MultiChoice and kykNET will bring the Afrikaans film pop-up channel fliekNET to DStv from 16 December for a month.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and kykNET are bringing the Afrikaans film pop-up channel fliekNET to DStv from 16 December, for a month, with the channel that will be available to DStv Premium subscribers on DStv channel 149.

Earlier this year MultiChoice and kykNET decided that running fliekNET - which started out as a DStv pop-up channel - as a permanent DStv channel was unsustainable, and changed it back to being a film pop-up channel.

fliekNET was originally launched as a holiday film DStv pop-up channel in 2014, that would "pop up" in years after that as a kykNET channel brand extension, before it morphed into a permanent DStv addition in mid-2020.

Now fliekNET will be a DStv pop-up channel again, this year from 16 December 2022 until 15 January 2023 for DStv Premium subscribers.

Some of the feature films on the fliekNET schedule include recent hits like Barakat, Toorbos, Kaalgat Karel and Klein Karoo and Klein Karoo II. 

kykNET's series of hour-long made-for-TV movies known as Storiefilms is also part of the schedule with titles like Magda Louw, Die lang, langnaweek and Dija wil ’n baby hê, as well as classic Afrikaans films like Boetie gaan border toe, Tant Ralie se losieshuis, Lokval in Venesië and Lord Oom Piet.

Short films that were made as part of kykNET's Silwerskerm film festival are also part of the schedule, including documentary series like Impressario, Oppi Kassie and Daar Doer in die Fliek about the history of the film and TV industry in South Africa.

MultiChoice and M-Net's unsustainable Afrikaans film channel fliekNET goes back to being a DStv pop-up channel from mid-July 2022.

by Thinus Ferreira

With not enough content and new Afrikaans films to keep it going as a permanent movie channel, MultiChoice and M-Net's Afrikaans film channel fliekNET (DStv 149) will go back to being a DStv pop-up channel from mid-July 2022.

fliekNET that started out as a DStv pop-up channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service will cease to be an ongoing DStv from midnight on 15 July, a year and 10 months after it changed to being a permanent DStv channel in September 2020.

fliekNET was originally launched as a holiday film DStv pop-up channel in 2014, that would "pop up" in years after that as a kykNET channel brand extension, before it morphed into a permanent DStv addition in mid-2020.

New Afrikaans films will now premiere on kykNET (DStv 144) on Sundays at 20:00.

kykNET says new Afrikaans films and 50-minute short films will continue to be made and shown on kykNET and that the channel has a new Saturday night movie timeslot at 20:00. kykNET is also developing new 90-minute films which will be shown from 2023 on the channel.

MultiChoice isn't saying why it's taking fliekNET away as a permanent DStv channel and says "channel and content offerings are reviewed regularly in terms of viewing trends and consumer needs. This market research may lead to channel additions or terminations".

MultiChoice says the pay-TV operator "remains committed to the local feature film industry and is proud of the successes of and international recognition received by films such as Barakat, Indemnity and Gaia in recent months".

Spring cleaning: Here are the 9 big changes coming to DStv channels from September and later this month.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service is doing some spring cleaning with multiple changes, channel additions and channel replacements, channel removals, as well as channel number changes coming into effect from today, with two more later this month.

The major changes revolve around MultiChoice and M-Net restructuring and reducing its M-Net Movies collection of channels, the SuperSport collection of channels being restructured into thematic and thematically named channels, BBC Studios' BBC First channel taken away, and the new option of a M-Net Movies add-on package being introduced.

Here are the changes:


1. Tellytrack, the South African horseracing channel, has moved from DStv channel number 239 to channel 249.


2. The BBC First channel that was available to DStv Premium subscribers has been axed from DStv as part of what MultiChoice calls "a refresh of its British entertainment line-up". Some of the British drama content that used to be on BBC First will now be placed on the BBC Brit channel.


3. Fashion One (DStv 178) that has been running outdated and old content on a loop, abruptly stopped broadcasting without warning a few days ago. MultiChoice that tried to engage the Fashion One owners has removed Fashion One with immediate effect from the DStv line-up.


4.  MultiChoice will add the tlnovelas channel as a pop-up channel on DStv channel 133 between 14 and 30 September that will broadcast an array of English-dubbed Mexican telenovelas.


