Showing posts with label Viacom International Media Networks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Viacom International Media Networks. Show all posts

Friday, November 29, 2019

MultiChoice and Viacom renews channels carriage agreement.


by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and Viacom have renewed its channel carriage agreement for its set of TV channels carried on Africa's largest pay-TV service.

The new contract extension means that the BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, MTV Music 24, Nickelodeon, NickToons and Nick Jr. TV channels will remain on DStv in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Fathima Beckmann, Viacom Africa spokesperson, didn't respond to a media enquiry asking about the duration of the new contract period.

MultiChoice recently made news channel carriage news when brinkmanship in carriage renewal negotiations between MultiChoice and A+E Networks International led to MultiChoice announcing that it would end its partnership with A+E Networks and its 3 channels, followed by urgent renegotiations and a new deal that saved the History and Lifetime channels but with Crime+Investigation Network getting axed.

After the new A+E Networks deal, followed by the latest Viacom extension, BBC Studios is the next big contract up for renewal by March 2020 for the set of channels from BBC Studios Africa that are made available on DStv.

Talking about the Viacom carriage deal, Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, says the Randburg-based pay-TV operator is "pleased to share this market announcement of Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa)".

Alex Okosi, executive vice president and managing director for VIMN Africa and BET International, in a statement about the new carriage agreement says "This continued partnership demonstrates the shared commitment between VIMN Africa and MultiChoice to invest in local and international content that resonates with our audiences across the continent".

"We truly value our collaboration with MultiChoice as it also enables us to consistently deliver great African productions".

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

BREAKING. After 3 years of talks and 13 years apart, Viacom and CBS have reached a deal to merge again as ViacomCBS.


After 3 years of talks and negotiations following 13 years as split companies, another mega-merger is looming after the media giants Viacom and CBS have agreed to reunite in a United States deal with will have an impact on South Africa and the African continent as well.

On Tuesday CBS and Viacom that separated 13 years ago, announced that Viacom - that umbrellas Viacom's Paramount film studio and its pay-TV channels available in Africa like MTV, MTV Base, BET, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central - will merge with the broadcaster CBS, with the CBS Corporation that has the Showtime pay-TV channel and a 50%-stake in the CW broadcast network.

Viacom runs several linear TV channels as a channels supplier across Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa through Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa), while M-Net acquires and shows Showtime and CW series across its range of channels on DStv, as well as streaming series produced for CBS's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in America like The Good Fight and Tell Me a Story.

The combined Viacom-CBS conglomerate that will be known as ViacomCBS will now be lead by Robert M. Bakish who has been Viacom's CEO, with Joseph Ianniello, who has been the CBS acting CEO who will remain in place as the CEO and chairperson of a newly-designed CBS unit, says ViacomCBS in a statement released late on Tuesday.

CBS chief financial officer Christina Spade will serve as the CFO of ViacomCBS.

Shari Redstone will be the chairperson of ViacomCBS.

Viacom and CBS used to exist as Viacom until their split in 2006 but the combined ViacomCBS will now reach more than 4.3 billion pay-TV subscribers around the world.

ViacomCBS says that it now "has an opportunity to expand globally by leveraging its existing strength in both subscription and ad-supported offerings, combined library, content production capabilities and international infrastructure".

"I am really excited to see these two great companies come together so that they can realise the incredible power of their combined assets. My father once said 'content is king', and never has that been more true than today," said Shari Redstone in a statement.

"Through CBS and Viacom's shared passion for premium content and innovation, we will establish a world-class, multiplatform media organization that is well-positioned for growth in a rapidly transforming industry."

Bob Bakish in the statement says "Led by a talented leadership team that is excited by the future, ViacomCBS’s success will be underpinned by a commitment to strong values and a culture that empowers our exceptional people at all levels of the organisation."

“Today marks an important day for CBS and Viacom, as we unite our complementary assets
and capabilities and become one of only a few companies with the breadth and depth of content and reach to shape the future of our industry."

"Our unique ability to produce premium and popular content for global audiences at scale – for our own platforms and for our partners around the world – will enable us to maximize our business for today, while positioning us to lead for years to come."

Joseph Ianniello in the statement says that the merger "brings an exciting new set of opportunities to both companies. At CBS, we have outstanding momentum right now – creatively and operationally – and Viacom’s portfolio will help accelerate that progress".

"I look forward to all we will do together as we build on our ongoing success. And personally, I am pleased to remain focused on CBS’s top priority – continuing our transformation into a global, multiplatform, premium content company."

