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?" 

FOX Crime on StarSat changing to FOX Life on 3 October; confusion over whether FOX Crime is continuing on DStv or also changing to FOX Life on that platform.

The change of the FOX Crime (StarSat 132 / DStv 126) channel that was supposed to happen from the beginning of September and that was supposed to switch to the FOX Life channel from September has been pushed back to 3 October - but the pay-TV operators and the FOX Networks Group Africa have been bad at explaining and communicating to their subscribers and the media what is happening.

While the FOX Networks Group in Africa, now managed by Gary Alfonso, hasn't bothered to tell the media anything, at least this is now known: FOX Crime will now be replaced by FOX Life on 3 October.

The channel swop will now happen on 3 October after it has been delayed and pushed back by a month.

FOX Crime will now be replaced by FOX Life on 3 October on On Digital Media's (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat.

What is unclear is whether FOX Crime will remain on MultiChoice's DStv from October and if the FOX Crime channel on DStv will also be changing to FOX Life from 3 October for that pay-TV operator.

No official channel logo for FOX Life has been issued and no monthly channel schedule for October has been provided to media yet - nor what the channel is about, programming highlights or an explanation as to what will happen to shows that viewers have been watching currently and might not have completed their run by the time FOX Crime gets cut.

TVwithThinus asked the FOX Networks Group Africa, ODM and StarSat, and MultiChoice yet again today (Friday) - after asking the channel provider and the pay-TV operators a month ago (when they were less than forthcoming) - what is happening.

When there's responses, this report will update with those responses.

So far, FOX representatives on Friday told me they're not in a position to give any details at the moment.

What is clear, is that the FOX Networks Group in Africa has and is really not managing the news and media publicity about the upcoming switch of the FOX Crime channel to FOX Life well at all.

Pay-TV subscribers in South Africa are paying real money for a service which they are not properly being informed about and that is changing in a month's time. With a month to go, they're not being told why it is happening and what those changes are.

In the absence of any information and explanations from the FOX Networks Group Africa and operators, viewers of FOX Crime are already negative about the looming removal of the channel and its replacement with FOX Life.

"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?"

FOX's FOX Crime channel on DStv and StarSat that was introduced in 2013, to change to the FOX Life channel from September - report.

After running for just 3 years for South African viewers, the FOX Crime channel from FOX Networks Group running on DStv and StarSat is set to be replaced with the FOX Life channel from September.

The FOX Crime (DStv 126 / StarSat 132) channel, showing crime and investigative programming, is set to make way for the drama and sitcom channel FOX Life, a "lighter" version of FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) channel filled with mostly library titles and older series as a non-premium TV channel.

TVSA reports that FOX Crime will switch and be replaced from September.

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.

FOX Crime has been utterly mangled on the StarSat platform where it's frequently been a channel that got "stuck" over the past two years, with bad signal quality leading to "jumping" video, bad and gone audio and multiple FOX Crime channel blackouts without any explanations from StarSat.

TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice about the reported switch of FOX Crime to FOX Life.

MultiChoice said: "When we are in a position to talk about any changes to the DStv service, we'll make the necessary announcements starting with our partners in the media such as yourself".

TVwithThinus asked FOX Africa, involved with the running of the set of FOX channels like FOX Crime, why FOX Crime is going to change to FOX Life, what is going to happen to series that haven't concluded on FOX Crime by the time of the switch, what the FOX Life channel is about and for a FOX Life channel logo.

No FOX Life channel logo was supplied.

FOX Africa only responded after days and several enquiries (and a day after MultiChoice) with the exact same sentence as MultiChoice - and with an apparently missing word during a badly edited replace change.

"When we are in a position to talk about any changes  FOX , we'll make the necessary announcements starting with our partners in the media such as yourself".

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.

The Bridge on FOX Crime on DStv and StarSat collapses as the drama gets cancelled after just two seasons.

The Bridge seen in South Africa on FOX Crime (DStv 126 / StarSat 132) has been cancelled after two seasons.

The drama, a co-production between Shine America and FX Productions with Diane Kruger and Demian Bichir and broadcast in America on the FX channel, was a remake of the Danish/Swedish TV show Bron/Broen and wasn't liked by TV critics, nor watched by enough viewers.

