TOLDJA! StarSat adds StarTimes Sport 2; FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 replacing Setanta Africa and Setanta Action from 8 August.

On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat is adding StarTimes Sport 2 as a new TV channel on channel 241 from Saturday 19 July, while the Setanta Africa and Setanta Action channels are being rebranded to FOX Sports and FOX Sports 2 respectively from 8 August.

As part of the new sports channel addition and rebranding, StarSat is changing the channel numbers of its sports channels which will now be located between channel numbers 241 and 251.

FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 will become channels 244 and 245 from Saturday 19 July, although the name change from Setanta will only happen from 8 August.

On Wednesday TV with Thinus reported about major sports channels additions and changes coming to StarSat when news leaked about major sports content developments at the Woodmead based satellite pay-TV provider.

StarSat is however not adding a StarTimes Sport 1 or StarSports 1 channel but getting FOX Sports (and the content produced for those new channels), and then a StarTimes Sport 2 channel.

StarSat says StarTimes Sport 2 will carry "diverse sporting programmes" although a schedule has not yet been released.

The StarTimes Sport 2 channel is also launching in the rest of Africa as a new TV channel created by China's StarTimes Media specifically for Africa, as well as a new StarTimes Swahili channel that will launch in August.

StarTimes Sport 2 will show soccer like the International Champions Cup, European Qualifiers, French Ligue 1 and the Summer Football season.

ODM tells TV with Thinus StarTimes Sport 2 will run for 24 hours per day.

FOX International Channels (FIC) which didn't respond with answers to a media enquiry TV with Thinus made earlier in the week regarding the sports channels that FIC provides to StarSat, will be rebranding Setanta Africa and Setanta Action to FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

FOX Sports will broadcast French Ligue 1, Ederevise, Belgium Pro League, FormulaE, English Championship, Liga MX, Major League Soccer and Coupe de la Ligue.

FOX Sports 2 launched in America a year ago in August 2013.

TV with Thinus previously surmised that a channel like FuelTV on StarSat might be changed to FOX Sports 2, but FOX International Channels at the time said there was no plans to change FuelTV into FOX Sports.

Of course that's true - it was the Setanta channels, not FuelTV getting changed.

FOX Sports 1 will focus mainly on soccer, broadcasting more than 2 000 hours of content every year with live coverage of major soccer leagues. FOX Sports 1 will also carry daily news programming and a wide range of football-related magazine shows and other soccer content. 

FOX Sports 1 will also bring subscribers live matches sport highlights, news, self-produced programmes, special programmes and exercise education. FOX Sports 1 will cover different sport disciplines such as soccer, tennis, rugby, golf, motor-racing, cricket and extreme sports.

FOX Sports 2 will offer international sports, including Euroleague Basketball, Formula E Motor Racing, DTM touring cars, National Rugby League, ice hockey, mixed martial arts, kickboxing and boxing. 

In addition FOX Sports 2 will show extra football content, including delayed coverage of league games, as well as alternative live coverage from competitions such as the Spanish Copa del Rey and additional club channels.

"We are thrilled with the launch of FOX Sports in Africa which is the culmination of a process that began last year with the acquisition of Setanta Africa in October 2013," says Alessandro Tucci, the seenior vice president and general manager of FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) in a statement.

"We're very excited about StarTimes Sport 2," says Ian Woodrow, StarSat's head of content in another statement.

"StarTimes Sport 2 will afford subscribers opportunities to catch some of the leading sporting events from  around the globe. We believe it will inspire our subscribers to get moving and experience some of the best movers and shakers that the sporting world has to offer."

The addition of StarTimes Sport 2 and the rebrand-addition of FOX Sports and FOX Sports 2 will help to bolster StarSat's sports offering to existing and potential StarSat subscribers which has been lackluster since it launched as TopTV in May 2010.

Before ODM launched TopTV in 2010, it promised a 24-hour TV news channel and a TopSport channel, but ODM backtracked shortly before the pay-TV service's launch and said the news channel would no longer be happening, and the TopSport channel later.

The self-compiled sports channel never materialised and ODM never acquired sports rights for other channels like its Top One channel.

Although ODM added channels like Setanta Africa, FuelTV, Setanta Action, Extreme Sports, Euro Sport News and others to TopTV and later StarSat, it also lost channels like Manchester United's fan channel, MUTV, and remained unable the past four years to come up with a strong sports, or sports channel offering.

