Paramount Skydance ends Paramount Africa and 4 TV channels on DStv including BET Africa, MTV Base, CBS Justice and CBS Reality end of 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

Paramount Africa is shutting down 31 December 2025 as part of dramatic Paramount Skydance corporate downsizing, ending its localised Africa operations after more than two decades, with linear TV channels BET Africa, MTV Base as well as CBS Justice and CBS Reality run by CBS AMC Networks International also shutting down at the end of the year.

All four TV channels will go dark on 31 December on DStv run by Canal+'s MultiChoice in South Africa as well as across the Rest of Africa (RoA) territory and its Bryanston head office in Johannesburg is closing down.

In July, Craig Paterson, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager, as well as Monde Twala, senior vice-president and general manager of Paramount Africa and lead of BET International, told Paramount Africa staff that Paramount is considering shutting down local operations in Africa as the company "evaluates its pay-TV strategy and local channel footprint here in Africa".

Paramount Africa (then Viacom International Media Networks Africa or VIMN Africa) launched BET Africa (DStv 129) a decade ago in April 2015 to bring African audiences a localised version of "Black Entertainment Television". 

As previously reported, it will burn off episodes later this month of its last original, the South African telenovela Black Gold from Black Brain Pictures, to amortise what's left of its final local production before BET Africa is gone for good.

MTV Base was launched 20 years ago in South Africa in February 2005 and grew to split into three distinct channel feeds for West Africa and East Africa.

MultiChoice in response to a media query told TVwithThinus "MultiChoice can confirm that BET Africa and MTV Base will be discontinued on the DStv and GOtv platforms from 1 January 2026 at 9:00 CAT, following updates from our channel partner, Paramount. Our customers can continue to enjoy other international channels from Paramount, including Nickelodeon, NickToons, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, and MTV."

"We thank Paramount for their continued partnership and look forward to working with them on the remaining channel offering."

The CBS Reality (DStv 132) and CBS Justice (DStv 170) channels on DStv are also getting axed.

CBS Reality (previously Zone Reality) was added to DStv in November 2001. CBS Justice was added to DStv in November 2019.

"In response to a media query, MultiChoice says "MultiChoice confirms that CBS Reality and CBS Justice will be leaving the DStv platform on 31 December 2025 at 23:59 SAST."

"Following a strategic review, CBS AMC Networks EMEA Channels Partnership – the owner of CBS Reality and CBS Justice – has decided to close both channels."

"We thank CBS for their continued partnership and look forward to working with them in future. Customers can continue to enjoy a wide range of local and international reality and investigative content across our bouquet of channels."

Paramount Africa, in response to a media query, told TVwithThinus "Paramount is adjusting its international pay-TV strategy in response to industry-wide changes and evolving audience habits".

It said that "Paramount is proud of the legacy these channels have built and thanks their viewers and partners for their support over the years."

ALSO READ: Paramount Africa burns off Black Gold in double episodes further raising fears about future of BET Africa

ALSO READ: Paramount Skydance to get rid of 2 000 workers in the United States and globally, also affecting Africa 

MultiChoice's DStv Media Sales now sells AMC Networks International's CBS Justice and CBS Reality channels.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's DStv Media Sales has now also taken over selling of advertising inventory on AMC Networks International's CBS Justice and CBS Reality channels.

DStv Media Sales says that it's now "the new commercial home" of CBS Justice and CBS Reality with  CBS Justice (DStv Channel 170) already available for commercial opportunities and CBS Reality becoming available from 1 August 2023.

MultiChoice makes CBS Justice available to DStv Premium and DStv Compact Plus subscribers, while CBS Reality extends down to the DStv Access package.

"We are excited to showcase the international factual content line-up coming to CBS Reality, availing opportunities for advertisers to connect with engaged audiences," says Piwe Motshegoa, head of sales, general entertainment at DStv Media Sales, in a press release.

"The channel brings compelling real-life documentaries and series all day, every day. Audiences can look forward to new exclusives such as Close Calls on Camera in August as well as the timeless classic favourite, Judge Judy, an ever-green environment for advertisers."

According to DStv Media Sales, CBS Justice "continues to deliver riveting expert-led true crime programmes to DStv audiences".

"The channel has invested in fresh, thrilling content coming to screens in August and September such as The Fatal Attraction Murder, and Killers: Caught on Camera. In the latter part of the year, Bloodline Detectives returns for a fourth season of crimes solved by the expertise of genealogists and the latest forensic technology."

"Advertisers will be able to explore various media opportunities and bundle packaging on AMC networks channels and beyond, giving brands optimum mileage for spend."

