Ratna Siriah appointed as the next new general manager of FOX International Channels for Africa; tasked with growing FOX's presence in Africa.

Ratna Siriah has been appointed as the new next general manager of FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa).

Ratna Siriah's appointment in Johannesburg where she will be looking after FIC's channels in Africa comes exactly a year after Hannelie Bekker was appointed as FIC Africa's managing director in November 2014, who then abruptly left after 5 months and with complete silence from FIC Africa about it.

Hannelie Bekker replaced the quiet Alessandro Tucci who was rarely seen in the local TV biz where FIC is trying to up its profile and brand recognition, and spoke even less.

With Ratna Siriah's appointment, FOX International Channels will again try to reset its process to solidify its African management presence and to get and build up its momentum and hands-on focus for its channel brands in South Africa and across the African continent.

In South Africa FIC runs channels like FOX and FOX Crime on MultiChoice's StarSat and On Digital Media and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat; National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild on DStv; and National Geographic Gold, FOX Sports, FOX Sports 2 and Baby TV on StarSat.

Out of the box there's two big issues Ratna Siriah should give urgent attention to, to make viewers of FOX channels content in South Africa less irritated with the brand, its channels and its shows.

With an ongoing litany of complaints about the often blacked-out and frozen FOX channels on StarSat like FOX and FOX Crime, as well as bad video and audio quality, Ratna Siriah's new job will also have to include serious discussions with On Digital Media and China's StarTimesMedia SA on how to end the ongoing brand damage being inflicted by StarSat on the perception its subscribers have of the FOX channels and its perceived quality.

Meanwhile the awkward and conspicuous absence also continues at MultiChoice, where exactly no content from FIC is available or being made available by MultiChoice on DStv Catch Up.

While MultiChoice and FIC are apparently no closer to a deal, its DStv subscribers who miss out by not being able to get some of the biggest pop culture hits like Empire and The Walking Dead broadcast on FOX, available as on demand viewing on DStv. The ongoing impasse is embarrassing to both DStv and to FOX and TV industry observers are wondering why there's no resolution.

Ratna Siriah joins FIC Africa from Zee World, where she has been the business head in Africa for the Indian-African television channel. She describes jumping from Zee to FIC Africa as "an amazing opportunity".

"FOX International Channels is a dynamic multi-media player and it operates the best brands in the industry. I am extremely excited about the opportunity," says Ratna Siriah.

Ratna Siriah will report to Adam Theiler, the executive vice president of FOX International Channels for the UK, Nordic, Turkey and Africa region.

"The appointment of Ratna Siriah reflects our ambition in Sub-Sahara Africa," says Adam Theiler.

"She brings vigorous commercial approach to the market and an impressive ability to understand the needs of our fans, affiliate partners and advertisers."

"Her pure energy and enthusiasm for product driven growth is in line with the culture of FIC. We have invested in the best of Hollywood on FOX, blue chip event television on National Geographic and heart-pounding live sport on FOX Sports, and we are thrilled to welcome a leader who can grow our portfolio and extend our reach across the continent," says Adam Theiler.

National Geographic Channel reteaming with Bill O'Reilly for next movie, Killing Reagan, about the assassination attempt on the American president.

As usual there's not as much as a single word from FOX International Channels or FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) about this, but National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has announced that the factual entertainment channel will produce the next movie based on Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's book, Killing Reagan.

Killing Reagan about the attempted assassination attempt on American president Ronald Reagan, will follow in the previous National Geographic Channel films Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus.

Since Ronald Reagan survived the assassination attempt, Killing Reagan will be different - it will look at how the attack impacted his presidency, shaped America and influenced power within the White House.

"Over the past three years, Scott Free Productions and National Geographic Channels have been incredible partners in bringing my books to life, and I'm confident Killing Reagan will be no different," says Bill O'Reilly in a statement.

"Their formula for translating these stories from the page to the screen, using A-list talent both in front of and behind the camera, has proven to be successful with both audiences and the industry at large."

Killing Reagan will be broadcast on National Geographic Channel in 2016 and is executive produced by Ridley Scott, David Zucker, Mary Lisio and Bill O'Reilly.

Is StarSat's 'expanding' FX coming to MultiChoice's DStv as a new TV channel from FOX International Channels?

Is the expanding FX (StarSat 133) TV channel on On Digital Media (ODM) and China's StarTimes Media SA's StarSat coming to MultiChoice's DStv as well soon?

FOX International Channels (FIC) which packages and distributes FX and FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) says it is in the process to "extend the distribution of FX in South Africa".

FX has been available since May 2010 in South Africa on TopTV, which has since rebranded as StarSat.

In May this year FX as a TV channel itself rebranded with a new on-air look.

