MultiChoice's DStv Media Sales now sells AMC Networks International's CBS Justice and CBS Reality channels.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's DStv Media Sales has now also taken over selling of advertising inventory on AMC Networks International's CBS Justice and CBS Reality channels.

DStv Media Sales says that it's now "the new commercial home" of CBS Justice and CBS Reality with  CBS Justice (DStv Channel 170) already available for commercial opportunities and CBS Reality becoming available from 1 August 2023.

MultiChoice makes CBS Justice available to DStv Premium and DStv Compact Plus subscribers, while CBS Reality extends down to the DStv Access package.

"We are excited to showcase the international factual content line-up coming to CBS Reality, availing opportunities for advertisers to connect with engaged audiences," says Piwe Motshegoa, head of sales, general entertainment at DStv Media Sales, in a press release.

"The channel brings compelling real-life documentaries and series all day, every day. Audiences can look forward to new exclusives such as Close Calls on Camera in August as well as the timeless classic favourite, Judge Judy, an ever-green environment for advertisers."

According to DStv Media Sales, CBS Justice "continues to deliver riveting expert-led true crime programmes to DStv audiences".

"The channel has invested in fresh, thrilling content coming to screens in August and September such as The Fatal Attraction Murder, and Killers: Caught on Camera. In the latter part of the year, Bloodline Detectives returns for a fourth season of crimes solved by the expertise of genealogists and the latest forensic technology."

"Advertisers will be able to explore various media opportunities and bundle packaging on AMC networks channels and beyond, giving brands optimum mileage for spend."

Bye, bye to The Bold and the Beautiful – again – as AMC Networks International's repeat-padded EVA telenovela channel gets axed after 5 years on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv.

by Thinus Ferreira

After months of repeats the EVA channel from AMC Networks International is the next TV channel getting axed from MultiChoice with the American daytime soap The Bold and the Bold that is getting ripped away from South African TV viewers for a second time when the telenovela channel will go dark in March after 5 years.

DStv subscribers – who have asked about the channels' schedules that became filled with unending rebroadcasts over the last few months – have now been told that EVA, as well as EVA+, will both terminate and disappear from MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv pay-TV service across Africa on Monday 22 March because MultiChoice "no longer has airing rights". 

For the past few months, all of the telenovelas on EVA has been repeats except for The Bold and the Beautiful, produced by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, that remained as the sole original daily episode on the schedule.

Viewers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa will now lose The Bold and the Beautiful – that recently broadcast its 8 000th episode in Africa – for a second time after SABC3 abruptly ended it in March 2019 after which they had to switch to EVA to watch it on linear television.

AMCNI launched the EVA (DStv 141) channel in March 2015 with Latin American telenovelas dubbed into English and into Portuguese on DStv channel 508 as a competitor to NBCUniversal's Telemundo. 

In November 2016 EVA+, as a sister channel, launched on DStv and GOtv, with AMC Networks International saying at the time that with the channels it aims to "satisfy the African audience’s growing appetite for telenovelas" with a crop of "hand-picked, high-quality serial dramas".

In the latter part of 2020 both EVA and EVA+  – similar to the FOX Life and Disney XD channels before they got culled – suddenly stopped adding new content except for the daily Bold and the Beautiful episode.

Viewers quickly noticed that the EVA and EVA+ schedules became padded with the rebroadcasting and repeating of telenovelas that DStv and GOtv subscribers had already seen.

AMCNI in response to a media enquiry says that "After discussion with DStv, we have decided to no longer offer EVA/EVA+ in Africa".

"We’re focused on optimising our portfolio across the region, and these changes are related to that ongoing review. This does not affect other services in our portfolio, including CBS Justice, the newest channel in our portfolio which launched exclusively with DStv in November 2019, in addition to CBS Reality and JimJam which are available to DStv and other operators throughout Africa."

MultiChoice spokesperson Sbu Mpungose in response to a media enquiry confirmed the axing of EVA and EVA+, saying that "from time to time, MultiChoice together with 3rd party channel owners reviews the channels available on the DStv platform which may result in the addition or removal of channels".

"For this reason, EVA and EVA+ will no longer be available on the DStv platform from 22 March 2021. Viewers will, however, be able to continue to view our recently introduced favourite channels such as TLnovelas (DStv 133) and the HONEY channel (DStv 173)."

Asked about what will be happening to the schedule and shows that have not completed the run of their episodes by 22 March, for instance Mujercitas (Little Women) that would only conclude on 13 April, Sbu Mpungose said that "almost all of the series which are currently on EVA and EVA+ are reruns".

The SABC says its SABC Encore channel on DStv wasn't axed over its failure to pay artists residuals but that MultiChoice in 2018 already decided to can the channel in 2020.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster's SABC Encore channel on MultiChoice's DStv is going dark at the end of the month but its demise doesn't have to do with the SABC's alleged failure to properly pay artists residuals and repeat fees - the satellite pay-TV service already decided to kill off SABC Encore two years ago when it pulled the plug in 2018 during the last channel carriage renewal.

