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.

BREAKING. Fox International Channels (FIC) appoints Jan Koeppen as the new Africa/Europe president.

Fox International Channels (FIC) has appointed Jan Koeppen as the new president for Africa and Europe, following the shock resignation of Jesus Perezagua who will be gone at the end of this month.

Jan Koeppen will report directly to FIC CEO Hernan Lopez.

"It is a time of great opportunity in our business and we are excited to have someone of Jan Koeppen's insight and experience join FIC's global leadership team," says Hernan Lopez in a statement.

"Jan Koeppen has created enormous value for multiple divisions of 21st Century Fox and I am looking forward to having him run our Europe and Africa business".

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.

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

You're reading it here first.

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.

The Walking Dead season 4 will start in South Africa on DStv and TopTV on FOX within a week of 13 October when it starts in America.

The fourth season of the zombie drama The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv and on On Digital Media's TopTV on FOX (DStv 125 / TopTV 180) within days and less than a week after the new season kicks off on 13 October in the United States.

FOX International Channels (FIC) says its committed to rolling out the fourth season of The Walking Dead "across all FOX International Channels markets" since it remains committed to broadcast the series near the launch day and date globally of the AMC channel which shows it in the United States.

FIC says The 4th season of The Walking Dead will start internationally in 120 countries within the same week as the show returns in the United States.

"A 16 episode season of the series will air in two-parts with the first eight hours kicking off the week of 13 October and returning February 2014 with the final eight episodes," says FIC in a press release.

"Internationally season 3 consistently ranked as the number one show on pay-tv, beating out all other completion in major markets and out-performing all prior season averages."

"In the highly anticipated new season, we find Rick and the group fostering a thriving community in the safe haven of the prison. Sadly, in this brutal world, happiness is short-lived and walkers and outside threats are no match for danger brewing inside the fences. The group's home and new way of life will be thoroughly tested, and their struggle to survive has never been so perilous."

Fox International Channels (FIC) appoints Jo McGrath as the head of production for Europe and Africa.

Fox International Channels (FIC) which runs channels such as FOX, FX, FOX Crime and others in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, On Digital Media's TopTV as well as others has appointed Jo McGrath as the head of production for Europe and Africa.

Jo McGrath based in London will work under Jason Thorp, the company's vice president of content for Europe and the managing director for the United Kingdom and Africa. She will be managing all production activity across FIC's entertainment and lifestyle properties in these regions.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of FIC Eurpe and Africa at such an exciting time in the company's development," says Jo McGrath.

"We've got a great team and editorially we want to take risks. We need entertaining returnable series which genuinely feel different and have a sense of humour. Whether it's talent, tone or subject matter, we want our shows to stand out from the crowd," says Jo McGrath.

"JO's knowledge, experience and reputation across the business will prove invaluable as we strive to become a credible player in content production, creating and owning returnable and marketable series for our channels," says Jason Thorp.

The new FOX Sports TV channel is going international; how long before it comes to South Africa and maybe TopTV?

The brand-new FOX Sports TV channel which is launching on 18 August in America is quickly also going international just as TV with Thinus predicted back in March, with Fox International Channels (FIC) which just announced that it is planning to expand FOX Sports into a new channel also running in Italy.

FIC announced that the new FOX Sports will soon also be launching in Italy with a portfolio of sports rights and FIC has plans to roll out the new TV channel in other TV markets around the world.

"Our goal is to bring all the passion of FOX Sports to the most passionate fans around the world, and in this ranking Italy comes high up on the list," says Hernan Lopez, the president and CEO of Fox International Channels in a statement.

As ESPN is scaling back its TV channels internationally such as ESPN Classic which will be gone soon from MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in Africa when the channel is discontinued across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, FIC is seeking to fill the gap with aggressive expansion plans to increase its own new sports brand internationally through carriage deals.

FOX Sports in Italy has for instance snapped up sports rights from the ESPN channel version which will soon cease broadcasting there.

