by Thinus Ferreira
With nothing left untouched 'cause of 'Crona, even MultiChoice's annual DStv Showcase was different and done differenly this year, with the 2020 DStv Showcase that was moved up from the usual end-of-the-year in-person media gathering, and done from a studio as a remote broadcast but again filled with jam--packed technology and content announcements.
MultiChoice switched up its usual DStv Showcase - mostly held in its auditoriums and cinema venue inside its MultiChoice City building in Randburg to across the street and Studio 6 inside the SuperSport studios.
Instead of SuperSport anchor Neil Andrews as the compère as in previous years, MultiChoice used Maps Maponyane as the host and a variety of presenters to front individual segments that were a combination of pre-taped promos and sizzle reels, Zoom interviews and in-studio interviews.
For the first time ever MultiChoice broadcast the DStv Showcase on television, opening up DStv channel 196 as an events channel for the 2-hour broadcast on the DStv decoders of selected media to watch it from home.
It did limit the interaction with press who couldn't ask questions or follow-up questions after sessions with media who had to email in written questions to an email address and with some that were answered at the end.
Here are the main must-know news and interesting titbits:
1. No mention of Netflix (or Amazon Prime Video or Disney+)
The media expected that MultiChoice would announce licensing deals with at least Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to carry their apps as over-the-top (OTT) services, folded in to its new carousel shopfront on its new range of DStv decoders.
In its latest financial year results MultiChoice said it would add at least two next to its own Showmax and JOOX and in its presentation revealed that it was Netflix and Amazon Prime Video before redoing and reissuing it.
At its 2020 DStv Showcase MultiChoice said nothing about Netflix or any other global streaming services, very likely because South Africa's Competition Commission has started an investigation into MultiChoice's plan which likely pushed the announcement back.
2. Go Pro
MultiChoice finally launched Showmax Pro and Showmax Pro Mobile in South Africa, a spiffier version of its existing Showmax subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service with added bells and whistles in the forms of linear TV news channels and sport content included.
Showmax Pro costs R449 and Showmax Pro Mobile costs R225 per month.
Showmax Pro is now basically a cheaper "streaming DStv", offering a catalogue of entertainment content, combined with TV news and much of the sport offering from SuperSport.
3. Ultra and Streama
MultiChoice unveiled two new decoder versions that it will launch to market before the end of the year but gave neither launch dates nor retail prices.
The DStv Explora Ultra that will cost more than the DStv Explora 3A is the latest DStv Explora model. It has the capacity to, and in time will carry services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video that will sit next to MultiChoice's existing services like DStv, DStv Catch Up and Showmax on the box.
Similar to the DStv Explora 3A, the DStv Explora Ultra has a recording capacity of 110 hours, will be able to pause live TV for 2 hours, have access to DStv BoxOffice, DStv Catch Up, provide an 8-day TV guide, have parental control and have interactive apps of SuperSport, News24 and weather.
The DStv Explora Ultra comes with a new "home page" with recommendations that showcase content from across DStv, Showmax, BoxOffice and selected streaming apps.
The new DStv Explora Ultra remote control also allows quick access to streaming apps and the set-top box comes with built-in WiFi.
The DStv Explora Ultra supports 4K and Dolby Atmos (where available and when connected to the correct equipment) although MultiChoice doesn't plan on launching any 4K-resolution TV channels anytime soon.
The DStv Streama looks like a gaming console and works without a satellite dish and its associated cabling and all that is needed is a reliable home internet connection, a DStv Streama device and a TV set.
The DStv Streama offers an array of sport, entertainment, news and kids' content. The DStv Streama comes with apps like Showmax and YouTube and users will be able to "seamlessly switch between applications to view the content of your choice".
4. New third-party channels - including K-drama
DStv is getting 5 new TV channels, ranging from Mexican telenovelas and a Canadian kids channel to Turkish telenovelas and even South Korean or so-called "K"-dramas.
MultiChoice will add tlnovelas on DStv channel 133 that "will run from 14 to 30 September. tlnovelas will broadcast an array of English-dubbed Mexican telenovelas from Latin America’s second-largest producer, Televisa.
ZooMoo that will launch on 1 October 2020 as a pop-up channel on DStv and run on channel 314 until 31 March 2021 is a Canadian kids’ channel that delivers a unique mix of live action combined with animation and puppets.
KIX (pronounced "kicks") that MultiChoice already previously announced is coming to DStv on channel 114 from 1 October 2020 at 19:00 and is described as "the ultimate destination for action movies in Africa".
KIX will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, and DStv Compact subscribers in South Africa as well as across sub-Saharan Africa. The channel will offer DStv subscribers "a high octane blend of martial arts, action and thriller movies from the East and West, all presented in English".
