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)

E! Entertainment delays The Royals for DStv; E! first scripted TV drama set to only start months later for South African viewers.

You're reading it here first.

South African DStv subscribers and those in the rest of Africa are in for a shock when they will discover in two months time that E! Entertainment's (DStv 124) hyped first new scripted drama, The Royals, won't be starting close to or at the same time in March as in America but months later at the end of the year.

Universal Networks International (UNI) risks alienating DStv subscribers in Africa and South Africa when The Royals starts on 15 March on E! Entertainment in the rest of the world but won't be shown here - for almost a year. 

TV with Thinus asked and was told that The Royals is only expected to premiere on E! Entertainment - the UK's version of E! beamed to Africa and the Middle East - sometime in the 4th quarter of 2015. 

UNI says nothing has been confirmed as of yet - meaning South African viewers are going to lose out on the big-buzz drama which got renewed for a 2nd season on E! Entertainment last week before The Royals' first season has even started yet.

While other channels supplied by BBC Worldwide and Discovery Networks have started to follow M-Net's lead in getting and broadcasting global content quickly, Universal Networks International seriously risks dropping the ball by not bringing South African viewers and DStv subscribers The Royals close to 15 March as well.

Since The Royals is an E! show, once again viewers will see the show and coverage of it like cast interviews and set visits elsewhere on E! on such daily shows as E! News. 

Yet viewers in South Africa and Africa will not being able to partake, fully understand or being able to share fully since they're able to actually see the show - instead ending up with a schizophrenic fill-in-the-blanks experience until the actual drama starts at the end of the year.

Given the early second season renewal for its very first scripted drama, it suggests that E! is proud of The Royals' early produced episodes and feels like it has enough of an upcoming new hit on its hands. 

Yet E! isn't appearing to want to build, cash in on the hype and ride the wave of interest there will be in The Royals when it starts in March for a global audience, opting to give South African viewers once again the stale, been-there-it's-now-over leftovers at the back-end of 2015.

In The Royals, filmed in London and revolving around a present day fictional royal family, Elizabeth Hurley is Queen Helena, with Joan Collins as the queen's mother.

Queen Helena has twins, Princess Eleanor and Prince Liam.

While its the scheming Joan Collins' character who is really ruling the kingdom and palace in Dynasty style behind the scenes, the young Princess Eleanor is the party animal like Windsor's Prince Harry with the resultant tabloid dramas.

Meanwhile Prince Liam is having a secret relationship with the daughter of one of the bodyguards.

Mark Schwahn who did One Tree Hill is the executive producer, with Lionsgate as the production company.

REVIEW. The Librarians on The Universal Channel a dull, missable rehash of Relic Hunter, Tropical Heat and Stargate SG1.

If you've watched syndicated shows like Relic Hunter, Tropical Heat and Stargate SG1 you've already done your TV homework and you can skip the dull and mostly missable The Librarians starting tonight on The Universal Channel (DStv 117) - you've already seen what you're going to see.

Probably the most commendable thing about it all from Universal Networks International (UNI) is that its bringing The Librarians to South African and African viewers on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform just a day after it started in America on TNT.

However, TNT showed the first two episodes of The Librarians last night in America and South African viewers will only get to watch the first one with Noah Wyle (who will, by the way, only be making guest appearances), while Rebecca Romijn picks up the slack in this new TV series franchise based on his former tele-movie series.

Having watched the first two episodes of The Librarians this afternoon the word that comes to mind is ... pedestrian. 

Noah Wyle is much better is FOX's Falling Skies than his over-the-top Indiana Jones caricature in The Librarians and Rebecca Romijn was better in Ugly Betty and King & Maxwell .

In this series in the role of Eve, she takes over from Noah Wyle's character to become a guardian of the "librarians" who try to recover ancient artifacts, solve arcane mysteries and fight against the evil society known as the Serpent Brotherhood.

If you've followed the Da Vinci Code-esque Zero Hour, you'll be familiar with the cut-and-paste pattern The Librarians is clearly using. It's Sanctuary all over again in a been-there, done-that series.

Remember the repository of magical, secret objects in Da Vinci's Demons under the Vatican of last year? You'll start yawning when within 10 minutes into the first episode Rebecca Romijn also takes an elevator mechanism down to a similar place below the Metropolitan Public Library.

Basically every single scene, every plot device and every line in The Librarians is derivative of something you've seen before - either decades ago like when history professor and explorer Sydney Fox did it, or in other current TV series.

Childish Noah Wyle comes across like dwarf Simon McKay in the 80s fantastical kid show The Wizard. Yet the problem is that The Librarians isn't aimed at kids but adults. Sword fighting in an underground library with Excalibur the sword? Really?

