The River, the awesome-looking new Steven Spielberg TV drama starting tomorrow night in America is getting a massive, same-day launch in multiple countries as the big-buzz show from ABC Studios - distributed by Disney-ABC International Television (DIAT) - is seen as a big potential new TV hit and getting a global push by Disney.
... Just not in South Africa where the thriller is only starting 2 weeks later and not on the M-Net channel (DStv 101) where it would probably actually belong, but on M-Net Series (DStv 110).
The River is about a missing famous explorer in the Amazon and his son's attempt to go and find his father with some colleagues, who all run into something that wants to prevent their quest. The Walt Disney Company is lining up its biggest simultaneous worldwide launch for a TV show yet - it just will not be happening in South Africa with M-Net and DStv.
Broadcasters ranging from CTV in Canada to South Korea, Israel and the Netherlands, Sweden and TV Norge in Norway - even Poland - will show The River immediately or within 48 hours of the first episode going out tomorrow evening in America.
It's the same as what Fox International Channels did worldwide (and which included South Africa) when Fox premiered and showed subsequent episodes of Falling Skies and The Walking Dead on TopTV basically immediately after being shown in America (a strategy continuing with The Walking Dead second season).
Disney increasingly wants to prevent digital piracy of its TV content in international markets and want viewers to watch the show on television and not download it - especially now with a show with as much buzz as The River and which is executive produced by Steven Spielberg.
Disney, as are all the remaining global media content companies, are increasingly realizing the value that is untapped and can be unlocked by giving a worldwide audience the chance to see a show at the same time and focusing global attention through social networking on a brand - as well as possibly luring a bigger overall audience.
Viewers are less turned off by spoilers (since less spoilers exist). There's also less reluctance for viewers to start watching a show, and less motivation needed when a show is seen earlier, as opposed to only getting a show later which might also have fizzled out in America and already have lost its buzz and momentum.
Online piracy and spoilers are a huge problem for Disney globally - as well as each of the major global media companies - when, in an increasingly digital, mobile and globally connected age, shows start weeks or even months later than in America.
The River has been licensed by Disney in 182 other territories around the world where the new show will not be seen mere days after the American debut. South Africa is not included in the batch of countries able to see the show immediately. The River will also be on M-Net Series which is not considered a premium DStv channel and is available on lower-tiered DStv packages.
Beyond the delayed date it is good news however for DStv subscribers who balk at and refuse to, or can't afford to, pay for MultiChoice's top-tiered DStv Premium bouquet and channels like M-Net. With a raft of great new shows ranging from Once Upon a Time, GCB, The River, NYC 22, Ringer! and others starting on M-Net Series soon, premium quality television is made available to subscribers who don't have the top bouquet.
The River will start on M-Net Series on Tuesday 21 February at 20:30.