The second season of The Bridge started in on FOX Crime in South Africa in July and won't be back for a third season.

"We thank our partners at FX for their tireless efforts in developing and launching The Bridge with us," says the production in a statement announcing the cancellation. "From its fresh, unique voice to its deep and diverse ensemble cast, this is a series that we are all very proud of."

WHAT THE FOX? StarSat technical troubles continue with FOX Crime freezing for a 3rd time and no electronic programme guide on FOX.

Technical problems continue with On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat, with StarSat subscribers complaining that FOX (StarSat 130) has no electronic programme guide (EPG) and that FOX Crime (StarSat 131) keeps pausing and freezing up.

This is now the third month in a row that StarSat interrupts FOX Crime for StarSat subscribers, having done so due to technical uplinking problems in March which saw FOX Crime go black without warning, and again in April.

Both FOX and FOX Crime are available on MultiChoice's DStv platform and experienced no problems on DStv. The FOX channels are provided to StarSat and DStv by FOX International Channels (FIC).

Since China's StarTimes came onboard as an investor in StarSat, StarSat continues to suffer month-to-month from debilitating broadcast quality problems since December 2013, which include bad video and audio on several channels, and channels disappearing without warning and then being restored.

StarSat subscribers also continue to complain daily about ongoing StarSat decoder reception problems, saying StarSat decoders are not receiving certain channels, that certain TV channels are black.

Last week StarSat suddenly broadcast in German on the Star Movies 1 and Star Movies 2 TV channels for hours, with no English subtitles.

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

You're reading it here first.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BREAKING. FOX Crime on StarSat disappears and goes dark for a second time in less than a month - with no explanation from StarSat.

The FOX Crime (StarSat 131) TV channel on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat pay-TV platform in South Africa on Wednesday evening went dark - again - and again without warning, notice or any explanation to viewers and paying StarSat subscribers.

The FOX Crime blackout on StarSat on Wednesday and Thursday came less than half a month after an unexplained FOX Crime blackout on StarSat in mid-March.

In addition, StarSat's electronic programme guide (EPG) became distorted - with no explanation from StarSat as to what is going on or why, when it would be resolved and fixed - and viewers' complaints flooding in.

"What is wrong with the channel notification bar?" wrote Santie van Niewenhuizen on StarSat's Facebook page. "None of the programmes coming up is correct. How must we know what programme is coming up?"

FOX Crime is supplied to ODM's StarSat by Fox International Channels (FIC).  StarSat gave no explanation on Thursday for the second abrupt disappearance of FOX Crime, except to say late on Thursday that FOX Crime has been restored.

In March StarSat said the missing FOX Crime was due to "temporary technical problems at the uplink site".

Since China's StarTimes came on board at the end of 2013 to bail out ODM with a capital injection which saw the termination of existing broadcasting, uplinking and satellite transponder contracts, StarSat subscribers have been inundated with service disruptions, channel distortions, difficulty in getting decoder setting changed, as well as a flood of subscriber complaints over the video and audio quality of several of StarSat's TV channels.

FOX Crime is also available on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform, although the FIC distributed TV channel has seen no blackouts or transmission interruptions in that platform.

"Where is FOX Crime now? When you have a down channel at least have the decency to let your subscribers know what the hell is going on! Such shoddy service. StarSat sucks," wrote irate StarSat subscriber Delle Jacobson on StarSat's Facebook page.

As thousands of StarSat subscribers went without FOX Crime and a proper EPG, StarSat, incredulously, replied with a generic "Please note that if you are experiencing a problem with either of our channels please forward us your details so that we can assist you as soon as we can. StarSat Team."

"What the hell? Its going on 5 months now and ever since StarSat took over the service has just been getting worse," wrote Shamim Khan. "Now most of my channels are lost due to technical problems, yet I pay in full every months! Get your act together StarSat or you will lose subscribers! Sort out your problems! Why should we pay for no service????"

"Please send me a refund for the channels that have been missing for the last 3 weeks due to your 'transponder problem'," wrote Robert Hordijk. "You promised an installer will call but nobody did".