StarTimes Sport 2, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 now signal the first real start from ODM and its Chinese content and investment partner, StarTimes South Africa, to produce and funnel real sports content and coverage to StarSat subscribers, combined with the help of FOX International Channels.

FOX International Channels Africa comments on adding FOX Movies to StarSat; FOX Life possibly added as a new channel soon as well.

You're reading it here first. 

FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) says the addition of the new TV channel, FOX Movies that will start on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat satellite pay-TV platform in South African on Saturday 7 June helps to increase FOX International Channel's footprint and now makes its the most relevant supplier of TV channels to StarSat.

FIC will provide a lifestyle TV channel to StarSat as well, but is not saying what the channel is, or when the channel will be added.

It's however very likely that it will be FOX Life that will be added to StarSat, FIC's global mother lifestyle television brand that has scripted and non-scripted shows which are inspired by real-life, including drama series, comedies and reality shows.

With the addition of FOX Movies, FIC Africa will now oversee 7 TV channels on StarSat - FOX, FX, BabyTV, FUEL, FOX Crime and Nat Geo Gold.

"The FIC Africa strategic plan has been to ensure increased distribution of our key channel brands to all platforms thus strengthening our presence," says Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager for FIC Africa.

"FIC will be the most relevant channels supplier of StarSat".

About the FOX Movies addition Alessandro Tucci says "the deal will increase FIC's footprint and support the global corporate strategy of channels remaining non-exclusive".

"This move is very encouraging for us as a distributor of powerhouse channel brands globally".

FOX Movies is already available in West Africa on Montage and will now be available in South Africa as well. The channel broadcast comedy, drama, action, science fiction, horror and thrillers.

Fox over StarSat's second FOX Crime blackout: 'Extremely disappointed by the continued intrusions to viewing'.

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Fox International Channels (FIC) which supplies the FOX Crime TV channel to both MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat says it is "extremely disappointed" after the second unexpected and unannounced blackout of FOX Crime on StarSat's pay-TV platform in South Africa for which StarSat has not yet given a reason.

Although FOX Crime continued to be broadcast as usual on DStv, FOX Crime went dark for all StarSat subscribers in South Africa on Wednesday evening for a second time in less than a month.

FOX Crime was restored a day later on Thursday, but StarSat which didn't warn subscribers or keep them in the loop regarding the down channel, has not yet said what the reason for the problem is.

FOX Crime on StarSat experienced a channel blackout on 13 March and blamed "a temporary technical problem at the uplink site".

Since China's StarTimes came onboard as an investor in StarSat, StarSat continues to suffer month-to-month from broadcast quality problems which include bad video and audio on several channels.

"We have been made aware that FOX Crime was off air on StarSat on Wednesday evening," Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager of Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) tells TV with Thinus in response to a media enquiry.

"This was due to a technical problem experienced by the platform that delivers these channels to viewers".

"That, unfortunately, places it out of our direct control as the channel distributor," says Alessandro Tucci.

"We are in the business of delivering quality channel brands to our viewers and are extremely disappointed by the continued intrusions to viewing," says Alessandro Tucci.

"We apologise to all our viewers for the breaks in transmission and will work with StarSat in order to avoid this problem from happening again."

BREAKING. FOX Crime and Nat Geo Gold are added to StarSat as Fox International Channels Africa expands its reach.

FOX Crime as well as Nat Geo Gold as TV channels are both being added to On Digital Media (ODM) and China's StarTimes' South African pay-TV platform as TopTV is morphing into StarSat, expanding the foothold and reach of Fox International Channels Africa (FIC) in South Africa and the African continent.

FOX Crime is already available on MultiChoice's DStv platform since June and now FOX Crime will also become available on StarSat to replace FOX Retro which was removed from TopTV

TV with Thinus reported in July that talks were underway between ODM and Fox International Channels to possibly add FOX Crime.

FOX Crime will be added to StarSat channel 131. Nat Geo Gold will be added to StarSat channel 300. Both channels are supplied by FIC Africa.

Nat Geo Gold, abbreviated as NGG, first became available in Africa as a bespoke TV channel for the continent in June 2012 as a channel for StarTimes' platform in other Southern and Central African countries as well as Nigeria.

Then Alessandro Tucci, Fox International Channels Africa general manager said that it was National Geographic Channel International's first channel on the African continent designed to cater for the new pay-TV platforms on the continent.

"Programming from the National Geographic library stock relevant to an African viewership, and based on the NGCI programming tent poles of science, technology, history, culture and natural history has been sourced" for Nat Geo Gold.