The Turkish telenovela channel Timeless Drama Channel, SPI/FilmBox's premium Turkish drama channel, will start on DStv in November 2020 on DStv channel 123 with "high-quality, glossy telenovelas and costume dramas".
tvN that will start in November 2020 on DStv channel 134 will have South Korean dramas or so-called "K-drama".
tvN is from the Oscar-winning producers of Parasite, featuring shows produced by some of the biggest players in the Korean drama industry and serving up "glossy, powerful content".
5. DStv Rewards for couch potatoes
KIX (pronounced "kicks") that MultiChoice already previously announced is coming to DStv on channel 114 from 1 October 2020 at 19:00 and is described as "the ultimate destination for action movies in Africa".
KIX will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, and DStv Compact subscribers in South Africa as well as across sub-Saharan Africa. The channel will offer DStv subscribers "a high octane blend of martial arts, action and thriller movies from the East and West, all presented in English".
The Turkish telenovela channel Timeless Drama Channel, SPI/FilmBox's premium Turkish drama channel, will start on DStv in November 2020 on DStv channel 123 with "high-quality, glossy telenovelas and costume dramas".
tvN that will start in November 2020 on DStv channel 134 will have South Korean dramas or so-called "K-drama".
tvN is from the Oscar-winning producers of Parasite, featuring shows produced by some of the biggest players in the Korean drama industry and serving up "glossy, powerful content".
5. DStv Rewards for couch potatoes
MultiChoice announced that it will launch a new star-tiered DStv Rewards loyalty programme in South Africa in September that will essentially reward loyal DStv subscribers for watching more TV.
The level that a DStv subscriber is pegged at and the type of rewards that they will qualify for will be determined by the DStv package a subscriber is on, for how long the person has been a subscriber (tenure), as well as product usage. For all of this a DStv subscriber gets awarded stars.
With DStv Rewards subscribers will qualify for upgrades, DStv subscription fee discounts, "free" DStv BoxOffice movie digital tokens, Uber Eats digital discount vouchers, birthday rewards, service vouchers, Showmax discounts, additional DStv channel access, exclusive experiences and "personal challenges".
6. Add M-Net Movies
MultiChoice has created a new M-Net Add Movies add-on package of R99 per month that has 3 M-Net Movies channels that can be added to any of its lower-tiered DStv bouquets.
The M-Net Movies Add Movies package will consist out of the channels: M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 104), M-Net Movies 2 (DStv 106), and the Afrikaans fliekNET (DStv 149) channel.
The M-Net Movies Add Movies package will consist out of the channels: M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 104), M-Net Movies 2 (DStv 106), and the Afrikaans fliekNET (DStv 149) channel.
DStv Premium subscribers automatically get access to these movie channels but DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Family, DStv Access, DStv EasyView and DStv Indian subscribers will now be able to add the M-Net Movies Add Movies package for R99 per month to their DStv subscription fee.
7. DStv dishless
MultiChoice revealed more about its so-called "DStv dishless" service that it will be launching.
Although the expectation was that it would be cheaper, DStv Streaming will cost exactly the same for every bouquet as traditional DStv, and a subscriber will have to pay for data in addition as well.
MultiChoice didn't announce when its DStv dishless version will become available for sale and sign-up.
MultiChoice said that the DStv app and its DStv dishless service will bring the same DStv content and channels as the existing service, that users can then watch through "any screen of their choice - via Smart TV, browser, mobile phone or gaming console with a consistent high-speed data connection".
MultiChoice said that "DStv residential packages are all available, with the full set of live channels and Catch Up shows. Streaming customers will be able to watch their favourite shows on Catch Up on four devices, with a maximum of two concurrent streams".
MultiChoice said that DStv will soon be partnering with telecommunications and internet service providers to offer bundled data packages in order to give DStv subscribers, using DStv streaming access, uncapped data along with whichever DStv streaming bouquet they are subscribed to.
MultiChoice said that "DStv residential packages are all available, with the full set of live channels and Catch Up shows. Streaming customers will be able to watch their favourite shows on Catch Up on four devices, with a maximum of two concurrent streams".
MultiChoice said that DStv will soon be partnering with telecommunications and internet service providers to offer bundled data packages in order to give DStv subscribers, using DStv streaming access, uncapped data along with whichever DStv streaming bouquet they are subscribed to.
8. Shorter Afrikaans series
M-Net's Afrikaans channels division kykNET
will be producing a series of shorter dramas and move away from the 13-episode
format for scripted content.
9. Arendsvlei adds another day
kykNET's Afrikaans telenovela Arendsvlei produced by Penguin Films in Cape Town will extend from 3 to 4 episodes per week when the 3th season kicks off on kykNET & kie (DStv 145) on 28 September. The first on 1 October. Unannounced changes are also coming to kykNET's Cape Town done talk show Tussen Ons.
10. Still seeking Shaka
M-Net is still working on bringing the drama series Shaka Ilembe to screen and said that the series has officially entered pre-production. Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment and connected video, said it took Game of Thrones 10 years to make it to television.