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) tells TV with Thinus that Fox is "extremely disappointed by the continued intrusions to viewing".

"We are in the business of delivering quality channel brands to our viewers and are extremely disappointed by the continued intrusions to viewing," says Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager of Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa).

He says FOX Crime went dark  "due to a technical problem experienced by the platform that delivers these channels to viewers".

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

BREAKING. The missing FOX Crime is back up on StarSat after suffering an unexplained blackout on Thursday evening.

FOX Crime (StarSat 131) is back up on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat platform after the channel went black and disappeared on Thursday evening.

The blackout of FOX Crime only affected StarSat subscribers; FOX Crime is also available on MultiChoice's DStv where the channel wasn't interrupted. FOX Crime is run and distributed by Fox International Channels (FIC).

On Friday morning Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) told TV with Thinus that the issue is not with them. That clarified two things - that one, FOX Crime wasn't terminated and not yanked by FIC, and two, that there was some kind of problem with StarSat.

On Friday afternoon StarSat responded to a media enquiry and told TV with Thinus that FOX Crime is missing due to "a temporary technical problem at the uplink site" and that StarSat technicians are working on it.

StarSat's pay-TV satellite service in South Africa has so far suffered channel interruption problems as well as video and audio quality problems every month since December 2013 and into January, February and March of 2014 since China's StarTimes came onboard as a financial backer.

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. FOX Crime and Nat Geo Gold are added to StarSat as Fox International Channels Africa expands its reach.

FOX Crime as well as Nat Geo Gold as TV channels are both being added to On Digital Media (ODM) and China's StarTimes' South African pay-TV platform as TopTV is morphing into StarSat, expanding the foothold and reach of Fox International Channels Africa (FIC) in South Africa and the African continent.

FOX Crime is already available on MultiChoice's DStv platform since June and now FOX Crime will also become available on StarSat to replace FOX Retro which was removed from TopTV

TV with Thinus reported in July that talks were underway between ODM and Fox International Channels to possibly add FOX Crime.

FOX Crime will be added to StarSat channel 131. Nat Geo Gold will be added to StarSat channel 300. Both channels are supplied by FIC Africa.

Nat Geo Gold, abbreviated as NGG, first became available in Africa as a bespoke TV channel for the continent in June 2012 as a channel for StarTimes' platform in other Southern and Central African countries as well as Nigeria.

Then Alessandro Tucci, Fox International Channels Africa general manager said that it was National Geographic Channel International's first channel on the African continent designed to cater for the new pay-TV platforms on the continent.

"Programming from the National Geographic library stock relevant to an African viewership, and based on the NGCI programming tent poles of science, technology, history, culture and natural history has been sourced" for Nat Geo Gold.

In September this year when the ZukuTV pay-TV platform replaced its Nat Geo Adventure channel with Nat Geo Gold, exactly the same drop-in quote was again reused for the channel's positioning.

Nat Geo Gold marks the third TV channel from the National Geographic stable which will be available in South Africa. MultiChoice's DStv already has the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, with ODM and StarTimes adding Nat Geo Gold.

Nat Geo Gold shows programming also seen on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, such as Megafactories, Dog Whisperer and Air Crash Investigation.

BREAKING. FOX Crime channel grabs the new crime police drama Low Winter Sun starting on 6 October at 21:25.

FOX International Channels (FIC) has grabbed the new police drama Low Winter Sun for FOX Crime (DStv 126), which will start on Sunday 6 October at 21:25.

The first season of Low Winter Sun with 10 episodes follows closely on the heels of the drama which started on 11 August in the United States and which is based on the 2006 British two-part mini-series of the same name.

In Low Winter Sun Frank Agnew (Mark Strong) is a Detroit detective who commits a murder of a fellow police officer after the death of his girlfriend. This murder then pulls him into the heart of Detroit's underworld.

Thandi Davids, FOX Africa director says FOX Crime "is a perfect fit for this series".

Low Winter Sun was filmed on location in Detroit.

Is TopTV getting ready to dump Top Crime and to add Fox Crime? Where is the promised replacement channels? TopTV isn't willing to talk about it.

