The SABC says its SABC Encore channel on DStv wasn't axed over its failure to pay artists residuals but that MultiChoice in 2018 already decided to can the channel in 2020.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster's SABC Encore channel on MultiChoice's DStv is going dark at the end of the month but its demise doesn't have to do with the SABC's alleged failure to properly pay artists residuals and repeat fees - the satellite pay-TV service already decided to kill off SABC Encore two years ago when it pulled the plug in 2018 during the last channel carriage renewal.

MultiChoice is getting rid of ITV's ITV Choice (DStv 123), AMC Networks International's Sundance TV (DStv 108) and SABC Encore (DStv 156) at the end of May with all three channels being removed after TV Mall was also taken away at the end of April from DStv subscribers in the latest DStv bouquet content culling.

The SABC has said that performers are being paid residuals for the rebroadcast of shows from the SABC archives on the rerun channel that has been packaged with library series for and carried on MultiChoice's DStv.

Yet artists and actor organisations have been vocal and insistent that they haven't been paid or shared in any of the millions of rand that MultiChoice has been paying the SABC for SABC Encore over the past half a decade.

SABC Encore launched in mid-May 2015 on DStv with big fanfare from the SABC and a bizarre SABC Encore launch event where the then SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng ranted that "MultiChoice must pay" and that the "SABC is coming for pay-TV".

It's not yet clear whether SABC Encore will continue to run as a TV channel despite its removal from MultiChoice DStv and whether it might become a stand-alone digital terrestrial television (DTT) channel only.

MultiChoice says that its contract "with the SABC for SABC Encore will not be renewed – as agreed by both respective parties, as per their contract which included a non-renewal option."

On Tuesday night Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, told parliament's portfolio committee on communications that the SABC already knew in 2018 that SABC Encore would not survive on DStv past 2020 and get axed.

The SABC is however looking to possibly continue SABC Encore as a channel on possible other platforms.

"The reason for SABC Encore being cancelled has nothing to do with royalties but it's because DStv indicated in the new agreement that we signed in 2018 that they would not extend it beyond a further 2 years which expires this year," Madoda Mxakwe said.

"We are exploring other venues in terms of continuing with that channel."

MultiChoice is axing the SABC Encore and Sundance TV film channel as well from the end of May after carriage contracts with the SABC and AMC Networks International are not renewed.

by Thinus Ferreira

At the end of this month DStv subscribers are losing the SABC Encore (DStv 156) rerun channel from the South African public broadcaster after 5 years and the Sundance TV (DStv 108) film channel from AMC Networks International after 3 years after MultiChoice decided not to renew the respective channel carriage contracts.

SABC Encore, a rerun channel programmed with old library stock from the SABC archives, was originally part of a 2-channel deal that later became hugely controversial between MultiChoice and the South African public broadcaster over alleged digital TV policy influence peddling.

The SABC agreed to launch a new SABC News (DStv 404) channel exclusively on DStv to replace the shuttered SABC News International, but with SABC Encore tacked on as a second TV channel only if the SABC in a signed contract supported MultiChoice's policy stance regarding broader digital terrestrial television (DTT) encryption in the country.

SABC Encore launched in mid-May 2015 on DStv with big fanfare from the SABC and a bizarre SABC Encore launch event where the then SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng ranted that "MultiChoice must pay" and that the "SABC is coming for pay-TV".

It's not yet clear whether SABC Encore will continue to run as a TV channel despite its removal from MultiChoice DStv and whether it might become a stand-alone digital terrestrial television (DTT) channel only.

The SABC hasn't yet responded to a media enquiry that was made on Tuesday morning but the response will be added here once received. See UPDATE below.

Sundance TV launched with fanfare in mid-May 2017 on DStv as a replacement for the removed AMC channel, but remained a niche film channel destination with low viewership.

AMCNI UK hasn't yet responded with an answer to a media enquiry that was made on Tuesday morning but the response will be added here once received. See UPDATE below.

