MultiChoice claims that the 'eNews' channel is one of the most watched TV channels live streamed on its DStv Now service - despite the fact that no such channel exists.
MultiChoice's DStv Now service from its DStv Digital Media division announced that it also further expanded its over-the-top (OTT) channel collection in January 2018 that now includes Discovery Channel, TLC, Discovery Family and ID Investigation Discovery.
MultiChoice in a press release on Monday, said that the 'eNews' channel was one of the most watched channels on its DStv Now service during December 2017.
The problem is that eNews isn't a channel. MultiChoice most likely means either E! Entertainment (DStv 124) from NBCUniversal International Networks, or eNCA (DStv 403) from eMedia Investments that used to be known as the eNews Channel until it changed its name more than 5 and a half years ago in August 2012.
"E! News" does exists as the name of a daily show segment on E! Entertainment - it is that channel's daily TV news programme - but it is very unlikely that MultiChoice means that.
MultiChoice was asked what exactly it means by "eNews" and when there's a response this report will update with that. Update: MultiChoice says the "eNews" is in fact eNCA.
Oddly, MultiChoice in its press release also refers to "kykNet" (it's actually kykNET).
"The top live channels streaming during this time were the SuperSport channels, M-Net, eNews, Mzansi Magic, kykNet, Comedy Central and M-Net Movies Smile," says MultiChoice in its statement about December 2017 viewing on DStv Now.
MultiChoice notes that the most watched shows on DStv Now during December 2017 were Binnelanders, The Queen, Isibaya, Boer Soek ‘n Vrou, The Imposter, Premier League, Lockdown, Paw Patrol, international rugby, Shameless, Isithembiso and Getroud met Rugby.
MultiChoice says usage of its DStv Now service increased by 18% in December 2017 over November 2017.
"Almost 20% of total usage of DStv Now is coming from DStv Compact customers, who received access to the service in May last year," says MultiChoice.
MultiChoice says the bulk of DStv Now usage over the festive period came from Android devices in the Gauteng province.
"Local content and channels, along with SuperSport, continue to be the top performers across all platforms."
MultiChoice says it added the set of channels from Discovery Networks International from January 2018 to DStv Now as live streamed channels. These include Discovery Channel (DStv 121), TLC (DStv 135), Discovery Family (DStv 136) and ID Investigation Discovery (DStv 171).
Interestingly ID Investigation Discovery used to be IDx on DStv. However, at some point after Investigation Discovery was changed to IDx (ID Xtra) in January 2016, it has quietly changed back to ID on MultiChoice's platform.
