kykNET doing dramatic schedule changes from July: soaps Suidooster and Getroud moving timeslots; magazine shows Kwêla and Bravo! shunted to Sundays.

kykNET (DStv 144) is doing dramatic schedule changes from July that will force viewers to adjust to new times and days to tune in to their shows and weekday soaps as part of a new schedule that's being rolled out for the Afrikaans pay-TV channels on DStv.

kykNET says the Afrikaans channels set on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform had to rethink its programme schedule from July "to make room for all our new content".

From 10 July the Cape Town based soap Suidooster set in the fictitious suburb of Ruiterbosch will be blowing in later when it's moved to 18:30 on kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145).

It will be followed by the Afrikaans eNuus that stays put at 19:00, simulcast on both channels.

Suidooster is moved from 18:00 to get out of the way of the SABC's Afrikaans weekday soap 7de Laan on SABC2  that was abruptly moved to 18:00 in February.

Currently Suidooster was at 18:00 on kykNET and 20:00 on kykNET & Kie, but will now be at the same time on both channels, at 18:30.

While soap Binnelanders will remain at 19:30, the soap Getroud met Rugby that used to be at 18:30 is moved a lot later to 21:00 from 10 July on kykNET and kykNET & Kie.

After toning down the show's content when it changed from a drama series to an early prime time soap, it's likely that the producers and kykNET will once again ramp up the risque content in Getroud met Rugby when it moves to outside the so-called "watershed" time period.

The week's entertainment magazine shows on kykNET are removed from the week's schedule and moved to weekends with Kwêla moving to Sundays from 9 July at 20:00 and Bravo! moving to Sundays from 16 July at 19:30.

The 10th season of the talk show Jou Show is moving to Saturdays at 19:30 from 15 July and Fiësta moves to Saturdays at 18:30 from 15 July. The 10th season of Jukebox on kykNET will now be on Saturdays at 20:00.

The new comedy Elke Skewe Pot about an internet dating site company with Franci Swanepoel, Marisa Drummond, Carien Botha, Carine Rous and Hannes Brümmer will kick off on Monday 10 July at 20:00 on kykNET.

It will be followed by the new panel discussion show Parlement Parlement at 20:30 with Joey Rasdien, Louw Venter and Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp as the moderator.

Hond se Gedagtes with presenter Lizma van Zyl starts on Tuesday 4 July at 17:30 and will look at how the dog became man's best friend.

The second season of the Afrikaans drama series Die Boekklub following the antics of a rural town's bookklub members will kick off on Tuesday 11 July at 20:00 with some new characters in the mix.

Lise Swart is the presenter of the cooking show Kook & Geniet, based on the iconic recipe book, starting on kykNET on Wednesday 5 July at 20:00, followed by the third season of the popular Groen Namibië on 12 July at 20:30.

Cricket lovers can also tune in to kykNET & Kie for the brand new season of BVP with Johnny Davids and Fanie de Villiers at 21:30.

More episodes of Legendes van Afrikaanse Musiek profiling Afrikaans singers like Gé Korsten, Rina Hugo and Johan van Rensburg, Lucas Maree and Boet Pretorius will be broadcast from Thursday 6 Julie at 20:30.

Afrikaans films on Sunday nights at 21:00 in July will include Modder en Bloed, Noem My Skollie and Treurgrond.

 Jý Geld is with presenter Lynelle Kenned is a new finance programme aimed at women guiding viewers to personal finance money matters, starting on Sunday 9 July at 18:00 on kykNET.

It will be followed by the second season of the weight-loss reality show Slank II at 18:30 with presenter Leandie du Randt Bosch.

From Friday 7 July the interactive chat and music show chatNOU! will be simulcast on kykNET and kykNET NOU! (DStv 146) at 15:00, while the new season of Jan Braai will be broadcast on kykNET on Fridays at 18:30, followed by Toks en Tjops at 20:00.

"The kykNET platform is now bigger than ever. We had to rethink our programme schedule from July to make room for all our new content," says Karen Meiring, director of kykNET channels.

"Our biggest priority, as always, remains our viewers and this was the biggest consideration in the decision-making around changing schedules. We serve a growing and diverse audience and people's behaviour and needs are constantly changing."

"Our audience also expects us to stay ahead of international television trends but still bring them the best in local storytelling. Our new schedule represents all these considerations and behaviour shifts."

Pasella returns to SABC2 on Friday 13 February at 18:00; adds new presenter Simon Witbooi 'Hemel Besem'.

The longrunning Afrikaans magazine show Pasella returns on Friday to SABC2 in a new timeslot of 18:00 with a new format and a new presenter Simon Witbooi, known as "Hemel Besem".

Pasella used to run uninterrupted all year round on SABC2 until March 2013 when the SABC decided the show will be broken into capped shorter seasons and will have to alternate with other programming on SABC2.

Pasella which has weathered multiple day and timeslot changes over 16 years is once again moving to a new day and timeslot from 13 February with a new 30-minute format.

Pasella, produced by Tswelopele Productions from Cape Town, does retain presenters like actress Crystal-Donna Roberts, model and former school teacher and Mr South Africa Dieter Voigt, former Miss South Africa Melinda Bam, Paul Rothmann, Charlene Lackay and singer Lynelle Kenned.

