New Canal+ Africa boss David Mignot makes first public appearance - in Namibia - for MultiChoice's flattering new presidential documentary, tells assembled African politicians it's committed to 'dignified' storytelling

Thinus Ferreira

The new Canal+ Africa boss, David Mignot, has made his first public appearance at an event - and in Namibia and not in South Africa where Canal+ Africa is now headquartered - to celebrate MultiChoice Namibia's pandering upcoming documentary about that country's new president.

David Mignot told the assembled African politicians, with some who were invited and flew to Namibia, that Canal+ Africa is committed to "truthful, dignified and locally-rooted storytelling" and that the documentary is proof of this.

David Mignot, who has not yet met South Africa's media face-to-face, flew to Namibia to speak at the premiere showing on 9 October of MultiChoice Namibia's new, flattering and bizarre political documentary Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics which is about Namibia's current president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The timing feels off since Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics, screened at Ster-Kinekor Grove Mall in Windhoek, is not a reflective or historical documentary but an effusive and pandering MultiChoice Namibia production about the country's fifth and current president.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah came into office in Namibia in March this year.

The premiere screening happened after the MultiChoice Namibia and Canal+ Africa senior executives, including David Mignot, had a sit-down meeting with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah earlier the same day last week.

The premiere screening was David Mignot first physical outing to speak publicly before the media and he mentioned specifically how Canal+ Africa is dedicated to "truthful, dignified and locally-rooted storytelling".

According to David Mignot, Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics will "surely inspire generations to come, and reflect on an era where Namibian voices and visions deserve to be on the world stage".

Canal+ Africa and MultiChoice Namibia made sure that several other African politicians attended the screening of the effusive political documentary, including the current Botswana president Duma Boko and a former Botswana president, as well as several Namibian politicians.

Roger Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia managing director, who also spoke at the premiere screening, said that the pay-TV operator, now owned by Canal+, feels very privileged to make a documentary about Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia's current president.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said she liked the documentary about her. "The documentary, the way I liked it, is more about telling the history of Namibia's liberation struggle. I really like it that way because that is what we need our people to know - the current and the future generations."

Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics is produced by the Namibian production company Joe Vision Productions.

According to MultiChoice Namibia, Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics "offers an intimate and inspiring look into Her Excellency’s life through decades of public service to her historic election as Namibia’s first woman Head of State in March 2025".

Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics will be aired on Zambezi Magic on 29 October at 20:30.

MultiChoice Namibia grows local content slate with further series, film and documentary commissions as Ombura-project enters second phase

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Namibia is growing its local content slate under the project's "Ombura-named umbrella with further new series, film and documentary commissions.

So far, 19 films, a lifestyle series and a documentary have been produced for DStv, GOtv and MultiChoice's streamer Showmax. 

In September 2024, MultiChoice Namibia also started and held its first MultiChoice Film Festival in Namibia to showcase new local content and to provide local filmmakers a place to meet, interact and have conversations.

The Ombura-project which is entering its second phase, is part of MultiChoice Namibia's effort to expand its slate of local content and Namibian stories.

The lifestyle coming series Op Pad Met My Potjie which was seen recently on kykNET (DStv 144) with presenter Joalette de Villiers travelling throughout Namibia, has been renewed for a second season.

Bora Box which will premiere on Channel O, is a new music request show showcasing Namibian music and artists.

Crossover Hearts is a new romantic film directed by MultiChoice Talent Factory alum Lucia Kim Hamunghete which follows a young couple from different cultures battling prejudices and family expectations.

Desert Film's The Long Road details the life of a struggling factory worker who has been abandoned by his pregnant wife and attempts to redeem himself, while Oppiplaas is a romantic drama about a city girl launching a social media business and who then reluctantly takes on a struggling farmer as a client.

The Afrikaans environmental magazine show Groen Namibië has been renewed for another season on kykNET.

Then there is also the feature film My F*k, Marelize, also produced by kykNET Films and inspired by a viral video from Namibia, which will be shown on kykNET.

Another documentary will also be produced.

"This year, we continue our commitment to hyperlocal storytelling with productions that reflect the culture, language, and realities of our audiences," says Rogert Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia managing director.

"Beyond storytelling, we are actively investing in the future of African film and television by training, funding, and supporting the next generation of local talent because when Africa tells its own stories, the world listens."

Esther Beukes, Namibian Film Commission chairperson, says "On behalf of the Namibia Film Commission, a huge thank you to MultiChoice Namibia, and this phenomenal team. Your investment in our industry isn't just about making TV, it's about making history."

