After a decade Syfy is finally returning to MultiChoice's DStv - but so far there's a catch to the genre channel's comeback.

Imagine this: After exactly a decade MultiChoice is finally returning the dumped Syfy channel to its DStv satellite pay-TV platform - but apparently only in the rest of Africa and not for DStv subscribers in South Africa. Yet.

The Syfy channel supplied by Universal Networks International (UNI) will be added back to DStv for the first time after it was taken off 10 years ago.

The Syfy channel was formerly known as The Sci Fi Channel until it was rebranded in June 2009 but by then it was already gone for half a decade from DStv.

MultiChoice removed The Sci Fi Channel in 2004 from DStv after several years because the so-called "genre" channel - dedicated to science fiction, fantasy and supernatural series and films - was underperforming.

Now MultiChoice told DStv subscribers elsewhere in Africa that Syfy will be enriching" their viewing experience and calls Syfy "an exciting new channel", saying Syfy "which features science-fiction, drama, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming will help enrich" the pay-TV offering.

Syfy will presumably start on DStv, outside of South Africa, on 1 April although the exact starting date is not yet certain.

Syfy, returning this time as a TV channel on one of the DStv add-on packages in Africa, replaces the Sport+ channel on DStv which is ending on 31 March.

MultiChoice has always maintained that Syfy is too niche a TV channel with too few viewers. Yet now Syfy is being added for viewers in African territories where the ratings and interest would presumably be even lower than for South Africa.

Helix

I asked Universal Networks International earlier this week how it feels about the "reintroduction" of Syfy to Africa.

The response was strangely muted, given that UNI is always happy when it introduces further new TV channels like Studio Universal and Telemundo Africa to the African market.

Thursday evening, through its South African PR agency UNI said in response to being asked about Syfy re-entering the African market on MultiChoice's DStv that "while we continuously review opportunities to evolve our channels portfolio in Africa, Universal Networks International has no announcements to make at this time".

I asked MultiChoice earlier this week if it can say why its's not adding Syfy to DStv in South Africa and why it deems the channel not suitable for South Africa.

Thursday evening MultiChoice said "as you are aware, we constantly add new content on DStv. We generally don't comment on our interactions with content providers for new content as these are confidential".

Ascension

With the slowly dying Style from UNI which was abruptly ended last month and finally and unstylishly euthanised, perhaps replacing it with Syfy on DStv is a good idea.

In 2015 so far DStv subscribers in South Africa are down two channels - Style and Blackbelt TV which are gonners.

Zee World was recently added, so with one TV channel less in 2015, the addition of Syfy in the place of Style to even out the score might lessen the pain for DStv subscribers when MultiChoice's upcoming annual price increase comes into effect on 1 April.

Syfy will however face an uphill battle initially anywhere where it is shown together with channels like M-Net and M-Net Edge which are already carried on DStv.

Like A+E Networks UK's Lifetime on DStv and Netflix (when it eventually arrives in South Africa within the next two years) Syfy will initially be a lobotomised, gutted TV channel with very little exclusive or territory first-run content since most of it has already been given away in signed distribution and licensing agreements with other broadcasters and channels.

Shows like Defiance, Dominion, Haven, Alphas, Being Human, Sanctuary, Warehouse 13 and others are all Syfy shows, including movies like the ongoing Sharknado schlock-franchise.

The latest new upcoming seasons of something like Haven on UNI sibling Universal Channel or Defiance on M-Net Edge won't instantly revert to Syfy should that channel start on DStv or On Digital Media's StarSat. Those shows are locked into existing licensing agreements.

There is hope however. Amazing-sounding, brand-new and real science fiction dramas have been announced and are in development which will soon make it to Syfy.

Just before Christmas, Syfy's new boss, Dave Howe, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, said Syfy's era of "genre-lite" is over and that Syfy is returning to its roots and is tackling genre-heavy smart TV projects.

This new dramatic slate of shows with solid budgets are set to dramatically enhance the channel proposition and content of Syfy which the past few years degenerated into low-budget reality shows and flimsy fare which wasn't really even science fiction (like the new Shark Wranglers on the History channel).

