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."

Coronavirus: Discovery Channel, CNN International and MSNBC doing Covid-19 TV specials.

by Thinus Ferreira

TV channels and TV news channels have ramped up their Covid-19 novel coronavirus coverage in light of the growing global pandemic with special documentaries in the works as well as TV specials.

The Discovery Channel (DStv 121) is readying a special quick-turn documentary, Coronavirus: The Silent Killer.

Discovery Inc. was asked when it will air on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and Africa and said the documentary is being aired in the United States at the end of March and is expected to reach South Africa shortly after that.

The documentary special looks at the world's most dangerous new supervirus, with Discovery that aims to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding its origins and exploring the different ways people can address the contagion.

Discovery plans to release a series of virus-related shows that will be airing in the following weeks on some of its channels.

The NBC News anchor Lester Holt will anchor the NBC News Special Report: Coronavirus Pandemic that will be shown on NBC in the United States and simulcast on MSNBC (StarSat 263) on Friday morning, 20 March at 04:00 (South African time).

As developments and massive global impacts continue to unfold around the pandemic, a team of the network’s correspondents will provide real-time information around what viewers need to know about the coronavirus.

The one-hour broadcast will also include expert analysis and health advice from NBC’s Coronavirus Crisis Team, including NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Dr John Torres and top virologist and NBC News and MSNBC medical contributor Dr Joseph Fair.

CNN International (DStv 401) will broadcast a CNN Facebook Global Town Hall - Coronavirus: Fact and Fears on Friday morning 20 March between 02:00 and 04:00 (South African time) anchored by CNN's Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta.

They will be joined by health experts Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr Celine Gounder, clinical assistant professor of medicine and infectious diseases at New York University.

Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta will focus on the latest facts, what the current situations are both in the United States and globally and what people can expect to happen in the coming weeks. They will also interview a patient who is taking part in the clinical trial for a possible coronavirus vaccine.

Coronavirus: South Africa's broadcasting regulator ICASA suspends all public hearings, bans all visitors from its premises.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA), has immediately suspended all public hearings for regulatory issues and has placed a ban on all visitors to its offices as the Covid-19 virus rapidly spreads in South Africa and globally.

ICASA says ithe broadcasting regulator is reviewing its day-to-day business given the spread of the global novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday evening president Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in South Africa that included a ban on gatherings of 100 people or more.

"ICASA has activated the crisis management initiatives as required by the organisation's business continuity policy to ensure its preparedness to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic."

ICASA has suspended all public hearings and will monitor and assess the situation in month's time.

ICASA has banned visitors to ICASA premises which includes all visits, both local and international with customer walk-ins that are also suspended.

"We are reducing face-to-face meetings by encouraging the use of telephones, email correspondence and video/teleconferencing in lieu of in-person gatherings, particularly for meetings with clients or stakeholders," says ICASA.

"We are cognisant of the fact that the spread of the virus will have an effect on our business," says Willington Ngwepe, ICASA CEO.

"However, ICASA is in full support of government initiatives in curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic; but we will endeavour to adhere to our turn-around times as contemplated in our respective divisional standard operating procedures."

"Any other delays will be communicated on time to our respective stakeholders."

Coronavirus: The must-watch cautionary coronavirus video from Italians to themselves – and the world - about how Covid-19 changed their lives.

by Thinus Ferreira

With Italy devastated by the Covid-19 novel coronavirus as one of the worst-hit countries, some Italians made a must-see video for themselves of 10 days ago – but actually the rest of the world – to share what they wish people should know.

 The video, made by the Milanese filmmaking group, A Thing By, asked ordinary Italians of every gender and age, to share a message now, to the version of themselves of 10 days ago.

 Then, Italian society made the grave mistake of not taking the threat seriously and was slow to act and to respond to limit the spread of the dangerous and contagious virus.

Their responses are haunting and cautionary but also end with a ray of hope and optimism that this crisis too will be overcome.

