TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK. A 'journalist' literally asked Evan Antin, the star of Animal Planet's new series, Evan Goes Wild: 'You are ridiculously handsome. Were you forced into this career because modelling said: 'No, we just can't handle it?'

Sometimes the press covering television ... lawd, just help the press covering television.

When the American drama series Lost was on M-Net (DStv 101), I once attended a multi-day press junket in Los Angeles.

On the Saturday, at Walt Disney Studios headquarters in Burbank, while the cast flew in from Hawaii from where the show filmed on location, the very first question was from a male journalist from Taiwan who, with a heavy Asian accent, asked Matthew Fox, and I quote verbatim: "How come you so sexy?"

To me it looked as if Matthew Fox's eyes glazed over.

I don't know what he was thinking in that moment but maybe he wrestled with thoughts of wondering if, and accepting that, it might turn for him into another wasted weekend fielding questions from the childlike zombie press who are actually more akin to kittens in terms of attention span, and are as perpetually fascinated by shiny objects like Christmas tree ornaments.

Cue 2019, and with America's Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Tour currently taking place in Pasadena, Los Angeles, Deadline reports that someone today literally asked the veterinarian Dr Evan Antin (32), the star of a new show on Discovery Inc.'s Animal Planet channel, also something so crazy, it makes your head spin.

"You are ridiculously handsome. Were you forced into this career because modelling said "No! We just can't handle it?" someone at TCA literally asked Evan Antin during Animal Planet's panel session for the upcoming, brand-new series Evan Goes Wild.

Evan Antin tried to just answer by saying that animals have always been his passion.

Erin Wanner, Animal Planet's senior vice-president, apparently had to step in to help, and said "We thought the same thing" and mentioned that Discovery did further inspection and that Evan Antin is the "real deal".

In Evan Goes Wild, Evan Antin, named "Sexiest Veterinarian Alive" by America's People magazine, "chases his wildlife bucket list; swimming alongside humpback whales in Tahiti, exploring caves with bats and snakes in the Philippines and tangling with crocs in the Yucatan".

"With more than one million followers, he's the most followed veterinarian on Instagram," says Animal Planet.

"Evan's popularity continues to grow because of his loving interactions with animals which he documents and shares with engaging videos and smart facts."

"In Evan Goes Wild, Evan leaves his Los Angeles-based clinic behind to take audiences with him to share his bucket list of wildlife experiences in the most awe-inspiring locations."

He visited South Africa and helped with rhino conversation in October last year and went to Kenya in December 2018.

CUCKOO? Susanna Dinnage who recently resigned as Animal Planet's global president abruptly dumps new English Premier League soccer top job to stay at Discovery.

In a shocking and extremely odd, end-of-year, and looking-cuckoo top executive switch and switch-back switcheroo, Susanna Dinnage who was the Animal Planet global president and dumped Discovery to take up the top job as boss of the English Premier League (EPL) has suddenly dumped the EPL to return/stay at Discovery before she even moved to her new corner office.

Susanna Dinnage would have become the chief executive of the EPL from 2019 - something she called "the pinnacle of professional sport" and said she was "excited for, and for which the EPL described her as "ideally suited to the role".

Now in an extremely embarrassing and extremely odd-looking backflip for people in high-profile leadership positions, Susanna Dinnage is no longer going to the EPL but staying put at Discovery - although it might not necessarily be as Animal Planet global boss.

Susanna Dinnage quit in November as the first vaunted global boss of Animal Planet a year after she was appointed as Animal Planet global president in November 2017. Before this she was chief content officer at Discovery Networks International.

The EPL - seen on SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv - is the United Kingdom's top football league and hugely popular around the world with expensive and highly lucrative international broadcasting rights.

"Despite her commitment to the English Premier League in early November, Susanna Dinnage has now advised the Nominations Committee that she will not be taking up the position of Chief Executive," says the EPL in an awkward statement, announcing that Susanna Dinnage has dumped them and that the EPL will remain leaderless for a while longer.