Since MultiChoice's DStv is the only other satellite pay-TV operator available in South Africa running a commercial service besides ODM's StarSat, "extending the distribution of FX" would appear to strongly suggest that FX is coming to DStv - since its the only other pay-TV platform available that can possibly currently accommodate FX.

FOX International Channels Africa didn't respond to a media enquiry specifically asking whether FX as a TV channel will be added to DStv.

MultiChoice, responding to a similar media enquiry asking whether FX will be added to DStv, responded and said when there's news to share of new channels MultiChoice will make the necessary announcements.

FIC decided to remove its FOX Movies and FOX Movies+2 channels from StarSat which will go dark at the end of this coming weekend.

FIC Africa says it is "currently involved with the process of strengthening and extending the distribution of its local portfolio of channels in a strategic move to ensure the brands continue to flourish locally [in South Africa] with compelling and engaging content and in line with the company's global strategy".

FIC Africa says "exciting plans" are underway for FX.

FIC Africa says that the extension of FX - presumably to include DStv as well - "will bring new audiences to the channel that since May 2015 offers a revamped version with a fresh on-air look and feel".

FX has shows such as Archer, Entourage, Hell on Wheels and Copper.

Hannelie Bekker out as managing director of FOX International Channel Africa in South Africa after 5 months.

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I can reveal that in a shock move Hannelie Bekker is out at FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) where she was the new managing director for 5 months.

FOX International Channels Africa is completely quiet about the shocking exit of Hannelie Bekker, with no announcement, statement or notification about the highly respected TV executive whose last day at FIC Africa's office in Johannesburg, according to sources, was last Tuesday at the end of March.

Hannelie Bekker, a highly experienced, highly skilled and extremely talented TV executive was appointed as the new managing director of FOX International Channels Africa (FIC) in November 2014 and replaced Alessandro Tucci.

 Hannelie Bekker's appointment at the end of 2014 for which she relocated from Kenya back to South Africa, signaled a massive upscaling and appointment coup for FIC Africa and its regionalised pay-TV business in South African and the rest of the African continent.

At Sony Television's upfront on Wednesday afternoon in Johannesburg the primary topic of conversation under journalists, ad executives, media buyers and TV executives was Hannelie Bekker's sudden exit and the silence from FOX International Channels Africa about it.

There's been no word from FIC Africa and FIC Africa marketing executive Khosi Khanyile about Hannelie Bekker, nor whether who will replace her in the position of managing director - if anybody.

Just a month ago, on 10 February, FIC Africa had a hugely successful FOX upfront and press day to showcase the premium upcoming shows secured for the FOX and FOX Crime TV channels.

Hannelie Bekker took South African TV critics through a smooth and pitch-presentation of FOX's upcoming programming with sizzle reels and took questions from the press afterwards in a wide-ranging Q&A session.

Hannelie Bekker's sudden and unexpected exit after just 5 months - and FIC Africa's silence to communicate the top executive change and the reasons for it - is odd and surprising given FIC Africa's commitment to the press regarding programming information and corporate changes.

Hannelie Bekker leaving is a huge loss for FIC Africa, not just due to the TV executive's real experience, skill and TV industry standing, but also for the perceived cache her appointment signaled about FIC Africa to South Africa's pay-TV business industry.

Whoever is appointed next as FIC Africa managing director - if anyone - it's unlikely that FIC International will be able to find someone locally with the years of TV experience, pay-TV acumen and vast list of established business contacts and professional relationships Hannelie Bekker instantly brought to FIC Africa.

BREAKING. Hannelie Bekker appointed as the new managing director of FOX International Channels Africa in Johannesburg.

The highly experienced, highly skilled and extremely talented TV executive Hannelie Bekker has been appointment as the managing director of FOX International Channels Africa (FIC).

The appointment of Hannelie Bekker signals a major upscaling in TV executive power for FIC Africa and is a major loss for the Wananchi group and Wananchi Programming Limited running the Zuku satellite pay-TV service in East Africa where she was the managing director.

FIC Africa tells TV with Thinus that Hannelie Bekker replaces Alessandro Tucci as FIC Africa managing director who has returned to Italy citing personal family reasons and left at the end of October, and that the appointment starts from today, the day of the announcement.

At Zuku TV Hannelie Bekker, previously an accomplished and respected TV executive at the SABC, the past few years very successfully created and rolled out several self-compiled TV channels, credited with putting Zuku TV on the map.

Hannelie Bekker has extensive knowledge of the African and South Africa TV and film industry with strong relationships with African broadcasters, international content distributors and international channel owners.

