In FOX’s new War of the Worlds science fiction drama series you can’t even hide in a shop’s ice-cream fridge from aliens.

It borrows all of the best tropes from Independence Day, Falling Skies, The Walking Dead, Jurassic Park and Terminator - with unexpected twists in a modern-day setting - with viewers who won't be able to guess where the story of the TV adaptation of H. G. Well's classic science fiction novel, War of the Worlds, will go that starts on FOX (DStv 125) on Wednesday 30 October at 20:45.

FOX's new reimagining of H.G. Well's timeless classic is one of two this year with the BBC that also made a War of the Worlds although that mini-series is set in Edwardian England.

The 8-episode War of the Worlds FOX series is set in modern-day France and London since it's a co-production between Urban Myth Films in partnership with CANAL+, as well as Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa and AGC Television.

War of the Worlds is Fox Networks Group's second production after the Deep State series.

The cast includes Gabriel Byrne, Elizabeth McGovern from Downton Abbey, Léa Drucker, Adel Bencherif, Natasha Little, Daisy Edgar Jones, Ty Tennant, Stephen Campbell Moore, Bayo Gbadamosi, Aaron Heffernan, Stéphane Caillard and Guillaume Gouix.

When French astronomers detect a transmission from another galaxy, it is definitive proof of alien life ... but are they friendly or evil?

Humanity waits for further contact but then a devastating attack follows with surviving humans scattered and fighting for their lives. 

As aliens hunt and kill those left alive, the survivors ask a burning question: Who are these attackers and why do they want to destroy humans?

FOX's War of the Worlds adaptation is from writer Howard Overman who says that the science fiction series will show a post-apocalyptic world but one that isn't very disturbed. "If you look out your window and the city still looks the same, it's a strange experience because your life has totally changed but outside it's all very still and familiar".

"Our War of the Worlds is, at its core, a story about humanity. If aliens attacked tomorrow and life as we know it was destroyed, how would we cope? What would it tell us about each other, and more importantly, about ourselves?"

Evert Van der Veer, in charge of media networks at The Walt Disney Company Africa, says "We can’t wait for this bold recreation to premiere on African screens".

"We look forward to this world-class production based on a timeless story, that promises a unique combination of character-driven human drama and the very best science fiction."

Disney pulls all FOX-supplied channels from StarTimes’ StarSat over 'commercial issues' after negotiations fail while StarSat in bizarre claim tells its customers the satellite-TV channels are gone because of alleged '5G-signal interference'.

Fed-up with ongoing commercial issues at the StarTimes pay-TV operator, Disney has abruptly pulled all of its FOX-supplied channels from StarSat after negotiations failed, while the the Chinese-run satellite pay-TV operator bizarrely claims that the channels disappeared because of alleged 5G cellphone signal testing interference.

 Angry and confused StarSat and StarTimes subscribers who no longer get the slew of channels they’ve paid for that and that was removed without any prior warning, are furious over the blackout of the channels.

 The blackout of the additional FOX-channels collection follows a month after the two FOX Sports channels – FOX Sports and FOX Sports 2 – were supposed to change to ESPN and ESPN2 on StarTimes and StarSat at the beginning of September but failed to materialise.

 The ESPN channels no-show has been a cause of massive embarrassment to both Disney who hyped ESPN’s Africa-return and to the FOX Networks Group that it now owns, when there was no actual platform for viewers to see these channels.

 After the ESPN gaffe, the channels blackout on StarSat has now expanded with the FOX Networks Group’s FOX, FOX Life, FOX Portuguese, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, National Geographic Portuguese, Baby TV, Voyage, National Geographic French, and Nat Geo WILD French channels that have all suddenly gone dark since October as well.

This again happened without any prior warning to StarSat subscribers.

Disney says that it decided to pull its channels from StarTimes’ satellite pay-TV service because of “ongoing commercial issues with StarSat” that StarSat failed to resolve.

Disney says that the FOX, FOX Life and Nat Geographic channels remain available on MultiChoice’s DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

StarSat in a bizarre message to subscribers however blames alleged 5G cellphone signal testing interference for the loss of the channels.

StarSat said that it is working on replacement channels for the FOX channels that Disney took away.


Disney suspends channel feeds after negotiations failed 
“We can confirm that our channels – FOX, FOX Life, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX Portuguese, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, National Geographic Portuguese, Baby TV, Voyage, National Geographic French, and Nat Geo WILD French – are currently not being provided to StarSat,” The Walt Disney Company Africa told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry.

"This follows ongoing commercial issues with StarSat,” Disney Africa said.

“Despite Disney’s negotiations in good faith and significant efforts to find a resolution, The Walt Disney Company Africa has had to suspend the feeds of all of our channels to StarSat at this time.”

“We continue to work to find a positive resolution but in the meantime our channels will remain available on various other platforms across the continent. Viewers are encouraged to visit FOXAfrica.com, NatGeoTV.com and ESPN.com to find tune-in information.”

Disney Africa said that it is responding to consumer queries.

StarSat in a message to its subscribers blamed alleged terrestrial 5G signal testing for the loss of the satellite-delivered TV channel signals on its pay-TV service. It’s not clear why 5G testing apparently only affects specifically the Disney-FOX channels.

“Please be advised that the following channels have been offline since 1 October 2019: FOX, FOX Life, National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD. Proliferation of 5G signal testing stations due to 5G network expansion has created interference with signal feeds of the above channels, resulting in adverse viewer experience,” StarSat tells subscribers in a message.

“Channel replacement measures to revitalise our content offering are currently underway. StarSat would like to thank you for your patience and continued support.”

StarSat in response to a media enquiry said that the 5G problem is in South Africa "due to the rapid expansion of 5G network" and that the 5G-signal testing "is specifically interfering with C-band satellite frequency which has in turn compromised viewer experience in terms of sound and picture quality".

It's not clear how 5G interferes with sound and picture quality of satellite channel signals, or why it only affects the FOX-supplied channels that specifically belong to the Disney group.

If the 5G interference in South Africa is real as StarSat claims, it's also unclear why the channel blackout happened on StarTimes and StarSat's service it is running in other countries outside of South Africa as well where there are no 5G testing happening.

