gaming.

Tech Now has Adrienne Murray, Joe Tidy, Nick Kwek and Alasdair Keane as reporters.

Monica Soriano, Tech Now editor, says in a press release "With a wide network of technology reporters around the world, Tech Now brings a truly global perspective to the trends and advancements happening in the technology space today and showcasing their potential global impacts".

The first episode of Tech Now will be on Saturday 29 March at 00:30 (GMT), 06:30 and 18:30; Sunday 30 March at 04:30, 13:30, and Thursday 3 April at 08:30.

Sweet Guluva wins as Mzansi Magic's latest Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo season on DStv ends with the same sorely deficient M-Net PR it began with

by Thinus Ferreira

The latest season of Big Brother Mzansi ended on Sunday evening on MultiChoice's DStv with the 23-year-old Akhonamathemba Mbele, known as Sweet Guluva, who won the reality show but you wouldn't know it if it depended on Mzansi Magic's non-existent publicity effort.

The football player and barber from KwaZulu-Natal walked out of the camera-filled house on Sunday night as this season's R2 million winner produced by Red Pepper Pictures and sub-headlined "Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo".

By Tuesday morning there was still not even a press release about it from Mzansi Magic's publicist Portia Hlongwane or the Playmakers PR company that M-Net appointed and is paying to supposedly do PR and basic media liaison for this season of Big Brother Mzansi.

After taking the initiative to reach out and asking for a, or the, press release about the winner on Monday afternoon (since there was nothing by late Monday afternoon), there was absolutely no response from M-Net or Playmakers.

In addition, Mzansi Magic had Sweet Guluva and some other Big Brother Mzansi contestants at MultiChoice City in Randburg on Monday afternoon for a so-called "season 5 media event" and to do interviews.

Again, like just before the start of this season, and similar to the end of the previous season, once again M-Net's publicity people for Mzansi Magic and Playmakers did absolutely nothing to keep news media in the loop about it or that it would happen, apparently selecting to only communicate with a handful of people with just Twitter accounts and some other local media.

The result? Some social media postings suddenly on Monday afternoon but media left blindsided and clueless by Mzansi Media PR that something would happen, uninformed about what it entails, and unable to report about what was said. 

Besides no press release, absolutely no transcript or anything of what was said by anyone on Monday afternoon exists, or was shared with media who were not at MultiChoice City and didn't know about it in advance in order to plan coverage or arrange anything for their news diaries.

It's the same modus operandi from the previous season where MultiChoice and M-Net's apparently decided to predominantly focus on so-called influencers and Johannesburg-only press, for a show on DStv that is shown across the whole of South Africa and even sub-Saharan Africa.

Of a Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo "house-stay" with a gaggle of around 30 people, including Mzansi Magic publicists, and which took place just before the season started, the majority of invited people ended up doing nothing with barely any registered coverage.

On Thursday afternoon last week, just before the start of the long weekend, Playmakers did communicate by email and informed that there would be a Big Brother Mzansi finale "watch party" at the Maracana Restaurant in Sandton on Sunday for Johannesburg media and social media influencers, which was fine and kept media in the loop as to what would happen on Sunday.

Why M-Net and Playmakers didn't want to do any proper communication effort and failed with post-finale media liaison is unclear. It does however echo the disastrous laissez-faire PR approach of the start of this season, and the way the post-finale of the previous Big Brother Mzansi season was also handled.

The Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo season was once again marred by scandal, like all previous seasons, inflicting brand damage on M-Net's Mzansi Magic and sponsors like Lottostar and Unilever's Robertson's Spices.

DStv broadcast sexual assault victim-shaming when Ashley Ogle and Bongiwe Booi, known as Bonni Bee, made shocking comments about fellow contestant Florence Mphirime, known as KayB, after she revealed that she was herself a victim of sexual assault.

Then M-Net and production company Red Pepper Pictures were forced to remove yet another contestant from MultiChoice's scandal-riddled Big Brother Mzansi franchise when KayB herself got evicted over sexual assault.

Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo was the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the 11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

ALSO READ: 'I felt groped': More Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo scandal as M-Net and Red Pepper Pictures are forced to evict KayB over sexual assault

ALSO READ: The Trash Starts: More brand damage for MultiChoice and M-Net, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and LottoStar as Big Brother Mzansi shows 'deeply troubling' sexual assault victim-shaming on DStv

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Yet another Big Brother Mzansi. Yet another big M-Net and MultiChoice media fail

2025's DStv price increases: What subscribers will pay now

Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's DStv subscribers will once again have to pay more with the pay-TV operator increasing its prices for consumers in 2025 from 1 April, and an extra 0.5% VAT also being added from May.

