4 must-see TV shows for 2024 New Year's day.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Year of the Dragon - 2024 - according to Chinese astrology, kicks off today with four must-watch television shows, ranging from an annual royal variety show to a local celebrity competition, a bitcoin fraud documentary and an enjoyable murder mystery. 

Here are the must-see TV on 2024's New Year's Day to ring in the new year:

Bitconned (true-crime documentary)

Netflix, released: 1 January 2024

Another one of those truly eye-popping, jaw-dropping true-crime documentaries, this one is set in the world of cybercrime and tells the shocking story of how brazen lies and manipulation built the Centra Tech cryptocurrency kingdom (which imploded).

Strong language makes this film doc adults-only, smartly weaving a lurid fraud investigation tale that's so true although you will shake your head in disbelief. 

When the cryptocurrency craze started in 2017, a young man named Ray Trapani exploited people and the industry's lack of knowledge to create a fake debit card scheme for crypto transactions in a "Wolf of Wall Street" like racket that was spectacular - until it all came tumbling down. 

Deal or No Deal SA Celebrity Special (game show)

SABC1, 19:30

A special celeb week of Deal or No Deal South Africa kicks off this evening, with well-known South Africans competing to win money for charities.

From tonight viewers will see the flamboyant Lasiswe Dambuza, DJ Lamiez Holworthy-Morule, culinary queen Siba Mongana, Ukhozi FM's Selby Mkhoze and KFM's Sibongile Mafu open the boxes to see what numbers they can eliminate in the hope of winning a lot of money.

The boxes they pick will be held by 20 previous fan-favourite contestants who will hand out advice and update viewers about what they've since done with the money they have won.

Death in Paradise New Year's Special (murder mystery drama)

BBC Brit (DStv 120), 20:00

Before we get to the 13th season later this year which will open with episode 100, the 12th season ends with this feature-length special in which it's Christmas and unlucky-in-love Neville's mom visits the island of Saint Marie.

The episode's murder mystery revolves around a wealthy entrepreneur who goes missing and is found dead at the bottom of a ravine, with a house guest who has also mysteriously vanished. Can the detectives puzzle out the crime in time?

Royal Variety Performance 2023 (variety special)

M-Net (DStv 101), 20:00

Bradley Walsh is the host of the 2023 Royal Variety Performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, with multiple star-studded performances, including from legendary superstar Cher, with Kate Middleton and Prince William, as well as Sweden's Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel attending.

Since Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary there's a medley from the casts of The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, along with multiple other West End musicals. 

Other performers include Paloma Faith, Rick Astley, Zara Larsson and Hannah Waddingham who will be accompanied by the ENO chorus.

BBC puts Top Gear on pause after Freddie Flintoff car crash, will make decision on future of car magazine show 'later this year'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The BBC has decided to pause production on the 34th season of Top Gear following presenter Freddie Flintoff's car accident in December 2022 and who is reportedly leaving the show, with the BBC saying it will only make a decision on the future of the car magazine show later this year.

In South Africa, Top Gear is shown on BBC Brit (DStv 120) with Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris and Freddie Flintoff as the trio of presenters, with the BBC saying it is now doing a "health and safety review" of the show.

Freddie Flintoff (45) was injured at the Top Gear test track in Surrey in December and had to be airlifted to hospital with facial injuries and broken ribs, with the former cricketer and presenter who told friends, according to various British media reports, that he has decided to quit the show.

According to The Times, Freddie who joined Top Gear in 2019, told friends he is too traumatised to continue playing daredevil any longer, with the Daily Mail reporting that he told friends he's "lucky to be alive".

The BBC now in a statement says "We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery. Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making season 34 of Top Gear at this time".

"We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we'll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year. This has also impacted the production team, who we continue to support".

"Finally there will be a health and safety review of the show, in line with our procedures."

BBC Studios Africa unveils its Summer 2022 slate: Come Dine with Me SA, Prince William conservation series and Frozen Planet II in early-2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC Studios Africa unveiled its upcoming Summer 2022 content slate of its BBC TV channels in South Africa to advertisers, with a new season of Come Dine with Me South Africa starting on 12 October on BBC Lifestyle, a conservation series fronted by Prince William starting in November, and the second season of Frozen Planet making its debut on BBC Earth in February 2023.

ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. The BBC Studios Africa Summer 2022 upfront in 37 photos and 9 videos and channel sizzle reels.

Pierre Cloete, commercial director for BBC Studios Africa, noted that BBC Studios Africa's collection of linear TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service has now passed 2 million viewers weekly.

"Currently we're sitting at around 2 million unique viewers per week who watch our channels so that's quite a big feat for us to hit that 2 million mark. Since 2019 we've seen growth year-on-year and this is across our five channels of BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News."

