by Thinus Ferreira
Siyaya TV and MultiChoice will be launching Moja 9.9 (DStv 158) as a spin-off repeat channel of the existing Moja Love channel on 16 June, repositioning and repeating already-seen content of the Moja Love channel for lower-tiered DStv subscribers.
Moja 9.9 will become available to DStv Access subscribers only, with Moja Love that has been available over the past 3 years for DStv Premium to DStv Family subscribers with a popular blend of conflict-driven lifestyle-reality content with a firm tabloid slant.
The name of the Moja 9.9 channel spin-off derives from the slang word "moja" meaning "everything is good" while the "9.9" means confronting truth, similar to the hugely popular Uyajola 99 cheater-tabloid reality show.
Siyaya TV says that the name of Moja 9.9 "is aligned to the content it will deliver, which mainly mirrors what is happening in our communities and resonates with the channel's target audience. The 24-hour channel will be filled with locally produced shows and primarily targeted at women, with a spillover of male audiences".
Aubrey Tau, Siyaya TV CEO, says "Ten years ago, our team
began to imagine what a channel, inspired by our vision and values, could mean
to viewers across Mzansi. In an increasingly crowded landscape, Moja Love has
emerged as one of the leading destinations for viewers across TV screens".
"Creating the Moja Love brand and seeing it
flourish, supported by the talented team that includes the channel head, exco, executive producers, producers, editors, crews working with a group of
the finest storytellers and creators in television, is one of Siyaya TV
proudest achievements as a black-owned company."
"We are thrilled about the
channel's success and excited about the next chapter, the launch of the second
channel, Moja 9.9, in partnership with MultiChoice. We will
continue to inspire our viewers with rave, real stories that are relatable and resonate
with audience."
Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of General Entertainment and Connected Video, says "Moja 9.9 adds to the already vibrant content available on DStv Access and is
sure to spark conversations and debates for many viewers".
"DStv customers who
are on the DStv Access package can look forward to watching some of South Africa’s
most-talked about local shows that were previously on Moja Love (DStv 157). All this great content will only be available to DStv Access subscribers,
allowing more South Africans to enjoy the best of local content that DStv has
to offer."
Start Somewhere is a new debate show that will start on 16 June and that will be shown on both Moja Love and Moja 9.9 and that will "touch on thought-provoking topics around challenges that young people
face".
Moja Love says that young viewers "will be given sage advice from mentors and social
influencers on how to pursue their ambitions".