DStv Premium is increasing by R50 from R929 to R979 (5.3%), DStv Compact Plus is increasing by R40 from R619 to R659 (6.4%), DStv Premium Compact is increasing by R10 from R469 to R479 (2.1%), DStv Family is increasing 3.03% and R10 from R329 to R339, DStv Access is increasing R11 (7.9%) from R139 to R150, while DStv EasyView is increasing by R1 (3.44%) from R29 to R30.

The DStv Access fee of R120 is increased by R5 (4.1%) to R125, while the basic Showmax monthly subscription fee remains at R99, although its Premier League and mobile packages are getting increases.

These are the prices from 1 April, however, the "final" price for DStv for 2025 will be higher, since another 0.5% VAT increase will come into effect from 1 May 2025.

MultiChoice usually announces its annual DStv price increase during mid-February. 

In a statement, Byron Du Plessis, MultiChoice SA CEO, says "Recognising the financial pressures faced by South African households, MultiChoice has implemented considered adjustments, focusing on enhancing value across its packages, with certain products receiving no increase including all DStv Stream packages, Box Office movies and Showmax Entertainment with the ADD Movies premium movie bolt on being reduced to just R49pm, a 38% price reduction."

The Randburg-based pay-TV operator was this year forced to scupper its price announcement and move it to this month after the unexpected postponement from February to last week of the budget speech of the minister of finance, Enoch Godongwana.

MultiChoice waited with baited breath to first see the outcome of the government's planned 2% VAT increase - which last week  didn't happen - and ultimately has an influence on the total cost to consumers companies calculate they're going to pass on.

Because of rampant inflation, weakening local currencies and worsening economic conditions, MultiChoice had already announced DStv price hikes for multiple other African countries ranging from 6% to over 22%.

Last year this time MultiChoice's percentage increases were 5.7% for DStv Premium, 6.9% for DStv Compact Plus, 4.5% for DStv Compact, 3.1% for DStv Family, and a whopping 7.8% for DStv Access.

Producer-director Annie Basson dead at 86

by Thinus Ferreira

The producer, director and actress Annie Basson died on Sunday morning after a long illness. She was 86.

Annie Basson died on Sunday morning in her home in Langebaan on the West Coast, five months after the death of her husband and 7de Laan creator, Danie Odendaal in October 2024.

Annie Basson and Danie Odendaal were 7de Laan's creators and co-producers.

She was the director of Die Hartseerwals, Die Sondaar, Uitdraai and Meester and was the director of the documentary series on Afrikaans theatre, Van Kerslig tot Kollig, the mini-series Death in the Family and the made-for-TV movie, Daisy de Melker.

As actress, she had roles in the 1975 films Somer and Olie Kolonie.besides numerous on-stage roles.

Blind Love and documentaries on Ernest Cole and Happy Sindane scoop top prizes at 7th Joburg Film Festival Awards

by Thinus Ferreira

Julian Chou's Blind Love won the award for Best Feature Film, while Raoul Peck was awarded with Best Documentary for his thought-provoking Ernest Cole: Lost and Found at Saturday night's 7th Joburg Film Festival.

Vusi Africa took home the prize for Best African Feature Film for his documentary Happy: The True Happy Sindane Story produced under his Trial by Media banner.

Film glitterati once again packed the Theatre on the Square in Sandton on Saturday night for this year's film awards ceremony sponsored by MultiChoice, capping a week of screenings, networking and its series of JBX Talks panel discussions that ran concurrently to the festival.

The Best Feature Film award on Saturday night went to Blind Love of Julian Chou - a touching coming-of-age story about a sensitive teenager who uncovers his mother's secret affair with a mysterious woman. 

As he grapples with his discovery, he begins to unravel the perfect facade of his seemingly happy family, with the searing film exploring themes of love, deception, and self-discovery.

Ariel Lin and Wu Ke-Xi star in this drama, which premiered in competition at Rotterdam's International Film Festival (IFFR), with Lin also executive producer.

The Best Documentary award went to this year's festival opener, Raoul Peck's searing Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, which had its African premiere at this year's festival.

The moving documentary honours the life and work of Ernest Cole, a renowned South African photographer who captured the harsh realities of Apartheid through his lens, with the feature offering an intimate look at his legacy and the enduring impact of his images.

Accepting his award, Raoul Peck said "We couldn't have a better welcome back to South Africa for Ernest Cole".

 

Happy: The True Happy Sindane Story from Vusi Africa snagged the Best African Feature Film award, with the film that explores the true story of Happy Sindane - shedding light on themes of identity, race, and the complexities of the human experience in post-apartheid South Africa.

