Why The Daily Show's Trevor Noah on Comedy Central is increasingly being ignored by America; 'distant' Trevor seems remote instead of curious.

South Africa's Trevor Noah is apparently increasingly being "ignored" by America, with the new host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central (DStv 122) who've fallen out of favour with American audiences.

In an article entitled "Why are Americans ignoring Trevor Noah?" the influential Slate is now asking why American viewers are abandoning the South African comedian as viewership is continuing to slide for the show following the departure of Jon Stewart.

Where it used to be must-watch television, The Daily Show on Comedy Central is now called "inessential" television.

The Daily Show on Comedy Central - with episodes of the Viacom International Media Networks show seen in South Africa and Africa on DStv a day later on weekdays - has so far lost a third of its viewership compared to when Jon Stewart was the host, although more young people in America are watching the show online.

After four months as the new host of The Daily Show, Slate describes Trevor Noah's approach to jokes as "distant" and that he lacks the "outraged advocacy" that made Jon Stewart's comedy so agenda-setting and the comedian a media darling.

Where the British John Oliver - whose Last Week Tonight satirical news show was broadcast in South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) and will be switching to M-Net Edge (DStv 102) from Sunday 21 February at 21:00 - is using his "distance" from America to make his jokes on American politics "feel even sharper and more objective", Slate says "The Daily Show hasn't decided whether to play up Noah's outsider perspective or to pretend it doesn't exist".

"Playing naïve has also undermined Noah," says Slate. "Trevor Noah tends to seem remote and jokey, rather than genuinely curious".

"Noah will have time to figure out his point of view and his writers time to figure out how to maximize his particular skills. But in the meantime, we're left with a dulled Daily Show shedding relevancy in the midst of a wild and urgent election," says Slate.

COWABUNGA. Cows stolen off the isiBaya TV set; cattle call to find the missing Mzansi Magic moo-moo's yields no results; 'they were part of the family,' says production.

Cowabunga! Cows were stolen right off the isiBaya set of the hugely popular Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show.

Producers have been desperately searching for their missing Mzansi Magic moo-moo's - with no luck so far.

The producers of the soap will now have to find new cattle to populate the background of the weekday soap opera.

"Yes. All of our cows were stolen beginning of the year," Desiree Markgraaff, executive producer of isiBaya tells TV with Thinus.

"We had about 8 cows. It happened at night and we only discovered in the morning that the cows were gone. We loved those cows. They were part of the isiBaya family."

The Bomb Shelter production will now have to find new moo-moo's as isiBaya extras where their appearance have helped with the realistic depiction of the ongoing family feud between the Zungus and Ndlovus in the Thukela Valley.

"We will have to get new cows," says Desiree Markgraaff of the show filmed in Soweto, the title of which means "the kraal".

So far a cattle call for the lost cows has not yielded any results. "We do have people still searching all over for the cows, but eventually we'll have to get new ones."

The cattle theft was reported to the police. No word yet on whether TV set insurance in South Africa pays out for the loss and theft of this type of television movable asset.

National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) investigating a case of alleged fraud in which former manager, now resigned, could have stolen millions.

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is investigating a case of alleged fraud that could run to millions of rand by a former manager.

The former manager was suspended, then resigned.

According to the investigation, its alleged that the former training manager used an events and promotions company in the name of her domestic worker to transfer and thereby steal money from the NFVF earmarked for bursaries for film students.

The alleged fraud was discovered when R250 000 as part of a student bursary was paid not paid into the applicable student's bank account but into the account of the event company late in 2015.

"The department of arts and culture is aware of the investigation into the conduct of a staff member at the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF). The staff member was suspended and an investigation initiated that has not been concluded."

"The staff member has subsequently resigned. The NFVF will take any necessary actions once the investigation is complete," says a statement.

MultiChoice and M-Net soon launching GOtv as its digital television service in South Africa; what is happening with M-Net analogue subscribers?

MultiChoice and M-Net will soon launch its GOtv service as its digital TV product and service in South Africa's digital terrestrial television (DTT) market.

GOtv, MultiChoice's cheaper DTT service already available in several other African countries outside of South Africa, will cost R100 for a monthly subscription according to its South African website, with a GOtv decoder that will cost R700.

South African GOtv subscribers won't need a satellite dish but will also have to buy an antenna for R300. 

GOtv will come with around 12 TV channels at launch that's already available on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

It's not clear what MultiChoice and M-Net are planning to do with its M-Net analogue subscribers and M-Net analogue subscribers – tens of thousands of South Africans who don't have DStv but who use M-Net decoders and who have been waiting patiently for the DTT switch-over to get new decoders.