 In contrast, on Tuesday morning the Expresso presenters on SABC3 were still seen on television sitting close together, drinking alcohol and laughing, mirroring South African society where South Africans have been slot to heed president Cyril Ramaphosa’s request to practice things like social distancing and to be conscious of trying to limit the spread of the virus.

A massive problem in South Africa is that the local TV industry is largely in denial and has been extremely slow to react and respond to mirror and demonstrate the appropriate actions of social distancing as requested by president @CyrilRamaphosa due to the coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/uzEvuaXz85

— TVwithThinus (@TVwithThinus) March 17, 2020

With a national state of disaster that was declared it appears as if South African popular culture, similar to Italy, has been slow to react to adapt to the requested new social conventions to limit social interaction to try and curb the spread of the virus.

Within just 10 days Italian society has crashed to a halt with close to 2 000 dead and more than 25 000 cases as the country and Western Europe is on lockdown.

Coronavirus: Ster-Kinekor cinemas will remain open for now as the Covid-19 virus spreads in South Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

Ster-Kinekor in South Africa has also decided to keep all of its cinema theatres across the country open.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday declared a national state of disaster over the rapid spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus in South Africa and announced several measures to try and contain the spread, including a ban on gatherings of 100 people or more.

On Monday Nu Metro announced that it would keep its chain of movie theatres open for now.

Across the United States, United Kingdom and several other countries cinema chains closed their movie theatres to help curb the spread of the virus pandemic.

Ster-Kinekor in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus on Tuesday morning said that it's "proceeding with schedule programming but with additional precautionary measures in place".

Ster-Kinekor says that the cinema chain's executive committee "has been working to ensure that it remains abreast of all developments relating to the outbreak of coronavirus".

"Certain hygiene protocol steps had already been taken including the placement of hand sanitizers in cinema and the minimizing of staff in periods where they are not required."

"The executive committee and leadership team are currently studying the presidentss announcement and the rules and regulations around the declared national state of disaster to ascertain a clear direction and points of action to be taken by the organisation."

"Once a clear action plan has been determined, Ster-Kinekor will inform the public, its staff and guests of the detail and implementation of such a plan."


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Nu Metro cinemas will remain open for now as the Covid-19 virus spreads in South Africa.

Nollywood remake Living in Bondage the big winner at MultiChoice and M-Net's 7th 2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards held in Lagos, Nigeria (+ full list of winners).

by Thinus Ferreira

After not taking place in 2019, MultiChoice and M-Net restaged its Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards on Saturday night despite growing concerns over the spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus across Africa, with the 7th edition of the pan-African awards ceremony that took place at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria where the Nolly-remake film Living in Bondage was the big winner.

MultiChoice Africa flew TV and film execs, various on-screen talent, producers and crew, as well as media from various African countries to Nigeria where coronavirus cases have been confirmed, for Saturday night's awards show with hosts Amina Abdi Rabar and IK Osakioduwa.

The awards show that was broadcast live across sub-Saharan Africa on DStv's various Africa Magic channels packaged by M-Net, was held in Lagos at the same time as MultiChoice and M-Net staged the 3rd 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards inside the TicpetPro Dome in Johannesburg for South African viewers.

Living in Bondage, by Steve Gukas - a 2019-remake of the 1992 Nollywood classic - snagged the Best Overall Movie trophy, along with awards for Best director for a film, Best supporting actor for a film, Best cinematographer, Best soundtrack, Best writer, Best sound editor, as well as Best Actor in a drama.