"The Committee has reconvened its search and is talking to candidates. There will be no further comment until an appointment is made," the EPL says in its terse announcement.

So far there's also been no announcement from Discovery Inc. on what Susanna Dinnage's new job title and position will entail, with Sunday evening's shock announcement coming just 6 weeks after she said she's leaving.

There's also been no statement from Susanna Dinnage on why she abruptly pulled out of her announced commitment to the EPL - something that is causing significant embarrassment for herself, the EPL, as well as to a lesser extent Discovery that is retaining an executive who now looks erratic and impulsive with business decisions.

Animal Planet boss Susanna Dinnage dumps Discovery to run the English Premier League (EPL) as the first woman in this role.

Susanna Dinnage, the boss of the Animal Planet channel, has dumped Discovery to become the top boss of the English Premier League (EPL) as the first woman to hold this position, and will start in her new job as EPL CEO in early-2019.

Susanna Dinnage quit as the first vaunted global boss of Animal Planet a year after she was appointed as Animal Planet global president in November 2017. Before this she was chief content officer at Discovery Networks International

Susanna Dinnage is now switching one set of animals for a whole other set of animals as she replaces Richard Scudamore as the top exec at the EPL who is leaving at the end of this year.

The EPL - seen on SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv - is the United Kingdom's top football league and hugely popular around the world with expensive and highly lucrative international broadcasting rights.

Discovery has named no Animal Planet boss successor yet. Susanna Dinnage has been at Discovery since 2009.

Susanna Dinnage quitting Discover's Animal Planet is shocking and surprising, given how she and Discovery effusively hyped her "global" Animal Planet role, the channel that of course got culled without much notification at the end of 2017 in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

"We had a very strong field, but Susanna was the outstanding choice given her track record in managing complex businesses through transformation and digital disruption," says Bruce Buck, chairman of the Chelsea Football Club and the Premier League's nominations committee, in a statement.

"She is a leading figure in the broadcasting industry, a proven business executive and a great developer of people. She is ideally suited to the role and we are confident she will be able to take the Premier League on to new heights."

"Richard Scudamore, having provided exceptional stewardship for almost 20 years, will leave us at the end of the year in great shape and with an excellent executive team and board able to fully support Susanna."

Susanna Dinnage says "I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role. The Premier League means so much to so many people".

"It represents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and inspirational organisation is a great privilege. With the support of clubs and the team, I look forward to extending the success of the League for many years to come."

Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International, says in a statement: "Susanna has been a terrific leader for Discovery over the last 10 years. She has a strong understanding of brands and running diverse media businesses both in the United Kingdom and more recently with Animal Planet globally".

"She has been a fantastic teammate for all of us at Discovery, and we are delighted that she has been given this unique and groundbreaking opportunity to lead one of the world's preeminent sports organizations."

Discovery's Animal Planet rebrands with new blue leaping elephant channel logo and changing it's focus to 'family'.

Discovery's is rebranding its Animal Planet channel with a new blue leaping elephant channel logo and introducing some new international programming from 28 October while it's changing it's focus to "family".

Animal Planet is no longer available in South Africa after MultiChoice axed the channel in late-2017 without adequate warning and the removal of the channel as part of a new Discovery channels set carriage deal eliciting anger from many DStv subscribers.

Animal Planet is available on Econet Media's Kwesé TV in Southern Africa in countries outside of South Africa.

Animal Planet will change its on-air look on 28 October and will introduce some new global programming like Cricket! It's the Irwins following the nature conservation family and Amanda to the Rescue in which Amanda Giese cares for dogs that others have discarded.

The new Animal Planet appearance will be phased in in more than 200 countries and territories and was done by the New York-based graphic design firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv (CGH).

Animal Planet says it remains committed to "keeping the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way" and that the refocused Animal Planet will be "a multi-platform experience for every member of the family".

"Animal Planet has been a much-loved brand around the world for more than 20 years, and the time has never been more right to engage with mass audiences across every platform who are as passionate about animals as we are," says Susanna Dinnage, Animal Planet global president.

