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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BREAKING. Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if FOX Crime is coming to TopTV.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) is talking about the "sudden" and absolutely shocking demise of Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from TopTV from which it disappeared without warning or explanation; why Fox Retro viewers and TopTV subscribers were not told until after the Fox supplied channel disappeared; and whether Fox Crime which is coming to DStv from 19 July will also be added to TopTV in the place of Fox Retro.

I just got off the phone with Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager who is based in Johannesburg and who oversees Fox's Africa business in South Africa and across the African continent.

Sir, thank you you for you time and willingness to talk to me. I woke up today and heard from a lot of very upset, shocked and angry TopTV subscribers and I got a lot of email from people which usually happens when an operator suddenly no longer has a TV channel. 
In May Fox International Channels Africa said that the Fox channels supplied to TopTV will remain on TopTV. When was the decision taken to end Fox Retro and why was the channel shut down?

Alessandro Tucci: The decision of shutting Fox Retro is not related to TopTV. It's more related to overall Fox channels and that performance management. What we're trying to do in South Africa is to bring our big brands to subscribers and pay-TV customers. 

We launched our channels on TopTV a few years ago and Fox Retro was a good proposition then, but very quickly we have seen that bringing TV shows from the 70s 80s and 90s was not the best proposition going forward as a single channel for a new market growing very fast in Africa. So we decided that the channel as Fox Retro was, was not the best we could do anymore. 

We also added FOX recently to MultiChoice's DStv and in a couple of weeks were launching FOX Crime on DStv on 9 July as well. So we decided to shut down Fox Retro to concentrate on our key brands going forward such as FOX Crime.

Also, the rest of our channels are all still on TopTV and still available to TopTV clients.

TopTV subscribers and Fox Retro viewers are really upset that they were not told before the channel was discontinued that Fox Retro was being taken away. 
Why did Fox International Channels Africa make the announcement that Fox Retro ended only today after the channel was terminated? Why couldn't people be told earlier?

Alessandro Tucci: The customers are right. It is miscommunication between us and TopTV management; we didn't properly communicate this decision. 

However, as we said in our PR release, the Fox Retro customers will see their content didn't disappear; we have created a strip into the FOX channel and we're bringing the best of FOX Retro content to viewers now on that channel. 

If someone was a fan of Quantum Leap or M*A*S*H they can still enjoy it through that block. As you say, it was a little bit of bad communication between us and TopTV; we didn't properly communicate that.

Is FOX Crime going to be added to TopTV as a TV channel, or will it not?

Alessandro Tucci: On 19 July we will start with FOX Crime on DStv and we are now in discussions with TopTV management. We really hope we can find an agreement this week soon, and to then add FOX Crime to TopTV possibly very, very soon.

Thank you very much for your time sir and for your willingness to talk to me and to answer these questions.


ALSO READ:  TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the channel after saying in May that all Fox channels are safe. 
ALSO READ: Analysis: An awful, "old" ending for Fox Retro on TopTV - and another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.

ANALYSIS. An awful 'old' ending for Fox Retro on TopTV - and another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.

It's breathtaking, astounding, unbelievable, and shocking how superbly bad the lack of communication - and how big the fail - is from both TopTV and Fox International Channels Africa - over the sudden dumping of the Fox Retro channel from TopTV's channel line-up without any prior warning.

TopTV's publicity and marketing division and its PR agency, Fox International Channels Africa's marketing division, and its PR agency, all four of them based in Johannesburg inside South Africa and filled with supposed expert communication specialists, all failed monumentally in even showing the lowest form of common courtesy: to just at least tell TopTV subscribers, to tell TopTV Retro viewers, and to tell the South African press that the channel is getting yanked before it was instantly just gone.

TV channel don't just suddenly disappear. Decisions are made weeks if not months in advance; definitely 24 hours before a TV channel such as Fox Retro goes dark and subscribers suddenly are left wondering - without any warning, explanation, reason or communication - what is going on.

Yet that is exactly what happened: Not even 24 hours before the time could either TopTV or FIC Africa or both muster up with any type of statement, programming note, press release or just basically tell people that Fox Retro is getting dumped.

No. They wait for it to happen and the fall-out to start, disrepecting pay-TV viewers who are just good enough to pay; but not to be actually spoken to.

On Monday morning TopTV responded with an answer after media enquiries. FIC Africa finally issued a general press statement but also only after media enquiries are made about what is going on with a missing TV channel.

Why must TopTV subscribers wonder what is going on? Why must TopTV subscribers be in the dark when something like this happens, instead of knowing and being informed before it is going to happen so that they're in the loop?

Why must TopTV subscribers then go to the press to desperately ask journalists to try and find answers? Is this reputable brands? Is this how professional companies behave? Is this what media companies who work in communications do? Not talk at all in time?

Why is something like Fox Retro being removed as a channel with a lack of transparent communication to customers happening in South Africa in real-life? Why are pay-TV subscribers and even the press then left in the dark until after it has happened? Why is the communication being done so non-existently poorly?