BBC BRIT (DStv 120)

The Weakest Link UK (season 1)

A reboot of The Weakest Link starts on BBC Brit on Wednesday 21 September at 20:00 for a 10-episode season with new host Romesh Ranganathan. Nine contestants will work together to answer questions and bank as much money as possible as players are voted out at the end of each round.

Strictly Come Dancing UK (season 20)

The shiny floor dance competition show is back from Saturday 25 September at 19:00 for 25 episodes, with the South African dancers Johannes Radebe and Cameron Lombard once again part of the contestant pairs strutting their stuff on the dance floor.

Dragon's Den (season 19)

A new set of eager entrepreneurs will be showing up in the 19th season from Thursday 6 October at 20:00 for 14 episodes,, hoping to strike a life-changing deal, as they pitch their business ideas to five multimillionaires. The Dragons - Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies are joined by Steven Bartlett, the youngest ever Dragon, a 29-year-old entrepreneur and podcast host.

Pointless (season 25)

A new 55-episode season of Pointless will debut on BBC Brit in November when the brainy quiz returns for season 22 and contestants trying to score as few points as possible by plumbing the depths of their general knowledge to come up with the answers no one else could think of. Presented by Alexander Armstrong and co-host Richard Osman.

Mrs Browns' Boys Christmas special

Three episodes in December. It's Christmas in Finglas, and Mrs Brown is coping with life after lockdown. As she gets news of a very special competition, Grandad, Winnie and Father Damien come to her for help.

Father Brown (season 10)

A new 10-episode, 10th season of this crime drama series coming in January 2023. Set in the 1950s in the heart of the beautiful English countryside, Father Brown, the Catholic priest who also happens to have a particular talent for solving crimes, is back in this adaptation of GK Chesterton's novels.

QI (season 21)

There will be 14 new episodes in January 2023 of this British quiz show with more celebrity guests and more weird and wonderful general knowledge. Sandi Toksvig returns as host.

BBC LIFESTYLE (DStv 174)

Come Dine with Me South Africa (season 8)

The 8th season of Come Dine with Me SA, produced by Rapid Blue, will have 12 episodes, once again featuring voiceover legend Dave Lamb. Four strangers per episode, from across South Africa, once again each get a chance to entertain each other, and then scoring it with snark from Wednesday 12 October at 20:00.

Great Pottery Throw Down (season 5)

The search for Britain's best home potter continues with a new season of 10 episodes, starting on Monday 17 October at 20:00. Over 35 gruelling days and 18 different challenges, the potters must make earthenware kitchen bowls, ornate but functional chandeliers and super-sized garden sculptures, among many other household objects.

Nadiya's Fast Flavours

A new series with 6 episodes starting in January 2023 in which Nadiya Hussain inspires viewers to bring the fun back into everyday meals with easy and delicious recipes.

Jamie and Jimmy's Food Fight Club (season 9)

In January 2023 celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is back together with Jimmy Doherty for 8 episodes to whip up easy recipes and to have hilarious conversations with celebrity guests. As well as candid chats and cooking at their cafe on the pier in Southend, they travel around defending great British ingredients and putting them to work in good-humoured battles with prized local delicacies around Europe.

Bake-Off  -The Professionals (season 5)

In January 2023 viewers can watch the 5th season with 10 episodes, as 12 teams from across Britain compete to craft exquisite entremets, delicious desserts and spectacular showpieces in a bid to impress world-renowned judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden.

BBC EARTH (DStv 184)

Dynasties (season 2)

A second season of Dynasties will start on BBC Earth on Sunday 2 October at 16:15 for 6 episodes. This series immerses viewers in every gentle moment, poignant event and heart-wrenching betrayal as animals strive to create dynasties fit to rule for generations. 

A cheetah must prepare her daughters to survive alone. An inexperienced elephant unites her herd facing their greatest challenge – twins. High in the mountains a puma and her cubs face a battle for survival. Family rivalries cause chaos within a clan of hyenas. New alliances must form to care for the young of a troupe of macaques. Will a gang of meerkats survive the drought and rebuild their shattered dynasty?

The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet

On Sunday 13 November this new series of 5 episodes starts and is focused around the Earthshot initiative to save the planet. Facing up to the urgent need to fix our climate, restore nature and build a waste-free world can feel overwhelming. This pioneering series, fronted by Prince William and his team of high-profile champions, explores these simple but ambitious Earthshots – five goals crucial to the survival of our precious planet, and to life itself.

Inside the Factory (season 7)

A seventh season of this engineering series will come to BBC Earth in 2023 with 9 new episodes. Gregg Wallace takes his love of food back to the source - the factories that feed us - to find out how some of our favourite foods get made. Stepping into a different factory each episode, he uncovers the amazing processes behind the production of bread, dairy and confectionery.