Even more intriguing? Sky Sports Italia already exists in Italy as a TV channel, and Sky Sports Italia is 100% owned by 21st Century Fox. Fox is therefore clearly wanting to expand FOX Sports globally and doesn't seem fazed by directly competing with another TV channel which is part of the same global business.

Britain's The Guardian also reported over the weekend that FIC is exploring plans to create its own brand-new soccer league featuring Europe's top soccer clubs with matches shown globally by 21st Century Fox, starting in 2015. Games will be played globally in Europe, Asia and North and South America and shown worldwide.

This intriguing development begs the question of when, or if, FOX Sports would be added to a satellite pay-TV operator in South Africa such as On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV or even DSTv.

TopTV has struggled to add a real sports channel and where FIC Africa already runs several TV channels, or even MultiChoice's DStv which also has FIC Africa channels on it's channel line-up such as National Geographic Channel and FOX.


ALSO READ: FuelTV on TopTV won't be changing its name to FOX Sports 2 when FuelTV in the United States changes it names in August to FOX Sports 2, says TopTV.

FuelTV on TopTV won't be changing its name to Fox Sports 2 'at this point in time' when FuelTV changes in August in the United States.

FuelTV (TopTV 225) on TopTV in South Africa won't be changing the extreme sport channel's name to Fox Sports 2 when FuelTV in America changes to Fox Sports 2 in August.

Although FuelTV in the United States will be getting a massive makeover in August and will be changing to the Fox Sports 2 TV channel, FuelTV as it's shown internationally will remain FuelTV, Fox International Channels (FIC) which distributes the channel, tells me.

"At this point in time the channel will retain its name internationally," FIC tells me.

When FuelTV in the US changes to Fox Sports 2 the channel will be loaded with more and more varied sports content and will join Fox Sports 1 which is also launched in August on what until now has been Fox's soccer satellite TV channel.

FIRST LOOK. Da Vinci's Demons - Could it be 2013's hottest new TV drama, and earmarked for a Fox channel on TopTV?

It looks a little bit MacGuyver, a little bit Elementary, a little bit Merlin, with elements of Game of Thrones, Camelot and The Borgias - the very hot-looking, brand-new TV drama Da Vinci's Demons which might turn out to be 2013 best new, big-buzz TV drama - one which South African viewers will most likely only be able to see on a Fox channel on TopTV early in 2013.

Fox - either Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) or FX (TopTV 110) - will likely be the TV channel for the highly-anticipated new drama series Da Vinci's Demons for South African TV viewers early in 2013. Episodes will most probably be rolled out close on the heels of them being shown on the Starz channel in America where it will start in April this year.

Now the first real teaser trailer of Da Vinci's Demons with Tom Riley as Leonardo has been revealed, and yes, there's gratuitous nudity. From the trailer it's clear however that Da Vinci's Demons also has a lot of action, intrigue in the form of hooded figures and a cult, as well as great special effects, and a very believable rendering of the historical city of Florence.

Fox International Channels (FIC) has the exclusive broadcasting rights for this new historical fantasy series which was filmed in Wales and the first season of Da Vinci's Demons will have 8 episodes. 

Da Vinci's Demons revolves around the life of a 25 year old Leonardo Da Vinci as a young Renaissance artist and inventor, trying to solve an overarching mystery.

Da Vinci's Demons is a co-production between BBC Worldwide and the Starz TV channel in America. Under the terms of the deal with FIC however, FIC will be the exclusive first window pay-TV broadcaster of Da Vinci's Demons in FIC territories outside of the United States and Canada - such as South Africa and Africa.

That means that Da Vinci's Demons will most likely be earmarked to be shown on one of the two Fox TV channels on TopTV, similar to Falling Skies and The Walking Dead.

FIC creates an Airwolf omnibus over weekends on Fox Retro after numerous requests from viewers.

I love TV channels who listen and respond to viewers when it comes to programming: Fox International Channels (FIC) has created an additional weekend programming omnibus of the TV 80s hit Airwolf currently running on Fox Retro (TopTV 181).