5. MultiChoice will launch its new DStv Rewards loyalty programme for DStv subscribers in South Africa sometime this month but hasn't specified or announced a specific date for September yet. With DStv Rewards subscribers will earn upgrades, discounts and other vouchers depending on what bouquet and for the duration they've been subscribers.


6. M-Net and MultiChoice reduced its set of M-Net Movies channels from 6 to 4 TV channels which are also renamed to M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 104), M-Net Movies 2 (DStv 106), M-Net Movies 3 (DStv 107) and M-Net Movies 4 (DStv 108). The number of films shown won't be reduced but movies are structured better to decrease the number of repeats on DStv.


7. M-Net's kykNET Afrikaans channels division is making the December holiday pop-up channel fliekNET (DStv 149) a permanent Afrikaans film channel from today. The channel will broadcast classic Afrikaans films as well as new locally-produced Afrikaans movies.


8. MultiChoice has created an "Add Movies" add-on package for DStv subscribers that costs an additional R99 per month. DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Family, DStv Access, DStv EasyView, and DStv subscribers on the Indian packages can add the Add Movies add-on to their normal subscription. The Add Movies package has the M-Net Movies 1, M-Net Movies 2 and fliekNET channels and will also include possible M-Net Movies pop-up channels when DStv run them for a limited time.


9. The collection of SuperSport channels are getting names from today and channel number changes to help make it easier for DStv subscribers to know what type of content to expect on which channel.

The new SuperSport arrangement will go live at 12:00 on 1 September.

SuperSport's flagship channel, SuperSport Grandstand is now on DStv channel 201 and will carry the best of live sports content, with SuperSport Blitz on DStv channel 200 that will carry 24-hour sports news and highlights.

Channel 202 as SuperSport PSL will now carry Premier Soccer League (PSL) and other South African football, DStv channel 203 as SS Premier League will now carry English Premier League, UCL, UEL and international games, while SS LaLiga on DStv channel 204 will now carry LaLiga, UCL, UEL and international games.

SuperSport Football on DStv channel 205 will now carry soccer like Serie A, additional EPL, UCL, UEL and international games.

On SuperSport Variety 1 on DStv channel 206 SuperSport will broadcast cycling, swimming, additional golf, cricket, tennis, rugby and soccer. On SuperSport Variety 2 on DStv channel 207 SuperSport will show gymnastics, squash, sailing, hockey and additional football content.

On SuperSport Variety 3 on DStv channel 208 subscribers will find a variety of athletics, marathons, WWE wrestling, PSL and additional soccer coverage, while SuperSport Variety 4 on DStv channel 209 will showcase a variety of local sports ranging from school rugby and university sports, to netball, BNL, MDB and SRC, as well as WWE wrestling highlights.

DStv channel 210 now named SuperSport Action will showcase adrenalin sports like UFC, EFC, boxing, additional rugby and cricket, as well as cricket and motorsport, while DStv channel 211 as SuperSport Rugby is now the main channel for rugby including Springbok games, Super Rugby, the Currie Cup, test matches as well as Sevens matches.

DStv channel 212 as SuperSport Cricket will mainly house cricket coverage like the Proteas, ICC tournaments, international cricket games and IPL, while DStv channel 213 as SuperSportGolf is now where major golf tournaments reside like PGA Tour, the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

On DStv channel 214 is SuperSport Tennis with tennis like the Grand Slams, ATP 1000, ATP 250 and ATP 500; with motorsport like Formula 1, Formula E, Moto GP, Superbikes and Supercars on DStv channel 215 as SuperSport Motorsport.

DStv channel 236 will be the main home for WWE wrestling coverage, including WWE live events, WWE RAW, WWE SmackDown, WrestleMania and WWE SummerSlam.

MultiChoice and M-Net reducing and restructuring its M-Net Movies channels offering on DStv, makes fliekNET permanent and adding KIX as a martial arts film channel.

by Thinus Ferreira

MutiChoice and M-Net are further scaling back and reorganising the satellite pay-TV service's M-Net Movies packaged film channels, with the existing 6 M-Net Movies channels which are reduced and cut down to 4 channels on DStv from September.

According to insiders the change is partly prompted by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and the reduction in film output from Hollywood.

MultiChoice and M-Net revamped its carousel of linear M-Net Movies channels on DStv in October 2012 when its linear film channel offering consisted out of 9 movie channels grouped according to genre.