"We are able to reach all generations through our content and storytelling – we are here to entertain and delight by bringing people up close to animals and nature."

It's interesting to note that Animal Planet that started out covering animals, then shifted and rebranded to "Surprisingly Human" and focused on the interaction between humans and animals with landmark series like Whale Wars, now seems to change again to be offering programming for viewers of different ages, created around how "families" interact with animals and the dynamics between "families" of animals, as well as human families interacting with animals.

Pablo Pulido, the vice president for marketing at Animal Planet says "Animal Planet required a mark to represent the global aspect of the brand, as an experience that translates across countries, regions and cultures and beyond linear: a platform agnostic approach."

"CGH is known for developing iconic brand marks and I'm excited they delivered a truly global mark for Animal Planet."

Sagi Haviv, a partner at Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, says "We are thrilled to be working with Animal Planet and wanted to capture the energy and joy of this beloved brand. Building on Animal Planet's original mark, the new leaping elephant is fresh and distinctive, and should be able to travel across platforms, audiences and the world".

Animal Planet is in active development and production on more than 25 new series to to be announced later this year and in 2019.

It's not clear what or how much of this Animal Planet programming DStv subscribers might possibly see on some of Discovery's other channels currently carried on MultiChoice's platform.

Discovery revives its shuttered Real Time channel brand for Africa, added to MultiChoice's DStv and StarTimes and StarSat.

Discovery has revived its Real Time channel brand it shuttered in 2010 with the lifestyle channel that is being added to both MultiChoice's DStv as well as China's StarTimes in Africa and StarSat in South Africa as part of channel carriage agreements.

The logo above is Real Time's logo at launch in Africa, slightly different than the logo (right) of when Real Time was shuttered in 2013 where it ran as a channel in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe.

The teal and coral colours have been switched, the coral changed to red, and the word "Discovery" dropped from the logo.

"We are incredibly excited to present Real Time to the market, and further expand and diversify our local portfolio offering," says Amanda Turnbull, vice president and general manager for Discovery Networks in Africa and the Middle East in a statement.

"With an already successful suite of pay-TV brands, Real Time affords us the chance to bring our world-class content to even more audiences across South Africa, in the form of a channel designed to provide much-needed ‘me time’ to the modern African woman and her wider family."

"With so much in store for our viewers and commercial partners, we look forward to establishing Real Time as Africa's newest go-to destination for quality female-skewed programming," says Amanda Turnbull.


Real Time on MultiChoice's DStv
On MultiChoice Real Time is the supposed "replacement" channel for the dropped Animal Planet at the end of 2017, although not really.

While Animal Planet was aimed at higher pay-TV subscriber tiers, Real Time that was added on Monday 3 September is "tailored specifically" for DStv EasyView subscribers - the cheapest package.

What that means is that Real Time will probably irritate (or be ignored by) a lot of existing DStv subscribers since it will likely be packed full of repeats - programming that DStv subscribers have already seen on other Discovery channels.

Discovery literally chose to highlight People Magazine Investigates that will be on Real Time and that is literally currently showing on ID" Investigation Discovery - which just serves to underscore the already-kinda-rerun fatigue world Real Time will inhabit.

Also strange is that MultiChoice would take away something like Animal Planet that was somewhat distinct, and replace it with something like Real Time that as a "female-skewed" channel, will be competition for the existing TLC (DStv 135) that is also from the same Discovery stable. Why make additional competition for yourself?

Discovery says Real Time is a "general entertainment channel for female audiences" and will be "bringing the best of Discovery's lifestyle and factual storytelling to a whole new fan base" on channel 155.

Does this mean that the "best of Discovery's lifestyle and factual storytelling" is no longer on TLC? How are the two channels different, while Discovery Family is also lurking as the third triplet in the closely related channel grouping?

Also on MultiChoice, besides Real Time's linear offering, a selection of Real Time's programming will also be available to stream or download on the DStv Now platform.