Ben Fogle: Return to the Wild (season 3)

In January 2023 adventurer Ben Fogle revisits people around the world who turned their backs on the rat race to set up homes in some of Earth's most remote locations in 9 new episodes. Ben returns to Norway to meet the woman living on a remote island. He revisits the owner of a guest house located deep in the Sahara. And he goes to Wales to find out how a family who built their own eco home are coping. Ben discovers what's changed for these compelling characters as he learns about the challenges they’ve faced since he first spent time with them. Is life in the wild still their ultimate dream?

Life Below Zero (season 10)

There are 19 new episodes in the 10th season of this eye-opening series that follows the drama and hardships experienced by four Alaskan households in different corners of this merciless territory, as they battle to make it through a long, dark, freezing winter. Life is all about survival in the face of unrelenting weather, scarce resources and man-eating carnivores.

Frozen Planet (season 2)

There will be 6 episodes in the second season of this groundbreaking natural history series exploring the north and south poles - covering everything from wolves hunting huge bison across vast snowy plains to killer whales using cunning techniques to stalk their prey.

CBEEBIES (DStv 306)

Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service (season 2)

There are 26 new episodes in the second season, starting 3 October at 17:40. Everyone's favourite postie is back with an even more challenging set of deliveries. Whatever the people of Greendale and Pencaster need, Postman Pat comes to the rescue. Racing ducks, cowboys, a big ukelele band, bagpipes, geckos and digeridoos are all part of the fun in this new season.

Noddy: Toyland Detectives (season 2)

Noddy continues his detective adventures in 55 new episodes from Monday 3 October at 18:20 as he and his friends set out to solve mysteries in Toyland. 

Ranger Hamza's Eco Quest (season 1)

Wildlife expert Ranger Hamza takes his young Ramblers on a journey from cities to the countryside to discover conservation in all its forms in this new show, starting Monday 17 October at 10:45 for 20 episodes. Using his extensive knowledge of UK wildlife, conservation expert Ranger Hamza and his team of young Ramblers search for new Eco Heroes to discover the important part they play in conservation and sustainability.

Shaun the Sheep (season 2)

There are 40 episodes, starting in November, of the world's favourite award-winning sheep, Shaun, and his hilarious farmyard antics, together with the Farmer and the long-suffering sheepdog Bitzer.

JoJo & Gran Gran (season 2)

The heartwarming animated series has 10 new episodes, celebrating the special relationship between an inquisitive girl and her vibrant grandmother is back. JoJo adores spending time with her energetic Gran Gran, who is always ready with a "Gran Gran Plan" when JoJo comes to visit. Gran Gran moved to the UK from Saint Lucia when she was a young girl and the culture of Saint Lucia is woven across the show.

Swashbuckle (season 8)

The Swashbucklers are back for 26 new episodes from December in this adventure gameshow as they help Gem win back stolen treasure from naughty pirates. Set in a shipwreck, the swashbucklers are a team of six and seven-year-old pirates who undertake a number of large physical team games to win jewels.

Hey Duggee (season 4)

Ten further episodes from December in which the big lovable dog Duggee and the little Squirrels have fun earning achievement badges. The Squirrels each have their own distinctive personalities, but they all love playing, learning and making friends together.

ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. The BBC Studios Africa Summer 2022 upfront in 37 photos and 9 videos and channel sizzle reels.

Strictly Come Dancing back on BBC Brit for season 19 featuring 3 professional South African dancers as well as first same-sex dancing couple.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 19th season of Strictly Come Dancing starts on BBC Brit (DStv 120) on Sunday 26 September at 19:00 with three South African dancers - Oti Mabuse, Johannes Radebe and Cameron Lombard - with the season also including the show's first same-sex dancing couple.

For the first time, three South African professional dancers are part of the glitter dancing format competition show.

The Pretoria born Oti Mabuse, who is the current Strictly Come Dancing title holder for 2019 and 2020; Johannes Radebe who was raised in Sasolburg and who has won numerous dance titles including two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion; as well as the newcomer Cameron Lombard, are the three South African professional dancers viewers will see in this season.

Strictly Come Dancing is also making history with the first same-sex dancing couple. 

The Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite (32) is dancing with Johannes Radebe as his dancing partner.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman rare back as the co-hosts this season.

British celebrities participating in this year's competition range from the competitive swimmer Adam Peaty, to TV presenters AJ Odudu, Tilly Ramsey and Rhys Stephenson; journalist and presenter Dan Walker, as well as actors Greg Wise, Nina Wadia, Katie McGlynn and Eastenders regular Rose Ayling-Ellis.  

The celebrity baker John Whaite joins comedians Judi Love and Robert Webb as well as businesswoman, entrepreneur and TV personality Sara Davies, musician Tom Fletcher and sports pundit and former Rugby Union player Ugo Monye to make up the contenders for this season.

The "Queen of Latin" Shirley Ballas returns as head judge and joins the legendary judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke as they cast their eyes on the season 19 hopefuls and score them weekly on their performances.