Since then MultiChoice and M-Net restructured, consolidated and scaled back its M-Net Movies channels group to 6 channels by July 2020: M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104), M-Net Movies Smile (DStv 105), M-Net Movies Action+ (DStv 106), M-Net Movies Action (DStv 110), M-Net Movies All Stars (DStv 111) and M-Net Movies Zone (DStv 139).

Now these channels will be reduced to 4 film channels from September and renamed M-Net Movies 1, M-Net Movies 2, M-Net Movies 3 and M-Net Movies 4.

It's not yet clear when exactly the M-Net (DStv 101) movie slot on Sunday nights at 20:00 will change or will run out of new premiere films to show on a weekly basis - but it will be anytime soon.

Four months after the abrupt end and global disruption of the film production and distribution pipeline because of Covid-19, the premium pay-TV window (that follows after theatrical release, airline, SVOD and DVD release) is now also out of stock.

M-Net was asked about this in a media enquiry and didn't respond with answers.

Meanwhile, in M-Net's latest reorganisation of the M-Net Movies channels, M-Net Movies 1 will be on DStv channel 104. Content from the kid-friendly Animania festivals on M-Net Movies Smile, as well as blockbuster romcoms and gripping dramas will now be on this channel.

M-Net Movies 2 will be on DStv channel 106 - basically the two Action channel combined. It will show "an adrenaline rush with recent heart-pumping, explosive action films. The schedule will be packed with all kinds of adventures and thrills and spills at maximum velocity".

M-Net Movies 3 will be on DStv channel 107 now. The channel will be "where all the movie heroes and heroines hang out, either saving the day in adventure classics, or inhabiting the imaginary worlds of sci-fi and fantasy. Sometimes, they even tickle the funny bones in star-studded comedies, or show off their acting chops in gripping dramas".

M-Net Movies 4 will be on DStv channel 108 and will showcase "the world’s biggest blockbusters, as well as their prequels and sequels, are lined up here. While movie franchise lovers can enjoy great movies for hours on end, friends and family can join all the action and fun too".

Mark Rayner, MultiChoice South Africa CEO, in a statement, says "It’s important for us to facilitate the best possible viewing experience for our DStv customers in our ever-evolving world of entertainment".

"While the proposition of the current six movie channels – M-Net Movies Premiere, M-Net Movies Action+, M-Net Movies Action, M-Net Movies Smile, M-Net Movies Zone and M-Net Movies All Stars – made perfect sense when they launched years ago, recent comments and requests from our movie-loving DStv audiences indicated that it was time for a reboot."

Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment and connected video, says the pay-TV operator is trying to improve its film offering.

"In our quest to remain Africa’s most-loved storyteller, innovation and quality will always be key. Local movies will also play an increasingly important role, alongside screening handpicked Hollywood films first on all our platforms."

M-Net Premium subscribers will have access to all 4 channels while DStv Compact subscribers will get M-Net Movies 3 and M-Net Movies 4. DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers will only get the M-Net Movies 4 channel.

From September M-Net's Afrikaans language division will launch kykNET's pop-up fliekNET channel as a permanent movie channel on DStv channel 149.

fliekNET will showcase locally-produced blockbuster movies, classic favourites and a variety of Afrikaans film formats such feature films, short films, story films, made-for-TV movies and documentaries.

MultiChoice is also adding the KIX channel on an as-yet-undisclosed DStv channel number as a martial arts channel that will carry films from stars like Jet Li and Jackie Chan. The specific launch date that will be sometime in October has not yet been announced.

From time to time a M-Net Movies Pop-up channel will run on DStv channel number 111 for DStv Premium subscribers.

M-Net Movies Zone adds Kids Club movie festival for December, kykNET returns fliekNET pop-up channel with Leon Schuster's Schucks! catalogue.

The M-Net Movies Zone on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service is adding a Kids Club movie festival for the December holidays while kykNET is returning the fliekNET pop-up channel that will do a film festival featuring the funnyman Leon Schuster's Schucks catalogue.

M-Net Movies Zone (DStv 139) is adding a Kids Club movie festival on the TV channel from 7 December and will be showing movies for kids, daily during the end-of-year holiday period into January.

The M-Net Movie Zone Kids Club movie festival will kick off on 7 December and run until 6 January 2019. From Sundays to Fridays M-Net Movie Zone will show films aimed at a youth audience between 06:00 and 17:00.