MultiChoice was likewise asked on Tuesday morning about the channel terminations of SABC Encore and Sundance TV on its DStv platform but hasn't yet responded. See UPDATE below.

With less than a month's notice, on the DStv i-plate electronic programme guide (EPG), DStv subscribers are now told that "Dear viewer. Please note that Sundance TV will no longer be on air from 1 June 2020. You can find movies on M-Net 101, M-Net Movies channels, Catch Up and DStv Now. Thank you."

About the axing of SABC Encore the MultiChoice EPG now says "Dear viewer, please note that SABC Encore will stop airing on 31 May 2020. Thank you for watching."

MultiChoice's removal of SABC Encore and Sundance TV follows after the axing of the British entertainment channel from ITV, ITV Choice that is also going dark on DStv at the end of May after 5 years.

UPDATE Tuesday 19 May 2020 - 17:37: The SABC tells TVwithThinus that "The SABC can confirm that SABC Encore, which was launched on the DStv platform channel 156 on 11 May 2015, is coming to an end at the end of this month".

"The corporation is at this stage exploring more avenues to ensure that our audiences continue to enjoy the broadcast of SABC’s premium vintage programmes on alternative platforms."

UPDATE Tuesday 19 May 2020 - 1845: MultiChoice in a response says that "The MultiChoice Group can confirm that SABC Encore and AMC Networks' Sundance TV will no longer be available on the DStv platform from 1 June 2020".

"MultiChoice’s contract with the SABC for SABC Encore will not be renewed – as agreed by both respective parties, as per their contract which included a non-renewal option. Sundance TV will no longer be broadcast by MultiChoice as the contract between MultiChoice and the channel providers AMC Networks has come to an end."

UPDATE Wednesday 20 May 2020 - 10:09: AMC Networks International UK says "AMC Networks International UK can confirm that SundanceTV will no longer be available on the DStv platform from 1 June".

ALSO READ: The SABC says its SABC Encore channel on DStv wasn't axed over its failure to pay artists residuals but that MultiChoice in 2018 already decided to can the channel in 2020.

The zom-pocalypse endures as AMC commissions a third The Walking Dead drama series, this time following two young fighting females.

The Walking Dead is far from buried with AMC that has officially commissioned another The Walking Dead spin-off with the third, as-yet-unnamed, drama series set in the aftermath of a global zombie apocalypse that will start sometime in 2020 on SundanceTV (DStv 108).

As viewership is waning for The Walking Dead that is still continuing on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) and that is in its 9th season and renewed for a 10th set to start in October, as well as four seasons of Fear the Walking Dead on SundanceTV that will start its 5th season in June, AMC has commissioned a third series that will take place within the same d(r)eadful universe.

"Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever," says AMC.

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead both take place in the months and years after a zombie apocalypse and follow different groups of survivors traveling in search of a safe and secure home.

The new drama series in the franchise will focus on two young female protagonists - the first generation to have grown up after the zombie apocalypse. Production on the first 10-episode season, produced and distributed by AMC Studios, will start during winter.

The new spin-off is co-created by Scott M. Gimple, the chief content officer of The Walking Dead universe, as well as Matt Negrete, who has been a writer and producer on The Walking Dead for the past five seasons and who will be the showrunner of the new series.

"We're thrilled that the Dead will keep walking into a new corner of the post-apocalyptic world, a corner that will present stories and characters unlike any that The Walking Dead has dramatized thus far, and that is bound to excite one of the most passionate fan-bases in television," says David Madden, president of programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios, in a statement.

"Scott has been an invaluable leader for this universe since taking on the role of chief content officer, with a distinct and innovative vision for the franchise. Likewise, we're excited to have Matt, who has been a crucial part of The Walking Dead family for over five years and penned many memorable episodes of The Walking Dead, at the helm of this original series."