The StarTimes rival MultiChoice is mired in its own channel carriage contract fight with A+E Networks UK, with DStv subscribers set to lose the entire A+E set of channels at the end of October including History, Lifetime and Crime+Investigation.

A+E Networks, that established a local A+E Networks Africa office in Johannesburg employing 12 people who might lose their jobs and that has been ramping up local content production that might now be cancelled, says that it remains hopeful that MultiChoice will sign a new carriage deal to pay to keep the popular channels on DStv.


Consumers ask: 'Do you think we're a bunch of idiots?' 
StarSat customers are extremely angry after the unannounced removal of the channels, with a litany of complaints on StarSat's Facebook page.

Calvine Mugombi asked "How do you remove channels without a warning especially after we just paid?" 

"Such testing is not interfering with the same channels at MultiChoice," said Kayvee Under. "Why are you telling us lies, come clean please. It was your plan to remove them and not replacing them but taking our money because you believe that we're fools".

"What a crap response from Starsat," noted Percy Mitchell. "Do you really think that we are all a bunch of idiots to believe the crap you feed us?" 

"IF 5G testing was interfering with signal reception from a satellite, that interference would NOT be limited to a handful of channels,"said Kerwin Budden. "It would cause disruption to the entire spectrum relayed from satellite to satellite-dish and all channels would be affected. A grade 1 learner would understand that. StarSat stop feeding the subscribers lies." 

"Just last month I asked StarSat if they are cancelling FOX etc. also when they cancelled channels on 1 August," said Gerhard Deyzel. "I still have the messages where they assured me that they are not cancelling FOX and National Geographic... kept it as proof. I saw this coming long time ago. 

"This is disgusting. The only channels worth watching are gone without warning. Thankfully I haven't paid yet. Goodbye Starsat," remarked Laura van der Westhuizen.

America's struggling sports brand ESPN returning to South Africa and Africa after 6 years as Disney rebrands the Fox Networks Group's Fox Sports channels after 5 years on StarSat and Cell C black to ESPN on 30 August.

America's struggling sports channel brand ESPN from Disney is returning to South Africa and Africa that it dumped 6 years ago, through a corporate rebranding order under which the Fox Sport channels from the Fox Networks Group will be changed to Disney's ESPN.

As part of the ongoing international restructuring of its combined channel portfolios following The Walt Disney's takeover of 21st Century Fox, Fox Sports (StarSat 244 / Cell C black 401) and Fox Sports 2 (StarSat 245 / Cell C black 402) will flip to ESPN and ESPN2 from 30 August 2019 as part of Disney's backdoor rebranding and channels consolidation alignment.

China's StarTimes running its satellite pay-TV service as StarSat in South Africa added Fox Sports and Fox Sports 2 in August 2014, with Cell C that added the Fox Sports channels as linear TV channels to it subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service when it launched in December 2017.

Now Fox's Fox Sports brand is getting culled after a 5-year presence in the South African and sub-Saharan Africa territory and replaced by ESPN.

Disney and ESPN dumped South Africa and Africa 6 years ago in July 2013 when ESPN and ESPN Classic when Disney abruptly pulled the channels from MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service leaving DStv subscribers angry and upset.

In mid-May 2012 Disney pre-warned that it would cut ESPN internationally as a result of the growing cost of acquiring live sports rights and that ESPN can't afford, or isn't willing to pay what it takes to broadcast sports internationally.

Bob Iger, the Walt Disney chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) told investors "that the opportunities for ESPN is limited internationally" and that "ESPN's international business has never been particularly large, nor has it been a huge priority for the company".

Now Disney is bringing ESPN back by flipping the Fox Sports lid to ESPN since it owns 21st Century Fox, which owns Fox Sports.

ESPN will add some new sports while the Fox Sports-now-ESPN channels will continue to show content from the English Football League Championship, Dutch Eredivisie, Scottish Premiership, Turkish Super Lig, Belgian Pro League, Major League Soccer (MLS), Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Frank Rutten, who was the executive vice president for sports at Fox Networks Group and now oversees the rebranded ESPN for Europe and Africa, in a supplied statement says "Rebranding as ESPN is a natural transition following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company".

"The ESPN brand is synonymous with sports, is one of the most valuable brands in the world and has an established global reach."

Christine Service, senior vice president and country manager at The Walt Disney Company Africa, says "We are excited to grow our broadcast offering under the new ESPN banner, with our existing programming and intellectual property forming part of the plans for the future. We look forward to developing both channels in the months and years ahead."

Disney and ESPN have said nothing about why it wants to be back in Africa after it wanted out 6 years ago, or how the "new" ESPN will try to be better.

The ESPN brand was hugely damaged because of its ugly exit in mid-2013 with DStv subscribers saying they will never support, watch or trust it again.

Half-hearted brand marketing attempts in Africa by ESPN in conjunction with Econet's Kwesé TV that is now being liquidated but that sub-licensed some ESPN content rights for South Africa and Africa, have failed the past two years.

Walton Goggins replacing Mark Strong in the second season of the spy drama Deep State on FOX that will soon be filming in Cape Town, South Africa.

Actor Walton Goggins (46) has replaced Mark Strong in the second season of the espionage drama series, Deep State on FOX (Dstv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201), that will soon be filming scenes in Cape Town South Africa, as well as in the United Kingdom and Morocco.

Deep State, produced by Red Arrow's Endor Productions, is Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa's first regional scripted series commission specifically for the Europe and Africa territory, with the second season comprising 8 episodes that will be broadcast sometime in 2019.

The first season revolved around the former MI6 field agent Max Easton, with the second season of Deep State that will focus on Walton Goggins' character, Nathan Miller, a former CIA agent.

Walton Goggins is also an executive producer on the show.

Other new characters who will appear during the second season of Deep State include Victoria Hamilton as a Republican senator, Lily Banda as the aid worker Aicha Konaté in Mali en Shelley Conn as Nathan's ex-wife.

Joe Dempsie, Karima McAdams, Alistair Petrie and Anastasia Griffiths from the first season will appear in the second season.