MultiChoice is getting rid of ITV's ITV Choice (DStv 123), AMC Networks International's Sundance TV (DStv 108) and SABC Encore (DStv 156) at the end of May with all three channels being removed after TV Mall was also taken away at the end of April from DStv subscribers in the latest DStv bouquet content culling.

The SABC has said that performers are being paid residuals for the rebroadcast of shows from the SABC archives on the rerun channel that has been packaged with library series for and carried on MultiChoice's DStv.

Yet artists and actor organisations have been vocal and insistent that they haven't been paid or shared in any of the millions of rand that MultiChoice has been paying the SABC for SABC Encore over the past half a decade.

SABC Encore launched in mid-May 2015 on DStv with big fanfare from the SABC and a bizarre SABC Encore launch event where the then SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng ranted that "MultiChoice must pay" and that the "SABC is coming for pay-TV".

It's not yet clear whether SABC Encore will continue to run as a TV channel despite its removal from MultiChoice DStv and whether it might become a stand-alone digital terrestrial television (DTT) channel only.

MultiChoice says that its contract "with the SABC for SABC Encore will not be renewed – as agreed by both respective parties, as per their contract which included a non-renewal option."

On Tuesday night Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, told parliament's portfolio committee on communications that the SABC already knew in 2018 that SABC Encore would not survive on DStv past 2020 and get axed.

The SABC is however looking to possibly continue SABC Encore as a channel on possible other platforms.

"The reason for SABC Encore being cancelled has nothing to do with royalties but it's because DStv indicated in the new agreement that we signed in 2018 that they would not extend it beyond a further 2 years which expires this year," Madoda Mxakwe said.

"We are exploring other venues in terms of continuing with that channel."

MultiChoice is axing the SABC Encore and Sundance TV film channel as well from the end of May after carriage contracts with the SABC and AMC Networks International are not renewed.

by Thinus Ferreira

At the end of this month DStv subscribers are losing the SABC Encore (DStv 156) rerun channel from the South African public broadcaster after 5 years and the Sundance TV (DStv 108) film channel from AMC Networks International after 3 years after MultiChoice decided not to renew the respective channel carriage contracts.

SABC Encore, a rerun channel programmed with old library stock from the SABC archives, was originally part of a 2-channel deal that later became hugely controversial between MultiChoice and the South African public broadcaster over alleged digital TV policy influence peddling.

The SABC agreed to launch a new SABC News (DStv 404) channel exclusively on DStv to replace the shuttered SABC News International, but with SABC Encore tacked on as a second TV channel only if the SABC in a signed contract supported MultiChoice's policy stance regarding broader digital terrestrial television (DTT) encryption in the country.

SABC Encore launched in mid-May 2015 on DStv with big fanfare from the SABC and a bizarre SABC Encore launch event where the then SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng ranted that "MultiChoice must pay" and that the "SABC is coming for pay-TV".

It's not yet clear whether SABC Encore will continue to run as a TV channel despite its removal from MultiChoice DStv and whether it might become a stand-alone digital terrestrial television (DTT) channel only.

The SABC hasn't yet responded to a media enquiry that was made on Tuesday morning but the response will be added here once received. See UPDATE below.

Sundance TV launched with fanfare in mid-May 2017 on DStv as a replacement for the removed AMC channel, but remained a niche film channel destination with low viewership.

AMCNI UK hasn't yet responded with an answer to a media enquiry that was made on Tuesday morning but the response will be added here once received. See UPDATE below.

MultiChoice was likewise asked on Tuesday morning about the channel terminations of SABC Encore and Sundance TV on its DStv platform but hasn't yet responded. See UPDATE below.

With less than a month's notice, on the DStv i-plate electronic programme guide (EPG), DStv subscribers are now told that "Dear viewer. Please note that Sundance TV will no longer be on air from 1 June 2020. You can find movies on M-Net 101, M-Net Movies channels, Catch Up and DStv Now. Thank you."

About the axing of SABC Encore the MultiChoice EPG now says "Dear viewer, please note that SABC Encore will stop airing on 31 May 2020. Thank you for watching."

MultiChoice's removal of SABC Encore and Sundance TV follows after the axing of the British entertainment channel from ITV, ITV Choice that is also going dark on DStv at the end of May after 5 years.

UPDATE Tuesday 19 May 2020 - 17:37: The SABC tells TVwithThinus that "The SABC can confirm that SABC Encore, which was launched on the DStv platform channel 156 on 11 May 2015, is coming to an end at the end of this month".

"The corporation is at this stage exploring more avenues to ensure that our audiences continue to enjoy the broadcast of SABC’s premium vintage programmes on alternative platforms."

UPDATE Tuesday 19 May 2020 - 1845: MultiChoice in a response says that "The MultiChoice Group can confirm that SABC Encore and AMC Networks' Sundance TV will no longer be available on the DStv platform from 1 June 2020".

"MultiChoice’s contract with the SABC for SABC Encore will not be renewed – as agreed by both respective parties, as per their contract which included a non-renewal option. Sundance TV will no longer be broadcast by MultiChoice as the contract between MultiChoice and the channel providers AMC Networks has come to an end."