The Librarians on The Universal Channel feels hokey ... because it is. 

Starting it as a new TV show during December when TV viewers neither care nor are really aware, nor have the energy to bother isn't going to do it any favours.

Happily hop along and don't bother watching. The Librarians on The Universal Channel is a TV book you've read numerous times already and can recite in your sleep. 

There's nothing to miss, nothing worth watching, and nothing that Tia Carrere didn't do better more than a decade ago.

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.

New drama series, The Librarians coming to Universal Channel in SA days after America, as Universal Networks International enters the race.

I did not expect this. At all: Universal Networks International (UNI) will be bringing the thrilling, premium and brand-new TV drama The Librarians in high definition (HD) to Universal Channel (DStv 117) from December only a day after the new series starts and as episodes become available.

With this drastic and unexpected programming upshift, Universal Networks International is entering the race of TV channels, TV channel suppliers, distributors and content distributors dramatically improving their international pipeline funneling and strategic content push to South Africa and the rest of Africa to close the gap and radically narrow the broadcasting window lag pay-TV subscribers experienced.

South African pay-TV broadcaster M-Net is in the vanguard with a record-breaking number of foreign content playing out extremely close to international broadcasting dates, followed by Fox International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) running FOX.

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on DStv and Viacom International Media Networks' BET on On Digital Media's (ODM) StarSat have stepped it up by trying hard and bringing several foreign TV properties relatively quickly to South African viewers.

Discovery International Networks (DNI) is still lagging however - although it is trying, and consistently brings several once-off factual news related documentaries to the Discovery channels.

Likewise BBC Worldwide running channels like BBC Entertainment is now lagging behind the others insofar as the roll-out of content and broadcast windows are concerned. Individual episodes of the bulk of programming are still months old and now looks stale in comparison to what other content and channel distributors are suddenly doing with their TV channels in South Africa.

Following the quick roll-out of the second Sharknado movie as a once-off telefeature on Studio Universal and the reality show Escape Club on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) (both other UNI channels) almost instantaneously with its international dates, The Librarians marks a significant start and shift for Univeral Networks International.

UNI will now bring South African pay-TV subscribers a new, hot fantasy TV show just like The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Falling Skies, Under the Dome, Da Vinci's Demons and other series just like M-Net and FOX are doing in increasing numbers. 

UNI says The Librarians, with Noah Wyle from FOX' Falling Skies (and who remains in that show) and Rebecca Romijn, will premiere in South Africa and "over 100 countries" "within 24 hours of the United States debut on TNT in December".

The Librarians from Electric Entertainment plays like a TV show of Indiana Jones and Relic Hunter, and is a TV series based on the made-for-TV movie series Noah Wyle starred in before he did Falling Skies. 

It has now been redeveloped into a TV series and Noah Wyle is one of the executive producers.

In The Librarians there's an ancient organisation hidden beneath the Metropolitan Public Library in New York dedicated to protecting an unknown world from the secret,magical reality hidden all around. The

"The Librarians is a captivating addition to Universal Channel's programming for our markets, and we are delighted it will be airing within just 24 hours of the United States premiere," says Colin McLeod, the managing director for emerging markets for Universal Networks International.

"We are thrilled to bring this action-adventure drama to our viewers, giving our audience instant access to the brand new and exciting series".

Luis Silberwasser the new president of Telemundo after leaving Discovery Networks International.

Luis Silberwasser who left Discovery Networks International (DNI) in April as chief content chief has been appointed as the new president of Telemundo Network.

Telemundo (DStv 118) is supplied by Universal Networks International (UNI) to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Luis Silberwasser who was with Discovery since 1998, will start as president of Telemundo Network in August and is therefore moving from London in the United Kingdom to Miami in the United States who where he will oversee Telemundo and Telemundo Studios.

Luis Silberwasser will report to Joe Uva, the chairman of NBCUniversal's Hispanic Enterprises and Content.

"Luis is a world-class operating executive with exceptional management, content and leadership experience," says Joe Uva said in a statement.

"His deep understanding of the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets, coupled with his strong track record in successfully building global brands and developing and producing high quality content make him the ideal leader to fulfill the growth potential of Telemundo Network".

"I am extremely proud and honored to join the NBCUniversal family. Leading the Telemundo Network is a dream opportunity and I am incredibly excited about its future," says Luis Silberwasser in the statement.

"Telemundo has a robust legacy as a content producer and with NBCUniversal's support, the network is well positioned to grow.  I look forward to working with Telemundo's great creative team to take the network to the next level".

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.