All of your viewing options today to watch the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip on TV and as live streams online as a global audience of millions is expected to tune in.

by Thinus Ferreira

The funeral of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will be broadcast globally today on TV and streamed online to a worldwide audience from St George's Chapel with millions of people who are expected to tune in. Here is how you can watch:

The broadcast of Prince Philip's funeral service will start at 16:01 (South African time) after a national minute's silence starting at 16:00.

Only 30 people, including Queen Elizabeth II, will attend the service in person, along with the duke's four children: Charles, the Prince of Wales; Anne, the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York; Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and their eight grandchildren.

Prince Philip's body that is now at a private chapel at Windsor Castle will be moved to the State Entrance and his coffin will be placed on a modified Land Rover that the duke himself helped to design.

The funeral will be held within the grounds of Windsor Castle and will be proceeded by a ceremonial procession inside the grounds of Windsor Castle that will start at 15:45, led by the band of Grenadier Guards with Charles and members of the royal family and staff from the royal households who will join the procession. 

Prince Philip's body will be carried in the procession across the short distance to St George's Chapel. The funeral service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with the Archbishop of Canterbury doing a blessing.

TV news channels will be accessing the feed and have lined up their anchors, royal correspondents and commentators for the funeral.

The BBC's official pre-coverage today will start at 13:30 today on BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) with coverage that will run until 17:20 and with the entire broadcast that will also be simulcast on BBC Brit (DStv 120), running on both channels under the theme "The Funeral of HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh".

BBC News' Huw Edwards will anchor the BBC's coverage, with special guests ranging from Sir David Attenborough, Baroness Scotland, Alan Titchmarsh, and Baroness Grey-Thompson, who will weigh in to remember the man behind the crown.

Reporters include JJ Chalmers and Sophie Raworth are in Windsor reporting on the events from key locations around the castle, and will meet people participating in today’s ceremonial events.

Kate Shiers is the programme's executive producer.

CNN International's (DStv 401) pre-coverage today will start at 14:00 today with Christiane Amanpour who will anchor live coverage from Buckingham Palace leading into the funeral of Prince Philip. 

At 15:00 Anderson Cooper will anchor both funeral pre-coverage and the funeral event until 17:30, and he will be joined by Julia Chatterley and Richard Quests in New York, as well as CNN International correspondents in Windsor, London and Edinburgh.

From 19:00 Hala Gorani will take over as CNN International anchor for a 90-minute programme of funeral post-coverage and analysis. CNN will also live stream its funeral coverage on its website.

Fox News (StarSat 261) will also broadcast the funeral starting with pre-coverage at 14:00 with Martha MacCallum anchoring. 

MSNBC (DStv 263) will also broadcast Prince Philip's funeral with Alex Wit and Katy Tur anchoring.

Sky News (DStv 402) will start dedicated funeral pre-coverage today at 13:30 and is using the theme "Prince Philip's Funeral" for its rolling coverage. 

Sky News will broadcast the funeral proceedings in its entirety today, as well as doing funeral post-analysis. Sky News will also live stream its funeral coverage online on its YouTube channel.

Sky News will start pre-coverage on Saturday at 11:00 with Sarah Hawson from Windsor Castle, followed from 13:30 with Dermot Murnaghan anchoring. 

Mark Austin will take over anchoring duties from Windsor Castle at 18:00, with Anna Botting also anchoring from Windsor Castle from 20:00. At 22:00 tonight Anna Botting will reflect on the events of the day live from Windsor Castle.

America's NBC News Now at www.nbcnews.com/now will live stream the network's coverage to a global audience with Savannah Guthrie anchoring.

America's CBS will also do live coverage of Prince Philip's funeral with Gayle King anchoring today, and it will also stream live to a global audience on its streaming service CBSN on its www.cbsnews.com/live website.

America's ABC News will also do a live broadcast with David Muir and Deborah Roberts who will be anchoring. ABC News's coverage will be streamed to a global audience as well on its ABC News Live service at its abcnews.go.com/Live website.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 12 November 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ Insiders at Fox News (StarSat 261) wonder what's next as they try to acknowledge Joe Biden's victory in America's 2020 presidential election without turning away Donald Trump viewers. (subscription required)

- Split screen: Fox News (StarSat 261) swings from refuting to hyping - when the sun is out Fox News calls Joe Biden the next American president; after dark conspiracy theories.

■ MSNBC (StarSat 263) cuts off crass correspondent Ken Dilanian who goes "s***" and "f***" on-air.

■ Study: A third (33%) of people sign up to a video streaming service just to watch 1 new show.

■ The churn is starting at Disney+ as free promotional periods ends after a year.

■ Will these ViacomCBS executives be able to save legacy pay-TV channel brands like MTV and Comedy Central revive them for the video streaming era?

■ Doctor Who that has completely dropped off from Showmax and disappeared from BBC Brit (DStv 120) starts filming on the new season.