ALSO READ: Inside MultiChoice's push to expand Namibia's kykNET content

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Namibia to host inaugural MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 with panel sessions and content screenings

MultiChoice Namibia is losing 49 subscribers daily who cut the cord over high prices and Netflix as it hikes DStv fees up to 8% from April 2025 and blames inflation

by Thinus Ferreira

As MultiChoice Namibia gets ready to hike prices from April 2025 and blames inflation, Namibia's broadcasting authority has revealed that MultiChoice Nigeria is losing 49 subscribers daily in that country who are cutting the cord due to the high subscription fees and competition like Netflix.

Namibia's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN), in its latest sector report, indicates that MultiChoice Namibia has shed a combined 35 578 DStv and GOv subscribers between the start of 2023 and the end of 2024.

This means that MultiChoice Namibia over the past two years has lost 49 subscribers daily.

According to the regulator, MultiChoice Namibia has seen an 11% decline in the satellite pay-TV operator's total subscribers in the country in the 4th quarter of 2024.

"This may be attributed to the recent increase in subscription fees and growing competition from streaming platforms like Netflix," the regulator notes in its Q4 broadcasting sector report.

From April 2025, MultiChoice is hiking DStv fees in Namibia by between 6% and just over 8%.

This is MultiChoice Namibia's second price hike in less than a year, after it hiked prices in September 2024.

MultiChoice Namibia is hiking DStv Premium by 6% from April from N$985 to $1045 - crossing the psychological threshold of $1000 per month for its top-end package for the first time ever. 

MultiChoice Namibia is increasing DStv Compact Plus 5.9% from N$675 to N$715, while DStv Compact is increasing 6% from N$495 to N$525.

DStv Family is increased 6.7% from N$370 to N$395, while DStv Access will increase by 8.5% from N$175 to N$190.

DStv Lite - the cheapest package - is getting a price decrease from N$110 to N$60, making it 45% cheaper.

MultiChoice Nigeria blames inflation in the country for the increase of between 6% and 8%.

"Africa’s much loved storyteller has taken into account the current rate of inflation and economic pressures facing Namibians when considering our price adjustments," says MultiChoice Namibia.

MultiChoice Namibia hikes prices by up to 3%

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Namibia is the latest country where DStv subscribers are getting another price hike, as confirmed by MultiChoice Namibia spokesperson Elzita Beukes.

MultiChoice Namibia is hiking DStv Premium by 2.6% from N$960 to N$985. 

DStv Compact Plus is increased 3% from N$655 to N$675, while DStv Compact is being increased 3.1% from N$480 to N$495.

MultiChoice Nigeria is increasing DStv Family by 2.7% from N$360 to N$370. DStv Lite remains unchanged at N$110 per month.

MultiChoice Namibia to host inaugural MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 with panel sessions and content screenings.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Namibia will host its inaugural MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 on 28 and 29 September at the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals and cinema enthusiasts for panel sessions and content screenings in Windhoek.

The MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 is a first for Namibia and for MultiChoice. 

The MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 will showcase productions created under the MultiChoice Namibia local content banner - Ombura - and feature a line-up of screenings, discussions, workshops, networking opportunities, and interactive experiences.

The festival's Saturday line-up features various panel sessions offering insights into what it takes to create content in Namibia, ranging from "Nambia to the world: Building resilience and in local entertainment" to Ombura challenges, a film finance workshop, an info session on the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), and a conversation by SWIFT Namibia. 

Screenings range from Penda's Dilemma and Op Pad met my Potjie, to Okalila, The Funeral, The Goal, and a documentary entitled Walvis Tale.

"With a rich tapestry of diverse cultures and narratives, the festival promises to captivate audiences, while creating an exciting platform that not only tells Namibian stories but also celebrates productions from our local content project, which will be showcased on our DStv, GOtv and Showmax platforms this October," says Roger Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia managing director.

The Sunday will be an open day fun day filled with live music, fun activities, and an open-air film screening of a Namibian film.

"The MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 intends to nurture, develop, and empower the local industry, providing a seminal platform for seasoned and emerging filmmakers alike," Roger Gertze says.

"Alongside the premieres of the latest feature films, the MultiChoice Film Festival 2024 will showcase the work of young talent with a diverse series of productions made with the MultiChoice Namibia financial assistance and mentorship."

12th Silwerskerm Film Festival: Day 1 | M-Net commissions Namibian film My F*k, Marelize based on viral video.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net has commissioned My F*k, Marelize as a Namibian feature film based on the accident-prone Marelize Horn who went viral for her amateur video of riding a bike into a rugby pole.

