You're reading it here first.
I can exclusively break the news that the Syfy channel will not be coming to MultiChoice's DStv platform.
MultiChoice has once again recently tested Syfy as a possible new TV channel acquisition for its DStv bouquet, but has decided against it. Although MultiChoice personally likes the Syfy channel, the pay TV platform has no plans on adding Syfy in the foreseeable future. But why?
There's several reasons. Although not stated, it seems as if Syfy - and I haven't checked with them - insists on a too high channel carriage fee for Syfy. That's what lead to a breakdown in tentative negotiations between On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV when they wanted to add Syfy as a potential channel before they launched in May this year. Furthermore MultiChoice has (and I don't want to use the word ''problems'') some bandwidth restrictions that will only be eased with new satellites in future. MultiChoice is now very careful about what channels its adding since bandwidth is becoming an issue. MultiChoice also still considers Syfy to be too niche a channel to be successful on DStv, with too few - although ardent - fans.
I do know though that MultiChoice themselves do love the Syfy channel and the transformative content repositioning the channel underwent the past few years when it changed from The Sci-Fi Channel to Syfy. ''Syfy has migrated from little green men to freeing imagination,'' Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content said earlier today when I asked her about the possibility of Syfy being added to DStv. ''Syfy has very, very loyal but niche viewers so when we had to make the decision again it was a no-brainer for us,'' she said. ''Already also a lot of those titles [of Syfy TV shows] do sit in M-Net Action (DStv 106). It's actually maybe up to M-Net Action to make viewers more aware of the big science fiction programming that is on the channel.''
''Adding Syfy . . . it would need the Syfy proposition to be different [because Syfy shows are on other channels already like Haven on The Universal Channel] from the US and UK Syfy channel versions. Then the South African Syfy feed will have to mix second run [shows/show premieres] with first run. If we take the channel in future that would be an issue: how much of the content on the channel is really brand-new to the territory,'' Aletta Alberts said. ''We're not looking at adding Syfy in the short term to DStv but we are keeping our eye on it to see if there is a way that it could grow a broader audience.''
ALSO READ: Is TopTV talking to Universal Networks International for a SECOND time in trying to get the Syfy channel to South Africa?
ALSO READ: Syfy would LOVE to return to South Africa.
