Discovery Inc.'s TLC and ID channels turn 10 in South Africa with special nostalgia-programming; as Discovery says 'Africa has been important for Discovery for 20 years and we look forward to the next 10 years'.

by Thinus Ferreira

Discovery Inc.'s TLC and Investigation Discovery (ID) channels both turn 10 years old in South Africa with special programming on both channels, with Discovery reaffirming its content commitment to the continent, saying that Africa has been an important market for Discovery for over 2 decades and that it's looking forward to the next decade.

Discovery has not yet launched its Discovery+ subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in South Africa or Africa or made any announcements that it plans to launch in sub-Saharan Africa, as Canada becomes the latest country to have Discovery+ rolled out there on 19 October. 

Marking the decade-anniversary of TLC Africa and ID in South Africa, Anouska Widdess, senior director TLC and channel operations and head of content for TLC in South Africa, says that "Africa has been an important market for Discovery for more than 20 years, and we look forward to the next 10 years as we hope to continue to collaborate and engage with South African audiences".

Discovery says that TLC that ranks as the number one lifestyle TV channel on the Africa continent "remains the flagship channel for Discovery with an impressive share of 1.13%. It consistently ranks within the top 25 channels across total TV and premiere episodes frequently achieve over 100 000 viewer from our loyal viewers".

"TLC has a show for everyone; our audiences turn to their televisions to seek comfort, solutions and inspiration. Each of our viewers has an unforgettable memory, heart-warming moment or special connection with our shows and the growth of the channel has surpassed all expectations."

TLC programming

During its birthday month, TLC (DStv 135) will show viewers "2 weeks of nostalgia" from 1 November at 9:25 daily, with another chance to watch episodes of shows like Gypsy Weddings, Honey Boo Boo and I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant.

TLC will also show Toddlers & Tiaras: Where are they now? with viewers who can catch up with what happened to the various toddler beauty queens, who are now young women.

A new season of Theresa Caputo in Long Island Medium: There in Spirit will start on TLC in November. Then the couples of 90 Day Fiance will have to compete with each other for the first time ever in 90 Day Fiance: Love Games.

Other "memory lane" TLC shows during the 2 weeks include Gypsy Weddings, Breaking Amish, Honey Boo Boo, Jon & Kate, Our Little Family, My Giant Life and My Teen Is Pregnant and So am I.

ID programming

Investigation Discovery (ID) is also marking a decade on the air in South Africa with 10 years' worth of criminologists, journalists, pathologists and psychologists exploring the worst of human behaviour.

From 15 to 24 October ID will bring viewers another chance to immerse themselves in true-crime documentaries, detective shows and stories where love goes awfully wrong, as episodes uncover some of the most shocking crimes in recent years with a line-up of all-time favourites.

ID will show episodes from series including The Madeleine McCann Mystery, Gypsy's Revenge, Evil Stepmother, Perfect Murder, Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall, Deadly Affairs, and Crime to Remember.

Discovery Inc. pulls all of its TV channels from StarTimes in Africa and StarSat in South Africa in unresolved contract conflict.

by Thinus Ferreira

Pay-TV customers of StarTimes across Africa, including StarSat subscribers in South Africa, abruptly lost all of the Discovery TV channels on Monday without warning because of an unexplained and unresolved contract conflict.

StarTimes and StarSat subscribers woke up on Monday to discover that their Discovery channels - StarTimes Real Time, Investigation Discovery, Investigation Discovery French, Discovery Science and Discovery Science French - were all gone. 

The end of the channels come after Discovery Inc. cut its Discovery Family channel in late-January from channel 222 on StarTimes and StarSat after just two years on the Chinese pay-TV platform even before it was supposed to go dark on 31 January.

Discovery Family went dark after the Fine Living Network (FLN), that is also from the Discovery Inc. stable, abruptly disappeared in December 2020 after more than a decade on the air on StarSat, with the move that also angering subscribers.

StarTimes and StarSat subscribers are fuming over the fact that they were only told in August, and after it happened that the channels are gone, saying they would have cancelled their subscriptions had they known in July or with a month's notice.