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Viacom approves a first-ever Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for the Middle East, slime-fest awards show will take place in Abu Dhabi on 20 September 2019.


Viacom's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) is creating a new Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Abu Dhabi that will be taking place in September as a new version of the kids awards show for the Middle East region.

The first Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Abu Dhabi will take place on 20 September at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and include a line-up of regional and international performers.

"The first-ever version of the globally renowned kids event to be staged in the Middle East will feature musical and entertainment performances, as well as bucketloads of Nickelodeon’s trademark green slime, while, at the same time, giving young fans the power to vote for their favourite artists and talent across a wide range of categories," Viacom says in a statement.

The Kids' Choice Awards Abu Dhabi is expected to be broadcast on the Nickelodeon Africa channel feed overseen by Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa). The Kids' Choice Awards Abu Dhabi 2019 is part of part of Viacom's ongoing expansion in the Middle East region.

"Producing the Kids' Choice Awards in Abu Dhabi will create a new entertainment experience for kids in the Middle East and raise the international visibility of Abu Dhabi even further," says Raffaele Annecchino, president of Southern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa for VIMN, in a statement.

"This partnership with the department of culture and tourism of Abu Dhabi is an important milestone for us, which further strengthens our leadership position within the media sector in the Middle East."

"Viacom has invested significantly in this key region, expanding our brand portfolio in recent years. We will now bring the first of our globally recognized tentpole events to the Middle East and North Africa region, and we want to continue growing this important area of business."

Saif Saeed Ghobash, under-secretary of Abu Dhabi's department of culture and tourism, says "An event of this stature fits perfectly with our mandate to provide the very best entertainment and activations for all sectors of society, and we are looking forward to seeing overseas visitor numbers increasing as a consequence of securing this significant event for Abu Dhabi for the next 5 years".

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Summer Ale is here! Viacom Africa's new-look Comedy Central Africa makes a quiet backdrop-debut.


Summer Ale is here! Viacom Africa's Comedy Central Africa (DStv 122) had a quiet backdrop-debut for the newly adjusted Comedy Central look when banners and a step-and-repeat adorned with Comedy Central's new branding appeared for the very first time in public in South Africa at last week's Thursday night red carpet and recording of the Comedy Central Roast of AKA.

TVwithThinus immediately noticed the new Comedy Central branding that is being rolled out worldwide for the Viacom channel globally.

Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) hasn't yet made any official announcement as to when the new branding and on-air look will come into use for Comedy Central in South Africa and across Africa but it will likely happen when the channel switches from a standard definition to a high definition (HD) feed from 5 March in South Africa and across Southern Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

As TVwithThinus reported last month, the new look is Comedy Central's first rebranding in 8 years, done by the New York studio Loyalkaspar, together with Comedy Central's in-house design team.

The refreshed Comedy Central look further refined the "C"-symbol that is now alongside a custom-made sans-serif typeface called "Comedy Sans", and also includes a new colour palette using a yellow named "Summer Ale".

On Thursday evening the new look was printed and appeared on all Comedy Central branding, including the big step-and-repeat backdrop banner in front of which celebrities stand when walking the red carpet and doing media interviews and photos.


Tuesday, February 26, 2019

VH1 Classic on DStv swapped for MTV Music 24; Viacom Africa's kids channel Nickelodeon upgraded to HD from 5 March.


Viacom Africa and MultiChoice are removing the outdated VH1 Classic channel and replacing it with a third MTV channel on its DStv satellite pay-TV platform, MTV Music 24 (DStv 323), with the standard definition channel that will continue to play just music videos from 5 March.

Meanwhile Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) kids channel Nickelodeon (DStv 305) will be upgraded to high definition (HD) in South Africa, and MTV Base (DStv 322) will be made available to DStv Access subscribers from the same date.

VH1 is getting swapped out for MTV Music 24, and will play music videos from all genres, including pop, dance, rock and urban.

"As we celebrate the 14th year of establishing VIMN’s local presence on the continent, we continue to value our strong partnership with MultiChoice to deliver great entertainment experiences to subscribers across Africa," says Alex Okosi, VIMN Africa executive vice president and managing director.

"The expansion of MTV Base's reach to DStv Access, the arrival of MTV Music 24 and the upgrade of some of our channels to HD are part of our commitment to provide dynamic channels that speak to diverse audiences".

VIMN Africa says the move to HD forms an important part of VIMN Africa's distribution strategy with MultiChoice with the network launching 4 channels across the Southern Africa (SADC) region - BET, Comedy Central, MTV and MTV Base - to high definition next month. 