UPDATE Wednesday 20 May 2020 - 10:09: AMC Networks International UK says "AMC Networks International UK can confirm that SundanceTV will no longer be available on the DStv platform from 1 June".

ALSO READ: The SABC says its SABC Encore channel on DStv wasn't axed over its failure to pay artists residuals but that MultiChoice in 2018 already decided to can the channel in 2020.

SundanceTV seeking SA filmmakers for its 2nd film shorts prize who can now enter the 2019 SundanceTV Shorts competition.

AMC Networks International's SundanceTV (DStv 108) will be running a SundanceTV Shorts competition for a second year, with South African film makers who can now enter the competition.

The winner's film will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival in London in May and will a trip for two to London in the United Kingdom, with the film that will also be broadcast on SundanceTV later this year.

South Africa filmmakers, along with those in France and Spain are allowed to enter for the competition that will be judged by SundanceTV and the Sundance Institute.

The films will be judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, entertainment value, original storytelling and production values.

The South African jury members will be Mike Plante of the Sundance Institute; Harold Gronenthal from SundanceTV; Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's executive head of content strategy and third-party channels; and the South African director and producer Sara Blecher.

"The SundanceTV Shorts competition embodies the true spirit of the channel itself," says Geraud Alazard, AMC Networks International senior vice president of marketing.

"Providing a platform for independent storytelling, it shines a spotlight on new and emerging talent.  We're very excited to collaborate with the Sundance Institute again this year and we're incredibly grateful for the support of our exclusive South African partner, DStv."

Mike Plante, senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, says "Each year the SundanceTV Shorts Competition finds great new short films from each country and helps us achieve our goals, to discover new talents and help share their films with audiences around the globe".

Filmmakers can enter the Sundance Shorts competition between 5 March to 16 April at www.sundancetvshorts.com with producers or directors who must provide proof of residency. Shortfilms must not be longer than 15 minutes and must be delivered with English subtitles if English is not the spoken language.

AMC Networks International appoints new senior executives for key regions including Kevin Dickie looking after Africa.

AMC Networks International (AMCNI) has made some new senior executive appointments for key regions, including Kevin Dickie promoted to managing director for AMNCI UK, also looking after Africa.

AMCNI runs and distributes channels like Sundance TV (DStv 108), CBS Reality (DStv 132 / Cell C black 207), (Jim Jam (DStv 310 / StarSat 303 / Cell C black 304), EVA (DStv 141) and Extreme Sports Channel (Cell C black 411) in South Africa and throughout the rest of Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, and on Cell C's subscription video-on-demand and linear online streaming channel service black.

AMCNI has made senior management changes, including Ricardo Debén appointed as executive vice-president managing director for AMCNI Latin America, Manuel Balsera appointed as executive vice-president and managing director for AMCNI Southern Europe (based in Madrid) and Kevin Dickie who is promoted to executive vice-president and managing director for AMCNI United Kingdom (UK), including includes Poland, the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

Kevin Dickie was most recently senior vice-president of the channels group for the UK, MEA and Poland for AMCNI UK.

Levente Málnay has been appointed executive vice-president and managing director for AMCNI Central and Northern Europe, based in Budapest.

All of them will report to Eduardo Zulueta, who was recently named president of AMC Networks International.

"These outstanding leaders have played vital roles in the success of AMC Networks International's strong portfolio of channels," says Eduardo Zulueta in a statement.

"Their skills and experience will help AMCNI build on its strong position in the marketplace, with our premium quality content offering and the value we bring to our distribution and advertising partners."

Sundance looking for South African short films for the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts Competition.

AMC Networks International is launching a 2018 SundanceTV film competition and is now looking for South African short film entries as well, with the winning film that will be broadcast on SundanceTV (DStv 108) later this year and that will premiere during the Sundance Film Festival in London taking place from the end of May.

South African film makers can now enter films for the inaugural 2018 SundanceTV Shorts Competition until 15 April at www.sundancetv.co.za/shorts and must not be longer than 15 minutes. The producer or director of the film must provide proof of South African residency.

Submitted films must be delivered with English subtitles if English isn't the spoken language in the film, and films must meet the official rules and technical requirements.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, will be part of the panel of jurors judging the competition this year, along with SundanceTV and the Sundance Institute. 

"The SundanceTV Shorts Competition reflects the very essence of the channel," says Geraud Alazard, the senior vice president of marketing at AMC Networks International.

"It encapsulates SundanceTV’s unique energy and passion, shining a spotlight on independent storytelling and emerging talent. We're incredibly excited to collaborate with Sundance Institute again this year and we're enormously grateful for the support of our affiliate partner, MultiChoice."

Mike Plante, the senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, says "The SundanceTV Shorts Competition plays an admirable role in highlighting and celebrating the medium of short film and seeking out new film making talent. It's always a real treat to view the surprising and diverse entries."

The Jury Prize for the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts competition will be judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, entertainment value, original storytelling and production values.

The jury, presided by Mike Plante of Sundance Institute, will include Harold Gronenthal from SundanceTV Global, Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, and Helen Kuun of Indigenous Film.

The winner will receive a trip for two to London and their film will be screened during Sundance Film Festival: London at a SundanceTV event in June. The winner will be announced in May.