She will now be bringing that to FIC Africa which runs TV channels ranging from FOX, FOX Crime, FOX Movies, FX, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic Gold, FOX Sports, FOX Sports 2 and Baby TV across MultiChoice's DStv, On Digital Media and StarTimes South Africa's StarSat and other pay-TV operators across Africa.

Hannelie Bekker is moving back to South Africa and will be based in Johannesburg and FIC Africa's office where she will be reporting to Adam Theiler, the executive president for Southern Europe and Africa.

"Hannelie will be an extraordinary asset to FIC and will lead and extend our operation throughout Africa which is a key market with a mature business operation and strong brand and affiliate distribution," says Adam Theiler.

"Hannelie's experience and track record in senior roles at numerous TV production companies throughout Africa not only make her the best possible person to manage FIC Africa, but also a prominent figure within Africa's TV industry who can help FIC to consolidate its objectives in the region."

LET IT GO? FOX channels and EPG on StarSat FROZEN up again - for 20 hours already and counting ... meanwhile silence from FIC and StarSat.

You almost expect to see a snowman: Once again terribly bad non-service has StarSat subscribers fuming, as once again the FOX channels supplied by FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) are stuck on frozen ... for 20 and a half hours now and counting - complete with a broken non-existent EPG for these channels, and also affecting the recently added FOX Movie channels this time.

Neither StarSat operated by On Digital Media (ODM), nor FIC Africa has spoken to StarSat subscribers and FOX channels viewers to explain what is going on, why is has happened, when it would be fixed, or issued any apology of any kind.

Meanwhile StarSat subscribers and FOX channels viewers are paying for a service they're not getting - not even the courtesy of a response, an apology or a reason why their TV channels are frozen up.

It's a case of FOX fracas for FIC Africa and StarSat which has seen multiple previous problems with the FOX supplied channels earlier this year, again and again - and now again.

It first happened in February this year when FOX and FX just completely went black with no warning, explanation or apology, then again in April this year when FOX Crime disappeared, then the next month when FOX Crime and FOX again froze and were beset with technical troubles.

Neither FIC Africa nor StarSat has in the past given a real explanation for what is happening, why it has happened, and why it continues to happen - and will likely again not say, or be able to say why StarSat subscribers keep seeing some of the FOX channels freezing up for hours and days at a time.

Previously StarSat subscribers saw their FOX channels blacking out, pixelating or experiencing some broadcast problems making them impossible to watch.

This time StarSat subscribers are outraged over the recently added FOX Movies channels and the FOX Crime channel being stuck on frozen since Monday evening. The electronic programme guide (EPG) for these channels are also not working.

"They don't consider ordinary StarSat subscribers important enough to warrant a reply to this question. Shame, StarSat is just not cutting it," one subscriber told TV with Thinus on Tuesday afternoon after FOX Crime and FOX Movies have been effective off-air for almost a day.

"FOX Movies and FOX Crime are STILL frozen. 20 and a half hours???" wrote Steven John Browne on Tuesday afternoon at 14:15.

"FOX Crime and FOX Movies went blank and you guys can't even give people an apology or even an explanation," wrote Dianne William-Hartley. "Have these channels been taken off air or what the hell is going on?"

"FOX Movies and FOX Crime are still frozen," wrote Philani Hlongwane.

Both FIC Africa and StarSat's PR companies told TV with Thinus on Tuesday afternoon in response to a media enquiry that they're asking FOX and StarSat's technical team what is going on.


UPDATE 16:05 - StarSat is issuing a short statement to TV with Thinus saying: "StarSat would like to apologise to our subscribers for the freezing of the FOX Crime and FOX Movie channels due to a break in the link. The problem is receiving our urgent attention and we are working with the supplier of the link to resolve the problem."

UPDATE 16:16 - The PR company speaking on behalf of FIC Africa tells me that the problem is StarSat's issue and that StarSat should be speaking regarding the problems being experienced.

FOX Movies +2 added to StarSat as a two hours later, time-shifted channel of FOX Movies.

The FOX Movies +2 channel has started on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat as a two hours later, or "+2" time-shifted TV channel of FOX Movies (StarSat 135) which finally started last month.

StarSat said last month that the time-shifted channel will be introduced soon.

FOX Movies +2 is broadcast on channel 136 on StarSat.

FOX Movies +2 runs two hours later than what is shown on FOX Movies.

"We are now introducing FOX Movies +2 to give subscribers greater opportunities to watch their preferred titles," says Ian Woodrow, StarSat's head of content.

FOX International Channels Africa comments on adding FOX Movies to StarSat; FOX Life possibly added as a new channel soon as well.

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FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) says the addition of the new TV channel, FOX Movies that will start on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat satellite pay-TV platform in South African on Saturday 7 June helps to increase FOX International Channel's footprint and now makes its the most relevant supplier of TV channels to StarSat.