In September this year when the ZukuTV pay-TV platform replaced its Nat Geo Adventure channel with Nat Geo Gold, exactly the same drop-in quote was again reused for the channel's positioning.

Nat Geo Gold marks the third TV channel from the National Geographic stable which will be available in South Africa. MultiChoice's DStv already has the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, with ODM and StarTimes adding Nat Geo Gold.

Nat Geo Gold shows programming also seen on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, such as Megafactories, Dog Whisperer and Air Crash Investigation.

South Africa's TV executives in attendance - and talking - at the upcoming week's annual 16th AfricaCom 2013's AfricaCast TV

TV executives from South Africa and across the African continent will descend on Cape Town this upcoming week who will be in attendance - and talking - at the 16th annual AfricaCom 2013 event and its AfricaCast 2013 seminar series taking place from 12 to 14 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

AfricaCast - fast becoming a must-attend event on the annual calendar in already busy TV executives' diaries - is filled with television and technology executives giving keynote speeches, talking about, and engaging in discussions ranging across the entire spectrum and aspects of Africa's burgeoning satellite and television market.

Included on AfricaCast 2013's speaking roster is Alex Okosi, the executive vice president and managing director of Viacom Media International Networks (VIMN Africa) who will talk about multiplatform connectednesss and how VIMN Africa is leveraging social media to drive TV viewing.

VIMN Africa will also give a preview of Comedy Central's programming for the African version of the channel on MultiChoice's DStv.

Maxwell Nonge, the managing director of Platco Digital will be in attendance and speaking after the launch of OpenView HD last month in South Africa as e.tv's new push within the direct-to-home (DTH) satellite market. Maxwell Nonge will be talking about how e.tv is preparing to position the free-to-air commercial broadcaster as a "broadcaster for all devices".

Sivan Pillay, the managing director of production company Endemol South Africa will talk on Wednesday about unlocking  African television through digital transformation.

Olivier Laouchez, the founder and CEO of the Trace Group responsible for the Trace Sport Stars and Trace channels on MultiChoice's DStv will talk about Trace as an entertainment broadcaster in Africa.

SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo will talk about how triple-play is impacting on African broadcasting revenues; and Christoph Limmer, a senior director for Africa at satellite company SES will talk about how satellite will shape future broadcasting in the African continent.

Richard Bell from the Wananchi Group which runs the Zuku pay-TV service in East Africa will talk about how fixed broadband networks and content represent the next leap forward for Africa

Kaisa Kieli, the president and managing director for Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region of Discovery Networks CEEMEA will talk on Thursday at AfricaCast 2013 about engaging target audiences with focused content.

Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager for Africa for Fox International Channels (FIC Africa) and the FOX Networks which runs the FOX channels on DStv and TopTV will talk about developing pay-TV channels in emerging markets, creating balanced TV bouquets and share insight from emerging TV markets in Africa.

AfricaCast 2013 panel discussions include topics ranging from "How are broadcasters adapting to multiplatform engagement strategies?", Africa's preparations for the switch-over to digital terrestrial television (DTT) and how it's been going, to what the major challenges are of being a global broadcaster in Africa.

Other notable executives attending AfricaCom 2013 and AfricaCast 2013 include Rudolf Kogler, the head of IPTV at MultiChoice; Sid Wadhi, the CEO of ANB Digital which runs CNBC Africa; Mike Aldridge, the managing director of community TV station Cape Town TV (CTV); Solomon Mugera from the BBC, as well as executives from Neotel, Vodacom, MTN, Orange, Cell C, Telkom and Google.

BREAKING. Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if FOX Crime is coming to TopTV.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) is talking about the "sudden" and absolutely shocking demise of Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from TopTV from which it disappeared without warning or explanation; why Fox Retro viewers and TopTV subscribers were not told until after the Fox supplied channel disappeared; and whether Fox Crime which is coming to DStv from 19 July will also be added to TopTV in the place of Fox Retro.

I just got off the phone with Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager who is based in Johannesburg and who oversees Fox's Africa business in South Africa and across the African continent.

Sir, thank you you for you time and willingness to talk to me. I woke up today and heard from a lot of very upset, shocked and angry TopTV subscribers and I got a lot of email from people which usually happens when an operator suddenly no longer has a TV channel. 
In May Fox International Channels Africa said that the Fox channels supplied to TopTV will remain on TopTV. When was the decision taken to end Fox Retro and why was the channel shut down?

Alessandro Tucci: The decision of shutting Fox Retro is not related to TopTV. It's more related to overall Fox channels and that performance management. What we're trying to do in South Africa is to bring our big brands to subscribers and pay-TV customers. 