OOH, AWESOME. Ridley Scott's new epic-looking British navy period drama, The Terror, coming to AMC and SundanceTV on DStv and Kwesé TV from 27 March as an Express from the US title.

The amazing looking new premium TV period drama, The Terror, produced by Ridley Scott, will be coming to South African and African viewers simulcast on both AMC (Kwese TV 130) and Sundance TV (DStv 108) from 27 March at 21:00, and as an Express from the US title.

South African viewers will see the big-budget series a whole month before the United Kingdom, where The Terror only starts on 24 April, as the first of 2018's most anticipated new premium TV series of the year.

The terrific new limited-series period drama from Scott Free Productions, Emjag Productions and Entertainment 360 in association with AMC Studios, is based on Dan Simmons's 2007 book by the same name.

The Terror will start on 26 March in America, and literally at the same time in South Africa and Africa where pay-TV subscribers will be able to see the 10 episodes it in high definition thanks to AMC Networks International that in 2016 snapped up the drama series for an exclusive premiere playout next month on AMC Global's channels in territories across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.

The Terror will have with new episodes every Tuesday until 29 May, with a cast including Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, Ciaran Hinds, Matthew McNaulty and Nive Nielsen as the enigmatic Lady Silence.

The Terror's teaser trailer looks incredible and tells the tale of the British Royal Navy's perilous voyage in 1847 into unchartered territory and the various crews' desperate attempt discover the Northwest Passage sea route in the frigid Arctic Ocean through the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

The Terror, playing out as a bit of a horror story since it's done by Alien director Ridley Scott, is inspired by a true story with the drama series that will have viewers really at the edge of their seats with treacherous conditions, dwindling and limited resources, dwindling hope, fear of death, somewhat of a supernatural mystery and several secrets and shocking revelations as crews are pushed to the brink of extinction.

While everything starts out fine, soon the ships are trapped in the ice and people start dying. Frozen, isolated and stuck at the end of the world, The Terror shows all that can go wrong when a group of men, desperate to survive, struggle not only with the harsh elements, but with each other.

While desperately searching for a way through, the crews are attacked by a mysterious predator that stalks the ships and their crew in a suspenseful and desperate game of survival.

Meanwhile various in-fighting and political, naval intrigue are playing out aboard as each of the top-ranking naval officers are scheming for various reasons, while Lady Silence is trying to protect her land and her people.

The real expedition to discovery the Northwest Passage led to more than 120 crew members inexplicably disappearing. That of course has led to a lot of speculation over the year of just what exactly happened on board.

After almost 175 years of searching, the ships were discovered by arctic research groups in 2014 and 2016.

The Terror was filmed in Budapest and is named for one of the two British ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror that undertook the perilous journey.

"The Terror captures a rare combination of fascinating history, complex and flawed characters, the inextinguishable human spirit and the horror and promise of an uncharted world,"says executive producers and co-showrunners David Kajganich and Soo Hugh in a statement.

"We are looking forward to bringing viewers into this world."

Here is the teaser trailer for The Terror:



Here is a fascinating, must-watch, pre-season behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Terror:

The Walking Dead on FOX renewed for a 9th season; gets a 4th new showrunner as longtime writer Angela Kang is promoted to executive producer before the 8th season resumes on 26 February.

The Walking Dead has been renewed for a 9th season with the zombie apocalypse drama that is also getting its 4th showrunner.

The second half of the 8th season of The Walking Dead will start on 25 February in America and on Monday 26 February at 21:00 on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) as one of Fox Networks Group Africa's few remaining "Express from the US" titles on the channel.

The drama series produced by AMC Studios in America, shocked in its mid-season finale by revealing that Carl Grimes, played by Chandler Riggs, has been bitten by a zombie walker.

The Walking Dead previous announced that as one of last five remaining original characters, the character will be killed off in the upcoming first new episode while the character of Morgan played by Lennie James will be leaving at the end of the season to join the spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead seen on AMC Networks International's Sundance TV (DStv 108) when the two shows do a cross-over story later this year.

Scott M. Gimple who has been with the show since the second season hasn't been fired like the previous showrunners Frank Darabont and Glen Mazzara, but is out and being moved to a new position of chief content officer over both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead.

The longtime The Walking Dead writer and co-executive producer Angela Kang, a writer on the show since 2011 and a co-executive producer since 2013, is taking over as showrunner and executive producer.

The Walking Dead has seen a ratings decline since the end of the 6th season and the latest changes behind-the-scenes are likely in an attempt to bring renew focus and storytelling to the series.

“We are proud to acknowledge Angela Kang’s significant contribution to the series and to set a clear path forward for a ninth season under her direction. Further, with gratitude and admiration, we also recognize Scott M. Gimple’s broad impact on, and leadership of, the content that fuels our The Walking Dead universe,” says AMC in a statement. “Together, we will dream bigger and more broadly than ever before.”

“The Walking Dead is a special show which started in an entirely different era of TV, and continues, in this new era, to confidently take chances to tell compelling stories that excite audiences and make them deeply connect with its characters, adapting Robert Kirkman’s brilliant comic book,” says Scott M. Gimple.