On Saturdays M-Net Movies Zone will run youth-focused films between 05:00 and 19:00.

M-Net says parents and older viewers are welcome to watch the films with younger viewers, with the film line-up that includes movies like Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl, Problem Child, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr, Stuart Little 2, Mirror Mirror and Muppets from Outer Space.


Oh Schucks, fliekNET
Meanwhile kykNET is returning the fliekNET (DStv 198) pop-up film channel that will once again be running from 16 December to 6 January 2019.

Comedian and hidden camera prankster Leon Schuster's film catalogue will be on fliekNET, including films like You Must be Joking, There's a Zulu on my Stoep, Sweet 'n Short, and Oh Schucks, it's Schuster!

fliekNET will also broadcast films like Faan se Trein, 'n Paw Paw vir my Darling, Mooirivier, Pad na jou Hart, Klein Karoo, Vir die Voëls, Vaselinetjie, Treurgrond and Noem my Skollie. 

Kids films on fliekNET include Khumba, Heidi, Die Sneeukoningin, Maya die By, Jou Romeo, Die Pro and Strikdas.

Classic Afrikaans films on fliekNET include Die Storie van Klara Viljee, Katrina, Liefste Madelein, Ma skryf Matriek and Agter Elke Man.

kykNET is broadcasting the DStv Afrikaans film pop-up channel fliekNET again, starting 16 December on channel 198, this year with themed film days.

M-Net's Afrikaans TV channels division, kykNET, will once again be running the DStv Afrikaans film pop-up channel, fliekNET, starting on Saturday 16 December on channel 198 - this year with themed film days.

kykNET is making it easier for viewers and holidaymakers to know what type of Afrikaans film to expect on what day of the week.

When fliekNET (DStv 198) kicks off on Saturday, it will be with different themed days.

Mondays will be "timeless Mondays" (Tydlose Maandae", Tuesdays will be youth-focused (Jeugdige Dinsdae), Wednesdays will be romantic ("Hartstog Woensdae), Thursdays will be deep and reflective ("Diepsinnige Donderdae"), Fridays will be horror and scary movies ("Vreeslike Vrydae"), Saturdays will be for humor and comedies ("Skaterlag Saterdae") and Sundays will cover dramas ("Dramatiese Sondae").

On Saturdays fliekNET is also introducing toddler entertainment with a special raft of kids films in Afrikaans at 10:00 ranging from Khumba and Heidi to Die Sneeukoningin and Maya die By.

Here's the list of films viewers will see on fliekNET that will run from 16 December until 12 January 2018:

Mondays
25 Dec: Paljas, 19:50
A railway worker lives in a small Karoo town and their lives are changed with arrival of a travelling circus.

1 Jan: Fiela se Kind, 19:50
The beautiful story of a coloured woman'slove for her white foundling. Fiela Komoetie and her family is torn apart when the magistrate decides to take her child away and place him back in his "real"parents' care.

8 Jan: Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux, 18:10
A teenage girl visits her uncle and aunt in the Karoo. Soon her visit becomes an exploration of who she really is when three visitors in one week changes her life forever.

Tuesdays
19 Dec: Hollywood in my Huis, 19:50
It's matric farewell time in 2004 and Jana van Tonder is inspired by Charlize Theron's Oscar. She decides to covert her matric farewell into her own glamorous Hollywood event.

21 Dec: Strikdas, 16:20
Willemien's life changes drastically when she brings home Vossie, the biggest nerd on campus, to teach her father and ex-boyfriend a lesson.

2 Jan: Jou Romeo, 20:30
Two determined drama-enthusiasts go to extremes in order to make their Shakespeare dream production a reality - with a few unexpected consequences.

9 Jan: Bakgat! Tot die mag 3, 18:10
Wimpie and his fiance, Katrien, emigrateto England where a rugby club offered him a contract. They soon realise that the life in London is not as cool as they thought it would be.

Wednesdays
20 Dec: Vir die Voëls, 19:50
A stubborn tomboy girl is convinced that independence is the only form of freedom. She is challenged on every level, when the boy that teased her since her childhood, turns up in her life again.

27 Dec: Leading Lady, 21:30
An English actress convinces a farmer from Brandfort to help her prepare for a very challenging role in a Hollywood film - that of an Afrikaans war heroine.

10 Jan: Pad na Jou Hart, 19:50
Basson van Rensburg has 5 days to get to his father's funeral in Cape Town but he needs to complete certain tasks on his journey before he can successfully take over the family business.