My F*k, Marelize as a MultiChoice Namibia production will start shooting in Namibia in September.

Set in Windhoek and inspired by the true events that led up to the iconic rugby pole incident, the film follows the accident-prone Marelize Horn as she prepares to become an au pair in the Netherlands and her mother, Heidi Horn, as she handles a cancer diagnosis.

My F*k, Marelize is written by Safta-winning screenwriter Brett Michael Innes, the film marks the feature film debut of Zandré Coetzer, a television director on the South African hit series Dinge van ’n kind, based on a beloved young-adult novel by Marita van der Vyver. 

"The film is going to surprise everyone," says Brett Michael Innes.

"When people think of a movie based on the phrase ‘'my f*k, Marelize', they're probably expecting a slapstick comedy about a teenager who bumps into things all the time. The story of the Horn family has so much more depth than that, and we can't wait to surprise viewers with it."

Zandré Coetzer says "This story is a celebration of life - a showcase of how our people in Namibia and South Africa greet every challenge with a joke and face it with laughter".

"I was fortunate to spend time with the Horn family and witnessing their dynamic as a unit gave me such a clear vision for the film. As an Afrikaner, it is really special to be able to celebrate my language, culture and people in a story that speaks to our humour and way of doing life."

My F*k, Marelize is a Namibian and South African co-production and a collaboration with Windhoek-based producers Joel Haikali and Sophie Haikali from Joe Vision Productions and the Cape Town production companies Nagvlug Films and Nostalgia Productions.

Paulo Areal rounds out the producing team with financing from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), kykNET Films and MultiChoice Namibia.

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net channel director for premium channels, says "kykNET is deeply rooted in Namibia, and we take great pride to be able to support not just any co-production with strong Namibian ties, but this one – a story full of pathos and humour with a unique local character".

Joel Haikali says "This lively Namibia-South Africa co-production is a love letter to Windhoek life".

"It celebrates our quirky Namibian charm and vibrant spirit with plenty of humour and our very own delicious flavour of Afrikaans. It’s a film for the entire family, and we are very excited to be a part of it."

Marelize Horn says "It's crazy how this keeps growing. When I got a random Facebook message from Brett last year about wanting to make a film about our family, I didn't know quite what to expect. Now they’re about to start filming, and I can’t wait to see how our experience is brought to life."

MultiChoice in Namibia the 3rd Southern African country to hike DStv subscription fees from April after South Africa and Zambia.

MultiChoice in Namibia is the third country in Southern Africa to announce that it will hike DStv subscription fees from April for DStv subscribers, following MultiChoice Zambia where DStv subscribers will see a price increase of up to 10%, and in South Africa where MultiChoice South Africa is also increasing DStv fees from the end of the month.

Interestingly, MultiChoice Namibia will also leave the subscription fee of DStv Premium unchanged, just as in South Africa, as MultiChoice South Africa and MultiChoice Africa - as part of a new strategy - are trying to stem the drastic decline in the percentage of DStv Premium subscribers.

Customers are no longer seeing DStv Premium as providing adequate value for the price as MultiChoice's top-tier and most expensive service, with much of what used to be offered exclusively like access to Showmax, DStv Now, and TV channels that have been diluted to lower-tiered DStv packages, and with a growing number of customers abandoning DStv and turning to subscription video streaming service rivals like Netflix.

While DStv Premium subscribers won't pay more from April 2019, MultiChoice is, for instance, taking away their DStv print magazine that helped them with content discovery and knowing what programming is shown where as well as providing channel listings.

The price of DStv Premium in Namibia will remain unchanged at N$809 (R802.09) per month, while the other DStv packages in Namibia will increase from April.

"Over the past two years, we have made efforts to freeze and or decrease DStv prices and committed to holding our prices at the same level, barring any extreme factors such as the devaluation of currency or other macro-economic headwinds," says Roger Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia managing director, in a statement announcing the DStv price hike.

"Unfortunately, because of inflation – which stands at 5,40% in Namibia – and rising programming and operational costs, we have had to review our pricing so we can remain sustainable as a business and continue bringing you the quality video entertainment content you love."

DStv Compact Plus subscribers in Namibia will see an increase from N$509 to N$519 per month, while the Compact package will increase from N$399 from N$385.

DStv The Family will increase to N$265 in Namibia while DStv Access is increasing from N$120 to N$125. The cost of DStv Access in Namibia will increase from N$75 to N$90.