Sarah Barnett, president of the entertainment networks group for AMC Networks, says "On the heels of an incredible 9th season of The Walking Dead and as we approach an anticipated new season of Fear the Walking Dead on 2 June, this is an exciting moment for the Dead franchise, which continues to thrive in a highly competitive environment".

"We are thankful to be working with some of the best creatives in the business to expand this universe in new and exciting ways for our fans."

Scott M. Gimple says "Showing audiences an unseen pocket of The Walking Dead universe steeped in a new mythology is a very cool way to celebrate a 'Decade of the Dead' on TV and over 15 years of Robert Kirkman's brilliant comic".

"Matt Negrete is one of the best writer-producers in The Walking Dead's long history - I'm thrilled to be working beside him to tell stories unlike we've seen before, taking our first step into an even larger world."

Matt Negrete says "I'm beyond excited to be a part of this new show set in The Walking Dead universe".

"Writing and producing for the original series has been the job of a lifetime and I'm honoured to be working with Scott and all the fine Dead folks at AMC in this new capacity. I can't wait for the fans of the franchise to see what we've been cooking up!"

SundanceTV seeking SA filmmakers for its 2nd film shorts prize who can now enter the 2019 SundanceTV Shorts competition.

AMC Networks International's SundanceTV (DStv 108) will be running a SundanceTV Shorts competition for a second year, with South African film makers who can now enter the competition.

The winner's film will be screened at the Sundance Film Festival in London in May and will a trip for two to London in the United Kingdom, with the film that will also be broadcast on SundanceTV later this year.

South Africa filmmakers, along with those in France and Spain are allowed to enter for the competition that will be judged by SundanceTV and the Sundance Institute.

The films will be judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, entertainment value, original storytelling and production values.

The South African jury members will be Mike Plante of the Sundance Institute; Harold Gronenthal from SundanceTV; Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's executive head of content strategy and third-party channels; and the South African director and producer Sara Blecher.

"The SundanceTV Shorts competition embodies the true spirit of the channel itself," says Geraud Alazard, AMC Networks International senior vice president of marketing.

"Providing a platform for independent storytelling, it shines a spotlight on new and emerging talent.  We're very excited to collaborate with the Sundance Institute again this year and we're incredibly grateful for the support of our exclusive South African partner, DStv."

Mike Plante, senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, says "Each year the SundanceTV Shorts Competition finds great new short films from each country and helps us achieve our goals, to discover new talents and help share their films with audiences around the globe".

Filmmakers can enter the Sundance Shorts competition between 5 March to 16 April at www.sundancetvshorts.com with producers or directors who must provide proof of residency. Shortfilms must not be longer than 15 minutes and must be delivered with English subtitles if English is not the spoken language.

AMC Networks International appoints new senior executives for key regions including Kevin Dickie looking after Africa.

AMC Networks International (AMCNI) has made some new senior executive appointments for key regions, including Kevin Dickie promoted to managing director for AMNCI UK, also looking after Africa.

AMCNI runs and distributes channels like Sundance TV (DStv 108), CBS Reality (DStv 132 / Cell C black 207), (Jim Jam (DStv 310 / StarSat 303 / Cell C black 304), EVA (DStv 141) and Extreme Sports Channel (Cell C black 411) in South Africa and throughout the rest of Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, and on Cell C's subscription video-on-demand and linear online streaming channel service black.

AMCNI has made senior management changes, including Ricardo Debén appointed as executive vice-president managing director for AMCNI Latin America, Manuel Balsera appointed as executive vice-president and managing director for AMCNI Southern Europe (based in Madrid) and Kevin Dickie who is promoted to executive vice-president and managing director for AMCNI United Kingdom (UK), including includes Poland, the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

Kevin Dickie was most recently senior vice-president of the channels group for the UK, MEA and Poland for AMCNI UK.

Levente Málnay has been appointed executive vice-president and managing director for AMCNI Central and Northern Europe, based in Budapest.

