Discovery suddenly pushes Thando Thabethe's new TLC talk show, Thando Bares All, out to May on the schedule although all episodes have been filmed.

Discovery Networks International has suddenly postponed the debut of Thando Thabethe's new South African talk show, Thando Bares All, that was supposed to start this month on TLC (DStv 135) by 3 months to May without saying why.

Thando Bares All with Thando Thabethe and Carissa Cupido was supposed to start on Saturday 24 February at 20:55 on TLC but Discovery Networks CEEMEA has yanked the show, produced by Oxyg3n Media, from the schedule and moved it to May.

Discovery isn't willing to give any specific reason for the sudden move of the show 2 weeks before it was supposed to debut with the "slightly risque" 8-episode Thando Bares All that would be about with people about "body positivity" and "things that society might be afraid or embarrassed to speak about".

Topics in the 8 episodes of Thando Bares All will discuss polygamy, "naked attraction", outrageous style and body issues with themes borrowed and synchronising with other well-known TLC programming.

One strong possibility for the sudden postponement is that Discovery wants to prevent Thando Bares All - geared towards trying to capture a local female audience - from getting lost in the initial high audience sampling before ratings level off when a new TV channel launches.

Moja Love (DStv 157) from Siyaya TV starts on 14 February on DStv as a new TV channel and is a new direct competitor to TLC and A+E Networks Africa's Lifetime (DStv 131).

With a swarm of new locally produced female-driven talk shows on Moja Love that DStv subscribers will take for a TV test ride, Discovery likely thought to protect Thando Bares All from the cacophony of voices like Show Me Love starting on Moja Love that is based on the American talker The Real with KG Moeketsi, Unathi Msengana, Abigail Visagie and Nontobeko Sibisi. 

Dilek Doyran, vice president of commercial development and country manager of Africa at Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), in late-2017 said "Thando Bares All is about bringing people together and tackling topics we know our viewers will have strong opinions on."

A potential problem with the delay is that episodes will be seen more than half a year after they were filmed in late-2017. In the 6 month gap some of the content might have become somewhat stale or irrelevant, with guests and what they have to say that might likely no longer be as current as when the in-studio sit-downs were taped.

Discovery doesn't yet have a new starting date for Thando Bares All. Discovery was asked whether the postponement was a production issue - for instance episodes not being finished in time, or a scheduling issue, or a combination of both.

Discovery told TVwithThinus the episodes of Thando Bares All have been delivered by Oxyg3n Media and that the postponement is purely a scheduling decision.

BREAKING. Discovery's TLC Entertainment on DStv dropping the 'Entertainment' from January 2018 as it goes back to its abbreviated name after 4 years.

Discovery's TLC Entertainment (DStv 135) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform will be reverting back to being known as just TLC and will be dropping the "Entertainment" add-on from its name from January 2018.

Discovery changed TLC to TLC Entertainment in October 2013 when it added programming from Oprah Winfrey's OWN but after 4 years it is now changing back to just TLC.

According to Discovery and in response to a media enquiry, Discovery tells TVwithThinus that the move of TLC Entertainment back to just TLC is part of a wider global brand alignment. "The channel itself and its content will remain the same," says Discovery.

In other changes to Discovery Networks' African TV pride, the Animal Planet (DStv 183) channel is abruptly getting culled from DStv at the end of December 2017 in just two weeks' time. Animal Planet was carried on DStv for 14 years since October 2003.

These changes are very likely big parts of the reason why Discovery Networks didn't hold any year-end upfront presentation for South African advertisers and media this year, marking the first time in at least 7 years that Discovery in South Africa broke with its own annual upfront modus operandi.

New shows on TLC will include Dr Miami, Judge Jenkins and The Healer while new wedding shows Diva Brides and Curvy Brides Boutique will join returning seasons of 90 days to Wed and Surrounded by Daughters.

Discovery Networks in South Africa's big local push on the back-to-abbreviated TLC in early 2018 will be around its new local show with Thando Thabethe. 

Her upcoming TV talk show on TLC (DStv 135) in early 2018 that will be entitled Thando Bares All.

After quitting SABC1's Generations, Thando Thabete's risque TV talk show on TLC Entertainment on DStv will be entitled Thando Bares All.

Thando Thabethe as the latest on-air face to quit the South African public broadcaster will be starting her upcoming TV talk show on TLC Entertainment (DStv 135) in early 2018 that will be entitled Thando Bares All.

The "slightly risque" 8-episode Thando Bares All is produced by Oxyg3n Media and will see Thando Thabethe talking with people about "body positivity" and "things that society might be afraid or embarrassed to speak about".

Thando Thabethe recently quit her role on the SABC's Generations weekday soap on SABC1 for the chance to appeal to a pay-TV audience in a localised African TV talk show for Discovery Networks International's female-focused African channel feed of TLC Entertainment.

Thando Thabethe couldn't continue to be seen on the South African public broadcaster as a SABC face and as one of Discovery's new faces on TLC Entertainment and opted to take a chance on appealing and reaching out to a new audience after she appeared on TLC Entertainment in 2016 as a judge in a presenter search competition.

Topics in the 8 episodes of Thando Bares All will discuss polygamy, "naked attraction", outrageous style and body issues with themes borrowed and synchronising with other well-known TLC Entertainment programming.

Casissa Cupido, winnter of TLC Entertainment's Next Great Presenter Search 2016 and now the official TLC Entertainment voice-over artist, will film vox pop inserts with the public for Thando Bares All.

'When TLC approached me to present this show, I was ecstatic," says Thando Thabethe in a prepared statement.

"I'm a huge fan of the channel and thoroughly enjoyed with the brand as a judge for its Next Great Presenter competition in 2016."

"This for me is a step in the right direction for my career in the entertainment industry. I can't wait to start filming Thando Bares All and finding out what South Africans think about the topics that really matter," says Thando Thabethe.

"TLC Entertainment proudly celebrates inspirational, larger-than-life characters and we are incredibly excited to welcome Thando to the family," says Dilek Doyran, vice president of commercial development and country manager of Africa at Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA).

"Thando Bares All is about bringing people together and tackling topics we know our viewers will have strong opinions on."

"With her charismatic personality and unique presenting style, Thando was the perfect fit to front the series and we look forward to bringing even more 'OMG' moments to our viewers when Thando Bares All comes to TLC early next year," says Dilek Doyran.

"Oxyg3n Media are delighted to be working with TLC Entertainment on this new and exciting talk show," says Rebecca Fuller-Campbell, Oxyg3n Media CEO.

"We can't think of anyone better than Thando and Carissa to talk TLC topics with the heart that represents the channel."

"It has been a very interesting journey for us to decide what topics to discuss, but I have no doubt that the TLC audience will be captivated by this unique, colourful, heartfelt and slightly risque talk show."