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."

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.

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.