"At the heart of this project is this major new character, Nathan Miller, an ex-CIA agent, who now acts on behalf of the deep state," says Matthew Parkhill, co-creator and director in a statement.

"Our aim for the show is to move beyond the first season, expanding the shadowy world of the deep state and encourage viewers to delve deeper into how it goes about ruthlessly achieving its goals."

"We are thrilled to have Walton Goggins join our team," says Sara Johnson, vice-president of scripted and executive producer for FNG Europe & Africa.

"He brings the highest calibre of experience to season two. Led by the creative vision of Matthew Parkhill and the expertise of Hilary Bevan Jones, Paul Frift and the team at Endor, Deep State stretches the traditional boundaries of the contemporary espionage genre and continues the rich history of compelling entertainment content that has made 21st Century Fox a leading entertainment brand globally."

Fox News on StarSat and Cell C black in an 'exclusive investigation' falsely reports about 'racist Cyril Ramaphosa' and the 'racist South African government' that changed constitution to steal land from white farmers and causing 'chaos' in the country.

On Thursday the Fox News Channel (StarSat 261 / Cell C black 502) broadcast a horrifically false "exclusive investigation" in which the Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson called South African president Cyril Ramaphosa a racist twice, and slammed "the racist South African government" as having changed the country's constitution to steal land from white farmers causing "chaos" in South Africa.

None of it is true but Fox News - distributed by the FOX Networks Group throughout Africa on China's StarTimes and Cell C's streaming service - spewed its racist trash as "news" as Tucker Carlson conducted an interview.

On Tucker Carlson's Wednesday night 22 August 2018 episode at 20:00, seen at 02:00 South African time on Thursday morning and in repeats, Fox News vilified South Africa, former American president Barack Obama called a "coward", and gave a biased and very untrue "report" on the land expropriation issue in South Africa.

Tucker Carlson started his "exclusive investigation" saying that "the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has begun, and you may have seen this in the press, seizing land from his own citizens without compensation because they're the wrong skin colour. That is literally the definition of racism."

Tucker Carlson then reported that Barack Obama "praised the racist government of South Africa".

All of this is factually wrong. South Africa's government isn't racist and no proof was given. No farms have been seized. No expropriation without compensation has taken place in South Africa up to this date.

All of these so-called "facts" broadcast to South African and African viewers on the FOX News Chanel were lies.

Tucker Carlson then said president Cyril Ramaphosa "has changed the country"s constitution to make it possible to steal land from people because they are the wrong skin colour".

This is another lie and untruthful reporting. The South African constitution has not been changed as up to the date of this broadcast, but that didn't stop Tucker Carlson from inflaming the story with his racist comments.

The Fox News Channel programme further used the lower third banner to to write deliberately inflammatory headlines, saying "chaos in South Africa as land expropriation begins", and then "South African government is now seizing land from white farmers".

As up to the date of the broadcast there has been no "chaos" in South Africa around this issue at all.

During the programme Tucker Carlson labels this a "human rights tragedy that unfolds".

During the Fox News Channel programme he again says "Why would former president Barack Obama, just a few weeks ago, praise a racist like Cyril Ramaphosa?"

Fox News Channel is lying in what it labels an "exclusive investigation" using deliberate false sentences and inflammatory language to fuel racial division and to give viewers in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa where the channel is also carried by StarSat's broader company StarTimes, a false impression and wrong information about South Africa.

Fox News Channel failed to report news truthfully, accurately and fairly as is required by the Code of Conduct signed by StarSat that carries this channel.

The Fox News Channel on StarSat and the broadcast also engaged in deliberate misrepresentation by calling president Cyril Ramaphosa racist twice, calling the government racist and making several deliberate false statements.

Contemporary War of the Worlds science fiction drama series commissioned by the FOX Networks Group for 2019.

The French pay-TV operator Canal+ and the Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa (FNG Europe & Africa) are going to work together on a new TV series based on HG Wells' War of the Worlds science fiction novel.

War of the Worlds will be broadcast in 2019 on Canal+ in France, as well as on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) in South Africa as well as 49 other countries across Africa and Europe.

Production will begin around September 2018 with War of the Worlds that is the second original regional scripted commission for FNG Europe & Africa after the Deep State spy thriller with Mark Strong.

War of the Worlds, dealing with aliens attacking Earth in strange tripods, will be set in present day Europe and is written, created and executive produced by Howard Overman. 

There will be a first season of 8 hour long episodes and the series is produced by Urban Myths Films in association with StudioCanal. Pre-production has already started.

"In many ways HG Wells' novel is a cautionary tale of racial superiority and ethnic conflict," says Howard Overman. "It is these themes that I wanted to explore more fully in my modern re-imagining.I look forward to bringing our bold, fresh and relatable version, inspired by this much-loved story, to a new audience."

In 2017 the BBC announced that it is also producing a War of the Worlds miniseries that will be a Victorian era set, 3-episode story.

StarTimes signs new carriage agreements for Africa with Discovery Networks International that includes a new female-focused channel, Real Time; and FOX Networks Group for the set of Fox channels.

The Chinese pay-TV operator in Africa, StarTimes, have signed two new channels carriage agreements with both Discovery Networks International and the FOX Networks Group.

At a "cooperation signing ceremony", Janet Liu, StarTimes' head of the content operation centre, signed a contract with Amanda Turnbull, the vice president and general manager for Discovery Networks International for the Africa and Middle East (MEA) region.

Under the new carriage deal the crime channel Investigation Discovery (ID) will remain on StarTimes and StarSat in South Africa, with the Discovery Family channel that will be added to StarTimes and presumably StarSat in South Africa.

Discovery Family is already carried by MultiChoice on DStv in South Africa and elsewhere across the continent by MultiChoice Africa.

Discovery Networks International will also create and package a new female lifestyle channel called Real Time. Real Time - like TLC already carried on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa and elsewhere across Africa - will launch later this year on StarTimes and presumably StarSat, and according to StarTimes "will be customised especially for the modern African woman".

Discovery's Real Time was shut down in April 2013 and turned into TLC, but that Real Time brand is now being revived by Discovery for Africa as a parallel, yet differently branded, channel to TLC.

Discovery Networks International didn't issue any statement by Wednesday night about its carriage deal with StarTimes and if there is one it will be added here.

