EXCLUSIVE. Sony Channel on DStv is the brand-new name of Sony Entertainment Television (SET) as the channel rebrands with a new look.

You're reading it here first.

The Sony Channel (DStv 127) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and the rest of Africa is the brand-new name of Sony Entertainment Television (SET) following a rebranding and simplified renaming of the popular general entertainment channel from Sony Pictures Television (SPT).

The simplified name change from Sony Entertainment Television (SET) to Sony Channel appears to be the first such rebranding of the channel which is available internationally in several countries and territories.

The Sony Channel will be 7 years old in South Africa in a month and a half's time since it first launched on 2 November 2007 on DStv in South Africa.

The Sony Channel became the home of highly rated series like The Amazing Race, Hannibal, Drop Dead Diva, NCIS, Friends, CSI and several American talk shows.

According to sources the rebranding of Sony Entertainment Television only pertains to the Sony Channel, not sister channel Sony MAX (DStv 128).

The new on-air look of the Sony Channel made its debut this morning just after 06:00 on DStv during The Arsenio Hall Show with beautiful new multi-coloured on-air idents to signal and indicate different programming genres.

Blue signify comedy, red signify drama, green signify reality and yellow is now used for movies.

The former three-tiered name in white is now shorter and stacks over just two lines, saying just "Sony Channel", having done away with the long "Entertainment" and "Television" for a simpler, cleaner appearance whilst maintaining the Sony "S".

The new Sony Channel logo and on-air imaging utilise shiny, high-gloss, flipping "micro tiles" to create a "wave" effect and looks beautiful.

The 23rd season of The Amazing Race starting on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on Sunday 13 July at 19:35.

The 23rd season of that show with the most ridiculously ambitious production elements in literally the entire world, The Amazing Race with presenter Phil Keoghan, will start on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) (DStv 127) this Sunday at 19:35.

The 23rd season of The Amazing Race - South African viewers are only one season behind which started in February - will see the contestants travel through 9 countries, 4 continents, visiting 21 cities and travelling 56 000 miles.

As usual there's 11 teams of two people each with some kind of a pre-existing relationship.

The new 23rd season of The Amazing Race keeps the "Double Express Pass" introduced in the 22nd season.

In this the first team to arrive at the first Pit Stop gets two Express Passes - so that they can of course give the other one to any of the other teams.

Some of the teams in this season of The Amazing Race include the wives of basketball players, maintenance workers, a former beauty queen,a former Lingerie Football player, married emergency room doctors, cousins, two theatre performers, a father and daughter team and two childhood friends.

MISSING SHIP. Can you believe this? Nobody has grabbed hot new drama The Last Ship for South Africa. Who will get it?

You're reading it here first.

With South Africa's TV market hotting up as more and more want-to-be-premium broadcasters and TV channels duke it out to bring the best content to viewers (and quicker!) this hasn't happened in a while: a red-hot new TV show which none of them have!

South African viewers are missing out on the new drama The Last Ship and TV with Thinus can reveal the field is wide open - since no-one's secured the broadcasting rights ... yet.

Two (great) episodes in in the United States of The Last Ship, South African viewers cannot see it and can't be sure yet that they will.

The post-apocalyptic drama with Eric Dane as captain leading a rag-tag crew looking for a cure after the world's population has been decimated, has not been picked up by any of the big channel makers having store front windows in South Africa.

Imagine a bit of JAG, crossed with The Walking Dead (just not as scary) and Helix set on a ship and you've got The Last Ship.

The Last Ship meanwhile set a new high water mark as far as viewership is concerned - its the biggest new pay-TV series in America, grabbing the highest number of viewers of any new subscription television show in 2014.

M-Net tells me they definitely don't have the rights to The Last Ship (yet) - a show that would fit in perfectly with its schedule as a high definition, adventure, clean yet scary, explosion-filled drama and cleverly serialised (secret Russian onboard!) show.

Sony tells me they definitely don't have the rights to The Last Ship (yet) - keep in mind that Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is the channel that got the great yet cancelled Last Resort.

Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) tells me that they don't have the rights to The Last Ship (yet) - meaning the channel distributor that brings brings excellent post-apocalyptic dramas like The Walking Dead and Falling Skies to South African viewers quickly on channels like FOX and FX has not secured this excellent new companion drama.

