SPI International signs channels carriage agreements with Telkom, Vodacom and TV2GO in South Africa.

SPI International continues to expand the presence of its channels in South Africa and has signed additional channels carriage agreements with Telkom, Vodacom and the new free streaming service, TV2GO, run by CAST TV/Infinivy SA, for its set of Box channels.

SPI International's channels are already carried on Cell C black, Cell C's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service that includes linear channels.

Per SPI International's deals, its channels will now be available through both Telkom and and Vodacom in South Africa.

The available channels include FilmBox Africa, FilmBox ArtHouse, DocuBox, FightBox, Fast & Fun, FashionBox, 360TuneBox and Gametoon.

"To meet growing demand for TV consumption on mobile devices in Africa we wanted to ensure that Telkom and Vodacom mobile subscribers have access to SPI's premium content via CAST TV/Infinivy platform in South Africa," says Amrit Karni, the head of distribution for SPI International in Africa, in a statement.

"We are excited to work with CAST TV/Infinivy, and I am sure that South Africa will only be the start of our cooperation.

Yaron Chen, Infinivy CEO in the statement says "Adding SPI's channels to our TV2GO platform, with its diverse genres and program offerings, allows us to boost our entertainment content line-up in order to meet the demands of our viewers".

StarSat adds 2 of FilmBox's entertainment channels, FilmBox and FashionBox, distributed by SPI International, with brand-new action crime drama series, No Easy Days.

The StarSat satellite pay-TV platform run by StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM) has added the entertainment channels FilmBox Africa HD (StarSat 188) and FashionBox HD (StarSat 282) from FilmBox and SPI International.

Other SPI International channels already carried by other pay-TV platforms and operators across the African continent include FightBoxHD, DocuBox HD, Fast&FunBox HD, FilmBox Art House, 360TuneBox and GametoonBox.

GametoonBox (Cell C black 413), FightBox HD (Cell C black 419), Fast&FunBox HD (Cell C black 420), FashionBox (Cell C black 253) and 360TuneBox (Cell C black 606) are already carried as channels on Cell C's black subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in South Africa.

"StarTimes has gone to great lengths to enhance the quality and depth of its pay-TV entertainment offer in South Africa by providing new and exciting viewing experiences to our lyoal customers," says Debbie Wu, CEO of ODM.

"We are delighted to extend the multi-channel viewing experience by adding these 2 new channels. We recognise the demand in South Africa for truly dynamic content that is both culturally relevant and entertaining - which is what StarSat is all about. Our loyal customers should expect much more immersive storytelling experiences on our platform in the near future."

Amit Karni, the head of distribution for SPI in Africa says, "I'm honoured to cooperate with StarSat to launch FilmBox Africa HD and FashionBox HD on its direct-to-home (DTH) platform in South Africa and neighbouring countries, bringing fresh, new and exciting content to its audiences."

FilmBox carries Hollywood movies, classic films and TV series. FashionBox has inserts and programmes covering fashion trends, lifestyle and shopping, and goes behind-the-scenes at catwalks and fashion shows, as well as interviews with top designers.

The brand-new British-American drama series, No Easy Days started on FilmBox on 5 May.

The new 9-episode action crime drama series with Sean Brosnan, Simon Phillips and Michael Hogan and produced by Red Rock Entertainment, tells the story of the American president's daughter who is kidnapped and held ransom by a British mercenary.

A rebellious Navy Seal goes to try and rescue her.