Real Time on StarTimes and StarSat
Real Time is also being added to China's StarTimes across Africa, as well as in South Africa to StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat.

This is part of a new carriage agreement signed between StarTimes and Discovery Networks that had that public show-and-tell channel deal signing ceremony in August in Beijing, China.

StarTimes and Discovery switched out Discovery Science for the bland more mass-market Discovery Family, and is adding Real Time.

Several things to note here: On StarTimes Real Time becomes competition for Discovery's own TLC on DStv.

Secondly, StarTimes and StarSat blatantly lied when it released the Real Time channel logo to make it look as if it's a channel packaged for StarTimes and StarSat as one of StarTimes' own channels, under its own logo.

StarTimes and StarSat literally marketed Real Time as the "StarTimes Real Time" and "ST Real Time" channel on channel number 179.

This is however not the case - Real Time is packaged and distributed by Discovery Networks and doesn't carry any StarTimes channel logo as part of its real design and as StarTimes pretended.

Questions in previous weeks to gain clarity on this embarrassing gaffe, what went on here, and why Real Time was initially shown with this logo, have been ignored and went unanswered.

Thirdly, Real Time on StarTimes and StarSat isn't on this pay-TV service seen as a "cheapo" addition. Real Time on StarTimes and StarSat is only available to the two most expensive packages, Super and Special.

It's weird how the inherent channel value proposition can sometimes be so arbitrarily defined or interpreted. It's the exact same channel, with the same channel logo and branding.

Yet only those paying the most will be able to get Real Time on StarSat, while those paying the least and everybody else will get Real Time on DStv.


Disappointment
After waiting 8 months for the Animal Planet replacement and wondering what channel it would/could be, Real Time is, sorry to say, a real disappointment-addition.

Why this sort of retread channel for South African and African audiences when TLC and Discovery Family already exist?

It feels like way too much duplication, like McDonalds adding yet another Big Mac version when the customer already has too many choices with/in one product line.

And why is Africa getting a UK/Europe reject channel? And again in a market where TLC already exists?

It's a bit weird that Amanda Turnbull would actually say Discovery Networks is "incredibly excited to present Real Time to the market" since nothing about Real Time really looks incredibly exciting.

I really thought and expected something more "wow-ier" from MultiChoice and Discovery - something that South African pay-TV subscribers haven't seen or experienced before, like maybe Velocity (soon to rebrand as Motor Trend Network) as a cool 1080p HD channel, or maybe DIY Network, or something like that.  But it's not to be.

BREAKING. Discovery's Animal Planet axed from DStv after 14 years at the end of December; MultiChoice says other 4 Discovery channels will remain in new carriage deal.

Animal Planet (DStv 183) is the next channel getting culled from MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, with the channel from Discovery Networks International that will go dark in two weeks' time at the end of December after 14 years.

TLC Entertainment on DStv is also dropping the "Entertainment" and reverting back to just being known as TLC from January 2018.

These changes are very likely big parts of the reason why Discovery Networks didn't hold any year-end upfront presentation for South African advertisers and media this year, marking the first time in at least 7 years that Discovery in South Africa broke with its own annual upfront modus operandi.

Discovery Networks International for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region didn't respond when asked on Monday through its FleishmanHillard SA PR agency if Animal Planet is being removed off DStv, but on Thursday morning MultiChoice confirmed that Animal Planet is getting axed.

DStv added Animal Planet in 2003 but started cutting it back two years ago when the channel from Discovery was scaled back in December 2015 and removed from DStv Compact, making it only available to DStv Premium and DStv  Compact Plus subscribers only.

Recently DStv subscribers watching Animal Planet noticed a warning advisory on the Animal Planet DStv electronic episode guide (EPG) saying the channel will be discontinued on 30 December.

Interestingly, Discovery Networks CEEMEA didn't have any end-of-year upfront for advertisers and the press in South Africa for the first time in years.

Discovery's conspicuously absence at the annual upfront show-and-tell circuit was noticeable since Discovery in South Africa's upfront is widely regarded by the TV, advertising and media industry as the best annual upfront presentation year after year for over the last half a decade since at least 2010.