Just take a look at what you're not currently getting to see in terms of new upcoming Syfy shows, as well as some existing Syfy dramas that South African viewers, strangely (no pun intended) have not been seeing - not even on other channels:

The Expanse (upcoming (pictured above) Game of Thrones in space, with a detective and rogue captain racing across the galaxy to solve a conspiracy)
Hackers (upcoming a cyber hacker reality show)
Z Nation (existing the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse like The Walking Dead renewed for a 2nd season)
12 Monkeys (upcoming based on the 1995 virus and time travel movie. This drama will start on M-Net Edge on 16 March at 20:00)
Spin (a mini-series about a young scientists trying to save the world from a mysterious cloud)
Hunters (upcoming a straight-to-series 13 part story about a cop who track a group of alien terrorists)
Childhood's End (upcoming mini-series about invading Earth turning it into a utopia)
Helix (existing which we strangely haven't seen on M-Net about a virus outbreak in an isolated Arctic base filled with conspiracies, renewed for a 2nd season)
Ascension (existing drama aboard a generational space ship from the 1960's now decades into its journey which we haven't yet seen)
The Magicians (upcoming A young man who discovers he's a magician and then attends a college of magic in New York)

IN PICTURES. Universal Networks International's first ever TV channels programming upfront for TV critics in Cape Town.

Universal Networks International (UNI) on Thursday afternoon held their first programming upfront ever in Cape Town, South Africa for the five TV channels it supplies to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Universal Networks International (UNI) runs channels like Universal Channel, Studio Universal, Telemundo, E! Entertainment and Style on DStv.

Kaisa Kantalainen, the Universal Networks International head of marketing for the Benelux, Nordic and Africa region, as well as Eva Dvorakova, PR manager for UNI emerging markets for the EMEA region, hosted the press at the Shimmy Beach Lounge.

They talked TV critics through the various upcoming programming on UNI's five TV channels on DStv.

TV critics sipped on sparkling wine and snacked on various channelised Universal Networks International food at different tables.

Janez Vermeiren, Top Billing and The Man Cave presenter and now TV producer was the host.

Universal Networks International did an interesting scent testing and educational session with a "unique" smell for each of the five TV channels.

The UNI panel didn't take questions, but did share viewership figures for all of the channels, and revealed upcoming programming highlights for all five of the channels with sizzle reels.

UNI wowed with a customised video message from E! News' co-presenter Giuliana Rancic on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) who had a special message for South Africa and August's Women's Month.

E! Entertainment's insane and badly-done censorship on MultiChoice's DStv continues to create a very bad and off-putting TV channel experience.

The insane censorship in South Africa of E! Entertainment (DStv 124) on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform continues unabated.

On Wednesday evening in the daily E! News it went to beyond ridiculous when Universal Networks International (UNI) which runs E! Entertainment in Africa on DStv from the United Kingdom, blurred out the word "SLUTTIEST" during a news broadcast.

Yet "SLUTTIEST" could still clearly be seen in the reflection on the anchor desk.

The badly-done hack-job censorship of E! Entertainment is ongoing and debilitating for viewers who are forced to watch a TV channel on DStv looking and sounding like a jumping record. 

It makes viewers tune out, and away, from E! Entertainment who are fed up with the interference and lobotimising from Universal Networks International which keeps providing South African and African viewers a version of E! that they deem fit.

MultiChoice needs to not only tell DStv viewers whether the pay-TV platform endorses censorship, but whether it finds that this intrusive cutting, bleeping and blurring is acceptable as a broadcasting quality standard for the channel.

Does E! Entertainment rate as good enough technical quality as a TV channel for MultiChoice given all the silences and blurring going on? 

If an ordinary person sits and watched E! Entertainment for an hour or an episode of E! News, what would they score it for its level of visual impairment and audio impairment? E! simply doesn't sound nice - like a car constantly driving over rocks creating a never-ending audio bleep-out hiccup ride.

DStv subscribers are cheated with a TV channel from Universal Networks International which is being willy-nilly neutered on a daily basis.

To add insanity to the incessant censorship of E! Entertainment is the mad incongruity with which trash and crass low-class reality shows like The Drama Queen, as well as shows such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Soup, Eric and Jessie and others are filled with unbleeped profanities, cussing and verbal on-screen filth.

This (sometimes shocking language) is not bleeped out.

Yet Universal Networks International censors news and other programming much less harmless and actually informative.

It's idiotic and doesn't make any sense ... at all.

