e.tv and eExtra shuffle primetime line-up as Kelders moves to Isiphetho's 18:30-timeslot from 7 April

by Thinus Ferreira

From Monday 7 April after the end of Isiphetho, e.tv is changing the channel's primetime line-up, as well as the programming line-up of eExtra, with the Afrikaans telenovela Kelders van Geheime moving to the plum timeslot of 18:30.

From this coming Monday the KFilms-produced Kelders van Geheime will move from 18:00 to 18:30, with its second season starting a month from now on Monday 5 May.

With the 18:30-gap left by Isiphetho, both the e.tv and eExtra line-ups are staggered half an hour later. Dubbed telenovela Annekan Die Swa Kry at 17:00 on e.tv and eExtra moves to 17:30, with Kelders van Geheime at 18:30.

On e.tv House of Zwide, produced by Bomb Productions and Videovision Entertainment, remains at 19:00, with Ochre Moving Pictures' Scandal! that remains at 19:00 and the e.tv News that remains at 20:00.

On eExtra (DStv 195 / Openview 105) the dubbed Gelukbringers moves from 18:30 to 19:00, Doodsondes moves from 19:30 to 20:00 and Op Dun Ys moves from 20:30 to 21:00.

The new e.tv primetime line-up will now look like this:

16:30 Gelukbringers (until now at 16:00)

17:35 Annekan Die Swa Kry (until now 17:00)

18:30 Kelders van Geheime

19:00 House of Zwide

19:30 Scandal!

20:00 e.tv News

20:30 The Kingdom - Ukhakayi

21:00 Smoke & Mirrors

21:30 Isitha: The Enemy

22:00 Gold Diggers

About the Kelders van Geheime timeslot change, Vuyelwa Booi, e.tv's head of local programming, says "We hope that this timeslot will be a better fit for lovers of Kelders as a lot of viewers have been asking for it a month after the show started airing in 2024".

"With Isiphetho coming to an end on Friday, 4 April it seems to be the best time for this change."

Helga Palmer, e.tv's head of content development and strategy, says "Kelders van Geheime is a hit with viewers and this timeslot change gives them a chance to settle in comfortably before the drama kicks off".

IN IMAGES. 25 Photos of National Geographic Africa's 2025 Autumn Upfront anchored to David Blaine Do Not Attempt

by Thinus Ferreira

The Walt Disney Company Africa held an upfront event for its National Geographic TV channels and upcoming new programming over the next few months, anchoring it around the new David Blaine: Do Not Attempt series that is starting on National Geographic (DStv 181) and Disney+ on Friday 28 March.

Held at Artistry Sandton in Johannesburg, Christine Service, senior vice president and general manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa, took media, influencers and advertising sales partners through upcoming National Geographic programming on the National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD channels.

In the cinema, those who attended watched sizzle reels, after which the South African-filmed episode of David Blaine: Do Not Attempt was screened, followed by a Q&A session.

MultiChoice Ghana hikes DStv prices from April by over 15%, short notice period slammed by consumer group

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Ghana will hike prices by up to over 18% in the West African country from April 2025, with the latest DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana price increases coming after two MultiChoice price increases in 2024.

In Ghana, MultiChoice is hiking DStv Premium 15.3% from GH₵750 to GH₵865, DStv Compact Plus by 15.1% from GH₵495 to GH₵570, hiking DStv Compact by 15.1% from GH₵330 to GH₵380, and increasing DStv Family by 15.1% from GH₵165 to GH₵190.

DStv Access is increased 16.4% from GH₵85 to GH₵99, while DStv Lite is increased 18% from GH₵50 to GH₵59.

The French Plus add-on is increased 14.9% from GH₵435 to GH₵500.

MultiChoice Africa, as well as MultiChoice South Africa have announced drastic price hikes across the continent in various countries from April, with some countries seeing price hikes of over 18% like MultiChoice Zambia, and over 22% by MultiChoice Nigeria as well as MultiChoice Malawi.