On Digital Media (ODM) running the struggling South African satellite pay-TV service TopTV is possibly getting ready to dump its own Top Crime (TopTV 301) channel and to add Fox Crime - but TopTV isn't willing to talk about it or to give answers to a growing number of extremely irate TopTV subscribers about months' old promises of new replacement channels for axed ones.

Asked if TopTV is planning on axing its Top Crime channel, and asked if Fox Crime is going to be added to the pay-TV operator's channel bouquet, TopTV declined comment.

Top Crime - regarded as possibly the worst of the self-compiled and self branded "Top" channels on TopTV's bouquet when it comes to the unending recycling of stale content over the past three years - could be the next "Top" channel facing the chop.

Top Junior and Top Movies+24 were both suddenly slashed in April - a move the Woodmead based pay-TV operator called "an unavoidable exercise". No replacement channels have so far been added.

Now Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) and On Digital Media (ODM) are in talks about possibly adding Fox Crime to TopTV as well - the same new channel supplied by FIC Africa and starting on 9 July on MultiChoice's DStv platform.

Fox Crime however would be extremely similar to Top Crime. Top Crime has been filled with old library crime and adventure series content which TopTV has been repeating over and over for the past three years in a loop, with hardly any new content added since Top Crime launched in May 2010.

Fox Crime - although similar in channel proposition as Top Crime - will however also have some first-run new content as well as premium content in the form of the new TV series The Bridge. Episodes of The Bridge will be shown in South Africa two days after its shown in America.

The addition of Fox Crime to TopTV - if negotiations work out and the channel is added - would actually be the replacement of Fox Retro which just disappeared from TopTV's channel bouquet without any prior warning.

However ... if Top Crime is to be axed in the process, it might be perceived by some subscribers as if Fox Crime is substituting for Top Crime. The reality would however be that TopTV subscribers are then one channel more short.

In fact, TopTV subscribers are still waiting for replacement channels since the end of 2012. TopTV subscribers are incensed about months' old and now hollow promises from TopTV to find and replace channels such as Showtime, Star and Silver when Turner Broadcasting pulled their channels from TopTV. TopTV is also refusing to talk about or address the issue.

TopTV, although in business rescue, is still a running business, but remains silent about plans.

Will TopTV be ending the Top Crime channel and why? Is Fox Crime being added to TopTV - and if it is added, does it replace Fox Retro or will Top Crime be removed and Fox Crime be that channel's replacement?

A lot of viewers are wondering what happened to the replacement channels TopTV promised replacements for. TopTV subscribers are saying its been months and they still have to pay the same monthly subscription but they've been getting less content than before?

All of these current and pressing questions were asked of TopTV in a media enquiry. The pay-TV operator isn't answering any of these.

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".

FOX Crime set to start on DStv in South Africa on 19 July in SD on channel 126 for DStv Premium subscribers.

The new FOX Crime TV channel which TV with Thinus reported at the beginning of the month will be starting on MultiChoice's DStv platform in July now has a starting date of 19 July at 19:00 and a channel number of 126.

I've reported previously that the addition of FOX Crime will bring the total number to 7 of Fox TV channels which will be available in South Africa from July after Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) and MultiChoice have entered into a carriage agreement for FOX Crime which is already seen in Mozambique and Angola.

FIC Africa already runs FX (TopTV 110), Fox Retro (TopTV 181), National Geographic Channel (DStv 181), Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182), BabyTV (TopTV 257) and FOX (TopTV 180 / DStv 125) in South Africa.

The carriage agreement between FIC Africa and MultiChoice to run FOX Crime in South Africa gives FIC Africa the opportunity to do niche programming and to focus on specific target audiences.

Since FOX Crime will contain a lot of library titles but also first-run exclusive content for the territory with new American drama series such as The Bridge, FOX Crime will only be for DStv Premium subscribers. FOX Crime will be broadcast as a standard definition (SD) channel.

FOX Crime will compete in an expansive genre set with existing channels focusing on crime and forensic crime solving storytelling such as Crime & Investigation Network (DStv 170), ID: Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303 / DStv 171), CBS Reality (DStv 132) and Universal Channel (DStv 117) on DStv, and Top Crime (TopTV 303) and Fox Retro (TopTV 110) on TopTV.