MultiChoice content boss Aletta Alberts talks 'Project Repeats' and why DStv subscribers can't choose their own channels: 'In future, we might try a more hybrid approach'.

MultiChoice's content boss, Aletta Alberts, in a speech in Windhoek, addressed the pan-African pay-TV operator's ongoing process of reducing the volume of repeats DStv subscribers are exposed to, and about the issue of why DStv viewers can't choose and pay for just the channels they want to, hinted at a possible change, saying that "in future, might we might try a more hybrid approach".

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content, spoke to the press last week Thursday at MultiChoice Namibia's country headquarters in Windhoek.

She spoke to the media about what the Naspers pay-TV giant is doing to cut down on the number of repeats DStv subscribers are seeing - an initiative under the banner of "Project Repeats".

Once again the issue was also raised about why pay-TV operators like MultiChoice can't give subscribers the option of individually choosing just the TV channels they want and paying for that, instead of bundling channels together.

Aletta Alberts hinted that there is the possibility that some changes might be coming in future in the form of a hybrid approach, according to The Namibian newspaper that attended the session.

"When you give the consumers choice, it actually comes back to the same model we use," said Aletta Alberts. "In future, we might try a more hybrid approach, but at the moment, there's a cost issue."

According to Roger Gertze, MultiChoice Namibia's general manager, repeats on DStv have been one of the leading grievances from DStv subscribers after MultiChoice Namibia did a customer feedback survey.

"We do repeats - we have to own up to it. But it's a part of the current business model," said Aletta Alberts. She explained how its impossible for a single TV channel not to do a rebroadcast of content, since a TV channel requires about 8 760 hours of content a year to fill.

No TV channel in the world that can produce that must see-it-only-once content. The enormous licensing cost of the sports content rights on the SuperSport channels for instance, must also be absorbed by more people than just the smaller audience watching that.

"Our content is bundled so it's not clear to the customer what they are paying for. Sports rights, for example, are pricey and as much as they are loved, not enough people are watching these channels," explained Aletta Alberts.

Another interesting fact is that 70% of the repeat complaints are due to movies being reshown.

"The same movie and series titles are repeated across multiple channels," said Aletta Alberts. "DStv Premium customers see all these channels, but they don't understand that we're making them for lower tiered channels as well."

Besides axing a number of channels like Discovery Networks's Animal Planet, M-Net Edge, CBS Drama, True Movies, AMC, and tiering down VUZU and doing limited-run pop-up channels, MultiChoice has ordered some channels to schedule some new content over weekends like documentaries, to do less "stacking" - meaning marathon series repeats.

MultiChoice also has a plan to introduce DStv subscribers to more programmes outside of their comfort zone so that they will sample some programming they might not have watched, and then discovery they like to see.

"In 2010 there were 210 series from the United States; in October 2017 there were 500. Every day, someone has millions of dollars they're putting into content and we are still buying every piece of content that comes out of the studios," said Aletta Alberts.

"Every year, we do more local content and try to increase it as much as we can, but it's expensive to put things in an indigenous language. However, we've got great models, and it's starting to pay off and gain momentum," Aletta Alberts explained.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 3 October 2017.

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

■ How the SABC's Bessie Tugwana allegedly tried to bulldoze in her "friend" over a senior producer.
The SABC's latest acting COO is the last of two appointments by Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Bessie Tugwana allegedly tried to get rid of Nompumelelo Phasha in favour of her "friend" Marcia Mahlalela.
Bessie Tugwana were warned that what she is doing will lead to irregular expenditure at the SABC.


■ Wendy Williams' husband Kevin Hunter has been having an affair with a young massage therapist. Allegedly.
Cheated on Wendy Williams in 2001 and has been living with "Sharina" for years with his mistress living just 9 miles down the road. Brave Wendy flashes an engagement ring to try and prove the love is strong, making sure the left hand is easily visible. She tells her Wendy Williams Show audience on BET (DStv 129)  "You can believe what you want,", says in a statement "there is not 'there' there".
- Rival talk show The Talk trashes in fake-seriously reporting the breathlessness as the audience goes "ooh, aah" - watch.


■ Still with talk, and the failing Megyn Kelly in her new talk show asks Jane Fonda about her plastic surgery - the rest of the interview is a wash-out.
"You really want to talk about that now?" is Jane Fonda's curt reply.

■ End of the TV remote control?
New TV technology changes the channel using body gestures.

