Programming changes as M-Net pulls disastrous Wicked City; M-Net's NCIS Los Angeles, Vuzu AMP's Supergirl, FOX Crime's Legends impacted by Paris terror attacks.

M-Net is pulling the disastrous and cancelled Wicked City off its programming line-up while the weekend's terrorism attacks in Paris are also impacting South African viewers with programming changes regarding episodes of several shows across a number of TV channels and services.

After disastrously low ratings and scathing reviews from TV critics, M-Net is dumping the new crime drama anthology series Wicked City that was supposed to start on M-Net (DStv 101) on 30 December.

Meanwhile the horrific terror attacks in Paris saw British and American broadcasters pull this week's episodes of multiple shows set in Paris and dealing with violence or revolving around terrorism themes. The changes are directly impacting what South African viewers will see - or not get to see - this week.

The Britcaster ITV dumped Sunday's latest 4th episode of the visceral shock-drama Jekyll and Hyde with the latest episode which is added to Naspers' ShowMax subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) service within 24 hours after it is shown in the United Kingdom.

With no new Jekyll and Hyde episode shown, there's no new episode for ShowMax of the horror series, with no announcement from ITV as to when the graphic episode revolving around a kidnapping with a gun will be shown.

CBS pulled the latest episode of the 7th season of the forensic crime drama NCIS: Los Angeles entitled "Defectors" with no word from CBS on when the episode will be shown.

In South Africa M-Net is 3 weeks behind America with the forensic crime drama shown here on Friday nights at 20:30 and it's a sure bet that South African viewers also won't be seeing the episode in three week's time which revolves around the terror group ISIS recruiting young women as terrorists.

Monday's 4th episode of Supergirl has also been pulled and replaced by CBS impacting Vuzu AMP (DStv 114) in South Africa and Africa which is showing the same episode as in the United States on a weekly basis.

There's been no word from Vuzu AMP, an M-Net channel, but it's absolutely a sure thing that the planned Supergirl episode in which Kara deals with bomb explosions in National City won't be shown on Vuzu AMP on Thursday.

FOX International Channels (FIC) and FIC Africa are changing the episode of Legends which also saw the latest 3rd episode of the second season of the drama series abruptly pulled by the TNT channel in America.

The latest Legends episode entitled "The Legend of Curtis Ballard" was yanked since it's set in Paris and deals with Martin (Sean Bean) looking for someone while a peaceful protest is on the verge of turning violent.

"As a result of the recent tragic events in Paris, the originally scheduled episode of Legends has been postponed. Our thoughts and condolences are with the victims and their families," said TNT in a statement.

The same episode of Legends in the United States is shown in South Africa weekly on Thursdays on FOX Crime (DStv 126 / StarSat 132) at 20:30. FIC Africa is replacing it on Thursday with a repeat of the second season's premiere episode.

"Because Legends is screened close to the U.S. broadcasts and since the episode in question was pulled from the schedule last night in the United States, Africa will be putting replacement programming in Legends' place this week. There is no specific date at the moment when the episode (3) in question will be played," FIC Africa tells TV with Thinus.

Meanwhile viewers have had a hard time keeping up with TV news channels since the electronic programme guides (EPGs) on MultiChoice's DStv and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat have failed to keep up with special reports, and announced and adjusted programming focusign on the aftermath of the Paris attacks.

Over the weekend Infinity Media's ANN7 (DStv 405) dropped its own programming and switched to the channel feed of the French 24-hour TV news channel France24 which is a news channel only available on StarSat. 

France24 has been lauded for its incisive and comprehensive coverage of the Paris attacks since Saturday and has started broadcasting its live channel feed for free on YouTube.

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.

FOX on DStv and StarSat gets new dramas Minority Report, Scream Queens; will debut 2nd season of Empire within 24 hours after America.

FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) has emerged and continues to be the strongest new competition for M-Net, adding hot brand-new dramas Minority Report and Scream Queens for September and showing these two as well as the second season of hit series Empire all within hours after broadcast in America.

FOX International Channels and FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) is further closing the gap between the time that hit and premium new television is shown in America and when its broadcast in South Africa and across the rest of the African continent.

Science fiction drama Minority Report based on the Steven Spielberg movie (look out for The Simpsons seen inside it which is still on TV in 2065!) will start on FOX on 22 September at 20:30.

The new horror thriller Scream Queens from Glee's Ryan Murphy filled with the original scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis and a killer cast on the receiving end of a serial killer on campus starts on FOX on 23 September at 20:30.

Then there's the second season of the new uber-hit Empire with crazy Cookie, the second season of which will start on FOX in South Africa on 24 September at 21:00.

Like what M-Net (DStv 101) does with its "Express from the US" series and AMCI Zone's AMC channel on MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's StarSat now does with Fear the Walking Dead; FIC Africa is now also doing with FOX.

Minority Report, Scream Queens and Empire will all be shown in South Africa within hours after episodes are shown in the United States in high definition (HD) on DStv, as well as on StarSat.

Minority Report has a first season of 13 episodes and stars detective Lara Vega (Meagan Good) fighting crime with Stark Sands' character who get vision of the future - and of crimes to be committed before they happen.

Scream Queens has Jamie Lee Curtis, Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, Niecy Nash, Nick Jonas and Ariana Grande as well as Emma Roberts. They run around and ... scream ... in fear in this new highly anticipated drama series focusing on a string of college campus murders as a devil-clad killer wreaks havoc.

