Here's the latest news about TV that I read, and that you should too:
■ The former SABC Lotus FM DJ Vikash Mathura facing fraud court charges.
Allegedly billed Ellerines over R887 000 in secret on-air ad deal at Lotus FM on behalf of the SABC.
■ British government orders in-depth review of FOX's proposed mega Sky take-over deal.
The British government orders a full scale investigation of 21st Century Fox's proposed deal to take over the UK's pay-TV service Sky, and also wants a review of Broadcasting Standards.
It will take 6 months. At issue is also questions over the ongoing editorial independence of Sky News (DStv 402).
- It's a big setback for the Murdochs who hoped to avoid a thorough investigation.
■ How Omarosa is the most despised person in the White House.
The trashy American reality TV star now working for Donald Trump constantly plots against other officials, derails meetings and is notorious for distracting with negative news and gossip.
■ Riverdale's Camila Mendes was told she doesn't look Latin-American enough.
The starlet seen on VUZU AMP (DStv 103) says "that mentality is so backwards".
■ Nigerian journo Femi Solaja t/hypes up SuperSport's acquisition of WWE wrestling for DStv.
Will the wrestling on SuperSport translate into any significant ratings?
■ Jeff Probst wants Survivor to stay in Fiji permanently.
Despite major cost-cutting that saw Survivor film 4 seasons in Fiji, the show's host says Survivor should permanently stay there: "This is our home. I hope we end our show here".
■ Research: Pay-TV faces a period of unprecedented change.
The global transformation of the pay-TV industry is creating a "perfect storm" of slowing pay-TV growth - but Africa excluded.
A whopping 67% of TV executives agree that competition from SVOD services will have a negative impact on pay-TV, pushing prices down and increasing churn.
In order to grow, in order to grow, pay-TV service providers will have to innovate strongly over the next 5 years.
■ The good/bad side of streaming services is that they will have to start invest more in actual TV production and marketing of their shows.
The same holds true for the likes of Showmax, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in South Africa. Traditional pay-TV says subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services have some great content but do little to have premiere parties, marketing and to get traction with the media and viewers.
■ Mozambique wants to learn 'best media practices' from their Chinese trainers.
Mozambique wants to import more Chinese TV series like the Chinese soap opera, A Beautiful Daughter-in-Law Era that has "a great influence on the country".
■ Botswana's state broadcaster doesn't want to share its infrastructure with private broadcasters.
Btv tells Botswana's parliament is has rejected recommendation's from Botswana's broadcasting regulator, the Botswana Communications Authority (Bocra), to share its infrastructure that it's not using with private and other broadcasters to help the country's TV, film and radio industry.
■ The long-struggling plan to launch a SADC Television bouquet has been postponed again.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have been trying for years now to start a local content TV exchange network for various Southern African countries to show some of their TV shows in each other's nations to promote regional African integration.
It's still going nowhere.
■ Uganda has suspended the ABS Television's TV licence indefinitely.
The Christian church owned TV station "repeatedly breached minimum broadcasting standards" according to Uganda's broadcasting regulator for broadcasting, Kalondoozi, a soft-core pornographic show that's a local Uganda version of the catch-cheaters-in-the-act Cheaters show.
■ Nigeria plans to start the Nigeria Police TV channel in November 2017 with 5 000 staffers.
And apparently CNN International will help with training.
FremantleMedia buys Australian independent production company.
Takes over Essential Media and Entertainment, one of the largest independent producers in Australia, rebranding the drama business under the name Easy Tiger.
■ uBaba Buhari is simple; watches on a 32 inch.
Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari watches television on a small TV set that is still LCD, not even LED. Such a selfless, humble man, even sitting on old furniture.
■ MultiChoice Africa donates after Sierra Leone mudslide disaster.
Gives 500 mattresses, 150 school bags and LED lights to survivors.
■ 15 TV bosses talk about the new TV season's trends.
What show would they steal, what worries them about the TV biz, and the new trends they're seeing.
■ Could Netflix (take a deep breath) ... spend $20 million on a single hour of a TV series?
Yes, says Netflix's COO. Netflix now has 104 million users worldwide and the economics of its global audience base makes such never-before-seen and outrageous production budgets possible.