3 Jan: Mooirivier, 19:50
This first ensemble film in South Africa follows the lives of 8 couples between the ages of 10 and 70. Each couple goes on their own journey of love and discover what love really means.

Thursdays
21 Dec: Sink, 20:35
A Mozambican domestic worker is forced to make a difficult decision after her daughter tragically drowns whilst under the care of her employers. Things become even more complicated when she finds out that her employers are expecting their first child.

28 Dec: Noem My Skollie, 22:15
A young man ends up in a Cape prison in the 1960's. He uses his storytelling talent to defends himself against the gangs in prison.

4 Jan: Ballade vir 'n Enkeling, 20:40
After a well-known South African writer mysteriously disappears, a journalist is motivated by ambition to uncover the writer's shocking secret history and life story.

11 Jan: Agter Elke Man, 18:20
A prisoner is released on parole and has an obsession to take revenge on the man who he believes is responsible for his punishment. The plot thickens when a murder takes place.

Fridays
22 Dec: Wolwedans in die Skemer, 19:50
A young woman accepts a job at the Hotel Njala. On her way to the hotel, she is involved in a terrible freak accident and loses her memory. She gets drawn in by the mysterious lives of the family that runs the strange hotel.

29 Dec: Die Spook van Uniondale, 19:40
a Young business man's weekend plans changes drastically when his vehicle has mechanical problems just outside of Uniondale. While he waits for his car to be fixed, he learns more about the mysterious ghost girl of Uniondale.

5 Jan: My Broer se Bril, 21:30
A violent fight between twin brothers, Adriaan and Paul van der Bijl, leaves Adriaan blind and Paul going his own way. Adriaan stays with his ill father and years later the two brothers argue about who will be inheriting the family fortune.

12 Jan: Aanslag op Kariba, 21:40
A bus full of tourists gets kidnapped at the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe and they're locked up in a power station with a whole lot of explosives. Only Captain Caprivi and his men can maybe save them.

Saturdays mornings
16 Dec: Khumba,10:30
Khumba is a young zebra that gets blamed for the sudden drought that hits the land. He gathers two unusual travelling companions on his journey to find a solution, a legendary waterhole.

23 Dec: Heidi, 10:00
Experience all the adventures with Heidi, her grandfather and Peter in the mountains. Also watch what happens when the nasty teacher, Mrs Rottenmeier upsets Heidi's life when she is sent to school far away.

Saturdays
30 Dec: Nommer Asseblief, 22:00
All the old faces of this popular TV show is once again to be seen in this funny, well-known and beloved Afrikaans comedy about the De Waals and their friends and competitors set in a town in the Overberg.

6 Jan: Tolla is Tops, 21:15
Tolla van der Merwe tries to catch people with his tall tales. His victims' reactions are filmed with hidden cameras as the legendary joker delights with his funny antics.

Sundays
24 Dec: Die Windpomp, 18:50
Henry is forced to move his senile and withdrawn grandfather into a retirement village. He quickly finds that there are multiple secrets hiding in this place and that one of these secrets may cost him the love of his life.

17 Dec: Lien se Lankstaan Skoene, 18:40
Lien is the eldest child in a dysfunctional family that became very poor overnight. Lien must make her own plans to help her family make money.

7 Jan: Faan se Trein, 21:20
Faan has never outgrown the innocence and simplicity of a young child. When Faan's father passes away, he leaves all his belongings to be divided up between Faan and the church.

7 Jan: Verskietende Ster, 19:50
Phillip Stuurman's world collapses the day his mother passes away. While his father, Tomas has already lost hope in life, Phillip tries to make his dream of becoming a pianist a reality.

DStv SHOWCASE SEPTEMBER 2017: MultiChoice upgrades BBC Brit and E! Entertainment to HD channels on DStv; adds pop-up channels.

MultiChoice is upgrading two more entertainment TV channels on DStv to high definition (HD) and is adding further pop-up channels.

BBC Brit (DStv 120) from BBC Worldwide and E! Entertainment (DStv 124) from NBCUniversal International Networks are both switching to HD channels from 5 October and December respectively.

BBC Brit that will unveil an updated look in October to co-incide with the channel’s broadcast quality improvement, will also change to become a “full spectrum” entertainment channel.