We launched our channels on TopTV a few years ago and Fox Retro was a good proposition then, but very quickly we have seen that bringing TV shows from the 70s 80s and 90s was not the best proposition going forward as a single channel for a new market growing very fast in Africa. So we decided that the channel as Fox Retro was, was not the best we could do anymore. 

We also added FOX recently to MultiChoice's DStv and in a couple of weeks were launching FOX Crime on DStv on 9 July as well. So we decided to shut down Fox Retro to concentrate on our key brands going forward such as FOX Crime.

Also, the rest of our channels are all still on TopTV and still available to TopTV clients.

TopTV subscribers and Fox Retro viewers are really upset that they were not told before the channel was discontinued that Fox Retro was being taken away. 
Why did Fox International Channels Africa make the announcement that Fox Retro ended only today after the channel was terminated? Why couldn't people be told earlier?

Alessandro Tucci: The customers are right. It is miscommunication between us and TopTV management; we didn't properly communicate this decision. 

However, as we said in our PR release, the Fox Retro customers will see their content didn't disappear; we have created a strip into the FOX channel and we're bringing the best of FOX Retro content to viewers now on that channel. 

If someone was a fan of Quantum Leap or M*A*S*H they can still enjoy it through that block. As you say, it was a little bit of bad communication between us and TopTV; we didn't properly communicate that.

Is FOX Crime going to be added to TopTV as a TV channel, or will it not?

Alessandro Tucci: On 19 July we will start with FOX Crime on DStv and we are now in discussions with TopTV management. We really hope we can find an agreement this week soon, and to then add FOX Crime to TopTV possibly very, very soon.

Thank you very much for your time sir and for your willingness to talk to me and to answer these questions.


ALSO READ:  TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the channel after saying in May that all Fox channels are safe. 
ALSO READ: Analysis: An awful, "old" ending for Fox Retro on TopTV - and another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.

BREAKING. TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the classic channel after saying in May Fox channels are all safe.

You're reading it here first. 

TopTV has lost another TV channel with Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) going dark without any explanation, warning or advance warning given to Fox Retro viewers or TopTV subscribers.

TopTV now displays an on-screen message telling TopTV subscribers simply that Fox Retro no longer exists on the channel line-up of the beleaguered South African satellite pay-TV platform.

In May FIC Africa assured TopTV and Fox viewers that Fox won't be pulling any of its 5 Fox supplied TV channels off of the TopTV platform after all the TV channels from Discovery suddenly disappeared.

FIC Africa said in May when specifically asked about it, that it has "no plans to remove channels" from TopTV. Now Fox Retro is permanently gone.

MultiChoice's DStv will be adding the new Fox Crime channel from FIC Africa to DStv from 19 July; insiders told me today that FIC was or is apparently planning to replace Fox Retro with Fox Crime. That news so far I could not confirm, although it would yield one possible explanation for Fox Retro going dark on TopTV.

I reached out on email and phone Monday morning to both TopTV and the representation working for FIC Africa in Johannesburg about Fox Retro, but so far no answers on why the channel stopped.

In April TopTV ended its self-compiled and own branded Top Junior and Top Movies+24 channels, calling it an "unavoidable exercise". Neither of those channels has so far been replaced.

TopTV is currently in business rescue, with the Woodmead based pay-TV operator which got a licence from the broadcasting regulator earlier this year to start a separate porn bouquet of three pornographic channels - Desire TV, Private Spice and Playboy TV - supplied by Playboy UK/Benelux Limited.

On Digital Media (ODM) which runs the TopTV platform has not yet given any indication of whether it will go ahead with its porn plans to launch it commercially. Asked last week about latest developments regarding the operator and the bail-out proceedings with China's StarTimes taking a stake in the company, TopTV declined comment.

11:50 - TopTV respond to a media enquiry confirming that Fox Retro is no longer available as a TV channel. TopTV says: "This was a decision by Fox to terminate the channel over the whole of Africa. It was not a TopTV decision. Discussions are far advanced with regard to a replacement channel and we will advise as soon as the details are known."

12:53 - FIC Africa, through the PR agency its retains, At Vogue Communications, issues a general press statement to all press, saying the "vintage channel exists pay-TV platform TopTV".

"Though FOX Retro has continued to confirm its position as a proven value destination for pay-TV viewers, FIC has determined that delivering channels with a broader content base will better serve local audiences."

The statement says FOX Retro is getting dumped on TopTV "to ensure that the African portfolio more closely resembles the international channel structure".