Discovery Inc. in response to a media enquiry, told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that "StarTimes Real Time, Investigation Discovery, and Discovery Science will no longer be available through the provider as of 2 August. However, lovers of real-life entertainment can still enjoy a plethora of world-class content from Discovery on DStv."

Discovery didn't answer why customers and viewers of its channels were not told or warned beforehand about the loss of the TV channels.

Luyanda Cele, StarSat spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry on Thursday morning that "Please note that the channels are removed due to contractual issues and communication was sent immediately to our customer via bmail, SMS and on our social medial pages".

On Facebook StarSat only posted a notification on Wednesday morning, long after 2 August, while subscribers say even the StarSat call centre knew nothing about the axed Discovery channels.

On Facebook when StarSat subscriber Daphne Brown asked why StarSat keeps discontinuing channels and if it's because StarTimes is not paying the distributors, StarSat said "it is due to contractual reasons and nothing to do with payment".

Nadia Crowie said "Surely someone should have known earlier, not a few days after debit orders went off and payment made. Even if we were notified, it should have been before debit orders went off or payments were made".

Nduduzo Gape said "I joined StarSat because of those channels. I am giving you one month to resolve this issue else I'm disconnecting".

Subscriber Zanele Ngcongo said "Wow, you guys are not good to your customers. You only tell today but I've noticed on Monday that Real Time was off. You need to change the way you do things".

ALSO READ: Discovery Inc. cuts its Discovery Family channel from StarTimes and StarSat after just 2 years on the air without any explanation and just a month after axing FLN.

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

MultiChoice and Discovery Networks International for Africa upgrade TLC, Discovery Family and Investigation Discovery channels to HD on DStv.

MultiChoice and Discovery Networks International for Africa are upgrading three more of Discovery's TV channels seen in South Africa and across Africa on the DStv platform from standard definition (SD) to high definition (HD) channels from Monday 21 May.

The upgrade means that all of Discovery's channels portfolio available in South Africa will now be shown in HD.

TLC (DStv 135), Discovery Family (DStv 121) and Investigation Discovery (ID) (DStv 171) will all broadcast in HD from 21 May, joining the Discovery Channel (DStv 120) that is already in HD.

"At Discovery we are constantly seeking ways to enable our passionate audiences to explore their world and unlock new experiences," says Amanda Turnbull, the vice president and general manager for Discovery for the Africa and Middle East region, in a statement.

"With our entire DStv portfolio available in HD, Discovery fans can now catch their most loved shows in the best quality."

After MultiChoice's abrupt removal of Discovery's Animal Planet channel with very little advance warning to DStv subscribers at the end of 2017 that was poorly communicated and infuriated and confused viewers, Discovery will be adding a new channel to DStv in mid-2018.

WHO KNEW? After switching Investigation Discovery to ID Xtra on MultiChoice's DStv and StarSat, the IDx channel has quietly been switched back to Investigation Discovery.

Discovery's Investigation Discovery (ID) channel on DStv and StarSat that was switched to ID Xtra (IDx) in January 2016, has quietly been switched back to just ID after a year and 10 months.

Investigation Discovery (ID) that changed to IDx with a big hoo-haa, is back to quietly just being ID on MultiChoice's DStv on channel 171, and on StarSat run by China's StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM) on channel 223.

IDx was switched back to ID in mid-October but there was no official announcement from Discovery Networks International for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region.

Quite awkwardly, because there was no announcement, the media has been blissfully unaware and months later even operators like MultiChoice still uses the IDx channel logo on some of its websites for channel 171, instead of just ID.

In January 2016 Discovery Networks CEEMEA said that ID is being replaced by ID Xtra and that “with its glossy reconstructions of real-life mysteries, ID Xtra will have viewers glued to their screens for hours at a time.”

"Mystery and suspense is one of the fastest growing genres within pay-TV and Discovery is in pole position, leading the category with a channel that has already been a proven success across CEEMEA. We are delighted to offer yet another high-quality channel.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice general manager for content said in a statement at the time that “our DStv customers love mystery and suspense stories and ID Xtra takes these stories to a glossier and more dramatic level.  Avid fans of this genre will have an even wider selection of brand new and intriguing content to choose from and still be able to catch up on their old time favourites from Discovery ID.”  