Originally launched as a male-skewed channel with British content when BBC Worldwide Africa relaunched its bouquet of BBC-branded channels on DStv in September 2015, BBC Brit is now expanding to further broaden its channel proposition into general entertainment.

BBC Brit will now cater to a wider audience and women along the lines of the former BBC Entertainment, with programming like Death in Paradise and EastEnders that already moved to BBC Brit.

Programming on BBC Brit will include Strictly Come Dancing UK (starting 10 October), The Graham Norton Show, the comedy series Carter’s Get Rich, the Brit-com classic Absolutely Fabulous getting a rebroadcast and documentaries like Killer Women wit Piers Morgan.

From 8 October the BBC sister channel, BBC First (DStv 119) that starts at 18:00 daily, will increase its daily running hours to 12 hours per day, now starting at 12:00 in the afternoon and running until midnight.

BBC First will continue to show award-winning, premium British series like Doctor Foster, Peaky Blinders and the soap Holby City.

“Our focus is to continue to enhance the entertainment experience for our customers,” says Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice’s head of content. “Offering BBC Brit in HD and extending the broadcast hours of BBC First, gives our customers a front-row seat to the best of British entertainment”.

More pop-up film channels from M-Net

MultiChoice announced further pop-up movie channels and film festivals for DStv, packaged by M-Net, that will unspool over the coming few months.

Aletta Alberts says the DStv pop-up channels are popular with viewers. “We’re really proud of them, when we play them they’re usually in the top 5 normally of most watched channels, and you’ll see us doing them on an ongoing basis.”

“We think it’s a much better way of curating content and really, really getting people into it.”

The “ShockTober Fest” movie festival will start on the M-Net Movies Action+ channel in October, unspooling a collection of horror and thrillers. “It’s all those movies that make your hair stand up – thrillers, horror” says Aletta Alberts, with films from Stephen King for instance.

Then there is the previously announced pop-up channel featuring the 100 films to see before you die and that MultiChoice at the start of 2017 said is coming this year. This channel will run as a special pop-up channel on DStv from November.

This pop-up channel will be called M-Net Movies Bucket List – “The 100 Movies to see Before you Die” and will run on DStv channel 109.

“This is our big event for the year in terms of pop-ups. Obviously this could create huge social media conversation because your 100 movies, my 100 movies … there’s going to be a lot of debate around that,” says Aletta Alberts.

M-Net plans to do a big reveal about which 100 movies made the list.

In December the beloved Animania will return to the M-Net Movies Smile channel on DStv as a festival. “We again definitely have the best of the best animated movies,” says Aletta Alberts. Films include Trolls, Angry Birds, Zootopia, Minions, Norm of the North and Madagascar.

“These are just a few of the amazing titles DStv subscribers will be able to see, so make sure that you’re on DStv Premium in December.”

kykNET’s pop-up Afrikaans film channel fliekNET will again return in December and this time will run from 16 December until 12 January 2018. “It will have the best of the Afrikaans movies that you’ve seen over the last few years, plus all this year’s best movies,” says Aletta Alberts.

fliekNET will be followed by, and tie into, kykNET’s (DStv 144) new Afrikaans film competition show, fliekNET Foendi’s, with presenter Ivan Botha. “It’s a quiz show about movies, so watch in January and see if you can answer those film questions first from the couch.”

BREAKING. Several exciting M-Net pop-up channels, film festivals, foreign language films and premium foreign language TV series coming to MultiChoice's DStv in 2017.

In 2017 MultiChoice and M-Net will be bringing several exciting M-Net Movies pop-up channels, carefully curated film festivals, as well as premium foreign language TV series and weekly foreign language art-house films, in high definition, to DStv subscribers.

Again upping the bar in the TV content made available to DStv subscribers in South African and across Africa, MultiChoice and M-Net top executives - on Monday during a conference call with media - revealed more of their plans for 2017.


ALSO READ: MultiChoice content boss Aletta Alberts on how DStv is working on reducing repeats: "We are improving our product dramatically".
ALSO READ: The 101 in 2017: DStv and M-Net boosting efforts around content discovery and 'seasonality' in TV viewing behaviour.
ALSO READ: What MultiChoice learnt from an Appletiser can- and how it will bring a change to DStv decoders.


M-Net through its M-Net Movies division will be packaging several new M-Net Movies pop-up channels for DStv next year, and is busy working on putting together jam-packed film festivals.

