Fox Entertainment channel rebranding as FOX as it joins DStv; FOX will remain as a dually available channel on TopTV.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) which runs the Fox channels and National Geographic channels in South Africa and Africa is rebranding the Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) channel as FOX following the carriage agreement with MultiChoice to make FOX available on the DStv Premium bouquet on channel 125 from 9 April.

FOX, or Fox Entertainment will also remain available on rival On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV pay-TV platform.

FOX has so far only been available on TopTV but will now become a dually available channel on DStv and TopTV such as TLC, Investigation Discovery, Al Jazeera, BBC World News, FashionTV.

Whereas TopTV was the only operator with access to the high-buzz, highly sought-after TV shows such as The Walking Dead and Falling Skies - and soon Da Vinci's Demons - DStv subscribers will now get access to those shows - and in high definition (HD) since FOX will be broadcast as an HD channel on MultiChoice's platform.

Yesterday when TV with Thinus asked FIC Africa specifically as well as its South African PR agency, At Vogue Communications specifically, what is happening with Fox Entertainment and whether the channel will remain available on TopTV after April, there was no response to any of the media enquiries made.

Now FIC Africa in a press statement this afternoon, says "the deal with DStv extends FIC's carriage on the continent and is in keeping with the company's corporate strategy of non-exclusivity. This means that all the channels will still be available to all platforms that it is presently carried on across Africa."

TopTV keeps FX and Fox Retro - those two channels are not (yet) carried on DStv.

FOX "will be rebranded from Fox Entertainment to FOX," says FIC Africa in the just-released statement. "This positions the channel as the flagship entertainment channel in the FIC stable. This move is part of a corporate decision taken by FIC worldwide".

"The new on-air brand campaign will focus on the strength of television programming - which remains the number one medium for entertainment, globally."

"We are very pleased with the extended distribution of our channels onto the DStv platform," says Alessandro Tucci, the senior vice president and general manager for FIC Africa in the prepared statement.

"This operation is managed from our expanded office in Johannesburg confirming our commitment to delivering channels with a local team," he says.

"Distribution has increased very fast in the last two years confirming not only what a good moment these markets are going through but also the huge interest that our brands and their premium content generate," says Alessandro Tucci.

"We hope to see more viewers enjoying the quality on offer through our entertainment channel," says Alessandro Tucci.

BREAKING. Fox Entertainment; kykNET & kie launching as 2 new TV channels on DStv; MultiChoice launching new DStv Family bouquet.

MultiChoice is creating another new cheaper and more affordable DStv bouquet, DStv Family, which will become available from 9 April, whilst simultaneously adding two new TV channels to DStv - Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180 / DStv 125) as well as kykNET & kie (DStv 145).

Fox Entertainment has so far only been available on rival On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV platform for the past two and a half years but contains impressive, big-buzz and highly acclaimed TV series shown quickly such as Falling Skies, The Walking Dead and the soon-to-start Da Vinci's Demons and reality show Being Mandela.

Fox Entertainment will now become available as a new HD channel on the DStv Premium bouquet. DStv earlier hinted that Fox Entertainment is coming to the pay-TV platform as a channel.

TV with Thinus asked MultiChoice in separate media enquiries yesterday about Fox Entertainment and kykNET & kie. Separate media enquiries were also made to TopTV as well as Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) which runs Fox Entertainment as a pay-TV TV channel in Africa, yesterday.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) which runs a trio of Fox channels on TopTV - including Fox Entertainment - declined to comment on the Fox channel development and neither FIC Africa nor its PR agency responded with an answer to a media enquiry about whether Fox Entertainment is leaving the TopTV channel line-up.

Yesterday when asked if TopTV was aware that the Fox Entertainment channel is becoming dually available on DStv as well after April or whether Fox is leaving the TopTV platform, TopTV's response was that wasn't "aware of any moves in this regard".

