BREAKING. e.tv not bidding for Premier Soccer League rights; broadcaster says its 'not willing to partake in a bidding war for rights'.

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Premier Soccer League (PSL) games won't be shown on e.tv, with the commercial free-to-air broadcaster saying that it's not interested in bidding, and that it's not planning on becoming involved in a ''bidding war''.

The PSL contract is up for renewal since SuperSport clinched the broadcasting rights in 2007 for R1,7 billion. Now broadcasters need to bid for the rights in a new contract and e.tv says it won't be a part of the process and a bidding war, although the broadcaster as been approached by the PSL.

''e.tv is open to broadcasting local football due to the fact that it's a sport of national interest,'' Monde Twala, group head of e.tv channels tells TV with Thinus.

''I can confirm that the channel has been approached by the PSL to bid for the soccer league television rights. We have made our intentions clear that we are not willing to part-take in a bidding war for the rights,'' says Monde Twala.

BREAKING. The Food Network as seen in South Africa, orders its first original TV series, Andy Bates' Street Feasts.

The Food Network (DStv 185) in Britain - the adapted channel feed of this American TV network that MultiChoice is broadcasting on DStv in South Africa - has ordered its first original and non-American TV show, Andy Bates' Street Feasts.

ALSO READ: The Food Network working on bringing viewers more original and non-American programmning.

Producer Sweet TV will be filming 10 half hour episodes of Andy Bates' Street Feasts, giving traditional british food a ''street twist'' with executive producer David Nottage. Andy Bates' Street Feasts will be presented by the chef and market trader ''Pie Man'' who is known for his British food sold from a stall in London's Brick Lane.

Is the new British drama The Hour coming to South African viewers? I can tell you where it could have been seen ... but won't.

To everyone asking me whether and when The Secret Circle, the new The Vampire Diaries-y teen show, will start to show in South Africa - the answer is no. It isn't. I can categorically state that no broadcaster or TV channel has picked up that show yet.

It's only starting in September in America, might get cancelled so its way to early. When it does of when there's any news, I will spill it first.

But on to what I really want to talk about which is The Hour - a brand-new British drama series so in tune with the times. Especially if you live in Britain, the irony won't escape you: phone hacking, celebrity, media in cahoots with politicians and the government, scandals, corruption, nepotism and a journalist bribing a policeman.

The Hour, a period drama in the style of Mad Men and the soon-to-start Pan Am, just started in Britain. Will we get to see it in South Africa? We'll ... no. I can tell you the BBC does not have The Hour on the schedule for BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) yet, and they work quite a few months into advance. ''There are currently no plans to bring The Hour to BBC Entertainment,'' BBC Worldwide tells me.

The 6 part British drama set behind the scenes of a 1960's BBC TV news show entitled The Hour is produced by Shine and might end up appearing on M-Net or another kind of pay TV channel, but it won't be soon.

MSNBC adding a new 2 hour Saturday show for Chris Hayes from 17 September focusing on politics.

Chris Hayes is getting his own live show on Saturdays on MSNBC (TopTV 410) the 24 hour news channel has announced.
 The 2 hour programme with a focus on politics will start on 17 September at 14:00 (South African time).

''Chris is a thoughtful analyst and one of the smartest journalists out there,''' says Peter Griffin, MSNBC president in a press release. ''As we head into election season, there is no better time to amp up our weekend political coverage.''

''I'm tremendously excited to create something new at MSNBC,'' says Chris Hayes in the same press statement. ''I think our position on weekend mornings [American time] is going to allow us to slow down the news cycle and look at the week's news with a fresh perspective."

The starting date of 18 October for the 2nd season of The Walking Dead in South Africa now confirmed by Fox International Channels.

I broke the news RIGHT HERE at the end of July that the second season of The Walking Dead will be starting on Tuesday 18 October in South Africa on FX (TopTV 110) and that is now confirmed by Fox International Channel (FIC).

''Once again, a few hours after the [American] premiere Sunday 16 October, FIC will begin its second season rollout on Tuesday 18 October,'' says FIC that runs the FX channel in South Africa.

''The Walking Dead audience wants to see this show live,'' says Sharon Tal Yguado, the senior vice president of scripted programming for FIC. ''The first season became a hyped global water cooler event and we feel obligated to bring the show to international viewers' right after its American launch''.

''We're pleased to bring first run content to Africa so fast,'' says Thandi Davids, Fox Africa director. ''The show has performed exceptionally well for us in this market and we know viewers are in for a further excellent zombie invasion with lots more drama, this time around.''