So. Who will be first to show The Last Ship to South African pay-TV viewers on one of their TV channels?

The Arsenio Hall Show on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) cancelled after one season, despite previously renewed for a second.

The Arsenio Hall Show seen in South Africa on weekdays on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) (DStv 127) has been cancelled after its first season - despite earlier having been renewed for a second season.

"Unfortunately, The Arsenio Hall Show will not return for a second season," says the distributor in a statement; although an announcement was previously made that the late night talk show would be back for a second season.

"While there are many loyal fans of the show, the series did not grow its audience enough to continue. Arsenio is a tremendous talent and we'd like to thank him for all the hard work and energy he put into the show".

"When I started this adventure we all knew it would be a challenge. I'm gratified for the year we've had and proud of the show we created. I'd like to thank everyone on my staff for rallying around me and striving to make the best show possible every night," says Arsenio Hall in the statement.

The late night cancellation follows the cancellation news of Chelsea Lately on E! Entertainment (DStv 124).

Good but gory Hannibal on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) renewed for a 3rd season.

Hannibal seen in South Africa on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) (DStv 124) and currently rolling out new episodes of the second season, has been renewed for a third season in America.

The good but gory Hannibal, is executive produced by Bryan Fuller, with Gaumont International Television and Sony Pictures Television working together.

The dark story follows Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) solving intriguing cases together, before Will and others became aware that Hannibal was actually a cannibalistic serial killer.

BREAKING. Trisha on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) cancelled; talker won't be back for a third season.

Trisha seen in South Africa on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) (DStv 127) on weekdays at 17:20 with multiple repeats won't see a third season, the talk show with Trisha Goddard has been cancelled in the United States.

Trisha started showing on Sony Entertainment Television in South Africa in January 2013 as a new conflict talk show.

NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution in the United States says in a statement that Trisha won't see a third season and that "following the completion of production this season, the show will not be returning for a season three".

The statement says that "Trisha is a great talent and we recognize and are grateful for all of the hard work that Trisha and the production staff have put in to the show for the past two seasons".

'How you doin'?' Friends starting on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) from Monday with double episodes on weekdays at 19:05.

Friends - or as SABC2's plagiarising soap 7de Laan calls it: the place where we get out stories and scripts from - is starting from today, Monday, 3 February on Sony Entertainment Television (SET) (DStv 127).

Friends will be broadcast on SET with double episodes every weekday, from the first episode of the first season, at 19:05.

Sony Entertainment Television says it will be "screening every single episode, right from season one" of Friends, since its exactly 20 years since Friends started in 1994.

As a result, The Arsenio Hall Show will move to a later than usual timeslot on Wednesdays to Fridays, following the 20:00 movie on SET.

BREAKING. Sony Entertainment Television grabs new Arsenio Hall talk show to run on weeknights at 19:00 from Monday 18 November.

You're reading it here first.

I can reveal that Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights to the brand-new and big-buzz The Arsenio Hall Show which will start on Monday 18 November at 19:00 on SET and which will run on weekdays from Mondays to Fridays.

The Arsenio Hall Show will repeat on Sony Entertainment Television on weekdays at 21:50 and 12:15.

Stand-up comedian Arsenio Hall was an American late-night talker in the early nineties whose show aimed at an upmarket urban audience created iconic television moments such as the former American president Bill Clinton playing his saxophone.

The new The Arsenio Hall Show recorded in Los Angeles at Sunset Bronson Studios is regarded as a revival of his former late night show.

The premiere week of The Arsenio Hall Show for South African viewers on SET will see Chris Tucker on Monday 18 November.

That will be followed on 19 November by Ice Cube, Lisa Kudrow and rapper Mac Miller; Magic Johnson, George Lopez and rapper Nas on Wednesday 20 November; Mark Harmon from NCIS and the magicians Penn & Teller on Thursday 21 November and Angela Bassett on Friday 22 November.

Sony Entertainment Television to spook it up on 31 October with special Halloween programming.

Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) is set to spook it up on 31 October, Halloween, with special scare-themed programming for the evening, with special episodes of Friends, Frasier, CSI and others as well as the Sleepy Hollow movie.