"The company understands the popularity of retro programming and has therefore included a daily retro block on FOX (DStv 125 / TopTV 180) to cater to Retro's committed audience."

Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager says "Retro was an excellent channel choice when we launched in the local market. As we have settled into the market we have had the opportunity to gauge which brands are more relevant to African audiences working within the key channel brands that FIC has identified internationally."

"The plan to discontinue the channel is part of our global strategy to deliver the right channel brands and content mixes to our local audiences. We have reviewed our content strategy and believe that our retro programming has a better home on our flagship channel FOX."

"This will also see a larger audience across the continent being able to access retro favourites."


ALSO READ: Fox Retro's awful end on TopTV: Another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.
ALSO READ: Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if Fox Crime is coming to TopTV.

FOX Crime set to start on DStv in South Africa on 19 July in SD on channel 126 for DStv Premium subscribers.

The new FOX Crime TV channel which TV with Thinus reported at the beginning of the month will be starting on MultiChoice's DStv platform in July now has a starting date of 19 July at 19:00 and a channel number of 126.

I've reported previously that the addition of FOX Crime will bring the total number to 7 of Fox TV channels which will be available in South Africa from July after Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) and MultiChoice have entered into a carriage agreement for FOX Crime which is already seen in Mozambique and Angola.

FIC Africa already runs FX (TopTV 110), Fox Retro (TopTV 181), National Geographic Channel (DStv 181), Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182), BabyTV (TopTV 257) and FOX (TopTV 180 / DStv 125) in South Africa.

The carriage agreement between FIC Africa and MultiChoice to run FOX Crime in South Africa gives FIC Africa the opportunity to do niche programming and to focus on specific target audiences.

Since FOX Crime will contain a lot of library titles but also first-run exclusive content for the territory with new American drama series such as The Bridge, FOX Crime will only be for DStv Premium subscribers. FOX Crime will be broadcast as a standard definition (SD) channel.

FOX Crime will compete in an expansive genre set with existing channels focusing on crime and forensic crime solving storytelling such as Crime & Investigation Network (DStv 170), ID: Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303 / DStv 171), CBS Reality (DStv 132) and Universal Channel (DStv 117) on DStv, and Top Crime (TopTV 303) and Fox Retro (TopTV 110) on TopTV.

Shows on FOX Crime will include The Bridge which will roll-out episodes 2 days in South Africa after the American broadcasting date, the Law & Order series, Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods and 70s and 80s library titles such as CHiPS currently on SABC3, Magnum P.I. coming to SABC3 and Streets of San Francisco.

Interestingly FOX Crime will also prop up the schedule with blended factual content between the fiction with shows such as 48 Hours, the Arrest and Trial show which was a factual add-on show to Law & Order as well as a documentary strand specifically created for Africa entitled "Case Files Africa" which will cover "infamous crime stories from across the continent".

"We're extremely excited to launch in Africa, one of the most successful Fox channel brands worldwide. With the addition of FOX Crime, we're refashioning the meaning of fully-fledged schedules across our Fox channels," says Alessandro Tucci, FOX senior vice president and general manager for Africa.

"The amount of quality programming that is being premiered, continued and revived will definitely place FOX Crime in a good position on the platform. The channel's unique proposition of both drama and factual programming places it as the go-to-channel for all things crime," says Alessandro Tucci.

"There's something for every individual crime story fan and that will surely keep what is one of the most successful genres captivating for the audiences we are targeting," he says.

"FOX Crime has been very successful internationally and we expect that it will keep crime and investigation lovers in South Africa entertained," says Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.

"The channel is a great compliment to our other local channels dedicated to the crime genre. It includes some of the best crime and investigation programmes on offer. We are delighted to be adding this channel onto the DStv platform," says Collins Khumalo.

Fox Entertainment channel rebranding as FOX as it joins DStv; FOX will remain as a dually available channel on TopTV.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) which runs the Fox channels and National Geographic channels in South Africa and Africa is rebranding the Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) channel as FOX following the carriage agreement with MultiChoice to make FOX available on the DStv Premium bouquet on channel 125 from 9 April.

FOX, or Fox Entertainment will also remain available on rival On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV pay-TV platform.

FOX has so far only been available on TopTV but will now become a dually available channel on DStv and TopTV such as TLC, Investigation Discovery, Al Jazeera, BBC World News, FashionTV.

