Carte Blanche on M-Net stops making inserts available on YouTube.

by Thinus Ferreira

Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101) has stopped uploading inserts of the weekly investigative magazine show to its YouTube channel after two-and-a-half years.

Carte Blanche launched a YouTube channel in January 2019 but stopped uploading and sharing any inserts in July 2021, with only short teasers and promos that have been shared since. 

Carte Blanche viewers have noticed and have been wondering about the change that haven't been explained by Carte Blanche or M-Net.

Past inserts remain available with Carte Blanche that performed very well on YouTube for a South African media brand, racking up hundreds of thousands of views.

Carte Blanche, produced by Combined Artistic Productions, in response to a media query tells TVwithThinus that "Due to content rights, complete episodes of Carte Blanche can be viewed live on DStv on channel 101, or live streamed on the DStv app every Sunday at 19:00".

"The complete episodes will also be available on DStv Catch up immediately after the broadcast."

ALSO READ: M-Net's Carte Blanche starts a YouTube channel - for the right to see it online.

CORONAVIRUS. YouTube bans Sky News Australia and blocks the TV news channel for a week from uploading new content because of spreading Covid-19 misinformation.

by Thinus Ferreira

YouTube on Sunday confirmed and said that it has banned Sky News Australia from uploading any new content for a week because of spreading Covid-19 misinformation, AFP reported.

YouTube's weeklong ban of Sky News Australia, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp that also owns 21st Century Fox and the Fox News channel in America, comes after the TV news channel uploaded broadcast content questioning whether there is really a Covid-19 pandemic, featured a host claiming that lockdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic have failed, and criticising state authorities in Australia for extending Sydney's latest stay-at-home orders.

"We have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm," YouTube  says in a statement.

Sky News Australia confirmed its ban on YouTube and says in a statement that the channel "supports broad discussion and debate on a wide range of topics and perspectives which is vital to any democracy".

MultiChoice adds YouTube as a video streaming app to its DStv Explora Ultra decoder.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has added YouTube as another video streaming app to its DStv Explora Ultra decoder alongside Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Showmax and DStv BoxOffice.

Some of the world's biggest new subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services like Disney+ and HBO Max remain unavailable, very likely due to existing multi-year content output deals that MultiChoice and M-Net have with The Walt Disney Company and WarnerMedia that will first have to expire.

The YouTube app can be accessed by selecting the Apps button on the DStv remote control.

"DStv subscribers can now watch YouTube, where every day people watch over a billion hours of video, including music videos, short and documentary films, live streams and video blogs," says Nyiko Shiburi, MultiChoice South Africa CEO.

"The addition of YouTube to the DStv Explora Ultra builds on DStv’s ambition to be a one-stop video entertainment hub, giving our customers more convenience and choice to access local and international content on a single device," says Nyiko Shiburi.

With the DStv Explora Ultra's Discovery And Launch protocol, viewers can play YouTube videos from a second device, for instance a smartphone, directly on a TV screen connected to the decoder, without any pairing process that is required.

MultiChoice says that "This makes it easier to watch shared or archived content from a secondary device of choice".

Alex Okosi, managing director for YouTube for emerging markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), says that "Joining DStv Explora Ultra will enable subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa, one of our fastest growing markets, to watch the millions of hours of amazing content from Africa and around the world on YouTube".

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 12 October 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:  

■ "Too complex to break up" is the new excuse-slogan for "too big to fail".

The so-called "blue wave" is coming if America's Democratic Party wins the upcoming American election with the country's new wave of politicians who plan to break up the market dominance of Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon.

■ How Fox News (StarSat 261) creates its news narratives to play out like daily, serialised dramas.

Tells stories in a surprisingly similar way to a show like Lost or Stranger Things on Netflix; draws viewers deeper into a created reality that it spins for the watcher.

■ More penises are appearing on TV and in film and full frontal male nudity increases - but why are nearly all of them prosthetic?

In the obsession with size, big penis mystique must preserve the power of the phallus through prosthetic.

■ How The Crown on Netflix recreated Princess Diana's iconic wedding dress.

■ Massive ongoing court battle between the disgraced and famously matricless former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the South Africa's Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

■ The second season of The Boys ends with a shocking masturbation scene that was originally cut from the first season.

■ MultiChoice Studios now wants to sell its South African and African content to broadcasters across the Middle East.

■ Channing Dungey dumps Netflix after less than 2 years in shocking departure, is she heading to Warner Bros TV?

■ Because of NBCUniversal downsizing and cost-cutting rivals E! and Access Hollywood are now forced to share studio space.

Awkwardness as both E! and Access Hollywood look down on each other. The E! people think they're the "cool hip crowd" and Access is outdated and old, while Access thinks they're on broadcast television and E! is small and irrelevant. 

■ Viewership for embattled Ellen DeGeneres Show keeps falling after scandal. 

■ Nominations have opened for a vacancy on the SABC board and the application process closes on 15 October 2020.

■ TV's wave of "un-renewals": Scripted shows getting cancelled because of Covid after they become too expensive and difficult to produce because of the global pandemic.

■ CBS updates its iconic eye logo as CBS Television Studios rebrands to CBS Studios to identify CBS programming in end-title card.

■ YouTube more representative of Britain than television.

FIRST LOOK. MultiChoice to unveil its new DStv Explora Ultra decoder, will also launch a new DStv Streama decoder with remote control that has YouTube and Showmax buttons.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice plans to launch a new DStv Explora Ultra decoder to market, as well as a DStv Streama decoder enabling video streaming and coming with a YouTube and Showmax buttons.