StarSat to add CBS Reality, CBS Justice, Kartoon Channel! and FilmBox Action; improves value of its StarSat Super bouquet.

by Thinus Ferreira

StarSat is adding four new TV channels in late-March and during April, and is improving the pay-TV operator's mid-tier package with four other TV channels as well.

After deciding that StarSat won't do any price increase in 2023, China's StarTimes Media SA that runs StarSat from Midrand with the Randburg-based MultiChoice as its main rival, is adding the CBS Reality, CBS Justice, Kartoon Channel! and FilmBox Action channel later this month and in April to its StarSat Super package.

CBS Reality will be added to StarSat channel 170 on 22 March and carries shows like Judge Judy and Cheaters. CBS Justice will be added to StarSat channel 222 from 22 March and is for crime-lovers with true-crime series, ranging from crimes committed by the rich and famous to passion killings by the guy next door.

Kartoon Channel will go live on StarSat on channel 304 on 10 April and is aimed at kids between two and 10 years of age. The channel has kids shows on weekdays and family-friendly movies over weekends, with content ranging from Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten to Peppa Pig.

FilmBox Action will be added to channel 140 on StarSat on 10 April and is dedicated to the action genre, with iconic action heroes in classic Hollywood films, spectacular series from America, Europe, and Asia, and modern blockbusters.

StarSat is also improving its mid-tier offering with the four channels of Manchester United TV (StarSat 252), Real Madrid TV (StarSat 254), MSNBC (StarSat 263) and Fashion TV Africa (StarSat 282) being made available to StarSat Super package subscribers.

StarSat says that with South Africans having experienced a year marked by a "state of emergency, rising inflation and flooding, the average consumer struggles to make ends meet. Service providers should try assisting their customers in this time of need".

"StarSat, unlike some of its competitors, will keep prices for all TV bouquet offerings unchanged in 2023," says John Yan, StarSat CEO.

"Just like all other service providers, our costs go up yearly. We at StarSat, however, have decided to absorb that cost to allow South Africans to continue to afford our rich and diverse content offer."

"We're very pleased that we managed to secure four new channels for our Super Package subscribers," says John Yan. "We trust that these channels will be a boon to our customer's television enjoyment."

From 17 March StarSat, as part of a new content marketing initiative, StarSat is also going to make one higher-tiered TV channel available to StarSat Special package subscribers, starting with the launch of a new English-dubbed telenovela, Marry Me, Marry You.

StarSat says the pay-TV operator plans to announce the acquisition of several new TV channels in the second half of 2023.

ALSO READ: StarSat: 0% price increase for 2023 'is the least we can do'.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice adds Qwest TV to DStv, StarTimes adds Kartoon Channel! for StarSat as 2023's first TV channel add-ons.

For Halloween, Paranormal Nightshift is coming to CBS Reality from 11 October telling tales from workers seeing things during 'the witching hour'.

by Thinus Ferreira

A new show, Paranormal Nightshift is coming to CBS Reality (DStv 132) from Monday 11 October until 27 October, on weekdays at 07:30 and repeating at 21:10, with each hourlong episode that will tell 3 stories of supernatural encounters, each one more terrifying than the last from those who loved through them.

Episodes of Paranormal Nightshift will repeat on weekends at 07:05, 20:20 and 00:35 from 16 to 27 October.

While a narrator keeps the plotline moving in Paranormal Nightshift episodes, the vast majority of the storytelling is done by the men and women who have lived through it.

These interviews are first hand intimate peeks into the spine-tingling world of those who work "the witching hour".

Also on CBS Reality in October will be the start of the third season of Borderforce USA: The Bridges on Saturday 16 October at 08:40, repeated at 19:30, bringing more stories from the world's busiest international boundary: the 2 000 border that separates ruthlessly efficient Mexican drug cartels from the USA state of Texas.

On the United States side, Customs and Border Protection officers have the job of keeping goods and people flowing in both directions while making sure that guns, drugs and other contraband don't make it across the border.

The challenge is daunting: on one side is the ruthlessly-efficient Mexican drug cartels; on the other, the

biggest and most lucrative drug market on earth.

Borderforce USA: The Bridges follows CBP officers stationed at 12 of the 28 international bridges that straddle the border and documents the immense challenges that the officers face on a daily basis. 

Seasons 6 to 10 of Random Breath Test will premiere on CBS Reality in October from 1 to 29 October with double episodes on weekdays at 11:10, 14:50 and 23:45, repeated on weekends, stacked, at 06:00 between 9 October to 21 November.

Random Breath Test follows the Australian police units for a unique, behind-the-scenes look at RBT patrols testing for alcohol and drug affected drivers.