All of them will report to Eduardo Zulueta, who was recently named president of AMC Networks International.

"These outstanding leaders have played vital roles in the success of AMC Networks International's strong portfolio of channels," says Eduardo Zulueta in a statement.

"Their skills and experience will help AMCNI build on its strong position in the marketplace, with our premium quality content offering and the value we bring to our distribution and advertising partners."

Actor Andrew Lincoln confirms that he's done with zombie drama, The Walking Dead, after the upcoming 9th season on FOX.

Actor Andrew Lincoln, emotionally confirmed the speculation that started swirling last month that he is done with the zombie drama The Walking Dead after the upcoming 9th season.

At Comic Con 2018 in San Diego during a panel discussion, he said "this will be my last season playing the role of Rick Grimes. I love this show. It means everything to me. I love the people who make this show. I'm particularly fond of the people who watch this show".

Andrew Lincoln said "I don't want this to become an Oscar acceptance speech or a obituary".

"My relationship with Mister Rick Grimes is far from over." The actor said he is leaving The Walking Dead to spend more time with his family in the United Kingdom.

The 9th season of The Walking Dead with 16 episodes will start on 7 October and will broadcast on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201) from 8 October in South Africa and across Africa.

The second half of the 4th season of the spin-off drama series, Fear the Walking Dead will start on 12 August in America with episode 9 and will broadcast on Sundance TV (DStv 108) from Monday 13 August at 21:00.

AMC says Yvette Nicole Brown is taking over as interim host of Talking Dead on Sundance TV.

Yvette Nicole Brown is taking over as the interim host of the Talking Dead aftershow series on AMC and Sundance TV (DStv 108) after AMC last month pulled Chris Hardwick and Talking Dead off the air  following allegations of abuse from one of his ex-girlfriends.

Shows like Talking Dead about The Walking Dead seen on FOX (DStv 125 / DStv 131 / Cell C black 201) and Fear the Walking Dead seen on AMC and Sundance TV, have been shown on AMC and Sundance TV.

Yvette Nicole Brown will host the Talking Dead season 9 preview on 5 August and the regular Talking Dead season when it returns following the premiere of the second part of the 4th season of Fear the Walking Dead on 12 August (from Monday 13 August at 21:00 in South Africa and Africa).

"Yvette Nicole Brown will step in as an interim guest host of The Walking Dead season 9 preview special and Talking Dead when it returns following the premiere of Fear the Walking Dead as we work to complete our assessment related to Chris Hardwick," says AMC in a statement.

Yvette Nicole Brown is a well-known fan of The Walking Dead and has made numerous appearances so far on Talking Dead.

AMC pulls Chris Hardwick's Talking shows from AMC and Sundance TV following abuse allegations.

AMC has pulled presenter Chris Hardwick's off the air and suspended his Talking shows from AMC which are seen in South Africa and across Africa on the AMC and Sundance TV (DStv 108) channels following allegations of abuse from one of his ex-girlfriends.

Shows like Talking Dead about The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, and the expanded Talking with Chris Hardwick have been shown on AMC and Sundance TV.

AMC in a statement says "while we assess the situation, Talking with Chris Hardwick will not air on AMC".

It follows after Chris Hardwick's ex-girlfriend, Chloe Dykstra published a lengthy essay on Thursday last week, claiming that she was subjected to sexual assault during their 3-year relationship.

Chloe Dykstra wrote about how she was blocked from going out at night, having male friends or speaking in public places and that she was the victim of sexual and emotional assault by Chris Hardwick.

Chloe Dykstra also claimed that Chris Hardwick blacklisted her in the industry and called companies she worked for "to get me fired by threatening to never work with them".

In a statement Chris Hardwick says "these are very serious allegations and not to be taken lightly which is why I've taken the day to consider how to respond. I was heartbroken to read Chloe's post. Our three year relationship was not perfect - we were ultimately not a good match and argued - even shouted at each other - but I loved her, and did my best to uplift and support her as a partner and companion in any way and at no time did I sexually assault her".