BREAKING. MultiChoice adds Telemundo, the South American telenovela TV channel to DStv from 12 August.

MultiChoice is adding Telemundo (DStv 118), South America's telenovela TV channel to the DStv bouquet from Monday 12 August following a carriage agreement between MultiChoice and Universal Networks International (UNI).

The telenovela channel has not previously been available outside of Latin America as a satellite pay-TV channel but will now be shown in Africa. Telemundo is a channel division under NBCUniversal International Television.

Telemundo will show Spanish language telenovelas such as Aurora, Precious Rose, My Heart Beats for Lola and Behind Closed Doors only, but will be dubbed into English for South Africa and Southern Africa on DStv, and will be dubbed into Portuguese on DStv in Mozambique and Angola.

South American telenovelas made its entry into the South African TV market two years ago when the FOX channel launched on On Digital Media's (ODM) TopTV platform. FOX has since gained carriage on DStv as well. SABC2 also has a weekday South American telenovela slot which recently got extended to include an omnibus airing over weekends.

The purely telenovela Telemundo channel - soap serialised TV drama but will a limited number of episodes usually running a year or two years and capped by a definite end - is MultiChoice's first foray into such a specific channel in this genre since the Soap Channel on DStv was tried and ended. MultiChoice when it ended the Soap channel a few years after it was launched in August 1997, said viewers suffered viewing fatigued and struggled to keep up with multiple soaps running with multiple new episodes per week.

The Telemundo channel on DStv will only show telenovelas and none of the other programming shown on Telemundo across South American countries. Telemundo will be available on the DStv Premium, DStv Compact, DStv Access and DStv Family bouquets.

"We are particularly excited to bring Telemundo to Africa," says Colin McLeod, the managing director for emerging markets for UNI. "We believe we can help to drive multi-channel television to an even broader market - for those who traditionally only want to watch free TV, Telemundo will give them a great reason to want DStv."

MultiChoice says DStv subscribers will for the first time be able to enjoy "the best telenovelas available worldwide in English". "Our customers are already enjoying the entertainment on offer on the 5 Universal Networls International channels available on DStv. Telemundo is a great addition which further strengthens our partnership with Universal Networks International," says Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.

BREAKING. The colour purple (it's called 'Blackberry') comes to the Universal Channel as the channel refreshes its whole look.

The Universal Channel (DStv 117), the number one international entertainment channel in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform is changing its look, logo and slogan from 3 May with a brand-new beautiful purple circular logo design and the new pay-off line "100% Characters".

The Universal Channel run by Universal Networks International (UNI) which also runs the successful programming polyglot of channel such as Studio Universal, E! Entertainment and Style on DStv is repositioning the brand as a TV channel where viewers will always find characters.

South Africa is one of the first countries in the world in a staggered roll-out of the brand-new Universal Channel rebranding exercise where the new look, logo and on-air imaging will be seen.

The Universal Channel brand refresh was developed in collaboration with NBCUniversal International Television's central marketing team, the award-winning creative division of Red Bee Media and the world-leading TV brand strategist Lee Hunt.

The Universal Channel is doing away with the interchangeable rainbow versions of the logo, settling for one, Blackberry coloured circular design and the channel name prominently balanced in the middle of a circle with a small "nick".

UNI says the nick gives the logo "character as well". In fact says UNI, "the nick is the piece which is going to add the characters". The process took 12 months.

The new logo, on-air imaging and idents  as well as upcoming print marketing material were shown to journalists, writers and TV critics today in Johannesburg and the new Universal Channel on-air look looks great. (If you can remember the 1980s Buck Rogers TV opening theme you will have a bit of an idea of how the new expanding concentric ring design is going to be used on air.)

"No other international TV channel has yet claimed the 'character' positioning, so we decided to use it for Universal Channel," says Colin McLeod, the managing director for emerging markets for UNI. He says the process borrowed a bit from the USA Network in America, a pay-TV channel which is part of the NBCUniversal stable where the slogan is "Characters welcome".

It was felt that slogan - although it was considered - isn't a perfect fit to apply internationally in the markets where the Universal Channel is carried, and it was amended to "100% Characters". The channel's brand refresh exercise will go into effect in South Africa on 3 May and will continue worldwide throughout 2013.

Colin McLeod told journalists today at the new Universal Channel brand reveal in Johannesburg that the channel's newly refined positioning is that of the home of character-driven entertainment.

"We've stripped away a lot of the clutter for a beautiful new look." He said UNI has a simple vision for the Universal Channel to be a TV channel which viewers "want to watch with everyone, everywhere".

Already 80% of South African viewers say that the Universal Channel "is important to me" when asked to rate the channel which is seen in 103 countries worldwide in 16 different languages.

