by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice is dumping the BBC First (DStv 119) channel from 1 September, spinning that axing the premium British TV channel supplied by BBC Studios is a "refresh of its British entertainment line-up".
MultiChoice is culling BBC First 3 months after it ended its contract with ITV's ITV Choice on DStv that was axed since June 2020 and got rid of the Sundance TV and SABC Encore channels at the end of May 2020.
MultiChoice isn't giving any reason for removing BBC First that is being removed after 5 years on DStv. Some BBC First content will now be moved to BBC Brit.
South Africa was one of an extremely small group of countries that got the complete new set of BBC Studios channels after its international realignment: BBC First, BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, and CBeebies. Now it's being broken down again.
MultiChoice's removal of ITV Choice, BBC First and other foreign entertainment content is part of the pay-TV operator's cost-cutting measures it announced a year ago and reiterated recently in the latest MultiChoice financial year results, saying it's reducing international content that no longer "resonates" to focus on investing more in local content.
MultiChoice says "customers can continue to enjoy an increased range of British content on DStv’s suite of popular BBC channels as well as on M-Net, Catch Up and Showmax".
Cutting BBC First from DStv from September comes at the same time as MultiChoice and M-Net is also reducing its remaining M-Net Movies channels from 6 to just 4 from September.
"We are putting compelling drama and variety in one place and on one BBC channel and have increased acquisition of British content by adding titles to M-Net," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment & connected video at MultiChoice Group, in a prepared statement.
Nick Percy, executive vice president at BBC Studios for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, in a statement says "We would like to thank viewers for their support of BBC First over the past 5 years".
"BBC Brit will continue to offer some drama series as part of its schedule, and we will be looking for new opportunities that will allow us to continue to bring drama fans the full range of quality productions coming out of the United Kingdom."
"We have operated BBC branded channels on the DStv platform for over 20 years and remain committed to bringing our viewers the very best programming from the BBC and leading United Kingdom production houses".
MultiChoice says that the pay-TV operator "remains committed to maintaining its long-standing relationship with the BBC and will continue work with the broadcaster to ensure the best British entertainment for its customers, maintaining a great quality offering at the best value".
ALSO READ: MultiChoice and M-Net reducing and restructuring its M-Net Movies channels offering on DStv.