■ Siesta Key episode order upped from 10 to 18.
First season of the new MTV reality show increased, will start on MTV (DStv 130) in South Africa and Africa in November.

■ Jason Isaacs talks about his new role as Captain Gabriel Lorca of the USS Discovery in Star Trek: Discovery.
"I deliberately concentrated on not giving a f- ".
And in another interview he says "you don't want to be asking about things that get revealed during the show".
And in another interview "I'm dealing with idiots left, right and centre".

- Executive producer Akiva Goldsman, who directed the 3rd episode talk about Star Trek: Discovery's bigger story and then there's the bastardisation of string theory but with space spores.
 - And Star Trek The Next Generation has just turned 30 years old.

■ Piers Morgan interviews Mariah Carey, sprawled out on a couch in front of a Christmas tree, about the Las Vegas gun massacre.
Because Mimi isn't used enough insightful analyses as an expert on America's gun violence.


■ Hilariously misguided and uninformed Nigerians are mocking DStv as TStv launches.
Clueless that new pay-TV operator TStv isn't an improvement.
- Idiotic Nigerians don't realise the cost doesn't include installation - the "secret" terms and conditions of TStv that consumers are not aware of. Although some Nigerians are catching on, are cautious and are realising the true facts.
- MultiChoice Nigeria is giving GOtv subscribers in Nigeria one month free subscription in October as part of the new GOtv Max bouquet launch.
- Even more idiotic is Nigeria's minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed uttering trash statements at the launch event like "TStv will totally redefine the televison industry in Nigeria". It won't.
- At least Lai Mohammed admits a massive problem Nigeria has with its TV industry at the TStv launch event: The lack of a proper TV audience ratings system in Nigeria that is damaging and holding back Nigeria's TV biz.
- Images from the TStv launch event. Of course no press release or basic press statement but at least the satellite dishes come with potted plants.


■ MultiChoice Namibia held a TV content workshop
for Namibian content producers to explain how to pitch content to TV channels for their shows to appear on DStv. VIA (DStv 147) says it's willing to put Namibian content on the channel. People’s Weather (DStv 180) says it's willing to create a "Namibian block" on its channel.

■ OnseTV on StarSat doesn't have a channel head yet after its launch last week.
Or very clear answers to a lot of questions.

■ "Mulder and Scully are swapping places."
Some teasies about the second season of the revived The X-Files that will be broadcast in 2018.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 21 September 2017.

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

■ Correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin is getting his own weekend anchoring show on MSNBC (StarSat 263).
His show will be followed by yet another new MSNBC weekend show with Kasie Hunt as the anchor.

■ Leslie Moonves says CBS and CBS News is talking about what to do with the CBS Evening News.
South African and African viewers can still see it on Sky News (DStv 402).

■ Firefly at 15 years: The cast shares their oral history about the short-lived science fiction show.


■ Manga Nawa-Mukena (37), MultiChoice Namibia's former marketing manager back in court for fraud case. 
After she made MultiChoice Namibia pay N$2 million (R2 million) over a period of 4 years into her bank account that appeared on invoices, Manga Nawa-Mukena is back in court for a 4th appearance.
The lovely Manga denied guilt on charges of fraud and forgery.
She handed in the invoices, but claims she doesn't know how her bank account details ended up on the 80 falsified invoices. She will appear in court again on 17 November.


■ Stephen Colbert slams Donald Trump over the American president's obsession with the Emmys and ratings.

■ Sabrina the Teenage Witch is following Archie as a live-action TV teen drama series.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will be a dark horror show designed to serve as a companion series to Riverdale that is seen on

■ After winning big with The Handmaid's Tale at the 2017 Emmys, Hulu is pumping another $2.5billion into making more TV series.
Will launch another 7 new original TV series within the next 6 to 9 months.

■ A 5th Game of Thrones prequel drama series is being developed and could possibly make it to television.

■ Research finds 59% of TV companies are unprepared and unequipped for advanced TV.

■ Netflix's success only makes it burn through more and more money.
Spending cash on original content is to blame for Netflix's growing debt, and it's not going to stop until Netflix's user growth stops.

Former MultiChoice Namibia marketing manager, Manga Nawa-Mukena, back in court over alleged fraud of R2 million.

The former MultiChoice Namibia marketing manager Manga Nawa-Mukena has made her second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court this past Friday for allegedly defrauding MultiChoice, running the DStv service, of N$2 million (R2 million).

Manga Nawa-Mukena is on trial on charges of fraud, forgery and uttering a forged instrument Namibia's New Era reports.