The magazine show will once again explore South Africa, visiting people and doing profile inserts, giving décor and DIY advice and share recipes.

Friday's first new Pasella episode explores the history of the Bainskloofpas and talks to Tim Theron, Heinz Winckler and Milan Murray from the film Mooirivier. Paul and Crystal-Donna celebrate Valentine's Day by cooking a romantic dinner, the show visits Langkloof Roses to learn about different varieties of roses and Dieter goes on the Sundays River Cruise in the Eastern Cape.

DON'T CRY FOR THEM, ARGENTINA. Lynelle Kenned, Chamendran Naidoo, getting further opportunities.

You're reading it here first. 

They will be fine - I can reveal that the My Top Billing Dream contestants like Lynelle Kenned and Chamendran Naidoo who didn't make it (since Jonathan Boynton-Lee won)  are fielding offers and already have opportunities and tantalising prospects after their exposure on the reality show.

A reliable source told me that Chamendran Naidoo, a Navy doctor will be making some appearances on The Dr Mol Show on SABC3 in future with Michael Mol - in what capacity, for how long and what the extend of that will be is not yet clear.

Then there's Lynelle Kenned, the opera singer from Paarl who sang a duet with the Welsh Katherine Jenkins in the My Top Billing Dream finale which was shown Tuesday evening on SABC3.

In a terrific made-for-TV moment (and according to reliable sources close to the production final confirmation was only clinched super early this morning!) Katherine Jenkins had a big surprise for Lynelle Kenned live on the air on Expresso this morning on SABC3.

The Welsh singer asked Lynelle Kenned if she wants to sing a song on stage during Katherine Jenkins' stage show this Friday evening at the GrandWest arena.

"I wondered if you would want to come and perform your own number at my show on Friday?" Katherine Jenkins said. "It would be incredible! I would love that! Yes! Yes! Of course!" a stunned and surprised Lynelle Kenned said.

Of course their is also already talk that Lynelle Kenned could be joining SABC2's Pasella as a new presenter soon. She is actually Afrikaans and since Top Billing "stole" Jo-Anne Strauss a few years back ago Pasella, rumours are swirling in the industry that Top Billing might now give Lynelle Kenned the opportunity to possibly join Pasella after they've discovered her.

On Tuesday evening I asked Lynelle Kenned about that. "I don't anything about it at the moment but it would be wonderful. I love singing, I love opera and I would like to continue to do that; if its possible to keep singing and to fit in some TV work that would be wonderful, I just don't know if that would be possible," the bubbly contestant told me.

ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE. The My Top Billing Dream finale tonight sees the final 4 contestants battle it out interviewing musicians.

In the finale tonight at 20:00 on SABC3 from Cape Town of the My Top Billing Dream reality show looking for a new Top Billing presenter, there will be 4 contestants remaining instead of the originally planned 3.

Lynelle Kenned, Chamendran Naidoo, Zama Ncgobo and Jonathan Boynton-Lee are the 4 contestants who will hear tonight who got a contract with South Africa's longest running, uninterrupted TV show.

As to why there is 4 and not just 3 contestants in tonight's final episode, Tswelopele Productions told me that "the judges thought about this long and hard - and decided that it would be more exciting viewing if there were 4 finalists contesting for the one spot - not just 3".

The show switched to a limited-run reality format for the past few weeks and saw eager viewers engaging on social media around the favourites as the contestants were whittled down one by one during real-life TV production challenges behind-the-scenes.

The show had planned an additional action adventure challenge for tonight's My Top Billing Dream finale, "but we felt we had covered this type of challenge sufficiently already in the 7 August episode," the production tells me. "We allocated the time that would have gone to the adventure challenge to the fourth contestant".

The finale of My Top Billing Dream was shot at the studios in Sea Point where Michael Mol records his weekly Dr Mol Show for SABC3, one floor down in the highrise building where the penthouse is the Expresso morning show studios.

Viewers will see Zama Ngcobo interview the South African musician Toya Delazy and Lynelle Kenned (left) will do a profile piece on the Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins.

Jonathan Boynton-Lee will interview the musical phenom Paige Mac, and Chamendran Naidoo will hang out with the instrumental band Sterling EQ.

According to the producers the final task "is about the key of linking the show together - doing the studio links in a beautiful location and also interviewing the top local and international performing talent".

Tonight's finale and organising it the past week was a logistical challenge for the show. The crew had to get all the performing stars together in one place - at one time - to shoot those inserts last week.

Lynelle Kenned's mom Christine was diagnosed with cancer when she was 16 and has lived to see her daughter achieve as an opera singer - both Christine and dad Ralph was there when Lynelle Kenned performed with Katherine Jenkins which viewers will see tonight.

Jonathan Boynton-Lee's mom, Bronwen Boynton-Lee was also flown down by the production to come and watch him perform with Paige Mac. It was her 72nd birthday. Chamendran Naidoo's mom and one of Zama Ngcobo's good friends also supported them.

The Top Billing presenter Simba Mhere will be on hand tonight to welcome the new Top Billing presenter to the fold.