In episode 1 of season 6 officers in Wollongong are diverted from their regular RBT duties by an emergency call over the radio. They join in the hunt for a runaway driver who fled from police when they tried to pull him up for a breath test.

He led police on a dangerous chase through the backstreets until he crashed his car into a dead end street and fled, climbing over back fences and running through yards. Police find the driver, Tyrone out of breath and worse for wear at a local Subway. He insists he was only getting a sandwich and denies he was the driver of the car police spotted him in. A breath test is just the start of Tyrone's problems.

CBS Justice (DStv 170) has season 1 of Injustice with Nancy Grace starting on Monday 11 October at 19:00, followed by the second season, back-to-back.

Killer Siblings is another new crime documentary show starting on CBS Justice on Monday 11 October at 20:00, with season 2 of How I Caught a Killer starting on Monday 11 October as well at 21:00.

All three shows will have new episodes on weeknights.

On Monday 25 October the second season of Licence to Kill will start on CBS Justice at 20:00 with the plastic surgeon Dr Terry Dubrow as the host in which he examines shocking cases of medical professionals who inflict harm on patients.

That is followed by season 1 of The Killer Within at 21:00, examining what turns someone into a murderer, with the help of forensic and criminal experts.

Judge Judy done after 25 years as Judy Sheindlin preps a new show Judy Justice to replace it.

Just like Oprah Winfrey, the American judge Judy Sheindlin is ending her iconic daytime courtroom show Judge Judy after 25 seasons but is prepping a new show, Judy Justice that will debut after her current one ends.

Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres during an interview on Ellen in an upcoming episode with a preview that has been released, Judy said revealed that her show, with season 18 seen in South Africa on e.tv and season 16 on CBS Reality (DStv 132) is ending in mid-2021 but that she's working on a new one that will start a year later.

"I've had a 25-year-long marriage with CBS Television Distribution and it's been successful. Next year will be our 25th season, silver anniversary, and CBS sort of felt, I think, they wanted to optimally utilize the repeats of my program because now they have 25 years of reruns. So what they decided to do was to sell a couple of years' worth of reruns. But I'm not tired, so Judy Justice will be coming out a year later."

Judy said "I'm not tired. So Judy Justice will be coming out a year later. Judge Judy you'll be able to see next year, full year, all new shows. The following couple of years, you should be able to catch all the reruns that are currently carrying Judy, and Judy Justice will be going elsewhere. Isn’t that fun?"

Judge Judy started in 1996 in the United States where it's the number one first-run programme in daytime syndication. It won Daytime Emmy Awards for best legal or courtroom show in 2013,2016 and 2017.

Judy sold her show's library to CBS in 2017 which also saw the show renewed until its 25th season which will now be the last.

CBS Reality commissions two new original crime docuseries, The Real Prime Suspect with Jackie Malton and The Profiler.

CBS Reality (DStv 132 / Cell C black 207) has commissioned two new original crime docuseries, The Real Prime Suspect and The Profiler that will be broadcast later this year.

In The Real Prime Suspect with presenter Jackie Malton, the inspiration was Helen Mirren's character in the drama series Prime Suspect that was on ITV Choice (DStv 123).

The Real Prime Suspect is a 10-part true-crime docuseries in which Jackie Malton, a former Met police officer and the first female member of the Flying Squad, uses her list of contacts to revisit investigations with the law enforcement officials who experienced them firsthand.

Jackie Malton, in her first presenter work in a documentary series, will access 10 case files and revisit the investigations with the police, detectives, and other professionals who experienced them first-hand. She will guide viewers through every step of the journey, from capturing the prime suspect to gaining a conviction and providing closure.

The Real Prime Suspect is will first be shown on CBS Reality in the United Kingdom followed by its broadcast on CBS Reality in South Africa and Africa later this year.

The Real Prime Suspect is produced by Monster Films and distributed by Orange Smarty that has secured the global licensing rights except for the UK, Africa and Poland.

The second CBS Reality original series that was commissioned is The Profiler that will be exclusively based and produced in Poland in the Polish language as Zawód: Profiler and will be broadcast on the channel there.

Led by Polish criminal profiler Jan Gołębiowski, the 10-episode series will take an in-depth look at his profession and the role that profilers’ findings play in investigations and convictions. Each episode will feature a different Polish case. It's produced by Like Vision.

"Our CBS Reality Originals have helped us achieve record viewership in the United Kingdom in 2018," says Sam Rowden, director of programming for CBS Channels and the executive producer of both series.

"We're excited to expand our slate of original productions and launch our first-ever locally produced documentary series in Poland."

