Alex Crawford, Sky News South Africa and Africa correspondent, leaving to head up new bureau in Istabul; replaced by John Sparks.

Alex Crawford, the respected and award-winning Sky News (DStv 402) correspondent for South Africa and Africa, is leaving to head up a new news bureau in Istanbul, Turkey, and will be replaced with John Sparks.

The distinguished, respected and hard-working Alex Crawford has done several (hard-hitting) memorable and brilliant stories from South Africa and across several African countries the past years.

Alex Crawford has far surpassed, in her own on-the-ground African coverage, the barely-there African coverage that viewers get from South Africa's African-shy channels eNCA (DStv 403), SABC News (DStv 404) and ANN7 (DStv 405) who all largely use wire agency and news agency file footage from Reuters and others and don't want to do first-hand reporting from correspondents in African countries.

Unlike South Africa's TV reporters working at eNCA, SABC News and ANN7, Alex Crawford goes to actual African places - reporting from Libya, from inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo where child slaves mine cobalt, from the Zimbabwe border where woman are captured as sex slaves, Malawi's abortion cults, oil pirates in Nigeria and many more.

Alex Crawford is now leaving South Africa to head up a new Sky News bureau in Istanbul, Turkey.

Alex Crawford will be replaced in Sky News' Johannesburg news bureau that covers Africa, by John Sparks, who is currently based in Moscow, Russia.

Platco Digital's free-to-air satellite service, OpenView HD, adds BBC World News as a TV news channel.

OpenView HD (OVHD) has added the TV news channel BBC World News to the free-to-air satellite platform from today, Monday 4 September 2017.

BBC World News is available on OpenView HD channel 112. BBC World News is already carried on MultiChoice's DStv and on StarTimes South Africa and On Digital Media's StarSat satellite pay-TV platforms.

Platco Digital's OpenView HD says that the addition of a dedicated news channel will see OpenView HD continuing to grow its premium content offering.

"The addition of a news channel speaks to the needs of our growing audience and we believe it will position OpenView HD as South Africa's digital platform of choice," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu, OpenView HD general manager of channel acquisitions.

"BBC World News' reputation for global breaking news is a huge drawcard for us and we're delighted to be able to offer our viewers a window to the world of quality and integrity".

M-Net replacing Ellen with James Corden; Ellen moving to VUZU on DStv as the British talk show host takes the 5pm slot.

M-Net is replacing Ellen DeGeneres in the pay-TV broadcaster's late afternoon timeslot with James Corden.

After several years on M-Net (DStv 101), Ellen will start on VUZU (DStv 116) on Monday 11 September, with The Late Late Show with James Corden that will start in Ellen's place on the M-Net channel on 18 September in the 17:00 timeslot.

M-Net gave no reason for moving Ellen away, although the channel did the same with fellow talk show The Talk a few years ago that was shipped from M-Net to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).

The Late Late Show with James Corden was previously exclusively available on Naspers' subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax, but since his pop culture success with his "carpool karaoke" James Corden has seen a dramatic rise in his showbiz profile worldwide.

"Don't be misled by the words 'Late Late' in the show's title," says Lani Lombard, M-Net head of publicity.

"Even though the programme is broadcast late in the evening in the United States, it's the perfect entertainment to put you in a good mood for the bumper prime-time offering each night."

"M-Net continues to bring you the very best entertainment from around the globe and we're thrilled to add this trendy programme to our schedule."

Like Ellen, the British James Corden's couch is filled with American entertainers, performers, singers, film stars and artists, and like Ellen he often sings along with them.

M-Net has been showing reruns of the 14th season of Ellen, with the 15th season of Ellen that will start in America on Tuesday 5 September and is the season that will show on VUZU.

It's not clear what season of The Late Late Show with James Corden will be on M-Net, although it will likely be the new third season starting in America on Tuesday 5 September.

Ri Chun Hee - the dear North Korea news reader who will outlive us all.

It's not cockroaches, Cher or Riaan Cruywagen who will outlive us all. It's Ri Chun Hee.

Her face is known to millions of people around the world although she lives in one of the most notoriously secluded countries in the world.

Yet when she once again popped up on Sunday on television, everyone knew some big announcement was forthcoming.

On Sunday, framed in front of a TV screen backdrop of Mount Paektu, the dormant volcano on the Chinese border that symbolises North Korean nationhood, Ri Chun Hee shuddered with excitement - not because she caught another one in Pokemon Go - but because she could announce another massive hydrogen bomb explosion test as "the perfect success".

Ri Chun Hee (74) has been the news anchor on North Korea's state broadcaster for longer than even South Africa's Riaan Cruywagen, and on Sunday, as in the preceding 4 decades, Ri Chun Hee appeared on North Korea's Korean Central Television (KCTV) to proclaim that the dear leader's army tested a hydrogen bomb.

The excitable Ri is always very brave as she keeps telling North Korea and the world the news and pushes through her words although she's visibly fighting back and tries not to become overwhelmed with emotion.

