PBS Kids gone as MultiChoice loses its 12th DStv channel this year.

by Thinus Ferreira

As MultiChoice's linear TV channel bundle continues to unravel the pay-TV operator is losing PBS Kids at the end of this month as the 12th TV channel gone just this year.

PBS Kids (DStv 313) aimed at younger viewers between the ages of two and eight, in an on-screen message notified DStv subscribers that the channel will be removed by the end of this month, saying "Dear viewers, please note that PBS Kids is closing on the 31 August 2024. Thank you for watching".

MultiChoice confirmed the axing of PBS Kids but didn't give any reason why the channel is being removed and whether it is because of MultiChoice, or because of America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States.

"MultiChoice regularly reviews its channel line-up to ensure we offer customers the best in local and international content. As part of this ongoing process PBS Kids will no longer be available on GOtv channel 65 and DStv channel 313 effective 31 August 2024," MultiChoice said in response to a media query.

In July 2018 MultiChoice added PBS Kids content for the first time but just accessible on its DStv Now Catch Up service.

In May 2019 MultiChoice and PBS added PBS Kids as a linear TV channel to DStv but initially just as a DStv pop-up channel, after which it became permanent.

At the time, MultiChoice told TVwithThinus that it had "received a lot of positive feedback from our viewers when PBS Kids was made available on DStv Now and our parents appreciate the fact that DStv is providing the kind of kids' programming that will help to make them classroom ready, while also keeping them entertained".

At the time, Andrea Downing, PBS distribution co-president, said that PBS was "excited to offer this new audience the opportunities that PBS Kids content offers" and that DStv and PBS Kids were "inviting parents and children to experience this trusted content that helps children learn and grow".

Since the beginning of this year DStv subscribers who are paying more since April, have had 11 TV channels on MultiChoice's pay-TV platform go dark. 

MultiChoice is technically insolvent, with Vivendi's Canal+ in France which is in the process of an aggressive takeover and buyout of the company despite stringent South African regulations on foreign media ownership that is supposed to prevent it.

So far this year DStv subscribers have lost access to Deutsche Welle, Emmanuel TV, B4U Movies, 1Free State TV, NWTV, People's Weather, the 1Magic and ME channels, GinX, WildEarth and Africa Magic Urban.

1Magic and ME were replaced by the 1Max channel showcasing a collection of Showmax streaming content. 

TOLDJA! MultiChoice adds the PBS Kids channel to DStv as a 3-month pop-up channel from 22 May in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

As TVwithThinus reported in March would happen soon, the PBS Kids channel is being added to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and sub-Sarahan Africa to all DStv packages as a new 3-month pop-up channel.

In July 2018 MultiChoice added PBS Kids content to its DStv Now Catch Up service.

At the time MultiChoice told TVwithThinus that it is testing the content and would make it more broadly available if there's a demand for it.

PBS Kids is the children's programming brand of America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) that is broadcast as a kids programming block on PBS in the United States, but it is also a digital video channel streaming kids content as part of a video app that PBS launched in January 2017. 

MultiChoice says PBS Kids will be available for a 3-month period from Wednesday 22 May to Thursday 22 August to all DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers.

PBS Kids will run on DStv channel 313.

Shows on PBS Kids will include Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Arthur, WordWorld, Postcards from Buster, Peep and the Big Wide World and Time Warp Trio.

Asked what MultiChoice learnt from making the PBS Kids content available as video streaming only, MultiChoice told TVwithThinus on Monday that "we received a lot of positive feedback from our viewers when PBS Kids was made available on DStv Now and our parents appreciate the fact that DStv is providing the kind of kids' programming that will help to make them classroom ready, while also keeping them entertained".

Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution co-president in a statement says "We are excited to offer this new audience the opportunities that PBS Kids content offers. PBS Kids is the number one educational media brand for kids, offering children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds. DStv is inviting parents and children to experience this trusted content that helps children learn and grow."

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment for MultiChoice, says in a quotable that "MultiChoice is always open to exploring ways to expand our customer offering, adding a children's channel that is not only entertainment for the entire family but also experiential and educational adds value to the DStv packages".

Yolisa Phahle isn't really saying this, with the same quote that is replaced by MultiChoice Africa and attributed to different MultiChoice executives in various African countries who customise-regionalise the same MultiChoice drop-in quote.

MultiChoice released show synopsis for some of the PBS Kids programming:

Pinkalicious & Peterrific
Based on the beloved book series by Victoria Kann, the show encourages children to engage in self-expression and to explore the arts, including music, dance, and visual arts. Kids will be inspired to get creative by Pinkalicious, Peter, and their friends through adventures in their neighbourhood of Pinkville.

Arthur
Based on the best-selling children's books by Marc Brown, Arthur follows the adventures of 8-year-old Arthur Read. Join the aardvark for heartfelt and humorous stories about family, friends, and the challenges of growing uup.

Wordworld
The lovable WordFriends take children on adventures in a world of words where they encounter problems that can only be solved by building a word. Playfully demonstrating the connections between letters, sounds, words, and meaning, WordWorld empowers children to advance from learning letters to learning how to read.

MultiChoice to add PBS Kids channel as a new youth channel to all DStv packages 'soon'.

MultiChoice will add the PBS Kids channel as a new youth television channel to all DStv packages but hasn't responded to media enquiries about it and when it will happen.

In July 2018 MultiChoice added PBS Kids content to its DStv Now Catch Up service.

At the time MultiChoice told TVwithThinus that it is testing the content and would make it more broadly available if there's a demand for it.

Now MultiChoice will add PBS Kids as a new youth channel to all of its various DStv packages "soon".

TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice at what date the PBS Kids channel will be added to DStv and what MultiChoice learnt from making PBS Kids content available on a video streaming basis first. MultiChoice spokespeople Benedict Maaga and Ntabiseng Motsei didn't respond.

PBS Kids is the children's programming brand of America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) that is broadcast as a kids programming block on PBS in the United States, but it is also a digital video channel streaming kids content as part of a video app that PBS launched in January 2017.

MultiChoice adds PBS Kids content to its DStv Catch Up service on DStv Now, might use it elsewhere as well.

MultiChoice has added kids content from America's PBS Kids to its DStv Catch Up service as part of the pay-TV operator's DStv Now streaming service and might make it available more broadly if there's a demand for it.

PBS Kids is the children's programming brand of America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) that is broadcast as a kids programming block on PBS in the United States, but it is also a digital video channel streaming kids content as part of a video app that PBS launched in January 2017.

"We have added the PBS Kids content to Catch Up on DStv Now and if all goes well, we plan to use it elsewhere," MultiChoice tells TVwithThinus.