“As the show closes in on its tenth year, I’m honoured to keep working with the talented, dedicated people behind and in front of the camera to make it all it can be, while expanding the world of The Walking Dead with new narratives like Fear the Walking Dead and a whole host of truly cool stories ahead. Angela is a big part of the heart and soul of The Walking Dead, and I’m thrilled to help facilitate her vision of the show’s next era.”

Angela Kang says “I am beyond thrilled to be stepping into this new role with The Walking Dead. Working on this series and having the opportunity to adapt Robert Kirkman’s amazing comic has been a fangirl dream come true for me.”

“I’m excited to continue working with Scott M. Gimple and the wonderfully supportive folks at AMC, and can’t wait to share the next chapter of the story with our fans".

Nigerian pay-TV upstart TStv misses its 2nd launch date on 1 November; now blames dealership accreditation delays, keeps lying to consumers about content.

The Nigerian pay-TV upstart, TStv has missed its second launch date of 1 November and is now blaming dealership accreditation, while it continues to lie to consumers about the content it will have on its platform and carriage agreements with channel distributors that it definitely doesn't have.

TStv (Telcomm Satellite TV) on Tuesday announced that it will again miss its self-imposed, pushed-out deadline of 1 November for a commercial launch - the latest abrupt delay coming after TStv retro-actively referred to its first hyped commercial launch on 1 October 2017 as a "ceremonial" launch.

On Tuesday TStv suddenly said that its commercial launch is being postponed indefinitely, without giving a new date.

TStv is now suddenly calling November another "test month" and says on its website that the few people who have decoders will now get "all our channels free-to-air for one month".

Further revealing the amateur and fake-trash nature of TStv, services, especially pay-TV services, do their "signal testing" long before the launch commercially, or announce a launch date.

"We are very conscious of the need to offer Nigerians value. That is why we have opened all our channels for free," TStv suddenly says now.

"All our channels are up and free-to-air for this period of test broadcast".

Subscription television content from pay-TV providers is not allowed to be shown free to air anywhere in the world due to encryption and digital video content rights issues - suppliers want their content protected - as well as issues regarding age and content restrictions for which channels must get proper licenses, usually from local broadcasting regulators.

Meanwhile Nigerian newspapers who don't have the ability to properly investigate TStv's channels and content claims, keep parroting TStv press statements and did so again on Tuesday, and are doing a disservice to Nigerian consumers.

Nigerian consumers remain largely unaware that the content and TV channels that TStv keeps promising won't be available, and that where some of it is, it is being illegally transmitted.

TStv blamed so-called "dealer accreditation" for the latest delay - as if TStv is required to have all dealerships properly accredited in bulk as one big group before it can start selling decoders.

It's a reason that doesn't hold water since pay-TV dealers - agents and street shop vendors who sell decoders - are never accredited in bulk, but on a one-by-one basis.

There's no reason why the agents and dealerships who have been accredited the past month - if any were - and those possibly accredited prior to October, shouldn't be operating and selling TStv decoders.

TStv latest abrupt "commercial launch" delay signals bigger and as yet unknown problems that are very likely besetting TStv and its CEO Bright Echefu behind the scenes of the Abuja-based pay-TV operator.

TStv in a statement on Tuesday said the latest indefinite delay is "to ensure the proper monitoring and evaluation of the signal strength and quality of channels and programmes nationwide" and that "the accreditation of selected dealers was ongoing in addition to the full branding of the dealers' outlets across the country in order to achieve uniformity and evenness in the sales of its decoders".

TStv said that while "accreditation of our dealers are still ongoing, commercial sale of decoders will not commence until the accreditation process is concluded".

TStv said "we are not unaware of our promise to commence full commercial sales and operations of TStv Africa on 1 November 2017 nationwide," and said "we seek your further understanding and support in this value driven course".

TStv keeps telling Nigerian consumers that its rumours and fake news that TStv does not have carriage agreements with the beIN Media Group to carry 10 beIN Sports channels.

TVwithThinus confirmed with beIN Media Group in Qatar that no agreement exists.

TStv keeps telling consumers that it will be showing sport like English Premier League (EPL), UEFA Champions League and other big international soccer tournaments.

These sports rights however MultiChoice Africa and SuperSport already acquired previously for sub-Saharan Africa, and in exclusive multi-year agreements stretching into the future.

Turner Broadcasting also confirmed that TStv has no deal to carry its news channel CNN International that TStv in October laid claim to.

Discovery Networks International also confirmed that TStv doesn't have any carriage agreement for the range of Discovery-supplied TV channels TStv in October claimed it will carry.

Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and FOX Networks Group Africa (FNG Africa) both also confirmed that they have no channel dealings with TStv despite TStv claiming in October to carry some of their channels.

TStv in October claimed it will carry channels ranging from FOX Life, FOX Sports and Nat Geo WILD to even MTV Base. All of these channels said no contracts with TStv exist.

TStv in October also claimed in printed marketing and publicity materials - using channel logos and names - that it will carry channels like Fashion One and even AMC Networks International's kids channel Jim Jam - all channels that seem very unlikely to have contract agreements with TStv.