TVwithThinus, that like other media, also wasn't aware of the Investigation Discovery channel branding backtracking back from IDx to just ID, asked Discovery Networks International when ID Xtra flipped back to ID and why.

Discovery says the brand alignment roll-out took place between 18 and 31 October 2017.

"Based on the global success and high demand of the investigation genre, as well as a wider strategy that will see us unify our brands in an increasingly connected world, we have decided to transform IDx into investigation Discovery (ID) across CEEMEA".

"Borrowing from the highly successful American Investigation Discovery, a market-leading channel across both pay and free television, we will start using a new, more sophisticated, cinematic brand package which maintains premium quality and broad appeal, while becoming more seamlessly integrated with the channel's programming".

"This transformation is also accompanied by continued heavy investment in content, to deliver a broad mix of high quality shows and noisy event programming which reflect consumer priorities".

ID: Investigation Discovery on ODM's StarSat to end; channel will be switched and changed to ID Xtra as part of a new deal with Discovery Networks.

The crime and investigation channel ID: Investigation Discovery on On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat will be discontinued and is going to be replaced with ID Xtra as part of a new deal signed between StarTimes and Discovery Networks.

Investigation Discovery which has been available on TopTV since it launched in May 2010 - now available on StarSat on channel 223 - will remain available on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform on channel 252, but will be changed to IDX on StarSat.

The ID Xtra channel launched in April last year as a new spin-off Discovery Networks channel to sit alongside the main ID: Investigation Discovery channel.

While ID: Investigation Discovery is skewed towards a largely female viewership who indulge in the murder and crime documentaries, IDX is even more tailored towards women with even more real-life mystery, crime and suspense factual and lifestyle programming.

It's not yet clear when ID: Investigation Discovery on StarSat will flip to ID Xtra, but StarTimes calls the Discovery Networks channel change an "upgrade".

"After receiving very positive feedback in 2015, StarTimes and Discovery Networks agreed the channel should be upgraded to ID Xtra, with a focus on mystery and suspense content," says StarTimes in a statement.

The ID: Investigation Discovery to ID Xtra switch is part of a new agreement signed between StarTimes group president XinXing Pang and James Gibbons, the executive vice president of Discovery Networks in the emerging business region.

According to the new agreement the existing Discovery Science (StarSat 222) channel will remain on the StarSat platform, as will Euro Sport News (StarSat 220).

StarTimes and Discovery Networks are planning to launch another new TV channel - an edutainment channel from the Discovery Learning Alliance - but it is primarily destined for StarTimes' satellite pay-TV platform in the rest of Africa. It's not clear whether this new channel will be added to StarSat in South Africa as well.

StarSat lost the TLC channel at the end of 2014 which it had since May 2010. Competitor MultiChoice currently has the Discovery Networks International channels TLC Entertainment, Discovery Channel, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet and Discovery World.

On the Case with Paula Zahn on ID: Investigation Discovery reaches the milestone of 100 episodes.

On the Case with Paula Zahn on ID: Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303 / DStv 171) has reached the milestone of 100 episodes since it started in 2009.

"If you watch On the Case you will see that Paula Zahn is not only such a great journalist in and of her own right, not only does she ask the questions that you want to know, but she asks the questions that I think are on the mind of the audience, and her reactions are real," says Henry Schleiff, the group president and general manager of the ID: Investigation Discovery channel.

"Our audience is passionate about the pursuit of justice, they are fascinated with the lengths that law enforcement will go to find the truth, and they are drawn in to find the human drama of a family's loss," says Paula Zahn.

BREAKING. Discovery's 3 TV channels on TopTV all go blank; TopTV 'trying to get the problem sorted out' with missing Discovery Science, TLC and ID.

You're reading it here first. 

Discovery's three TV channels on On Digital Media (ODM) struggling pay-TV service TopTV suddenly went completely dark today without warning and with no notice or announcement to TopTV subscribers, as the satellite pay-TV operator is scrambling to fix the problem of the missing Discovery Science (TopTV 302), TLC (TopTV 453) and ID: Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303) - all provided by Discovery Networks International CEEMEA.

