Raffaele Annecchino, Former Paramount International President and CEO, passes away aged 55

by Fathima Beckmann

Raffaele Annecchino, a transformative figure in the global media industry and former president and CEO of Paramount International, has passed away suddenly at the age of 55.

Over more than 25 years at Paramount/ViacomCBS, Annecchino rose from an early commercial role in Madrid to oversee the company's international operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

As CEO of Paramount International, he played a central role in the company's transition from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms, driving the international rollout of Paramount+, supporting the expansion of Pluto TV and helping create SkyShowtime, the joint venture between Paramount and Comcast.

Africa was an important part of Annecchino's leadership. He championed Viacom's African business and brands, including MTV, MTV Base, BET, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, and was a strong advocate for local audiences, talent and the growth of the continent's media industry. 

He also worked closely with MultiChoice as a key strategic partner.

After leaving Paramount, Annecchino founded Blue Ocean Media Partners, a global consultancy focused on innovation, transformation and strategic growth.

TRIBUTES FROM AFRICA

Alex Okosi, former EVP, BET International and Paramount Africa

"Raffaele was a deeply valued colleague and a dear friend."

"Having worked alongside him through years of international growth and transformation, I saw firsthand his rare ability to combine sharp commercial instinct and strategic vision with genuine warmth, humanity and optimism."

"He built lasting trust, inspired those around him to think bigger and always made time to uplift people. His impact on the global media industry is undeniable, but for those fortunate enough to have known and worked with him, his warmth, generosity and spirit will be just as enduring."

"He will be deeply missed. We continue his legacy."

Fathima Beckmann, former SVP, Global Inclusion, Paramount International

"Raffaele had a profound impact on my career and on me personally. He saw potential in people and championed their growth."

"Through the support and belief of both Raffaele and Marva Smalls, I had the opportunity to serve on his executive team and relocate from South Africa to Madrid."

"It was an honour to work alongside him at Paramount and later again as he built and globally launched Blue Ocean Media Partners."

"Raffaele was an extraordinary leader, visionary and ambitious, yet deeply human, generous with his encouragement and always willing to share his wisdom. May his soul rest in eternal peace."

Monde Twala, former SVP, BET International and Paramount Africa

"Shocking and heartbreaking news. Raffa was an amazing leader and mentor to me and many of us in Africa."

"He was always supportive and helpful in elevating the business and particularly African culture and youth entertainment. He touched and changed many lives around the world."

"I'm forever grateful for his leadership and dedication. He encouraged excellence and accountability in me personally. Rest easy Raffa. Siyabonga."

Craig Paterson, former SVP, Paramount Africa

"Raffaele was one of those rare people who lit up every room. His energy, warmth and belief in people inspired us all. He was always in our corner, championing Africa’s growth, and his presence will be deeply missed."

Bada Akintunde-Johnson, former country manager, Paramount Africa, Nigeria

"As country manager leading the ViacomCBS/Paramount business in Nigeria, I experienced first-hand the impact of Raffaele's leadership."

"He guided the EMEA business through an extraordinarily difficult period, particularly during Covid, with exemplary leadership, empathy and humanity."

"What I will especially remember was his genuine interest in Africa and the way he made those of us in the region's executive leadership feel that our business, our people and our contributions truly mattered within the broader organisation."

"My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may the impact of his leadership and the many lives he touched remain an enduring legacy."

Solafunmi Oyeneye, former senior channels manager, MTV Base, Nigeria

"Raffaele was one of those leaders whose presence was genuinely felt. He had a deep love for Africa and carried that with him."

"Whenever he came to Africa, there was always such warmth around him, and he was someone so many of us admired and were genuinely very fond of."

"It is incredibly sad to hear that he is gone. To his family, I hope you know that Raffaele touched lives far beyond those who worked closely with him."

"Even those of us several layers removed from him remember him with enormous warmth and affection. He was deeply respected, genuinely loved, and will be very fondly remembered."

"May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace."

(Published as received)

No Apple TV Price Increase for South Africa, This Time, Like in the US

by Thinus Ferreira

Apple is not doing its latest price increase for Apple TV for South Africa, the company confirmed to TVwithThinus.

Last week Apple announced that it is once again hiking the monthly subscription fee for its streaming service, to $14.99 per month.

The last time Apple TV, then still known and branded as Apple TV+, increased its price in South Africa was in October 2022.

Then, Apple TV increased its monthly subscription fee by a whopping 47% immediately to R124.99 per month, following a $2 price hike in the United States, which was then applied to South Africa as well.

This time the latest price hike in the United States, won't immediately result in a price hike for South African consumers.

Apple tells TVwithThinus in response to a media query "that there is no price increase in South Africa and prices will stay the same".

It means that an Apple TV subscription in South Africa will continue at R124.99 per month, or R1 249 per year on the annual plan.

