American television's FX brand - killed off as a linear TV channel in South Africa in mid-2014 - will be back 8 years later when Disney+ launches in mid-2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

Eight years after the FX television channel and production brand was ripped away in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa, it will suddenly be back in mid-2022 as part of the ongoing corporate madness of King George, when FX will now re-appear and hold its own space on Disney's Disney+ video streaming service.

In September 2014, Fox International Channels (FIC) dumped the FX channel that was available on StarTimes' StarSat satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and on StarTimes in the rest of Africa.

FX was completely removed, and Fox Crime was turned into Fox Life (Fox Life was since then also killed off by Fox Africa). 

At the time, Fox Africa bosses told TVwithThinus that FX, that had edgy content and shows, was removed because FX as a channel and a brand "wasn't known well enough in Africa". 

Since FX was removed 7 years ago, absolutely no marketing or promotion went into FX to make it more known, so for FX to suddenly come back to Africa in mid-2022 makes absolutely no sense - it's only happening because of Disney's corporate takeover of 21st Century Fox (that included FX Networks, that FX belongs to).

Because of an American decision for Disney's global streaming services and ambitions, FX that continues as a linear TV channel and content in the United States, is now essentially being "revived" for Africa.

Disney will launch its Disney+ streaming service in South Africa sometime around June 2022. 

Disney+ contains various app tiles like Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star - all containing different collections of content making it easier for people to pick a "category" and to find relevant content within these tiles that they might want to watch.

Disney bosses in America now wants to lift out FX to give this brand more prominence. 

The result is that FX shows and FX as a "content channel" will feature much more distinctly within Disney+ globally (and in South Africa when Disney+ is launched in the country in mid-2022).

"FX's award-winning adult programming is vital to our services both domestically and internationally and we want to shine a brighter light on the brand within our excellent and rapidly growing portfolio of general entertainment programming for adult audiences," Rebecca Campbell, Disney's chairman, international and direct-to-consumer, said in a press statement on Monday, announcing that FX and FX content will be featuring more prominently within Disney+.

All FX content will now be organised under an FX section on any Disney streaming platform in America, as well as outside the United States, like Disney+.

The result is that South Africans that watched FX as a linear TV channel, will now again see FX content - and branded as FX content - when Disney+ launches in South Africa in mid-2022 - 8 years after FX went away.

"We realised a decade ago that FX would soon no longer be primarily a location, but rather a branded mark of quality that would travel across multiple distribution platforms," John Landgraf, FX CEO says in a statement.

"For 20 years, we have worked tirelessly to make the FX mark synonymous to the consumer with original programming that is distinctive and excellent as well as entertaining."

"This change furthers the natural evolution of FX and we are grateful to the company and our partners at DMED for their belief and investment in FX branded programming. We are confident that the FX brand, wherever the consumer finds it, will continue to deliver the highest quality programs any service has to offer."

In 2022, FX plans to double its programming output and aims to produce 30 shows (25 scripted and five unscripted). 

FX says that in addition to producing shows through its FX Productions (FXP) arm, FX will increase its collaboration with Disney Television Studios-20th Television, ABC Signature, the Onyx Collective and Searchlight.

Currently, the FX library comprises more than 170 seasons and 1 800 episodes of TV shows. 

FX is a division of Disney General Entertainment, led by chairman Peter Rice, which creates original entertainment and news programming for Disney's streaming platforms and cable and broadcast networks.

532 original American shows in 2019 - and counting - as 2020 will see the number of scripted TV series continue to increase.

Feel like there's nothing much to watch? The FX Networks in America released its annual list of how many original scripted TV series were in production with new episodes in the United States and said on Thursday that it topped 532 in 2019 - a number that just keeps growing.

John Landgraf, FX CEO, in December 2018 predicted that 2019 would see more than 530 original and ongoing drama, comedy and limited series shows.

This prediction came true, with FX's research division that tracks all original shows in production and announced that it came to 532 in 2019 - up 7% over 2018's 495 shows.

The number of original scripted series more than doubled over the past decade from "just" 216 series in 2010 to the 532 of last year - an increase of 153% - and continues to grow. This number excludes reality shows, soaps and children series which would easily increase the 532 to over 1000 ongoing, original shows.

