Fox International Channels producing new TV drama Port Royal; strong likelihood the pirate period drama will go to TopTV's Fox FX channel.

Fox International Channels (FIC) that runs amongst others, Fox Entertainment and Fox FX on TopTV in South Africa have partnered with Graham King's GK-tv, Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla Entertainment and FX Productions for a new period TV drama entitled Port Royal.

Long story short, it means that there's a very high likelihood that TopTV subscribers will get to see the hourlong Port Royal drama in the not too far away future on FX (TopTV 110). Port Royal is set in te late 17th century on the island of Jamaica and is centered around the notorious port city's rise as ''the richest and wickedest city in the world'', and a ''haven for cutthroat pirates, corrupt politicians and ruthless merchants''.

''We are delighted to be partnered with a network that never shies away from provocative storytelling, which is ideally suited to the decadent and dangerous world of Port Royal,'' says Craig Cegielski, president of GK-tv in a press release.

''I've long been a fan of FX's original programming, and I'm thrilled Port Royal has found a home with them,” says creator, Gale Anne Hurd. ''I'm looking forward to working with FX to make the show I've envisioned, and one that fits in perfectly with their incredible slate. I couldn't be more excited to be working with FIC again after our unbelievable success with The Walking Dead.''

BREAKING. Robin Adams leaves the eNews Channel to become sports reporter for the Al Jazeera news channel in Doha from June.

The popular sports reporter Robin Adams is leaving the eNews Channel (DStv 403) and joining Al Jazeera (TopTV 401 / DStv 406) from June.

The Sports Fan presenter on the eNews Channel who recently did a series of episodes from the Middle East and Qatar has decided to jettison the eNews Channel and will be joining news channel Al Jazeera from their headquarters in Doha. ''I'm very chuffed that they believe I'm good enough to be the face of their sports broadcasts,'' says Robin Adams.

Robin Adams, a Golden Arrow bus driver from Atlantis on the West Coast, joined e.tv as a reporter in 2007, worked his way up as eNews Prime Time sports presenter and sports editor. Towards the end of last year he took over the Sports Fan show and recently did some episodes from the Middle East.

Robin Adams will also pop up in SABC2's new variety comedy show Colour TV with Joey Rashdien. SABC2 doesn't have a specific starting time for Colour TV yet, but it's planned for July.

BREAKING. Oprah Winfrey to build a second school in Africa; is donating $1,5 million to build a new school in Zimbabwe.

Oprah Winfrey that opened her private girl school, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa in 2007 is going to build a second school in Africa and just donated $1,5 million (R10,3 million) to build a second school in Zimbabwe.

On Friday's episode in America - the 4th to last episode of the 25th and final ''farewell season'' of The Oprah Winfrey Show (SABC3, weekdays, 17:30) and featuring ''most memorable guests'', the talk show host surprised dr. Tererai Trent saying ''we are going to build a school together!''. Dr. Tererai Trent from an impoverished village in Zimbabwe and a former guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show escaped her circumstances of poverty and abuse to attain a doctors degree.

''I had been so moved by your story. Your story is at the core of what I believe is possible for a human life here on Earth, and for that reason I'm going to help you rebuild your school,'' said Oprah Winfrey. ''I'm donating $1,5 million. That is the least I could do for you.'' Having struggled over the past 4 years with her South African private girls' school's administration and several scandals that engulfed the school, she also offered words of encouragement to dr. Tererai Trent. ''I want you to have hope doing it because I know it's hard.''

''I've asked the organization Save the Children to help us with this,'' Oprah Winfrey said in the show. ''In just a few months construction is going to begin on the primary school campus there, which will educate nearly a thousand children from your village. Save the Children is also going to spend 3 years working with teachers and parents in the area to improve literacy and basic education, so ultimately 4 000 children will have a better education. We are going to build a school together - and it is achievable!''

Discovery Channel brings Steven Spielberg's special documentary series The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero to South Africa from September.