■ After Donald Trump, American channels like Fox News (StarSat 261), CNN International (DStv 401) and MSNBC (StarSat 263) are all facing their own challenges when it comes to their audiences.

■ South Africa's current minister of communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, again says that the ANC-led government is against the bloated and overstaffed SABC's plan to get rid of workers.

■ The SiSwati and IsiNdebele TV drama Bukhosi promises royal intrigue.

■ Chicago Fire seen on M-Net (DStv 101) suspends production after multiple positive Covid-19 cases.

■ While Nigerian TV news channels insist that they're broadcasting #EndSARS footage from their own camera crews and not doing any false reporting, Nigeria's corrupt censorship body, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) again attacks the country's struggling broadcasters trying to do their job.

■ Netflix says it's actually just like a standard broadcaster when it comes to cancelling shows.

As the litany of shows cancelled by Netflix start to rack up, the streamer says it just makes "disproportionally" news when it cancels a show.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 7 November 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ In America the news media waits and waits and waits to make a historic winner call in that country's 2020 presidential election.

- Ad pressure mounts, rifts emerge inside Fox News (StarSat 261) over America's 2020 presidential election coverage.

- Stephen Colbert chokes up over Donald Trump's speech.

- TikTok is swooning over a new kind of celebrity: election analysts.

-Fox News (StarSat 261) hits a dangerous new low as it chooses to mislead American viewers about the state of that country's election.

- The passion on American TV news is great viewing. But be careful what you wish for.

- "My nerves can't take the American election, so I'm watching the Discovery Channel (DStv 122)."

- Shame, Gareth Cliff seen on eNCA (DStv 403) isn't happy with the American election results.

- 4 years too late America's TV establishment puts Donald Trump on mute.

- How reality caught up with the reality TV president.

- Ivanka Trump getting more reality TV offers "than she has ever received in her life".

- MUST WATCH: "Never do maths on national television" - Reporters all over trying to do calculations on live TV.

- Nate Silver meltdown after another yet American polling disaster.

FiveThirtyEight website slammed after way-off election predictions.

■ The teen who won America's election night.

Teenage son of Pennsylvania's attorney-general Josh Shapiro accidentally crashes his dad's live TV news interview. Watch the "slowly backing out" here.

■ "What a profitable day": CNN International (DStv 401) pushes vapid promos to fill its empty advertising inventory to a maximum degree during 2020 American election coverage. Viewers going crazy over the insanely repetitive and "deranged" Richard Quest ad running through a maze.

■ MUST MUST READ: The media's thin line between reporting and enabling, when opinion has become cheaper than news gathering.

■ Absolutely tone-deaf: MultiChoice Nigeria holding its first-ever DStv Golf Day in Lagos; relaxing tee-off on green lawns for the rich who can win a business class ticket to Dubai while struggling country is going through hell.

■ Warner Bros. fires wife-beater Johnny Depp from Fantastic Beasts film franchise.

■ Strictly Come Dancing seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) difficult to film without a live studio audience.

■ Rachel Maddow off MSNBC (StarSat 263) after possible Covid-19 exposure.

■ Boba Fett could be getting his own TV drama series spin-off on Disney+ following Star Wars: The Mandalorian appearance.

■ Saudi Arabia soap opera heralds a new era for Middle East regional TV drama.

■ Disney pulls the last of its planned 2020 film releases from the year's cinema release slate.

■ The rise and fall of pay-TV in America.

Digital video streaming has had a significant effect on pay-TV, in the same way pay-TV had on broadcast TV decades ago - meaning lower ratings.

■ How 2020 changed children's television.

■ Skip it: Netflix's amateurish Nigerian film Citation filled with awkwardly staged drama.

■ Media in Tanzania unable to cover the Covid-19 pandemic because of news blackout.

■ The number 1 task of Merlin Naicker who took over at SABC "ghost town" from 1 April 2020 as broadcaster's head of TV: "Bring back the  audience numbers, and that really brings back the advertisers".

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 2 November 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ As South Africa's bloated and financially struggling public broadcaster gets ready to retrench hundreds of staffers the SABC is looking for an external service provider to do job evaluations for the SABC for 6 months.

■ Fox in America cancels its new drama series Filthy Rich and NeXt after single seasons (both of which are actually good).

■ James Bond actor Sean Connery dead at 90.

■ The correspondents of The Daily Show seen on Comedy Central (DStv 122) on the difficulties and how they've been adjusting to filming from their living rooms.

■ England in new Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic lockdown: TV and film industry can continue but cinemas will have to close.

■ CNN (DStv 401) reporter Amara Walker in 3 anti-Asian racist incidents in 1 hour inside an American airport.

■ Katlego Maboe: 6 things to know as the TV presenter now faces a court battle.

■ "The worst Top Gear I've ever seen!"

Many viewers feel that the "new" Top Gear seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) doesn't work and is awkward.

■ eNCA (DStv 403) and e.tv fined over Gareth Cliff's Covid-19 conspiracy theorist show.

- Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) says the Gareth Cliff interview damaged eNCA and raised serious questions about the editorial failures at the eMedia Investments channel:

"While the host and producer should shoulder some of the blame, serious questions need to be raised about the editorial failure that gave the go-ahead to run the interview."

■ Nigeria's corrupt National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that is handing out fines to TV channels like AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV for covering #EndSARS public protests should stop trying to "padlock the air".

■ The creator of This is Us, seen on M-Net (DStv 101) explains how #BlackLivesMatter and the Covid-19 pandemic will feature in the new 5th season.

■ Why Netflix will keep raising its prices for subscribers.

■ Shock-couple Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha apparently signed a R3 million contract to do a 13-episode reality series with MultiChoice's Showmax streaming service.

■ China's state-run China Central TV (CCTV) remains shrouded in secrecy.

- Mexican TV news anchor shot dead in his car.

■ How to look rich on TV: The Undoing that will be shown on M-Net (DStv 101) and what money looks like on the TV screen.

Creating a fictional world for the 1 percent isn't as easy as it seems.

■ SABC1's Generations creator and producer Mfundi Vundla on his art collection and what's hanging in his bathroom.

■ SABC: We can't make money from Google's YouTube.

BREAKING. MultiChoice dumps the BBC First channel from DStv from September, calls it a 'refresh of it British entertainment line-up'.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is dumping the BBC First (DStv 119) channel from 1 September, spinning that axing the premium British TV channel supplied by BBC Studios is a "refresh of its British entertainment line-up".

MultiChoice is culling BBC First 3 months after it ended its contract with ITV's ITV Choice on DStv that was axed since June 2020 and got rid of the Sundance TV and SABC Encore channels at the end of May 2020.

MultiChoice isn't giving any reason for removing BBC First that is being removed after 5 years on DStv. Some BBC First content will now be moved to BBC Brit.

South Africa was one of an extremely small group of countries that got the complete new set of BBC Studios channels after its international realignment: BBC First, BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, and CBeebies. Now it's being broken down again.

MultiChoice's removal of ITV Choice, BBC First and other foreign entertainment content is part of the pay-TV operator's cost-cutting measures it announced a year ago and reiterated recently in the latest MultiChoice financial year results, saying it's reducing international content that no longer "resonates" to focus on investing more in local content.

MultiChoice says "customers can continue to enjoy an increased range of British content on DStv’s suite of popular BBC channels as well as on M-Net, Catch Up and Showmax".

Cutting BBC First from DStv from September comes at the same time as MultiChoice and M-Net is also reducing its remaining M-Net Movies channels from 6 to just 4 from September.

"We are putting compelling drama and variety in one place and on one BBC channel and have increased acquisition of British content by adding titles to M-Net," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment & connected video at MultiChoice Group, in a prepared statement.

Nick Percy, executive vice president at BBC Studios for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, in a statement says "We would like to thank viewers for their support of BBC First over the past 5 years".

"BBC Brit will continue to offer some drama series as part of its schedule, and we will be looking for new opportunities that will allow us to continue to bring drama fans the full range of quality productions coming out of the United Kingdom."

"We have operated BBC branded channels on the DStv platform for over 20 years and remain committed to bringing our viewers the very best programming from the BBC and leading United Kingdom production houses".

MultiChoice says that the pay-TV operator "remains committed to maintaining its long-standing relationship with the BBC and will continue work with the broadcaster to ensure the best British entertainment for its customers, maintaining a great quality offering at the best value".


ALSO READ: MultiChoice and M-Net reducing and restructuring its M-Net Movies channels offering on DStv.

Coronavirus: ITV follows BBC and shuts down Coronation Street and Emmerdale soaps because of Covid-19 spread while all South Africa's TV soaps on DStv, e.tv and the SABC continue filming.

by Thinus Ferreira

The British soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale are also shutting down production from today in light of the fast-spreading Covid-19 pandemic although in South Africa TV production continues on all locally-produced weekday soaps seen on the SABC, e.tv and MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service despite an industry call for them to shut down immediately.

ITV announced that it is temporarily suspending production on Coronation Street and Emmerdale, both seen in South Africa on ITV Choice (DStv 123) because of the novel coronavirus that is rapidly spreading in the United Kingdom.

The BBC already completely shut down production its soaps last week including Holby City and Casualty both seen on BBC Studios Africa's BBC First (DStv 119) channel, as well as EastEnders seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120).

"ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23 March 2020," ITV says in a statement.

"We've been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the government’s latest health guidelines to ensure we have episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer."

"However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming. We'd like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months."

In South Africa broadcasters and pay-TV services like MultiChoice, the SABC and e.tv have not ordered the shut down of its locally-produced shows including the flurry of weekday soaps, with the country's largest studio complexes in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban who all remain operational with large casts and crews where collectively thousands of people work on sets in front of and behind the cameras.