FX made the annual announcement at the 2020 Winter Television Critics Association (TCA) two-week press tour currently taking place in Pasadena, California in the United States.

What it means is that South African viewers are spoilt for choice with over 500 American series to watch that continue to roll out new episodes and new seasons, besides the original South African productions also being made, in addition to shows from the United Kingdom, Australia, India, South America and the rest of the African continent made available to free-to-air and pay-TV viewers.

This number will increase even further in 2020, largely fuelled by the so-called "streaming wars" of over-the-top (OTT) direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services like Netflix constantly making more shows to attract more viewers.

"Given that the streaming wars are now at hand, that total will increase substantially this year, which to me is just bananas," John Landgraf said.

In 2020 The Walt Disney Company continues to ramp up production on original series for its Disney+ streaming service that it's busy rolling out globally, as Netflix continues to invest heavily in scripted originals.

Meanwhile Apple relaunched its Apple TV+ streaming service, NBCUniversal is getting ready to launch its new Peacock service in April in the United States and WarnerMedia set to launch its HBO Max streamer in May.

Glut of TV to watch continues as the number of Peak TV era original series keeps rising to a new record high in 2017.

The glut of TV available to watch continues to as the number of Peak TV era original series keeps rising, reaching a new record high in 2017.

John Landgraf, FX CEO, has given his annual update on Peak TV to America's TV critics during the twice yearly Television Critics Association (TCA) tour in Pasadena, California, revealing that the amount of original TV series currently in production once again rose to a new record high in 2017 - up another 7% to 487 series from 455 in 2016, with no sign of slowing down.

A large percentage of this content is funneled to international viewers - including in South Africa and across Africa - through international pay-TV channels carried on platforms like MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Shows also travel as part of individual and Hollywood TV studio output deals with pay-TV broadcasters like M-Net buying large rafts of premium shows with which to programme and populate the schedules of its set of M-Net packaged channels that are carried on DStv.

Besides the American shows, South African viewers also have to contend with local broadcasters like the SABC, e.tv and community TV channels and their offering of shows, as well as international pay-TV channels ramping up the production of local shows filmed in South Africa and across Africa that are rapidly increasing year after year.

Then there's the sprinkling of European and Australian series, on top of the British series from BBC Worldwide for its channels set made available in South Africa and across parts of Africa.

The increase in original scripted American TV series during 2017 was largely fueled by the millions of dollars being poured into TV show creation by the massive global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video - up from 90 to a whopping 117 series in 2017.

This continued growth in digital streaming programming is set to continue to drive the growth in the overall number of TV series from America in 2018.

TOLDJA! Another FOX channel is suddenly chopped and changed as FOX Crime flips to FOX Life at short notice; changes on DStv with no word about StarSat.

The horribly bad communication from FOX Networks Group, MultiChoice, and On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa, continues with ongoing confusion, lack of clarifty and non-answers about the FOX Crime channel that is suddenly going to change to FOX Life, with FX that's getting dumped in the process as well.

As TV with Thinus already reported previously and again earlier this month, FOX Crime is get culled and replaced by FOX Life.

The very sad part is this: the shockingly bad communication from FOX Networks Group in Africa to properly and fully explain what is going on and why.

Then there's also the "collusion" by FOX Networks Group in Africa, MultiChoice and ODM and StarTimes Media SA to not explain, and explain clearly and far in advance enough to paying subscribers to their services, what exactly is happening - and how their customers will be impacted.

It's very bad.

As it stands now, new boss Gary Alfonso, general manager for FOX Networks Group Africa, has been terrible in not being fully forthcoming and properly explaining to FOX Crime and FX viewers what is happening here.

FOX Crime is getting yanked from MultiChoice's DStv on 28 September. That news isn't coming from MultiChoice itself but from the FOX News Group.

FOX Crime is getting pulled with less than a month's notice to DStv subscribers on channel 126.

There is absolutely no word about what is happening with FOX Crime for StarSat subscribers - but its basically a given that StarSat is losing FOX Crime too.

Not only that, but FX is also going to dark on StarSat - that is also not being told to StarSat subscribers and no mention of a date yet. Presumably FX will also go "poof" in half a month's time but FOX Networks Group isn't saying (yet).