TStv in October also claimed that it will carry channels like eMedia Investments in South Africa's e Africa channel. eMedia Investments told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that "e.tv does not have an agreement with TStv to carry eAfrica. We are investigating the matter".

TStv also claimed in October that it will have Scripps Networks Interactive's Fine Living channel.

TStv for instance used a wholly-wrong, green leaf-type logo simply grabbed off of the internet that isn't remotely Fine Living's correct channel logo.


Angry consumer backlash starting
Despite little real information and reporting from the lame-duck Nigerian press that didn't do much to really probe TStv's fake promises and failed to contact content providers TStv said it had deals with, more and more gullible Nigerian consumers on Thursday finally started figuring out for themselves the murky mess of TStv's fake promises and lies.

TStv started to trend on Thursday in Nigeria as a consumer backlash against TStv started, and angry Nigerians wanted answers and started slamming TStv for its litany of false starts and fake promises.

"Your PR is poor. I can do better," said Adams Emmanuel.

"TStv tell us the truth, so it can set you free. What really is the matter?" asked Val. "Lies upon lies. No sale of any TStv decoder," said Agharandu Ugochukwu.

"You guys are just taking people for a ride," said Innocent Inedu. "Liars," said Kadri Akeem.

MultiChoice adds AMC Networks International's SundanceTV channel to DStv for DStv Premium subscribers to replace the lost content of AMC.

MultiChoice is adding the SundanceTV channel from 1 June to DStv as a replacement for the AMC channel, for DStv Premium subscribers.

SundanceTV, from AMC Networks International (AMCNI) that will be in high definition (HD) will continue to show programming like the drama series Fear The Walking Dead and Into the Badlands that would have been lost to South African pay-TV viewers after the AMC channel was dumped last year, and the new Pierce Brosnan Western series, The Son that just started.

SundanceTV is actually a film channel that was launched by film star Robert Redford in 1996, but the version for South Africa on DStv will also carry series, as well as selection of local programming.

"SundanceTV will offer a selection of award winning and locally appealing programming exclusively to audiences in South Africa," says Louise Cottrell, AMCNI UK vice president for affiliate sales in a statement.

"We're excited to launch this premium channel for the first time in South Africa on the DStv platform, which reinforces our long-standing partnership with MultiChoice."

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content says "we've listened to what our customers are saying about our content, and are committed to bring them more fresh content more often and fewer repeats."

"SundanceTV will bring great variety through its high quality art movies and unforgettable series. We're confident our customers will welcome SundanceTV to the DStv family and into their homes."

SundanceTV offers a mix of exclusive festival films and original drama series.

Some of the film festival selections which will be shown on SundanceTV includes the documentary Cries from Syria, which bears witness to the resiliency of the people of Syria in the wake of their exposure to unthinkable crimes against humanity.

I Smile Back is an unflinchingly authentic and humanising portrait of a suburban wife and mother dealing with depression and disillusionment that send her careening into a secret world of reckless compulsion.

The Eyes of My Mother is the debut movie from writer/director Nicolas Pesce and is the tale of Francisca. She grows up in a secluded farmhouse where her mother, formerly a surgeon in Portugal, teaches her to understand anatomy and be unfazed by death. One afternoon, a mysterious visitor horrifyingly shatters the idyll of Francisca’s family life, deeply traumatizing the young girl, but also awakening some unique curiosities.

The Son with Pierce Brosnan will start on 6 June at 21:00.

A rebroadcast of the first two seasons of Fear the Walking Dead will start on 5 June. The third season of Fear the Walking Dead will start on SundanceTV on Monday 24 July at 21:00.

MultiChoice Africa is adding the Eva+ channel on DStv and GOtv as a sister telenovela channel to Eva from AMC Networks International UK.

MultiChoice Africa is adding the sister channel to the telenovela channel Eva, Eva+, from AMC Networks International, to DStv in several South African countries from 1 November.

Eva+ will not be available on DStv in South Africa, but will be added to the DStv and GOtv platforms in several African countries.

Eva+ will be the first channel from AMC Networks International UK (AMCNI UK) to be made available on MultiChoice's GOtv service in Africa.

The addition of Eva+ follows after Eva was added in late-March 2015 to DStv in South Africa and across Africa.

Just like Eva, Eva+ will have Latin American telenovelas dubbed in English and Portuguese.

"We are delighted to be expanding on our telenovela offering and introducing Eva+ to the African market, in partnership with MultiChoice," says Louise Cottrell, the vice president for affiliate sales for AMCNI UK.

"'Telenovelas are increasingly popular in the region, so it's exciting that with Eva+ offered on GOtv in addition to DStv, we will now be able to reach brand new viewers with our top quality content."

Tim Jacobs, MultiChoice Africa CEO, says "with our focus now on putting our customer first, we are delighted to be adding Eva+ on to our platforms".

"Telenovelas have always been a sensation with our customers and we hope this addition further demonstrates our commitment to bringing programming that will make viewers eager to tune in to DStv".