You're reading it here first.

I can reveal that South African viewers will get to see the extraordinary new documentary TV series chronicling the rebuilding of New York's World Trade Center site entitled The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero by Steven Spielberg from September on the Discovery Channel (DStv 121).

It now looks more and more likely that The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero that is executive produced by Steven Spielberg and which has not been shown in America yet will be shown in South Africa at the same time, or very close to, the American debut of this special documentary series.

Since the Discovery Channel definitely has The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero on the schedule for September for South Africa, and since the American president Barack Obama will have an internationally televised unveiling of the new World Trade Center complex on 11 September 2011, it strongly points to the documentary series probably starting in America in September as well. That will mean that South Africa will get to see this special TV project at the same time as it's shown in America.

At the original World Trace Center a massive effort is currently underway to create the world's largest man-made waterfalls lined with the names of everyone who died there as well as brand-new skyscrapers. The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero follows the intricate construction process of building the sprawling complex, the likes of which the world has never seen before. The construction currently underway is the most complex, demanding and detailed project ever attempted and the Discovery cameras are following the construction and technical progress as well as the people on the site.

Discovery Channel has more new Bear Grylls and Cake Boss in the second half of 2011 and goes inside the hidden world of special forces training.

Discovery Channel (DStv 121) has an awesome second part of 2011 planned that includes a new season of Bear Grylls: Ultimate Survival, to several new series, the 4th season of Cake Boss and exploring the hidden world of elite military forces training.

From the most competitive and brutal underwater training tests in the US Army Special Forces Underwater Operations Course, to an eclectic crew of Louisiana gunsmiths and historians, Discovery Channel is making June ''target sea zone season''.

Viewers will get to explore the realities of running a gun shop in the American show Sons of Guns and can watch as Mike Brewer of Fifth Gear fame presents the hard-hitting new Frontline Battle Machines from the combat zone in Afghanistan.
Surviving the Cut takes viewers in June into the intense world of military elite forces training. From divers and snipers to para-rescue men and bomb specialists, the elite men and how they earn a place in these coveted units are the focus in this compelling new series.

Taking On Tyson is a special 6 part series in July on the Discovery Channel provides a window into the boxer Mike Tyson's complex life as the legend reconnects with his roots and returns to his childhood neighbourhood to face his next challenge: pigeon racing.

The 4th season of Cake Boss (that's also on Discovery Travel & Living, TopTV 453) chronicling the kitchen adventures and high drama of the Valastro family and their cake business, Carlo's Bake Shop, will start on the Discovery Channel in August. It's unbelievable but true: This season will see the biggest cake challenges from clients yet. Can Buddy make a toilet bowl cake that actually flushes? A giant white shark cake? And Buddy and his wife Lisa are also expecting their 4th child. Discovery calls the season ''gastronomic genius, baking brilliance and fantastic family fun''.

A new season of Bear Grylls: Ultimate Survival starts on Discovery Channel in September. The intrepid adventurer will be back to tackle even more extreme survival challenges in some of Earth's most inhospitable places. This season will see Bear Grylls go from the extremes of Eastern Europe's frozen mountains, to the searing humidity and crocodile-filled landscape of Northern Australia's Arnhem Land. He gets marooned in the Torres Strait in Papua New Guinea on an island, goes to the Purcell Mountains in Canada and also gets buried under an avalanche in Canada in another episode to see how long its possible to survive. In a special episode Bear Grylls will also look back at his top 25 Bear Grylls: Ultimate Survival moments.

''Turbo Night'' will start on Discovery Channel in October with two brand-new series, South Beach Classics and Desert Car Kings. There's also new seasons of American Chopper, Fifth Gear with Mike Brewer, and Wheeler Dealers. There will also be a ''Ross Kemp Night'' in October on the channel with the acclaimed investigative journalist traveling deep into the most dangerous and life-threatening places the world has to offer.