Furthermore there's no explanation why exactly this is happening - because why should subscribers or the media deserve any actual real explanation as to why FOX Crime is suddenly being canned.

It's a take-it-or-leave-it situation that according to FOX Networks Group in Africa, MultiChoice and ODM and StarTimes Media SA apparently doesn't need a lot of explanation or transparency given the bad communication on this.

Imagine hearing two weeks before the time that your bank is changing and shutting down your cheque account, and will reopen it as a new product with a new look a few days later - without even telling you the details about it.

That is what FOX Networks Group, MultiChoice and StarSat are badly (non-) communicating to people who are actually paying for FOX Crime as a TV channel. In essence it's a "crime".

FOX Crime was added by MultiChoice to DStv from July 2013 and was added by StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media ()DM) to StarSat from November 2013 - it basically lasted for only three years.


Here is what is now known:

FOX Crime is shutting down on MultiChoice's DStv on 28 September on MultiChoice's DStv.

FOX Life will start in its place on 3 October, as I've reported previously, on channel 126. FOX Life will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Extra, DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers.

So far there's been zero comment from MultiChoice about this change to DStv. Will FOX Life be in high definition (HD)? We don't know.

So far, and after having been asked repeatedly, there's been no comment from StarSat about the loss of FOX Crime - who also hasn't said a word about the coming demise and shut down of FX.

So far there is no official answer as to what is happening to FOX Crime on StarSat or the exact date FOX Crime on channel 132 and FX is being yanked away from StarSat subscribers.

What is happening to shows that people have been watching on FOX Crime? You'd think subscribers of the channel would be told that. I had to ask first, to get somewhat more information.

TV with Thinus in response to a media enquiry is told:
"All shows currently on FOX Crime will end naturally on the channel. Rogue is the only show that has already moved to FOX and season 3 premiered on FOX. There will however be some repeats of the FOX Crime procedurals on FOX during daytime".

Why is FOX Crime dumped and replaced?
"We are launching FOX Life to better service local markets and show our ambition in Africa by creating a production hub locally that will tap into the latest trends and ensure the brands stay relevant locally".

Of course that explains very little, since the FOX channel as the premium channel brand already exists and can cope with presumably whatever new local content is produced by a local production hub.

Why is FX suddenly also being shut down and when?
No official answer yet. FOX Crime and FX are both being dumped and replaced with one channel, FOX Life.


SAngry sbscribers have already started saying they're angry and upset and can't understand why FOX Crime and FOX Life on DStv and StarSat can't both be given to them.

"Why replacing instead of adding?" asks John Johnson.

"No, you must add to FOX Crime. We will boycott you if you replace FOX Crime with FOX Life. Add [it] next to FOX Crime, we pleading. After all, we pay. We have a say. You can't take off FOX Crime," says Norman Lambert.

"FOX Crime I enjoyed," says Maruska Honiball. "Why take it away???"

"FOX Crime was good," says Myburgh Dewald.

And Kedibone Mametja sums up what a lot of people are thinking about the upcoming dumping of FOX Crime and replacement with FOX Life: "Why replace and not add?" 

New Marvel superhero drama series, Legion, coming to South African viewers on FOX or FX channel in early 2017 on the same date as it starts in America.

The new Marvel Television drama series, Legion, will start in South Africa on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) or FX (StarSat 133) early in 2017 at the same time as it starts in America and 125 countries worldwide.

FOX Networks Group has picked up Legion and will bring the drama series to South African viewers on the same day and date worldwide when it starts in the United States.

Legion, created by Noah Hawley, is set in the same universe of Marvel's X-Men franchise and will start in 2017 on the FX channel in America.

Legion revolves around a young man who's more than human. David Haller (Dan Stevens) has struggled with mental illness since he was a teenager and is diagnosed as schizophrenic.

David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years but after a strange encounter with a fellow patient, he's confronted with the possibility that the voices he hears and the visions he sees might be real.

The first season of Legion will have 8 episodes and will be filmed in Vancouver, Canada as a production from FX Productions and Marvel Television.

"Legion brings the X-Men universe to life, as a character-driven, serialized TV show, in a truly amazing new way and we're pleased that X-Men fans will have the opportunity to see it simultaneously in the 125 countries where FOX is available," says Peter Rice, FOX Networks Group chairperson.