Part of the big problem is that GOtv as a cheaper digital TV service in the rest of Africa doesn't include the M-Net channel. 

Yet M-Net analogue subscribers living in South Africa must get a "like-for-like" digital terrestrial television service – a DTT service that includes M-Net as a channel.

Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO, confirmed to TV with Thinus last week that the digital terrestrial television offering will launch under the GOtv brand in South Africa. MultiChoice will run the platform and product, and M-Net will supply TV channels.

Yolisa Phahle didn't want to answer when asked whether their would be overlap between the GOtv channel offering available in South Africa and MultiChoice's existing DStv channels, but the website now indicates that M-Net's lower-tiered channels like M-Net Movies Zone, AfricaMagic Epic, Mzansi Wethu, Mzansi Bioskop, Mzansi Magic Music and Channel O will be included.

Other channels include Discovery Networks International's TLC Entertainment, SuperSport's SuperSport Blitz and SuperSport Select channels, Viacom's NickToons, Disney Junior and Dumisa.

Commercial free-to-air broadcaster e.tv will launch its own DTT offering which will include its own set of channels which will likely include several of the channels currently carried on its own OpenView HD (VHD) free-to-air satellite platform from Platco Digital like eKasi+, eMovies+ and eToonz+.

The SABC's free-to-air DTT offering include only 5 channels: SABC1, SABC2, SABC3 as well as the SABC News (DStv 404) and SABC Encore (DStv 156) library rerun channels available on DStv.

MultiChoice and M-Net are apparently doing a media briefing announcing GOtv for Johannesburg media on Wednesday.

Besides the normal GOtv monthly subscription of R99 that will be known as the "Value" bouquet, the GOtv website for South Africa also lists a "Lite" GOtv subscription of R45 per quarter. GOtv Lite will only have one religion and one music TV channel.

The availability of MultiChoice's GOtv in South Africa will initially be limited - due to roll-out of the DTT signals.

GOtv will primarily only work in parts of Gauteng concentrated around Johannesburg and Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town where the GOtv DTT signal can be received. National coverage will gradually grow.

The department of communications on Monday also announced that 1 February 2016 marks "the start of the dual illumination period in South Africa's digital migration process".

Dual illumination means the period where both the existing analogue signal of certain TV channels - for instance SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, e.tv and M-Net - are broadcast, as well as the digital terrestrial version of those same channels.

Once enough South African TV viewers have bought their DTT decoders which are necessary to continue watching television in future, the analogue signals will be switched off.

The minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, says "government plans to distribute 5 million free set-top boxes (STBs). The next distribution and installation process for STBs will be in the Free State this month".

MultiChoice terminating M-Net's under-performing AfricaMagic Showcase channel on DStv from the end of February after 15 months.

MultiChoice is removing M-Net's under-performing AfricaMagic Showcase (DStv 150) channel from DStv Premium in South Africa, terminating the channel from the end of February.

AfricaMagic Showcase was previously AfricaMagic Entertainment until it abruptly changed with no warning or announcement in September 2014.

As a "relaunched" channel, AfricaMagic Showcase - packed and supplied by M-Net to MultiChoice - survived only a year and 5 months on DStv Premium, the only DStv package it was available on in South Africa.

Asked why AfricaMagic Showcase is being terminated, MultiChoice, in response to a media enquiry, tells TV with Thinus that the M-Net supplied channel wasn't popular enough with viewers.

"We constantly review our DStv packages to make sure our customers are getting the very best in entertainment. Our research has shown that AfricaMagic Showcase hasn't been performing well, so while we don't often remove a channel, it's the right decision to make".

It's not immediately clear whether AfricaMagic Showcase is being shut down for the entire Africa, or whether MultiChoice is just taking away the channel for DStv Premium subscribers in South Africa.

AfricaMagic Showcase will continue as a TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv in other African countries, outside of South Africa.

M-Net tells me that "AfricaMagic Showcase will nonetheless remain as one of the top performing channels for other viewers across the rest of Africa on DStv channel 151".

MultiChoice says DStv Premium subscribers can still get AfricaMagic Showcase content but admits that subscribers will now have to wait longer to see some of it before it gets broadcast on the AfricaMagic Urban (DStv 153) channel.

MultiChoice says DStv Premium subscribers "can still get the best of local content on our other AfricaMagic channels, as well as on Mzansi and VUZU" - meaning the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and other Mzansi Magic channels.