The DStv Showcase played a "concept trailer" for Shaka Ilembe that it made in 2019 and reiterated that it's still looking for the lead to play Shaka. The series will be done in Zulu.
11. Blood Psalms
After its announcement of its new Canal+ co-production drama series Blood Psalms, M-Net revealed some further details of the Showmax Original series.
Filming has begin on the 10-episode series produced by Layla
Swart and Jahmil X.T Qubeka's Yellowbone Entertainment in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng but MultiChoice and M-Net are keeing the specific locations a secret "to allow the crew to complete this
massive production within the agreed timelines without any disruption from
members of the public".
12. Siya and the sun
MultiChoice revealed more about Chasing the Sun, the 5-part SuperSport-produced documentary made in collaboration with the Springboks that will tell the behind-the-scenes story of their parth to the 2019 World Cup rugby win.
Chasing the Sun will be broadcast on M-Net on Sunday 4 October at 18:00 and end on 1 November.
It will also be available on DStv Catch Up, SuperSport and Showmax. Gideon Khobane, SuperSport CEO, said that SuperSport is learning and will probably start to make more local sport documentaries similar to what ESPN and others have been doing.
13. Lifestyle and more TV channels for Africa
Chasing the Sun will be broadcast on M-Net on Sunday 4 October at 18:00 and end on 1 November.
It will also be available on DStv Catch Up, SuperSport and Showmax. Gideon Khobane, SuperSport CEO, said that SuperSport is learning and will probably start to make more local sport documentaries similar to what ESPN and others have been doing.
13. Lifestyle and more TV channels for Africa
MultiChoice and M-Net are working on, and will roll out new localised entertainment channels in specific African countries like Ghana, Ethiopa and Mozambique over the coming months and into 2021, as well as a general lifestyle channel inspired by an African ethos for the continent.
Like Mzansi Magic in South Africa, Zambesi Magic in Zambia and Pearl Magic in Uganda, M-Net will launch a new general entertainment channel in Ghana but hasn't decided on a name yet. It will carry M-Net Original productions including Ghana telenovela, Ghana reality shows and Ghana comedy as a flagship channel for DStv subscribers there.
MultiChoice is also working on a general entertainment channel for Ethiopia where M-Net is already working on its first telenovela that will be in the Amharic language.
MultiChoice and M-Net will also launch an African lifestyle channel for the continent like Discovery's HGTV and BBC Lifestyle. "Now it's time to showcase to ourselves, the best of our fashion, the best of our cooking, and the best of the way in which we live," said Yolisa Phahle.
I Know that I'm shamelessly emotionally, visually and viscerally manipulated everytime @DStv, @MNet or @SuperSportTV make and show a super-cut sizzle reel of slo-mo scenes with evocative music. And yet, like the latest #DStvShowcase one, I fall for it. Every Single time.: pic.twitter.com/TecCsyC9cQ— TVwithThinus (@TVwithThinus) August 20, 2020
14. Everybody wants to rule the world
Getting gooseflesh has always been the name of the game with MultiChoice, M-Net and SuperSport's sizzle reels and the 2020 DStv Showcase once again had one.
You know you're being shamelessly emotionally manipulated by it but like a fantasy visit to Disneyland, you want to live and experience it because of how it makes you feel.
To showcase it's internationally acquired content across DStv, Showmax and M-Net, the DStv Showmcase played an amazing sizzle reel using "Everybody wants to rule the world" from Tears for Fears.
New upcoming shows and new seasons of existing shows included in the stuuuuuningly evocative sizzle reel include FBI: Most Wanted; Love, Victor; Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, His Dark Materials, I May Destroy You, The Undoing, The Third Day, Bad Boys for Life, Alex Rider, Britannia, Beat Bobby Flay, Say Yes to the Dress, This is Fate, Mom, Scooby-Doo, The March of the Polar Bears, Chicago Fire, Grammy Salute to Legends, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, NCIS, Siren, Mrs. America, Lovecraft Country, The Handmaid's Tale, Fargo, The Good Lord Bird, I Still Believe, A Suitable Boy, Hightown, Reckoning, The Good Doctor, Devils, and The Titan Games.
The sizzle reel also included Our Girl, Small Axe, Belgravia, Strictly Come Dancing, Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On, Semi-Detached, The Mallorca Files, The Graham Norton Show, Race Across the World, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Intelligence, Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back, Almost Paradise, The Gentlemen, The Rhythm Section, Alaska The Last Frontier, Family Affairs, Gangs of London, Killing Eve, Henry Danger, Katy Keene, Love Life, Mixed-ish, Bull, Genius: Aretha, Street Outlaws, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Top Gear, Dolittle, Gold Rush: White Water, Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, 9-1-1 Lone Star, and several films.