Angry TopTV subscribers are fuming about the three missing Discovery channels with no indication of why Discovery Science, ID: Investigation Discovery and TLC suddenly disappeared.

TopTV failed to talk to subscribers today or to give bewildered subscribers any reasons for the channels suddenly being missing. Likewise Discovery Networks International CEEMEA didn't say a word to viewers of their channels on TopTV as to why they're paying for something they're not getting and suddenly can't see.

ALSO READ: Shocking lack of communication from TopTV and Discovery Networks CEEMEA after 3 Discovery channels suddenly disappear.

All three Discovery TV channels of Discovery Networks International CEEMEA on TopTV simply display an on-air sentence: "We apologise for the break in transmission and will be back shortly."

It's exactly what TopTV displayed when other TV channels on its bouquet ceased and never returned. Once again TopTV subscribers - especially pre-paid TopTV subscribers who gave money at the beginning of a month - are not getting the product that they've been promised and paid for.

While TopTV's normal channel offering keeps dwindling, TopTV has put focus and effort behind a second attempt - which was approved by South Africa's broadcasting regulator - to start a separate porn bouquet with three sex channels from Playboy.

No starting dat for the porn channels is known yet which will carry a classification of R18 and for which TopTV will now have to register as a porn distributor with South Africa's Film and Publication Board (FPB).

TopTV would have gone dark on Tuesday night as channel and content suppliers were ready to turn off the taps to their content if ODM failed to get approval for the StarTimes business rescue plan bail-out, but shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the bail-out deal.

It's possible that Discovery Networks International decided to pull their channels off of TopTV at the end of April anyway, similar to what Manchester United Television (MUTV) did in November and Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) did in December when Turner yanked its three channels, Showtime, Silver and Star! from TopTV's line-up.

It's now come to light that TopTV owes millions to several content providers who decided to pull their TV channels from TopTV due to outstanding debt.

TopTV owes Fox International a massive R43,8 million which amounts to 3% overall of TopTV's debt to creditors. Warner Bros. is owed R25,4 million or 1,7% of the total, Paramount is owed R13,1 million and Manchester United Television is owed R9,5 million, Turner Broadcasting is owed R6,4 million and The Walt Disney Company R7,2 million.

"Where did Discovery Science, TLC and Discovery ID go? Nothing on air on TopTV," is the response to TV with Thinus from just one irate TopTV subscriber, echoeing the sentiment of several subscribers who can't watch any of their three Discovery channels on TopTV - without any explanation from the company.

TLC (DStv 172) and ID: Investigation Discovery (DStv 171) - which ironically today had a show entitled Disappeared on - are both also available on competitor MultiChoice's DStv channel line-up and are showing uninterrupted and unaffected.

I've made a media enquiry to Discovery Networks International CEEMEA and I'm awaiting a response.

I've also asked TopTV what is going on. TopTV says the pay-TV operator is "trying to get the problem sorted out with Discovery".

I've asked, but TopTV isn't explaining what exactly the problem is, why is happened, what went wrong, or when - or if - the three Discovery channels will be restored.

ID: Investigation Discovery announces a big range of brand-new shows; renews several shows for further seasons.

Investigation Discovery (DStv 252 / TopTV 303) will be rolling out a vast number of brand-new shows over the coming year, and has also renewed several existing shows for further seasons.

New shows on ID: Investigation Discovery will include Evil Twins following true-crime mysteries surrounding real-life cases of these evil archetypes. Each episode will reveal shocking stories of twins on the edge, from sleeping with their sibling's husband then setting them up for murder to stealing their identity and even coming back from the dead.

In the new Redrum (Murder spelled backwards - get it?) viewers follow the backwards tale of murder from false motives and mistaken witnesses to conversations taken completely out of context, until the truth finally comes out at the very end.