"Our approach to original true-crime content remains focused on authenticity and expert analysis; you cannot get any closer to the core of the crime than with leading experts such as Jackie Malton and Jan Gołębiowski, whose insights and experiences are unmatched."

CBS Reality is owned by AMC Networks International UK and CBS Studios International.

CBS Reality renews original UK crime documentary series, Written in Blood and Evidence of Evil.

CBS Reality (DStv 132 / Cell C black 207) in the United Kingdom has renewed the crime documentary series, Written in Blood and Evidence of Evil.

CBS Reality, owned by AMC Networks International UK and CBS Studios International, renewed both original series for a further season.

Written in Blood, produced by Endemol Shine North, follows author Simon Toyne as he meets 6 further popular crime fiction writers to discuss the influence true crime has had on their writing in 6 new hour long episodes.

Episodes will tackle a different criminal case using reconstruction and real-life footage, with authors including Mason Cross (the Carter Blake series), Sophie Hannah (writer of the Hercule Poirot novel The Mystery of Three Quarters) and Peter Robinson (the Inspector Banks novels).

Evidence of Evil explores the advances in technology that have transformed detective work through notable cases such as the murder of EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie. The series is produced by Peninsula Television.

CBS Reality on DStv looking to solve old cold cases in new crime mystery series, Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved, starting later in the year.

CBS Reality (DStv 132) is getting its first original series in the form of Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved which will be looking at infamous "cold crime cases" in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The first season of Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved will have 12 episodes and will be broadcast in primetime on CBS Reality on DStv later in the year.

Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved, produced by Circle Films, digs up old so-called "cold cases" - crimes never solved - to try and find the criminals and to bring about convictions.

Using interviews and access to case files, Donal MacIntyre and his expert team will analyse the evidence, speak to those who remember the mystery surrounding these unsolved cases and explore why they have remained enigmas despite modern detective methods.

Cases include the murder of a French film producer in 1996, the murder of a Leeds millionaire businessman in 2004, and the case of a missing school boy of 7 in 2003.

"I am delighted to be working with AMC Networks International - Zone (AMCNI - Zone), bringing some compelling stories and investigations to the screen with an exceptional team comprising of criminologists, forensic pathologists, ex Scotland Yard detectives and others as we try to shed new light on high profile modern murder mysteries," says Donal MacIntyre.

"Viewers' appetite for crime mysteries has grown exponentially in recent months and we look forward to bringing cold cases to CBS Reality," says Sam Rowden, the director of programming for CBS Reality.

"Donal is an internationally recognised investigative journalist with a really strong track-record and we're delighted to be partnering on what will be a highly watchable series," says David Harvey of Circle Films.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 16 May 2015.

The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies and ArchiePanjabi absolute HATE each other.
The Good Wife lied to viewers and filmed scenes separately in which they appear opposite each other in the season finale and then spliced it together so that the actresses don't have to appear together. Body doubles were also used.
The final scene on The Good Wife between the two actresses was a complete fake and neither were there together, reports Entertainment Weekly as well due to a long running feud.


More behind-the-scenes drama in South Africa's derailed and fracturous digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration.
One of the latest scandals involve different manufacturers who all want in on the lucractive contracts as the government bail-out millions (the process was hijacked by manufacturers, among others, leaving viewers in the cold) squabbling over getting quoted different prices to make the set-top boxes (STB's).

Al Jazeera America's hated CEO Ehab Al Shihabi who refused to leave is gone now and back in Doha.
CNN Money reports that since Al Anstey, peviously the managing director of Al Jazeera English (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) was roped in to take over last week, and that staff feel that wilEhab Al Shihabi gone "people are relieved and hopeful".


Disney's CEO has the vision of wanting to create entire TV channels dedicated to Star Wars and Marvel Comics.
Bob Iger says Disney wants to take these creations directly to the consumer, like it is doing with Star Wars Rebels on Disney XD (DStv 304) for instance.

Survivor as a reality show has managed to outwit and outlast the now cancelled American Idol ...
... because of Jeff Probst.

David Lynch is finally onboard the reboot of Twin Peaks.
Salary and budget problems have finally been overcome. David Lynch will direct all 9 episodes.

It's 15 years ago that Beverly Hills, 90210 ended after 10 seasons.
What would the original characters' names be today if they were in West Beverly High?


Why is it so difficult to end a really great TV show?
The New York Times Magazine says the past 2 decades of great TV has proven that the better the TV, the harder it has become to say goodbye to it.
"The underlying problem is that a TV series' life span is an exceedingly unnatural thing, determined more by ratings, contractual obligations and other corporate-side concerns than by the ideal length of the show's narrative and a writer's original vision."


