South Africa's film critics weigh in on MultiChoice's decision to block MGM from its subscribers; DStv subscribers say they feel 'cheated'.

You're reading it here first. 

South Africa's most notable film critics are now weighing in on MultiChoice's decision to block the MGM movie channel (DStv 140) from DStv Premium subscribers - at the same time as DStv subscribers are blasting the pay-TV operator, saying that they feel that they are "being cheated" by the South African satellite TV operator.

It is the first time MultiChoice is not making a TV channel available on its most expensive bouquet, a move described as an "unprecedented decision".

The notable and well-known South African film critic Leon van Nierop tells TV with Thinus he finds MultiChoice's actions to block MGM from DStv Premium subscribers "strange".

MGM, supplied by Chello Zone in the United Kingdom and shown on competitor TopTV since May 2010 was made available on DStv since yesterday afternoon but only to lower DStv packages - not to DStv Premium.

"I think if you're a top subscribers of DStv, that you have to receive ALL the available TV channels and entertainment," says Leon van Nierop.

"The price DStv Premium subscribers pay should also be inclusive of this channel. Especially MGM which has such a treasure chest of musicals and which comes with such a rich history of contributing to the film industry - it's actually unmissable for movie lovers."

The notable and famous South African film critic Barry Ronge told TV with Thinus that what would interest him is if the MGM channel went back and showed some of the "real black-and-white movies" MGM made and films such as MGM's Marie Antoinette and work of Alfred Hitchcock. "If it's that kind of thing, I would be grateful. I will have to see what they're offering."

Barry Ronge said "the big thing for people right now is that they're paying a lot to see movies on DStv. And if they keep seeing them over and over again, it's not good. If a movie channel buys a tranche of movies with for instance Joan Crawford people will look at that."

"The success of The Great Gatsby with the original one which was black-and-white and with so many stellar performances that people then go back to, shows that there's a lot of people who relish the idea of watch classics. However it has to be the pick of the bunch otherwise you get stuck with some of those horrible crime and Westerns they throw in. Some of those MGM motion pictures were quite bad."

MGM movies  in November on the channel - which MultiChoice is not allowing DStv Premium subscribers to watch - include Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Kings of the Sun (1964), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), Wuthering Heights (1970), Play Dirty (1969), The Alamo (1960) and many more DStv subscribers haven't seen in years, if ever.

In response to a media enquiry, MultiChoice said its blocking MGM from DStv Premium subscribers to spare them repeats.

"As MGM contains library content that has already been seen by our Premium customers, a decision was made not to include this channel on the Premium package," said MultiChoice.

The blocking of MGM from DStv Premium subscribers ironically comes in the same week in which MultiChoice is making all of its premium TV channels freely available to lower-tiered DStv subscribers as part of a marketing exercise. Yet MGM is not made available to Premium subscribers.

DStv subscribers are livid about the MGM channel block and say they're "being cheated". They say MultiChoice should reduce the problem of repeats on existing channels instead of blocking an available TV channel.

DStv subscriber Gerald Umraw says "I feel like many others that we are being cheated. I do not expect DStv to make decisions on my behalf when they suggest that DStv Premium customers will not like to watch repeats. What if I want to watch repeats of some movies that I enjoy? I suggest you reconsider your decision and make MGM available to Premium customers, after all that's the reason why you charge us R700 per month."

"Will this now become a norm where DStv will block certain channels from DStv Premium subscribers? This was never the case in the past, so I do not see why it has to be now. I am a DStv Premium subscriber like many others and expect the very best DStv has to offer," he says.

Cindy Morgan says "there's so many repeat channels that we can block for ourselves from our decoders, but give us the premium paying subscribers' choice to do so. Don't do it on our behalf. We have a right to the MGM channel."

Neldri Rabe says "as per the excuse that MGM will be showing things that were on DStv before, we are receiving CBS Drama and CBS Action that are showing shows so old they have been on the SABC channels ages ago. How does this work? Sorry but I don't agree with this. If we don't get all the channels as per what it should be - we are after all paying the premium rate - then you are going to start losing customers."

MGM: MultiChoice blocking the lion's roar for DStv Premium subscribers in an 'unprecedented' move, witholding a channel for the first time.

MultiChoice is adding the MGM movie channel to DStv as part of four further channel additions but will be blocking MGM from its DStv Premium subscribers in what is described as an "unprecedented" move.

For the first time ever the South African satellite pay-TV platform will not be making a newly added TV channel available to its most expensive DStv Premium bouquet.

When TV channels are added to lower-tiered DStv packages, MultiChoice has always followed the "sell-through" strategy where non-premium channels are automatically made available to subscribers who pay more to get either all the available content or fall in higher channel brackets.

On 12 November MultiChoice will add the library channels CBS Drama and CBS Action from Chello Zone to DStv, with programming from CBS's television library. MultiChoice is also adding the preschool channel JimJam which has been available on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV the past three years.

MGM used to be on DStv when the platform started but was removed. MGM returned to South Africa with movies from the famous studio’s movie vault when ODM added it to TopTV in May 2010.

The iconic lion will however not be roaring for DStv Premium subscribers. MultiChoice responded to a media enquiry on Thursday about the blocked MGM movie channel and says DStv Premium is not getting MGM because those subscribers have already seen the movies. It's not clear whether MultiChoice is referring to brand-new, recent, or to longtime customers.

