In embarrassing switcheroo the channel launch of BBC UKTV switches from eMedia's Openview to MultiChoice's DStv.

by Thinus Ferreira

After eMedia and BBC Studios Africa announced in late September that it would be adding the BBC UKTV channel to the Openview satellite service - which then failed to happen - MultiChoice and BBC Studios Africa are now adding the BBC UKTV channel to the DStv satellite service from 15 December in a bizarre channel carriage switcheroo.

To prevent complaints about repeats from DStv subscribers on more expensive and higher-tiered packages like DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact, MultiChoice is only making BBC UKTV available to the lower-tiered packages.

Subscribers of DStv Family, DStv Access and DStv Easy View will now see UKTV from 15 December on DStv channel 134. UKTV will be carrying rerun content that already featured on existing DStv channels like BBC Brit and BBC Lifestyle in the past.

While the BBC content windowing on BBC UKTV will be new for the lower-tiered DStv viewers, it would be repeat viewing for other DStv subscribers who already saw it when it was first-run shows and who are not missing out on content.

BBC UKTV will be the 6th BBC channel carried on DStv after BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News, and will offer lower-tiered DStv subscribers access to natural history series, British soaps and children's programming they haven't seen before. 

"We have strengthened our partnerships, which has in turn strengthened our content offering, therefore, we are extremely excited to introduce BBC UKTV to our viewers," says Georginah Machiridza, MultiChoice's head of general entertainment channels.

"As Africa's most loved storyteller we are always looking to offer top entertainment to our DStv customers and the launch of this channel aims to do just that."

The addition of BBC UKTV to MultiChoice's DStv and its failure to materialise on eMedia's Openview is an embarrassing situation for eMedia, which didn't want to tell the media beforehand that the channel would no longer make its debut in October and was abruptly scuppered together with a media launch event that was planned for Johannesburg media.

BBC Studios Africa was asked in a media query why the BBC UKTV channel has now suddenly switched from the announced Openview platform of eMedia to MultiChoice's DStv platform but through its Atmosphere PR agency the broadcaster didn't want to answer the specific question.

BBC Studios Africa was also asked if the BBC's plan was to have BBC UKTV on both eMedia and DStv and if that is still the plan, or if UKTV will no longer be coming to Openview. Atmosphere also didn't give an answer to this question, with the BBC just saying that it can't provide any more information" about the issue.

In a general response Atmosphere says that "BBC UKTV has been specially created for a wide audience to enjoy the BBC's award-winning catalogue".

"DStv Easy View enables new audiences to watch the rich catalogue of inspiring content, across multiple genres on one destination. We are disappointed that BBC UKTV did not launch on Openview as planned. We are not in a position provide any more information at this time in relation to Openview specifically but are keen going forward that BBC UKTV reaches as many viewers as possible."

ALSO READ: eMedia's Openview adds BBC Studios' BBC UKTV as a British free-to-air TV channel in South Africa.

ALSO READ: On the BBC's 100th anniversary today BBC Studios and eMedia's promised UKTV channel fails to launch on Openview in South Africa without prior warning or communication to viewers.

eMedia's Openview adds BBC Studios' BBC UKTV as a British free-to-air TV channel in South Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC Studios and eMedia's Openview free-to-air satellite service in South Africa will be adding BBC UKTV from 18 October 2022 as Openview and BBC Studio's first free-to-view channel in South Africa.

Openview used to carry BBC World News but Openview dumped that very well-liked TV news channel after a while.

BBC UKTV will be added to Openview on channel 114 from 18 October which will be the BBC's 100th birthday. Neither Openview nor BBC Studios are saying for how long the initial channel carriage agreement is.

BBC UKTV's programming will include a variety of entertainment, soaps, documentaries and children's shows. 

BBC Studios Africa already has a well-established set of TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa, including BBC World News, BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Earth and CBeebies.

BBC Kids has been added for MTN customers in South Africa recently. In Australia and New Zealand the version of BBC UKTV is a pay-TV channel.

BBC Studios says that the BBC UKTV's schedule for South Africa is compiled to "match the viewing habits of families in South Africa".

On BBC UKTV there will be a lot of shows DStv subscribers have seen, ranging from factual entertainment like The Great British Bake Off (season 8) and cooking shows Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook and Mary Berry Cooks to motoring shows such as Million Dollar Car Hunters on Thursdays at 20:55 and classic Top Gear (season 19) which will air weekdays at 20:00.

The British hospital based soap Casualty (season 36) will debut in South Africa every Thursday at 18:20 and Doctors (season 22) will premiere weekdays at 19:00.

The long-running sitcom My Family (season 1) joins the channel launch line-up which follows the trials and tribulations of a British family, starring American-British actress Zoë Wanamake and British actor Kris Marshall airing at 06:00 and 19:30 every day.

Viewers will be able to experience the BBC's incredible natural history collection every day at 09:00 and weekdays from 15:35. These will include the BBC Studios Natural History Unit's nature documentary Wild Africa weekdays at 15:35 to unique local travelogue exploring Africa, Africa with Ade Adepitan, Tuesdays at 21:00. 

There will also be a selection of Sir David Attenborough's fascinating docuseries; Big Bird, Giant Dinosaur, Giant Egg, Fabulous Frogs and Natural Curiosities on BBC UKTV later in 2022.

For children up to 12 there will be kids entertainment between 06:00 and 09:00, including the first seasons of the action-packed geographical adventure, Go Jetters, children's cookery show, My World Kitchen, wildlife show, Andy’s Safari Adventures and My Pet & Me which helps children appreciate what it really means to have a pet.

"We are proud to partner with Openview to launch our first ever free-to-view channel in South Africa," says Arran Tindall, senior vice president, for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) key market region at BBC Studios.

"The launch will enable us to reach wider audiences utilising the richness of the BBC's catalogue across multiple genres. I can't wait for new families in South Africa to experience the very best of British content and discover their new favourite shows."

Pierre Cloete, BBC Studios Africa commercial director, says "I am so excited for even more families in South Africa to access BBC Studios' incredible catalogue of bold, British shows".

"From British soaps, fascinating documentaries and children's shows, BBC UKTV has been carefully crafted to match the viewing habits of the whole family, providing all age groups entertainment at every moment of the day."

Marlon Davids, group executive for programming, says "Openview is a growing platform and constantly adding new channels and genres to appeal to a broad audience".

"Earlier this year we added eXposed, ePlesier and The Home Channel+. We are pleased and excited to give our audiences even more choice, and more of the best in world-class entertainment with the addition of BBC UKTV."