FIC will provide a lifestyle TV channel to StarSat as well, but is not saying what the channel is, or when the channel will be added.

It's however very likely that it will be FOX Life that will be added to StarSat, FIC's global mother lifestyle television brand that has scripted and non-scripted shows which are inspired by real-life, including drama series, comedies and reality shows.

With the addition of FOX Movies, FIC Africa will now oversee 7 TV channels on StarSat - FOX, FX, BabyTV, FUEL, FOX Crime and Nat Geo Gold.

"The FIC Africa strategic plan has been to ensure increased distribution of our key channel brands to all platforms thus strengthening our presence," says Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager for FIC Africa.

"FIC will be the most relevant channels supplier of StarSat".

About the FOX Movies addition Alessandro Tucci says "the deal will increase FIC's footprint and support the global corporate strategy of channels remaining non-exclusive".

"This move is very encouraging for us as a distributor of powerhouse channel brands globally".

FOX Movies is already available in West Africa on Montage and will now be available in South Africa as well. The channel broadcast comedy, drama, action, science fiction, horror and thrillers.

BREAKING. Spooky new drama series Wayward Pines, coming to FOX in South Africa closely on the heels of starting in America.

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South African viewers will soon get to see the brand-new mystery and spooky drama series Wayward Pines on FOX (StarSat 130 / DStv 125).

Wayward Pines will start on FOX in South Africa, and closely after its being shown in America, thanks to a similar deal which has seen shows like The Walking Dead, The Bridge, Falling Skies and Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey being broadcast in South Africa on FOX and National Geographic Channel closely on the heels of episodes being shown in the United States and worldwide.

The upcoming new show The Outcast is another show that will also be FOX thanks to a similar arrangement.

FOX International Channels (FIC), FOX Broadcasting Company and FX Productions have signed a deal giving FIC control of all international rights of Wayward Pines which is a modern day type of Twin Peaks executive produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

That means that South Africa will be one of the 125 countries where Wayward Pines will be rolled out on FOX, and that it is extremely likely that episodes of the drama series will start in South Africa within days after starting in America.

Wayward Pines is shot in British Columbia adding the 10 episode miniseries' eery atmosphere with stars like Matt Dillon who is a secret service agent investigating the disappearance of two federal agents in a small Idaho town.

"Wayward Pines has all the makings of an international hit - a spectacular, world-renowned cast, thrills crafted by suspenseful storyteller M. Night Shyamalan, and a global FOX launch platform reaching more than 350 million viewers," says Hernan Lopez, the president and CEO of FIC.

"We are also excited by the early interest the show is generating with potential buyers, and confident that these partnerships will amplify the scale and impact Wayward Pines will have around the world".

Fox over StarSat's second FOX Crime blackout: 'Extremely disappointed by the continued intrusions to viewing'.

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Fox International Channels (FIC) which supplies the FOX Crime TV channel to both MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat says it is "extremely disappointed" after the second unexpected and unannounced blackout of FOX Crime on StarSat's pay-TV platform in South Africa for which StarSat has not yet given a reason.

Although FOX Crime continued to be broadcast as usual on DStv, FOX Crime went dark for all StarSat subscribers in South Africa on Wednesday evening for a second time in less than a month.

FOX Crime was restored a day later on Thursday, but StarSat which didn't warn subscribers or keep them in the loop regarding the down channel, has not yet said what the reason for the problem is.

FOX Crime on StarSat experienced a channel blackout on 13 March and blamed "a temporary technical problem at the uplink site".

Since China's StarTimes came onboard as an investor in StarSat, StarSat continues to suffer month-to-month from broadcast quality problems which include bad video and audio on several channels.

"We have been made aware that FOX Crime was off air on StarSat on Wednesday evening," Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager of Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) tells TV with Thinus in response to a media enquiry.

"This was due to a technical problem experienced by the platform that delivers these channels to viewers".

"That, unfortunately, places it out of our direct control as the channel distributor," says Alessandro Tucci.

"We are in the business of delivering quality channel brands to our viewers and are extremely disappointed by the continued intrusions to viewing," says Alessandro Tucci.

"We apologise to all our viewers for the breaks in transmission and will work with StarSat in order to avoid this problem from happening again."

BREAKING. The missing FOX Crime on StarSat is 'a temporary technical problem at the uplink site,' says StarSat.

The FOX Crime (StarSat 131) TV channel which suddenly disappeared from On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat satellite pay-TV line-up on Thursday night is "a temporary technical problem" and FOX Crime will be back although StarSat isn't saying when.

