BREAKING. Zone Reality channel to start changing to CBS Reality channel from 3 December in Africa and the Middle East.

Exactly as I wrote earlier this month, with sources telling me that the name-change of Zone Reality (DStv 132) to CBS Reality is set to take place sometime in December in South Africa, a press statement just out from Chello Zone and CBS Studios International says that the newly-rebranded channel will start happening from 3 December in Africa and the Middle East.

Zone Reality, to become CBS Reality, will be partially reprogrammed with library titles from CBS Studios, including the investigative show 48 Hours and the court show Judge Judy.

The Zone Reality name change in South Africa is part of a bigger change to more channels within the group which are not currently seen in South Africa. Besides CBS Reality, there is also CBS Drama and CBS Action as channels.

In August the announcement was made that Zone Reality is changing to CBS Reality after CBS Studios International and Chellomedia which runs these channels have reached an agreement whereby CBS gets a 30% stake in the channels in return for TV programming from its studios as well as its name.

"Chello Zone and CBS Studios International will launch the newly rebranded CBS channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) on 3 December," says the just-issued statement. "CBS Reality, CBS Drama, CBS Action and CBS Europa will be reprogrammed to include hit series and movies from the CBS Studios International library. This includes 48 Hours and Judge Judy for CBS Reality," says the statement.

"It's an exciting time for the channels and our partnership with CBS," says Chris Sharp, Chello Zone's chief programming officer. "The CBS expansion into the EMEA territories will offer a greater depth and variety of programming from a library we know well. We're sure our audiences will  enjoy and embrace the new programming and the new branding."

"It is exciting to grow and expand this venture and to offer audiences throughout EMEA the opportunity yo watch popular and classic series from CBS," says Armando Nunez, the president and CEO of the CBS Global Distribution Group in the statement. "We're looking forward to launching the new branded channels and developing programming strategies with our partners at Chello Zone to best reflect the individual channels and audience in their respective territories."

The press release was issued now, and I've made an after-hours media enquiry to MultiChoice, if there's possibly anything MultiChoice is saying on this upcoming channel rebrand, I will bring it.