Nickelodeon will be upgraded to HD in South Africa from 5 March.

Aletta AlbertsMultiChoice executive head for content strategy, says "DStv is always thrilled with the innovative customer solutions that come out of the Viacom stable. We are inspired by their focus on producing local content and putting local talent in the limelight through well-established international brands".

"Our DStv Access customers will thoroughly enjoy the programming on MTV Base, which really speaks to this audience and the addition of MTV Music 24 is a current and relevant evolution that will delight viewers."

Thursday, October 18, 2018

BREAKING. MultiChoice, the SABC and Viacom International's MTV to broadcast the Global Citizen Festival in South Africa in December across the continent and globally.




MultiChoice, the SABC, Viacom International's MTV and YouTube have picked up the broadcasting rights of the upcoming Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 with the SABC, MTV (DStv 130) and YouTube that will broadcast the event in South Africa, sub-Saharan African and globally to 180 countries across six continents on 2 December.

MultiChoice has the responsibility to film and produce the event and to provide the live broadcast to the South African public broadcaster, as well as other international broadcast partners.

MultiChoice will broadcast the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 on DStv channel 199 to all DStv subscribers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) will also broadcast the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 taking place at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa to 180 countries and territories outside the United States, including Australia, Argentina and beyond.

MTV Base (DStv 323) will also broadcast a 2-hour "best of" TV special in the days after the original live broadcast on DStv in South Africa as well as nearly 50 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

YouTube and Twitter will bring the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 to the rest of the global audience.

The South African comedian Trevor Noah will co-host the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 with Naomi Campbell, Dave Chappelle, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Bonang Matheba, Nomzamo Mbatha, Tyler Perry, and Forest Whitaker, and Oprah Winfrey will do a keynote address about Nelson Mandela and his legacy.

Stars like Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D'banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Kasey Musgraves, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher and Wizkid are set to perform.

Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, says "We're honoured to be the exclusive pay TV broadcast partner in Southern Africa for this event that celebrates Madiba's legacy and reminds us all of the importance of giving back to our communities. We look forward to sharing this with our customers on the 2nd of December, and also giving them access to the musical highlights in the days thereafter".

Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, says "The SABC is proud to partner with the Global Citizen Festival, which will enable the public broadcaster to bring the symbolic Mandela 100 concert to South African audiences".

"As we celebrate Nelson Mandela's centenary, we are pleased that this partnership will provide an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on Nelson Mandela‘s life and times, and promote his legacy."

Bruce Gillmer, Viacom’s global head of music and talent and co-brand lead for MTV International, says "MTV stands with the artists, leaders and passionate citizens who are raising their voices and taking action to effect positive change throughout the world".

"In the spirit of Nelson Mandela, MTV believes in the power of music to unite and inspire. We're proud to amplify this incredible night of music and activism in his honor to fans around the world."

The Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 executive producers are Dr. Precious Moloi Motsepe, Patrice Motsepe, Kweku Mandela, Dave Holmes, Declan Kelly, Liza Henshaw and Hugh Evans.

Leaders who will be speaking at the event include South African president Cyril Ramaphosa; Amina J. Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations; prime minister Erna Solberg of Norway and president Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.

Other leaders who will speak include president Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO); Alexander De Croo, deputy prime minister of Belgium; David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme; ambassador Ertharin Cousin, board director of The Power of Nutrition; and Peter Sands, executive director of the The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Viacom International to produce two spin-offs of Viacom Africa's sex edutainment show, MTV Shuga, for India and Egypt.


Viacom MTV International's Africa sex edutainment show, MTV Shuga, will expand into two further spin-offs for Africa's Egypt and India by 2020.

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) made the announcement at a Family Planning 2020 summit in London, saying the Indian version will be called MTV Nished (after the Hindi word for "taboo"), with the Egyptian version that will be done in Arabic and also get a local title.

Meanwhile MTV Shuga, commissioned by VIMN Africa and broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, will see two further seasons produced in Nigeria - its 6th and 7th seasons - that will start in 2018 in the West African country with very conservative views about sexuality.

These new Nigerian set seasons of MTV Shuga will have a strong focus on contraception and family planning, and the 6th season will be broadcast in early-2018 throughout Africa, Europe, America, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean.

Previous MTV Shuga seasons have been filmed in Kenya and lately in South Africa.

In India MTV Nished will be produced as part of a joint venture with Viacom 18 and there the show will focus on child sexploitation and like the African version on HIV/Aids and its prevention.