"Many of the shows and movies that were available on AfricaMagic Showcase (such as Tinsel, Jara and Stargist) can be found on AfricaMagic Urban. Please note that if you were watching content on AfricaMagic Showcase, that content might only appear later on AfricaMagic Urban," says MultiChoice.

eNCA anchor Joanne Joseph moves back to 4pm timeslot from today to replace Dudu Ramela; still looking for mid-morning co-anchor replacement.

eNCA (DStv 403) anchor Joanne Joseph is moving back to the 16:00 to 18:00 timeslot from today, 1 February with the Sabido-run TV news channel on DStv that is still looking for a new co-anchor for Cathy Mohlahlana in the mid-morning slot.

Joanne Joseph replaces Duduzile Ramela who left the 16:00 timeslot on eNCA to anchor e.tv's quixotic eNews Direct.

Joanne Joseph previously anchored at 16:00 on weekdays and she's familiar with the timeslot that's more interview-driven with a faster pace.

"The 16:00 to 18:00 show makes unique demands on the afternoon team," compressing a wealth of news - from politics, to business, to sport and weather - into a mere two hours," says Joanne Joseph.

"For the afternoon tea, it's a barrage of breathless journalism. For the viewer, we hope to make it an informal whirlwind that draws you into the eye of the day's top stories around us."

"eNCA is confident Joanne Joseph will take Afternoon News from strength to strength with her incisive interviewing skills and intelligent approach to news," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA news director.

"As a senior anchor Joanne Joseph plays a crucial role in mentoring young talent. She models a very high standard of professionalism in broadcast journalism. We are confident that her probing interview style, ability to distill live events and dedication to the core values of journalism will continue to make eNCA the country's news channel of choice"," says Mapi Mhlangu.

eNCA is still deciding on a replacement for Joanne Joseph's spot next to Cathy Mohlahlana.

Pasella adds three new presenters as SABC2 yet again moves it to a new timeslot to create an uninterrupted Afrikaans programming flow block on Fridays.

Pasella is adding three new presenters when the Afrikaans lifestyle and entertainment magazine show on SABC2 returns for another season from this Friday, 5 February.

Pasella's timeslot is also once again changing - from 18:00 exactly a year ago during its last season to now 19:30 on Fridays where it will serve as a lead-out for the SABC's Afrikaans TV news bulletin.

Pasella moving to 19:30 and replacing the Sesotho news bulletin moving to 18:00, will serve as part of a new programming bridge to the Afrikaans game show Noot vir Noot at 20:00.

It's part of the SABC's attempt to keep Afrikaans viewers from tuning out by creating an uninterrupted Afrikaans language flow programming block of two and a half hours on Friday nights, starting with 7de Laan at 18:30, followed by the Afrikaans news, Pasella and then Noot vir Noot.

Joining the existing line-up of Pasella presenters Paul Rothman, Dieter Voigt, Melinda Bam, Vicky Davis, Lynelle Kenned and Simon Witbooi known as Hemelbesem, are Mishka Patel, Sean-Marco Vorster and Carmen Pretorius.

The show from Tswelopele Productions also responsible for SABC3's Top Billing, used to run uninterrupted all year round on SABC2 until March 2013 when the SABC decided to break it down into shorter interrupted seasons which returned in the new format in February last year.

Mishka Patel is finally getting TV screen time after the former Presenter Search on 3 finalist was officially announced on Expresso as the Win a Home co-presenter on SABC3 in August and then got inexplicably dumped causing big embarrassment.

Mishka Patel is a former Miss South Africa finalist and will interview actress Lindie Stander and painter Sandy Esau in the new Pasella season's first episode.

Sean-Marco Vorster was a presenter on SABC3's short-lived NAweek magazine show in 2015 and had roles in local Afrikaans films like Die Windpomp, Strikdas and Lystraf.

Soap star Carmen Pretorius who've appeared in Isidingo and Binnelanders has also done musicals and films like Lien se Lankstaanskoene.

Afrikaans personalities who will appear in the new Pasella season include Fanie de Villiers, Kurt Darren, Annie Malan, Faf du Plessis, Len Muller, Nianell and Dozi.

The first Pasella episode will be visiting Langebaan, with Hartbeespoortdam, Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Riebeek-Kasteel, Witrivier and Hermanus in upcoming episodes.

BREAKING. VIDI fails: Times Media Group's streaming service quietly shuts down as the next victim in South Africa's video-on-demand battle.

