e.tv's Openview free-to-air satellite service is dumping another two channels with Trace Sports Stars and the Afrikaans Christian TV channel KruisKyk both getting axed.
KruisKyk ran on channel 151 and being shut off on 2 May. Trace Sports Stars on channel 116 on Openview is getting dumped on 14 May.
TVwithThinus has been asking eMedia Investments since 28 April about the removal but e.tv didn't respond to multiple media enquiries made about it.
It's not known why e.tv is removing Trace Sports Stars and KruisKyk from the channel line-up.
Openview added Trace Sports Stars in June 2016. KruisKyk was part of the original channel line-up when Openview launched as OpenView HD in October 2013.
UPDATE Thursday 2 May 2019 13:45 - eMedia Investments in a statement confirms the channels' removal and says "Free-to-air satellite television broadcaster OpenView has taken the decision to terminate Afrikaans religious channel KruisKyk" and that "Later this month, Trace Sports Stars which currently airs on Channel 116 will also no longer be available on the satellite platform".
Openview says the termination of KruisKyk follows "lengthy discussions between OpenView and KruisKyk providers Clemens and Stephanie Mans".
"The decision to let go of both the KruisKyk and Trace Sports Stars channels from OpenView has been a challenging one. Ever since our inception into the South African market in 2013, OpenView has invested extensively into the satellite platform and the bouquet strategies have been adapted and reshaped in response to market dynamics," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu, general manager for group content services.
"We continue to place the needs of our viewers at the forefront of each decision that we implement and are committed to continuing to provide great entertainment value to our consumers."