MultiChoice will unveil the two new decoders aimed at keeping DStv subscribers venturing into video streaming within its own MultiChoice ecosystem this afternoon during its 2020 DStv Showcase media presentation for the press.

To help hype its 2020 #DStvShowcase media presentation that will kick off at 13:00 on Wednesday afternoon, MultiChoice on social media shared with the public images of its new DStv Explora Ultra and DStv Streama decoders.

MultiChoice's new DStv Explora Ultra that looks like a bigger set-top box (STB) with curved edges, will carry third-party subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) apps, like for instance Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, enabling DStv subscribers to watch these services through the connected decoder.

MultiChoice's DStv Streama decoder, with a grill-like, video-console look, has a small remote control with Showmax and YouTube buttons underneath a blue "home" button.


DStv Explora Ultra
MultiChoice didn't announce a retail price for the new DStv Explora Ultra, or when it will go on sale although it will cost more than the existing DStv Explora 3A.

Similar to the DStv Explora 3A, the DStv Explora Ultra has a recording capacity of 110 hours, will be able to pause live TV for 2 hours, have access to DStv BoxOffice, DStv Catch Up, provide an 8-day TV guide, have parental control and have interactive apps of SuperSport, News24 and weather.

The DStv Explora Ultra comes with a new "home page" with recommendations that showcase content from across DStv, Showmax, BoxOffice and selected streaming apps. 

The new DStv Explora Ultra remote control also allows quick access to streaming apps and the set-top box comes with built-in WiFi.

The DStv Explora Ultra supports 4K and Dolby Atmos (where available and when connected to the correct equipment) although MultiChoice doesn't plan on launching any 4K-resolution TV channels anytime soon. 

MultiChoice is also not planning on delivering any of the third-party app content through satellite. All of the streaming services that MultiChoice might add in future - for instance Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Star, Amazon Prime Video - will all be delivered over the internet through connecting the DStv Explora Ultra to the internet and a data stream.

Since certain third-party apps that will in future become available on the DStv Explora Ultra offer 4K streaming content - subject to availability and subscription terms - DStv subscribers will be able to watch that content in 4K. 

MultiChoice says that it does not yet offer 4K streaming, though this may change in the future.

MultiChoice also says that subscriptions to these third-party apps - whichever they might be - are separate to DStv subscriptions. Some services like SuperSport and People’s Weather will initially be included in the DStv subscription and MultiChoice may later roll out offers that allow a customer to get a discount or special offer on some of these third-party subscriptions.

The DStv Explora Ultra is wholly manufactured in South Africa and its enclosure is made of 100% recycled material.

The DStv Explora Ultra will cost more than the existing DStv Explora. DStv subscribers moving from an existing DStv Explora model will not need to make any changes to their installation. 

MultiChoice says they can simply unplug the older Explora then plug in the DStv Explora Ultra (making sure to use the HDMI cable and power supply packaged with the decoder) and follow the wizard to connect the WiFi.


DStv Streama
MultiChoice didn't announce a retail price for the new DStv Streama or when it will go on sale.

MultiChoice says that its new DStv Streama decoder works without a satellite dish and its associated cabling and all that is needed is a reliable home internet connection, a DStv Streama device and a TV set.

The DStv Streama offers an array of sport, entertainment, news and kids' content. 

The DStv Streama comes with apps like Showmax and YouTube and users will be able to "seamlessly switch between applications to view the content of your choice".

 The DStv Streama can be connected through home WiFi or an ethernet cable, and an HDMI input connection on a TV set.

DStv subscribers will be able to stream all the channels available on their DStv subscription as well as access the Catch Up content for those channels. MultiChoice says that when using the DStv Streama, it counts as one of the four devices for use with the DStv App.

The DStv Streama is built on top of the RDK platform. This is an operator tier platform, designed and built by a collective of TV operators (including Sky and Comcast). Its secure environment protects content rights holders, which are key to the pay-TV and OTT industry.

MultiChoice says that RDK was selected because it enables it to deliver the best entertainment experience for customers whilst enabling flexibility and security.

People won't need to be a DStv subscriber to use the DStv Streama but will need a DStv login. No active DStv subscription is required to use the DStv Streama.

MultiChoice wants to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for TV content, next DStv Explora will provide access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video OTT streamers.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's new DStv Explora decoder will be the first that will have the "shelf space" capability and come with a carousel user interface display incorporating icon tiles for the Netflix and Amazon Prime Video streamers as DStv morphs into a pay-TV super-aggregator and a content "one-stop shop" that will carry even more such third-party services in future.

Besides the launch of DStv Streaming, MultiChoice's "dishless DStv" digital streaming version of its current service that won't require the use of a satellite disk or installation, MultiChoice also plans to push a new DStv Explora decoder to market later this year that will be its first to carry and make over-the-top (OTT) services available to DStv subscribers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa in the form of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Talking about content, Imtiaz Patel, MultiChoice Group chairperson, on Thursday in the Randburg-based pay-TV operator's investors' call following the release of its 2019/2020 financial results, said that "the multitude of offerings are leaving customers overwhelmed with what is called the paradox of choice and the need for greater simplicity".

"It is where we see the opportunity to continue our aggregator journey. We broadcast and stream our own compelling local and international sport content and also make third-party streaming services available on our platform."

"All of this is to be found on a single platform, with a single bill that provides convenience and choice to our customers through a one-stop shop."