VIDI has become South Africa's second commercial video-on-demand (VOD) failure with the Times Media Group that has abruptly shut down the streaming service just a year and 4 months after it launched in September 2014.

There's been no announcement of the closure of the struggling VIDI, with the website saying VIDI is no longer available.

It leaves Naspers' ShowMax, China's PCCW Global and its OnTapTV.com, MTN's relaunched VU, as well as Netflix South Africa as the remaining subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) players who all arose quickly within the past year and already saw Altron's disastrous Altech Node crash and burn in October 2015.

In the same month last year, investor group Tiso Blackstar which has full ownership of the Times Media Group, announced that it is pulling out of VIDI and said that that the purple SVOD service that was launched with great fanfare hasn't been a success since it went commercial.

VIDI launched a marketing campaign offering a Ferrari 458 Spider in an attempt to get more people to try the video service - which at launch said that it would need 40 000 regular users to break even.

Both ShowMax and ONTAPtv.com at their respective launch events refused to say how many users and subscribers they would need to be viable and successful but both ShowMax and ONTAPtv.com said there won't be immediate pressure.

Tiso Blackstar attributed VIDI's failure to "weak market penetration and the slow pace of meaningful broadband growth in South Africa".

Compared to Netflix South Africa, ShowMax and OnTapTV.com, VIDI had the smallest number of film titles, the smallest number of TV titles, as well as the shortest trial period of just 7 days.

According to a recent study by research firm BMI-TechKnowledge, South African consumers have a very low awareness of VOD providers with only 18% of people knowing what and who video-on-demand players are.

According to the study there could be between 692 000 and 917 500 active video-on-demand (VOD) households by 2020 in South Africa.

MultiChoice with DStv and its BoxOffice service stands out with the highest awareness as the leading pay-TV service, with low levels of awareness of the pure-play VOD providers," according to the market research.

Cape Film Commission (CFC) shutting down after 15 years over a lack of money and support; 'we cannot afford the cost to continue with this service'.

The Cape Film Commission (CFC) is shutting down after 15 years over a lack of money and support, closing its door at the end of February, saying it's "impossible for the business to continue".

The closure of the Cape Film Commission with its 3 000 nationwide members comes as a damaging blow for Cape Town's film industry - ironically as Cape Town has rocketed to one of the top 5 international film destinations, sought-after for a growing number of TV and film productions and a hot locale for TV commercials and fashion shoots for international brands.

The CTC, established in 2000, promoted Cape Town and the Western Cape as a local and international filming destination and helped the TV and film industry with things like film permits, work visas, workshops, bursaries, festivals, international educationals and trade visits, helping with International Emmy awards judging and working with the government on issues like access to locations for filming and new technology and film legislation issues like the use of camera drones.

The shuttering of the CTC is due to the Western Cape provincial government and the City of Cape Town ending its grant funding and support to the non-profit organisation.

After the end of this relationship with the local government, an agreement signed with George last year for funding hasn't been enough to keep the Cape Film Commission's doors open. As the CFC is shutting down at the end of the month it won't be able to provide letters of support for work visa applications after 12 February.

"We cannot afford the costs to continue with the service," says Denis Lillie, CFC CEO, saying the commission has heard from many concerned and frustrated people in the industry about its impending closure.

"It is unfortunate that the CFC will disappear from the industry landscape especially as the brand associated with the local and international markets is now more prominent than ever".

"The R10 billion in economic investment [in the film industry] created many jobs and raised the profile of South Africa and especially Cape Town as a film making destination internationally," says Denis Lillie.

"Unlike the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Film Commissions, the Cape Film Commission is a not for profit company, we have never received the level of funding that those departments have. We are the only official Film Commission in South Africa and only one of three in Africa, as recognised by the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI)".

"The government has had internal personnel changes and policy changes that we have no say in. We were not consulted by many of these policy decisions and therefore could not influence the process," says Denis Lillie. "This has left us in the situation we find ourselves".

"I am disappointed that certain government agencies made the decision to withdraw their support from what we do. We believe that with their support we could have created a much more sustainable industry with more jobs, more creativity and more opportunities."

"Last Friday was a very sad day for us when we advised the industry that we were closing."

"We have been lobbying and taking different courses of action for the past three years but with little response. Filmmakers can add their voice to that lobby to try and recover the situation, but that would need to be done in the next week," says Denis Lillie.

"I would suggest that concerned filmmakers should lobby their councillors and representatives of local, provincial and national government over this matter and insist on urgent action in further developing the South African Film Commission as an entity to provide the service the industry needs rather than just a funding body".