You're reading it here first.
I can exclusively break the news that the next ''new'' DStv channel will be Idols Extra on DStv channel 199 which will go live from Sunday 5 June after the first episode of the brand-new 7th season of Idols on M-Net and Mzansi Magic (DStv 107).
Of course Idols Extra - not officially announced yet by MultiChoice's DStv or M-Net - will actually be the next ''new'' channel after the new permanent Disney Junior channel that will start on Wednesday 1 June on DStv and has also not been officially announced yet.
Like the Idols Extra channel that ran last year - also on channel 199, and also for a limited few months' run - sources are telling me that MultiChoice again requested the channel in exactly the same format from M-Net. Idols Extra will also be available to DStv Premium subscribers as well as DStv Compact subscribers. Last year Idols Extra was available on the DStv Compact bouquet as well, but will increase in viewer relevance since Mzansi Magic that's available as a channel on DStv Compact will be broadcasting the main Idols' episodes as well this year.
''Viewers and Idols fans simply love it [the extra channel],'' I'm told. Idols Extra will once again show all of the auditions starting with Cape Town, and progress to broadcast the individual city-by-city auditions in full as the reality show progress on its nationwide tour. There will also be some additional content not included in the main Idols show.
The Idols Extra channel on channel 199 will once again run for 24 hours per day and will start at the end of the first episode of Idols on 5 June on M-Net.