Meanwhile M-Net created a "rerun" kykNET channel of sorts for DStv - a second-tier version of the original channel which will make a version of kykNET with mostly older library titles available on the kykNET & kie channel. With the DStv Family bouquet, Afrikaans DStv subscribers will now get access to kykNET TV content but in a time-lapse fashion after it has been on kykNET.

Fox Entertainment will only be available on the DStv Premium bouquet. kykNET & kie will be available on the DStv Premium and DStv Compact bouquets of MultiChoice, besides DStv Family.

The DStv Family bouquet will have 45 channels, 17 of which have not been available on what DStv refers to as "lower bouquets" before. DStv Family will have a monthly subscription fee of R175.

"We are very excited about DStv Family," says Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa in a statement released today. "It will provide customers more variety and choice as well as enhance the overall value of the DStv offering."

"kykNET & kie is an expansion of kykNET's existing offering on DStv and will, for the first time, make Afrikaans content available to DStv customers in the lower-tier packs namely DStv Family and DStv Compact," says MultiChoice.

"kykNET & kie will give customers on DStv Compact and DStv Family access to some of the kykNET favourites such as Villa Rosa, Binneland, Toks en Tjops, eNuus and Dagbreek."

"It's been sad that several Afrikaans families due to financial pressure didn't have access to kykNET," says Karen Meiring, M-Net's director for Afrikaans channels in a separate statement. "With kykNET & kie it's all changing. We're looking forward to becoming a friend in the homes of more Afrikaans viewers."

"kykNET & kie is an exciting and important newcomer to the kykNET family," says Karen Meiring. "Since it forms part of several DStv bouquets, a large number of new viewers will be able to enjoy our programmes."

"At the same time a bit of nostalgia awaits on all of the existing kykNET viewers who regularly ask us to rebroadcast programmes from our starting days." Shows such as Agter Elke Man, kykNET's first own commissioned Afrikaans drama series Song vir Katryn and the comedy Alie Barber will be on kykNET & kie.

kykNET is also launching a new local magazine show Kollig on kykNET & kie.


ALSO READ: Fox Entertainment as a TV channel rebranded as FOX; FOX will remain available on TopTV after being added to DStv as a dually available channel.

Da Vinci's Demons on Fox Entertainment starting date in South Africa moved out to Monday 6 May at 21:45.

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The starting date of the highly anticipated new drama Da Vinci's Demons which will debut on TopTV's Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) has been moved out - the drama about the fictional life of a young Leonardo da Vinci will now start on Monday 6 May at 21:45 (South African time).

I have already watched the first episode of Da Vinci's Demons thanks to Fox International Channels (FIC) to weeks ago and their online preview screening service, but the agreements in place as a TV critic is that I cannot tell or review anything about it, until a certain specified date.

Da Vinci's Demons was originally scheduled to start in South Africa and Africa on Monday 22 April at 21:45 - with episodes which would have been shown here just 10 days after America - but the drama has now been moved on to 6 May.

Being Mandela, reality show with Nelson Mandela's two granddaughters Zaziwe and Swati, starting on Fox Entertainment on 17 April.

Being Mandela, the reality show with Nelson Mandela's granddaughters Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway and Swati Dlamini - is coming to South Africa and will be shown exclusively on TopTV on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) starting on Wednesday 17 April at 20:15 (South African time).

Fox International Channels (FIC) which runs the set of Fox channels on TopTV secured the reality series following the sisters and their lives in America.

"Fox International Channels (FIC) is expanding in the African market by bringing what the brand with fans is globally synonymous for - exceptional and exciting television programming through its first commission of a local TV reality show," say Thandi Davids, FIC Africa director.

"We are excited about the growth of FIC in the burgeoning African market and are constantly working to integrate global shows with strong local programmes that will resonate with our region's TV audiences," says Thandi Davids.

"We look forward to continually ensuring that our strong programme mix of series, documentaries and riveting action are enjoyed by as many people as possible throughout Africa."

Being Mandela is a 30 minute reality show following Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway and Swati Dlamini and the drama and conflict of their daily lives as part of the famous Mandela brand.