MultiChoice says despite Animal Planet being removed from DStv, "customers will not miss out, as some of the much-loved shows will be available on the other Discovery channels, including shows such as Treehouse Masters, which will move to Discovery Channel, while shows such as Tanked and Insane Pools: Off The Deep End will move to Discovery Family."

MultiChoice says it will be launching a new channel from Discovery in mid-2018 with some of Discovery's other animal and wildlife content that will be made available on this unnamed channel as well.

Animal Planet has been left out of a new MultiChoice carriage deal with Discovery Networks International that will see the Discovery Channel, TLC Entertainment, Discovery Family and Investigation Discovery (ID) continue on the DStv platform.

MultiChoice says the new carriage agreement includes "extended video-on-demand and Catch Up hours for Discovery’s entire portfolio" and for the first time TLC Entertainment, ID and Discovery Family shows".

"All four of Discovery’s channels will be available to launch on DStv Now from early 2018, meaning DStv customers will be able to enjoy the best of Discovery, anywhere, any time".

MultiChoice will also upgrade ID, Discovery Family and TLC Entertainment to high definition (HD) channels on DStv soon.

"Our customers love the Discovery family of channels and we're pleased that we could renew this agreement, including offering this world-class content to our customers wherever they are, to watch whenever they are ready," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO: General Entertainment at MultiChoice.

Discovery has included a statement in the MultiChoice statement, but isn't saying anything about the axing of Animal Planet.

"Our channels and content have been providing hours of enjoyment for DStv customers for many years and we’re thrilled to continue this legacy, with an unbeatable slate of programming across our portfolio which, thanks to this renewed agreement, DStv customers will now be able to access whenever and however it suits them," says Dilek Doyran, the vice president and country manager for Africa at Discovery Networks CEEMEA.

Discovery has been asked again for a comment on Thursday on Animal Planet's axing after confirmation that the channel will be removed from DStv.

When or if Discovery CEEMEA responds about its channel leaving the airwaves in South Africa after 14 years, that response will be added here.

Discovery's TLC Entertainment (DStv 135) channel will also from January 2018 revert back to just being called TLC and will be dropping the "Entertainment" add-on from its name, TVwithThinus has confirmed.

Discovery changed TLC to TLC Entertainment in October 2013 when it added programming from Oprah Winfrey's OWN but after 4 years it is now changing back to just TLC.

According to Discovery the move of TLC Entertainment back to just TLC is part of a wider global brand alignment. "The channel itself and its content will remain the same," says Discovery.

BREAKING. MultiChoice and Discovery Networks International removes Animal Planet from DStv Compact; makes Travel Channel more widely available.

MultiChoice and Discovery Networks International are taking Animal Planet (DStv 183) away from DStv Compact subscribers from 10 December but are making Scripps Networks International's Travel Channel (DStv 179) available to DStv Compact and DStv Family viewers.

MultiChoice Africa and Discovery Networks for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region are removing Animal Planet from 10 December from DStv's channel line-up in Nigeria where subscribers last month were outraged over a transgender show on Discovery CEEMEA's other channel, TLC Entertainment.

In South Africa meanwhile, Animal Planet is tiered upwards and will only be available to DStv Premium and DStv Extra subscribers from 10 December.

Taking Animal Planet away from DStv Compact subscribers is part of a "new packaging strategy for Discovery's channel portfolio," says MultiChoice in a statement.

Last week Discovery CEEMEA held its annual upfront in South Africa but said nothing about the pending Animal Planet change on DStv.

The Discovery World (DStv 187) channel, another Discovery channel available on DStv, was interestingly completely left out of the upfront and even its channel logo was nowhere to be seen. It instantly sparked speculation over whether Discovery World is going to be removed from MultiChoice's DStv platform in 2016.