The Halloween programming kicks off on SET on 31 October with Trisha, in which the talk show episode will look at "shocking psychic readings".

Phoebe meets her twin's fiance at Monica's Halloween party in Friends at 19:05 on SET.

Bulldog plays a prank on Frasier in Frasier at 19:30 on SET on 31 October, followed by the movie Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent to the town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate decapitations, only to discover the Headless Horseman is responsible.

CSI will cap the evening of SET's Halloween programming on 31 October with an episode in which a case from Catherine's past resurfaces.

Crossing Lines on Sony Entertainment Television gets a second season of 12 episodes to be shown in 2014.

The drama Crossing Lines has been co-commissioned by Sony Pictures Teevision (SPT) Networks for a second season of 12 episodes for its global channel portfolio such as Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) which will show the second season of Crossing Lines in South African and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Crossing Lines is shot on location in France, the Czech Republic, Monte Carlo and Bulgaria, and back for the second season are stars Donald Sutherland, William Fichtner, Tom Wlaschiha, Gabriella Pession and Richard Flood.

Joining them for the second season are Carrie-Anne Moss, Ray Stevenson and Lara Rossi.

The second season of Crossing Lines will start on Sony Entertainment Television in 2014 in South Africa.

Crossing Lines revolves around the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its special crime unit - a type of European FBI - investigating serialized crimes which cross European borders as the team hunts down criminals.

Crossing Lines is produced by Tandem Communications and Bernero Productions in co-production with TF1 and in association with SPT Networks. The show has been co-commissioned by SPT Networks and TF1.

Winners of Last Resort competition on Sony Entertainment Television (SET)are Denise Gordon and Khethelo Hlongwa.

Congratulations to both Denise Gordon from Rivonia and Khethelo Hlongwa from Isipingo Hills who are the winners of the Last Resort competition with Sony Entertainment Television.

You each win:

1 Sony Entertainment Television bag
1 Sony Entertainment Television divider with notepad
1 Sony Entertainment Television snap watch
1 pair of Sony Entertainment Television gloves
2 Last Resort submarine key chains/flashlights

The prizes will be delivered to you courtesy of Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127).                    

WIN! With Last Resort on Sony Entertainment Television and get your hands on a hot hamper (Scott Speedman not included).

You can't get your own island like in the fantastic drama series Last Resort on Tuesdays at 20:50 on Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) but thanks to Sony Entertainment Television two winner can get their hands on a great Sony Entertainment Television gift hamper!


Watch Last Resort and just answer one question by email here on TV with Thinus and two lucky readers could each win a hamper containing:

1 Sony Entertainment Television bag
1 Sony Entertainment Television divider with notepad
1 Sony Entertainment Television snap watch
1 pair of Sony Entertainment Television gloves
2 Last Resort submarine key chains/flashlights

The Sony Entertainment Television prize does not include a nuclear submarine, no executive officer in the form of Scott Speedman, and no nuclear missiles - for that you have to tune in on Tuesdays at 20:50 on SET.

In tonight's 5th episode of Last Resort the tensions runs extremely high when Captain Marcus and Scott Speedman who plays Sam, enter very tense negotiations with the American government to try and bring an end to the stand-off stalemate on Sainte Marina.

(If you want to buzz about Last Resort, you can on Twitter @SonytvZA and join the conversation with #LastResortSA)

Do you want to win one of those two Sony Entertainment Television hampers?
If you're living in South Africa, send an email to lastresortSET@outlook.com with your easy-peasey answer in the subject line:

- What is the name of the drama series exclusively on @SonyTVZA on Tuesdays at 20:50?

- Inside your email entry, include your full name, contact number and postal address.

No, none of your details will be sold or used for marketing purposes ever. Two winners will be chosen randomly by TV with Thinus and will be sent to the PR company running the competition who will courier the prizes to the two winners.

Entry is free for anyone living in South Africa (only because its not possible to sent a prize by submarine all the way to Sainte Marina).

The competition closes on Wednesday 21 August at 12:00. Captain Marcus' decision on the winners are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The names of the two winners will be published here, next Tuesday.