BREAKING. Da Vinci's Demons coming to Fox Entertainment on TopTV from 22 April at 21:45; episodes just 10 days after America!

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Da Vinci's Demons will debut on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) in South Africa and Africa on Monday 22 April at 21:45!

In January TV with Thinus exclusively broke the news that the highly-anticipated new drama series Da Vinci's Demons will be coming to Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) from April when the fantasy historical adventure series starts in America - now I can exclusively break more news with the starting date: Monday 22 April at 21:45!

Now give your enigmatic Mona Lisa smile: The starting date of 22 April at 21:45 for the big-buzz exclusive new drama series of Fox Entertainment means that episodes will unspool for South Africa's TopTV subscribers only 10 days after it's shown in America where Da Vinci's Demons will start on 12 April.

ALSO READ: Da Vinci's Demons: Could it be 2013 hottest brand-new TV drama?
ALSO READ: Fox International Channels grabs the highly-anticipated new drama Da Vinci's Demons for South African viewers (July 2012 story).

Fox officially describes Da Vinci's Demons - which chronicles the life and times and women and drama and mysteries of a young Leonardo Da Vinci set against the backdrop of a bigger secret society evil order murder mystery like Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code - as "the fight of one man to set knowledge free".

Evil things are happening inside the church, and they call upon Leonardo Da Vinci, who they don't actually like, to help them.

"The secret history of Leonardo Da Vinci's tantalizing life reveals a portrait of a young man tortured by a gift of superhuman genius. He finds himself in the midst of a storm that has been brewing for centuries."

"A conflict between truth and lies, religion and reason, past and future. his aspirations are used against him by the opposing forces of the time - luring him into a game of seduction where those who despise his intellect need him most."

"Leonardo must take up the fight against foes who use history to suppress the truth. A hero armed only with genius, Da Vinci stands alone against the darkness within - and the darkness without."

BREAKING. Fox Entertainment grabs Transporter (the series) to start on TopTV on 4 March at 18:15.

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Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) is bringing South African viewers another exclusive drama series: I can reveal that the drama series Transporter, based on the movies with the same name, will be starting on Fox Entertainment on Monday 4 March at 18:15 (South African time) as an exclusive region premiere.

Transporter follows the adventures of Frank Martin (played by Chris Vance who takes over from Jason Statham who was seen in the movies) - a professional freelance courier driver for hire who will deliver anything (anyone!), anywhere for the right price.

Frank Martin lives by three unbreakable rules (but oh the irony!) which he breaks himself the whole time. The first season of Transporter which was shot last year and shown in some parts of the world already has 12 episodes. Interestingly almost every episode looks a bit different depending on the country in which it is shown.

Transporter was filmed in Paris, Toronto, Berlin and Nice and has a set of sought-after directors (people who worked on Lost for instance).

Hot cars, car chases, storylines involving cars (even Frank Martin's cars as the season continues) is a big theme in Transporter.

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."

BREAKING. Falling Skies on Fox Entertainment renewed for a 3rd season in America.

Falling Skies, the science fiction drama executive produced by Steven Spielberg, starring Noah Wyle and see in South Africa on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) on Mondays at 20:15 has just been renewed for a third season.

" Falling Skies is television storytelling at its very best, a powerful drama that's told on both an epic scale and on a deeply personal level," said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in America, in a just-issued press statement.


Episodes of the second season of Falling Skies which just started in South Africa is showing within mere weeks of the American broadcasting date.

""With all the memorable and surprising moments taking place during the second season of Falling Skies, we can't wait to see what DreamWorks Television and Falling Skies' terrific production team and cast members have in store for season three," said Michael Wright.


The 3rd season of Falling Skies will have 10 episodes which will be shown in 2013.


In support of the current second season - and perfect for South African viewers and fans since episodes roll out basically concurrently to the American broadcasting date - is the new weekly web series, 2nd Watch, hosted by Wil Weaton at http://fallingskies.com. Each episode features discussions on the latest episode and interviews with special guests from the cast and crew, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, fan questions and trivia.