Susan Lucci is the presenter of Deadly Affairs looking at crimes of passion. Frenemies: BFF's Gone Bad will tackle riveting stories of loyalty betrayed and when friendships fall apart. Each episode traces friendships through good times to their gradual demise, as things turn sour and end in shocking, violent confrontation.

'Til Death Do Us Part explores tumultuous, shocking, and high-stake divorces and the deadly murders linked to them, presented by Dr. Stacy Kaiser, a psychotherapist and relationship expert, and Dr. Brian Russell, a forensic psychologist and attorney.

Wives with Knives are about women who fight at close range. Some women endured years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse before fighting back. Others were motivated by greed and jealousy. Some of the victims died and others lived to testify against their attackers.

Pretty Bad Girls shows what happens when beautiful, fabulous women have more than killer clothes in their closets. They have skeletons, too. These sexy criminals know exactly what they want, and are willing to do anything to get it, no matter the cost.

Cold Case reinvestigates unsolved homicides. Each episode invites viewers on an emotional journey between past and present as unsolved homicides are reopened.

Who The Bleep ... is a spin-off from Who The Bleep Did I Marry? It explores the relationships between friends, co-workers, significant others, family members, and more. Each real-life story is a first-person account that uncovers the truth behind people's double lives and the fallout that ensues.

Renewed for further seasons are Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets, Sins & Secrets (crimes that have ripped at the fabric of affluent communities), Unusual Suspects (baffling and challenging cases in contemporary law enforcement), Scorned: Love Kills (crimes of passion sparked by a spurned lover), Stalked: Someone's Watching (emotional stories of stalking victims) and Dark Minds (crime author M. William Phelps and criminal profiler John Kelly revisit unsolved homicides believed to be the work of serial killers).

Also renewed on ID: Investigation Discovery for further seasons are Disappeared (unpredictable twists of missing person cases) and Deadly Sins (individuals pushed beyond the limits of the law), with attorney Darren Kavinoky.

On the Case with Paula Zahn is also renewed (profiling fascinating true stories) as is The Will: Family Secrets Revealed (family members dealing with the aftermath of a loved one's final wishes - often contentious real-life stories of family inheritance).

Fatal Encounters looks at the fateful relationship between killer and victim as their paths intertwine. In Facing Evil the retired FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong goes behind prison walls to sit down with the actual femmes fatales who appeared on Deadly Women.

Cold Blood returns to the crime scene so that viewers can examine all the evidence for themselves. Also renewed are Devil You Know (the secret lives of men and women who masquerade as law-abiding citizens but, behind the charade, are hiding deadly intentions from their loved ones), Alaska: Ice Cold Killers (about victims of violent crimes, struggling to survive against the brutality of nature and man) and Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda in which he retells through dramatic enactment cases he's dealt with.

Nightmare Next Door (murder mysteries), True Crime with Aphrodite Jones (crime expert Aphrodite Jones conducting her own investigations) and Deadly Women (the bizarre world of women who kill for thrills) will all have a further season on ID: Investigation Discovery.

Behind Mansion Walls (sensational stories of mystery and murder with society journalist Christopher Mason), Very Bad Men (true crime series) and Twisted (some of the world's most prolific serial killers) will also be back.

Susan Lucci to be the host and narrator of a new real-life crime documentary series, Deadly Affairs, on Investigation Discovery.

Susan Lucci from All My Children will be the host and narrator of a new crime documentary series, Deadly Affairs to start later this year on Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303 / DStv 252) in America and after that will also be seen in South Africa.

Susan Lucci can currently be seen in the American soap on weekdays on SABC3 in the role of Erica Kane. The first season of Deadly Affairs will have 10 episodes with production set to start in March.

Deadly Affairs will investigate and tell the real-life stories of secret office flings, love triangles and adultery - all of which lead to deadly consequences for some of the parties involved.

''There is simply no other actress in the world more qualified than Susan Lucci to host Deadly Affairs, Investigation Discovery's answer to addictive daytime soap operas," says Investigation Discovery in a statement announcing the new show.

"While our series, of course, has the added benefit of featuring real stories of betrayal, we are delighted that Susan will bring her own distinctive voice and dramatic flair to our real life soap.''