Colin McLeod said UNI has been and is thinking "long and hard" when it comes to the content on the Universal Channel.

"We need to excite the audience; we need to keep bringing the audience back in." He said "100% Characters doesn't always mean positive and good characters" (although the Universal Channel wouldn't carry a show such as The Sopranos) but that watching the characters on the Universal Channel will always leave the viewer feeling fulfilled and feeling better.

Key shows for the Universal Channel and which will be build on, include The Mentalist, Rookie Blue, Two and a Half Men, NCIS, Psych and NCIS: Los Angeles.

"We arrived at our unique positioning because we believe that great characters are the magnets that draw viewers back to their favourite shows - week after week," says Lee Raftery, the executive vice president for marketing at NBCUniversal International Television, in the press statement.

"Universal Channel's new logo, look and '100% Characters' tagline are simple and intuitive enabling us to connect with the hearts and minds of our audiences, everywhere, and maximise the potential of this global entertainment brand."

BREAKING. After major error of doing a Madiba obituary on Tuesday night, the Universal Channel on DStv apologises for 'Remembering Madiba'.

After the Universal Channel (DStv 117) on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform erroneously broadcast an "obituary" of Remembering Madiba on Tuesday night about the frail elderly statesman Nelson Mandela - who is very much alive - the TV channel is now a profusely apologising for the "technical error".

Universal Networks International says playing the remembrance which is meant to be seen after Nelson Mandela's death was premature and an error but that all broadcasters have such programming ready. The elderly Mandela was admitted to hospital again for lung infection complications recently but doctors said he is making progress.

On Tuesday night viewers reacted with shock when the Universal Channel acted as if Nelson Mandela has died.

"Like any international broadcaster, Universal Networks holds obituaries ready for every major statesman in the word," says Universal Networks International which programmes the Universal Channel on DStv, after the mistake.

"Universal Networks wishes to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology for the airing of such an announcement for Nelson Mandela which was broadcast last night on the Universal Channel due to a technical error by our team."

"We unreservedly apologise to the Mandela family, to Universal Channel viewers and to DStv subscribers for the alarm and offense caused by this error. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Madiba and his family for a speedy and full recovery," says Universal Networks International.

BREAKING. Style on MultiChoice's DStv platform rebranding with its refreshed new look on 1 April in South Africa.

From 1 April  those two different, double-layered, watermarked Style channel logos DStv subscribers have been seeing on The Style Network will be a thing of the past: Style (DStv 173) as seen in South Africa is finally rebranding on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform from 1 April, switching over to the new look which Style in America adopted in June last year.

In the world of Style and Style (DStv 173) it's better to be dead than out of style, and now Style will now refresh here as well - finally.

ALSO READ: If you Built it: Style's new reality show with hunky handymen who are Manhattan models starting on 1 April 2013.

Last month in February was the last time TV with Thinus enquired as to the long-awaited Style brand refresh and was told there is no date yet. The past while viewers would often have seen the current Style logo as a channel marker watermark super-imposed upon the actual newer Style logo used in America, making for a somewhat confusing viewing experience.

Now NBCUniversal International Television, which runs the channel feed of Style in South Africa and Africa, is announcing that the channel will be changing its look on 1 April when it does away with the pink circle (right) and adopting the new font and look and the slogan of "Work It. Love It. Style It."

"The Style Network is refreshing its brand and image by embracing a new glossy and bold look that appeals to women's desire for living stylish lifestyles," says NBCUniversal International Television in a statement as it pertains to South Africa.

"The channel will refresh its logo, on-air look and tagline in South Africa and around the world - following the North American refresh. The network rebrand will go live on-air in South Africa on 1 April."

"As part of the refresh, the Style circle logo is replaced with a classic midnight blue typeface accented by a splash of light blue. The new logo is mutable and will be filled in with different patterns and colours that reflect the ever-changing trends in fashion and stylish living while embodying how viewers see the world through a prism of Style."

"Style will be the ultimate destination for female viewers who want to stay on top of the latest trends and seek inspiration," says Colin McLeod, the managing director for emerging markets at Universal Networks International.

The new Style refresh in South Africa on 1 April is also taking place on other markets including Australia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Central Europe and the Middle East as well as Singapore and Indonesia.

Style will be continuing with shows such as the popular Giuliana and Bill, Jerseylicious and Glam Fairy.

In addition Style is launching brand new-series such as Built on 1 April following male model handymen in Manhattan and House of Fab which is a new reality show peeking inside the business of Just Fab - an online shopping site run by Kimora Lee Simmons,.