Explaining how the Randburg-based pay-TV operator's own subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax will sit alongside that of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and likely even more in future like YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max and others, Imtiaz Patel said that "local content and sport will be a key differentiator for Showmax and niche and general entertainment content from other providers will offer our customers more choice".

"Ultimately it enhances the customer relationship, it provides simplicity, convenience and a more comprehensive offering for our customers.

Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO, on the investors' call said that it had to take the opportunity to "become the platform of choice for people to consume these OTT services".

"People will go for where content is available. With the proliferation of all of these OTT's there are people who want to get access to this content and if we are a one-stop shop where they can get all these services we'll be positioned very well in the market for us to gain customers out there."

In terms of DStv set-top boxes and the timing of the roll-out, he said MultiChoice is in discussions with the distributors on how to launch. "There will be a new decoder that will be coming to the market that will be able to allow this kind of services to be accessible through the decoder. Our current decoders do not support this."

"The next version of our DStv Explora decoder is the one that is going to accommodate the OTT's on our platform," said Calvo Mawela.

He said that in the year ahead MultiChoice plans to "ramp up our investment in local content" and that "we will also be launching our OTT premium product, DStv Streaming, and focus on growing our paying Showmax subscriber base".

Talking about the strategy of adding video streamers he said that it will ensure that MultiChoice "continues to be a one-stop shop where people go through us to get content - no matter where it comes from - from any of the OTT players that are coming to the market. In that way we make sure that we remain relevant and that people find the convenience of paying just one bill".

"We also should not underestimate our ability to collect payment and to collect cash across the African continent - that also helps with the OTT's staying with us on our platform."

"We've had learnings from the United States and Europe where traditional pay-TV operators like ourselves have brought OTT services onto their platforms and they have improved service to their customers and customers have valued these initiatives."

One bill and possibly cheaper bundling
In terms of how customers will sign up and use Netflix and Amazon Prime Video MultiChoice didn't provide any details but looking at the tie-up operating model between pay-TV operators and video streamers as it has been introduced and used in America, the United Kingdom, Europe and elsewhere, MultiChoice will get revenue in the form of commission for DStv subscribers who sign up and make use of these OTT services through MultiChoice.

Consumers with existing Netflix and Amazon Prime Video accounts will very likely be able to log in as normal through DStv to access these specific streaming services.

Existing DStv subscribers who want to become new customers and users will however be able to easily sign up and access (or deactivate) one or more of these services by simply adding the fee to their existing MultiChoice bill, and paying one overall bill, in rand, at the end of the month, instead of to multiple providers.

MultiChoice and M-Net have been following a lot of the modus operandi of the UK's Sky pay-TV operator and will likely do so again when its new DStv Explora is launched.

Sky's Sky Q decoder launched in November 2018 and capable of 4K UHD resolution has OTT services like Netflix, Spotify and YouTube neatly stacked and showcased in tiles on the homepage.

Similar to how MultiChoice has bundled Showmax for free for DStv Premium subscribers it might likely do with Netflix as well.

Through creating a DStv-Netflix, DStv-Amazon or DStv-Netflix-Amazon package with the streamers - either being included for free initially or at a discounted promotional price, as part of an incentive to restore value to DStv Premium or to drive sampling and uptake - MultiChoice will be able to offer subscribers DStv and video streamers in a combined package at a cheaper price than if someone paid for DStv separately and Netflix and Amazon Prime Video separately.

Sky, for instance, started a new bouquet, Sky Ultimate, bundling the best of its own content, with Netflix, at a cheaper price than if a subscriber paid separately for a Sky subscription and a Netflix subscription.


ALSO READ: MultiChoice to add Netflix and Amazon Video Prime as video streamers, now reaches 19.5 million subscribers.
ALSO READ: EXPLAINER. How and why MultiChoice by adding video streamers to its DStv offering is finally pivoting into becoming a pay-TV Sweets from Heaven.  
ALSO READ: This is how MultiChoice changed its 2019/2020 financial results presentation in which it first revealed that it is adding Netflix and Amazon Prime Video ... and then deleted and altered its presentation.

Coronavirus: Chef Justine Drake now YouTube cooks from her kitchen during the Covid-19 lockdown.

by Thinus Ferreira

Chef Justine Drake has taken to the interwebs and has started a new weekday video series, Just Cook at Home SA, from her own kitchen during South Africa's Covid-19 national lockdown period to bring people new healthy recipes.

Realising that preparing nutritious meals at home during the coronavirus lockdown can be quite challenging, Justine Drake who is the Fresh Living magazine editor is now making videos from her own kitchen, filmed by her patient husband Marc with no fancy TV crews.

The Monday to Friday videos are available on YouTube and also connect to the #justcookathomesa Facebook group and @justcookathomesa on Instagram, sharing tips, tricks and hacks among minimalist-savvy home cooks.

Justine already uploaded videos including recipes for tuna and olive pasta, coconut dhal and aloo gobi to YouTube, with more on the way.

"We're not changing the world, but I do hope that we can inspire and entertain people to cook healthy, affordable food with their pantry and freezer stocks," says Justine. "There'll also be loads of recipes using fresh vegetables – the farmers are still growing produce and the supermarkets are well stocked – let’s make the most of it."

Coronavirus: Multiple TV channels, platforms to show the global Covid-19 concert – One World: Together at Home – on Sunday in South Africa and across Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

South African viewers will be able to watch One World: Together At Home, a star-studded global concert as a live broadcast very early on Sunday morning, 19 April on BET,  MTV, MTV Base and MSNBC and through online streaming on various platforms, with a primetime rebroadcast on E! on Sunday evening.