Eva+ will broadcast double bills of four telenovela titles every weekday and marathons over the weekend, including Buscando a Maria (Searching Maria) on air from Tuesday 1 November at 11:20 every weekday, then on Saturday at 06:00 and on Sunday at 16:00.

Cuando me Enamoro (Timeless Love) willbe broadcast on Eva+ from Thursday 1 December at 11:20 on weekdays at 17:00, then on Saturday at 06:00 and on Sunday at 16:00.

StarSat abruptly drops Natura channel after almost 6 years; replaces it with Odisseia channel; can't bother to tell subscribers or the media.

StarSat has quietly dumped and taken away yet another long-running channel it had from StarSat subscribers, inexplicably removing Natura (StarSat 230) and replacing it with the basically unknown Odisseia channel.

On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa spells Odisseia as "Odiseeia" on its StarSat decoder's electronic programme guide (EPG) - which for the channel is empty anyway and contains absolutely no programming information.

On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa couldn't be bothered to tell StarSat subscribers that Natura is being discontinued or that Odisseia is starting; nor was there any announcement to TV critics or South Africa's media in the form of a press release or any publicity or marketing information.

Natura was one of the few remaining launch channels when StarSat started as TopTV in May 2010 and now the nature documentary channel is also gone, a month and a half short of its 6th year on the satellite pay-TV platform.

Natura was run by AMC Networks International Zone, also responsible for channels like AMC (DStv 140 / StarSat 115), JimJam (StarSat 303 / DStv 310), Extreme Sports Channel (StarSat 253) and CBS Action (DStv 133), CBS Drama (DStv 134) and CBS Reality (DStv 132) on MultiChoice's DStv and StarSat's platforms.

Odisseia, also from AMC Networks International Zone, has now been swopped in as a replacement for Natura. It's lesser known and started out as a Portuguese pay-TV documentary channel.

AMC Networks International Zone likewise couldn't be bothered in the slightest to alert the media about its new channel being available and has done nothing to raise any awareness in South Africa's media and with TV critics about "Odiseeia".

BREAKING. New zombie drama, Fear The Walking Dead, a massive hit for AMC Networks International's AMC on DStv and StarSat.

New zombie drama and The Walking Dead spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead is a massive hit right out of the box for AMC (DStv 140 / StarSat 115) which now has instant must-watch, appointment television on Monday nights.

Fear the Walking Dead which made its monster debut on Sunday night in America on AMC and was shown on Monday morning at 03:10 on AMC in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's StarSat and again in its regular primetime timeslot of 20:00, logged an astounding 10.1 million viewers in the United States.

The viewership - 6.3 million of them in the desired 18-49 adult demographic - instantly propelled Fear the Walking Dead to the number one drama series premiere in pay-TV history in America which is a new ratings record.

Fear the Walking Dead produced by AMC Studios now holds the record as the most watched series premiere of any TV drama in pay-TV in the United States.

It's also history-making and highly significant for South Africa's TV and pay-TV industry, and here's why.

Although Fear the Walking Dead received barely any marketing and publicity push before its debut in South Africa today, it means that South African viewers are getting a premium brand-new TV drama, which is instantly a primetime hit, virtually simultaneous with the United States, but accessible on several lower-tiered, non-premium satellite pay-TV bouquets.

StarSat subscribers get AMC - and therefore Fear the Walking Dead - included on the StarSat Smart package for R149 per month. DStv subscribers on all packages get access to AMC - down to the cheapest DStv EasyView for R39 per month.

It means that DStv, StarSat and AMC can market and promote the hit zombie drama to virtually the  entire existing pay-TV subscriber base in South Africa.

For AMC, run by AMC Networks International Zone (AMCI Zone), Fear the Walking Dead represents a massive upgrade and and opportunity in South Africa and Africa to elevate the channel's brand and awareness of it.

The channel changed and rebranded from the stale, library title filled MGM channel to AMC only from December 2014 and can now suddenly boast the year's latest biggest TV hit, eclipsing M-Net's Game of Thrones and FOX's Empire.

Fear the Walking Dead gives AMC not just buzzy appointment television in primetime over the next few weeks but dramatically elevates the channel proposition and the AMC brand.

With the new new premium drama hour AMCI Zone which will get the chance to showcase and perhaps expose new viewers to the channel for the first time who might not have channel hopped to AMC before.

Now having a premium, first-run drama express from the United States and the year's biggest pay-TV hit is somewhat ironic for AMC, given that MultiChoice, when it was added as the MGM channel just over a year and a half ago in November 2013, initially didn't want to give the channel to its top-tiered DStv Premium subscribers but soon relented following a public backlash.

MultiChoice said at the time that the repeat filled MGM wasn't intended for DStv Premium subscribers but realised that "Premium customers would like to have the full range of channels available on their package".

Imagine the outcry now if higher-tiered pay-TV subscribers like DStv Premium customers were blocked from seeing and following the start of the latest zombie apocalypse.

"Thank you and congratulations to Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson, the brilliant executive producers and the entire cast and crew of Fear the Walking Dead," says Charlie Collier, president of AMC in a statement.

"Fear the Walking Dead delivered record-breaking numbers that are all the more special in this era of time-shifted viewing and audience fragmentation."