FALLING SKIES. The second season of Falling Skies on Fox Entertainment finds Tom inside an alien ship getting a proposal.

I've just finished watching the first episode of the second season of the science fiction drama Falling Skies which will start in America on 17 June and in South Africa on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) on on Monday 2 July at 20:15 and all I can say is ... awesome!

I just finished watching the online screener of the first brand-new episode (thanks Fox International Channels Africa) which was made available today and although I'm going to keep my review - and the full revelations - in the first episode of the second season until a bit later, I will spill a few non-spoilers of what I've just seen.

"We've studied you in great detail, professor. We've drawn from that a proposal that will end hostilities between us."

Those are the chilling words from the alien (spoken through not the alien) when professor Tom Mason comes face to face with the aliens inside the alien ship. Viewers will remember that the first season of Falling Skies ended with Tom Mason being visited by one of the alien creatures and asked to come to their one ship.

The first episode of the second season of Falling Skies contains extensive scenes taking place inside the alien ship - somewhat resembling in appearance the Hive ships from Stargate Atlantis. Oh, and the alien makes Tom Mason - and by implication mankind - a proposal (which I won't reveal for now).

Somebody's Harley gets destroyed, the aliens have developed a new way of tracking humans, and there's one word (actually two!) that you would have heard in Star Trek ... the "neutral zone"! All the so-far known types of aliens are going to be seen, very clearly, in daylight, as well as an alien ship in the first episode.

Also Tom Mason (when he gets "released") is nowhere close to Boston, so he has to try and make his way back there.

More later, but all I can say for now is that the start of the second season of Falling Skies remains good primetime television if you like drama and like science fiction.

Programming note: TV marathons of The Simpsons, Falling Skies, Camelot and The Walking Dead coming to Fox Entertainment, FX over Christmas.

Massive TV marathons of The Simpsons, Falling Skies and Camelot are coming to Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) over Christmas, with a marathon of The Walking Dead early in January on Fox FX (TopTV 110).

The Simpsons Christmas Hamper will run from 16:00 to 18:15 on 24 December on Fox Entertainment with 6 very special Simpsons Christmas episodes.

On 26 December TopTV subscribers will be able to gorge on what Fox Entertainment calls ''Boxing Day Box Sets": a TV marathon of the first season of the great new Steven Spielberg produced sci-fi drama Falling Skies, with episodes that will run from 13:30 until 21:00.

Camelot will follow after that, with the first season's set of episodes that will unspool back-to-back from 21:00 to 04:30.

The Walking Dead also gets a quick daily-repeat cycle. All the episodes from the first season as well as the first half of the second of The Walking Dead will be shown on Fox FX from 1 to 6 January from 21:15 every night before the second half of the second season's episodes start in February in America and which will again be shown in South Africa a few days later.

''The exclusive screeing of the second season of The Walking Dead on FX on TopTV showed that Fox International Channels (FIC) is serious about bringing quality, edgy, winning entertainment shows timeously to South Africa,'' says Thandi Davids, Fox Africa director.

''We beat the broadcasters with this one. In 2011 we kept the show locked on FX exclusively for TopTV subscribers, now we give them a unique experience early in the New Year,'' she says.

''This is good news for fans who want to play catch-up. We'll be showing the entire first season and the first part of season two. A series that will be going into a third season next year.''

The Walking Dead will have the following January broadcasting times:
Season 1, episodes 1 – 3: Sunday, 1 January, 21:15 – 23:45
Season 1, episodes 4 – 6: Monday, 2 January, 21:15 – 23:30
Season 2, episodes 1 – 3: Tuesday, 3 January, 21:15 – 23:45
Season 2, episodes 4 – 7: Wednesday, 4 January, 21:15 – 00:15

BREAKING. Fox Entertainment adjusts its early primetime line-up; moves soap Pasion Morena earlier and Family Guy to a later timeslot.

Passionate and worried Pasion Morena soap viewers on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) who suddenly can't find their show, must not worry. Pasion Morena is still there, just at a new time since Fox Entertainment has adjusted and changed its early primetime line-up.

