Platco Digital's OpenView HD is adding the new outdoor and adventure lifestyle channel Wild TV Africa (OVHD 153) to the satellite platform's channel line-up from Friday, 31 July at 12:00.
Wild TV Africa, developed by Dewald Visser, will bring viewers outdoor and adventure programming focusing on camping, mountain-biking, fishing, 4X4 trails, scuba diving, conservation, mountain climbing, hunting, sport shooting, skydiving and big wave surfing.
The addition of Wild TV Africa is part of an additional investment of R245 million by Seardel into the still loss-making OpenView HD.
Asked about Wild TV Africa last week, e.tv responded to a media enquiry with a press release confirming the launch of the channel this week.
"We recognised the gap in the TV landscape presented by the Wild TV Africa team and were quite excited about partnering with the channel to provide for the demand," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu, the head of channel acquisitions at OpenView HD.
Wild TV Africa will run for 24-hours per day and is promising viewers 9 locally produced weekly magazine and talk shows. The Wild TV Africa schedule is themed, with Mountain Mondays, Target Tuesdays, Wet Wednesdays, Turbo Thursdays, Fishing Fridays and Wild Weekends.
Wild TV Africa also aims to find the "Adventure Town of the Year", highlighting smaller towns around South Africa which are enticing visitors with a variety of outdoor and adventure activities.
"Our key content focus is on providing family entertainment with shows about camping, braai and outdoor cooking as well as kiddie outdoor fun activities," says Dewald Visser, the managing director of Wild TV Africa in a statement.
"South Africa is a mecca for outdoor pursuits with amazing weather and incredible natural beauty. This is not a sports channel but rather a channel that focuses on content that makes you feel alive, while exploring the essence of Africa and its wide-open spaces. Although some of the activities are not for the faint-hearted, it makes for great viewing," says Dewald Visser.
"With the Wild TV Africa addition to OpenView HD, we look forward to attracting a new audience that makes up a great part of the South African active outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu.