The One World: Together at Home broadcast, curated by Lady Gaga will feature appearances by Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Maluma, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan and Stevie Wonder. 

Others who will appear include Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Sam Smith, Usher and Pharrell Williams.

Also appearing are Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Awkwafina, Amy Poehler, LL Cool J, Lupita Nyong’o, Matthew McConaughey and Victoria Beckham.

The aim of the broadcast is to raise awareness and to generate funds to fight the global spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, with Global Citizen and the World Health Organisation (WHO) who are partnering together to present the show. 

 One World: Together at Home will be shown as a live broadcast on BET (DStv 129), MTV (DStv 120), MTV Base (DStv 322) and MSNBC (StarSat 263) in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa at 02:00 in the morning on Sunday, 19 April at the same time as it is shown in the United States, with E! (DStv 124) that will show a rebroadcast on Sunday evening at 18:00 in South Africa and across Africa. 

Disney's National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) is also set to broadcast One World: Together at Home although it's not yet clear whether it will be a live broadcast or a rebroadcast with no announcement from National Geographic in Africa yet.

As a multi-hour digital broadcast streaming online, One World: Together at Home will be accessible on Amazon Prime Video, Facebook, Instagram, Tencent, Tencent Music Entertainment Group, Twitter, Yahoo and YouTube. This digital special will include additional artists and performances. 

The American late-night TV hosts Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show and Stephen Colbert of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert seen on e.tv, are set to be the hosts of the One World: Together at Home broadcast and will be filled with musical performances and comedic sketches, with the core purpose to help raise funds and to educate and inform viewers globally about Covid-19 risks, prevention and response. 

The special will also include interviews with experts from the WHO, as well as stories of frontline healthcare workers from around the world and their courage and sacrifice fighting the virus. 

"As we honour and support the heroic efforts of community health workers, One World: Together at Home aims to serve as a source of unity and encouragement in the global fight to end Covid-19," says Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen. 

"Through music, entertainment and impact, the global live-cast will celebrate those who risk their own health to safeguard everyone else's. Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, says "We may have to be apart physically for a little while, but we can still come together virtually to enjoy great music. The One World: Together at Home concert represents a powerful show of solidarity against a common threat."

Coronavirus: Unlike Ralph, Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video say they won't break the internet during Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

The world's largest subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, Netflix, Google's YouTube and Amazon Prime Video agreed not to break the internet as the global Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic spreads and more people self-quarantine and stay and work from home -behaviour that is increasing pressure on internet broadband usage and service providers.

Netflix agreed to slow down the bitrate by 25% at which it delivers content for at least 30 days to its 51 million users in the United Kingdom and Europe as more people are home for longer binge-watching content, while others use the internet at home for work, to make online delivery orders, keep the kids busy and access information.

Google's YouTube also agreed to "minimise stress on the system".

Amazon Prime Video also said it would slow down its video streaming service.

Internet analytic reports - the latest available are from 2019 - found that video streaming gobbles up 60% of all data consumption between internet providers and users, with Netflix that is responsible for 12% of all video streaming usage and with YouTube grabbing another 12%.

Thierry Breton, the European Union's internal market and services commissioner, on Thursday asked Netflix to degrade its internet streaming video quality to preserve broadband during the Covid-19 crisis to prevent Netflix from breaking the internet.

"Streaming platforms, telecom operators and users - we all have a joint responsibility to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the internet during the battle against the virus propagation," Thierry Breton said in a statement on Thursday.

A few hours later, late on Thursday night, Netflix in a statement announced that "Following the discussions between commissioner Thierry Breton and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, and given the extraordinary challenges raised by the coronavirus, Netflix has decided to begin reducing bitrates across all our streams in Europe for 30 days".

"We estimate that this will reduce Netflix traffic on European networks by around 25% while also ensuring a good quality service for our members." The reduced Netflix bitrate will mean a reduction in picture quality for certain subscribers.

After Netflix statement, Thierry Breton again issued a statement, saying: "Social distancing measures to fight the coronavirus have led to increased demand for internet capacity be it for teleworking, e-learning or entertainment purposes".

"I welcome the very prompt action that Netflix has taken to preserve the smooth functioning of the internet during the Covid-19 crisis while maintaining a good experience for users. Reed Hastings has demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and solidarity. We'll keep closely in touch to follow the evolution of the situation together."

Google's YouTube also issued a statement, also agreeing to slow down and limit bitrate traffic, saying: "We will continue working with member state governments and network operators to minimize stress on the system, while also delivering a good user experience".

Amazon is now also reducing bitrate speeds across Europe and is monitor the situation in the United States and other countries around the world. Amazon says that the company is ready to take action in countries and territories if internet broadband problems occur.

"We support the need for careful management of telecom services to ensure they can handle the increased internet demand, with so many people now at home full-time due to Covid-19," says Amazon Prime Video in a statement.

"Prime Video is working with local authorities and internet service providers where needed to help mitigate any network congestion, including in Europe, where we’ve already begun the effort to reduce streaming bitrates while maintaining a quality streaming experience for our customers."

ViacomCBS Africa boss Alex Okosi jumps to YouTube to lead Africa as VCN Africa ups Monde Twala and Craig Paterson to general managers for the African continent.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Africa boss of ViacomCBS Alex Okosi has jumped to YouTube forcing ViacomCBS Networks International Africa (VCN Africa) into a top executive shake-up that is filling the gap by upping Monde Twala and Craig Peterson as co-general managers for the continent.

