After over a decade on-air in South Africa Discovery Inc. abruptly dumps Fine Living on StarTimes and StarSat without warning or explanation.

by Thinus Ferreira

Discovery Inc. has abruptly removed its Fine Living TV TV channel this week after more than 10 and a half years on-air in South Africa, with pay-TV subscribers and loyal viewers who got no warning that the lifestyle channel is being terminated or any explanation why.

Fine Living, also known as Fine Living Network or FLN, first came to South Africa since May 2010 when On Digital Media (ODM) launched its TopTV pay-TV service as a competitor for MultiChoice DStv.

China's StarTimes operating in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa, eventually took over ownership of TopTV in South Africa that was rebranded as StarSat, although Fine Living continued as one of Discovery's channels on the StarSat platform and was added to StarTimes as well.

For a while, Fine Living was also carried on Cell C's now-shuttered Cell C black video streaming service as a linear TV channel until that loss-making subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service went bust. 

While Fine Living (StarSat 281) had small distribution within South Africa, the beloved lifestyle channel had a hugely passionate fan base. These viewers are truly shocked and upset by Fine Living's abrupt axing.

The small but persevering Fine Living channel weathered multiple international corporate and distribution changes at Discovery Inc. as well as bouquet realignment changes inside StarTimes, and continued broadcasting for over a decade in South Africa while many other TV channels would come and go with much shorter on-air lifespans.

The unexpected and unexplained end of Fine Living on StarTimes and StarSat is very reminiscent of when Discovery Inc. and MultiChoice abruptly axed Animal Planet from the DStv channel line-up in December 2017 without warning or explanation.

The removal of Animal Planet, and Discovery Inc. and MultiChoice's lack of communication at the time, caused brand damage and riled DStv subscribers for months afterwards who were extremely unhappy not just that it happened but the apparently careless way in which nobody could tell paying subscribers that it would be happening and why.

The public relations agency Razor PR now repping Discovery Inc. told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry about the abrupt disappearance of Fine Living that "Fine Living is currently unavailable, and we apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, please contact StarTimes customer service by phoning 0719077077, via email at info.ke@startimes.com.cn or by visiting www.startimestv.com".

Razor PR provided no reason as to why Fine Living is "unavailable".

On Wednesday afternoon the company said that "fans will continue to be able to enjoy a range of home renovation and property content on HGTV, as part of a strategic decision to focus on Discovery’s flagship brands".

To watch HGTV, StarSat subscribers will have to switch to DStv since HGTV is not available on StarTimes or StarSat and only on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Meanwhile, StarSat told upset subscribers in a message seen by TVwithThinus that "due to the strategic adjustment of Discovery, the lifestyle channel Fine Living will be offline, but we are looking into a channel with similar content".

StarSat told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that Discovery Inc. abruptly ceased broadcasting Fine Living this week without warning but was actually only supposed to take Fine Living away from paying subscribers at the end of December 2020.

"Please note that Fine Living was off-lined because the channel provider ceased the production of the channel. Communication is yet to be sent to customers as this was supposed to be at the end of December".

Upset StarSat subscribers like Celeste Ahmed asked: "Fine Living on channel 281is off. What's going on?" 

Tony Concalves said: "My favourite programme is King Pool. Now where can I watch this programme? You have removed Line Living. Why could you not take away StarTimes Africa on channel 180 - nothing showing, just the logo on?"

Leheezy Likhead said: "When are you replacing all those channels you took off? I can't image the stress of us paying while you play taking channels off without replacing them immediately".

Deon Smith said: "The question is when are you guys going to replace Fine Living? If you remove something you must replace it immediately because your customer is paying for it".

In February on Fine Living a new season of Giada at Home will start, along with new show, Rustic Renovation, and continue with double episodes of Million Dollar Contractor and We Bought the Farm.

In February on Fine Living (StarSat 281 / Cell C black 251) a new season of Giada at Home will start, and the channel will continue with double episodes of Million Dollar Contractor and We Bought the Farm, and a new show Rustic Renovation will look at cabin renovations.

■ A brand-new season of Giada at Home starts on Fine Living on Sunday 11 February at 22:00 with double episodes featuring home-cooked Italian recipes with a Californian twist, prepared by Fine Living’s favourite chef Giada Di Laurentiis.

■ Rustic Renovation starts on Wednesday 14 February at 22:00 with double episodes.

The brothers Chase and Brock Jurgensen have built a construction company based in Minnesota, where just about everyone has a cabin, whether on the water or deep in the woods – and the brothers are on hand to renovate and modernise those that have been badly built or neglected.

With Chase’s expertise as a contractor and Brock’s skill in woodwork, together they creatively
transform worn-out, broken-down spaces into beautiful, functional homes.

This season, Chase and Brock update a fourth-generation family cabin on Lake Charlotte, adding barnwood-framed windows to brighten up the space. Plus, using salvaged items and reclaimed materials, the brothers transform an original World War II Quonset hut into a bright, unique guest house with custom beds.



■ Million Dollar Contractor on Thursdays at 22:00 gives a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of Manhattan’s most elite homes with contractor to the stars Stephen Fanuka.

Along with his expert crew, Stephen works on some incredible high-end projects as the series continues in February, including his biggest challenge yet: the building of a solarium on the roof of a Central Park West apartment building.

With the help of a team of audio engineers, Stephen builds a room that’s perfectly suited to listening to music, while also pleasing to the eye. Throughout the series Stephen also shares some top tips and tricks that may be of use to first-time DIY-ers, and anyone who’s thinking of renovating their own home.

■ We Bought the Farm will continue on Fine Living in February on Sundays at 21:00 with double episodes.

In the first season of We Bought the Farm viewers can join outdoor-loving families looking for a simpler lifestyle as they search for their dream luxury farmhouse.

In each episode, real estate professionals help them pick their ideal property, whether it’s a quaint
country farmhouse or luxury properties on hundreds of sprawling acres.

As the first season continues in February, a Miami family with 8 kids looks for a simpler lifestyle in Martin County – but can they find a farm that has plenty of land, a spacious house, and farm animals?

Meanwhile, North Carolina couple Mike and Holly are tired of keeping their two horses in a boarding facility, so they’re searching for a farmhouse with a barn and large pastures to keep their horses happy.