"FX is thrilled to collaborate with our international partners to bring Legion to audiences worldwide and the day-and-date delivery will make this a truly global event," says Eric Schrier, the president of original programming at FX Networks and FX Productions.

"With the universal appeal of the X-Men franchise, fans will be amazed with the artistry and ambition that Noah Hawley and this extraordinary cast have brought to Legion."

"We are thrilled to be partnering with FOX Networks Group to launch Legion to a massive global audience," said executive producer and Marvel's head of television, Jeph Loeb. “In our storytelling, it is imperative to us that we're creating characters and a universe that resonates with people around the world and we are so proud to introduce this cast of characters to fans everywhere".

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.

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.

DEVELOPING. FX on StarSat seems on the way out; FX to be replaced by FOX Life according to FOX - although StarSat denies it.

FX (StarSat 132) on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat seems to be on the way out - suddenly possibly the next TV channel from Fox International Channels (FIC) that will be culled from the South African satellite pay-TV platform's channel line-up, although StarSat denies it.

FOX Africa is telling StarSat subscribers that FX will be discontinued from sometime in September.

That will make FX the second channel from FOX International Channels (FIC) removed from StarSat since FOX Retro was cut from TopTV, StarSat's previous name, in July last year.

FOX Africa is telling the public that FX will go dark sometime in September on StarSat's platform and will be replaced by FOX Life - the second TV channel from FIC that StarSat announced would be added soon.

FOX Life is a lifestyle and entertainment channel from FIC with more female skewing programming as opposed to FX and the newer FXX (not available in South Africa), which are courting a more male and younger male viewer demographic.

FOX Africa told StarSat subscribers that FOX Life won't be added as a new additional channel on StarSat but will be replacing FX.

"FOX Life will be replacing FX Africa in September," says FOX Africa.

It's not clear, if this is indeed the case, why FOX Life can't simply be added to StarSat while FX remains and why FX must be replaced.

TV with Thinus asked Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) for an official response on Thursday and whether it can confirm the replacement of FX during September, and to explain why FX is being terminated on StarSat, and on what date. So far there's been no official response from FIC Africa.

TV with Thinus also asked StarSat on Thursday for a response about the now cloudy future of FX.

A StarSat spokesperson said on Thursday that "there are no changes to the FOX channels that are about to happen". Asked again on Friday for clarity and whether the response remains the same, StarSat responded again and maintains that "FX is still on-air and no changes are about to happen".

Speculation has instantly flared up that MultiChoice might possible be taking over FX for its DStv platform in the way TLC on StarSat from Discovery Networks International (DNI) was jettisoned to become an exclusive TV channel on DStv's bouquet.

MultiChoice on Friday told TV with Thinus when asked whether there's been negotiations to add FX to DStv that "when we are ready to launch new channels we will make the necessary announcements".

The confusing and suddenly uncertain future of FX is angering and disturbing StarSat subscribers who regard FX as one of the few remaining better entertainment channels on the existing StarSat bouquet and one of the few remaining original TV channels still left from when TopTV launched in May 2010.

The American Britdrama Copper on TopTV's FX cancelled after just two seasons.

The American Britdrama Copper about an Irish policeman in America in the 1860's which started in October on FX (TopTV 110) has been cancelled after just two seasons.

Copper was produced by Cineflix Studios in association with BBC America and Fox International Channels (FIC) showed it on FX on TopTV in South Africa.

The period drama series followed Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones) in New York trying to solve a family murder.

"After 23 episodes, with Lincoln dead and the nation starting to heal, it seems a fitting moment to conclude this American story," says BBC America in a statement.

FOX Crime on DStv: Dramas on the move between Fox channels; TopTV subscribers to lose series content they've followed.

The start of the new FOX Crime (DStv 126) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform at 19:00 on 9 July has Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) now shifting shows between Fox channels - with TopTV subscribers getting hurt in the process as they're set to lose content that is moving to the FOX Crime channel on DStv Premium's bouquet - a channel not available on TopTV.

FIC Africa plans to move the forensic crime series Criminal Minds from FOX, a channel available on both DStv and TopTV, to FOX Crime from 9 July.

The result is that TopTV subscribers will no longer be able to see Criminal Minds, although Fox still has the show. It's taken away from TopTV viewers.