Viewers are wondering where Pasion Morena went but the soap is now on weekdays at 18:00 (South African time) instead of 19:30 where it used to be.

Fox Entertainment has decided to alter its early primetime line-up by swopping Pasion Morena and Family Guy because Fox wanted to move Family Guy to a later timeslot given the more adult nature of the animation show.

I'm just off the phone with Thandi Davids, the regional director for Africa for Fox International Channels (FIC), who graciously took time out after hours to respond to my media enquiry and viewers' confusion.

Thandi Davids says viewers were informed on social media and through on-air notifications about the early prime-time scheduling changes coming. ''The reason is because of a PG issue regarding Family Guy and we moved Family Guy to a later slot and Pasion Morena subsequently earlier.''

She explains that ''upcoming episodes of Family Guy is not as PG and we want to create family friendly viewing''. ''Keep in mind the consideration that we actually broadcast across Africa and are in 4 different timesones - South Africa, West Africa; East Africa. It makes more sense to put Family Guy in a later PG zone,'' says Thandi Davids.

Pasion Morena subsequently moved to an earlier time. ''That's the only reason we changed the schedule slightly; Pasion Morena is still there, just shifted to a new timeslot and that's the reason where for where the shifting came from.''

TOLDJA! Camelot to start on Fox Entertainment on Monday 3 October at 20:00 as a high-quality reimagining of the Arthurian legend.

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In July I broke the news RIGHT HERE that Fox Entertainment has snagged the rights to the epic drama Camelot, and now I can exclusively dish that Camelot is set to start on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180)on Monday 3 October at 20:00 (South African time).

In July when I broke the news sources gave me a starting date of 18 October for Camelot's 10 episodes, but the starting date of the show with Joseph Fiennes, Jamie Campbell Bower and Eva Green filmed on location in Ireland has now been moved up to 3 October. Sadly Camelot was cancelled after the first season due to several logistical issues, but it doesn't mean the show following the life of a young King Arthur isn't great.

Camelot is yet another high-quality TV drama that's now been snagged by Fox, with the broadcaster definitely proving its mettle when it comes to bringing South African viewers and TopTV subscribers premium first-run shows and content - and incredibly quickly. Camelot follows high-buzz, critically acclaimed shows like The Walking Dead (of which the second season is starting on Fox FX on Tuesday 18 October at 20:15), Falling Skies and The Listener.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. Falling Skies on Fox Entertainment is going to take your breath away with what's coming.

I was drinking some Lemon Twist and some just went into my nose. There is simply no better drama show on South African television right now that Steven Spielberg's Falling Skies on Mondays on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) at 20:15.

Skitters? Mechs? Oh please. How about ... gasp! Another third type of alien? The real extra-terrestrial puppet masters ... revealed!

Of course I'm watching ahead with Falling Skies, so I can warn you: keep watching or start watching this fantastic show! I'm not going to spoil any upcoming surprises but boy, will you're eyes go big look like Noah Wyle's (who plays Tom) when you get to the upcoming episode where a true close encounter of the third kind awaits.

''They don't ... understand.'' ''They didn't expect ... resistance ... on this level ... They want to talk.''

EXCLUSIVE. Camelot coming to Fox Entertainment from 18 October as the legend of King Arthur filmed in Ireland gets a lavish re-imagining.

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I can exclusively break the news that Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) has scored the first-run pay TV broadcasting rights to the lavish, big-budget TV drama Camelot with Joseph Fiennes as Merlin Jamie Campbell Bower as Arthur and Eva Green as Morgan with Fox Entertainment planning to start broadcasting Camelot from Tuesday 18 October in South Africa.

Camelot is now the latest hot show going to a TopTV channel and not a DStv channel, following big-buzz dramas The Walking Dead, Falling Skies and quite posibly, also soon the new Dallas. (M-Net did score the hottest one of them all, the new Terra Nova.)