CUTS International in Ghana, a local consumer group, has slammed MultiChoice Ghana's sudden price increase announcement with less than a week before DStv subscribers in the country will have to pay more.

"This short notice period may not have given subscribers adequate time to review their options or make necessary adjustments," says Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African regional director of CUTS International. 

"Respect for consumers is fundamental in any market, particularly where services are paid for in advance and on a recurring basis. Providing timely and transparent communication around price changes is not only fair and reasonable but also helps to build trust and foster good customer relationships."

"In markets where competition is limited, there is a greater risk of practices that may be perceived as exploitative or unfair," Appiah Kusi Adomako says.

"Consumers should be given sufficient time to adjust to changes that affect their financial commitments."

1Gospel channel announces April 2025 Easter programming

by Thinus Ferreira

The 1Gospel (DStv 331) channel from Urban Brew Studios has announced its April 2025 Easter programming line-up that will include several gospel artists, a 2-part concert experience, as well as the channel's annual Easter special.

"At One Gospel, our Easter programming is thoughtfully curated to honour the depth of this sacred season and invite viewers into a journey of faith, hope, and restoration," says Yandiswa Nkonde, 1Gospel channel head.

"We encourage our audience to embrace the message of redemption and triumph that Easter represents."

This year's 1Gospel Easter line-up includes:

Worship throne: Easter edition

14 to 18 April 2025, 12pm

This special edition brings together celebrated gospel artists in a dynamic worship experience. Tune in for soul-stirring music that captures the themes of renewal, hope and resurrection, all wrapped in authentic and heartfelt praise.

Annual Easter special

18 April 2025, 11:00

A 2-hour Easter showcase hosted by Candice Modiselle and Khaya Mthethwa, featuring special guests from Spirit of Praise. Through powerful music and engaging conversations, this special reflects on the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how his work continues to impact our lives today.

Fearless Lovers of Worship (FLOW): Live concert by The Jesus Collective

Part 1: 13 April | 21:30

Part 2: 20 April | 21:30

Join The Jesus Collective for an unforgettable two-part concert experience. Get to know the group behind the worship movement, hear their stories, and immerse yourself in four hours of passionate, live worship. These specials offer a deeply intimate encounter with music that celebrates faith, love, and purpose.

Jennifer Salke out as head of Amazon MGM Studios

by Thinus Ferreira

Jennifer Salke is out as head of Amazon MGM Studios 7 years after she joined, with Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM Studios announcing that Jen Salke is being given a so-called "first-look" TV and film production deal with Amazon.

Amazon MGM Studios notoriously jettisoned all African and South African production, as well as development deals, at the beginning of last year, leaving South African and Nigerian producers aghast.

Talk is however swirling within the South Africa industry that Amazon MGM Studios is working on "re-entering" the South African space, where Amazon Prime Videe remains available as a streamer alongside MultiChoice's Showmax, Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, VIU and some others.

Amazon MGM Studios apparently wanted back by April 2025 but this has been pushed later, according to industry insiders.

In a memo, Mike Hopkins writes that Jen Salke's position is being eliminated and won't be filled, with Courtenay Valenti as head of film and Vernon Sanders as head of TV who will now report directly to Mike Hopkins, with Sue Kroll who will continue with her position of global marketing across film and TV. 

"We've decided to flatten our leadership structure a bit and not fill the head of studios role. In line with Amazon's recent work to streamline reporting lines and accelerate decision making, we felt this was the best direction for our studio, which will now operate as distinct film and television studios."

More Amazon MGM Studios reorganisation is coming.

"We will be taking a couple of weeks to have thoughtful conversations with Jen's directs and others to finalise the ideal long-term structure for the Amazon MGM Studios organisation as a whole, and we'll have more to share on that work soon," Mike Hopkins wrote.

He noted that "Jen will step down from her role as head of Amazon MGM Studios in order to start a new production entity, and we’re so pleased that she'll continue to make her home right here on our lot via an overall first-look deal across both film and TV".