Shows on FOX Crime will include The Bridge which will roll-out episodes 2 days in South Africa after the American broadcasting date, the Law & Order series, Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods and 70s and 80s library titles such as CHiPS currently on SABC3, Magnum P.I. coming to SABC3 and Streets of San Francisco.

Interestingly FOX Crime will also prop up the schedule with blended factual content between the fiction with shows such as 48 Hours, the Arrest and Trial show which was a factual add-on show to Law & Order as well as a documentary strand specifically created for Africa entitled "Case Files Africa" which will cover "infamous crime stories from across the continent".

"We're extremely excited to launch in Africa, one of the most successful Fox channel brands worldwide. With the addition of FOX Crime, we're refashioning the meaning of fully-fledged schedules across our Fox channels," says Alessandro Tucci, FOX senior vice president and general manager for Africa.

"The amount of quality programming that is being premiered, continued and revived will definitely place FOX Crime in a good position on the platform. The channel's unique proposition of both drama and factual programming places it as the go-to-channel for all things crime," says Alessandro Tucci.

"There's something for every individual crime story fan and that will surely keep what is one of the most successful genres captivating for the audiences we are targeting," he says.

"FOX Crime has been very successful internationally and we expect that it will keep crime and investigation lovers in South Africa entertained," says Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.

"The channel is a great compliment to our other local channels dedicated to the crime genre. It includes some of the best crime and investigation programmes on offer. We are delighted to be adding this channel onto the DStv platform," says Collins Khumalo.

Fox Crime to be added to MultiChoice's DStv as a new TV channel; brings to 7 the number of Fox run channels in South Africa.

You're reading it here first. 

I'm the first journalist who can report this: Fox Crime is coming to MultiChoice's DStv platform as a new TV channel bring the total to 7 of the number of Fox TV channels which will be available in South Africa from July.

Fox International Channels (FIC) and MultiChoice have entered into a carriage agreement for Fox Crime which is already seen in Mozambique and Angola. MultiChoice will communicate shortly the details of the channel itself, the DStv packages it will be available on and the specific launch date.

UPDATE 17 June 14:00 - Fox International Channels Africa and MultiChoice have jointly announced that FOX Crime will start on 19 July at 19:00 on channel 126 on DStv in standard definition

Exactly a week ago I asked MultiChoice specifically about Fox Crime being added to DStv. "When we are ready to add new channels to DStv, we will make the necessary announcement," said MultiChoice.

I also asked FIC Africa which runs the various Fox channels in Africa and in South Africa specifically about Fox Crime being added.

"As always we are working on bringing new Fox channels to the African market," Thandi Davis, Fox Africa director for broadcasting and sales, responded on Wednesday.

"Our intention is to improve our Fox channel portfolio by launching more of the international channel brands that are part of the group globally and delivering the best content via the best channel brands to the continent," she said.

FIC Africa already runs FX (TopTV 110), Fox Retro (TopTV 181), National Geographic Channel (DStv 181), Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182), BabyTV (TopTV 257) and FOX (TopTV 180 / DStv 125) in South Africa.

FOX, a general entertainment TV channel which has been op TopTV for the past three years is now also available on MultiChoice's DStv service since April. FIC Africa also runs the Fox Crime, Fox Life, Fox Movies, Fox Sports, Nat Geo Adventure and Voyage channels elsewhere in Africa.

Fox Crime is programmed with a lot of library titles such as CHiPs - relating to crime, horror and investigation TV series. As such Fox Crime in South Africa will be direct competition for TV channels such as Crime & Investigation Network (DStv 170), ID: Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303 / DStv 171), CBS Reality (DStv 132) and Universal Channel (DStv 117) on DStv, and Top Crime (TopTV 303) and Fox Retro (TopTV 110) on TopTV.

I'm told that Fox Crime once it starts in South Africa, will however also make inroads with some brand-new first-run overseas content for the African territory similar to the way in which FOX and FX acquired exclusive programming for those channels like The Walking Dead, Falling Skies, Archer, The Listener, Hell on Wheels, Da Vinci's Demons and Copper. Some programming suited for FX on the American version of that Fox pay-TV channel would for instance be channeled to Fox Crime.