She's the global face of North Korea's propaganda machine, much like Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games book and film series and in 2016 the BBC called Ri Chun Hee "probably the most famous newsreader in the world".

Now a grandmother, Ri Chun Hee, who was born poor in 1943, first appeared on North Korea's TV service way back in 1971 and became the main news anchor in 1974.

Whenever there's deaths like those of dear leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, intercontinental ballistic missiles being launched, or nuclear bombs being tested, it is Ri who comes on air to break down and cry, excitedly jump up and down in her chair like Pokemon, or to bombastically scold and attack the evil America and the rest of the free world.

The lovely Ri sooths and calms - even when she announces that North Korea has nuclear bombs that can kill millions - showing that nothing about North Korea's regime will apparently ever change.

Even in her never-changing appearance, like again on Sunday when the world stopped and stared, Ri seems somehow encased in amber: almost always on TV in a pink traditional Korean hanbok behind the anchor desk, with her raven black hair perfectly done.

While even Wikipedia calls Ri Chun Hee who lives in the capital of Pyongyang "retired", she is definitely not.

According to North Korea, their exulted news reader is held in very high regard for her "resonant voice, impressive mood and outstanding eloquence" - things that Cher and Riaan Cruywagen who won't survive a nuclear detonation like Ri would - can never dream to have.

Over decades Ri Chun Hee has perfected the art of TV news reading melodrama.

The professional Ri is beloved for the way in which she can be seen battling to hold back tears, chastising the enemies of North Korea and appearing ever-present for the news from the totalitarian dictatorship known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Katharine H.S. Moon, a professor at Wellesley College, told Britain's Channel 4 that Ri Chun Hee "in many ways serves as the public mother image, or feminine image for the state, because North Korean never has allowed any of the wives of the North Korean leaders to be in public life. It's so rare."

"She's highly-trusted by the state. She is literally the voice of the state to the public."

"People have become so accustomed to her face - she is the one who is trusted by the people because she is the one they meet every night on the television."

SABC spin tsar Kaizer Kganyago again goes on SABC News to say the SABC's requested billion rand bailout from government is not a 'bailout' - but it is.

The SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago again went on SABC News (DStv 404) to say that the SABC's latest billion rand requested bailout from the South African government is not a "bailout" - only it is.

Hilariously, Khanyisile Kweyama, SABC board interim chairperson, herself uses the word bailout to describe the latest financial lifeline of billions of rand the SABC urgently requires for the cash-strapped and struggling South African public broadcaster to stay afloat.

Other SABC interim board members like journalist and editor Mathatha Tsedu also uses the word bailout.

Funnily enough, the essentially bankrupt South African Airways (SAA) - awaiting yet another mega-billion bailout from government - and South Africa's government are both calling and referring to the SAA's looming cash-injection as a bailout.

Yet the SABC's Kaizer Kganyago wants to spin the SABC's bailout as not being a bailout - but it is.

Question: Can the SABC, once again hovering on the edge of a financial cliff like it did in 2009 when it got a government bailout, get the money without the South African government guaranteeing a mega-billion rand bank loan for the SABC?

No.

That is what makes it a bailout.

The ameliorative way the SABC wants to talk away what it wants and what will likely be happening - a bailout - by using padded, softened words, is a disservice to the South African public.

The dictionary definition of a bailout reads: "an act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse".

"A bailout is a situation in which a business, an individual or a government offers money to a failing business to prevent the consequences that arise from the business's downfall. Bailouts can take the form of loans, bonds, stocks or cash."

From the economic definition, it's very clear that what the SABC requested is a bailout, and that, if given again by the government, would be classified and can very correctly be described as a bailout.

It is important to not use euphemisms and SABC PR speak like "government-guarantee" when the word "bailout" is what the SABC is asking for and a bailout is what the mismanaged SABC wants just 9 years after its previous bailout.

Extremely troubling is the secrecy of Ayanda Dlodlo, minister of communications, around the SABC's latest bailout.

Ayanda Dlodlo promised transparency but is actively blocking the South African TV industry, SABC audiences and the South African public from knowing what bailout amount the SABC asked the South African government for.

Ayanda Dlodlo's refusal to make the SABC bailout amount requested public - a billion rand amount she's kept secret for over two months and counting now - damages democracy and South Africa's TV industry.

Without knowing the bailout amount, the South African public, citizens and South Africa's TV industry can't debate the issue; can't have a public conversation of whether it's appropriate, or whether its sizeable enough or not.

Is appears that Ayanda Dlodlo wants to announce to South Africa's TV industry and the South African public only that the SABC got a bailout after its been approved by South Africa's treasury - an after-the-fact, fait accompli.

South Africans are not trusted - in fact held in apparent contempt - by Ayanda Dlodlo who is not transparent publicly about what the nature is the financial help is that the SABC requires, although she knows.

It's not clear why South Africa can only know after the SABC has been given a bailout, what the bailout was/is/will be.