Investigation Discovery orders new seasons of several shows; has a massive slew of new crime related shows planned.

Investigation Discovery (TopTV 303) that focuses on crime and forensic documentaries renewed several shows, and ordered some more new series that South African viewers should be seeing in due course.

Shows on Investigation Discovery that's been renewed for further seasons include the popular Deadly Women and FBI: Criminal Pursuit, as well as Disappeared, Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets, On the Case with Paula Zahn, Stalked: Someone's Watching, Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?, I (Almost) Got Away With It, Nothing Personal, Sins & Secrets, The Will: Family Secrets Revealed, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, Behind Mansion Walls, I Married a Mobster, Cuff Me If You Can, Facing Evil, Cops & Coyotes, Nightmare Next Door, I Escaped: Real Prison Breaks, Wicked Attraction and Devil You Know.

Some new shows South African viewers might see in due course on Investigation Discovery include Reel Crime/Reel Story (working title) (series uncovers the truth behind popular crime-and-justice movies), Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda (working title) (a veteran homicide investigator in Colorado, Kenda relates vivid memories of murders that he investigated that still haunt him, Real Streets Miami (working title) (viewers get an inside look at all the crazy local criminals operating in Miami and Hostage: Do or Die (working title) (a collection of stories told from the perspective of the hostage negotiators, victims, witnesses and sometimes the criminals themselves).

More new Investigation Discovery shows include Hunting Justice with M. William Phelps (working title) (two criminal investigators attempt to piece together a killer's profile by reconstructing their crimes), Crimes of Passion (working title) (true stories of ultimate betrayal where sociopaths and manipulators masquerade as charming and harmless love interests), Deadly Sins (true stories of everyday people who commit sinful crimes) and Unraveled: Countdown to a Kill (suspenseful series that tells of the fateful relationship between a killer and a victim as their paths intertwine).

Discovery's Science channel renews several shows like Through the Wormhole; orders several new TV series.

Discovery's Science (TopTV 302) has ordered further seasons of popular shows that were announced at the network's Upfront at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Science (the channel's logo is changing in America, but I asked and it won't be changing for Europe and Africa for the time being) has renewed How it's Made for an 11th season, Meteorite Men for a 3rd season, Idoit Abroad: The Bucket List for a 2nd season, Mantracker for a 6th season and the popular Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman for a 3rd season.

Science also ordered some brand-new shows South African viewers should see in due course. These include Prophets of Science Fiction (8 one hour episodes with presenter Ridley Scott who reveals the secrets of science fiction's founding fathers such as Isaac Asimov, Gene Roddenberry and others), Agent of Invention (a man making backyard inventor's dreams come true), Will Wright Future Project (a gaming genius Will Wright goes back and forth in time to see the effects of important events in our collective history) and Weird Travel (some of the strangest subcultures found anywhere).

BREAKING. Discovery Networks confirms new Discovery Science, Discovery Travel & Living and Investigation Discovery (ID) for TopTV.

You're reading it and seeing the new channel logo's here first.

Discovery Networks has confirmed that the new Discovery channels Discovery Science (TopTV 302), Discovery Travel & Living (TopTV 453) and Investigation Discovery (ID) (TopTV 303) will be available on On Digital Media's (ODM) new TopTV platform when the new pay satellite service launch in South Africa.

''We can confirm that we've agreed a deal with ODM to broadcast Investigation Discovery (ID), Discovery Science and Discovery Travel & Living on its new TopTV platform in South Africa,'' Discovery Networks tells me. ''We're looking forward to offering our channels to their subscribers and will be releasing more information shortly.''

I wanted to talk to Discovery Networks about what exactly the various channels will entail genre and programming wise, but no luck yet.

Discovery Science (TopTV 302) that was started in 1999 seems to cover science related programming, including space exploration, technology, animals and prehistoric discoveries.
Discovery Travel & Living (TopTV 453) focuses heavily on travelogues, travel exploration and lifestyle shows around the travel and leisure industry.
Investigation Discovery (ID) (TopTV 303) focuses heavily on criminal investigations and forensic science documentaries, as well as real-life crime and crime related shows.