Airwolf will now also be shown on Saturdays at 13:25 (for 3 episodes) and on Sundays at 14:15 for 2 episodes. These 5 Airwolf episodes over weekends are repeat broadcasts of the week's episodes which can be seen on weekdays at 15:05 on Fox Retro.

FIC says viewer response led to the creation of the weekend omnibus - primarily from viewers who told the classic TV channel that they're not home on weekday afternoons to catch Airwolf but would love to see the show again.

FIC has now shelved the Remington Steele omnibus over weekends and have replaced it with Airwolf.

"We have received numerous requests from our loyal audience through our social media pages and have decided to act on their preference," says Thandi Davids, Fox Africa director.

BREAKING. Kiefer Sutherland's new drama, Touch, could be coming to South African viewers in late March 2012 at the same time as America.

South African TV viewers can definitely prepare to see the new Kiefer Sutherland science fiction drama Touch at the same time as in America and viewers across the world, when the new drama series starts around late March 2012.

Because of the themes of interconnectedness, and global interconnectedness in the story, Fox International Channels (FIC) plans to roll-out Touch at the same time worldwide from late March/early April.

My bet would be that the new show will be on TopTV's Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) or Fox FX (TopTV 110), unless M-Net gets it like the new upcoming new scary drama American Horror Story. Whatever TV channel it's on, be sure that deals will include that South African viewers will have to see it immediately.

The 13 episode Touch is about a man (Kiefer Sutherland) whose son never speaks, but sees the world through mathematical formulae. Then he discovers that his son may have the power to see the future. The mute 11 year old son possess the ability to see things that no one else can and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events.

At Mipcom Tim Kring who did Heroes and is the series creator for Touch, said that Touch borrows some elements from Heroes, in that this new drama will tell stories with an ''international scope through characters around the world who are interconnected in various ways.''

''We talked a lot about interconnectivity in Heroes. This takes that theme and really crystallises it. It’s the emerging story of our time: we are more connected than we ever dreamed, both biologically and spiritually.''

Kiefer Sutherland, in the panel discussion of an hour which I just finished watching, says ''Touch - something that we really want to do, and that we're really excited about is trying to release this show globally at the same time. It might not all be on the exact same day - but at least close enough so that audience members have an area to congregate to. So that someone in Africa, or someone in Australia can be talking to someone in Europe. That to me is an unbelievably exciting opportunity.''

TV wth Thinus asked Fox International Channels for Africa yesterday about Touch and what the plans are for this show for South Africa. By a day later there's been no response.

BREAKING. Alessandro Tucci appointed as general manager of Fox International Channels Africa as FIC expands in South Africa.

In a major expansion of the presence of Fox International Channels (FIC) in South Africa and Africa, FIC has appointed Alessandro Tucci as general manager of Fox International Channels Africa who will start in the position from September and who will be moving to Johannesburg to oversee FIC's growing business in the country and the continent.

In a very clear indication that FIC is ramping up its business prospects and presence in both South Africa and into the continent (FIC already operates and oversees several channels on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV and on MultiChoice's DStv pay TV platforms) Alessandro Tucci will now spearhead this concerted effort.

''His promotion marks the ambitious strategy to continue expansion in as much of Sub-Saharan Africa as possible, following the successful performance of FIC in other territories,'' FIC just announced. Alessandro Tucci will report directly to Jason Thorp, who was recently upped to executive vice president of content, FIC Europe and Africa.

''FIC currently runs five Fox and National Geographic channels in sub Saharan Africa,'' says Jason Thorp. ''In his new role, Alessandro Tucci will be responsible for driving the distribution of those services throughout the region on multiple platforms, whilst developing the brands and heading our drive into localized content. Alessandro Tucci will also manage our long term strategy for the region, as we move towards localizing brands territory by territory.''

Thandi Davids, director of broadcasting and sales will report directly to Alessandro Tucci from September.

ALSO READ: Jesus Perezagua, Jason Thorp both promoted at Fox International Channels.