FOX Crime which is also available on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV satellite platform, disappeared on Thursday night, with StarSat subscribers fearing that the channel has been yanked.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) told TV with Thinus earlier today that FOX Crime is still being supplied to StarSat - meaning that the channel hasn't been cut by the supplier and that the problem is somewhere with StarSat.

StarSat, formerly known as TopTV, didn't elaborate on or explain what exactly the problem is and why the channel turned black, but has responded to a media enquiry saying that the disappearance of FOX Crime "is a temporary technical problem at the uplink site".

StarSat says "our technicians are working on it".

BREAKING. FOX Crime from FIC Africa disappears and goes black on StarSat with no warning, reason or explanation to subscribers.

FOX Crime (StarSat 131) has completely disappeared and gone black on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat platform with no warning or explanation from the company, and no word on when - of if - FOX Crime will return.

ALSO READ: StarSat has now responded and says FOX Crime is not gone permanently but that there is "a temporary technical problem at the uplink site".

StarSat, formerly TopTV, is planning to add FOX Movies as a new TV channel but has not said anything further about it since news leaked last month.

FOX Crime however disappeared on Thursday night without any explanation to subscribers as to what happened. The FOX Crime TV channel is also available on MultiChoice's DStv platform and FOX Crime is run and distributed by Fox International Channels (FIC).

StarSat subscribers so far got no explanation from the company as to what happened, whether there is some technical problem, or whether the channel has been yanked permanently.

Since China's StarTimes came onboard as an investor in StarSat, StarSat continues to suffer month-to-month from debilitating broadcast quality problems which include bad video and audio on several channels, and channels disappearing without warning and then being restored.

Subscribers also continue to complain about ongoing decoder reception problems, saying StarSat decoders are not receiving certain channels.

StarSat didn't immediately respond to a media enquiry asking what happened to FOX Crime.

FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) tells TV with Thinus FOX Crime is still being delivered to StarSat but that "StarSat has been having technical problems".

"The channel is still being delivered to StarSat by FIC. We are unable to comment on technical delivery issues that StarSat is undergoing".

BREAKING. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey starting in South Africa on 16 March at 19:10 on National Geographic Channel and FOX.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will start on 16 March in South Africa at 19:10, a week after the United States launch date.

ALSO READ: Eye-popping new documentary series, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, coming to South African viewers in March on the National Geographic Channel.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will be seen on multiple South African TV channels - including high definition (HD).

The first episode of the new National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) series will be shown on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 130) and National Geographic Channel at the same of 19:10 on 16 March. At 23:00 the same night, the first episode will also be shown on Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182).

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will however not be shown on Nat Geo GOLD (StarSat 300), I'm told.

After the first episode, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey's other 12 episodes will continue on National Geographic Channel.

"The vision of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey inspired us to create a launch across all of our National Geographic Channels and FOX channels that will reach an unprecedented 400 million homes outside the United States," says Liz Dolan, the chief marketing officer of FOX International Channels (FIC) and National Geographic Channels International.

"Not only will the show premiere in 400 million homes, but in many of those homes it will be on two, three or four channels," says Liz Dolan.

Seth MacFarlane, a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation (and the creator behind Family Guy and The Cleveland Show) is the executive producer of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey together with Brannon Braga of Star Trek fame.

 The 13 part, remarkable and eye-popping new documentary series serves as a visually, scientific and special effects rich update of the 1970's landmark series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage - you can almost call it Cosmos: The Next Generation.

In Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, presenter and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson boards a futuristic, teardrop like spaceship with the ability to go anywhere in the universe and in time, and then takes viewers on a dazzling, dreamscape-like journey through time and space.

Da Vinci's Demons going to Peru and Machu Picchu in South America in the second season starting in April on FOX in South Africa.

The second season of drama Da Vinci's Demons will start in April in South Africa on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 130) soon after the season starts on 22 March in the United States, although FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) can't provide an exact starting date yet.

In the second season of Da Vinci's Demons with Tom Riley as Leonardo da Vinci, the show will see the character visit Peru and Machu Picchu while the Incas were at the height of their civilization in South America (albeit recreated on a Swansea sound stage).

New Da Vinci inventions viewers will see include a submarine.

Tom Riley told FOX International Channels that "we've got some really good, exciting new people coming to shake things up. And the characters that already exist are all going to be thrown together in strange combinations anyway, so you're going to see people interacting who you haven't seen interacting before".

"We spent a lot of time in the New World, so we have recreated a one of the hottest countries in the world in one of the coldest. So we had to spend quite a lot of time in very little clothes looking like we were sweaty and hot and trying to hide our cold breath. So that was pretty challenging this season," said Tom Riley.

"The show splits in the second season. We see the characters in various different geographical locations, different emotional locations, and Lucrezia is sort of the glue that holds it all together".