November on the Discovery Channel sees ''Science Night'' with Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman presenting a brand-new series. Curious Worlds sees the duo looking at specific inventions and exploring the path it has taken from its first idea to the product that it is today.

As usual for the Discovery Channel, December will be devoted to a ''Best of...'' month with a rebroadcast of all the best shows from 2011 ranging from Bear Grylls: Ultimate Survival to Mythbusters.

Animal Planet has dogs, cats, crocs, sharks, the Big Five and Dave Salmoni in New Beast Lands on the schedule for the rest of the year.

Animal Planet (DStv 264) has dogs, cats, crocs, sharks, the Big Five and even Dave Salmoni in one of his brand-new shows line-up for the second half of 2011.

It's dogs versus cats from June on Animal Planet as the theme of that month as the animal channel looks to try and answer the age-old question: Which makes a better pet - dogs or cats? Animal Planet has shows such as America's Cutest Dog & America's Cutest Cat, as well as Dogs vs. Cats. There's also thend the utterly fascinating Hell Cats in which viewers will be introduced to Jackson Galaxy, the Cat Whisperer. Is it really possible to train badly-tempered felines and their owners?

July sees ''Croc Night'' on Animal Planet with croc doccies about the reptilian river killers that will inform, educate and surprise viewers. Touching the Dragon with the South African Richard Horrock travels to the remote jungles of Central America. He meets a fisherman called Gilberto Shedden and witness the remarkable friendship between Gilberto and the Costarican crocodile ''Poncho''. Last Feast of the Crocodile visits the dried-up Levuhvu River in the Northern Kruger National Park where 100 crocodiles and 20 hippo's are left. Into the Dragon's Lair also in June is a groundbreaking series that explores the Nile crocodile (and won numerous Safta awards earlier this year besides being named best wildlife programme).

In August Animal Planet has the second season of Big 5 Challenge: Zimbabwe in which three girls (Canada, UK, Australia) meet up with three guys (South Africa, India, USA) who have to track the big 5 animals of Africa. Will the contestants crack or be able to live up to the life of hardened wildlife experts?

''Shark Month'' happens in September on Animal Planet looking at these terrifying creatures. There's 25 Greatest Shark Moments, Jaws Come Home (looking at the real-life story behind the legendary movie) and true shark attack survival stories in Day of the Shark III. Other shark shows in September include Shark Attack Survival Guide and Shark Invasion.

The animal behaviourist expert Dave Salmoni is back in October on Animal Planet in his brand-new show New Beast Lands. In New Beast Lands Dave Salmoni travels to the planet's most dangerous animal killing zones where human and animal conflict is at its highest. He goes in search of the most deadly attacks. What's causing them? What's the death toll? And what's the solution? South African Donald Schultz features in this season too.

Discovery World getting ready to drive through Africa, race across America and the Arctic and explore the Nile with Joanna Lumley.

Discovery World (DStv 250) has an outstanding set of shows for the rest of the year, ranging from an exclusive trip through Africa with Ziggy Marley (Bob Marley's eldest son), an exotic exploration of the Nile river with Joanna Lumley, races across America with James Cracknell who also braves the Arctic, as well as a must-see TV special recreating D-Day in August.

Marley Africa Road Trip on Discovery World from August sees Ziggy Marley on a historic and exclusive motorcycle trip he undertook last year through the African continent. The award-winning producer and director David Alexanian who've filmed Ewan McGregor's unforgettable motorcycle trips around the world, is the cinematographer of this terrific-looking travelogue series.

It will also be ''war stories season'' in August on Discovery World and The Kennedy Detail that also starts in August on the channel has the eight bodyguards on the day of the assassination of American president John F. Kennedy revisit the scene to reveal the inside story behind the murder and what they think happened.