Now get to it soldier, and nuke those entries to the inbox for a chance to win one of these 2 hampers!

AMAZING CATCH-UP. The 21st season of The Amazing Race coming to Sony Entertainment Television with a brand-new twist.

Chippendales! Crazy goat farmers! Indian sisters! Injuries! Stolen passports! Collecting rats!

Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) has caught up in an amazing way with The Amazing Race for South Africa viewers with the excellent 21st season of The Amazing Race which will start on SET on Sunday 22 September at 19:35 for 11 episodes.

In the United States the 22nd season is the only remaining season of The Amazing Race left, with the 23rd season ordered. It means that SET has managed to catch up tremendously with this award winning reality show which is also being shown on SABC3 but which lags several seasons behind on the public broadcaster's channel.

Viewers who have perhaps drifted away from this acclaimed reality show which is a race for cash around the world through a myriad of countries need to tune in for this one - the 21st season will make viewers fall in love all over again with this season.

This season of The Amazing Race has eye-popping challenges ranging from synchronised swimming to a time zone challenge (not what you think!), insane flights competition (insane!!!) and lots of crying and mental breakdowns due to double crossing couples.

Part of the excitement of the 21st season of The Amazing Race is the new twist that the couple who wins the first leg of the race, can double their money if they're also the ultimate winners. It makes winning the first leg of the race that much more important.

BREAKING. M-Net moves Under the Dome from Friday 26 July to Tuesday; dumps Vegas; creates a Last Resort impossible choice with SET.

You're reading it here first. 

With boffo ratings in America coupled with rave reviews for Under the Dome, M-Net is immediately dumping Vegas from its Tuesday schedule at 20:30 and will be moving the hit new drama series from Stephen King and Steven Spielberg from Friday 26 July at 20:30 where it would have started, to Tuesday 23 July at 20:30 on M-Net (DStv 101).

M-Net is throwing the cancelled Vegas away which will now burn off the remaining episodes on Fridays at 20:30. Under the Dome which has been getting great viewership and is beloved by TV critics in America, will now start 3 days earlier than planned in South Africa and on a much better day.

Instead of starting on 26 July, Under the Dome will now start on Tuesday 23 July at 20:30 when more potential viewers are home than on a Friday night.

Under the Dome's new starting date and timeslot on M-Net also instantly creates more drama on another front: an impossible choice for South African viewers.

Tuesday 23 July also happens to be the date when the great drama series Last Resort starts at 20:50 on Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) set aboard an American nuclear submarine which defies orders.

With both Under the Dome and Last Resort which are both great must-watch TV series - and with both series' pilot episodes playing out like nailbiting big screen movies in terms of action, plot and special effects - DStv viewers without a PVR face a dilemma.

Viewers will make a tough choice on which high quality drama series to watch or will have to start studying those schedule to find the repeat of one of the shows.

BREAKING. Hannibal on Sony Entertainment Television renewed for a second season in America.

The horror thriller crime drama Hannibal currently seen in South Africa on Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) with episodes following a few weeks after the Unites States broadcasting date has just been officially renewed for a second season.

The Silence of the Lambs TV drama prequel from Bryan Fuller as writer and executive producer and produced by Gaumont International Television and Sony Pictures Television will see a second season despite struggling somewhat with viewership in the United States as a so-called "bubble series" where it's being shown on the NBC network.

Hannibal is a co-commissioned international show by Sony Pictures Television Networks making this type of American drama series much cheaper to produce than what it would normally cost and now the drama with Hugh Dancy (Will Graham) and Mads Mikkelsel (Hannibal Lecter) will have a second season of 13 episodes in 2014.

"We're so proud of Bryan's vision for a show that is richly textured, psychologically complex, and very compelling," says Jennifer Salke, NBC entertainment president in a just issued press statement. "There are many great stories still to be told."

The second season of Hannibal will focus on the strained relationship between Dr. Hannibal and the criminal profiler Will.

BREAKING. Last Resort picked up by Sony Entertainment Television; great submarine drama set to start on 23 July at 20:50.

 

You're reading it here first. 

I can exclusively reveal that the excellent Last Resort has been picked up by Sony Entertainment Television (DStv ccc) and break the news that the American submarine island drama will start on SET on Tuesday 23 July at 20:50 for a first season of episodees.