Asked if the Discovery World channel will be discontinued in 2016 and why the channel was removed from the upfront, Discovery CEEMEA isn't giving a definite answer and says it "wanted to concentrate the story on less channels this year to increase the impact on the audience, and we were very pleased with the results".

Meanwhile making Animal Planet a more exclusive channel is part of "a new approach, to be announced shortly, that will align these services with DStv customers in a way that will deliver superior value to fans of Discovery's brands all over Africa," says MultiChoice.

MultiChoice says DStv Compact subscribers who watched Animal Planet can watch similar programming about wildlife and exploration on the Discovery competitor National Geographic on channels like the National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) and Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182).

Meanwhile Scripps Networks International's Travel Channel will get a wider distribution from 10 December when the channel is opened to DStv Compact and DStv Family subscribers. The channel is currently only available to DStv Premium and DStv Extra subscribers.

River Monsters with Jeremy Wade on Animal Planet renewed for a 7th season.

River Monsters on Animal Planet (DStv 183) has been renewed for a 7th season.

River Monsters has been Animal Planet's best performing series in the history of the TV channel.

"Jeremy Wade will be back with his scary underwater creatures," says Animal Planet in a statement.

The biologist and extreme angler Jeremy Wade is currently filming from an undisclosed location in Asia, with the 7th season that will start in 2015.

River Monsters is a co-production between Icon Films and Animal Planet.

Animal Planet orders 6 episodes of new reality series Alaska Gold Diggers.

Animal Planet (DStv 183) has ordered 6 episodes of Alaska Gold Diggers, a new reality series about 5 Orange County women moved to Alaska.

Alaska Gold Diggers will follow SaraJane "SJ" Bartholomae from Newport Beach, who inherits 2 gold mines from her self-made oil and gold tycoon father, William "Popper" Bartholomae who was murdered when she was a child.

SaraJane and her daughters have decided to revitalise the family mines in Nome and Fairbanks which have been abandoned since her father's death.

Hiring local mining crews they try to get the mines up and running again 6 weeks before the start of the winter in Alaska.

"These women will stop at nothing until they realise their father and grandfather's dream of striking it rich in one of the harshest terrains on the planet," says T Group president Jenny Daly who executive produces Alaska Gold Diggers.

Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan coming to Animal Planet from Thursday 7 February at 22:00.

This is super quick: Very close after starting in America on the BBC America channel and in the United Kingdom on Channel 5, I can reveal that Animal Planet (DStv 183) has snagged the brand-new show Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan to start in South Africa on Thursday 7 February at 22:00 (South African time).

The actor and wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan travels to remote corners of the globe in search of the biggest, scariest and rarest animals such as exotic insects and reptiles known to man. This week in America he told TV critics that Australia's "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin was his inspiration to just finally go ahead and do the show.

"I had said for a long time to a lot of people that I was going to make a nature show," Dominic Monaghan told TV critics. "After I got over the initial shock of him dying, I just thought, if this is not a reason for me to pick up the pieces now and make this show, I don't know what is."

"He meant a lot to me. I never got a chance to meet him or tell him that, but he meant a lot to me. I think he was a superb human being across the board. So there are elements of the show that in my way is a love letter to Steve Irwin, to what he achieved as a person."

In Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan viewers will see him travels to countries such as Namibia and Vietnam to find some of the world's most dangerous and elusive creatures.

Whale Wars on Animal Planet renewed for a 6th season of the docu-reality show.

The popular docu-reality series Whale Wars on Animal Planet (DStv 183) has been renewed for a 6th season.

The show follows the exploits of the marine conservation group Sea Shepherd with Paul Watson and his crew battling against whaling practices, mostly from Asian countries such as Japanese whalers.

Animal Planet orders a further 20 episodes of Call of the Wildman as the turtle show gets renewed for a second season.

Animal Planet (DStv 264) has renewed Call of the Wildman with "Turtleman" (Ernie Brown Jr.) for a second season of 20 further episodes which will be shown from 2013.

Call of the Wildman follows "Turtleman" in the backwoods of Kentucky as he searches for snapping and often dangerous turtles.