In addition, the schedules for the M-Net Edge and M-Net Movies Premiere channels on DStv have been adapted to bring viewers a smorgasbord of carefully sourced and selected foreign language art-house films, as well as acclaimed foreign language TV series from across Europe, starting on 16 December.

"We're doing a James Bond pop-up channel in February 2017, then The Fast and the Furious in March. Then there's an African film library showcasing the best in African film in May to co-incide with Africa Day," Jan du Plessis, director: M-Net channels, told TVwithThinus.

"We're also working on creating a month-long martial arts film festival with all the classics and all the new stars. Every day when I look at the list of the films we're busy acquiring, I just think it's going to be incredibly popular".

"Then in December 2017 we want to do a festival of 'The 100 movies you need to see before you die'. So we're working very hard on it already - 100 movies you really need to see before you die."

"Then the big other thing is that we continue to do on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sunday nights the big premiere movie of the week - the curation of the 52 best Sunday night movies - but we're adding another one."

"On M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) we will now be showing a second great movie. I won't call it the second best - it's the addition of an great alternative."

"Then the big news is that we're starting on 18 December on M-Net Edge (DStv 102) on a Sunday at 21:00 'The Best of World Cinema' - as a foreign language, arty, niche, discerning cinema-goer choice."

"So essentially on a Sunday at 20:00 you can see the movie on M-Net (DStv 101), at 20:30 on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) you can see an alternative selection, and at 21:00 on M-Net Edge (DStv 102) you can see the best of world cinema."

"We've really got amazing stuff," says Jan du Plessis. "We're kicking off with The Idol that's a Palestinian drama, and we've got Yves Saint Laurent [French biographical drama] the next week. Then we have a number of French films."

"And I'm also busy putting together a whole Pedro Almodóvar [Spanish director, screenwriter, producer] film festival that will end with Julieta".

Edgy TV: The Best of World Series
DStv subscribers can also get ready for what's been called "the best TV drama in the world" and "one of the great foreign language TV shows you should be watching".

"Starting on Saturday 17 December will be 'The Best of World Series' on M-Net Edge (DStv 102) at 21:00 and that will be a foreign language TV series," says Jan du Plessis.

"The first one we're kicking off will be Deutschland 83 [acclaimed 8-episode German TV series]."

"Then we're working on a French TV series - the deal isn't quite signed yet but it should be completed this week. And we're also looking at - there's some absolutely incredible Scandinavian TV series we're looking at."

"So basically on a weekend - on Saturday at 21:00 and Sunday at 21:00 - you can watch either 'The Best of World Series' or 'The Best of World Cinema'," says Jan du Plessis.

Pop-up channels: 'We've collected it for you'
Asked about the popularity of the M-Net pop-up channels - from Star Wars and M-Net Movies Blackout, to M-Net Movies BlockParty, Harry Potter and others - and what it is in the consumer psychology that makes these limited time TV channels such must-see, watch-bait, MultiChoice says it's about giving pay-TV subscribers what they want to see in one place, when they have more time to watch.

"It's basically a trend that we started with the The Oscar Pistorius Trial: A Carte Blanche Channel that worked really, really well," says Aletta Alberts, the general manager: content for MultiChoice.

"The success is in the curation of the content, and we focused on periods where we know consumers are on holiday or that they've got more time to view. So I think it's a combination of those things."

"We also basically say, if you're a Harry Potter lover, we've actually specially curated this for you, you don't have to go and search for it because peoples lives are becoming more and more busy."

"Pop-up channels deliver additional content and additional value over a period like the Christmas holidays like now - for instance fliekNET (DStv 198). On 16 December we're launching M-Net Inspire (DStv 109), and we've just come out of Harry Potter."

"There are key time periods - last year we did the kids' pop-up channel with Turner, so you'll see a lot of that happening. It adds extra value and is about curating the content in a way so that it doesn't sit across many channels but giving the customer one really strong channel."

"And from a marketing perspective, it's also easier to steer people to those channels," says Aletta Alberts.

Jan du Plessis says "Harry Potter did incredibly, incredibly well for us. The channel was actually within the top 10 most watched channels on DStv. In fact during it's first weekend it was one of the top 2."

Jan du Plessis says he was amazed with the results from the M-Movies Blackout pop-up channel - an urban movie channel that ran during June this year that showcased the collected array of work from black American actors.

