DStv dumps the [ED] educational and documentary channel from Kagiso Media's Urban Brew Studios after 3 years following disappointing viewership.

MultiChoice is dumping the [ED] educational and documentary channel from its DStv and GOtv satellite pay-TV platforms in South Africa and across Africa after three years, following a lackluster performance from the Urban Brew Studios produced and packaged channel.

DStv will shut [ED] (DStv 190) down at midnight at the end of this month at midnight on Wednesday 30 November - just shy of three years on the air since it launched on 10 December 2013.

The shuttering of the [ED] channel follows MultiChoice's removal of channels from DStv like AMC, BET2, CBS Action, CBS Drama and True Movies over the past year and terminating the M-Net Movies Comedy, M-Net Movies Family and M-Net Movies Romance channels all as part of ongoing content consolidation plans.

[ED], the first channel owned by Kagiso Media's Urban Brew, at launch in 2013 touted that it would be a locally packaged educational channel specialising in "high-end" international and local documentaries and educational TV content.

After a year on air, in December 2014, [ED] announced a revamp in its offering with a raft of locally-produced series and new faces to anchor its local content offering, but it didn't help lift viewership.

[ED] struggled to gain traction and viewership despite being made available beyond South Africa on MultiChoice's GOtv platform across Africa and is now being axed after MultiChoice decided not to renew the contract.

Since [ED] is not available on eMedia Investment's OpenView HD platform from Platco Digital or StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat, the termination of the channel on DStv means its shutting down completely.

It means the end of locally produced programming like the well-received Ayanda's Fashion House, and shows like the technology programme EDGE, The Criselda Dudumashe Show and #myopinion, while [ED] since 2015 also started covering and bringing viewers a unique first-hand look at South African film festivals and TV markets ranging from DISCOP in Johannesburg to the Durban International Film Festival.

"Thanks to our loyal [ED] valued viewers and advertisers for their continued support over the years," says Roberto Carletti, [ED] station manager. "Through our content, our viewers have remained curious and been inspired".

Educational channel [ED] on DStv will show Rehad Desai's Emmy award-winning documentary, Miners Shot Down, this Sunday 3 times during the day.

Miners Shot Down, the International Emmy award winning South Africa documentary of filmmaker Rehad Desai about the Marikana massacre by the South Africa police will be broadcast this Sunday 29 November on [ED] (DStv 190) on DStv in South Africa and across the African continent.

Ordinary South Africans haven't seen Miners Shot Down since the SABC and e.tv refused to shown Miners Shot Down on the public broadcaster and South Africa's only free-to-air commercial TV channel.

Miner Shot Down has been shown on [ED] before in 2014, as well as earlier this year on Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) and the community TV station, Cape Town TV (CTV).

Miners Shot Down won the International Emmy Award on Sunday night in New York in the documentary category.

Yesterday e.tv and eNCA (DStv 403) condescendingly said it would broadcast Miners Shot Down but won't pay to show it and that it would broadcast the Emmy award winning documentary "if Rehad Desai drops us a free copy".

Miners Shot Down will be rebroadcast on [ED] this Sunday 29 November at 10:55, 14:55 and 18:55.

"It's an opportunity for South Africans to tune in to a documentary that has the whole world talking," says Roberto Carletti, [ED] station manager.

"As the first channel to air the documentary as far back as July 2014, we feel it's only fitting to repeat it. There's been growing viewer demand for the documentary in light of the recent success at the International Emmy Awards."

"Heeding these calls is in line with [ED]'s vision of empowering viewers through the dissemination of knowledge."

Educational channel [ED] on DStv adds new local business lifestyle show with presenter Nthabiseng More looking at career decisions.

The educational channel [ED] (DStv 190) is starting a new business empowerment series, Turning Point on 21 October at 18:25 with presenter Nthabiseng More.

Turning Point is the 3rd local South African show with months starting with the same theme - the others are Kicking Doors with DJ Sbu on CNBC Africa, and Visionaries' Lounge on SABC2 with Ayanda Allie-Paine that started on Tuesday night.

[ED] is an Urban Brew Studios produced TV channel for DStv and is owned by Kagiso Media.

[ED] calls Turning Point a locally produced business lifestyle show. Turning Point will look at how one pivotal career-making decision changed the course of someone's life and led them on the path to success.

Turning Point will have stories from influential business people, prominent public figures, aspiring entrepreneurs, thought leaders and role models in Africa - exactly like Kicking Doors and Visionaries' Lounge.

Some of the guests on the new [ED] show will include fashion designer David Tlale, music industry stalwart Don Laka and entrepreneur Gil Oved.

"Turning Point will inspire, motivate and invoke creativity by examining the real life experiences of people who’re at the top of their game," says Roberto Carletti, [ED] channel manager.

"It will also uncover how critical events converged for each of our guests. Viewers will be allowed a glimpse into the thought process and determination required to pave the direction of their lives and careers".