MultiChoice is adding a channel, Moja Love, targeting a black female viewership from 14 February to its satellite pay-TV platform on DStv channel 157.
"Moja" meaning good or alright, is packaged for MultiChoice by Siyaya TV that got a pay-TV licence from the broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) but failed to start it's own service, just like eSat that ended up producing eNCA for DStv.
Siyaya TV that secured exclusive soccer rights but resold it to the SABC, is now creating Moja Love that MultiChoice will make available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact and DStv Family subscribers from Valentines Day on 14 February.
The Sunday tabloid newspaper Sunday World first reported the launch of Moja Love. MultiChoice didn't respond to a media enquiry made about Moja Love on Sunday afternoon.
Moja Love will run 24-hours per day with repeat blocks and have 22 shows including several new local productions.
"For us at MultiChoice, it's important to offer our customers a range of different entertainment options and to provide a platform for local stories to be heard," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO for general entertainment at MultiChoice.
"Moja is a slang word that means 'everything is good' and while love is a universal emotion, Moja Love shall explore love from the unique perspective of the modern South African woman using honest, reflective, hopeful and humorous storytelling," says Jacqui Setai, Moja Love channel head.
New programmes on Moja Love include a new local weekday talk show, similar to The View in America as a panel discussion show with women talking about female issues. Show Me Love will have KG Moeketsi, Unathi Msengana, Abigail Visagie and Nontobeko Sibisi as part of the panel.
Show Me Love will be broadcast on Moja Love on weekdays at 17:00.
Phat Joe will be the presenter of Highly Inappropriate.
Bonang Matheba's former make-up artists Muzi Zuma will present a reality beauty show entitled Beat and a new telenovela Hope that will run Mondays to Wednesdays at 19:00 will star Nimrod Nkosi and Charmaine Mtinta.
Moja Love is also trying a sitcom in the form of Judge Khambule with Thenjuwe Mosley.
The investigative journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika will be the presenter of a new show on Show Me Love entitled Sofa Slahlane.