BREAKING. All FOX channels on StarSat across Africa goes black: FX, FOX gone and subscribers in the dark as to what happened.

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All the FOX channels on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, as well as the FOX channels provided by StarSat's Chinese backer StarTimes elsewhere in Africa have gone black and blank since Wednesday night.

StarSat subscribers in South Africa and StarTimes pay-TV viewers elsewhere in Africa are now fearing that FOX has pulled all its channels from StarTimes.

StarSat subscribers are extremely worried, sad and upset since StarSat, previously known as TopTV, lost several TV channels when international channel suppliers like Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) and Discovery Networks International (DNI) summarily pulled their channels from TopTV over the past two years.

The Woodmead based company hasn't told StarSat subscribers in South Africa why the channels suddenly disappeared.

Meanwhile StarTimes subscribers in African countries like Kenya are wondering why FX is simply gone.

A StarSat spokesperson told TV with Thinus on Thursday morning following a media enquiry, that the missing FOX channels "is a technical problem which we are working on".

StarSat says the problem is with the service provider who provides the fibre link in Europe. "They are working on the problem with a good deal of urgency". StarSat says an estimated time for when the problem will be fixed and the FOX channels restored, is not available.

FOX International Channels (FIC) and FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) which supply the channels to StarSat in South Africa and to StarTimes in Africa has also not made any public statement about the blank channels and also didn't communicate immediately to FOX viewers who can no longer see their channels on StarSat.

FIC Africa, in response to a media enquiry made Thursday morning, referred media enquiries directly to StarSat. FIC Africa said StarSat has to be asked about the missing FOX channels since "they are the platform who did not have a signal".

The FOX blackout is the next subscriber mishap hitting StarSat in 2014. StarSat subscribers have been furious about technical problems following a transponder uplinking change which saw subscribers who had to change decoder settings, the loss of TV channels, and a degradation of TV channels in video and audio quality.

Fox International to adapt drama Shufim as a new psycho-thriller series; will roll out in South Africa close to international broadcasting date.

Fox International Channels (FIC) is adapting an Israeli scripted drama Shufim (False Flag) for a global roll-out, which will see the new TV drama be broadcast in South Africa and Africa very soon after episodes are shown internationally as part of the same global strategy FIC now uses globally, with The Walking Dead and Da Vinci's Demons seen on FOX in South Africa and The Bridge on FOX Crime.

Shufim, written by Peter Landesman, revolves around someone killed in a hotel room, and the hotel personnel doing the sleuthing to put together surveillance footage and passport photos to eventually implicate 26 international hotel guests and giving it to the global news media.

The drama will be based - just like Homeland was an adaptation - on an Israeli series which is shown on Keshet channel 2 in Israel.

In the adaptation, 8 apparently ordinary citizens of the United States wake up to see their faces and private lives broadcast across the internet and television news around the world as suspects in a brazen and dangerous crime.

What seems at first like a horrible case of mistaken identity, then turns into a psycho-espionage thriller.

"Our partnership with Keshet and Peter Landesman, who both have strong track records for telling compelling stories, is an exciting addition to our original development slate," says Sharon Tal Yguado, the executive vice president for original development and scripted programming at FIC in a statement.

"Peter with his background in investigative journalism understands the complexity of the story and has come up with a version that will connect deeply with audiences both in the United States and globally."

BREAKING. Falling Skies on FOX in South Africa renewed for a 4th season of 10 episodes.

Falling Skies, the science fiction drama from Steven Spielberg seen in South Africa on FOX (DStv 125 / TopTV 180) and currently in its third season in the United States has been renewed for a fourth season.

Unlike the previous two seasons South African viewers are not seeing episodes of the current latest third season of Falling Skies close to the American broadcasting date which is produced by DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg and starring Noah Wyle.

That is because the deal between Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) and MultiChoice to also add the FOX channel to DStv means that FIC Africa is first reshowing and rebroadcasting the episodes from both the first and the second season of Falling Skies on FOX to help DStv subscribers catch up.

The one benefit is that episodes of Falling Skies are seen in South Africa for the first time in high definition (HD). The third season of Falling Skies will only start showing on FOX on DStv and TopTV in September.

The fourth season of Falling Skies will also have 10 episodes.

BREAKING. Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if FOX Crime is coming to TopTV.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) is talking about the "sudden" and absolutely shocking demise of Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from TopTV from which it disappeared without warning or explanation; why Fox Retro viewers and TopTV subscribers were not told until after the Fox supplied channel disappeared; and whether Fox Crime which is coming to DStv from 19 July will also be added to TopTV in the place of Fox Retro.

I just got off the phone with Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager who is based in Johannesburg and who oversees Fox's Africa business in South Africa and across the African continent.