The big-budget Camelot telling the tale of a young Arthur who's not yet King Arthur, was filmed on location in Ireland. The terrific adult drama filled with sex, sword-fighting, sorcery, comedy and excellent production values started on the Starz channel in America in February. The first season of Camelot retelling the Arthurian legend with several mysteries, twists and fascinating plot developments besides some quite breathtaking scenery (and I'm not talking about Eva Green's breasts) has 10 episodes.

Due to hefty production hurdles, the ambitious show announced at the end of June that there won't be a second season of Camelot although the show started off strong and viewership went up s the season concluded its last episodes. ''Due to significant production challenges, Starz has decided not to exercise the option for subsequent seasons of Camelot with our production partners GK-tv, Octagon Films and Take 5 Productions,'' the production said in a statement.

The elaborate costumes, props and magnificent sets of Camelot contributing to the million dollar per episode budget, as well as the intricate scheduling conflicts amongst some of the show's main stars, led Starz to throw in the towel. Camelot is however definitely worth watching.

FIRST LOOK! One minute preview of the brand-new Dallas! And who will get it? M-Net? Fox Entertainment? Vuzu? I know who's already trying!

''All those fights over Ewing Oil ... and Southfork,'' says Bobby. ''We laid waste to everything in our path ... J.R. And for what? I don't want them to be like us.''

Cue the iconic TV themesong music...

''Television's landmark drama returns.''

Just like Beverly Hills, 90210 got a next generation upgrade to 90210, and Hawaii Five 0, Star Trek and the less successful Melrose Place all got a contemporary reboot as new shows, the iconic primetime television drama Dallas is definitely back!

Here's the first preview of the new show that will have a full first season of 10 episodes with Larry Hagman back as the iconic oil tycoon J.R. Ewing, Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing and Linda Gray as Sue Ellen.

Joining them is Josh Henderson as J.R.'s son John Ross Ewing, Jesse Metcalfe as Bobby's son Christopher Ewing, Julie Gonzalo as Christopher's fiancee Rebecca and Jordana Brewster as Elena, John Ross' girlfriend.

Dallas was shown in South Africa, multiple times, on TV1, SABC2 and M-Net Series (DStv 110). So what South African TV channel will try and get the new Dallas? The South African broadcasters that the new Dallas would be perfect for, would be M-Net, Vuzu (DStv 123), Top One (TopTV 150) or Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180).

Although Dallas was announced as a full first season pick-up in America just three days ago, I just reached out to my sources to find out if there's any takers. Kabam! TV with Thinus can exclusively reveal that ... Fox Entertainment on TopTV is strongly pursuing the broadcasting rights for the new Dallas. ''It is something that Fox is working on,'' a source disclosed to me a half hour ago.

BREAKING. Falling Skies on Fox Entertainment renewed for a second season and 10 more episodes.

Falling Skies, the new Steven Spielberg produced drama that started this Monday on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) in South Africa was just renewed in America for a second season and 10 further episodes.

Falling Skies with Noah Wyle about an alien invasion on Earth is just 3 episodes behind America where the first season will have 10 episodes.

''Falling Skies is a true standout series, from its ambitious storytelling, high-profile cast and production team to its phenomenal success when it comes to international and time-shifted viewing,'' say Michael Wright, head of programming for TNT in a press release that distributes Falling Skies internationally. ''We're reaching new audiences with Falling Skies and look forward to seeing where this fascinating and exciting series takes us next.''

BREAKING. Steven Spielberg's new Falling Skies drama series starting on Fox Entertainment on 4 July is an immediate out-the-box TV hit.

The new highly anticipated Steven Spielberg drama Falling Skies starting in South Africa on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) on Monday 4 July at 20:15 is an out-the-box TV hit in America where the first two hour premiere Sunday had a record viewership.

Falling Skies had 5,9 million viewers Sunday night in America which makes it the most-watched start of any TV show this year on a pay TV channel in America, and even beating the popular The Walking Dead that was shown last year on TopTV Fox FX channel and started with 5,3 million viewers in America.