Unlike cinemas in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere, both Ster-Kinekor  and Nu Metro have decided to keep their movie theatres open.


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Stop filming and shut down TV shows right now urges South Africa's Independent Producers Organisation (IPO).

The four South African personalities revealed who will be taking part in Come Dine with Me South Africa's 5th season special episode on BBC Brit in March.

The 5th season of Come Dine with Me South Africa on BBC Brit (Dstv 120) will start on Monday 11 March at 20:00 with an episode featuring local South African personalities Candice Modiselle, Lucky Du Plessis, Christall Kay and Gert-Johan Coetzee.

The four will compete, similar to viewers in the rest of the episodes to win money for their chosen charities.

The new season of Come Dine with Me SA has a further 12 episodes filmed in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Production company Rapid Blue produces the ITV Studios Global Entertainment format for BBC Studios, with the South African version that also features the voice-over narration of Dave Lamb.

Actress and presenter Candice Modiselle says "Come Dine with Me SA was arguably one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences. I've always been a fan of the show and was humbled to be invited".

The Real Housewives of Johannesburg reality star Christall Kay says "I had a really good time at everyone's evenings and am confident that people will be impressed with my night in particular as I eat out a lot and know what makes a good dinner party".

Fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee says "I planned my evening to perfection and can't wait to see what people think of my couture evening as it was, in my opinion, cooked and styled to perfection and all in aid of a good cause".

Radio DJ Lucky Du Plessis says "It was a fantastic 4 days taking part and it was a good laugh meeting my fellow dinner party contestants. Now I just can't wait to see what everyone thinks of the episode".

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 3 January 2019.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ Netflix begs people not to try, and then hurt themselves, with the new social-media 'Bird Box Challenge' that has gone viral.
It's based on the new Netflix horror movie, Bird Box, in which Sandra Bullock and other characters blindfold themselves to avoid seeing monsters taking the form of people's worst fears.

■ Why Nigeria's struggling TStv dumped Nigeria's NIGCOMSAT for Azercosmos in Azerbaijan.
After Nigeria's beleaguered satellite pay-TV operator TStv dumped NIGCOMSAT for satellite transponder services and is now partnering with Azercosmos as it tries to start again, TStv's chief operating officer, Benjamin Zidah, trashes NIGCOMSAT now slammed as a competitor and something that is "against business sense".

■ Carrie Ann Inaba is the permanent new addition to The Talk seen on 1Magic (DStv 103) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) replacing Julie Chen.

■ What Netflix is learning from its interactive Bandersnatch episode.
Where Netflix previously focused its data gathering on the ways users engaged with its content - what they watched, when, and for how long - this new data from its first live-action choose-your-own-adventure episode for adults, is indicative of real-world decisions like product preference, musical taste, and engagement with human behaviour.

■ The Hidden Beauty of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
In an interactive story where the character has no choice and the viewer makes all the choices to influence the outcome, the symbolism explained and how to try and get the best and correct ending where the character does get to make his own choice.

■ Bandersnatch: Is interactive television watching the way of the future?

■ EastEnders seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) to introduce the British soap's first gay bar coming to Albert Square to better reflect London's diversity.

■ It's basically impossible to be a mom in TV news.
New American research finds women's decision to have kids is basically a career-ender if you work in television news as it's too hard to leave at a moment's notice to cover whatever breaking news is unfolding.

■ Is the end of Netflix's golden age in sight?
Netflix is facing competition from content suppliers, including video streaming rivals like Apple and Amazon Prime Video.

■ Thousands of kids continue to get injured - and die - from TV sets toppling over.

■ Attention-seeking Kenyan lawyer says TV channels in Kenya hire women as TV presenters based on their breasts.

■ Netflix censors and pulls an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj critical of Saudi Arabia.
Netflix damages its freedom of expression reputation and dumps an episode from its service that is critical of Saudi Arabia and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

■ Every American TV series that will be ending in 2019.
Goodbye Modern Family, Game of Thrones, Shadowhunters, Gotham and several more.

■ Lost Television: Meet the raiders of the lost British and African broadcasting archives.

■ Lusaka Magistrate's Court in Zambia sentences a man to 2 years in prison and hard labour for stealing a TV remote.

■ S24 starts in Uganda as a new streaming, business TV channel.

■ What Netflix's investment in Nigeria means.
The Mail & Guardian on whether - and how - Nollywood will benefit from Netflix.

■ A lot of the publicists and PR departments of South African TV channels and broadcasters are guilty of this.
The non-TV story of the day: How Donald Trump's White House won't even respond with a "no comment" to acknowledge media enquiries from journalists, and often simply has no response to questions although people are getting paid real money to handle media enquiries.

BBC Studios announces ITV Choice's Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff as replacement presenters as Matt LeBlanc readies his Top Gear exit.