Accepting his award, Visu Africa said "This belongs to Happy. At the time he was suffering the country kept quiet and nobody said anything to stop his despair until eventually he died a painful death".

"This is a restoration of his legacy. This is a restoration of his name. This is an affirmation that Happy lived and it's an affirmation that he walked among us." 

Vusi Africa said "we live in a crucial time where it's important to tell the South African story amidst all of these forced narratives. It's critically important that we are deliberate about funding the South African narrative".

The Best Short Film award went to the local African folklore tale Why the Cattle Wait from Phumi Morare. 

This poignant short feature delves into the complexities of unrequited love, set against the backdrop of a colourful African landscape, showcasing the emotional depth of the characters' struggles.

 

Sugar Land from Johanne Gomez Terrero, a Dominican Republic feature, won the Best Edit accolade.

This rich film follows the life of a Dominican-Haitian teenager growing up in a community surrounded by vast sugarcane fields, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by those on the margins of society.

  

The Jury Special Mention prize was awarded to The Shadow Scholar of Eloise King - a bold and thought-provoking film that sheds light on the often-hidden world of shadow education and exploring how it affects both students and society.

 

The Young Voices Award was presented to CheckMate. This compelling and innovative film tells the story of a group of young people navigating the complexities of modern life, identity, and the pursuit of dreams.

Aspiring filmmakers from across South Africa were invited to submit short films for the Young Voices film competition. The talented Mahatanya Mahatanya received a range of prizes, including a bursary and an internship.

Generations creator and producer Mfundi Vundla of Morula Pictures was presented with a Special Recipient award.

"I'm moved. It's not every day that you're recognised by your peers," Mfundi Vundla told TVwithThinus after the awards show. 

"I'm just over the moon. I feel vindicated in the choice's I've made."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment, from the stage said "We all know that beyond this Joburg Film Festival the landscape is tough. Uncertainty lingers, yet if there's one thing this festival has shown us, it's that we are not alone. So never feel alone as a filmmaker, or an emerging filmmaker".

"The power of this community of creators, dreamers and doers remains unshaken. Over three decades MultiChoice has been deeply committed to this industry - to its storytellers, its creators and its future."

"We recognise the challenges that lay ahead but we also believe in the resilience of the talent and the innovation of the film community. Our commitment is not just to support but to collaborate, to adapt and to continue creating opportunities that help our industry."

Stream saam: MultiChoice backtracks and allows 2 DStv streams

by Thinus Ferreira

Three years after it was abruptly introduced, MultiChoice has backtracked and is now again allowing viewers to watch DStv on two concurrent streams instead of only one.

DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers will immediately be able to stream DStv content in two ways at the same time, after MultiChoice says it is now upping its strict stream limit of one to two because of "changing viewing habits".

MultiChoice came in for severe criticism from subscribers in February 2022 when it suddenly capped DStv subscribers to just one DStv stream and ripped away their ability to watch soaps and soccer or Paw Patrol and rugby at the same time in a password-crackdown move.

The result was that many miffed DStv subscribers outright cancelled and moved to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and others which allow more than one concurrent stream on one account.

MultiChoice says the "second stream is back" immediately for DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers who can now again stream on any two devices simultaneously, including smart TVs.

MultiChoice now touts "increased flexibility" for DStv households, although it is the company itself that severely limited viewing flexibility three years ago.

"The update offers greater flexibility to customers, making it easier for them to watch what they want when they want. DStv Stream standalone customers will also benefit from an additional concurrent stream on any device."

According to the Randburg-based pay-TV operator, which has seem its number of DStv subscribers come under massive pressure in South Africa and the top-end declining in the face of competition from streamers and a bad economy, now says that "As more South African households use a second screen to broaden their individual entertainment choices, the return of DStv's second stream option is great news for families".

"The return of the second stream adds even more value to DStv's Premium, Compact Plus and Compact packages," MultiChoice says in a statement announcing the rollback.

"DStv Premium customers, who already receive Showmax at no extra cost, now have access to two DStv streams and two Showmax streams, bringing their total concurrent streaming options to four."

"DStv Compact customers also now have two DStv streams, can add Showmax to their subscription at a discount, and enjoy two Showmax streams, also giving them four concurrent streaming options in total.  

According to Byron du Plessis, MultiChoice South Africa CEO, "With shifting viewing habits and growing connectivity, it's the right time to bring back the second stream to supplement our overall value proposition".

"With 150 million monthly views, the DStv Stream platform continues to grow. DStv satellite customers can access DStv Stream for free, but it is also available as a standalone streaming option."

"With the return of the second stream, our customers have more opportunities to engage with the content they love, including the best local stories, world-class sport, as well as a variety of international content options."