It will simply not happen in other pay-TV markets in the world, but companies and PR agencies and marketing executives possibly think South Africans don't deserve better. Perhaps its a philosophy of lets just make money and not worry about the backwater subscribers who won't kick up a fuss and who don't deserve answers.

Why are people in marketing, publicity and working in a media industry and South Africa's TV industry so bad at talking and transparency and so terrible that they don't communicate at all when its required and don't do so in time? It's almost as if people huddle and think: What's the worst possible decision(s) or communication strategy we can cope up with? And then they choose that one.

TopTV subscribers deserve better. They actually paid for something (or prepaid for something) suddenly taken away.

Fox Retro viewers deserve better. They grew with and were exposed to a brand and perhaps fell in love with it. Somewhere every TV channel is someone's favourite can't-live-without channel. But then it leaves them without saying goodbye and rips their heart out.

South African TV viewers in general deserve better. National and multi-national companies in the TV business have clearly shown how little respect and responsibility they feel towards South Africa and South African viewers. TV channel removed? Oh well, we will tell you after the fact because that's how little you as a viewer really matter to us. But please just keep paying.

Sadly when it comes to Fox playing open cards and communicating upfront and openly with South African pay-TV subscribers, in my opinion, in the case of Fox Retro suddenly vanishing, it's not just one of Fox's channels which are retro.

ALSO READ: TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls Fox Retro after saying in May all the Fox channels on TopTV are safe.
ALSO READ: Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if Fox Crime is coming to TopTV.

BREAKING. TopTV loses Fox Retro as Fox International Channels Africa pulls the classic channel after saying in May Fox channels are all safe.

You're reading it here first. 

TopTV has lost another TV channel with Fox Retro (TopTV 181) from Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) going dark without any explanation, warning or advance warning given to Fox Retro viewers or TopTV subscribers.

TopTV now displays an on-screen message telling TopTV subscribers simply that Fox Retro no longer exists on the channel line-up of the beleaguered South African satellite pay-TV platform.

In May FIC Africa assured TopTV and Fox viewers that Fox won't be pulling any of its 5 Fox supplied TV channels off of the TopTV platform after all the TV channels from Discovery suddenly disappeared.

FIC Africa said in May when specifically asked about it, that it has "no plans to remove channels" from TopTV. Now Fox Retro is permanently gone.

MultiChoice's DStv will be adding the new Fox Crime channel from FIC Africa to DStv from 19 July; insiders told me today that FIC was or is apparently planning to replace Fox Retro with Fox Crime. That news so far I could not confirm, although it would yield one possible explanation for Fox Retro going dark on TopTV.

I reached out on email and phone Monday morning to both TopTV and the representation working for FIC Africa in Johannesburg about Fox Retro, but so far no answers on why the channel stopped.

In April TopTV ended its self-compiled and own branded Top Junior and Top Movies+24 channels, calling it an "unavoidable exercise". Neither of those channels has so far been replaced.

TopTV is currently in business rescue, with the Woodmead based pay-TV operator which got a licence from the broadcasting regulator earlier this year to start a separate porn bouquet of three pornographic channels - Desire TV, Private Spice and Playboy TV - supplied by Playboy UK/Benelux Limited.

On Digital Media (ODM) which runs the TopTV platform has not yet given any indication of whether it will go ahead with its porn plans to launch it commercially. Asked last week about latest developments regarding the operator and the bail-out proceedings with China's StarTimes taking a stake in the company, TopTV declined comment.

11:50 - TopTV respond to a media enquiry confirming that Fox Retro is no longer available as a TV channel. TopTV says: "This was a decision by Fox to terminate the channel over the whole of Africa. It was not a TopTV decision. Discussions are far advanced with regard to a replacement channel and we will advise as soon as the details are known."

12:53 - FIC Africa, through the PR agency its retains, At Vogue Communications, issues a general press statement to all press, saying the "vintage channel exists pay-TV platform TopTV".

"Though FOX Retro has continued to confirm its position as a proven value destination for pay-TV viewers, FIC has determined that delivering channels with a broader content base will better serve local audiences."

The statement says FOX Retro is getting dumped on TopTV "to ensure that the African portfolio more closely resembles the international channel structure".

"The company understands the popularity of retro programming and has therefore included a daily retro block on FOX (DStv 125 / TopTV 180) to cater to Retro's committed audience."

Alessandro Tucci, FOX International Channels (FIC) Africa general manager says "Retro was an excellent channel choice when we launched in the local market. As we have settled into the market we have had the opportunity to gauge which brands are more relevant to African audiences working within the key channel brands that FIC has identified internationally."

"The plan to discontinue the channel is part of our global strategy to deliver the right channel brands and content mixes to our local audiences. We have reviewed our content strategy and believe that our retro programming has a better home on our flagship channel FOX."

"This will also see a larger audience across the continent being able to access retro favourites."