"The individual ratings of the movies [on M-Net Movies Blackout] were incredible - it was much higher than the regular movie channel ratings. Blackout also ended up as a top 10 channel on DStv for the two weeks it was on."

kykNET returns fliekNET for a 2nd year as an Afrikaans movies holiday pop-up channel on MultiChoice's DStv for December and January 2016.

The Afrikaans pop-up movie channel fliekNET (DStv 198) is returning for the December holidays and will run on channel 198 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform during December and January 2016.

It's the second year that fliekNET will run as a pop-up Afrikaans movie channel with classic and recent Afrikaans films, packaged by kykNET, the Afrikaans television unit of pay-TV broadcaster M-Net.

For the second year, fliekNET will follow a thematic day approach with drama on Mondays and Wednesdays, romance on Tuesdays, comedy on Thursdays and action and thrillers on Fridays. On Saturdays fliekNET will show romance and comedy and on Sundays celebrate film legends.

"Last year the reaction to fliekNET was phenomenal and it worked very well so we decided to do it again,"  Karen Meiring, M-Net's director of Afrikaans channels tells TV with Thinus.

"fliekNET did really well with viewers who said they're looking for Afrikaans movies during the holidays while they're on vacation. fliekNET has a wonderful range of Afrikaans films for every taste and we've added new movies to the line-up this year".

Recent Afrikaans films on fliekNET will include Verraaiers, Faan se Trein, Die Wonderwerker, Die Ballade van Robbie de Wee and Die Spook van Uniondale.

Classic films include Fiela se Kind, Hoor My Lied, Boetie Gaan Border Toe and Boetie op Maneuvers, Tant Ralie se Losieshuis and films developed from TV series like Vyfster, Nommer Asseblief?, Agter Elke Man and Liewe hemel, Genis!.

Daar doer in die fliek is a documentary film about South Africa's Afrikaans film history, while a younger audience will enjoy Hoofmeisie and Khumba.

Other films on fliekNET this year include Aanslag op Kariba, Lipstiek Dipstiek, Tolla is Tops, Alie Barber, Munisipaliteit van Gwarra Gwarra, Paljas, Jy is my Liefling, Pretville, Vrou Soek Boer, Fanie Fourie se lobola, Jimmy in pienk, Klein-Karoo, Daar doer in die Bosveld, Katrina, Die Bankrower, Lelik is my offer, Wat Maak Oom Kallie daar?, Skelms, Die Posman and Blink Stefaans.

BREAKING. fliekNET coming to MultiChoice's DStv as a brand-new Afrikaans movie channel from 10 December.

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I can reveal that MultiChoice will be adding the brand-new Afrikaans movie channel, fliekNET (DStv 198) to the DStv satellite pay-TV platform from 10 December, supplied to DStv by M-Net.

"We're adding this new Afrikaans movie channel. The channel will be called fliekNET," Karen Meiring, M-Net's director of Afrikaans channels told advertisers, TV critics and journalists on Wednesday night at the M-Net Showcase at Urban Tree, organised by M-Net and DStv Media Sales.

M-Net already supplies the channels of kykNET, kykNET Musiek and kykNET & kie to MultiChoice's DStv.

This existing offering will now be broaden further when it launches fliekNET as a "pop-up" TV channel which will be running for a limited amount of time over the December holiday and festive season.

"fliekNET as a TV channel will have a beginning and an end. fliekNET will start from 10 December and run until the end of January," Karen Meiring told TV with Thinus.

"The idea behind fliekNET is that it's kykNET's 15th birthday in November. We thought that instead of having a big birthday party for a few people, lets give our loyal viewers and South Africa an Afrikaans film channel for six to seven weeks."

"We have this wonderful and completely amazing Afrikaans film library that we will utilize to create the channel. We will start thematically - viewers will be able to enjoy everything from romantic movies to incredible documentary films on fliekNET," says Karen Meiring.

"Afrikaans viewers simply love documentary films and there's even some fascinating Afrikaans documentary series which we will work into the schedule."

Asked how many movies there will be on DStv's fliekNET, Karen Meiring says "a lot".

"Up until the very most recent releases will be on the channel. It's a lot of movies. We will broadcast it in high definition (HD) on channel 198. We're incredibly excited."

Besides fliekNET running as a pop-up channel, kykNET (DStv 144) will start with a brand-new season of new Afrikaans films in January 2015.