In a second "cooperation signing ceremony", Janet Liu, StarTimes' head of the content operation centre, signed a contract with Adam Theiler, the executive vice president of the FOX Networks Group for Europe and Africa.

Under the new carriage deal the FOX, FOX Life, FOX Sports, FOX Sports 2, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Baby TV and Voyage will remain available on StarTimes in the rest of Africa and on StarSat (Voyage excluded) in South Africa.

In Africa these channels managed by FNG Africa will be available in English, French and Portuguese.

FOX, FOX Life, National Geographic, and Nat Geo WILD are also carried by MultiChoice on DStv in South Africa and MultiChoice Africa across the continent in several other African countries.

The FOX Networks Group Africa (FNG Africa) didn't issue any statement by Wednesday night about its carriage deal with StarTimes and if there is one it will be added here.

As part of the carriage agreement between StarTimes and Fox, StarTimes will also offer Fox and National Geographic content on its StarTimes/StarSat app and the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services Fox+ and NG+ will be added to the 70 TV channels already available on the StarTimes app. The StarTimes app now reaches 450 million mobile phone users.

Evert van der Veer appointed as new Fox Networks Group Africa general manager; the role of Vasilis Iliopoulos expanded to senior vice president for FNG Africa.

The Fox Networks Group (FNG), a unit of 21st Century Fox, is restructuring its executive management team for Africa with Evert van der Veer (pictured) appointed as the next new Fox Networks Group Africa general manager based in Johannesburg, and with Vasilis Iliopoulos, the FNG Greece general manager, expanding his role to become senior vice president for FNG Africa.

Both roles begin with immediate effect.

Evert van der Veer replaces Gary Alfonso who exited at the end of March.

Evert van der Veer joins FNG Africa from the emerging markets focused subscription video-on-demand service (SVOD) iflix where he was the head of content for Africa and the Middle East. 

Before that Evert van der Veer was the head of Comedy Central Africa as vice president, at Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) in Johannesburg, where he also helped with the creation of BET Africa in 2015 and this channel's programming and acquisition strategy.

In his expanded role, Vasilis Iliopoulos (pictured right) will focus on the accelerated expansion of FOX Sports and local content production in Africa, linear and non-linear branded entertainment and National Geographic Partners across key markets in East, West and Southern Africa.

Vasilis Iliopoulos who joined the Fox Networks Group in 2011 has been instrumental in the development and launch of FNG Africa’s West African Football Tournament and FOX Sports Africa Boxing initiatives.

"I'm delighted to announce the appointment of both Vasilis Iliopoulos and Evert van der Veer," says Adam Theiler, the executive vice president of Europe and Africa.

"Vasilis is a leader in the truest sense of the word and enjoys the respect and admiration of team members and clients alike in every market he has tackled. Evert is a consummate media professional, who is a fixture in the Johannesburg media scene, and a content expert committed to the future of media across the African continent. I have no doubt that both Vasilis and Evert will prove instrumental in our continued expansion into sub-Saharan Africa."

Fox Networks Group Africa operates pay-TV channels in South Africa and across Africa like FOX, FOX Life, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, FOX Sports, and Baby TV available on pay-TV platforms like MultiChoice's DStv, StarTimes SA's StarSat, Cell C's black SVOD service, Kwesé TV and others, and runs the non-linear service FOX+ and National Geographic+.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 11 April 2018.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ Trashy TV reporter AJ Bayatpour assaults a competitor at an American football game.
And an unhinged idiot punched a TV reporter in New York


■ Ant dumped: ITV's alcoholic presenter Ant McPartlin who's back in rehab over drugs and drinking problems has been dumped from the latest season of ITV's Britain's Got Talent with Declan Donnelly who will be presenting on his own.
ITV sends Ant "all our love". It comes after the co-presenter of Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV Choice (DStv 123) was arrested last month on drunk driving charges and also vanished from that show.


■ German TV is starting to sanitise its television series by not wanting to portray the true evil of Nazi Germany.

■ Zimbabwe students at the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) are furious after their DStv is cut off, start protest action over their lack of entertainment.


■ In a leaked recording of a tense staff meeting of CNN International (DStv 401) in London, managing director Tony Maddox said he is "surprised by this, shocked and disappointed" by the results of an internal gender pay gap survey as CNN executives were confronted by female employees, including Christiane Amanpour over being paid less than men at CNN.


■ Catt Sadler who left E! for not wanting to pay her as much as much as her male co-anchor Jason Kennedy, says she should have asked E! Entertainment (DStv 124) for more money much earlie from the NBCUniversal Networks channel that's one of the places mired in a gender pay gap controversy.
She's also wrote a must-read essay for Vanity Fair over equal pay E! was asked to comment but refused.


■ FOX Networks Group's offices in West-London raided by European Commission investigators who seized documents and computers and who will remain on the premises on Wednesday and Thursday. The reason for the raid isn't clear. FNG says it iscooperating with the inspection.

■ What viewers would like to see more of in the second season of Being Bonang on 1Magic (DStv 103).

■ Let this sink in: Netflix does a Los Angeles premiere for its new TV show Lost in Space (for a TV show, not a movie) at the Cinerama Dome with the cast and full press in attendance where the show is previewed with reviews from TV critics coming out hours later. Meanwhile e.tv can't get its act together for a proper launch for its new local drama series Imbewu. How very sad.

FOX Networks Group's offices in West-London, as well as across Europe, raided by European Commission investigators.

The offices of the FOX Networks Group (FNG) in West-London in the United Kingdom, as well as across Europe, was raided by investigators from the European Commission on Tuesday who seized computers and documents and who will remain on the premises on Wednesday and Thursday.

The FOX Networks Group is the TV channels distributor business from 21st Century Fox.

The FOX Networks Group supplies TV channels like FOX, FOX Life, National Geographic, the FOX Sports channels and a range of others to pay-TV operators worldwide, as well as in Africa and South Africa like MultiChoice's DStv, China's StarTimes and StarSat, and Cell C's subscription video-on-demand service, Cell C black.

The European Commission in a statement said that the raid was carried out due to "concerns that the companies involved may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices".

