Times Media spinning out its Business Day TV channel to create SME Zone as a new weekend TV channel extension on DStv broadcasting to entrepreneurs.

Times Media is spinning out its Business Day TV (DStv 412) channel on MultiChoice's DStv to create SME Zone as a new weekend TV channel extension from this Saturday, 17 September.

Similar to what Times Media did with the IgnitionTV channel, SME Zone will start off running over weekends with dedicated content aimed at small business owners and entrepreneurs.

SME Zone is being created as a "self-help manual for small business and those looking to start their own enterprises" and follows the success of programmes on Business Day TV like The Big Small Business Show, now in its fourth year

SME Zone will feature step-by-step guides on how to identify, start and grow a successful business; educational modules such as The Small Business MBA; real-life mentoring sessions with experts; and tips and inspiration from some of SA's top entrepreneurs.

"Nine out of 10 small businesses fail within the first 3 years," says Semeyi Zake, creator and executive producer of the SME Zone.

"We aim to give entrepreneurs a fighting chance, through clear templates and business models that will greatly increase their chances of success."

Shows in the SME Zone line-up include Jumpstart (self-help jobs you can start with R500 or less); Biz Guide 101 (a blueprint for running 25 popular businesses); Pimp my Bizz (revamping a faltering enterprise); Pitch & Polish (a nationwide search for the best ideas); and SME Funding.

"We realized there's a hunger for business knowledge beyond the markets and corporate deals. As a channel, we are passionate about small business, realizing that this is where we can make an impact in addressing the country’s skills gap and play our role in creating employment and growing this economy," says Semeyi Zake.

Vernon Matzopoulos, head of broadcast at Times Media, says "TV is an incredibly powerful medium of instruction. Thanks to DStv's generosity in making the airtime available, we can now reach into 5.5 million homes – and hopefully inspire a small business revolution."

BREAKING. Weekend-run Ignition to become a full TV channel on DStv's platform from 5 July; plans to double viewing audience in a year.

The up til now weekend run Ignition TV channel (DStv 189) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform will be turned into a 24-hour, 7 day a week full TV channel from Saturday 5 July.

Ignition, run by Times Media TV only ran on weekends since it launched in 2008, but now wants to try and double its viewership within the next year.

Ignition's programming and broadcasting expansion comes after the launch late last year of the Bi-Cars TV channel on Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD) free-to-air satellite TV platform which is centred around the lifestyle of bikers, motorist who love street Moto-sport, Moto-fashion, Moto-sport trend setters, spinners, drifters, dragsters and followers.

Ignition plans to expand its programming slate with 20 new hours of programming weekly, promising "some of the best motoring content from around the globe", as well as more local TV production covering the South African motoring industry.

Ignition, stylised as IGNITION, "has proved a hit with car-mad viewers over the past five years and the opportunity to give them a chance to feed their obsession during the week as well, has been long awaited," says Lindsay Vine Smyth, the executive producer of the channel.

"South Africans don't just love cars, they live cars," says Vernon Matzopoulos, Times Media TV head, in a statement.

"While our new Ignition line-up stays true to the passion of the brand, it's also becoming a bit younger, hipper and funkier.

"Ignition has gone from strength to strength as a weekend offering and we're delighted that this much-loved TV channel will now be available 24 hours, 7 days a week on the DStv platform," says Aletta Alberts, the general manager for content for MultiChoice.

"Local entertainment is very important to our customers and Ignition will continue to deliver more exciting local content to a predominantly male audience in the lifestyle genre," says Aletta Alberts.

Ignition is developing Laduma with Vooma, a peek into the motoring lives of South Africa's top soccer stars and Tuned in SA, a showcase of what the country's top tuners are up to.

The Bike Show, That 4X4 Show and Street Rods Africa are also planned for the coming months.

New international shows on Ignition include Supercars, a German-produced series going under the hoods of the world's fastest and most expensive vehicles, and I Want That Car which takes British vehicle buyers to famous race tracks in the United Kingdom to size up three different options.

Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex looks at celebrity rides.

KITCHEN NIGHTMARE? Is a big food battle brewing between The Food Network and The Home Channel adding a new food slot?

Is a food fight looming? The kitchen knives could be coming out in a food fight for viewers between the newly added Food Network (DStv 185) and The Home Channel (DStv 182) both on MultiChoice's DStv platform that will be targeting the same viewers: the food lovers' market.

I broke the news RIGHT HERE earlier the month that caterer extraordinaire Vicky Crease is getting her own food show on The Home Channel. The show is part of The Home Channel's bigger plan which has been working hard at dishing up a new menu: a dedicated home cooking slot. And The Home Channel is planning even more. That means that The Home Channel will be trying to reach viewers who are also interested in the newly launched Food Network that just got a place at the DStv table.

The Home Channel even acquired programming that was/is part of The Food Network stable in the form of chef Emeril Green and his self-named show Emeril Green that promises to be ''the ultimate guide to green cooking with a gourmet touch''. Besides Emeril Green The Home Channel is dishing up Fresh & Simple with Vicky Crease, and the New Zealand production The Free Range Cook with Annabel Langbein - a sumptuous show about wholesome food and which is shot at her lakeside home. Five Ingredient Fix is presented by Claire Robinson preparing dishes using only 5 ingredients.

''For our viewers, food is at the heart of the home,'' says Vernon Matzopoulos, The Home Channel's managing director. ''It's about family and friends. Homely, fresh and simple.'' Vernon Matzopoulos says viewers can ''look out for lots more shows about real food, for real people.''

ALSO READ: Caterer extraordinaire Vicky Crease to get cooking on The Home Channel.

The Home Channel: ''On DStv Compact The Home Channel rules the roost ahead of BBC Lifestyle and The Style Network.''

The Home Channel (DStv 182) rules the roost, ahead of BBC Lifestyle (DStv 180) and The Style Network (DStv 183), says the locally produced lifestyle channel.

The Home Channel is none too happy about this errand comment by BBC Worldwide touting BBC Lifestyle to be more popular that The Style Network and The Home Channel in the lifestyle channel genre.

''What the BBC didn't tell you is that on the DStv Compact bouquet - that's the fastest growing part of DStv, The Home Channel rules the roost ahead of BBC Lifestyle and The Style Network,'' says Vernon Matzopoulos, managing director of The Home Channel that is available on DStv Compact.

''That excites us because DStv Compact is the future of DStv – from zero to nearly a million subscribers in just three years,'' he says, touting DStv Compact's phenomela growth. ''These are largely black subscribers who have grown up on a rich diet of local content - and expect it from their TV channels. Clearly they find that the home-grown décor, DIY, gardening and food content on The Home Channel speaks to them.''

''That's always going to be the challenge for global TV channels: Can your programmes connect consistently at a local level?''

BREAKING. Satirical ZA News finally coming to TV screens on Summit.

You're reading it here first.

I can absolutely be first to reveal that ZA News - the satirical life-size puppet show that the SABC refused to air and produced by the famous South African cartoonist Zapiro and producer/director Thierry Cassuto - is finally making its way to local TV screens.

ZA News will start to air from tomorrow, Tuesday as a daily 3 minute show on Summit (DStv 412) at 21:57 and repeated in the mornings at 08:00.

ZA News moved to the internet after languishing in a void waiting for the SABC to air it, then went to the internet and is now finally moving to television. ''Summit has a sophisticated audience and we think they're going to love ZA News' take on current events,'' Vernon Matzopoulos, Summit managing director says. ''Like all good satire it gets you questioning things - and if you loo at recent headlines, there are a lot of big questions for business right now.''

Thierry Cassuto, ZA News' executive producer and co-creator says they're ''delighted to have a window on Summit. We have plenty of exciting new puppets coming out and many surprises in store.''