Here is the full list of winners of the 7th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards:

Best Makeup
Lilian Omozele Paul (God Calling)

Best Costume Designer
Dimeji Ajibola (Ratnik)

Best Picture Editor
Tosin Igho and Byryan Dike (Elevator Baby)

Best Sound Editor (Movie/TV series)
Cristina Aragon (Living in Bondage)

Best Lighting and Designer (Movie/TV series)
Cardoso (God Calling)

Best Cinematographer
John Demps (Living in Bondage)

Best Documentary
Beverly Naya (Skin)

Best Soundtrack (Movie/TV series)
Larry Gaaga and Flavour (Living in Bondage)

Best Writer (Movie/TV series)
Asinogu Nicole and CJ Obasi (Living in Bondage)

Best Indigenous Language (Movie/TV series - Swahili)
Raveet Sippy Chadha (Subira)

Best Indigenous Language (Movie/TV series - Hausa)
Muhammad T. Finisher (Tuntube)

Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV series - Yoruba)
Yewande Famakin (Alubarika)

Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV Series - Igbo)
Victor Iyke (Nne)

Best TV Series - drama/comedy
Anis Halloway (Truth)

Best Short Film or Online Video
Bola ‘Enigma’ Akanbi (Thorn)

Best MultiChoice Talent Factory Film
Promises (East Africa)

Best Movie: Southern Africa
Dalitso (Abraham Kabwe)

Best Movie: East Africa
Plan B (Sarah Hassan)

Best Movie: West Africa
Living in Bondage (Steve Gukas)

Industry Merit Award
Peter Igho

Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or TV series
Gloria Sarfo (The Perfect Picture: 10 Years Later)

Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or TV series
Pascal Tokodi (Disconnect)

Best Actress in a Comedy (Movie/TV series)
Funke Akindele (Moms At War)

Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie or TV Series)
Chibunna “Funny Bone” Stanley (Smash)

Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/TV Series)
Toyin Abraham (Elevator Baby)

Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series)
Timini Egbuson (Elevator Baby)

Best Dressed Male
Mike Edwards

Best Dressed female
Mercy Eke

Trailblazer Award
Swanky J.K.A

Best Director
Ramsey Noah (Living in Bondage)

Best Overall Movie
Living in Bondage


ALSO READ: Free hand sanitiser and sequined gas mask mark the 3rd 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards (+ full list of winners).

Coronavirus: Multiple American TV shows shutting down production as TV industry in United States staggers under growing Covid-19 impact.

by Thinus Ferreira

Multiple American TV shows are shutting down production, with many more expected to halt filming for weeks, as the TV industry in the United States brace for the growing fallout and abrupt societal change forced by the rising spread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 in that country and globally.

So far no South African TV productions have shut down although M-Net is considering whether to continue with filming and possibly changing the island location of the upcoming 8th season of Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island produced by Afrokaans.

On Friday morning MultiChoice and M-Net were still set to continue and go ahead with Saturday's 7th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards taking place in Lagos, Nigeria as well as the 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards taking place at The Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg with thousands set to attend the two live broadcast award shows.

The National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) is also still on for 27 and 28 March at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

By late Thursday over 35 American TV shows seen in South Africa and counting - ranging from scripted drama series like Grey's Anatomy, NCIS and the variouos Chicago series; to reality series like The Amazing Race, to daytime talk shows like The Wendy Williams Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show and Ellen, and even late night shows like The Daily Show with Trevor Noah - have ceased production.

As the growing coronavirus pandemic is rapidly spreading in the United States following the same alarming trajectory as it has in Italy, American TV channels, studios and production companies are shutting down production to try and limit the spread of the virus.

On Thursday NBCUniversal ordered almost all of its vast range of shows from several studios and Universal Television to temporarily shut down, including Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med, F.B.I. and New Amsterdam all seen on M-Net (DStv 101) along with the daytime talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit seen on Universal TV (DStv 117) also shuttered.

"The safety and health of our cast, crew and employees is our top priority," says NBCUniversal in a statement. "Where possible, we are pausing production for two weeks as a precautionary measure, following which we will reassess and determine an appropriate start date. In some cases, we are accelerating plans to wrap up physical production."

The three NCIS series seen on M-Net and Universal TV are taking a production break as well, with CBS Television that has told the cast and crew of The Good Fight (also seen on M-Net) to stay home. 

Survivor seen on SABC3 and M-Net have postponed production and filming of the upcoming 41st season that was supposed to start later this month.