K.C. Undercover renewed for a 2nd season.
The Disney Channel (DStv 303) comedy with Zendaya will be back for another season.


Discovery also orders a special documentary after the Nepal earthquakes.
Following National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) making the Earthquake on Everest TV documentary special by Sky Vision Productions, Discovery Networks International (DNI) has commissioned Aftershock: Disaster in Nepal made by ITN Productions.


CBS Reality (DStv 132) is going to gets its very first original show.
CBS Reality, which is run by AMC Networks International, is going to get Donal MacIntyre: Unsolved, the channel's very first original series. The 12 episode, hour long series will follow the investigative journalist and presenter Donal MacIntyre analysing notorious unsolved crime stories. He will use interviews and case files to explore why the cases in question were never solved.


And finally ...
Non-TV: The New York Times' brutal and brutally honest review of Mariah Carey's Las Vegas residency.
The great critique of the fading elusive chanteuse and "her laserlike shrieks" at her new Las Vegas gig might give the poor thing an emotional breakdown.

Chello Zone grabs all 9 seasons of Hardcore Pawn for CBS Reality starting from 1 July with double bill episodes.

Chello Zone which runs CBS Reality (DStv 132) has acquired all nine seasons of the American reality show Hardcore Pawn for the channel.

I can reveal that the first to the fourth season of Hardcore Pawn will start and run from 1 to the 31 July with double bill episodes on weekdays between 13:00 and 19:00 on CBS Reality.

Hardcore Pawn follows the Gold family as they buy and sell goods in one of America's most troubled cities and the goods brought to the American Jewellery and Loan premises are as outrageous and complex as the extraordinary customers themselves - ranging from alligators to prosthetic limbs.

Hardcore Pawn is distributed by Zodiak Rights.

BREAKING. Zone Reality channel to start changing to CBS Reality channel from 3 December in Africa and the Middle East.

Exactly as I wrote earlier this month, with sources telling me that the name-change of Zone Reality (DStv 132) to CBS Reality is set to take place sometime in December in South Africa, a press statement just out from Chello Zone and CBS Studios International says that the newly-rebranded channel will start happening from 3 December in Africa and the Middle East.

Zone Reality, to become CBS Reality, will be partially reprogrammed with library titles from CBS Studios, including the investigative show 48 Hours and the court show Judge Judy.

The Zone Reality name change in South Africa is part of a bigger change to more channels within the group which are not currently seen in South Africa. Besides CBS Reality, there is also CBS Drama and CBS Action as channels.

In August the announcement was made that Zone Reality is changing to CBS Reality after CBS Studios International and Chellomedia which runs these channels have reached an agreement whereby CBS gets a 30% stake in the channels in return for TV programming from its studios as well as its name.

"Chello Zone and CBS Studios International will launch the newly rebranded CBS channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) on 3 December," says the just-issued statement. "CBS Reality, CBS Drama, CBS Action and CBS Europa will be reprogrammed to include hit series and movies from the CBS Studios International library. This includes 48 Hours and Judge Judy for CBS Reality," says the statement.

"It's an exciting time for the channels and our partnership with CBS," says Chris Sharp, Chello Zone's chief programming officer. "The CBS expansion into the EMEA territories will offer a greater depth and variety of programming from a library we know well. We're sure our audiences will  enjoy and embrace the new programming and the new branding."

"It is exciting to grow and expand this venture and to offer audiences throughout EMEA the opportunity yo watch popular and classic series from CBS," says Armando Nunez, the president and CEO of the CBS Global Distribution Group in the statement. "We're looking forward to launching the new branded channels and developing programming strategies with our partners at Chello Zone to best reflect the individual channels and audience in their respective territories."

The press release was issued now, and I've made an after-hours media enquiry to MultiChoice, if there's possibly anything MultiChoice is saying on this upcoming channel rebrand, I will bring it.

After August's deal, is the Zone Reality TV channel changing to the CBS Reality channel in South Africa in December?

Nobody wants to talk about it, but of course Zone Reality (DStv 132) on DStv is changing to CBS Reality - and now sources have been telling its happening sometime during December. Who knows - we'll see. That's the latest I know and have been told.

Chellomedia which programmes the Zone Reality as well as other channels out of Britain gave CBS Studios International a 30% stake in the channels in return for programming from CBS' library, which is why the name change is going to take place.

Zone Reality will basically be rebranded - or in effect be folded into - CBS Reality as a "new" TV channel. Chellomedia's international broadcaster arm Chello Zone runs channels such as Zone Reality in South Africa as well as in the rest of Africa, Europe and the Middle East.