SASQUATCH. Animal Planet expanding its search to go look for Bigfoot around the world.

Animal Planet (DStv 264) is expanding its search for the legendary Bigfoot creature with the show Finding Bigfoot which will now be travelling worldwide looking for the "sasquatch" phenomenon - from "yowies" in Australia as its known there to the "orang-pendek" of Indonesia.

Legensds of bigfoot-type primates persis in cultures across the globe and Animal Planet will attempt to capture proof of these elusive Australian and Indonesian creatures as the production team immerse themselves in local yoqie and orang-pendek culture and lore.

Bigfoot Field Research Organisation (BFRO) president Matt Moneymaker, researchers James "Bobo" Fay and Cliff Barackman and the sceptical scientist Ranae Holland will expand their search beyond North America in the second season of Finding Bigfoot.

Animal Planet orders a new show, Frontier Earth with Dave Salmoni, and renews several other shows with further seasons.

Animal Planet (DStv 264) is starting a brand-new TV show, Frontier Earth with Dave Salmoni, as the channel also renewed several order shows.

Frontier Earth with Dave Salmoni willgo in search of nature's ''most elusive inhabitants'' according to the channel in 6 episodes, ranging from killer whales and Arizona badland ants, to komodo dragons, tigers as well as the slow loris and Sifaka lemurs.

The Afterlife: Hippo and The Afterlife: Elephant are new Animal Planet shows presented as beautiful and gripping ''time-reversed'' nature odysseys, with stories of animals told in reverse to show how life follows death.

Polar Bear family and Me is a film by the award-winning filmmaker Gordon Buchanan who follows a polar bear cub's struggle to survive against all odds.

Animal Planet has also ordered new seasons of the shows Pit Boss, My Cat From Hell and Pit Bulls and Parolees.

Charlie Foley the new senior vice president of development at Animal Planet.

Charlie Foley is the new senior vice president of development at Animal Planet (DStv 264) in America and will be reporting directly to Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of the channel.

Kurt Tondorf and Andy Berg both join Animal Planet as vice presidents od development and will in turn report to Charlie Foley.

Charlie Foley has been with Animal Planet since 2007 and developed the shows such as River Monsters and Whale Wars for the channel.

Whale Wars on Animal Planet following the icy exploits of the Sea Shepherd, renewed for a 5th season.

Whale Wars on Animal Planet (DStv 264) produced by The Lizard Trading Company has been renewed for a 5th season.

The docu-reality drama follows the exploits of Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the icy Antarctic waters where the crew battle Japanese whalers. The 5th season of Whale Wars will start in America in June 2012.

The latest campaign called Operation Divine Wind is the Sea Shepherd's eighth whale defense campaign, and features three ships with a crew of nearly 100 international volunteers aboard the Steve Irwin, the Bob Barker and the Brigitte Bardot ships.

''Whale Wars has been groundbreaking and riveting television, because each side is willing to risk it all in the Southern Ocean," says Marjorie Kaplan, the president and general manager of Animal Planet in a press release. ''Last year, we all thought the Sea Shepherds had ended whaling but now they are once again preparing to risk much for what they believe in."

''It makes little political or economic sense for the Japanese fleet to return to whale in the Antarctic waters," says Captain Paul Watson. "But it appears their motivation has shifted from hunting whales to refusing to surrender to Sea Shepherd."

Animal Planet filming a new spin-off series from the popular Whale Wars; focusing on protection of whales around Faroe Islands.

Whale Wars on Animal Planet (DStv 264) is getting a new spin-off series that will be focused on protecting whales as well.

Filming has started a few weeks ago this month on the docu-reality show, currently with the working title of The Faroe Islands Project, focusing on saving whales around the Faroe Islands. The islanders' practice - known as ''The Grind'' has been for centuries to force long fin whales into shallow water and then kill them, making their living off of selling whale products.

The Faroe Islands Project will focus again on the Sea Shepherds Conservation Society that also features in Whale Wars and the often extreme measures on the open seas the group goes to, to protect whales and obstruct vessels from attacking whales.