Alex Okosi who is exiting VCN Africa at the end of February 2020 is becoming the managing director of emerging markets for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region from April 2020 at YouTube, while Monde Twala and Craig Peterson are becoming general managers at ViacomCBS Africa from March.

Before jumping to YouTube, Alex Okosi was a long-serving TV executive and held the fort as executive vice president and managing director of ViacomCBS Networks International Africa and BET International.

In his new job Alex Okosi will be responsible for running YouTube's business and partnership teams across emerging markets in the EMEA region, including Russia, the Middle East, as well as North and sub-Saharan Africa.

Alex Okosi will report to the head of YouTube for EMEA, Cécile Frot-Coutaz and he will relocate to London in the United Kingdom.

"YouTube is a game-changing platform that plays an increasingly important role in our lives today through the dynamic content and innovation that it delivers," says Alex Okosi in a statement. "I am very excited to be joining Cecile’s leadership team to continue empowering creators and elevating value for viewers and partners across the region."  

Cécile Frot-Coutaz says "I look forward to welcoming Alex to our YouTube EMEA leadership team. He brings a wealth of experience in the content industries and has a track record for building businesses and audiences in established and new markets".

"Alex will be leading our existing teams in Russia, sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa to drive further expansion in these key markets."

Meanwhile ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) announced that the departure of Alex Okosi will be filled by Craig Paterson and Monde Twala who are named as co-general managers of ViacomCBS Networks Africa.

"Alex has made an immeasurable impact on our business in Africa," says Raffaele Annecchino, President of ViacomCBS Networks Europe Middle East, Africa and Asia, in a statement.

"Since launching MTV Base in 2005, Alex has spearheaded the development of our business on the continent, which now delivers more channels to Africa than any other international network – reaching 100 million viewers in 48 territories across MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and BET."

VCNI says that Alex Okosi took over leadership of BET International in 2017 and has continued to advance the value of the brand internationally "delivering double-digit distribution growth and improving profitability and margins".

In a VCNI statement, Alex Okosi says "I am proud to have had the opportunity to build our Africa business from the ground up".

"This has played a pivotal role in transforming the music and content space and changing the narrative on Africa. Leading our Africa and BET International businesses to success is testament to the extraordinary teams, colleagues and partners that I have worked with throughout my tenure. ViacomCBS has been my home for more than 20 fantastic years, and I leave behind incredible creative and commercial talent that will continue to deliver growth."

David Lynn, president & CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International, says "I’m immensely grateful to Alex for his contribution to the success of VCNI, including his role in developing such a strong team of successors. Alex’s leadership has been essential to our success in Africa and to the continued growth of BET International".

From 1 March 2020 Monde Twala and Craig Paterson will take over as general managers of VCN Africa. 

Monde Twala, senior vice president & general manager, editorial VCN Africa (pictured left), will focus on content, creative, editorial and marketing across all VCNI brands.

Monde Twala is currently the vice president of ViacomCBS Networks Africa’s BET, youth & music brands.

Monde Twala who joined the company in 2016 is responsible for driving the development and growth of iconic music, youth and entertainment brands BET, MTV, MTV Base and MTV Music24, across the African continent. 

Craig Paterson, senior vice president & general manager, VCN Africa (pictured right), will be responsible for all corporate functions, including business development and strategy.

Craig Paterson is currently senior vice president, business operations for ViacomCBS Networks Africa and is responsible for driving strategic growth and business opportunities in Africa.

Prior to this role, Craig Paterson was responsible for operations and finance for multimedia brands MTV, MTV Music24, Nickelodeon, Nick Toons, Nick Junior, MTV Base, BET and Comedy Central on the African continent. 

He spent nearly five years at Viacom beginning in 2011 as vice president of operations and finance in Africa and returned to the company in 2018 as senior vice president of business operations in Africa. 

"I am delighted that Craig Paterson and Monde Twala will take over leadership in this important market," says Raffaele Annecchino.

"Both have worked with Alex for years, which coupled with their expertise will ensure a seamless transition. Craig and Monde are experts in their respective areas and in addition to incredible business acumen, have demonstrated leadership and collaborative excellence throughout each of their careers and tenures with the company."                    

[UPDATE - CHANGING.] YouTube adds pre-recorded and live streaming sports content for South Africa.

UPDATE -Wednesday 3 July 13:20: YouTube has reached out to say that the article and information reported below, as from a press release issued yesterday, isn't all correct. When there is updated, correct information, a new article will be added here as a (2), and above what is now marked (1) below, and TVwithThinus will also do a separate, new report on this specific news:


(1) YouTube is adding sports content that it will be streaming for South African users, similar to Showmax's recent announcement in mid-June of adding sports content from SuperSport as a live streaming option.

YouTube in South Africa on Tuesday announced that people will now be able to watch basketball, rugby, cricket and football events on YouTube as part of video-on-demand (VOD) viewing, as well as highlights packages including the recent NBA Finals, UEFA Champions League, ABSA Premiership, Serie A, La Liga, Women’s World Cup, UFC and AFCON. 

YouTube will also make live sporting events available in future for South African viewers.

YouTube said that sports consumption on YouTube in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region is growing fast and that in 2018 YouTube saw a 70% increase in views of sports and fitness related content, totalling more than 61 billion views.

" In Africa, sports content on YouTube is both broad and deep with YouTube delivering evergreen sporting highlights alongside new and emerging sports experiences like home fitness, and 79% of viewers saying that YouTube has sport and fitness content they can’t find anywhere else," the company said in a press release.

"It's an amazing summer of sport around the world and in Africa," says Dayo Olopade, the YouTube content partnerships lead.

