The Tellytrack horse-racing TV channel extends its contract with MultiChoice; will roll-out an on-air rebrand and content revamp on DStv from 4 May.

After getting extremely close to being dumped from MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV service DStv, and then saved, the horse-racing betting channel Tellytrack (DStv 239) is getting another reprieve from being sent to the off-air glue factory, with Tellytrack that will rebrand on 4 May 2019 with a revamped on-air offering.

The on-air rebrand and programming revamp forms part of a contract extension for the Tellytrack channel between MultiChoice and Phumelela Gaming and where Colleen Goodman was appointed as new Tellytrack CEO in late-2018.

MultiChoice and Phumelela Gaming didn't specify the duration or any of the details of the new contract.

MultiChoice says in a statement that "for over 15 years DStv has been the 'race track' of choice for many horse-racing lovers across the country" but omits how adamant and close the pay-TV service has been and came in the past to dumping Tellytrack.

MultiChoice says Tellytrack will "continue to run on DStv channel 239 enabling viewers to experience the 'Sport of Kings' in the comfort of their homes".

From 4 May Tellytrack will start with and carry an improved content offering that will include more lifestyle programming, as well as a new on-air look.

Tellytrack content - both recorded and live coverage - the past 3 years faced criticism ranging from low production values, looking amateurish, a failure to cover events, and horrible and uninformed on-air talent clueless and unprepared to cover race-events.

Tellytrack will now introduce a new hour-long daily Morning Show, that will carry 30 minutes of horseracing content and 30 minutes of other sports.

"Over the years we have seen consistency in the channel's viewership ratings, indicating that the South African television market has an appetite for the sport," says Rob Scott, sports betting executive for Phumelela Gaming, in a prepared statement.

"As such from a business perspective, extending the contract became key, as the partnership continues to provide an extended reach of the sport."

"Our objective is to provide our viewers with variety through the morning show but through our other offerings, become a channel that features predominantly local horseracing," says Rob Scott.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content strategy, says "The Tellytrack channel forms part of our platform's strategy to bring great quality and diverse content to South African audiences".

"Through our content we celebrate our diverse audiences' interests, and this can be demonstrated in the number of channel offerings available on our packages. The Tellytrack channel allows us to continue to meet this mandate – of continuously serving our viewers with content that is relevant and excites them."

Colleen Goodman appointed as new CEO of Tellytrack.

Colleen Goodman has been appointed as the new CEO of Tellytrack, the company involved in online horse-racing betting, and running the Tellytrack (DStv 239) sports-betting TV channel.

Colleen Goodman takes over from Rob Scott, who has been appointed sports betting executive for Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd that runs Tellytrack and who will remain the executive head of Tellytrack, marketing and publishing.

Colleen Goodman, a former MultiChoice marketing executive, will be responsible for Tellytrack as well as Phumelela Publishing.

''Documentary and wildlife are some of the most popular channels in our mix,'' says DStv about its nature and science channels.

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''DStv has gone to great lengths to carefully select the best programming, thereby emerging as the leading entertaining and informative broadcaster for documentaries and wildlife,'' says Colleen Goodman, DStv's marketing and publicity manager.

The pay TV platform is touting the documentary and wildlife programming on some of its channels for over the upcoming festive and holiday season like the National Geographic Channel (DStv 260), Nat Geo Wild (DStv 261), History (DStv 254), the Crime & Investigation Network (DStv 255), Discovery World (DStv 250), Discovery HD Showcase (DStv 172), Animal Planet (DStv 264) and BBC Knowledge (DStv 251).

Colleen Goodman, talking about DStv's commitment to having a wide array of educational entertainment across various TV channels, says ''our documentary and wildlife channels are some of the most popular channels in our mix and DStv offers our viewers a journey deep into the heart of our world.''

BREAKING. MultiChoice set to add four new TV channels before the end of the year; possibly adding pay movies on demand service soon.

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I can exclusively reveal that MultiChoice is working on adding at least another three – possible four – new TV channels to its DStv platform by the end of the year.

I already know exactly what one of these new channels will be, what it will be called and how it will work and can tell you exclusively first that this one will debut in October and will be a ***** channel and will be in **** **********. A MultiChoice source told me that DStv that just added Mzansi Magic, KidsCo and the AfroMusic channels (and soon in August a new additional SuperSport high definition channel called SS HD2), will enhance its offering by another three to four channels before the end of 2010. ''Contracts are being negotiated but are not signed yet,'' the source revealed to me.

I can also tell you that MultiChoice will possibly roll out something in the line of DStv movies on demand – a further extention to its successful DStv on Demand service – very soon. It will most probably be some kind of a pay service, whereas DStv on Demand is currently a free complementary service for DStv Premium subscribers. DStv subscribers will be able to to order specific film titles not available on any of the other available DStv channels. I absolutely have to emphasize that DStv movies on demand is not a sure thing, although a source says to me ''exciting things are taking place with DStv on Demand and expect big things coming from there very soon.''

Colleen Goodman, DStv marketing and publicity manager was only willing to tell me earlier today at the DStv annual media roadshow that ''big things are planned of course for October'' – the month during which MultiChoice and DStv turns 15. ''We want to reward our subscribers with more,'' she said and also acknowledged in an overview of the year so far that ''DStv recognizes that the pay TV landscape in the country has changed''. Interestingly enough October will also be the month in which MultiChoice rival, On Digital Media (ODM) and its TopTV platform is set to (as they promised at launch in May this year) add additional new TV channels without an increase in subscriber fees to its pay TV service.