The European Commission said the raids in London and across Europe at FNG offices are an early step into "suspected anti-competitive practices" and that FOX "may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices".

21st Century Fox in a statement says the "FOX Networks Group is cooperating fully with the EC inspection".

In its statement the European Commission says it "can confirm that on 10 April 2018 its officials carried out unannounced inspections in several member states at the premises of companies active in the distribution of media rights and related rights pertaining to various sports events and/or their broadcasting".

"The Commission has concerns that the companies involved may have violated EU anti-trust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices. The Commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities. Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anti-competitive practices."

FOX Networks Group renews new spy drama series, Deep State, for a second season before its debut on FOX.

FOX Networks Group has renewed its new spy drama series, Deep State with Mark Strong, for a second season of 8 episodes before its debut on FOX today in the United Kingdom and starting next week on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) in South Africa and Africa on 11 April at 21:00.

Deep State with actor Mark Strong, known from the Kingsman films, plays Max Easton in Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa's first regional scripted series commission for the Europe and Africa territory and is produced by Red Arrow's Endor Productions with 8 hour-long episodes with the story that is set in Britain, the United States, Iran, Lebanon and France.

Max is an ex-spy whose past comes back to haunt him as he returns to the field to avenge the death of his estranged son Harry (Joe Dempsie). Max soon discovers there is much more at stake, as he finds himself at the heart of a covert intelligence war and immersed in a widespread conspiracy to profit from the spread of chaos in the Middle East.

"We are thrilled that as the first season of Deep State launches, we also have a greenlight for season two. The team at Fox Networks Group, Europe & Africa have been the most supportive of partners and we look forward to our next adventure together," says Hilary Bevan Jones, the executive producer at Endor Productions in a statement.

Diego Londono, the chief operating officer (COO) for Fox Networks Group for Europe & Africa says "The team at Endor have produced a brilliant and compelling new series for us, which has been getting tremendous feedback from both our pay-TV partners and buyers alike".

"As audiences across the globe begin on their Deep State journey, we're delighted to demonstrate our commitment to both this thrilling new drama and to commissioning regional stories that can entertain audiences around the world, in line with our rich Hollywood heritage."

FOX Networks Group Africa loses its top boss as Gary Alfonso exits as its Africa general manager to pursue new opportunities.

FOX Africa's business in South Africa and across the rest of Africa is losing its top boss on the continent, with Gary Alfonso who is exiting as general manager for the FOX Networks Group Africa.

Gary Alfonso has been with FNG Africa as it's top executive for a year and 7 months.

The highly respected Gary Alfonso replaced two predecessors as the top FOX executive on the continent who lasted only 5 months and 4 months in the position respectively.

He has now resigned to pursue other business interests.

Gary Alfonso was appointed to head up FOX Networks Group's expansion into sub-Saharan Africa in mid-2016 and says his decision to resign is due to new opportunities.

"When I joined Fox Networks Group in Africa the immediate challenge was to ensure the company kept building its solid reputation as a global leader in entertainment, factual and sports content for pay TV audiences across the continent," says Gary Alfonso.

"I feel that was achieved successfully and it allowed the FNG team and I the opportunity to rapidly expand into the strategic business growth areas of live sports and content production."

"I'm proud to have been part of the teams that achieved the incredible launch and execution of the first-ever fully produced West Africa Cup of 16 Nations tournament in Ghana in September last year. We have also hosted live WBA-endorsed Africa Boxing tournaments in cities across Africa."

Adam Theiler, the executive vice president of FOX Networks Group Europe and Africa, says "Gary Alfonso is a veteran of the broadcasting industry with more than 30 years as a television and content professional. Previous experience includes CNBC Africa, Business Day TV, Media General in Ghana and the SABC. He’s not disclosed any immediate plans, but says he remains a champion and campaigner for better quality content for all audiences in Africa".

FNG Africa hasn't yet announced a replacement.

The Walt Disney Company restructures to create a worldwide division for its international operations and its upcoming streaming service launching in 2019.

The Walt Disney Company has restructured to create a worldwide division that will encompass its international operations and its upcoming stream service that is likely to launch in 2019 as Disney looks to grow more internationally.

It's not yet clear how the Walt Disney restructuring will affect the FOX Networks Group and the FOX Networks Group Africa (FNG Africa) in the light of Disney buying 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets. That transaction still needs to clear the approval of American regulators.

Under the restructuring, the Walt Disney International regional managers, including Rebecca Campbell, president for Disney for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, as well as those in Latin America and Asia, will now report to Kevin Mayer who has been appointed as the chairperson of the new unit that will be known as Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International.

"Delivering our great stories and characters directly to consumers on all high-quality devices around the world will provide the company with meaningful new revenue streams and opportunities for growth," says Kevin Mayer in a Disney statement.

Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International will be responsible for Disney's upcoming subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service that when it launches in 2019 may or may not be available in Africa and South Africa (and will have implications for for instance the new Star Wars live action series).

Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International will also be responsible for Disney's ESPN+ direct-to-consumer offer, Disney’s shareholding in Hulu, worldwide distribution of content from Disney's Burbank studio and the domestic American TV channels, international networks businesses, global advertising sales and the technology unit BAMTech.

Disney has channel carriage agreements with for instance MultiChoice in South Africa and Africa for its pay-TV channels and sells a raft of content - TV and film - to broadcasters ranging from free-to-air broadcasters like e.tv and the SABC, to pay-TV broadcasters like M-Net.

Also moving over in the Disney restructuring is Janice Marinelli, currently president of Disney-ABC Home Entertainment and Domestic Television. She will now lead global distribution of film and television, plus the Movies Anywhere digital locker operation, and will report to reports to Kevin Mayer.

Disney senior vice president Agnes Chu, who is currently overseeing original programming for the Disney SVOD service, is moving to the new unit and will continue in her role.

The as-yet-unnamed Disney streaming service will launch witth content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm content, as well as original programming.

"With our unparalleled studio and media networks serving as content engines for the company, we are combining the management of our direct-to-consumer distribution platforms, technology and international operations to deliver the entertainment and sports content consumers around the world want most, with more choice, personalisation and convenience than ever before," says Bob Iger, Disney CEO.