In a prepared statement, Jen Salke says "As I've been considering my next chapter, I've always been searching for that moment where I was positive that our work had set up Amazon MGM Studios for even more success in the long term."

"When I look at the teams we've put in place, our amazing leaders, and the incredible slate of films and shows we've got in the pipeline, I realised now is that moment.  I'm looking forward to continuing doing what I love, cultivating talent, supporting their vision, and bringing compelling stories to audiences around the world."

Court halts South African television's 31 March 2025 analogue TV switch-off

by Thinus Ferreira

The Pretoria High Court on Thursday stopped the South African government from switching off South Africa's analogue TV signals at the end of this month, granting a reprieve to broadcasters like the SABC, e.tv as well as millions of TV households still depending on analogue TV.

South Africa's department of communications and digital technologies and its minister, Solly Malatsi, as well as parastatal signal distributor, Sentech, were interdicted from shutting down the remaining analogue signals in the four remaining and largest provinces at the end of March.

eMedia's e.tv and civil society pressure groups like SOS Coalition and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) once again had to take the government to court to prevent a switch-off, after its ongoing failure to ensure that millions of TV households have been switched over and have access to public television through digital terrestrial television (DTT).

The government planned to flip the kill switch on analogue TV at the end of December 2024, and then pushed the date out to the end of March 2025 - the umpteenth extension in a derailed process that has taken over 15 years.

The South African government has not budgeted for "dual illumination" - the process of transmitting both analogue and the same digital signals in 2025, a cost that has skyrocketed and already cost the country billions of rand over the past decade.

According to Judge Selby Baqwa's judgment, "The operation of the final analogue switch-off date of 31 March 2025, as announced by the minister of communications and digital technologies on 5 December 2024, is suspended".

"The minister of communications and digital technologies is interdicted from taking any steps to implement the switch-off of analogue signals and ending dual illumination."

Baqqa also found that Malatsi failed to properly consult with the industry and stakeholders before making his analogue switch-off date decision, also handed the department a cost order for the court case, and noted that the 31 March switch-off date "is irrational".

The department of communications and digital technologies still have to provide and install a set-top box (STB) to thousands of poor TV households but many more households are not even on the outdated list. 

Furthermore, households have more than one viewer, meaning that millions of viewers are still waiting to be switched to DTT.

Then there is also the so-called "missing middle": TV households who earn more than R3500 monthly and who don't qualify for a STB. They have to buy a new TV set or a STB which they either can't afford or can't even find in retail since it's not stocked.

Colin Asiimwe returns as MultiChoice Uganda head of marketing

by Thinus Ferreira

Colin Asiimwe has returned to MultiChoice Uganda and his previous job as head of marketing, which he left three years ago in March 2022.

Colin Asiimwe replaces Lois Aber Kwikiriza who replaced him in 2022.

In his new-old job Colin Asiimwe will be responsible for the marketing of DStv Uganda, GOtv Uganda, as well as MultiChoice's streamer Showmax and its M-Net-run Pearl Magic TV channels.

Colin Asiimwe originally joined MultiChoice in 2019 and left in 2022. He returns from Kigali in Rwanda.

BBC News rebrands Click as Tech Now

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC News (DStv 400) has rebranded its long-running technology programme Click as Tech Now with the first episode under this renamed title which will broadcast on the TV news channel from 29 March and will also stream short videos from the programme on BBC.com as well.

Tech Now will continue to cover global trends and advancements happening in the technology space from AI and robotics, to health, climate, transport and gaming.

Tech Now has Adrienne Murray, Joe Tidy, Nick Kwek and Alasdair Keane as reporters.

Monica Soriano, Tech Now editor, says in a press release "With a wide network of technology reporters around the world, Tech Now brings a truly global perspective to the trends and advancements happening in the technology space today and showcasing their potential global impacts".

The first episode of Tech Now will be on Saturday 29 March at 00:30 (GMT), 06:30 and 18:30; Sunday 30 March at 04:30, 13:30, and Thursday 3 April at 08:30.