Production on the second season of The Morning Show on Apple TV+ has shut down, as well as on its Isaac Asimov science fiction series Foundation produced by Skydance and currently filming in Ireland, with Riverdale seen on M-Net and filmed in Vancouver in Canada also shuttered after a crew member was in contact with someone who has the virus.

Amazon Studios has shuttered production on the second season of the fantasy series Carnival Row on Amazon Prime Video, currently filming in Budapest, Hungary. 

The 16th season of Shondaland's Grey's Anatomy, also seen on M-Net, also ceased production on Thursday in America, while Netflix ended work for now on the final season of Grace and Frankie.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert seen on e.tv that on Wednesday said it's going without a live studio audience decided to rather shut down entirely, as did The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers which are not seen in South Africa. 

The Wendy Williams Show on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's BET (DStv 129) also initially said on Wednesday it would continue without an in-studio audience in New York but also decided to shut down completely, saying "The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority. Considering the current escalation of the coronavirus, production will be put on hold, indefinitely."

ViacomCBS also pulled the plug on its annual 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards set for 22 March 2020 in Los Angeles.

DStv’s MVCAs and AMVCAs still a go as Africa’s TV biz brace for the impact of growing coronavirus fears.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is continuing with the big productions of the 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards (MVCAs) in South Africa, as well as the 7th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs) in Nigeria - both set for 14 March - as Africa and South Africa's TV biz brace for the impact of growing coronavirus fears.

With confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Nigeria and South Africa - as well as some other African countries - and the high likelihood of more cases being reported in coming days, weeks and months, the television and film production industry in South Africa, as well as across the African continent, is largely taking a wait-and-see approach, anticipating a level of disruption but not changing or cancelling any plans for now.

So far no events or productions have been cancelled or scaled back with the making of television that is a highly social industry, requiring studio audiences and a steady influx of guests and analysts for TV talk and news shows, live audiences for televised award shows, as well as contestants for the flurry of reality series.

MultiChoice that revived both the MVCAs and AMVCAs for 2020 after a year's absence and with both set for the same date of Saturday 14 March in Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa respectively, says next Saturday's live televised award ceremonies are both still a go.

Collectively thousands of people from various countries across sub-Saharan Africa, including TV and film executives, on-screen talent, crew, media and members of the public will converge on the Eko Hotel in Lagos and the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg respectively for the shows.

MultiChoice and M-Net didn't want to speak on the record in response to media enquiries about what additional precautions and changes the pan-African pay-TV operator is making to the organising, production and logistics of the two award shows given the serious issue of the arrival of the novel coronavirus in Africa.

Speaking to background a MultiChoice representative told TVwithThinus on Thursday afternoon that the pay-TV service "is monitoring the situation closely and taking it day by day".

Meanwhile Clover South Africa carried on with a media event this week for the 9th season of the advertiser-funded reality show Tropika Island of Treasure on SABC3, while SABC2 is going ahead with a press screening set for next week of some of the channel's new local TV productions.

For the time being production is also continuing M-Net's latest 8th season of Survivor South Africa entitled Survivor SA: Immunity Island set to film soon for broadcast in September.

South Africans from across the country are chosen by the production company Afrokaans to fly internationally to an as-yet-undisclosed island to compete in the next season of the local version of the castaway reality show.

BBC Studios Africa is continuing with a media event and press screening on Saturday of its new documentary series, Seven Worlds, One Planet coming to BBC Earth (DStv 184) for a gaggle of local and international guests in Muldersdrift where the Ndlovu Youth Choir is also set to perform.

While British broadcasters like the BBC and ITV have now started to draw up specific coronavirus plans as the spread of the disease is starting to disrupt production schedules and media events, there has not been any public statements yet from the likes of the South African public broadcaster or its SABC News division, e.tv or e.tv News and eNCA division, MultiChoice, M-Net or StarSat about what they might be doing differently in light of the virus presence and its spread across the continent.

Multiple American and international broadcasters, as well as streaming services, continue to cancel meetings, media upfront events and media engagements as they also cancel attendance at conferences and festivals, while some international filming productions are also being reconsidered and curtailed.