The Walt Disney reorganisation is effective immediately.

Fox Networks Group's new spy drama thriller, Deep State, with Mark Strong, will start on FOX in South Africa and Africa on 11 April a week after the United Kingdom.

Fox Networks Group's first scripted drama series for the United Kingdom and Africa, the spy thriller, Deep State will start on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) on 11 April at 21:00, with the Deep State trailer that remains blocked for Africa and South African viewers although the show has been specifically made for South Africa and Africa as well, as part of the pan-regional territory that Deep State has been commissioned and made for.

Deep State will start on 5 April in the United Kingdom, with actor Mark Strong, known from the Kingsman films, plays Max Easton in Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa's first regional scripted series commission for the Europe and Africa territory.

Deep State is produced by Red Arrow's Endor Productions with 8 hour-long episodes with the story that is set in Britain, the United States, Iran, Lebanon and France.

Fox Networks Group Content Distribution hold the exclusive global distribution rights for the series, working in partnership with FNG Europe & Africa. 

Max is an ex-spy whose past comes back to haunt him as he returns to the field to avenge the death of his estranged son Harry (Joe Dempsie). Max soon discovers there is much more at stake, as he finds himself at the heart of a covert intelligence war and immersed in a widespread conspiracy to profit from the spread of chaos in the Middle East.

Max enters into a very dangerous game, as powerful corporations show that they're willing to do anything to preserve their reputation and bury their secrets.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Deep State to our schedules in April. As FNG’s first regionally scripted commission, Deep State is built on our Hollywood heritage and we’re so proud of what we’ve created alongside the talented team at Endor Productions,” says Jeff Lord, the senior vice president for content development at Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa in a statement.

Fox Networks Group Africa's new deal with 20th Century Fox Television Distribution brings shows like The Gifted, The Resident and Ghosted to South African viewers - although with a big gap.

FOX Networks Group Africa (FNG Africa) and 20th Century Fox Television Distribution signed a new contract for exclusive TV series as well as regional premieres to broadcast on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) in South Africa and Africa.

FNG Africa was asked for the period of the deal but Fox Networks Group Africa told TVwithThinus it's confidential - although deal duration is usually announced in these types of agreements and the value is kept under wraps.

"The timing of the conclusion of this deal could not have been more perfect, having just launched the second season of Lee Daniels’ Star on the FOX schedule on Thursday nights," says Tracey Gilchrist, FOX Africa programming director.

"Empire season 4 Part B returns in March, filling the schedule with absolutely the best in class from 20th Century Fox Television content and we are thrilled to be able to bring to our fans this variety of content to ensure there’s something for every taste on the schedule and a thrilling start to 2018."

New shows that will be rolled out on FOX include The Gifted, Ghosted and The Resident, although FNG Africa is quite far behind America with all of these shows.

The Gifted that started in October 2017 already finished its entire 13-episode first season on FOX in America.  A year ago in February 2017, FOX Africa announced that FOX will have The Gifted and that it would be a Express from the US title that never happened.

The Gifted, set in the X-Men universe, will now start on FOX on 23 April at 21:00. A family who has children with supernatural abilities, go on the run.

The new series Ghosted will also be on FOX as part of the new deal but this show too will be old.

Ghosted with Craig Robinson and Adam Scott already started on 1 October 2017 on FOX in America and will start on 14 April 2018 at 20:25 on FOX in South Africa and Africa - half a year later.

Ghosted is a single-camera comedy and revolves around a cynical skeptic and a genius “true believer” in the paranormal who are recruited by a secret government agency, known as The Bureau Underground, to save the human race from aliens.

The 3rd new series won't have such a big lag between episodes shown in America and in South Africa.

The Resident is a new medical drama series that started on 21 January on FOX in America and will start 2 months later in South Africa on 27 March  at 21:00 on FOX. Matt Czuchry (The Good Wife), Emily VanCamp (Revenge), Shaunette Renée Wilson (Billions), Melina Kanakaredes (CSI: NY) and Merrin Dungey (Big Little Lies) are some of the stars in this series following doctors' drama.

The animation shows Family Guy and American Dad are part of the 20th Century Fox Television Distribution deal and FOX will now play these two shows out starting with The Simpsons, stripped daily, from 18:00.

What FNG Africa is doing very well currently is showing episodes of the very good drama series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story on FOX, within 24-hours after the US premiere on Fridays at 03:00, and available for DStv subscribers an hour after broadcast on DStv Catch-Up.

The latest and final season of The X-Files, is also on FOX.

WHAT THE FOX? Cell C black and FOX Networks Group won't give you access to any of the FOX supplied channels ... unless you pay another R100 more - even on the most expensive package.

The nastiest surprise when it comes to the linear TV channels carried on Cell C's new subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, black, is the horrible discovery that all of the FOX supplied channels are blocked and that Cell C and FOX Networks Group Africa wants you to pay even more if you want to see any of it - even if you're on the most expensive monthly package already.

An even more eye-rollingly bad decision is that Cell C's black decided to front-load the FOX channels like FOX (channel 201) and FOX Life (202) at the very beginning of the linear TV channel list.

If you don't have the FOX channels and are not paying for them (presumably the bulk of Cell C black users) the very first thing all Cell C black customers see, and will see constantly, are just "blocked", "blocked", "blocked" and off-putting reminder notification pop-ups that "You lack the permission to view this content".

Out-of-the-box when you start up the blackBOX, it creates a very bad impression of Cell C's black.

Even after you've become used to it, Cell C and FOX are going to continue to keep "reminding" you of this - since it's what you're always going to see when you return to the start of the BINGE TV or "BTV" menu and channel list for the linear TV streaming section.

The biggest disappointment of opening Cell C black on the blackBOX was how it spoiled that feeling of excitement and anticipation you have when opening something new when, with the opening, unboxing and starting up of Cell C black, I discovered that all of the FOX supplied channels are blocked unless you pay even more.

The BINGE Premium Plus package of Cell C's black costs R389 per month.

That's the single-most expensive package on Cell C's just launched black streaming service.

Yet, when it comes to its linear TV channels offering, that R389 isn't enough for Cell C black to give you access to all of the TV channels.