"We know audiences are excited about sports content on YouTube and we are pleased to be able to bring fans more of the sports they love, in collaboration with our global and local partners."

MultiChoice's Connected Video division that runs its subscription VOD service, Showmax, started testing both pre-recorded and live sport content on its streaming service.

The NBA starts a YouTube channel, NBA Africa, for sub-Saharan Africa; will work with Google to produce original basketball content.

America's National Basketball Association (NBA) is launching a YouTube channel, NBA Africa, for sub-Saharan Africa, that will stream basketball games as well as magazine show content and NBA documentaries in partnership with Google's streaming service.

The NBA that has struggled to get its content on South and Southern African TV screens since ESPN dumped South Africa and Africa and went dark om MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform doesn't have a big following in South Africa or sub-Saharan Africa but is trying to get more exposure for the game on the continent since it opened a regional office in Johannesburg a few years ago.

The NBA in Africa apparently started some type of Africa league with 12 club teams in February. An NBA Academy Africa opened in May 2017.

The NBA's NBA Africa YouTube channel will stream 2 live NBA games per week in sub-Saharan Africa of what's left of the 2018/2019 basketball championship season starting on 24 March, that will include playoffs, conference finals and the finals.

The first live games shown will be on 24 March with the Charlotte Hornets against the Boston Celtics at 12:00, followed by the L.A. Clippers against the New York Knicks at 18:00.

NBA documentaries that will be shown for instance profiling players like Nigeria's Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The NBA is working with Google's YouTube to provide original basketball content.

"The NBA Africa YouTube channel is yet another important milestone for the NBA in Africa and will allow more fans to access our games, live and on-demand, across the continent," says Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA managing director for Africa.

"As we enter the home stretch of the NBA season and teams fight for playoff positioning, we look forward to bringing the excitement of the NBA to more fans in sub-Saharan Africa while celebrating the NBA's rich history and bright future in Africa."

Dayo Olopade, the manager of YouTube partnerships in Africa at Google, says "From inception, YouTube has been a hub for fans to catch up on moments and coverage from their favourite sports. We are delighted to be partnering with the NBA to bring the action and inspiration of basketball to our audience in Africa."

"We hope NBA fans on the continent enjoy watching the live games and commentaries on YouTube."

Google launches YouTube Premium in South Africa.

Google has launched YouTube Premium in South Africa with a primary focus on YouTube Music Premium, while premium TV content on YouTube Premium still remains inaccessible.

YouTube Red rebranded as YouTube Premium in May 2018, with YouTube Music Premium that offers an ad-free music streaming service providing music videos, albums, singles, remixes, live performances, covers and some hard-to-find music.

YouTube Music has ads and is integrated with Google Play Music. A paid subscription to YouTube Music Premium for R59.99 per month or R89.99 per month for a Family Plan and removes the ads as an ad-free experience and offers downloads.

YouTube Premium costs R71.99 per month or R109.99 for the Family Plan. A Family Plan subscription gives up to 6 people the option to share a single subscription.

YouTube in South Africa doesn't make YouTube Originals TV series and films available to users yet. Only the first two episodes of the science fiction drama series, Origin, is for instance available to watch for free on YouTube that was filmed last year in Cape Town, without the possibility of seeing the rest of the 8-episode series.

Asha Patel, head of marketing at Google South Africa, says YouTube Music offers features that music lovers will really enjoy.

"A home screen that dynamically adapts to provide recommendations based on what you've played before, where you are and what you're doing. Thousands of playlists across any genre, moor or activity. The hottest new music. And no internet? No problem. Get You Tube Music Premium to listen ad-free, in the background and on-the-go with downloads," she says.

"With the Smart Search feature on YouTube Music, music lovers can find any song, even if they can't remember what it's called."

Google SA says Smart Search is available in most indigenous South African languages including isiZulu and isiXhosa.

"Google Play Music subscribers will automatically receive access to YouTube Music Premium at their current price. Nothing is changing with Google Play Music - you'll still be able to access all of your purchased music, uploads and playlists in Google Play Music just like always," says Asha Patel.

2019 BUDGET SPEECH WATCH. Pre-analysis, live coverage and post-analysis broadcast plans on Wednesday of the SABC on SABC News and SABC2, eNCA, CNBC Africa, Open News and YouTube.

Several TV channels will be doing live coverage and analyses on 20 February when Tito Mboweni, South Africa's minister of finance, delivers his 2019 budget speech at 14:00 on Wednesday afternoon.

Here is TVwithThinus's round-up of what the coverage on South African television on Wednesday will entail:

SABC
The SABC tells me in response to a media enquiry that SABC News (DStv 404) and SABC2 will start with preview interviews and live crossings on Wednesday morning on Morning Live from the parliamentary precinct in Cape Town.

This will include economists, labour, politicians and various other experts. The SABC plans to do live crossings from the various regions on budget expectations from citizens on the ground, and also commissioned preview packages focusing on tax, Eskom, education, safety and security, and health.

Budget speech preview-related coverage will also be carried on the SABC News channel programmes, The Agenda and On Point.

Live coverage of Tito Mboweni's 2019 budget speech will start on SABC News and SABC2 at 13:50 as the minister of finance walks into parliament to deliver his address.

The speech will be carried live on these SABC channels. Subsequent to the speech, the broadcast will consist of analysis with various experts, as well as live crossings to the steps of parliament for reaction from political parties and civil society.


eNCA (DStv 403)
eNCA tells me in response to a media enquiry that it will provide full coverage and detailed analysis of Tito Mboweni's budget speech, live on the news channel from 14:00 on Wednesday.