Surviving D-Day also starts in August on Discovery World and will present a soldiers' eye-view of the battle for Omaha Beach and beyond. The superb Surviving D-Day looks at the heroism and the odds that played a role in whether soldiers survived or were killed. This great special series blends compelling reconstruction and rare archive footage with interviews of the men who were there. Graphics and 3D rendered environments portray the life-and-death realities that includes a forensic breakdown of the battle's many factors that spelled survival or death for soldiers.

''Exploring the limits season'' is what Discovery World brands October 2011 as, with Race Across America with James Cracknell starting in this month. Cameras follow the double gold-medal winning Olympian James Cracknell as he plans to tace across the entire breadth of North America from Los Angeles to New York - running, cycling, rowing and swimming across the country in 16 days. Drama happens however when he gets hit by a truck while cycling through Arizona and sustains a life-threatening head injury and ends up in a coma in hospital...

Coldest Race on Earth with James Cracknell also starts in October on Discovery World. Months after Race Across America with James Cracknell the adventurer takes to his bike again this time to test the limits of human survival across the frozen wilderness of the Yukon Arctic Ultra. In the middle of winter he faces blizzards, moving ice and bitter winds.

In November Discovery World has the brand-new four part documentary series starting, Joanna Lumley's Nile. The British actress travels from the mouth to the source of the world's longest river in an epic journey exploring the rich cultural heritage, peoples and fascinating architecture along the river. Joanna Lumley's Nile explores the ancient history and the peoples from the luxury of Egypt and the searing heat of the Sudan to the lush landscapes of Ethiopia and the jungles of Rwanda.

Discovery HD Showcase chases the biggest waves in high definition in June and has the spectacularly exotic Way of Life in August.

Great shows coming to Discovery HD Showcase (DStv 172) in June is Storm Surfers: New Zealand and in August Way Of Life with Jim Brasher.

Storm Surfers: New Zealand in June on Discovery HD Showcase tracks big wave pioneer Ross Clarke-Jones and the two-time world champion Tom Carroll as the two Australians travel across the world to find the most dangerous and biggest waves they can find. Storm Surfers: New Zealand is the follow-up series to Storm Surfers: Dangerous Banks. Meteorologist and surf forecaster Ben Matson uses the latest storm prediction technology to track swells and time their arrival to a matter of hours in a mad, high-stakes race against time and the elements to conquer and film massive waves.

Way of Life with Jim Brasher in August on Discovery HD Showcase explores some of the most exotic and uncommon occupations across the globe where the jobs are simply a way of life. Jim Brasher ventures from Argentina to the Sahara, northern Luzon and India's bustling Kolkata and even Asia's intense jungles to care for an elephant.

BREAKING. Production suspended on South African reality docu-series The Ride after series star Barry Armitage falls off his horse.

Production has immediately been suspended and all filming stopped on the 8 part local South African reality TV docu-series The Ride after series creator and the show's star Barry Armitage fell off a horse and got injured in the show that recreating the famous postal horse ride system of 1835.

Executive producer Justin Bonello of Cooked in Africa Films has postponed production of the second season of The Ride after 256km of cameras following Barry Armitage and Joe Dawson traveling on horseback between Cape Town and Grahamstown. Barry Armitage injured his back when he fell off his horse just 28km outside Heidelberg. Filming of the second 8 part season of The Ride will resume in June when Barry Armitage has healed from his injuries.

''Barry is unable to continue on the expedition,'' says Justin Bonello in a press statement, saying that ''while Barry's injury has dealt a tremendous blow to the team's expectations, the unanticipated drama of the accident forms part of what makes reality television such a compelling and popular genre.'' The Ride wanted to replicate the 950 km journey that Sir Harry Smith undertook on horseback 176 years ago to take command of the British garrison in Grahamstown.

''Joe and I had changed horses at Swellendam at 14:30 and were about 4km outside Suurbrak, when my horse, Jaguar, shied at a stack of reeds along the downhill track,'' says Barry Armitage, series creator of The Ride. ''While the fall is an obvious setback, I'm optimistic that I'll heal quickly and look forward to getting back in the saddle in a few weeks to finish what we started.''