Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:
■ Netflix begs people not to try, and then hurt themselves, with the new social-media 'Bird Box Challenge' that has gone viral.
It's based on the new Netflix horror movie, Bird Box, in which Sandra Bullock and other characters blindfold themselves to avoid seeing monsters taking the form of people's worst fears.
■ Why Nigeria's struggling TStv dumped Nigeria's NIGCOMSAT for Azercosmos in Azerbaijan.
After Nigeria's beleaguered satellite pay-TV operator TStv dumped NIGCOMSAT for satellite transponder services and is now partnering with Azercosmos as it tries to start again, TStv's chief operating officer, Benjamin Zidah, trashes NIGCOMSAT now slammed as a competitor and something that is "against business sense".
■ Carrie Ann Inaba is the permanent new addition to The Talk seen on 1Magic (DStv 103) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) replacing Julie Chen.
■ What Netflix is learning from its interactive Bandersnatch episode.
Where Netflix previously focused its data gathering on the ways users engaged with its content - what they watched, when, and for how long - this new data from its first live-action choose-your-own-adventure episode for adults, is indicative of real-world decisions like product preference, musical taste, and engagement with human behaviour.
■ The Hidden Beauty of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
In an interactive story where the character has no choice and the viewer makes all the choices to influence the outcome, the symbolism explained and how to try and get the best and correct ending where the character does get to make his own choice.
■ Bandersnatch: Is interactive television watching the way of the future?
■ EastEnders seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) to introduce the British soap's first gay bar coming to Albert Square to better reflect London's diversity.
■ It's basically impossible to be a mom in TV news.
New American research finds women's decision to have kids is basically a career-ender if you work in television news as it's too hard to leave at a moment's notice to cover whatever breaking news is unfolding.
■ Is the end of Netflix's golden age in sight?
Netflix is facing competition from content suppliers, including video streaming rivals like Apple and Amazon Prime Video.
■ Thousands of kids continue to get injured - and die - from TV sets toppling over.
■ Attention-seeking Kenyan lawyer says TV channels in Kenya hire women as TV presenters based on their breasts.
■ Netflix censors and pulls an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj critical of Saudi Arabia.
Netflix damages its freedom of expression reputation and dumps an episode from its service that is critical of Saudi Arabia and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
■ Every American TV series that will be ending in 2019.
Goodbye Modern Family, Game of Thrones, Shadowhunters, Gotham and several more.
■ Lost Television: Meet the raiders of the lost British and African broadcasting archives.
■ Lusaka Magistrate's Court in Zambia sentences a man to 2 years in prison and hard labour for stealing a TV remote.
■ S24 starts in Uganda as a new streaming, business TV channel.
■ What Netflix's investment in Nigeria means.
The Mail & Guardian on whether - and how - Nollywood will benefit from Netflix.
■ A lot of the publicists and PR departments of South African TV channels and broadcasters are guilty of this.
The non-TV story of the day: How Donald Trump's White House won't even respond with a "no comment" to acknowledge media enquiries from journalists, and often simply has no response to questions although people are getting paid real money to handle media enquiries.