The eNCA business anchor Devan Murugan will report live from the parliamentary precinct, leading the analysis and gauging the reactions from politicians and experts.


CNBC Africa (DStv 410 / Cell C black 512)
CNBC Africa tells me in response to a media enquiry that Godfrey Mutizwa and Karabo Letlhatlha will be anchoring the main desk from Sandton on Wednesday, crossing to Fifi Peters in Cape Town throughout the day for 2019 Budget speech coverage.

The business news channel will also carry the 2019 Budget speech live. CNBC Africa says it will naturally adapt to any changes or breaking news on Wednesday.

CNBC Africa's current run-of-day on Wednesday will be as follows:

13:00 - 14:00 Pre-Budget Panel with chief economists, banking heads and financial institutions

14:00 - 16:30 Live broadcast of the 2019 Budget speech & post-analysis with top economists, CFO’s and fund managers 

16:30 - 17:15 CEO and labour panel

17:15 - 17:35 Youth panel

17:35 - 18:05 Eskom panel

18:05 - 18:30 Tax and savings panel   

18:30 - 19:00 Highlights special (26 minutes)


Business Day TV (DStv 412)
Business Day TV tells me the business news channel will go live at 13:30 with a pre-budget speech panel anchored by Alishia Seckam.

From there Business Day TV will cross live to parliament for the speech and then come back for a brief analysis. Thereafter and into the rest of the evening, the channel will look at the various themes that come from Tito Mboweni's speech.

This will consist of various panels from tax, business, personal finance and politics, as well as taking a look at markets' reaction and some of the other news of the day.

Anchors for the day are Alicia Seckam, Leigh Roberts, Natassia Arendse and Giulietta Talevi.

Panellists appearing on Business Day for the day are Lumkile Mondi (senior lecturer: Wits School of Economics & Business Science), Zweli Mabhoza, founder/director: Priority Tax), Maarten Ackerman (chief economist: Citadel), Marcus Botha (BDO), Muneer Hassan (senior lecturer, taxation: University of Johannesburg), David Warneke (National Tax Committee Chair: SAICA), Vukani Mde (political analyst: Lefthook), Daniel Silke (political Analyst), Ralph Mathekga (political analyst), Andre de Ruyter (CEO: Nampak), Bernard Swanepoel (executive director: Small Business Institute), Nick Nick Kunze (Sanlam Private Wealth), Bernard Berson (Bidcorp), Razia Khan (Standard Chartered), Hanneke Farrand (director of private clients at ENS Attorneys), Lizl Budhram: Head of Advice at Old Mutual Personal Finance), Kevin Lings (chief economist: Stanlib), David Shapiro (Sasfin Securities), Nick Crail (Ashburton Investments).

YouTube

Parliament's YouTube channel will broadcast the 2019 Budget speech live.

Open News (Openview 120)

Open News tells me that the channel's viewers will get the opportunity to have their say from 17:00 on Wednesday afternoon when Open News starts its daily coverage of the day's top stories.

Anchors Naledi Moleo and Koketso Sachane will provide an incisive overview of the speech and weigh in on the key talking points. 

Social media anchor Ayanda Dlamini will gauge the reaction on social media, and viewers will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and reactions with the Open News team via Whatsapp.

Viewers flock to The Bachelor South Africa ... on YouTube, saying it looks like Top Billing and begging M-Net to make all the episodes available for free.

Viewers - including several international ones - have flocked to M-Net's (DStv 101) The Bachelor South Africa ... on YouTube, comparing the show's look and style to the glamorous lifestyle magazine show Top Billing on SABC3 and many begging M-Net to make the rest of the season's episodes available online for free as well.

In a first-ever move, M-Net decided to release the first episode of The Bachelor SA, produced by Rapid Blue, on YouTube in a shrewd marketing move to help build buzz and a fear-of-missing-out, drive DStv subscriptions, and to cut through the television clutter and create a must-watch TV-event moment.

By Saturday afternoon The Bachelor SA on YouTube racked up over 16 300 views.

The Bachelor South Africa quickly started to "trend" on Twitter on Thursday evening in South Africa with its debut episode, with the release of the first episode of the premium channel's show that drew a large and decidedly female-skewed audience.

Viewers tuned in to see bachelor Lee Thompson meeting the 24 women selected out of thousands of entries that surprisingly included the killed Reeva Steenkamp's former best friend Gina Myers, after which Lee sent 3 women home at the end who didn't receive a rose.

Specifically watching The Bachelor SA on YouTube, several viewers weighed in begging M-Net to please put the rest of the episodes on YouTube as well, since they don't live in South Africa and don't have access and can't get access to MultiChoice's most premium, flagship TV channel.

"Please upload every episode, some of us aren’t in South Africa but absolutely want to continue watching!" said Tunashe. "Looks like a Top Billing episode," says Jojo.

"M-Net you hit it out the park with this one," remarked Khanyisa Nyalungu.

"Share every episode please," asked Cyra Redcliffe, echoed by Indiphile Matshayana saying "please upload every episode", and Tshwanelo Fokazi saying "Post all episodes for South Africans living abroad".

"Thanks guys, I love the show. From Kenya but am hooked," said Seraya Chuchi.

MultiChoice reveals it will only broadcast 25 minutes on DStv of Beyoncé and Jay-Z at the Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival 2018 on Sunday and not their whole performance.