Fired eNCA Reporter Heidi Giokos Resurfaces at SABC News as Weekend The Fullview Presenter

by Thinus Ferreira

After Heidi Giokos was fired by eNCA (DStv 403), the reporter is resurfacing at SABC News (DStv 404), where she will now be a presenter of the weekend edition of The Fullview.

eMedia's eNCA dismissed Heidi Giokos in July after she appeared in a cars.co.za commercial opposite Carl da Coza, in which she appeared as a TV reporter. Heidi Giokos joined eNCA in 2017.

According to insiders, Heidi Giokos allegedly failed to get proper permission and approval to appear in the cars.co.za commercial.

Heidi Giokos is the younger sister of CNN anchor and reporter Eleni Giokos.

Deidre Uren, SABC News boss, in a statement, says "We are delighted to welcome Heidi Giokos to the SABC family".

"Her extensive experience, professionalism and commitment to impactful storytelling align strongly with our mandate of informing, educating and empowering South Africans. We look forward to the contribution she will make across our news platforms."

The public broadcaster says it "looks forward to her continued contribution to South African journalism and public broadcasting".

Land of Mills & Money As Yet Another New e.tv Telenovela Starts - As You Can Rightly Wonder What Happened to e.tv Trying to Get the Press' Attention

by Thinus Ferreira

Yet another new telenovela is being rolled out this evening on e.tv, but the days of e.tv publicity actually properly engaging journalists and reaching out proactively to various media in trying to cover e.tv programming like this show, is apparently over.

For The Land of Mills & Money, I was emailed a trailer on 13 August. That's it.

Maybe there were more. I don't know.

As a journalist I can't know what I don't know (and unfortunately, yet again) there was nobody from e.tv who bothered to reach out to hear, or check, or have any kind of interaction or communication before the Grounded Productions show starts tonight on e.tv, with executive producers Thomas Gumede and Khanyi Nxumalo.

It used to be that e.tv's PR department knew journalists' faces, met them, engaged with them regularly, built real-world relationships with them over time, invited media from across South Africa when new soaps, telenovelas and drama series were starting, did upfront presentations, sent screener episodes, held media educationals, emailed weekly and monthly programming schedules, and invited media to episode recordings and set visits.

Now e.tv is apparently down to mass mailer emails, and you're lucky if you get it (unless it doesn't even reach you because of some bounce-back you don't even know about).

Similar to what I consider to be a very low-level start of both eGagasini from Stained Glass TV and The Four of Us from Tshedza Pictures, The Land of Mills & Money arrives this evening, in my opinion, with a seemingly very "blegh"-attitude from e.tv of basically "whatever".

The start of new primetime, local shows - soaps and telenovelas used to be a "thing" for e.tv.

Similarly, it was as important for e.tv to get buy-in from media across the country (since viewers are from across the country) for its shows as a national TV channel. Apparently not so anymore. 

After e.tv's cancellation and TV cupboard scrubbing of Scandal!, House of Zwide and Kelders van Geheime, I've been waiting to see the effort that e.tv would put into trying to promote and publicise the blocks of its new local primetime line-up.

Especially given the fact that everything familiar vanished in one go, to be replaced wholesale as a new block on e.tv's primetime line-up.

But what a disappointment. 

After these well-known shows got culled by e.tv executives, all together and were replaced by stuff nobody knows, since they're brand-new, you'd think (correctly) that these new shows and programming need as much oxygen from the media covering television and film in the country as they can possibly grab. 

Instead, it appears that e.tv's attempt the past few months with eGagasini, The Four of Us and now with The Land of Mills & Money has been lacklustre, inept and a far cry from what e.tv used to do. 

While traditional linear TV (in South Africa as well!) is under threat, broadcasters like the SABC, e.tv, M-Net and Mzansi Magic shouldn't shrink away and do less while streamers, other platforms and American broadcasters invade, but fight even harder and level up in the time and attention game when it comes to media covering their content.

Alas, it appears as if e.tv has forgotten how to fight, has failed to adapt, has lost institutional programming publicity memory, is just not willing to do the basics of what is required in 2026 to get the press' attention in the way it used to - or, quite likely, all of the above.

Where were the set tour and visits for national media for eGagasini, The Four of Us or The Land of Mills & Honey like what e.tv did in previous years for other shows? Or is this a thing of the past? Is it now just influencers?

Where are the emails that are supposed to fill the inboxes of journalists, asking: Do you want to maybe interview a Helga Palmer or a Marlon Davids or a Vuyelwa Booi about programming strategy, or the latest content or a specific show? Or pitches about reporting about eVOD? About Openview?

What is now happening, or no longer happening, when it comes to new shows starting on e.tv, and who communicates how things are now done or not done?

Why is nobody calling, messaging, WhatsApping or emailing in the weeks before a new local show starts, to ask "Do you want to speak so and so?", "What stories and interviews and coverage are you interested in doing?", "Here's what we're planning for this new show and this is when this and this and this will happen"? 

There's none of that. 

