Tuesday, October 28, 2014

MultiChoice adds Kagiso Media's Glow TV, which has been available on Platco Digital's OpenView HD, to DStv from November.


MultiChoice is adding the little-watched Indian Glow TV channel which has been available on Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD) satellite platform to DStv from 17 November on channel 167.

Glow TV, packaged and provided by Kagiso Media will remain on OVHD as well.

Glow TV will provide a new TV channel alternative for DStv subscribers after Saffron TV, from the Times Media group, was abruptly shuttered in August last year and disappeared from the DStv channel line-up.

Glow TV, a collaboration between Kagiso Media and Nolava Television, launched in October last year but struggled to gain ratings traction with OVHD's limited distribution since OVHD's uptake as a free-to-air satellite TV service has been below expectations.

Kagiso Media's majority-owned subsidiary, Urban Brew Studios - which packages other TV channels for MultiChoice's DStv like Dumisa and ONE Gospel and which manages community TV stations available on DStv like Soweto TV, Bay TV and 1KZN - has been producing local TV content for Glow TV.

Glow TV started with the hope of reaching South Africa's growing Indian population of 1.3 million people but so far viewership has been far below that. Bigger distribution through DStv will help Glow TV to reach a bigger potential viewing audience.

Yusuf Nabee, Glow TV channel head says hopefully more people will now be able to watch the channel with its availability on DStv. "Many South Africans are interested in Eastern-inspired content, so we're delighted to now be able to reach a wider audience through MultiChoice's digital satellite TV service".

Glow TV will be available on DStv Premium, DStv Compact, DStv Extra and DStv Family.

Glow TV plans to add 11 new shows to the channel's line-up in November.