OpenView HD dumps under-performing channels ASTV, Spirit Word, Ekurhuleni TV and Wild TV Africa; will add a new channel in October.

OpenView HD (OVHD) is dumping 4 TV channels from its service that it says is under-performing - ASTV, Spirit Word, Wild TV Africa and Ekurhuleni TV - and says it will add a new TV channel in October.

Following the news that OpenView HD is done with ASTV - a channel it actually acquired a shareholding in in mid-2014 but failed to grow as a partner - the free-to-air satellite platform run by eMedia Investment's Platco Digital says it is also getting rid of the Spirit Word, Wild TV Africa and Ekurhuleni TV channels.

ASTV will go dark on OpenView HD on 14 October with Spirit Word, Wild TV Africa and Ekurhuleni TV getting cut from the end of September through to mid-October.

Wild TV Africa that was added to OpenView HD in August 2015 lasted just a year since OpenView HD said in July 2015 its "excited" about adding it.

ASTV that will continue to be seen on On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat platform, willgo dark three years after it was picked up by OpenView HD in October 2013. The community TV station, Ekurhuleni TV was added to OpenView HD in January 2014.

OpenView HD says it will add a new TV channel in October.

"The decision to terminate the 4 channels' contracts came after careful consideration of their performance and the overall OpenView HD strategy going forward," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu, OpenView HD's channel and acquisitions executive.

Ziyanda Mngomezulu says OpenView HD's overall audience and business objectives mean that the available channels on OpenView HD require constant reassessment.

BREAKING. OpenView HD (OVHD) adds 3 further TV channels to its platform: Bi-Cars, Ekurhuleni TV and UCBN.

OpenView HD from Platco Digital, a division of Sabido Investment running the OVHD free satellite TV platform service in South Africa, is adding 3 further TV channels - Bi-Cars TV, Ekurhuleni TV and the Christian TV channel United Christian Broadcasting Network (UCBN) to its existing line-up of 15 TV channels.

Ekurhuleni TV is a community TV station carrying local news, music, educational, health and religious programming.

Bi-Cars TV is a new reality street motorsport lifestyle channel. Bi-Cars TV on OVHD will showcase motorsport news, fashion, celebrity riders and real-life stories of street Moto-sport lifestyle, entertainment and music.

According to OVHD biking enthusiasts will like Bi-Cars TV, covering Moto-sport trend setters, spinners, drifters and dragsters. "This is a market that shares one of the most expensive sport, with professionals from different sectors and love spending money on, and are passionate on their hobby.

Bi-Cars shows will include Mzansi Celebrities Bikers, Bi-Car make over, Battle of crews, BC league, Championships of Speed and Sound, and Torque Talk.

United Christian Broadcasting Network (UCB Network TV) is a Christian based channel providing religious content.

UCBN programming include shows such as Men of Honour, Women in me, Pastor's Corner, Africa Talent Show, It's not over yet (Another chance), Nuggets of Wealth and Leadership, U kids.