The Egyptian version that will be broadcast on pan-Arabic broadcasters, will focus on female genital mutilation, the scourge of child marriage, violence against women, demands for contraception and family planning issues.

The two spin-off shows will be broadcast in 2020.

"We know that storytelling has the power to catalyse positive social change and have seen that first-hand in Africa with series like MTV Shuga," says Georgia Arnold, executive director of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and senior vice president for social responsibility for MTV International.

"By going global with MTV Shuga and bringing this format to new countries, we are committed to challenging misconceptions and inspiring our audiences to talk openly and honestly about their sexual health, while also mobilising them to take action to access the services they need."

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

BET International abruptly yanked from StarSat as On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA loses the Viacom channel followed by subscriber rage.

The embattled pay-TV service StarSat abruptly lost yet another TV channel with BET International (StarSat 167) that suddenly went dead and furious remaining StarSat subscribers venting and threatening to leave the service in droves.

On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media SA running the struggling StarSat didn't respond to media enquiries about the abrupt yanking of the TV channel yesterday which was cut from the operator.

In addition StarSat also lost the Star Plus (StarSat 560) and Star Vijay (StarSat 565) channels from its Indian bouquet yesterday since both those channels are jumping to competitor MultiChoice's DStv platform.

BET International is the latest channel loss this year at StarSat that remains in business rescue, with culled channels like TLC and the two FOX Movies channels that, despite promises, have not been replaced.

StarSat's website still carries big banners for BET, and the channel line-up still lists BET although the Viacom channel is not actually available to subscribers. Instead the Nigerian channel iROKO has been added on another StarSat channel number.

In October MultiChoice and VIMN Africa announced that it will be contracting the two BET channels on DStv - BET and BET2 - into just one channel after expanding it to two channels in April this year.

BET2 on DStv and BET International on StarSat was actually the same channel, branded slightly differently. It now turns out that with BET2 going dark on DStv, Viacom International Media Networks also pulled the essentially same channel from StarSat.

Viacom's BET has been available on StarSat's platform for the past five years. The channel's return to South Africa on StarSat, then known as TopTV, and its subsequent success and viewer response, in fact led to retesting by MultiChoice which then also decided to add BET in September 2014.

StarSat didn't respond to a media enquiry asking why BET went away. 

Viacom in Africa in response to a media enquiry said "We can confirm that BET International ceased broadcasting on StarTimes on 30 November due to the expiry of our agreement. We regret that viewers will no longer be able to access BET content on this platform".

Neither StarSat nor VIMN Africa issued any statement or advisory to the media about the termination of the channel before it happened and which is customary.  

On social media angry StarSat subscribers are venting about the loss of BET and the Indian channels with no response from StarSat on its Facebook page while a tremendous backlash about the loss of the channels.

"Watching BET and the channel disappears," said Raymond Molapo.

"No comment from StarSat about BET? Why not increase price packages if its expensive to keep channels? I can't get over ending BET," said Nthabeleng Molapo.

"Why the hell is BET ending today? That was the one decent channel that I've enjoyed watching," said Lee Sebonka.

"I have to say goodbye. You taking BET from me; too many changes," said Audrey Michiel.

"StarSat takes away good channels and replaces it with junk," said Jenita Durga. "Why not have a Nigerian bouquet for those who want those channels? StarSat catch a wake-up or your ship will sink."

Thursday, July 16, 2015

e.tv adds the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards to Saturday schedule at 22:00; 2015 MAMAs promises a cornucopia of parties and stars.


Red-letter broadcaster e.tv has added the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) to its Saturday night schedule starting at 22:00 after again securing the free-to-air broadcasting rights for South Africa.

From tomorrow celebrities - those draped with faux gold and real - from across Africa and the United States, along with press, publicist, producers and entourages will descend on Durban in KwaZulu-Natal where the Elangeni Hotel, the Playhouse Theatre and the Durban International Convention Centre will form the trifecta epicentre of this year's made-for-TV awards show.

The pan-African music awards show from Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) with the American comedian Anthony Anderson will be shown live and simultaneously on MTV Base (DStv 322), MTV (DStv 130) and BET (DStv 129) from 21:00 - and now also on e.tv from 22:00. It will also be shown on BET International (StarSat 167) on a later date.

"e.tv is pleased to be associated with the 2015 MTV African Music Awards," says Monde Twala, managing director of e.tv channels division.