MultiChoice has revealed that it will only be broadcasting 25 minutes on its DStv satellite pay-TV service of the on-stage appearance of Beyoncé and Jay-Z today that will form part of the Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival 2018 from the FNB Stadium and not their whole performance.

The event is set to be broadcast by MultiChoice's DStv, YouTube, Twitter, the SABC's SABC1 and Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) TV channels, MTV (DStv 130) and MTV Base (DStv 323).

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.

The South African comedian Trevor Noah will co-host the Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival with a string of international bold type names ranging from Naomi Campbell, Dave Chappelle, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Tyler Perry and Forest Whitaker, set to appear, and with Oprah Winfrey who will do a keynote address about Nelson Mandela and his legacy.

South African stars like Bonang Matheba, Nomzamo Mbatha are also part of the appearance list.

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, but MultiChoice revealed that it will only broadcast 25 minutes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, not not their whole performance.

On Twitter MultiChoice warned DStv subscribers, saying "we will be airing the entire concert but only 25 minutes of the Beyonce and Jay-Z performance" because "the full performance of Beyoncé and Jay-Z is exclusive to those who have earned their tickets to be inside the stadium on the day".

Hi, we will be airing the entire concert but only 25 minutes of the Beyonce and Jay-Z performance. ~TC

— DStv (@DStv) November 30, 2018

the full performance of Beyoncé and Jay-Z is exclusive to those who have earned their tickets to be inside the stadium on the day. ~TC

— DStv (@DStv) November 30, 2018

A production staffer involved with the Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival died on Saturday after the rigger plunged to his death, although the concert will go ahead despite the tragedy and loss of life.

The as yet unidentified man die on Saturday at the FNB Stadium doing rigging work for one of the production partners involved.

Following failed series like Origin, filmed in South Africa, YouTube stops with original scripted series development.

YouTube is done for now with commissioning further original scripted series.

It follows the roll-out of failing attempts like the recently released drama series Origin produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television that is now on YouTube Premium and that was filmed in Cape Town and the Western Cape in South Africa.

YouTube now plans to rather grow its ad-supported business by making all future original YouTube placed programming free to people visiting it, instead of placing it behind the subscription pay-wall on service YouTube Premium.

YouTube is done with trying to make scripted shows and will now focus on unscripted programming and specials.

YouTube in a statement says "By any measure, 2018 was a breakout year for YouTube Premium and YouTube Originals. We expanded YouTube Premium to 29 countries, launched over 50 scripted and unscripted shows, and collected eight Emmy nominations and over 30 industry awards".

"As we look to 2019, we will begin making all of our YouTube Originals ad supported to meet the growing demand of a more global fanbase."

"This next phase of our Originals strategy will expand the audience of our YouTube Original creators, and provide advertisers with incredible content that reaches the YouTube Generation."

More South Africans say they watch Showmax than Netflix, although video streaming remains tiny under consumers - 73% say they haven't watched any streaming content for the past week.

More South Africans say they're watching Showmax than rival Netflix South Africa – but by just a smidgen, although Netflix's video streaming service is more popular in the top "supergroups" of consumers, while Naspers' SVOD leads in the two middle groups.

A new survey of the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRCSA) looking at brands and services in South Africa that just released the results, surveyed 3 154 South Africans from all socio-economic levels in urban and rural South Africa between January and June this year.

South Africans said SABC1 is their most often watched TV channel, that eNCA (DStv 403) on MultiChoice’s DStv is their most often watched TV news channel, and that SuperSport 4 (DStv 204) is their most often watched sports channel.

The survey also reveals the interesting rise in the growing popularity of TV channels making inroads and carving away at the SABC’s television dominance.

While SABC1, followed by e.tv, SABC2 and SABC3 are still the biggest and most often watched channels, e.tv’s set of free-to-air channels like eMovies and eExtra are rapidly gaining traction, as is the Indian-infused Zee World (DStv 166). 

M-Net’s Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is the TV channel that leads the charge on smartphones as the most watched channel on this type of device.

YouTube is by far the most viewed streaming service in South Africa, with more South Africans saying they're making use of Showmax often, than those indicating they're using Netflix – but by a very narrow margin. 

While 24% of users said they've used YouTube in the past week, 5% indicated that they've accessed Showmax, and 4% said they’ve accessed Netflix. 

One percent accessed other streaming services like Amazon Prime Video. A whopping 87% said they use YouTube most often, followed by 6% for Showmax, 5% for Netflix and 2% for other.

With new, segmented so-called Socio-Economic Measure (SEM) "supergroups" that have replaced the outdated Living Standards Measure (LSM) that advertisers and marketers use to target and identify South African consumers, the survey reveals that Netflix is the most preferred and used video streaming service in South Africa's three top consumer "supergroups" of 3, 4 and 5 – the wealthiest consumers.

In SEM supergroup 5, 22% of people said that they have watched Netflix in the past week. 

In SEM supergroup 4, 17% of people said they have watched Netflix in South Africa in the past week and it was 36% for supergroup 3. 

That was more than for Showmax that had 17% viewing under SEM supergroup 5 in the past week, 15% for SEM supergroup 4, and 32% for SEM supergroup 3.

Showmax however outranked Netflix in the lower end of the consumer market where Showmax is more popular than Netflix. 

In SEM supergroup 2, 30% of people said they've watched Showmax the past week (compared to 21% for Netflix), and 6% of SEM supergroup 1 respondents indicated that they've watched Showmax in the past seven days, compared to 4% for Netflix.

The survey makes clear how small video streaming services are still in South Africa, with 73% of South Africans in the survey saying they have not watched any video streaming content in the past week.