Sweet Guluva wins as Mzansi Magic's latest Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo season on DStv ends with the same sorely deficient M-Net PR it began with

by Thinus Ferreira

The latest season of Big Brother Mzansi ended on Sunday evening on MultiChoice's DStv with the 23-year-old Akhonamathemba Mbele, known as Sweet Guluva, who won the reality show but you wouldn't know it if it depended on Mzansi Magic's non-existent publicity effort.

The football player and barber from KwaZulu-Natal walked out of the camera-filled house on Sunday night as this season's R2 million winner produced by Red Pepper Pictures and sub-headlined "Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo".

By Tuesday morning there was still not even a press release about it from Mzansi Magic's publicist Portia Hlongwane or the Playmakers PR company that M-Net appointed and is paying to supposedly do PR and basic media liaison for this season of Big Brother Mzansi.

After taking the initiative to reach out and asking for a, or the, press release about the winner on Monday afternoon (since there was nothing by late Monday afternoon), there was absolutely no response from M-Net or Playmakers.

In addition, Mzansi Magic had Sweet Guluva and some other Big Brother Mzansi contestants at MultiChoice City in Randburg on Monday afternoon for a so-called "season 5 media event" and to do interviews.

Again, like just before the start of this season, and similar to the end of the previous season, once again M-Net's publicity people for Mzansi Magic and Playmakers did absolutely nothing to keep news media in the loop about it or that it would happen, apparently selecting to only communicate with a handful of people with just Twitter accounts and some other local media.

The result? Some social media postings suddenly on Monday afternoon but media left blindsided and clueless by Mzansi Media PR that something would happen, uninformed about what it entails, and unable to report about what was said. 

Besides no press release, absolutely no transcript or anything of what was said by anyone on Monday afternoon exists, or was shared with media who were not at MultiChoice City and didn't know about it in advance in order to plan coverage or arrange anything for their news diaries.

It's the same modus operandi from the previous season where MultiChoice and M-Net's apparently decided to predominantly focus on so-called influencers and Johannesburg-only press, for a show on DStv that is shown across the whole of South Africa and even sub-Saharan Africa.

Of a Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo "house-stay" with a gaggle of around 30 people, including Mzansi Magic publicists, and which took place just before the season started, the majority of invited people ended up doing nothing with barely any registered coverage.

On Thursday afternoon last week, just before the start of the long weekend, Playmakers did communicate by email and informed that there would be a Big Brother Mzansi finale "watch party" at the Maracana Restaurant in Sandton on Sunday for Johannesburg media and social media influencers, which was fine and kept media in the loop as to what would happen on Sunday.

Why M-Net and Playmakers didn't want to do any proper communication effort and failed with post-finale media liaison is unclear. It does however echo the disastrous laissez-faire PR approach of the start of this season, and the way the post-finale of the previous Big Brother Mzansi season was also handled.

The Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo season was once again marred by scandal, like all previous seasons, inflicting brand damage on M-Net's Mzansi Magic and sponsors like Lottostar and Unilever's Robertson's Spices.

DStv broadcast sexual assault victim-shaming when Ashley Ogle and Bongiwe Booi, known as Bonni Bee, made shocking comments about fellow contestant Florence Mphirime, known as KayB, after she revealed that she was herself a victim of sexual assault.

Then M-Net and production company Red Pepper Pictures were forced to remove yet another contestant from MultiChoice's scandal-riddled Big Brother Mzansi franchise when KayB herself got evicted over sexual assault.

Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo was the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the 11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

ALSO READ: 'I felt groped': More Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo scandal as M-Net and Red Pepper Pictures are forced to evict KayB over sexual assault

ALSO READ: The Trash Starts: More brand damage for MultiChoice and M-Net, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and LottoStar as Big Brother Mzansi shows 'deeply troubling' sexual assault victim-shaming on DStv

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Yet another Big Brother Mzansi. Yet another big M-Net and MultiChoice media fail