"The 2014 MAMAs was a great hit with our audience and we look forward to a great showcase of authentic African music. As the official free-to-air partner, we are extremely excited to be able to bring the event to millions of Africans who watch e.tv."

While stars and their entourages will start to check-in at the Elangeni Hotel on Durban's famed beachfront tomorrow, there's will be a press conference on pre-MAMAs press conference late Friday afternoon with VIMN Africa and MTV Base executives as well as some artists, followed by a vodka cocktails sundowner get-together.

Later Friday night there's the official pre-party at Under the Moon in Inanda where Uhuru, K.O., DJ Feel, Benny Maverick, Jnr De Rocka and King Sfiso will perform.

On Saturday there will be a VIP cocktail pre-party before the MAMAs at the Durban International Convention Centre where Junior B and Touch of Soul will perform.

While the arrested Young Thug will likely be a no-show at the Saturday's MAMAs, a platinum of stars from across Africa and South Africa are expected to attend and sweep down the red carpet.

Bonang Matheba, Cassper Nyovest, P-Square, Seyi Shay, BET's Top Actor winner Altovise Lawrence, Miss South Africa 2015 Liesl Laurie, Trevor Gumbi, Mr Nigeria Emmanuel Ikbese, HHP, MTV Base VJ Sizwe, Khuli Chana, Davido, Bucie, AKA, DJ Tira and Boity Thulo (who is not engaged) are just some of the stars who are confirmed to razzle-dazzle at this year's MAMAs.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 19 March 2015


"The meteor that never fell to Earth".
The New York Times covers the astounding rise of Empire on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131).

Top Gear inquiry starts.
The BBC investigative panel listens to the evidence of Jeremy Clarkson and the producer in the scandalous "fracas" which erupted around the BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) car show.
Meanwhile the international Top Gear shows - including in South Africa - will continue as announced, and The New York Times says Top Gear has "hit rock bottom".

Cosatu condemns the ongoing mismanagement of the SABC.
Trade federation demands that the people involved in the scandalous decision to give MultiChoice exclusive access to the SABC archives all resign.

E! Entertainment (DStv 124) now turns to RuPaul.
After the Fashion Police fiasco E! now hopes Good Work - commenting on the plastic surgery in Hollywood - works.

Nigerians wonder what the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is doing over MultiChoice's DStv price hike.
Is the "exploitative" 1 April DStv price hike "the beginning of the end of the road" for DStv in many Nigerian homes?

Meanwhile the petition against MultiChoice Zambia dominates the media.
In Zambia, MultiChoice is hiking the price for DStv subscriptions from 1 April by a staggering 21% for DStv Premium and a massive 22% for DStv Compact, while DStv Access is rising with an astronomical 30%.

Game of Thrones has its first ever European media premiere event.
South African and African viewers on M-Net (DStv 101) will see episodes of the new 5th season even before Sky subscribers will who will be 19 hours behind (although there were no South African press at the massive press launch in London at the Tower of London).


MUST READ: Your TV study article of the day.
If you really want to understand and learn and know pay-TV better and how the whole system works, take the time to read this great new article how it started and the changing structure of the pay-TV business.

New research into global TV viewership.
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) looks at how global TV viewers are redefining their relationship with television.

Watch SABC3's Presenter Search on 3 reality show.
Didn't know that you could watch the entire episodes of Presenter Search on 3 online, did you?

Foxtel Arts to launch in Australia on 28 March as a new TV channel.
Maybe one day MultiChoice's DStv or On Digital Media's StarSat will have a real South African arts TV channel too.

How Wendy Williams became talk TV's unlikely survivor.
Why the American TV talk show seen in South Africa on BET (DStv 135 / StarSat 167) became a hit dishing on pop culture and celebrities.

Abrupt ouster of Marcel Golding and Bronwyn Keene Young exit damaged e.tv
Remgro admits the scandalous has affected the TV channel's business - it has in fact "hurt" the company" over which Remgro refused to talk about last year.

Hungary's embarrassing TV fail.
Restart of Hungary's state TV channel leaves viewers with black screens on the first day due to technical problems.

Jon Cryer on Charlie Sheen and what really happened.
The Hollywood Reporter has a fascinating extract from Jon Cryer's new book So That Happened detailing what happened behind-the-scenes during Charlie Sheen's infamous meltdown.

Viewership for Keeping Up with the Kardashians falls to record low.
Ratings plunge for the new 10th season on E! Entertainment (DStv 124); premiere episode marks an all-time ratings low. Meanwhile eNews' Giuliana Rancic thinks its better to be "under-prepared" for live TV.