Manga Nawa-Mukena allegedly defrauded MultiChoice Namibia between 1 April 2013 and 17 March 2017.

Manga Nawa-Mukena allegedly abused her MultiChoice Nigeria marketing manager position to pay Kundan (Pty) Ltd for advertising services that were never rendered.

Manga Nawa-Mukena who again appear in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court this week, allegedly falsified 80 invoices for various advertising services, and submitting them together with banking details that were not that of Kundan (Pty) Ltd but her own banking details.

Over a period of 3 years, Manga Nawa-Mukena allegedly was paid over R2 million by MultiChoice Nigeria and Roger Gertze.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 10 February 2017.

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

■ 66% of Indians admit they've watched illegally downloaded TV content.
Two thirds of Indians say they've watched pirated content although 71% say they know its illegal.

■ American breakfast show struggles to "produce" its presenters.
Former producer explains the never-ending mistakes Good Morning America's producers are making, from camera angles and guests to not letting the presenters be themselves.


■ Malawi's communications regulator wants to expand the African country's TV studio capacity.
With 25 TV stations, Malawi is struggling in meeting local TV content requirements because of a lack of basically everything and critical thinking skills. (Perhaps South Africa's Hlaudi Motsoeneng can go help?)


■ The "lost" season 8 of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and the science fiction show's secret history.
 DS9 writer reunite for a new documentary, What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek Deep Space Nine, detailing what the 8th season would have been about, what the first season 8 episode would be like, complete with interviews with the cast and crew.


■ Why the offices of Nigeria's CoreTV pay-TV broadcaster was sealed last week.
Meanwhile the office was broken into and broadcasting and other equipment stolen.

■ Creator of new drama series Legion on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) explains ...
what's going on with the confusing first episode.

■ In Kenya consumers are ditching TV for online despite the high cost of data.
And advertisers are leaving television and following them there.

■ Meanwhile, 2 years after the Kenyan government shut down analogue terrestrial broadcasting, a whopping 1.5 million Kenyans now have no access to TV because they don't have digital terrestrial television (DTT) because set-top boxes (STBs) are too expensive.

■ Sir David Attenborough has a snail named after him.
He's the narrator of Planet Earth II on BBC Earth (DStv 184).

■ Bloomberg Television (DStv 411 / StarSat 264) launches new hourlong show Daybreak: Australia.
Betty Liu in New York and Haidi Lun in Sydney are anchoring and South Africans can watch it at midnight.

■ MultiChoice Namibia to upgrade its existing education centres at schools.
The pay-TV platform will do improvements over the next 3 years at its existing MultiChoice Resource Centres across Namibia.

■ Animation show Pat the Dog coming to Boomerang (DStv 302).
Turner International has picked up the show.

■ What do you not get and is missing from TV channels in Uganda?
Weather reports! Why are local TV stations in Uganda not doing weather forecasts?

■ TV team from Swedish SVT broadcaster sentenced to community work after convicted of human smuggling.
Reporter Fredrik Onnevall, his cameraman and interpreter brought a 15-year old refugee boy from Syria to Sweden in 2015.

■ Viacom is keeping its latest TV shows away from streaming services.
Viacom says it won't be undercutting pay-TV operators by making its new TV shows available to people who don't pay for pay-TV.

■ Swaziland's trashy public broadcaster, STVA, has been embroiled in lurid allegations of corruption, mismanagement and scandal for months.
Amidst rot at Swazi TV, the suspended CEO recently threw out the finance head. Add staff being unpaid and paid late for month, love affairs the CEO admitted to on live TV, the hiring of relatives, buying bad content, business class travel to Europe for studies with no qualifications, irregular appointments, and the use of company vehicles for personal use.

Meanwhile Swaziland's government, is banning the public from knowing what's in a government inquiry report into the struggling broadcaster, with the ministry of information and communication saying the inquiry's report will be kept secret from Swazis. And sadly even the PR person at STVA appears to be incompetent.

■ Some people are cancelling their Netflix subscriptions over trailer for a new series.
Dear White People sparks outrage as Netflix users say they're cancelling their subscriptions. Producer says he wants the unseen in the culture to be seen.

■ How Netflix finds your happy binging place.
What you watch causes algorithms to put you in one of "1 300 distinct taste communities".

■ How television has taken on new meaning in Donald Trump's America.
From The Young Pope to The Man in the High Castle, from Scandal (The Fixer) to The Handmaid's Tale and South Park, American TV shows are now viewed through the additional filter of the belligerent Donald Trump being America's president.