ALSO READ: The 2nd season of The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on Tuesday, 18 October just 48 hours after America.
ALSO READ: The second season of The Walking Dead to be shown globally ''within hours'' after it starts in October.

EXCLUSIVE. Colin Moss, Doreen Morris, Ruda Landman all returning and back on M-Net for the pay TV channel's 25th birthday in October.

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I can break the news that Colin Moss and South African television stars like Doreen Morris and even Ruda Landman are all returning to M-Net - according to sources they'll be back on the pay TV channel for a nostalgic M-Net celebration month.

I can reveal that instantly recognizable faces like Colin Moss and a major number of former M-Net faces are all part of a big and simply stellar group of luminous former M-Net on-air stars who've been invited - and apparently agreed to return - to M-Net to be seen again. The pay TV channel has begun to film (under great secrecy) an on-air promo (or is it promos?) with former and current M-Net on-screen personalities, sources say, to celebrate M-Net's 25th birthday during the month of October.

TV with Thinus understands that the M-Net stars - all of them megawatt personalities from the past two and a half decades since M-Net started, up to the current day - have been roped in for a very special promo or promos that will be broadcast in October. All of them are very strongly associated with the M-Net brand during periods of the past 25 years. They've all become household names as continuity presenters, show presenters and local TV stars, and in most cases have remained famous and loved even though in some cases its been years since they've actually appeared on television.

The first promo work took place a week and a half ago amidst great secrecy and was preceded by major planning and huge logistical pre-production work to pull this big project off. Unclear at this stage is whether there is one big music promo, different sets of 30 second promos or different versions since, as I understand it from sources, the shoot or filming for the project will continue in August. The new filming could mean an extension of what was already done and filmed towards the end of July, or new separate promo material.

''They went and asked instantly recognizable famous faces that South African viewers love and adore,'' says a source. ''Amazing people - everybody of the past 25 years so closely linked with M-Net. And its as amazing and wonderful that they agreed to return. It's very hush-hush but just think of a big name from the past of M-Net and chances are you'll see that face in October again on M-Net when the pay channel goes very big with its 25th birthday,'' whispers an insider.

''It's going to be lovely,'' says another source. I asked M-Net days ago about the promo(s), if the channel could confirm it and had specific questions. On Monday evening M-Net declined to comment on this for now.

On 30 December of 2010 I wondered RIGHT HERE how M-Net will be remembering - and what the channel will do - for its 25th birthday in October.

Longtime M-Net subscribers and viewers will remember the brilliant M-Net on-air promos from previous years which saw groups of M-Net faces assembled with several songs from Queen over the years. There were for instance Don't Stop Me Now (we wont stop the magic at all).

One even took place on the roof of M-Net Randburg headquarters (above) with M-Net staff waving and dancing. Later there were the brilliant 9 Turning Tiles and When the Magic Touches You.

Is TopTV ready to go commercial with selling TV advertising space on some selected channels?

Is TopTV getting ready to go commercial and to start selling advertising and TV spots?

According to my sources TopTV is getting ready to allow media planners and ad buyers access to nine specific TV channels on TopTV before the end of the year, meaning a new source of income besides just subscription fees for the pay TV operator that started in May last year in South Africa.

I asked TopTV about this but the pay TV platform isn't willing to talk about it yet. ''We are still working on this project and have made substantial progress,'' is all that TopTV is officially willing to tell me.

The first independent weekly TV ratings will become available for TopTV on the TAMS system from this week which will give an indication of the TopTV viewership per day and daytime part for the first time since the operator launched in May 2011.

ALSO READ: TopTV viewership numbers for the pay TV service is coming but audience ratings won't be available for individual channels.

More kung fu martial arts movies coming to Sony Max viewers after Sony Pictures Television signs a new package deal with Celestial Pictures.

More martial arts movies are coming to Sony Max (DStv 126) after the Hong Kong based Celestial Pictures signed a package deal with Sony Pictures Television for a set of kung fu movies on Sony Max for South Africa and Africa.
Kung fu movies that will be shown on Sony Max in the continent within the next few months include The Chinese Boxer, Mad Monkey Kung Fu and Shaolin Temple.

VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR. Happy birthday to MTV that turns 30 years old today.

The (what used to be a music video channel) MTV is turning 30 years old today.

MTV started in America on 1 August 1981 and its first music video was Video Killed the Radio Star. Over the past 3 decades MTV has had a profound impact on popular youth culture around the globe.