Bones on FX (TopTV 110) is also moving off of that channel, but the drama is - luckily for TopTV subscribers - moving from FX to FOX. That means that TopTV subscribers will at least still be able to follow Bones as a series, although on a different channel from July.

FIC Africa explains in a statement about the moving shows hopping to different Fox channels, that "content will be shifted across channels to ensure that the content is a natural fit for the channel brand".

FIC Africa says its being done because FOX Crime as a new channel "affords Fox International Channels Africa the opportunity to focus programming to specific target audiences".

FX on TopTV to benefit from, and set to become a stronger channel as seen in Africa, with the launch of spin-off channel FXX in America.

FX (TopTV 110) programming, the male-skewed TV channel currently only available op On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV satellite pay-TV service in South Africa, is set to get beefed up considerably with the launch of a spin-off channel in America, FXX - with that channel's new content which will undoubtedly filter through to its brother FX as seen in South Africa.

FX Networks which runs the Fox pay-TV channels in America and which is part of News Corporation, announced that FXX will start as a new general entertainment spin-off channel from FX. FXX will be aimed at viewers aged 18 to 34.

FX, FOX and Fox Retro are three Fox channels run by TopTV and seen in South Africa thanks to carriage agreements with Fox International Channels and Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa).

Since there's no current plans for FXX which will launch in September in America to be seen in South Africa, it stands to reason that some of the newly-commissioned programming which will be produced for FXX will make it way to FX.

While some of the programming seen on FX in America so far has been seen on M-Net in South Africa (The Americans, Nip/Tuck, Damages, The Shield, Rescue Me, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), some of it is also seen only on FX in South Africa like Archer, while South African viewers are only able to see Fox shows such as Bones, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and American Guy because it's on FX.

Since FXX will have new content and new TV series, its clear that Fox will in time have that TV content filter through to not just M-Net but also to FX as broadcasting and licensing agreements are signed.

While its almost a certainty that some FXX shows will make its way to M-Net (DStv 101) and M-Net Series (DStv 114), some will also make it to FX, meaning a stronger international FX channel being piped into Africa and South Africa.

In other words, FX Africa is going to benefit by becoming a stronger channel since it will be fed from both the FX stable as well as the new FXX stable in America in the future which will produce new sitcoms and drama series.

For FX in America Guillermo del Toro is for instance working on a new TV series, The Strain based on his trilogy of novels about vampires. Mayflower is a look at the founding of the Plymouth colony in America. Grand Hotel is about a luxury hotel in Paris attacked by terrorists.

BREAKING. Copper, the excellent new Britdrama on TopTV's FX renewed for a second season by the BBC in America.

The new American Britdrama Copper which just started Monday at 20:30 on TopTV's FX (TopTV 110) in South Africa has just been renewed for a second season.

Episodes of the 13 episode crime drama about an Irish immigrant policeman in New York in 1860 named Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones) follows very closely on the heels of the American broadcast.

"Copper has proven to be a perfect fit," said BBC Worldwide America's general manager Perry Simon in a press statement about the show which is broadcast in America on the BBC America TV channel. "Our viewers have made it our highest-rated series premiere ever and highest-rated drama series ever."

Copper is produced by Cineflix Studios in association with BBC America.

"The series is the beginning of many first and quality runs for our channels in this year," says Thandi Davids, Fox Africa director at Fox International  Channels (FIC) Africa which runs FX, Fox Entertainment and Fox Retro in South Africa.

BREAKING. Fox International Channels grabs the highly-anticipated new drama Da Vinci's Demons for South African viewers.

Fox - either Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) or FX (TopTV xxx) - will broadcast the highly-anticipated new drama series Da Vinci's Demons for South African TV viewers early in 2013. The production was announced last year in October and is currently being filmed in Wales.


Fox International Channels (FIC) just announced that it has the exclusive broadcasting rights for the historical fantasy series from FlashForward creator David Goyer which will revolve around the life of a 25 year old Leonardo Da Vinci as a young Renaissance artist and inventor. Da Vinci's Demons has now been picked up straight to series as a new drama show with 8 episodes in the first season.


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, FIC will be the exculsive 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. This means Da Vinci's Demons will be shown in South Africa and Africa as well as the Middle East, Europe and Asia in early 2013.