If Universal Networks International and E! Entertainment don't feel that what is on the channel should be shown or said in South Africa, then UNI, E! Entertainment and MultiChoice should rather remove E! Entertainment entirely from the channel line-up. 

The censorship is highly disturbing, off-putting, condescending and done badly. Wednesday's example showed yet again exactly how mindlesslessly bad and amateurly E! Entertainment is being botched for viewers. 

D tv  s bscr  bers  dese ve  more  th n  a  half-cha nel  where viewers c nstantly have to try and f gure out what on earth is going, being said or being shown, be ause it is constantly c nsored and blocked, blurred and bl   ped out, not giving the full p cture.

BREAKING. Style to remain on MultiChoice's DStv, 'Style continues to be a key channel brand in South Africa,' says UNI.

Style (DStv 173) will remain as a TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv, despite Style having shut down in America in September and the version of the channel running in the United Kingdom also being terminated there today by Universal Networks International (UNI).

Although the Style Network is now also a gonner from today in the United Kingdom, UNI says Style will continue to be shown in South Africa.

"Style continues to be a key channel brand for Universal Networks International in South Africa, irrespective of any changes impacting Style in the United Kingdom," says UNI in answer to a media enquiry, following the news of the channel's closure in the UK.

BREAKING. Style Network shutting down in UK, following the channel's termination in USA. How long now before Style is finally gone from DStv?

NBCUniversal has now decided to terminate the Style Network (DStv 173) in the United Kingdom as well which is where South Africa's channel feed for the channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform originates from.

It raises questions as to whether it means that Style will soon be terminated in Africa and South Africa as well, giving the practical difficulty of where content would come from to sustain the channel given that the original USA feed no longer exists and no supplement content from Style UK will be produced or sourced.

Style will end as a channel in the United Kingdom today according to World Screen. Style is seen on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa on channel 173.

In September the shocking closure of Style's American feed was announced, and a day later Universal Networks International (UNI) told TV with Thinus that "Style on DStv will remain for the time being".

Besides Style UNI runs channels like E! Entertainment, Universal Channel, Telemundo and Studio Universal on DStv in South Africa and Africa.

UNI told World Screen in a statement regarding Style in the United Kingdom that "after thorough consideration, Universal Networks International has taken the decision to withdraw Style from the United Kingdom with effect from 9 December 2013".

UNI says it will focus its efforts on the other TV channels such as E! Entertainment and Universal Channel.

UNI embarked on a major rebrand of Style in April this year as seen on DStv in South Africa and Africa after the rebrand was done in June 2012 for Style in America.

UNI says in a statement today, following a media enquiry from TV with Thinus, that Style will continue to be shown in South Africa.

"Style continues to be a key channel brand for Universal Networks in South Africa, irrespective of any changes impacting Style in the United Kingdom."

Jo Sherlock appointed as the vice president: commercial for emerging markets at Universal Networks International.

Jo Sherlock has been appointed as the vice president: commercial, for emerging markets at Universal Networks International (UNI).

Jo Sherlock will now be directly tasked in leading, overseeing and growing UNBCUniversal's international pay-TV channels available in South Africa and across Africa, as well as other territories.

Several of NBCUniversal's TV channels are available in South Africa and throughout Africa on the DStv satellite pay-TV platform through carriage deals with MultiChoice.

Those range from the Universal Channel to Telemundo which was launched in Africa this year, to Studio Universal, Style and E! Entertainment.

Jo Sherlock, based in London, will now be focused in her new role on driving the ongoing expansion of NBCUniversal's and will oversee the commercial development of the various channel brands of UNI in South Africa, Africa, as well as the Benelux region, Central Europe and Scandinavia.

She will also be responsible for further enhancing UNI's presence on affiliate platforms and driving advertising sales revenue and to maximise growth opportunities across the rapidly evolving emerging markets region within which South Africa falls.

"We are delighted to welcome Jo to the team. her wealth of experience will be enormously beneficial in aligning the affiliate and advertising sales strategy," says Colin McLeod, the managing director for emerging markets, UNI.

"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for me to join UNI's dynamic emerging markets business and further develop its high-quality portfolio of international channel brands," says Jo Sherlock.

BREAKING. Style on DStv will remain for the time being, although Style in America is terminated as a brand on 23 September.

Style (DStv 173) will remain as a TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform for the time being, although Style in America - the original channel feed of the version seen in the United Kingdom and South Africa - is being terminated in America as a brand on 23 September.