Whereas TopTV was the only operator with access to the high-buzz, highly sought-after TV shows such as The Walking Dead and Falling Skies - and soon Da Vinci's Demons - DStv subscribers will now get access to those shows - and in high definition (HD) since FOX will be broadcast as an HD channel on MultiChoice's platform.

Yesterday when TV with Thinus asked FIC Africa specifically as well as its South African PR agency, At Vogue Communications specifically, what is happening with Fox Entertainment and whether the channel will remain available on TopTV after April, there was no response to any of the media enquiries made.

Now FIC Africa in a press statement this afternoon, says "the deal with DStv extends FIC's carriage on the continent and is in keeping with the company's corporate strategy of non-exclusivity. This means that all the channels will still be available to all platforms that it is presently carried on across Africa."

TopTV keeps FX and Fox Retro - those two channels are not (yet) carried on DStv.

FOX "will be rebranded from Fox Entertainment to FOX," says FIC Africa in the just-released statement. "This positions the channel as the flagship entertainment channel in the FIC stable. This move is part of a corporate decision taken by FIC worldwide".

"The new on-air brand campaign will focus on the strength of television programming - which remains the number one medium for entertainment, globally."

"We are very pleased with the extended distribution of our channels onto the DStv platform," says Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager for FIC Africa in the prepared statement.

"This operation is managed from our expanded office in Johannesburg confirming our commitment to delivering channels with a local team," he says.

"Distribution has increased very fast in the last two years confirming not only what a good moment these markets are going through but also the huge interest that our brands and their premium content generate," says Alessandro Tucci.

"We hope to see more viewers enjoying the quality on offer through our entertainment channel," says Alessandro Tucci.

BREAKING. National Geographic Channel restructures; switches channel feed to bring primetime TV shows earlier to Africa.

I've heard last week that the National Geographic Channel (DStv 260) is restructuring by switching South Africa and Africa to a new earlier European channel feed to bring better TV shows to viewers earlier in the evening. That change is now happening from today.


The National Geographic Channel is switching today from the Romanian channel feed to the Balkans - a channel change which has been considered and planned for the past three months. The effect to viewers in South Africa is that it basically moves TV shows which have been seen here at 21:00, two hours earlier to start at 19:00. In essense it moves better programming earlier, to fit better with South Africa's primetime television block which would help to grow viewership.


Shows will now also start 10 minutes before the hour, and no longer on the hour or the half hour.


The National Geographic Channel is also investing in African content, and says "a strong new slate of programming" will be introduced focused on character driven series and with more episodes per season and series.


"The solution proposed is to deliver a newly-created English feed for Afica," says Alessandro Tucci, National Geographic Channel's channel head in Africa.


"The new feed will serve Africa better. We'll be able to better manage seasonality, Africa related content,time zones and even our programming specials that viewers have been accustomed to, over the years," says Alessandro Tucci.


The National Geographic Channel will also have smaller breaks and there is the new on-air graphic package which was introduced in April on a global level for the channel.


"There will now be a metter bethod to create Africa specific scheduling windows and the choice to consider Africa seasonality," says Alessandro Tucci. "In the long term it would allow the channel the power to schedule with Africa ratings in mind."

BREAKING. Alessandro Tucci appointed as general manager of Fox International Channels Africa as FIC expands in South Africa.

In a major expansion of the presence of Fox International Channels (FIC) in South Africa and Africa, FIC has appointed Alessandro Tucci as general manager of Fox International Channels Africa who will start in the position from September and who will be moving to Johannesburg to oversee FIC's growing business in the country and the continent.

In a very clear indication that FIC is ramping up its business prospects and presence in both South Africa and into the continent (FIC already operates and oversees several channels on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV and on MultiChoice's DStv pay TV platforms) Alessandro Tucci will now spearhead this concerted effort.

''His promotion marks the ambitious strategy to continue expansion in as much of Sub-Saharan Africa as possible, following the successful performance of FIC in other territories,'' FIC just announced. Alessandro Tucci will report directly to Jason Thorp, who was recently upped to executive vice president of content, FIC Europe and Africa.

''FIC currently runs five Fox and National Geographic channels in sub Saharan Africa,'' says Jason Thorp. ''In his new role, Alessandro Tucci will be responsible for driving the distribution of those services throughout the region on multiple platforms, whilst developing the brands and heading our drive into localized content. Alessandro Tucci will also manage our long term strategy for the region, as we move towards localizing brands territory by territory.''

Thandi Davids, director of broadcasting and sales will report directly to Alessandro Tucci from September.

ALSO READ: Jesus Perezagua, Jason Thorp both promoted at Fox International Channels.