"For several weeks after we broke up, she asked to get back together with me and even told me she wanted to have kids with me, 'build a life' with me and told me that I was 'the one', but I did not want to be with someone who was unfaithful".

"I'm devastated to read that she is now accusing me of conduct that did not occur. l was blindsided by her post and always wanted the best for her."

Sundance looking for South African short films for the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts Competition.

AMC Networks International is launching a 2018 SundanceTV film competition and is now looking for South African short film entries as well, with the winning film that will be broadcast on SundanceTV (DStv 108) later this year and that will premiere during the Sundance Film Festival in London taking place from the end of May.

South African film makers can now enter films for the inaugural 2018 SundanceTV Shorts Competition until 15 April at www.sundancetv.co.za/shorts and must not be longer than 15 minutes. The producer or director of the film must provide proof of South African residency.

Submitted films must be delivered with English subtitles if English isn't the spoken language in the film, and films must meet the official rules and technical requirements.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, will be part of the panel of jurors judging the competition this year, along with SundanceTV and the Sundance Institute. 

"The SundanceTV Shorts Competition reflects the very essence of the channel," says Geraud Alazard, the senior vice president of marketing at AMC Networks International.

"It encapsulates SundanceTV’s unique energy and passion, shining a spotlight on independent storytelling and emerging talent. We're incredibly excited to collaborate with Sundance Institute again this year and we're enormously grateful for the support of our affiliate partner, MultiChoice."

Mike Plante, the senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, says "The SundanceTV Shorts Competition plays an admirable role in highlighting and celebrating the medium of short film and seeking out new film making talent. It's always a real treat to view the surprising and diverse entries."

The Jury Prize for the 2018 SundanceTV Shorts competition will be judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, entertainment value, original storytelling and production values.

The jury, presided by Mike Plante of Sundance Institute, will include Harold Gronenthal from SundanceTV Global, Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, and Helen Kuun of Indigenous Film.

The winner will receive a trip for two to London and their film will be screened during Sundance Film Festival: London at a SundanceTV event in June. The winner will be announced in May.

OOH, AWESOME. Ridley Scott's new epic-looking British navy period drama, The Terror, coming to AMC and SundanceTV on DStv and Kwesé TV from 27 March as an Express from the US title.

The amazing looking new premium TV period drama, The Terror, produced by Ridley Scott, will be coming to South African and African viewers simulcast on both AMC (Kwese TV 130) and Sundance TV (DStv 108) from 27 March at 21:00, and as an Express from the US title.

South African viewers will see the big-budget series a whole month before the United Kingdom, where The Terror only starts on 24 April, as the first of 2018's most anticipated new premium TV series of the year.

The terrific new limited-series period drama from Scott Free Productions, Emjag Productions and Entertainment 360 in association with AMC Studios, is based on Dan Simmons's 2007 book by the same name.

The Terror will start on 26 March in America, and literally at the same time in South Africa and Africa where pay-TV subscribers will be able to see the 10 episodes it in high definition thanks to AMC Networks International that in 2016 snapped up the drama series for an exclusive premiere playout next month on AMC Global's channels in territories across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.

The Terror will have with new episodes every Tuesday until 29 May, with a cast including Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, Ciaran Hinds, Matthew McNaulty and Nive Nielsen as the enigmatic Lady Silence.

The Terror's teaser trailer looks incredible and tells the tale of the British Royal Navy's perilous voyage in 1847 into unchartered territory and the various crews' desperate attempt discover the Northwest Passage sea route in the frigid Arctic Ocean through the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

The Terror, playing out as a bit of a horror story since it's done by Alien director Ridley Scott, is inspired by a true story with the drama series that will have viewers really at the edge of their seats with treacherous conditions, dwindling and limited resources, dwindling hope, fear of death, somewhat of a supernatural mystery and several secrets and shocking revelations as crews are pushed to the brink of extinction.