"Following the incredible success we've had with The Walking Dead, we were looking for a tentpole series that would be different in tone and story but equally powerful with audiences worldwide," says Sharon Tal Yguado, the senior vice president of scripted programming at FIC in a just released statement.


"David S. Goyer's vision of one of history's most enigmatic character knocked us off our feet. We are convinced Da Vinci's Demons is a real game-changer in the world of period dramas."


Da Vinci's Demons will follow the "untold" story of one of the world's greatest geniuses during his turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence. Leonardo Da Vinci will be seen as "a passionate 25 year old" who is an "artist, inventor, swordsman, lover, dreamer and idealist. As a free thinker, with intellect that are almost superhuman, he struggles to live within the confines of his own reality and time. He begins not only to see the future, but to invent it," says FIC.


"This is a bold and ambitious show from Starz and Jane Tranter's team which will sit really well with the range of great dramas currently available on FIC's channels," says Steve Macallister, the president and managing director for sales and distribution at BBC Worldwide.


"This production is particularly unique and should generate huge amounts of audience buzz. We're thrilled to be taking Da Vinci's Demons right across the globe, which seems very appropriate for arguably the world's most renowned polymath."


"FIC has a long and successful track record in spearheading multi-territory and global programming initiatives, from Dexter to The Walking Dead," says Jason Simms, FIC's senior vice president of global acquisitions. "We are delighted to partner with BBC Worldwide on this pretigious, ambitious and exciting new series."

The 3rd season of The Walking Dead to start in South Africa hours after America on 15 October.

The 3rd season of the hit zombie drama The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on FX (TopTV 110) and several other countries mere hours later after its debut in America on 15 October, exactly the same as when the 2nd season started on 18 October in 2011.

The third season of The Walking Dead, similar to the second season, will again be split into two parts, with eight episodes kicking off in October and the final eight of the season returning in February 2013.

Fox International Channels (FIC) will rollout the 3rd season of The Walking Dead in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Australia, Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the Balkans,   Finland, Netherlands, All of Latin America and allof the Middle East, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Phillipines and Taiwan on 15 October.

"Season two of The Walking Dead marked the best performance for an American cable show in our international markets," says Sharon Tal Yguado, the senior vice president of scripted programming at FIC in a press statement.


"It delivered record-breaking ratings in both America and internationally. We are committed to ensuring the best viewing experience for these clearly committed fans. We think the global launch strategy is a key part of this series' international success, and are excited to be working so closely with our partners at AMC on blowing it out of the park again this year."

Besides Discovery, Fox and National Geographic, viewers of pay TV don't really know a lot of the channel names.

According to market research conducted by Millward Brown Optimorn (MBO) internationally, TV viewers of subscription television don't really know or apparently care a lot about TV channel names. Besides Discovery, Fox and the National Geographic Channel the vast majority of TV channels are known to less than 20% of people.

MBO conducted research in countries as diverse as Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Portugal, Italy and others. Discovery came out on top with 85% of people who know the brand, followed by National Geographic Channel (82%) and then Fox (61%). FX (33%) also ranked relatively high.

Why does this matter? It gives an indication to TV executives whether they have to market a specific show or programming more, or a brand like a channel name more.

Of course if you have great programming it makes it very easy to bring that specific draw under viewers' attention, but a strong channel brand name - if viewers know it - is very powerful when it comes to movies, sport and even news. Viewers will turn to that channel not knowing the content, but having a perception and an established expectation of what they think they will find at any time.

According to the study 65% of pay TV subscribers worldwide said they're satisfied with what they're getting from their pay TV experience,compared to 39% of people who are satisfied who have access to just free TV channels.

BREAKING. Fox secures the new American railroad drama, Hell on Wheels, for FX; first season starting 19 February at 21:15.

You're reading it here first.

Toot-toot! I can break the news that Fox International Channels for Africa has secured the brand-new American railroad drama Hell on Wheels for FX (TopTV 110), putting it on the schedule with a starting date for Sunday 19 February at 21:15 (South African time).

The strongest competition within the pay television market in South Africa for the latest new TV shows is now definitely Fox with a steady stream of some quality shows now also going to FX on TopTV, whereas before everything went to M-Net on DStv.