ALSO READ: Fox Retro's awful end on TopTV: Another terrible, real-life how-not-to example of pathetic communication.
ALSO READ: Fox International Channels Africa explains pulling Fox Retro, the lack of communication, and if Fox Crime is coming to TopTV.

FIC creates an Airwolf omnibus over weekends on Fox Retro after numerous requests from viewers.

I love TV channels who listen and respond to viewers when it comes to programming: Fox International Channels (FIC) has created an additional weekend programming omnibus of the TV 80s hit Airwolf currently running on Fox Retro (TopTV 181).

Airwolf will now also be shown on Saturdays at 13:25 (for 3 episodes) and on Sundays at 14:15 for 2 episodes. These 5 Airwolf episodes over weekends are repeat broadcasts of the week's episodes which can be seen on weekdays at 15:05 on Fox Retro.

FIC says viewer response led to the creation of the weekend omnibus - primarily from viewers who told the classic TV channel that they're not home on weekday afternoons to catch Airwolf but would love to see the show again.

FIC has now shelved the Remington Steele omnibus over weekends and have replaced it with Airwolf.

"We have received numerous requests from our loyal audience through our social media pages and have decided to act on their preference," says Thandi Davids, Fox Africa director.

BREAKING. Set phasers on stun! Star Trek with Spock, Kirk and company coming to Fox Retro from 7 March, with double episodes.

You're reading it here first.

Set phasers on stun. Star Trek, the original series from Gene Rodenberry with Captain Kirk, Spock, Doctor McCoy and the rest of the Enterprise gang is coming to South African television, with the iconic 60s science fiction show set to boldly go where no man has gone before from Wednesday 7 March on Fox Retro (TopTV 181). 

Captain Kirk and company will warp to TV screens in a special double episode on 7 March, starting at 17:40, after which Star Trek will unspool with one episode in a weekly 18:30 timeslot.

Star Trek will kick off with ''The Man Trap'' at 17:40, followed by ''Charlie X'' at 18:30 on 7 March. Although not clear, it's unlikely that the episodes will be the remastered and enhanced version of the show. Star Trek was shown on the SABC's then TV1 in the 1970s and repeated a few years ago on DStv's GO channel.

BREAKING. Fox International Channels happy with Fox Retro; TopTV says all Fox channels performing ''incredibly well''.

Fox International Channels (FIC) is so happy with the performance of its Fox Retro (TopTV 181) channel in South Africa that it plans to expand further on the continent. Pay TV operator TopTV that has Fox Retro as well as other Fox channels is also happy and says the Fox channels are performing ''incredibly well''.

Fox International Channels launched Fox Retro in South Africa on TopTV in May 2010 - only the second international market worldwide to get the channel - and now plans to make the channel available this year in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. Fox Retro broadcast classic series television.

''Our success in South Africa - the second market internationally to launch Fox Retro has given us great optimism for our plans to expand on the continent,'' says Thandi Davids, regional director: broadcasting and sales for FIC in South Africa and Africa. ''Golden oldies never go away, the Fox  Retro formula of bringing the past back to the future has already proven popular with television viewers all over the world.''

Elouise Kelly, chief marketing officer for TopTV says all the Fox channels on TopTV are doing great. ''Although all three of the Fox channels do incredibly well on the TopTV platform, Fox Retro continually comes up as one of the favourites. It would seem our subscribers still enjoy the wholesome family entertainment that Fox Retro's golden oldies continue to provide.''

Fox Retro on TopTV will bring South African TV viewers a true return to classic television.

When the TV channel Fox Retro (TopTV 181) starts on 1 May (when On Digital Media (ODM) launches their TopTV pay television platform), South African TV viewers are in for a return to true classic television.

South African TV viewers will find that Fox Retro is very much what M-Net Series (DStv 110) -  previously known as The Series Channel - used to be when that channel started on MultiChoice's DStv TV platform: classic television from the 60's, 70's and 80's. M-Net Series has over the past 15 years steadily moved away from its classic TV roots broadcasting great reruns spanning the gamut from show like Mary Tyler Moore, The Wonders Years and MacGuyver to BritTV like Fawlty Towers and Absolutely Fabulous. Especially the past few years M-Net Series has been on an accelerated track as the TV channel morphed to become a melange of second-window reruns of popular TV hits (shows that's almost been exclusively on M-Net), a motley assortment of B level reality show fare, as well as as bulking up on a staple of American talk shows like Ellen, The Doctors and Jerry Springer.

Fox Retro promises true classic TV - of the American kind, with a sprinkling of the best of British TV. Fox Retro's May schedule include the start of the first season of the 80's shows Fame and Battlestar Galactica (both ironically also on The Series Channel when that started), Kojak, The Six Million Dollar Man, Knot's Landing and Brit sci-fi like Space 1999. M*A*S*H, Starsky & Hutch, Hart to Hart, Magnum P.I., Miami Vice and Dukes of Hazzard are also on Fox Retro's May TV schedule.