Another new show on Style is Big Rich Atlanta, the new reality spin-off of Big Rich Texas which heads to the Buckhead Country Club where wealthy mothers and daughters do whatever it takes to stay on top of the social scene.

BREAKING. Comcast taking full ownership of NBCUniversal in $16,7 billion deal for remaining 49% of General Electric.

Comcast, an America's largest cable TV operator is taking full control and ownership of NBCUniversal a year after it acquired a majority stake in January 2011 in the media conglomerate, and will now control all of NBCUniversal by paying $16,7 billion for the remaining 49% of General Electric (GE).

NBCUniversal through Universal Networks International runs, provides, distributes and makes available a vast array of TV shows, TV channels, movies and entertainment content to South African consumers through both MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media's TopTV.

From TV channels such as E! Entertainment, Studio Universal, KidsCo, MSNBC, The Universal Channel, CNBC and many more to TV shows such as 30 Rock, Revolution and White Collar all belong to and are made available by NBCUniversal International.

Comcast will now own 100% of NBCUniversal.

In a press statement Comcast CEO Brian Roberts says "our decision to acquire General Electric's ownership is driven by our sense of optimism for the future prospects of NBCUniversal and our desire to capture future value that we hope to create for our shareholders".

Comcast will also take over the property of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, as well as the business channel CNBC's headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

INTERVIEW. Colin McLeod on the new Studio Universal channel in Africa: 'It's about the celebration of movies from Hollywood.'

Studio Universal (DStv 119) became the latest movie channel added to MultiChoice's DStv bouquet in South Africa and 46 other countries across Africa on September 30.

In Johannesburg I spoke with Colin McLeod from Universal Networks International, the managing director for emerging markets and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, who visited South Africa for the launch of the channel.

What's your expectation for Studio Universal in whatever form from Universal Networks International here in Africa and South Africa?
Colin McLeod: Studio Universal is one of those brands that we have to be very careful with. It's got the Universal name in there, and it's about movies. So we have to be careful about how and where we launch it. We did spend a lot of time with DStv in looking at overall what's on the platform and the rhythm of viewing across movie channels and scheduling. The brand will come first and foremost and the content will feed the brand if you like. The brand of Studio Universal will play a critical part in satisfying the demand for subscribers who want to watch movies – both the Premium and Compact. We're going to do a focus group next year.

Maybe a difficult question. Maybe something that doesn't really have an answer, but when I looked at the promos and heard the American voice-overs and the kind of movies, and deconstructed it a bit I suddenly thought, 'oh will it just be American movies?'. It's American product. And obviously you guys wouldn't have done it if the appetite for American culture and American movies didn't exist in Africa. Is it something that you think is still very strong in the world – the allure of American movies and the world it shows, the aspirational values?

It changes from market to market. It changes from country to country and that's also why we have a portfolio of channels. In the Netherlands we have 13th Street and Syfy. In Poland we have 13th Street, Syfy and The Universal Channel. It depends on the dynamics of the market; the competition. It changes from market to market and the genre of movies. It's easier to market a series than a movie, because a movie is gone in one afternoon or one evening; where you can build the appeal of a series.
Of course movies perform incredibly well on channels and there continues to be a strong interest. It does change however from market to market. Russia for example is not good for American suburban comedies, they don't play that well; whereas in the United Kingdom they will. The Brits like American comedy. You know, as long as it's not baseball – anything else will work. Down here we went for three core tentpole genres that broadly positions the channel because we've seen in all the research we've done time and time again that there's strong, strong interest in American movies.

From what release date, and how recent will the movies be that's seen on Studio Universal?

Okay, we've worked long and hard on that. We analysed what is on the platform [DStv] already and the rhythm. The majority of movies on Studio Universal will be under 20 years. We thought [fought?] hard to have some slightly older movies. You want the early Jaws. But most will be recent Hollywood blockbusters. If we do something on Spielberg, you want E.T. in there. Some will be slightly older but we're focusing on recent blockbusters.

Why did you guys decide to make the Studio Universal logo different and not keep it yellow?

When we did the analysis on Africa we decided the approach of Studio Universal is about the celebration of movies from Hollywood; about entertainment. In Italy the channel is a bit different, they have black and white movies, or great Western movie series, or the love of Charlie Chaplin. And in Italy Studio Universal is an incredibly, incredibly successful channel. It's such a strong brand, that performs so well. So for Africa we thought about celebration and building a similar channel that is about the great things from Hollywood and we've packaged Studio Universal for Africa to give that sense. We've recoloured the logo and we've added a couple of elements that are not in the existing one but it was really to speak emotionally what we want the brand to say.

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