Empire will continue with a highly anticipated second season of 18 episodes with Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard and several guest stars in the upcoming season ranging from Alicia Keys and Ludacris to Kelly Rowland and Chris Rock.

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.

The Walking Dead spin-off will not be seen on FOX in South Africa but on AMC on DStv and on StarSat with episodes shown 24 hours after the USA.

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The as-yet-untitled upcoming spin-off zombie series of The Walking Dead will be broadcast on AMC (StarSat 115 / DStv 140) in South Africa and not on FOX with episodes which will be shown within 24 hours here after the United States, once the new drama starts later this year.

The impact for South African pay-TV subscribers is negligent since the recently renamed and rebranded MGM channel, now AMC since December 2014, just like FOX, is carried on both MultiChoice's DStv and on On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat.

The big winner however is AMC, from AMC Networks International Zone, which is dramatically strengthening its channel positioning and brand in South Africa, and getting its first-ever "event television" type show.

The new The Walking Dead spin-off produced by AMC Studios, is set in Los Angeles and will definitely run for at least two seasons. It will focus on new characters and new stories, with a first season of 6 hour long episodes.

AMC acquired the international television rights to the spin-off show and will broadcast episodes - similar to The Walking Dead on FOX which concludes its 5th season at the end of March - within 24 hours after episodes premiere in the United States, similar to what FOX and M-Net has been doing with certain tentpole TV shows.

The only drawback is that South African viewers won't be able to see the new The Walking Dead spin-off in high definition as has been the case with FOX which is an HD channel on DStv.

Viewers will also not have to juggle trying to watch two shows - the drama series won't overlap and will always be shown during different times of the year.

Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero and David Alpert from The Walking Dead are the executive producers of the new series.

"We take incredibly seriously the notion of building a satisfying companion series to the number one show on television," says Charlie Collier, AMC president in a statement.

"From the beginning of The Walking Dead, we've been asked questions about what was going on in other parts of the zombie apocalypse, and what it looked like as the world really did 'turn'. Through this new series, we're going to find out," says Charlie Collier.

"I'm very grateful that we now have the opportunity to tell this amazing story and show the fans that we really haven't scratched the surface yet when it comes to The Walking Dead," says Robert Kirkman.

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.

Is FX on StarSat getting jettisoned when FOX Life is added? 'No changes that are going to happen," says FOX.

On Friday TV with Thinus reported that FOX Africa is telling the public that FX (StarSat 132) on StarSat is getting replaced sometime in September by the new FOX Life channel.

Now FOX International Channels (FIC) which runs the set of FOX channels on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat says there won't be changes to FX.

It now appears that when FOX Life is added to StarSat that it won't replace FX as FOX Africa said, but become an additional channel.

"There are no changes that are going to happen on any of the FOX channels," FIC tells TV with Thinus.

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".

Captain, they didn't tell us, but Star Trek on FOX has been new in a way you've NEVER seen it before.

It's not quite a Kobayashi Maru, but in the mostly no-win scenario that is South African television, neither Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa), DStv or StarSat could be bothered to tell viewers (or possibly even knew), so TV with Thinus will:

Star Trek on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 130) is must-watch television because it is basically a brand-new show and has been broadcast in South Africa for the first time, in a way you've never seen it on television before.

Star Trek - the 60s science fiction series which was shown on the SABC's TV1, then on DStv's GO (the former Vuzu), then on FOX Retro (the discontinued TV channel on StarSat when it launched as TopTV) - is now on FOX in a way South African viewers have never seen it - in high definition (HD).

With the high definition version comes new graphics, enhanced special effects and incredible detail and sharpness since FIC Africa is broadcasting the upgraded, remastered version of Star Trek on FOX. Who knew?

Even StarSat subscribers who don't have FOX as an HD channel, or those DStv subscribers who are not DStv Premium subscribers and who don't receive FOX as a HD channel, receive the benefits of a better Star Trek which is different from what they have ever seen it as before,due to the new graphics and new and enhanced special effects.

A few years ago when GO added Star Trek, the remastered episodes of the Gene Roddenberry show was just completed in America. 

In a media enquiry to the M-Net packaged channel before Star Trek started, I asked whether GO secured the ordinary episodes, or would be playing the enhanced episodes. At the time GO didn't know and (no surprise in hindsight) didn't have the enhanced version.

Now, the much better Star Trek has been on South African TV screens at 14:30 on FOX on weekdays (repeats the next day at 08:45).

Sadly, although hailing frequencies are always open, nobody has taken the effort to tell viewers that what they might perceive as an "old" classic show on FOX' TV schedule, is actually sparkling new and definitely worth watching all over again.

And you've never seen Star Trek on television in South Africa like this before.

From Star Trek's classic opening theme (now just looking so much better) to flyby's and shots of the USS Enterprise in space in this original series has all been done over.

The ship seen in space literally got a touch-up and was improved. So every single planet (planets used to be mostly mono-coloured spheres with no detail or definition) and spacial phenomena brimming with incredible detail in updated effects, making it completely modern.

The colours are fantastic, the prints restored, and the enhanced imaging of every Star Trek episode blends in wonderfully with what was originally there - keeping it true to how the episodes looked, just making it all look fresh and better.

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".