While everything starts out fine, soon the ships are trapped in the ice and people start dying. Frozen, isolated and stuck at the end of the world, The Terror shows all that can go wrong when a group of men, desperate to survive, struggle not only with the harsh elements, but with each other.

While desperately searching for a way through, the crews are attacked by a mysterious predator that stalks the ships and their crew in a suspenseful and desperate game of survival.

Meanwhile various in-fighting and political, naval intrigue are playing out aboard as each of the top-ranking naval officers are scheming for various reasons, while Lady Silence is trying to protect her land and her people.

The real expedition to discovery the Northwest Passage led to more than 120 crew members inexplicably disappearing. That of course has led to a lot of speculation over the year of just what exactly happened on board.

After almost 175 years of searching, the ships were discovered by arctic research groups in 2014 and 2016.

The Terror was filmed in Budapest and is named for one of the two British ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror that undertook the perilous journey.

"The Terror captures a rare combination of fascinating history, complex and flawed characters, the inextinguishable human spirit and the horror and promise of an uncharted world,"says executive producers and co-showrunners David Kajganich and Soo Hugh in a statement.

"We are looking forward to bringing viewers into this world."

Here is the teaser trailer for The Terror:



Here is a fascinating, must-watch, pre-season behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Terror:

SEEN THIS BEFORE. Drama series, The Night Manager, is coming to SundanceTV as a 'network premiere' from 4 February - here's why it's terrible for DStv.

The Night Manager is starting on SundanceTV (DStv 108) on 20 February at 21:00  - another great, very bad example of how MultiChoice and its partner channel suppliers are not managing the promised "reduction of repeats" on DStv tactfully enough.

SundanceTV Africa - run by AMC Networks International (AMCNI) - is calling the drama series with Tom Hiddleston a "network premiere".

But we've seen this type of trash-move before.

The only - and very big - problem is that The Night Manager has been shown in its entirety on DStv already, on the AMC channel, that DStv dumped in October 2016 and replaced with SundanceTV in June 2017 with the "new" channel coming from the same supplier: AMC Networks International.

The Night Manager is a very good show. Its a terrific drama series in fact, with Tom Hiddleston as a "hotel manager" turned spy in the 8-part series based on John le Carré's espionage novel.

The problem isn't the show itself. The problem is that DStv showed The Night Manager literally just 2 years ago in February 2016.

Now, because SundanceTV on DStv is "new", as the new replacement for AMC on which The Night Manager was shown, The Night Manager will be shown again and is even hyped as a "network premiere".

It's like a shoe shop having shoes in its show window. The show shop for whatever reason changes its name and outside livery and window dressing - but then places the exact same "old" and seen-before shoes that haven't sold, back in the window yet again.

The Night Manager is a great drama and there will clearly be DStv subscribers who (1) haven't watched it yet and now can (2) and DStv subscribers who have watched it but would like to watch it again (although there's also been several rebroadcasts on AMC before).

That is not the problem, and The Night Manager is a great show and good TV content.

The big issue is how MultiChoice and its content provider partners chop and change and replace channels on DStv and then start to rebroadcast all the previous channel iteration's stale content on the "new" channel.

Already SundanceTV has done a shocking rebroadcast of all of the old episodes of previous seasons of several shows like Fear the Walking Dead and Into the Badlands that have been shown and repeated on AMC numerous times before.

Why? Because it hasn't been shown on the channel branded as SundanceTV although the funnel that the content comes through is from the exact same people.

MultiChoice and BBC Worldwide did the same with stale episodes of Top Gear, with several old seasons of Top Gear that were unleashed on BBC Brit (DStv 120).

Why? Simply because BBC Brit was "new" after the relaunch and reorganisation of the BBC's channel set on DStv and because BBC Entertainment was changed to BBC Brit in September 2015.