Sir, thank you you for you time and willingness to talk to me. I woke up today and heard from a lot of very upset, shocked and angry TopTV subscribers and I got a lot of email from people which usually happens when an operator suddenly no longer has a TV channel. 
In May Fox International Channels Africa said that the Fox channels supplied to TopTV will remain on TopTV. When was the decision taken to end Fox Retro and why was the channel shut down?

Alessandro Tucci: The decision of shutting Fox Retro is not related to TopTV. It's more related to overall Fox channels and that performance management. What we're trying to do in South Africa is to bring our big brands to subscribers and pay-TV customers. 

We launched our channels on TopTV a few years ago and Fox Retro was a good proposition then, but very quickly we have seen that bringing TV shows from the 70s 80s and 90s was not the best proposition going forward as a single channel for a new market growing very fast in Africa. So we decided that the channel as Fox Retro was, was not the best we could do anymore. 

We also added FOX recently to MultiChoice's DStv and in a couple of weeks were launching FOX Crime on DStv on 9 July as well. So we decided to shut down Fox Retro to concentrate on our key brands going forward such as FOX Crime.

Also, the rest of our channels are all still on TopTV and still available to TopTV clients.

TopTV subscribers and Fox Retro viewers are really upset that they were not told before the channel was discontinued that Fox Retro was being taken away. 
Why did Fox International Channels Africa make the announcement that Fox Retro ended only today after the channel was terminated? Why couldn't people be told earlier?

Alessandro Tucci: The customers are right. It is miscommunication between us and TopTV management; we didn't properly communicate this decision. 

However, as we said in our PR release, the Fox Retro customers will see their content didn't disappear; we have created a strip into the FOX channel and we're bringing the best of FOX Retro content to viewers now on that channel. 

If someone was a fan of Quantum Leap or M*A*S*H they can still enjoy it through that block. As you say, it was a little bit of bad communication between us and TopTV; we didn't properly communicate that.

Is FOX Crime going to be added to TopTV as a TV channel, or will it not?

Alessandro Tucci: On 19 July we will start with FOX Crime on DStv and we are now in discussions with TopTV management. We really hope we can find an agreement this week soon, and to then add FOX Crime to TopTV possibly very, very soon.

Thank you very much for your time sir and for your willingness to talk to me and to answer these questions.


ALSO READ:  TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the channel after saying in May that all Fox channels are safe. 
ALSO READ: Analysis: An awful, "old" ending for Fox Retro on TopTV - and another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.

ANALYSIS. An awful 'old' ending for Fox Retro on TopTV - and another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.

It's breathtaking, astounding, unbelievable, and shocking how superbly bad the lack of communication - and how big the fail - is from both TopTV and Fox International Channels Africa - over the sudden dumping of the Fox Retro channel from TopTV's channel line-up without any prior warning.

TopTV's publicity and marketing division and its PR agency, Fox International Channels Africa's marketing division, and its PR agency, all four of them based in Johannesburg inside South Africa and filled with supposed expert communication specialists, all failed monumentally in even showing the lowest form of common courtesy: to just at least tell TopTV subscribers, to tell TopTV Retro viewers, and to tell the South African press that the channel is getting yanked before it was instantly just gone.

TV channel don't just suddenly disappear. Decisions are made weeks if not months in advance; definitely 24 hours before a TV channel such as Fox Retro goes dark and subscribers suddenly are left wondering - without any warning, explanation, reason or communication - what is going on.

Yet that is exactly what happened: Not even 24 hours before the time could either TopTV or FIC Africa or both muster up with any type of statement, programming note, press release or just basically tell people that Fox Retro is getting dumped.

No. They wait for it to happen and the fall-out to start, disrepecting pay-TV viewers who are just good enough to pay; but not to be actually spoken to.

On Monday morning TopTV responded with an answer after media enquiries. FIC Africa finally issued a general press statement but also only after media enquiries are made about what is going on with a missing TV channel.

Why must TopTV subscribers wonder what is going on? Why must TopTV subscribers be in the dark when something like this happens, instead of knowing and being informed before it is going to happen so that they're in the loop?

Why must TopTV subscribers then go to the press to desperately ask journalists to try and find answers? Is this reputable brands? Is this how professional companies behave? Is this what media companies who work in communications do? Not talk at all in time?

Why is something like Fox Retro being removed as a channel with a lack of transparent communication to customers happening in South Africa in real-life? Why are pay-TV subscribers and even the press then left in the dark until after it has happened? Why is the communication being done so non-existently poorly?

It will simply not happen in other pay-TV markets in the world, but companies and PR agencies and marketing executives possibly think South Africans don't deserve better. Perhaps its a philosophy of lets just make money and not worry about the backwater subscribers who won't kick up a fuss and who don't deserve answers.