Style in America is called "redundant" and is being changed from the female-centric channel its been, to a male-skewed Esquire Network.

That leaves major question marks behind what will be happening with Style as seen in South Africa and the content on the channel once the bulk of the content specially commissioned and produced for Style is abruptly ending and no longer created to funnel to Style in South Africa.

Universal Networks International (UNI) which runs the adapted version of Style on MultiChoice's DStv as well as channels such as E! Entertainment and Universal Channel says in response to a media enquiry that Style as seen on DStv will remain for the time being, despite the channel's sudden and surprising termination in the United States.

"Whilst we will evaluate options for the channel, Universal Networks International will continue to maintain the international Style brand in its present format until further notice," says UNI in a single sentence response.

It's not clear where the additional programming will originate from to continue to populate a Style feed when the original Style channel in the United States disbands its programming unit of about 100 staff.

It's highly likely that some Style channel signature shows such as Giuliana & Bill will be shifted to E! Entertainment in America, which would mean that those shows will still be funneled to Style outside of America.

The bulk of Style programming however will terminate with the closure of the channel, which means that UNI will have to source additional programming from third party programmers and content providers to fill the Style schedule.

The closure of Style in America comes after the on-screen revamp of the channel in June last year; the rebranding of which was rolled out since April for Style in South Africa.

BREAKING. Style called 'redundant' suddenly changing to Esquire Network from a female-centric channel to a male-centric TV channel.

Nobody saw this coming: Style (DStv 173) as a female-centric TV channel is suddenly called "redundant" and is suddenly and shockingly being changing into a whole different channel in America called Esquire Network, focusing on young aspirational men.

The surprising demise of Style is instantly raising questions as to when Style on MultiChoice's DStv platform as seen in South Africa will completely cease as a channel, or whether it will change to Esquire Network as well, or whether it will somehow continue as a defunct form of Style which would suddenly be short of specifically commissioned programming from the end of this month.

UPDATE 9 September 12:40 -  Universal Networks International (UNI) says Style on DStv will remain for the time being, in its present format as it has been seen in South Africa. (No word on where the ongoing programming will be coming from.)

Universal Networks International (UNI) runs Style on MultiChoice's DStv alongside channels such as E! Entertainment (DStv 124), Universal Channel, Studio Universal, Telemundo

In America it was the male-centric G4 channel (which together with E! Entertainment and Style are part of the same group of NBCUniversal pay-TV channels) which was supposed to be the channel set to change to Esquire Network.

Yet the shocking announcement was just made that in a surprise twist it will be sister channel Style which is going to be turned into a brother when Style suddenly becomes Esquire Network. Esquire Network will court upscale male viewers.

Style which will suddenly flip to Esquire Network on 23 September.

That spells the end of American shows which home was on Style; however it remains likely that a few Style signature shows such as Giuliana & Bill might move to E! Entertainment where Giuliana Rancic is the anchor of the weekday E! News.

Whether Style completely vanishes from DStv, whether Style is replaced by Esquire Network, or whether Style remains as a "lite" version with more British and other programming sourced from elsewhere after September is not clear.

It is a certainly however that in this surprise twist, that Style, in case it remains, won't remain for long the channel as South African viewers have seen it up to now when it loses the supply from the original Style channel feed.

Style is now called a "redundant" TV channel and its demise comes on the heels of the recent major rebranding of the Style channel which was rolled out in America in June 2012. That new look was introduced since April 2013 on DStv in South Africa.

The end of Style in America means the end of that amount of content, the bulk of which was funneled to Style as seen as a channel in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

There has been no announcement or communciation so far on what is happening to Style as seen on DStv with the announcement on Style's sudden end which was made late on Monday in America.

"Just because something is working today doesn't mean it will work forever," said Bonnie Hammer, NBCUniversal entertainment group chairperson in a memo about Style's demise. Style is canned because its brand and content apparently overlaps with channels such as E! Entertainment and Style is seen as redundant.

"In an effort to establish the most productively diversified portfolio, the decision has been made to rebrand Style as the Esquire Network, which will debut on 23 September, led by Adam Stotsky," said Bonnie Hammer.

"We are committed to making the pending changes as smooth as possible for everyone at Style."

Esquire Network's focus will be more upmarket males with programmes in genres ranging from personal grooming, travel and fashion to food and entertainment.