1max gone after as year as MultiChoice axes its Showmax second-window channel on DStv from April 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is axing its 1max channel on DStv with the channel - that reran streaming content from its Showmax video streaming service on a linear schedule - that will be removed at the end of this March.

The 1max channel is the first linear TV channel that MultiChoice is taking away from DStv subscribers in 2025.

MultiChoice, M-Net and Showmax added the 1max linear TV channel a year ago from April without any announcement.

That was a very unusual move since MultiChoice press releases are always issued for new channel additions. It means that 1max will have existed for exactly a year on DStv when it is culled at the end of this month.

The 1max channel logo, name and colour comes from the "new" Showmax that MultiChoice and Comcast's NBCUniversal launched just over a year ago.

The "1" is from the 1Magic channel that M-Net shut down a year ago, with the "max" as a suffix from the word Showmax, to indicate that it was a derivative linear TV channel from the streamer.

Showmax Originals that got a second window on 1max will now be scheduled and shown on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).

Similar to how it didn't announce the start of 1max, MultiChoice and Showmax didn't announce its axing. Late on Wednesday confirmed the channel is being removed from DStv, in response to a media query.

"As part of its ongoing channel simplification, MultiChoice will be integrating its 1max programming onto the Mzansi Magic channel and bringing 1max to a close on the DStv platform, effective 31 March 2025," MultiChoice.

According to the pay-TV operator, "The decision follows detailed research into audience consumption behaviour. Notably, the new development will see 1max's slate of upcoming titles now move onto Mzansi Magic, further boosting that channel's already significant local content line-up".

MultiChoice says Showmax subscribers can watch series like Youngins, Adulting and Soft Life directly on the streaming service.

"The outcome of the latest changes means that audiences can access their favourite title either within a scheduled channel, or on demand, depending on their product and their viewing preference."

Byron du Plessis, MultiChoice CEO, says the update to remove 1max channel from the DStv line-up is part of MultiChoice focus on improving content discovery for customers.

"We know that our customers want to find their content as quickly as possible, without having to navigate across multiple channels or platforms. This consolidation also allows Mzansi Magic to further build its stellar lineup, becoming a stronger premium local content offering than ever before."

ALSO READ: 1max: What MultiChoice's new Showmax channel on DStv is. 

SABC News staffers in Free State and Northern Cape furious over news editor's alleged corruption and girlfriend nepotism

by Thinus Ferreira

SABC News staffers in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces are furious over what they describe, in a grievance letter, as the alleged corruption, favouritism and nepotism of regional news editor Mangaliso Radebe.

The staffers emailed a grievance letter to SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli on 11 December 2024, detailing their shocking complaints and allegations, including how Mangaliso Radebe had allegedly been victimizing and intimidating workers.

The staffers note that they made use of the SABC's anonymous corruption line but that no follow-up happened, and that they also informed Moshoeshoe Monare, the former SABC News boss of the case but that he also allegedly did nothing about the matter. 

Moshoeshoe Monare left the SABC in December 2024.  

In the letter, SABC News staff also claim that Mangaliso Radebe had employed a girlfriend as his personal assistant, although she got a bad score during a job interview.

"When this post was advertised and people were shortlisted, Ms M did not make the cut as one of the interview candidates. Mangaliso opposed the list and insisted that M be included as a person from Northern Cape and she was included in the second candidate list. She performed the worst of all candidates during interviews".

The woman apparently didn't know anything about the SABC's operational procedures or systems but was employed over candidates who do and who faced retrenchment.

Mangaliso Radebe allegedly also used his SABC laptop so that the woman could prepare for the job interview in the SABC's regional office in Kimberley.

"One guy in the SABC in Northern Cape was ordered to make sure that the connection during interviews does not fail. The above allegations can be proven easily through getting interview records on matrix since the interviews were done online, as to how each candidate was scored," the staffers write in their letter.

Mangaliso Radebe is now apparently exiting the SABC in June.

"Most avenues within the SABC as an organisation cannot be trusted. We are coming to you as a last resort. We trust that you will consider this as a matter of urgency and assist," the staffers told Nomsa Chabeli.

Mmoni Ngubane, SABC spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media query, "The SABC would like to categorically state that there are no issues pertaining to human resources that are swept under the carpet as alleged".

"The SABC is guided by its human resources policies and prescripts to address any concerning matters. As a matter of principle, the SABC is under no obligation to discuss any matter relating to an employer-employee relationship with the media."

"There are duly constituted forums and committees for the SABC to discuss human-resources related matters."

The SABC didn't respond to the question of whether Mangaliso Radebe is leaving the SABC in June.