Why are people in marketing, publicity and working in a media industry and South Africa's TV industry so bad at talking and transparency and so terrible that they don't communicate at all when its required and don't do so in time? It's almost as if people huddle and think: What's the worst possible decision(s) or communication strategy we can cope up with? And then they choose that one.

TopTV subscribers deserve better. They actually paid for something (or prepaid for something) suddenly taken away.

Fox Retro viewers deserve better. They grew with and were exposed to a brand and perhaps fell in love with it. Somewhere every TV channel is someone's favourite can't-live-without channel. But then it leaves them without saying goodbye and rips their heart out.

South African TV viewers in general deserve better. National and multi-national companies in the TV business have clearly shown how little respect and responsibility they feel towards South Africa and South African viewers. TV channel removed? Oh well, we will tell you after the fact because that's how little you as a viewer really matter to us. But please just keep paying.

Sadly when it comes to Fox playing open cards and communicating upfront and openly with South African pay-TV subscribers, in my opinion, in the case of Fox Retro suddenly vanishing, it's not just one of Fox's channels which are retro.

ALSO READ: TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls Fox Retro after saying in May all the Fox channels on TopTV are safe.
ALSO READ: Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if Fox Crime is coming to TopTV.

BREAKING. TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the classic channel after saying in May Fox channels are all safe.

You're reading it here first. 

TopTV has lost another TV channel with Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) going dark without any explanation, warning or advance warning given to Fox Retro viewers or TopTV subscribers.

TopTV now displays an on-screen message telling TopTV subscribers simply that Fox Retro no longer exists on the channel line-up of the beleaguered South African satellite pay-TV platform.

In May FIC Africa assured TopTV and Fox viewers that Fox won't be pulling any of its 5 Fox supplied TV channels off of the TopTV platform after all the TV channels from Discovery suddenly disappeared.

FIC Africa said in May when specifically asked about it, that it has "no plans to remove channels" from TopTV. Now Fox Retro is permanently gone.

MultiChoice's DStv will be adding the new Fox Crime channel from FIC Africa to DStv from 19 July; insiders told me today that FIC was or is apparently planning to replace Fox Retro with Fox Crime. That news so far I could not confirm, although it would yield one possible explanation for Fox Retro going dark on TopTV.

I reached out on email and phone Monday morning to both TopTV and the representation working for FIC Africa in Johannesburg about Fox Retro, but so far no answers on why the channel stopped.

In April TopTV ended its self-compiled and own branded Top Junior and Top Movies+24 channels, calling it an "unavoidable exercise". Neither of those channels has so far been replaced.

TopTV is currently in business rescue, with the Woodmead based pay-TV operator which got a licence from the broadcasting regulator earlier this year to start a separate porn bouquet of three pornographic channels - Desire TV, Private Spice and Playboy TV - supplied by Playboy UK/Benelux Limited.

On Digital Media (ODM) which runs the TopTV platform has not yet given any indication of whether it will go ahead with its porn plans to launch it commercially. Asked last week about latest developments regarding the operator and the bail-out proceedings with China's StarTimes taking a stake in the company, TopTV declined comment.

11:50 - TopTV respond to a media enquiry confirming that Fox Retro is no longer available as a TV channel. TopTV says: "This was a decision by Fox to terminate the channel over the whole of Africa. It was not a TopTV decision. Discussions are far advanced with regard to a replacement channel and we will advise as soon as the details are known."

12:53 - FIC Africa, through the PR agency its retains, At Vogue Communications, issues a general press statement to all press, saying the "vintage channel exists pay-TV platform TopTV".

"Though FOX Retro has continued to confirm its position as a proven value destination for pay-TV viewers, FIC has determined that delivering channels with a broader content base will better serve local audiences."

The statement says FOX Retro is getting dumped on TopTV "to ensure that the African portfolio more closely resembles the international channel structure".

"The company understands the popularity of retro programming and has therefore included a daily retro block on FOX (DStv 125 / TopTV 180) to cater to Retro's committed audience."

Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager says "Retro was an excellent channel choice when we launched in the local market. As we have settled into the market we have had the opportunity to gauge which brands are more relevant to African audiences working within the key channel brands that FIC has identified internationally."

"The plan to discontinue the channel is part of our global strategy to deliver the right channel brands and content mixes to our local audiences. We have reviewed our content strategy and believe that our retro programming has a better home on our flagship channel FOX."

"This will also see a larger audience across the continent being able to access retro favourites."


ALSO READ: Fox Retro's awful end on TopTV: Another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.
ALSO READ: Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if Fox Crime is coming to TopTV.