kykNET (DStv 144) is doing dramatic schedule changes from July that will force viewers to adjust to new times and days to tune in to their shows and weekday soaps as part of a new schedule that's being rolled out for the Afrikaans pay-TV channels on DStv.
kykNET says the Afrikaans channels set on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform had to rethink its programme schedule from July "to make room for all our new content".
From 10 July the Cape Town based soap Suidooster set in the fictitious suburb of Ruiterbosch will be blowing in later when it's moved to 18:30 on kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145).
It will be followed by the Afrikaans eNuus that stays put at 19:00, simulcast on both channels.
Suidooster is moved from 18:00 to get out of the way of the SABC's Afrikaans weekday soap 7de Laan on SABC2 that was abruptly moved to 18:00 in February.
Currently Suidooster was at 18:00 on kykNET and 20:00 on kykNET & Kie, but will now be at the same time on both channels, at 18:30.
While soap Binnelanders will remain at 19:30, the soap Getroud met Rugby that used to be at 18:30 is moved a lot later to 21:00 from 10 July on kykNET and kykNET & Kie.
After toning down the show's content when it changed from a drama series to an early prime time soap, it's likely that the producers and kykNET will once again ramp up the risque content in Getroud met Rugby when it moves to outside the so-called "watershed" time period.
The week's entertainment magazine shows on kykNET are removed from the week's schedule and moved to weekends with Kwêla moving to Sundays from 9 July at 20:00 and Bravo! moving to Sundays from 16 July at 19:30.
The 10th season of the talk show Jou Show is moving to Saturdays at 19:30 from 15 July and Fiësta moves to Saturdays at 18:30 from 15 July. The 10th season of Jukebox on kykNET will now be on Saturdays at 20:00.
The second season of the Afrikaans drama series Die Boekklub following the antics of a rural town's bookklub members will kick off on Tuesday 11 July at 20:00 with some new characters in the mix.
Lise Swart is the presenter of the cooking show Kook & Geniet, based on the iconic recipe book, starting on kykNET on Wednesday 5 July at 20:00, followed by the third season of the popular Groen Namibië on 12 July at 20:30.
Cricket lovers can also tune in to kykNET & Kie for the brand new season of BVP with Johnny Davids and Fanie de Villiers at 21:30.
More episodes of Legendes van Afrikaanse Musiek profiling Afrikaans singers like Gé Korsten, Rina Hugo and Johan van Rensburg, Lucas Maree and Boet Pretorius will be broadcast from Thursday 6 Julie at 20:30.
Afrikaans films on Sunday nights at 21:00 in July will include Modder en Bloed, Noem My Skollie and Treurgrond.
Jý Geld is with presenter Lynelle Kenned is a new finance programme aimed at women guiding viewers to personal finance money matters, starting on Sunday 9 July at 18:00 on kykNET.
From Friday 7 July the interactive chat and music show chatNOU! will be simulcast on kykNET and kykNET NOU! (DStv 146) at 15:00, while the new season of Jan Braai will be broadcast on kykNET on Fridays at 18:30, followed by Toks en Tjops at 20:00.
"The kykNET platform is now bigger than ever. We had to rethink our programme schedule from July to make room for all our new content," says Karen Meiring, director of kykNET channels.
"Our biggest priority, as always, remains our viewers and this was the biggest consideration in the decision-making around changing schedules. We serve a growing and diverse audience and people's behaviour and needs are constantly changing."
"Our audience also expects us to stay ahead of international television trends but still bring them the best in local storytelling. Our new schedule represents all these considerations and behaviour shifts."