"As MGM contains library content that has already been seen by our Premium customers, a decision was made not to include this channel on the Premium package," says MultiChoice.

MultiChoice confirmed that it's the first time that DStv won't allow a movie channel available on its channel line-up for its high-end customers. "It is correct that this is the first time. Our Premium customers complained about the channels being added that repeat shows or movies they've already seen."

Asked whether future channels might now also go missing on the DStv Premium package, MultiChoice confirms the new practice of possibly blocking channels, saying the pay-TV operator will "evaluate this on a case by case basis. This is about offering our customers the best entertainment available."

The TV critic Tashi Tagg and editor-in-chief of the influential TVSA website which broke the news of the new channel additions on Wednesday told TV with Thinus in a media enquiry made on Thursday, that MultiChoice blocking DStv Premium customers from getting MGM is "nonsensical and unfair" and says "the situation is unprecedented".

"It's like ordering a Supersize meal at McDonalds and not getting condiments when the regular meals do!

"DStv Premium subscribers have always been under the impression that they're paying to get everything. Now suddenly this sets a precedent that DStv Premium subscribers can't trust that they're going to get everything in the future. What other channels won't they get in the future?" asked Tashi Tagg.

She said that the situation "could also imply that the MGM channel’s so bad DStv doesn't want to foist it off on premium subscribers".

"Considering the fact that DStv Premium subscribers get Tellytrack this says a lot about the channel – which ultimately makes it an insult to subscribers of other bouquets. Either way it's a problem for DStv subscribers."

It's not yet clear if DStv subscribers will be taking action over blocked content. In July furious DStv subscribers started a petition after changes to new DStv channels supplied by M-Net suddenly meant that DStv subscribers were no longer getting certain TV series on their specific bouquets.

Following the furore and online petition, the pay-TV operator made content changes.

BREAKING. MultiChoice adds MGM to DStv but is withholding the channel from DStv Premium subscribers.

MultiChoice is adding the MGM movie channel to DStv but the channel is being withheld from DStv Premium subscribers who will not be getting the movie channel on their Premium package from the satellite pay-TV operator.

It's probably the first time that MultiChoice is not making a TV channel added to lower-tiered packages available as so-called "sell-through" to all higher and more expensive bouquets.

MultiChoice didn't specify in the announcement why MGM supplied by Chello Zone in the United Kingdom isn't being given to DStv Premium subscribers who pay the highest subscription fee to receive all available content.

MGM has already been available on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV or soon to be StarSat platform for the past three years.

MGM will start on DStv's lower-tiered bouquets from 12 November which DStv Premium customers won't have access to.

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.

BREAKING. Zone Reality and other Chello Zone TV channels seen in South Africa changing names; getting reprogrammed by CBS.

TV channels such as Zone Reality (DStv 125) and others seen in South Africa are most likely going to change their names and appearance, and will be getting reprogrammed entirely for South African viewers and others 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.

Zone Reality will for instance basically be rebranded - or in effect be folded into - CBS Reality. 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.

CBS Studios International and Chellomedia will roll out and launch - and in some cases rebrand - CBS Drama, CBS Action and CBS Reality throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. These channels will have a collective footprint of 43 million subscribers. Chello Zone will form a new executive board comprising representatives from both companies.

Some of the Chello Zone channels will be renamed CBS Reality, CBS Action and CBS Drama and will be stocked with programming from CBS' TV library. CBS and Chello Zone already ran similar channels in the United Kingdom with great success. "This new partnership expands on a successful United Kingdom venture for CBS-branded channels that the companies launched in November 2009," CBS just said in a press statement.

"This is another terrific international business opportunity using CBS' wealth of content and globally recognised brand for equity in an exciting growth venture," says Armando Nunez, CBS Studios International president. "It opens yet another new international distribution outlet for our vast programming library, provides another way to monetize our content and complements our strong ongoing licensing of programming around the world."

"Chellomedia continues to be highly focused on building and growing the portfolio of TV channels internationally; it is very much part of our strategy to work with the best brands in entertainment," says Chellomedia's new CEO Niall Curran. "We are committed to delivering growth, subscribers and performance for this partnership".

I'm working on establishing exactly what channels are affected by this new partnership investment and how and what channels it will be affecting across MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV.

MultiChoice says that the pay TV platform has "no plans to add any further CBS channels onto the DStv platform or to make changes to the existing channels".

BREAKING. Zone Reality adds cutting edge documentaries and a big slate of new upcoming reality shows.

Chello Zone that runs Zone Reality (DStv 125) in 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa such as South Africa of course, has signed a deal with RDF Rights for several new upcoming reality shows that Zone Reality will roll out in the coming months.

Documentaries and new reality shows that South African viewers will see include titles such as Missing Persons Unit US, Nightmare in Suburbia, Boy in a Million, The Boy Who Will Never Grow, Girl Who Lives in the Dark, World's Smartest Boy, World's Largest Family and more episodes of Half Body, Whole Life.

''RDF Rights is renowned for distributing cutting edge documentaries and offering the best of crime programming from America and Britain, so we are thrilled to acquire these successful shows to expand our Zone Reality slate,'' says Sam Rowden, Chello Zone's director of programming for reality.

Chello Zone also runs the preschool channel Jim Jam (TopTV 256) that South African viewers can see since May.