ALSO READ: Falling Skies starting in South Africa on 4 July at 20:15 will be launching in 75 countries simultaneously.
ALSO READ: Fox Entertainment grabs the broadcasting rights to the hot new Steven Spielberg drama Falling Skies.
ALSO READ: Watch the first trailer for Falling Skies.

In Falling Skies Noah Wyle plays a dad Tom Mason in Boston who leads a group of resistance fighters after aliens have attacked and invaded Earth while he's looking for his one son who has been ''altered'' by the aliens looking for teenagers. South African viewers will only be three episodes behind America with Falling Skies that will have a definite full first season of 10 episodes.

BREAKING. Get ready for jungle lust as the super steamy, weekday telenovella Pasión Morena comes to Fox Entertainment from 25 July.

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I can exclusively break the news that the super steamy Mexican telenovella Pasión Morena is coming to South African TV screens, with Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) that is adding the torridly terrific telenovella to the schedule starting Monday, 25 July at 17:30.

The sexy soapy sudser with 185 hourlong episodes that was broadcast in 2009 in South America will run on weekdays on Fox Entertainment. Pasión Morena (dubbed into English) brims with hunky Latin gentlemen and super sexy ladies involved in all kinds of tempestuous storylines and matters of the heart. In classic South American soap style the clothes in Pasión Morena are more off than on when jungle passion soars - they even remove clothing before they start to fight.

The main characters are Morena and Leo and their on-again, off-again stormy love relationship - think Eden and Cruz in Santa Barbara - just way, waaaay more passionate. Morena (Paola Nuñez) is a young fashion designer who is betrayed by her fiancé days before her wedding. She flees and finds solace on a paradise island where she of course meets Leo (Victor González) who's mother was murdered.

Of course there's lots of jungle lust and super sexy love scenes in Pasión Morena, diabolical enemies, secret identities, Morena's ex who wants her back, family secrets about Leo's past, the powerful rich Sirenio family, amnesia, a devastating fire, disfigurement, the unscrupulous Cassandra who wants to dig her nails into Leo, assassination and all the other delicious stuff super soaps are famous for. Once the soap starts it will have an omnibus broadcast of the week's episodes on Sundays at 14:30.

BREAKING. The Listener on Fox Entertainment renewed for a 3rd season and a further 13 episodes by CTV in Canada.

The terrific drama about a normal guy with a mysterious past who can hear other people's thoughts, The Listener, has been renewed for a 3rd season.

The Listener with Craig Olejnik is currently in its 2nd season of the hourlong drama series on Saturdays at 20:15 on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180). CTV, the Canadian broadcaster that produces the show, has just renewed The Listener for a 3rd season and another 13 episode order.

ALSO READ: The Listener starts on Fox Entertainment for a 2nd season.

BREAKING. Steven Spielberg's Falling Skies starting on Fox Entertainment on Monday 4 July at 20:15 for 10 episodes.

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Breathe. I can exclusively reveal that the highly-anticipated, mega-buzz Steven Spielberg science fiction drama Falling Skies will start on Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180) on Monday 4 July at 20:15 for 10 episodes.

Falling Skies is on the verge of getting renewed for a second season even before the first season's even started yet in America.

ALSO READ: Fox Entertainment grabs the broadcasting rights to the hot new Steven Spielberg drama Falling Skies.
ALSO READ: Watch the first hot trailer for Falling Skies.

In Falling Skies Noah Wyle as prof. Tom Mason leads a ragtag group of survivors in modern-day America (they call themselves 2nd Mass) after Earth is overrun by invading aliens. With his two sons he goes to look for his third who's been captured (and given a mind-controlling device that plugs straight into the backbone).

The producers already said there's more than one alien creature that will be seen in Falling Skies - as is also evident from the already released trailer - giant slimy reptilian things, and more mechanical ''Mech'' robot-like things. TV/Line revealed one yesterday (below) - the Mech ones that will mostly be seen battling the remaining humans in what is left of Earth's cities.