Somehow Cell C black and FOX Networks Group Africa want the user to pay yet another R99 per month on top of the R389 to see channels like FOX, FOX Life, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, Baby TV, FOX News, FOX Sports and FOX Sports 2.

Why didn't/isn't Cell C black bundling the FOX offering and its costing into the existing channel carousel pricing?

And why isn't Cell C black not making it upfront in its package information much more explicit that you won't and don't get the FOX Networks Group Africa channels as part of BINGE Premium Plus?

MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, and StarSat from China's StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM), both carry FOX, FOX Life and Nat GEO WILD already.

DStv carries National Geographic, and StarSat carries Baby TV, FOX News, Fox Sports and FOX Sports 2.

It feels disingenuous of Cell C black to offering a "BINGE Premium Plus" package when 8 linear TV channels are still blocked out, meaning it's not truly "binge", nor "premium", nor "plus".

Where is the Cell C black package that is really, truly all-inclusive of everything?

The answer is there isn't one which means BINGE Premium Plus is actually a bit of a minus - minus 8 to be exact.

Cell C black should move something like the two Sony channels, or the set of news channels upfront, and then middle or back-load the FOX channels.

In that way new and existing customers starting up the linear TV channels on Cell C's black, immediately see something that "works" instead of just stuff that are blocked.

When you pay R389 for a month's "premium plus" TV content and the first thing on the very first TV channel on Cell C black that you see is "You lack the permission to view this content", it creates not just a shock but a very bad feeling about the product - as if it's "broken" somehow, although it's not.


PS:
The pay-another-R100-if-you-want-FOX shock should also serve as a warning to those pay-TV subscribers who keep clamouring for a "I want to pick my own channels" on DStv or StarSat - the so-called a la carte option.

The R100 for the FOX caboodle shows how DStv subscribers and StarSat subscribers will very quickly end up paying more, and have less TV channels, if MultiChoice or StarTimes do actually "unbundle" channels and individually price tag a supplier's TV channel set like the ones from FOX, or SuperSport or M-Net or Discovery or Scripps Networks.

Disney buys majority of 21 Century Fox in historic $52.4 billion deal that will not just reshape Hollywood but also the TV and content production landscape internationally including Africa and South Africa.

On Thursday morning the expected announcement was made that The Mouse House has taken over the Fox Hole when The Walt Disney Company said that it's buying the majority of 21st Century Fox in a historic entertainment biz deal that will have not just massive ramifications for Hollywood but a rippling effect internationally and that will also impact content and TV channels as seen in Africa and South Africa.

The Disney-Fox deal will change Hollywood and the content production and distribution landscape internationally forever.

Disney is doing it so that it can start its own, well-populated subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service that would be able to successfully compete against the growing global dominance of Netflix.

In an memo to Fox staffers, Fox boss Rupert Murdoch hinted at possible firings, saying "we are deeply committed to finding opportunities for our people as well as ensuring that anyone impacted is well taken care of".

Fearful Foxers globally are scared and dismayed, apprehensive about the potential firing of staffers since there's huge global overlap and duplication in terms of the distribution, marketing and international divisions between Disney and Fox - with Disney topping Fox in all areas.

In the deal worth $52.4 billion, Disney will gain control of Fox Networks Group International and its 350 TV channels ran globally in 170 countries.

Several of these channels are seen in Africa and South Africa on several pay-TV services ranging from MultiChoice's DStv, StarSat operated by China's StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM), as well as Cell C's new video streaming service, black, and on StarTimes elsewhere in Africa and pay-TV operators like Zuku.

Disney in the deal is also taking over what will amount to a seismic shift in Hollywood's content business.

Diseny takes over Fox's 20th Century Fox movie studio (Avatar, The X-Men, Fantastic Four, Deadpool) and the Fox Searchlight Pictures and Fox 2000 film studios.

Disney also gets Fox's TV production studios called 20th Century Fox Television and FX Productions that produces shows for both the FOX channel like The Simpsons but also for other channels like This is Us, Homeland and Modern Family seen on M-Net (DStv 101).

Disney also gets the pay-TV channels like National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD through taking over National Geographic Partners - something that quickly became evident during early negotiations, but also all of the FX channels, and the 39% stake in the Sky pay-TV operator in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Disney also takes over Star India that operates 69 channels reaching 720 million viewers a month across India and more than 100 other countries, with some of the Star pay-TV channels that are also being distributed in South Africa and Africa.

Disney also takes over the international Endemol Shine Group that also operates in Africa and South Africa and Endemol Shine Africa that produces shows ranging from Isidingo on SABC3 to My Kitchen Rules South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101).

In relation to South Africa and Africa, Disney gets things like the nascent production unit, FOX Networks Group Original Productions, that the FOX Networks Group Africa headquartered in Johannesburg for instance conceptualised last year and got off the ground just this year.

Disney will also gain a majority share in Hulu since it will be taking over Fox's 30% share and added to its own existing 30% gets a 60% controlling stake in the American streaming service.

Fox will keep the FOX broadcasting channel in America (but in America only), the FOX News Channel, the FOX Business Channel and the FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 channels.

It creates the very awkward situation where, although the FOX channel in America belongs to Fox, the FOX channel as seen on DStv and StarSat and FOX and FOX+ on Cell C, will actually belong to Disney that already runs its own set of channels in South Africa and Africa.

In a statement released by The Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger, Disney chairperson and CEO confirmed that Disney is acquiring National Geographic Partners and FOX Networks Group International.

"The deal will also substantially expand our international reach, allowing us to offer world-class storytelling and innovative distribution platforms to more consumers in key markets around the world."

"Bringing on board 21st Century Fox's entertainment content and capabilities, along with its broad international footprint and a world-class team of managers and storytellers, will allow Disney to further its efforts to provide a more compelling entertainment experience through its direct-to-consumer offerings".

"The agreement also provides Disney with the opportunity to reunite The X-Men, Fantastic Four and Deadpool with the Marvel family under one roof and create richer, more complex worlds of inter-related characters and stories that audiences have shown they love."