The BBC has announced that the British entertainers Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff will be the new presenters replacing Matt LeBlanc who is readying his exit of the BBC Studios motoring magazine show, Top Gear.

The former Friends star will leave the show, broadcast in South Africa and Africa on BBC Brit (DStv 120), after the 26th season that will start filming later this year and that will be shown in early-2019.

Thereafter Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff will join Top Gear for the 27th season on BBC Brit that will be filmed and shown later in 2019. The two will join Chris Harris on the show going forward.

Rory Reid that is also leaving and will do the spin-off show, Extra Gear, will help to build out Top Gear's digital presence..

Paddy McGuinness appears in the Keith And Paddy Picture Show on ITV Choice (DStv 123) and the former cricket player Freddie Flintoff is the presenter of the game show Cannonball, also seen on ITV Choice.

"This is a thrilling manoeuvre from the Top Gear team and I'm relishing what this trio will deliver," says Patrick Holland, head of the BBC's BBC Two channel in a statement.

"Both Paddy and Freddie love their cars but more than that, they'll bring a new energy and competitive spirit to Top Gear. Chris Harris might have the greater car skills, but when it comes to the infamous Top Gear challenges, he's going to have to bring his A-game to have the beating of these two."

Paddy McGuinness says "Getting the Top Gear gig is a real honour and I'm thrilled the BBC have given me this opportunity. To be hosting a show I've watched and loved from being a small boy is beyond exciting".

"Top Gear fans worldwide are a passionate bunch and I consider myself one of them. Now let’s start up this Great British machine and see what it can do!"

Freddie Flintoff says "It's not often you have the chance to do both of your dream jobs, but I'm now lucky enough to say I will have. I've always been passionate about cars and I'm so excited to be joining the Top Gear team".

BBC Studios Africa renews Come Dine with Me SA for a 12-episode 5th season on BBC Brit, now looking for contestants.

BBC Studios has renewed Come Dine with Me South Africa for a 5th season on BBC Brit (DStv 120) that will start in 2019, with producers now looking for contestants for the 12 episodes of the new season.

South Africans interested in entering for the chance to host dinner parties and be judged by the other contestants have until Wednesday 29 August to enter at www.BBCSouthAfrica.com.

Production company Rapid Blue continues to produce the ITV Studios Global Entertainment format for BBC Studios, with the South African version that also features the voice-over narration of Dave Lamb.

The upcoming 5th season of Come Dine with Me SA will again film in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

"The popularity of the latest season of Come Dine With Me South Africa is testament to the fact that the local audience enjoy some home-grown entertainment and South African hosting antics," says Joel Churcher, general manager and vice president of BBC Studios in Africa.

"We had a break between seasons three and four and were overwhelmed not only by the return of the shows’ very loyal fans but also by how many new audiences the show attracted too."

"BBC Brit is excited to once again partner with Rapid Blue to offer a distinctly South African take on a hugely popular international format. We look forward to discovering some new vibrant, entertaining personalities to take part in the latest season and surprise and delight audiences across South Africa."

BBC Worldwide to simulcast the debut episode of Blue Planet II on its BBC Earth and BBC Brit channels on DStv at the same time.

BBC Worldwide will now simulcast the debut episode of the upcoming Blue Planet II natural history documentary series that will be shown on BBC Earth (DStv 184), on the BBC Brit (DStv 120) channel as well.

When the Sir David Attenborough narrated, aqua-exploratory series starts on 4 February at 16:00 on BBC Earth on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, it will also be simulcast to more viewers in South Africa, and across Africa, at the same time on the BBC Brit channel.

BBC Earth is an exclusively DStv Premium channel for its highest paying subscribers, with the channel that also has more limited distribution elsewhere through Africa on MultiChoice Africa with very few African nations where BBC Earth is available on DStv. The more generic BBC Brit however enjoys bigger carriage availability on DStv in Africa.

BBC Brit is also available on the lower DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscription tiers.

The Blue Planet II simulcast on BBC Earth and BBC Brit accomplishes two goals.

Firstly the simulcast of the premium series serves as an upsell marketing opportunity to expose lower-tiered DStv subscribers to what content is available on BBC Earth - something that might prompt some upgrades to DStv Premium.

Secondly it enlarges the potential audience that gets access to the show if they want to watch it with the combined channels' reach that could yield higher viewership and an increase in ratings - a plus for both BBC Worldwide South Africa as well as for MultiChoice.

BBC Worldwide South Africa will preview Blue Planet II to the media next week at an event screening; its PR agency told TVwithThinus this week that it will be for Johannesburg press only with no media from elsewhere invited to see the series beforehand.

Blue Planet II follows 16 years after the first BBC series and has been released as DVD and Blu-ray sets since 27 November 2017 on Amazon. The production team spent over 6 000 hours diving underwater, including filming in South Africa.

The BBC will follow up Blue Planet II with programmes looking at how ocean plastic and clothing manufacture are impacting nature.