While international broadcasters, studios and production companies are falling over each other to reach ouot to South Africa's press covering TV to offer Zooms and Teams press junkets, with virtual roundtable interviews ahead of new shows with producers, writers and cast members all eager to speak, a broadcaster like e.tv has fallen very far behind and basically out of the attention and traction game.

It costs nothing, yet e.tv couldn't bother to set up a Zoom with the media not based in Johannesburg and not invited to whatever, to do interviews and roundtable engagements with producers, cast or crew of For Land of Mills & Money.

Neither did it happen for the other shows e.tv launched this year to anchor its new primetime.

It doesn't cost anything but time and intent, but e.tv hasn't bothered with a Zoom since Covid. Perhaps nobody knows that this is now what is being done as just one, but yet another integral part of promoting and publicising your TV show.

My inbox is full of emailed digital screeners for upcoming content - from both local South African shows, as well as international series, documentaries and films. All of these email links implore: "Watch me! See me! Review me! Write about me!"

But e.tv? Nothing. 

Nobody bothered to ask "Do you maybe want to see the first episode of The Land of Mills & Money?", "If you've watched it, are there people you might want to interview?" "If you've watched it, what did you think of it?"

Whether viewers will connect with The Land of Mills & Money on e.tv, nobody knows, but in my opinion, e.tv has again dropped the ball in mounting even a semblance of properly trying to get press for it in all the right ways that would matter and result in an actual return on investment in publicity effort.

Perhaps it's a sign of the times. 

Perhaps influencers are now what matter more than the actual reporting and coverage of TV shows. 

Perhaps just muddling on and no longer bothering with TV critics and media and journalists who do real and proper coverage of television is just the lazy pivot that fits into a new and neat lazy era of reels and mass mailer email blasts that's supposed to count as (and replaced real) "media engagement". 

It's just sad to me that e.tv seems to no longer care like it used to.

I was there and remembered and covered it when e.tv launched big tentpoles like Backstage, Scandal!, Rhythm City, Ashes to Ashes and others over the past decades, with publicists who called, who emailed with tailored suggestions and stories. Who engaged.

Now, something like The Land of Mills & Money starts on e.tv, in a primetime slot, will likely run at least 200 or 260 episodes as a multi-million rand production and investment looking to get ratings, and what you get is one email (if you're lucky).

Like, in The Mask, when Jim Carrey's Stanley is frantically trying to get his doggie Milo to reach the jail window, he gets impatient with the dog's smaller hops.

In a similar way, you feel like you want to shout: "Come on, Milo, put some effort into it!"

eMedia's Openview Dumps People's Planet After 6 Years, Replaces it from September with In-house Packaged eXplore Channel

by Thinus Ferreira

eMedia's Openview free-to-air satellite service has decided to dump People's Planet and to replace it from 1 September 2026 with an in-house channel in the form of a self-packaged channel it calls eXplore.

e.tv gave no reason for dumping People's Planet on Openview channel 115. 

People's Planet was originally called People's Weather when it was added to Openview in November 2020. The channel rebranded in mid-2024 to People's Planet.

Two years ago with the rebrand, People's Planet CEO Stephan le Roux said People's Planet decided to "partner exclusively with Openview, owned by the eMedia group as it is a rapidly growing platform that shares the vision for sustainability and growth, making it the perfect partner to help us reach and inspire a broader audience".

Now, by September 2026 there's not a word from People's Planet or Openview about what failed in its "exclusive partnership" as People's Planet is replaced by eXplore.

According to e.tv "eXplore will replace People's Planet and offer a broader mix of real-world stories based on the premise that our everyday world is stranger than we imagine".

"The programming moves between the natural world, life-or-death stories of survival and the darker side of human behaviour. Viewers can expect wildlife and conservation titles alongside documentaries, real-life mysteries and true-crime investigations."

e.tv notes that "Adding eXplore reflects Openview’s continued focus on bringing greater variety to viewers. The launch-day evening line-up begins with wildlife and conservation titles before moving into true crime and investigations of real events."

"It includes Cheetah Diaries at 18:00, Chameleons of the World at 18:25, Kalahari Meerkats at 19:20, Endangered with Michaela Strachan at 19:45, Evil Unmasked: The Station Strangler at 20:10 and A Mother's Madness at 21:00."

IN IMAGES. 50 Photos of National Geographic's LION launch event and 2026 Programming Upfront

by Thinus Ferreira

Disney Africa recently held a wonderful media event and screening in Johannesburg of National Geographic's latest Lion natural history series, combined with an upfront, showcasing some of the latest current and upcoming programming on the National Geographic (DStv 181) and Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182) TV channels.

The screening of the first episode of Lion was held at the Nine Yards venue in Johannesburg.

Rochelle Knock, vice president, Disney+ & networks and country manager for sub-Saharan Africa at The Walt Disney Company, showed sizzle reels and took guests through some of the upcoming programming on the National Geographic channels.