"Through the incredible storytelling of National Geographic - whose mission is to explore and protect our planet and inspire new generations through education initiatives and resources—Disney will be able to offer more ways than ever before to bring kids and families the world and all that is in it."

Disney says the Fox assets acquisition is expected to yield at least $2 billion in cost savings "from efficiencies realized through the combination of businesses".

In a 1998 episode of Fox's The Simpsons entitled "When You Dish Upon a Star", the show predicted that Disney would one day buy 20th Century Fox and would become "a division of Walt Disney Co."

FOX Networks Group set to lose National Geographic channels if Disney and 21st Century Fox deal goes through.

Reporting from America is that The Walt Company and 21st Century Fox are in negotiations about the possible sale of several of 21st Century Fox's assets to Disney, including its movie studios, stake in the United Kingdom's Sky - but also some of its pay-TV channels like FX and National Geographic.

What it means is that if the deal goes through - with reports saying it could happen as soon as early next week - Fox's international business, the FOX Networks Group - will lose the National Geographic channels like National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD that will become the property of Disney.

The National Geographic Channels group is headed by Courteney Monroe, with Fox that currently owns most of the joint venture with the National Geographic Society.

21st Century Fox just want to keep the FOX channel, as well as its news and business channels, FOX News and FOX Business News, that generates the most revenue, as well as FOX Sports.

Besides the National Geographic channels, Disney would also get Fox's film and television production studios (including Blue Sky Studios, FX Productions and Fox Searchlight) and FX Networks.

Disney would also get Fox's 30% stake in the American streaming service Hulu (giving it majority control when this 30% is added to Disney's existing 30%).

In terms of film studios, Fox owns and produces film franchises like The X-Men, Deadpool and Fantastic Four, and co-produces and distributes film franchises like Ridley Scott’s Alien prequels, James Cameron’s Avatar and its sequels, Planet of the Apes, Kingsman and Maze Runner.

All of this will become Disney's.

Fox and the FOX Networks Group will keep its FOX channel (because 21st Century Fox doesn't and can't sell it - Disney already owns a broadcast TV network in the form of ABC and can't own another, and FOX is too lucrative for Fox to sell.)

Yet, if the deal goes through, Disney will become the new owner of a lot of the shows that is on FOX because it will own the studio company (20th Century Fox Television) that produces, co-produces or distributes many of the TV shows and series made for FOX.

This include shows seen on FOX in South Africa and in Africa on MultiChoice's DStv and StarSat like Empire, The Simpsons, Legion, American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Bob’s Burgers and The Exorcist, as well as some shows that appear on other channels like This Is Us and Modern Family on M-Net (DStv 101).

There's also shows like The Gifted and The Orville from Fox that's not been picked up and shown yet on South African television.

Then Fox will also offload its share to Disney in things like its stake in India's Star group, a 50% stake in the global production company Endemol Shine Group, and its interest in the Sky pay-TV service in the United Kingdom.

FOX Networks Group to launch National Geographic+ in South Africa in 2018 on Cell C's video-on-demand service, black.

FOX Networks Group (FNG) that runs National Geographic will launch National Geographic+ in South Africa in 2018 as a streaming channel on Cell C's newly launched black subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service.

National Geographic+ will follow the creation and roll-out of FNG's Fox+ that was added in South Africa last month to cellular operator Cell C's new black service.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220), available on MultiChoice's DStv and on StarSat from China's StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM), is already available and carried as a linear streaming channel on MultiChoice's DStv Now streaming service.

Now FOX Networks Group says National Geographic+ that will be on Cell C's black will be "constantly evolving, with new topics on a monthly basis, or in response to world events" and will "provide viewers the opportunity to indulge in their interests and passions".

"It will be available on-the-go and across multiple screens, with the capability to download for offline viewing," says FNG. A specific launch date of National Geographic+ on Cell C's black has not been announced.

National Geographic+ will encompass"box set" type documentaries and other content as part of a VOD offering, with FOX Networks Group Europe and Africa that will launch it in 2018 in 9 territories, including South Africa, Germany, France, Portugal, Greece and the Nordics like Denmark.

National Geographic+ will target younger, millennial viewers and feature a curated collection of content across a wide range of topics including space, Egypt, world cultures, deep-sea exploration and the human body.

National Geographic+ will also feature short-form programming as well as scripted titles like MARS, The Long Road Home and the docudrama series Genius.

National Geographic+ will take extended non-linear rights to a raft of content with in-season stacking for some show.

"Consumers are at the heart of our non-linear services; people are used to marathon viewing for scripted, but there hasn't been a simple and effective way to offer similar experiences within factual," says Jan Koeppen, FOX Networks Group Europe & Africa president in a statement announcing National Geographic+ as the latest digital extension.

"At National Geographic, we are passionate about taking our viewers further, to encourage exploration and a better understanding of the world in which we all live."

"By introducing National Geographic+ we are combining our 129 years of visual storytelling with our rich history of product innovation to ensure that factual stands out in the on-demand world".

Fox Networks Group appoints Sonja Brugger as vice president of acquisitions for Africa and Europe from October.

Fox Networks Group (FNG) Europe and Africa has appointed Sonja Brugger as vice president of acquisitions across the regions, starting from October 2017.

Fox Networks Group runs channels across Africa like National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild,  FOX, FOX Life, Fox Sports on the platforms of Africa's pay-TV operators like MultiChoice (DStv) and StarTimes Africa's StarTimes and StarSat.

Sonja Brugger will join Fox networks Group in its London office, from Sky Germany where she is responsible for programming strategy and acquisitions. She will report to Diego Londono, the FNG chief operating officer (COO), Europe and Africa.

"Sonja is a seasoned professional with over 20 years’ industry experience," says Diego Londono in a statement.

"Her experience in both acquisition and content strategy, combined with her understanding of broadcaster and platform environments across basic pay, free-to-air and video-on-demand (VOD) will be hugely beneficial to our organisation as we continue to invest in must-have content and innovate in ways to make this content accessible."

"It’s thrilling to join the Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa team to work with a premiere global brand that is synonymous with creative excellence," says Sonja Brugger in the statement.

"I am excited for this next phase of my career, to collaborate with the regional team as we continue to build and execute the business's multi-territory strategy."