"To have a companion series to the number one show on television driving communal, urgent viewing, social activity and pop cultural relevance of this magnitude is truly differentiating. Of course none of it is possible without the fans, whose passion leads to these remarkable results," says Charlie Collier.

"It is extremely exciting that we are broadcasting such fresh and interesting shows," says Ian Woodrow, the head of content at StarSat in a statement about Fear the Walking Dead.  "We have a whole new line-up of content with Fear the Walking Dead leading the way."

Fear the Walking Dead is a spin-off prequel set in Los Angeles and will follow the start of the zombie outbreak with a first season of 6 episodes starring Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane and Ruben Blades.

It will be followed by the 6th season of The Walking Dead starting on 11 October in America and shown very soon after on FOX International Channel's FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131).

TOLDJA! MGM channel on DStv and StarSat rebranding and changing to AMC from 1 December, launching AMC VOD and adding TV series.

The MGM (DStv 140 / StarSat 115) channel on MultiChoice's DStv and on On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes South Africa's StarSat satellite pay-TV platforms will rebrand on 1 December, AMC Networks International Zone just announced, as TV with Thinus reported early this morning.

AMC Networks International announced the global name-change for its MGM channel in August and said that MGM will rebrand globally in all the different territories before the end of the year.

The MGM to AMC change originally planned for November according to sources who spoke about it in August, was then moved to December.

After my story this morning, AMC Networks International Zone just issued a statement saying that it "will rebrand MGM channel as AMC from 1 December across sub-Saharan Africa".

Alongside the new AMC TV channel which will now carry TV series and no longer just movies like MGM, there will also be the launch of a video-on-demand (VOD) service called AMC VOD and "TV Everywhere" services to multiple devices.

South African TV viewers with DStv and StarSat will be able to watch TV series like the just-cancelled drama series The Divide, and the reality show Game of Arms about American arm wrestling, as well as movies from the film library of MGM. 

AMC will however start to expand the movie catalogue beyond just MGM's film valut, to include movies from Sony and the Paramount film libraries.

The Divide will start on AMC on 5 January 2015 at 20:00 with new episodes weekly.

Game of Arms will start on AMC on 2 December at 20:00 with new episodes until 16 December and then again with new episodes starting on 6 January 2015.

"With the introduction of AMC to the African market, our aim is to satisfy the local audience's growing appetite for high-quality international content including original series as well as a wide selection of popular Hollywood movies," says Louise Cottrell, the vice-president for affiliate sales for AMC Networks International Zone in a just issued statement.

BREAKING. MGM channel on MultiChoice's DStv and ODM's StarSat renamed AMC, will add TV shows and bigger movie range before end of 2014.

MGM (DStv 140 / StarSat 142) on MultiChoice's DStv and on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat platforms is changing its name and will be changing from MGM to AMC soon, and will in addition to that start to add movies from the Paramount and Sony film libraries and will also start to show TV dramas.

MGM on DStv and on StarSat will change to AMC within months and before the end of this year as AMC Networks International starts to replace MGM where it is internationally broadcast with locally versioned channel feeds - such as the MGM seen in Southern Africa on DStv and StarSat.

MGM as AMC will also start to show TV series, like the new series Halt and Catch Fire and The Divide, produced by AMC Studios, which will be shown on AMC internationally, in an exclusive first TV window.

The quick rebranding of MGM follows the renaming of Chellomedia which runs MGM, to AMC Networks International in June after AMC

Besides films from the MGM vault, the MGM or now AMC channel will soon start to also broaden its range of titles and add films from the Paramount and Sony libraries.

"We intend to reproduce our United States strategy, expanding AMC's brand throughout the world and creating a new way of distribution our original content," says Ed Carroll, operations director at AMC Networks.

Some of AMC's productions, such as Breaking Bad have been among the most pirated content ever and their local broadcasting on other TV channels in the world have drawn million of viewers. Following such interest, AMC Networks International wants to attaining rapid worldwide success with the MGM to AMC rebrand.

"The international interest in our productions, plus movies from the main production houses to complete our schedule, means a great opportunity to make AMC an international entertainment channel," says Bruce Tuchman, AMC Global's president.

AMC Networks International runs channels on DStv and StarSat like CBS Reality, CBS Drama, CBS Action, JimJam, Extreme Sports Channel and MGM - or now AMC.

AMC to rebrand Chellomedia into AMC Networks International; Africa zone headed by Dermot Shortt.

AMC is rebranding Chellomedia into AMC Networks International (AMCNI).

Chellomedia, or now AMC Networks International, runs channels like MGM (DStv 140 / StarSat 142).

"Renaming Chellomedia is a natural next step as we continue to integrate this portfolio of channels and transition AMC Networks into a global media company," says AMC Networks chief operating officer (COO) Ed Carroll in a statement.

AMC Networks International will consist of six operating units. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region of AMC Networks International (called "Zone") is headed by Dermott Shortt.

The channels South African and African pay-TV subscribers see from AMC Networks International on MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's StarSat which fall within AMCNI's EMEA region, include CBS Reality, CBS Drama, CBS Action, JimJam, Extreme Sports Channel and MGM.