MultiChoice and Discovery Networks International did the same with Discovery Family (DStv 136) when it "replaced" Discovery World in April 2016: the problematic channel was chock-full of repeat-trash because Discovery Family was now "new". 

After initial sampling I've personally never gone back to Discovery Family ever and it's because all I saw there were stuff  that I've seen before.

The result is that this "regifting" - the same content "present" but with a new wrapping on the outside - manages to fill hours and hours on channel schedules yes, but also does great harm.

It angers and frustrates DStv subscribers and chase away viewers - literally: When you think there's nothing new after initial sampling, you actually tune out (permanently) and miss when there's something maybe really worthwhile and new, because the channels through their repeats of old content under a new channel name have created the impression that it's line-up is an avalanche of rebroadcasts you've seen before.

Why on earth did MultiChoice dump AMC and took SundanceTV from AMC Networks International if SundanceTV is basically a "rerun" of what's been on AMC the past two years with just a shiny new name plate?

Why change the name and the channel number if the bulk of the content of what is actually on it hasn't changed and is actually a broadcast rehash of old stuff already shown before?

MultiChoice has now dumped Animal Planet since the end of 2017 - and promised a new channel from Discovery later in 2018.

Is that as-yet-unnamed channel from Discovery Networks International going to "restart" showing all the old animal stuff that viewers have already seen the past few years on Animal Planet?

Repeats and rebroadcasts are necessary and will and can never go away, but the seemingly senseless shutting down and starting up of so-called "new" channels on DStv when the content on the "new" is a shameless rebroadcast of the "old", is a turn-off to viewers and only does one thing: Chase them away.

MultiChoice adds AMC Networks International's SundanceTV channel to DStv for DStv Premium subscribers to replace the lost content of AMC.

MultiChoice is adding the SundanceTV channel from 1 June to DStv as a replacement for the AMC channel, for DStv Premium subscribers.

SundanceTV, from AMC Networks International (AMCNI) that will be in high definition (HD) will continue to show programming like the drama series Fear The Walking Dead and Into the Badlands that would have been lost to South African pay-TV viewers after the AMC channel was dumped last year, and the new Pierce Brosnan Western series, The Son that just started.

SundanceTV is actually a film channel that was launched by film star Robert Redford in 1996, but the version for South Africa on DStv will also carry series, as well as selection of local programming.

"SundanceTV will offer a selection of award winning and locally appealing programming exclusively to audiences in South Africa," says Louise Cottrell, AMCNI UK vice president for affiliate sales in a statement.

"We're excited to launch this premium channel for the first time in South Africa on the DStv platform, which reinforces our long-standing partnership with MultiChoice."

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content says "we've listened to what our customers are saying about our content, and are committed to bring them more fresh content more often and fewer repeats."

"SundanceTV will bring great variety through its high quality art movies and unforgettable series. We're confident our customers will welcome SundanceTV to the DStv family and into their homes."

SundanceTV offers a mix of exclusive festival films and original drama series.

Some of the film festival selections which will be shown on SundanceTV includes the documentary Cries from Syria, which bears witness to the resiliency of the people of Syria in the wake of their exposure to unthinkable crimes against humanity.

I Smile Back is an unflinchingly authentic and humanising portrait of a suburban wife and mother dealing with depression and disillusionment that send her careening into a secret world of reckless compulsion.

The Eyes of My Mother is the debut movie from writer/director Nicolas Pesce and is the tale of Francisca. She grows up in a secluded farmhouse where her mother, formerly a surgeon in Portugal, teaches her to understand anatomy and be unfazed by death. One afternoon, a mysterious visitor horrifyingly shatters the idyll of Francisca’s family life, deeply traumatizing the young girl, but also awakening some unique curiosities.

The Son with Pierce Brosnan will start on 6 June at 21:00.

A rebroadcast of the first two seasons of Fear the Walking Dead will start on 5 June. The third season of Fear the Walking Dead will start on SundanceTV on Monday 24 July at 21:00.