Hell on Wheels which just started in America on the AMC channel is set in 1860 and is a contemporary Western drama. It's centred around a former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon. His quest for vengeance has led him to the Union Pacific Railroad's westward construction of the first transcontinental railroad through America.

The starting date of 18 October for the 2nd season of The Walking Dead in South Africa now confirmed by Fox International Channels.

I broke the news RIGHT HERE at the end of July that the second season of The Walking Dead will be starting on Tuesday 18 October in South Africa on FX (TopTV 110) and that is now confirmed by Fox International Channel (FIC).

''Once again, a few hours after the [American] premiere Sunday 16 October, FIC will begin its second season rollout on Tuesday 18 October,'' says FIC that runs the FX channel in South Africa.

''The Walking Dead audience wants to see this show live,'' says Sharon Tal Yguado, the senior vice president of scripted programming for FIC. ''The first season became a hyped global water cooler event and we feel obligated to bring the show to international viewers' right after its American launch''.

''We're pleased to bring first run content to Africa so fast,'' says Thandi Davids, Fox Africa director. ''The show has performed exceptionally well for us in this market and we know viewers are in for a further excellent zombie invasion with lots more drama, this time around.''

ALSO READ: The 2nd season of The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on Tuesday, 18 October just 48 hours after America.
ALSO READ: The second season of The Walking Dead to be shown globally ''within hours'' after it starts in October.

BREAKING. Zombies ''invade'' Johannesburg as part of a global stunt for new The Walking Dead show on TopTV's FX.

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Zombies ''invaded'' Johannesburg in South Africa as well as 25 cities across the globe yesterday as 26 cities played along in a worldwide stunt on Tuesday, October 26 for the new zombie drama The Walking Dead that will start on Fox FX (TopTV 110) as well as 120 countries at the same time.

I can be first to tell you that The Walking Dead will debut in South Africa on TopTV's Fox FX (TopTV 110) on Tuesday, November 2 at 21:20 and that it will be an extended pilot episode of 90 minutes. The Walking Dead debuts in South Africa - as well as the rest of the world in 33 different languages on Fox International Channels just two days after it starts in America on October 31 (Halloween). The first season has 6 episodes and The Walking Dead has already been renewed for second season that will start filming in February 2011 before even one episode has been broadcast.

Several cities from Istanbul, London, Buenos Aires, New York, Los Angeles, Athens, Washington and Munich had ''zombie sightings'' during morning rush hour on Tuesday as part of the global promotion for The Walking Dead.

BREAKING. Bones finally starts a second season on South African screens thanks to FX.

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South African viewers can finally get to see the rest of the story as I can be first to reveal that the second season of the forensic drama series Bones is set to premiere on FX (TopTV 110) on Sunday, October 10 at 20:30.

SABC3 only broadcast the first season of Bones starring David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in 2006, co-incidentally also in the 20:30 timeslot. SABC3 told me low viewership made the channel decide not to pursue further seasons. When TopTV started its commercial pay TV broadcast in May the FX channel started with the first season of Bones. Now FX will continue with further seasons and the new second season season's 21 episodes that's never been seen in South Africa before.

In Bones dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who works with special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to help the FBI solve a series of unsolved crimes by studying decaying bones found in all kinds of obscure places.

FX on TopTV will bring South Africa's male viewers a testosterone TV injection.

When the brand-new TV channel, FX (TopTV 110) starts on 1 May, South African television's male viewers are in for a testosterone TV injection.

FX will be a part of On Digital Media (ODM)'s TopTV pay television bouquet. TopTV bills the FX TV channel as ''quality television for men, with a mix of quality, character-driven and often unconventional drama and comedy'' and says the FX TV channel will have ''a strong resonance with male audiences.''

I've gotten my hands on the May and June TV schedules for FX which will start to broadcast from May. On FX's schedule for May are TV shows such as Beach Patrol and K-Ville, Bones, Entourage, Las Vegas and Stargate SG-1 (their first seasons) as well as shows like Fear Factor, Underbelly, Most Haunted, the new Kojak, The Office, Seinfeld and Strikeforce.

June's FX line-up promises the wonderful half hour animation spy caper, Archer.

ALSO READ: Fox Retro on Top TV will bring South African viewers a return to true classic television.