In November 2012 I reported that pay-TV broadcaster M-Net actually picked up the broadcast rights to Last Resort which would have started in January 2013 on M-Net (DStv 101). Then ratings started to fall for the subbmarine drama which had an unwinnable crazy timeslot in America - shown too early and up against massive entenched shows.

M-Net quietly removed the show from M-Net's schedule line-up and Last Resort remained in limo. 

The good news is that this terrific drama - at least two episodes are like amazing movies in their own right, including the pilot episode - is now coming to Sony Entertainment Television after I asked Sony yesterday about it. 

In the drama an American nuclear submarine, the USS Colorado, goes rogue, their is an ongoing mystery as to why and lots of political intrigued, as well as on the island, Sainte Marina, which they're temporarily calling their own where the local inhabitants are not too pleased.

Last Resort is a great and compelling drama series with Andre Braugher as Captain Marcus Chaplin and Scott Speedman as executive officer Sam Kendal.

Hannibal on Sony Entertainment Television pulled in America because of its 'extensive graphic nature'.

The new macabre TV drama Hannibal seen on Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) in South Africa has been pulled in America due to its "extensive graphic nature".

The American TV station KSL TV which is part of the NBC TV network which shows the new crime drama, has decided to no longer show Hannibal at 21:00.

In a statement KSL TV says "this decision was made due to the extensive graphic nature of this show". The TV station is showing news instead.

Hannibal has been struggling to find viewership and NBC which just announced which shows are cancelled, which are renewed and which are brand-new for the upcoming new TV season, is still undecided about the fate of Hannibal which follows the exploits of the cannibal Hannibal Lecter before the events of the Hannibal movies.

Sony Entertainment Television grabs Sony Pictures Television dramas Drop Dead Diva and Cashmere Mafia.

You're reading it here first. 

Sony Pictures Television International is bringing both the female-centric TV drama series Drop Dead Diva and Cashmere Mafia to Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127).

Drop Dead Diva will be starting from the first season on SET on Monday 27 May at 20:50 and Cashmere Mafia will be starting on Monday 3 June at 20:00 on SET.

South African viewers already saw Drop Dead Diva on M-Net Series (DStv 114) which is an ongoing show after it was cancelled in January after four seasons but has been resurrected in March for another new fifth season. Cashmere Mafia's first and only season was shown twice previously on SABC3.

Drop Dead Diva is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Cashmere Mafia was also produced by Sony Pictures Television.

BREAKING. Hannibal, the new TV drama based on the cannibal serial killer, coming to Sony Entertainment Television from 23 April.

You're reading it here first.

I can exclusively break the news that Hannibal, the new TV series based on the movie Silence of the Lambs is coming to South African and that this new drama series will start on Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) on Tuesday 23 April at 20:55.

Sony Entertainment Television just told me the starting date of the new TV drama which started filming in July last year without a pilot episode - Hannibal was picked up straight to series for a first season of 13 episodes.

Mads Mikkelsen will be seen in the role of the cannibalistic serial killer dr. Hannibal Lecter and Hugh Dancy plays special agent Will Graham and criminal profiler who hunts serial killers on the loose.

Hannibal's starting date was just moved up in America by the NBC network after the dismal failure of the new drama Do No Harm; Hannibal will replace Do No Harm in its timeslot and start in America on Thursday 4 April.

That means that South African viewers will be seeing Hannibal only 3 episodes behind America.

Hannibal for Sony Entertainment Television follows series such as The Firm and the upcoming Saving Hope starting on 4 March on South Africa on SET are all NBC shown drama series which have involvement from Sony through Sony Pictures and Sony Television.

Talk show Trisha on Sony Entertainment Television renewed for a second season.

Trisha, the new American conflict talk show hosted by the British Trisha Goddard on weekdays at 17:20 on Sony Entertainment Television (DStv 127) has just been renewed for a second season in America.

"It has been an incredible experience working with Trisha and I look forward to another successful season," says Paul Faulhaber, Trisha executive producer in a press statement.

"Trisha and our staff have put their hearts and souls into this show and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring more compelling stories to our audience."