The Faroe Islands Project is produced by The Lizard Trading Company with Liz Bronstein and Lisa Lucas as executive producers. Animal Planet doesn't yet have a broadcasting starting date for the show in America or internationally.

Animal Planet has dogs, cats, crocs, sharks, the Big Five and Dave Salmoni in New Beast Lands on the schedule for the rest of the year.

Animal Planet (DStv 264) has dogs, cats, crocs, sharks, the Big Five and even Dave Salmoni in one of his brand-new shows line-up for the second half of 2011.

It's dogs versus cats from June on Animal Planet as the theme of that month as the animal channel looks to try and answer the age-old question: Which makes a better pet - dogs or cats? Animal Planet has shows such as America's Cutest Dog & America's Cutest Cat, as well as Dogs vs. Cats. There's also thend the utterly fascinating Hell Cats in which viewers will be introduced to Jackson Galaxy, the Cat Whisperer. Is it really possible to train badly-tempered felines and their owners?

July sees ''Croc Night'' on Animal Planet with croc doccies about the reptilian river killers that will inform, educate and surprise viewers. Touching the Dragon with the South African Richard Horrock travels to the remote jungles of Central America. He meets a fisherman called Gilberto Shedden and witness the remarkable friendship between Gilberto and the Costarican crocodile ''Poncho''. Last Feast of the Crocodile visits the dried-up Levuhvu River in the Northern Kruger National Park where 100 crocodiles and 20 hippo's are left. Into the Dragon's Lair also in June is a groundbreaking series that explores the Nile crocodile (and won numerous Safta awards earlier this year besides being named best wildlife programme).

In August Animal Planet has the second season of Big 5 Challenge: Zimbabwe in which three girls (Canada, UK, Australia) meet up with three guys (South Africa, India, USA) who have to track the big 5 animals of Africa. Will the contestants crack or be able to live up to the life of hardened wildlife experts?

''Shark Month'' happens in September on Animal Planet looking at these terrifying creatures. There's 25 Greatest Shark Moments, Jaws Come Home (looking at the real-life story behind the legendary movie) and true shark attack survival stories in Day of the Shark III. Other shark shows in September include Shark Attack Survival Guide and Shark Invasion.

The animal behaviourist expert Dave Salmoni is back in October on Animal Planet in his brand-new show New Beast Lands. In New Beast Lands Dave Salmoni travels to the planet's most dangerous animal killing zones where human and animal conflict is at its highest. He goes in search of the most deadly attacks. What's causing them? What's the death toll? And what's the solution? South African Donald Schultz features in this season too.

Animal Planet renews several shows for further seasons from I Shouldn't be alive to a 4th season for the popular Whale Wars.

Animal Planet (DStv 264) has renewed several shows, announcing further seasons of several popular programmes at its Upfront in the Lincoln Center in New York.

The following shows are getting further seasons: Confessions: Animal Hoarding, Dogs 101/Cats 101/Pets 101, Fatal Attractions, I Shouldn't be Alive, Infested!, Monsters Inside Me, It's Me or the Dog, Must Love Cats, Pit Boss, Pitt Bulls & Parolees, River Monsters and also the popular Whale Wars that will have a 4th season.

Animal Planet's Dave Salmoni to visit South Africa again this coming week at Wild Talk Africa 2011 outside Stellenbosch.

Dave Salmoni from the Animal Planet's (DStv 264) Into the Pride and other shows who visited South Africa at the end of last year, will be back this coming week when he will be attending the Wild Talk Africa Wildlife Festival and Conference 2011 taking place outside Stellenbosch.

The Wild Talk Africa Wildlife Festival and Conference will have about 500 local and international filmmakers, producers, wildlife documentary buyers, sellers and TV channels like National Geographic and Animal Planet converging on the Spier Estate outside Stellenbosch. The festival and conference that usually takes place in Durban has moved to Cape Town for the first time. Dave Salmoni is one of the international attendees this year.