With other government bailouts - for instance SAA, and others - the request is made public knowledge with ordinary South Africans knowing what size of money injection has been asked from the government - a government funded by its people.

Part of an open democracy - and for it to function successfully - is for its government and public institutions to communicate accurately with its citizens and to use correct words, and also to give citizens access to the public information from its public institutions to help them to make better and informed decisions.

Former SABC TV boss Verona Duwarkah appointed as new Urban Brew Studios CEO with immediate effect.

The former SABC TV boss Verona Duwarkah has been appointed as Urban Brew Studios CEO with immediate effect.

It's the respected and high-profile South African TV executive's first banner-title job since Veronah Duwarkah's shocking and acrimonious exit from the scandal-ridden South African public broadcaster.

Verona Duwarkah was one of many talented executives who were forced out at the SABC during 2015 and 2016 under the draconian destruction of the corrupt liar and now fired former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Verona Duwarkah's tenure as the SABC's top TV boss in the position of group executive of the SABC Television division between 2012 and 2016, came to an abrupt end after months of behind-the-scenes executive in-fighting with Hlaudi Motsoeneng who usurped, dismantled and corrupted standard and established TV pitching, commissioning and scheduling protocol and procedures.

In her new role as Urban Brew Studios CEO, effective immediately, Verona Duwarkah takes over from Richard Tsai who has been the acting CEO since the beginning of 2017.

Richard Tsai has been appointed as Urban Brew Studios COO.

During her 26 year career in the media industry, Verona Duwarkah has held various positions at the SABC, including general manager of strategic projects between 2007 and 2012, and has also been a consultant business manager at Cote Ouest.

'We  look forward to Verona sharing her experience, which spans various aspects of the business, including finance, TV channel management, content production management, strategy development, implementation and general and executive management," says Mark Harris, Kagiso Media group CEO.

"We welcome her to the Kagiso Media family and know she will be an asset."

Verona Duwarkah says "I am incredibly excited to take on this challenge as I move on to the next level of my career in an entirely different business environment."

"I look forward to applying my many years of media experience in this business, ensuring that it grows and adapts to a rapidly changing landscape."

Urban Brew Studios lastest TV productions include  Urban Brew Studios' latest productions include #WTF Tumi currently broadcast on SABC3, the recent Tyres & Braaiers that was also on SABC3, The Search E! Host South Africa that was broadcast on MultiChoice's E! Entertainment (DStv 124), SABC1's magazine shows like YOTV, Live AMP, RGB and Break da Beat as well as SABC3's Top Chef South Africa.

Naspers' SVOD Showmax folded into MultiChoice's DStv Digital Media; not a cost-cutting exercise says Showmax.

Naspers' 2-year old subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax is folding its South African and African operations into the DStv Digital Media unit of Naspers' MultiChoice pay-TV satellite service, with Showmax saying it's not a cost-cutting exercise.

The merged Showmax and DStv Digital Media will be renamed as a new digital division reporting directly to Imtiaz Patel, CEO of Naspers' video entertainment unit.

Showmax's operations outside of South Africa will be headed up by John Kotsaftis, while Graeme Cummings, DStv Digital Media general manager and Chris Savides, Showmax Africa boss, will continue in their roles for now.

So far there's been no announcement from Naspers, MultiChoice or Showmax, while Imtiaz Patel told staffers that Showmax Africa will be folded into DStv Digital Media, reporting to MultiChoice South Africa CEO Mark Rayner while Naspers looks for someone to head up the newly combined digital unit.

"The time has come for us to align these two services more closely to create an even better entertainment experience for our customers and to truly innovate in this space," said Imtiaz Patel to staffers.

"This is an opportunity for us to truly leverage the skills and capabilities we have built in these two teams, and create greater synergy. For this reason, we will be bringing Showmax Africa and DStv Digital Media together in Africa to create a new digital division (final name to be decided) reporting directly into me."

"Graeme Cumming, GM for DStv Digital Media and Chris Savides, Showmax head of Africa, will continue to provide leadership," said Imtiaz Patel.

Over the past year Showmax, launched by Naspers as its own service and directly competing with MultiChoice's DStv and other SVOD services, has become so integrated with MultiChoice's offering that it's become virtually indistinguisable as a separate service.

Bloomberg first reported that Naspers is merging Showmax and MultiChoice's DStv Digital Media division to cut costs and to share exclusive content - something that ShowMax and MultiChoice have already been doing in terms of TV production costs and broadcasting licensing rights.

In response to a media enquiry in the week asking about it, Showmax spokesperson Richard Boorman told TVwithThinus that "we're looking at opportunities for DStv and Showmax to work more closely on digital entertainment products to the benefit of both sets of customers."

'There's no specific details to share at this point, but I can say it's not a cost-cutting exercise."

MultiChoice in response to a similar media enquiry said "we're looking at opportunities for DStv and Showmax to work more closely on digital entertainment products to the benefit of both sets of customers. There are no specific details to share at this point."

South Africans asked to reveal their big secrets on TV in BET Africa's new reality series, The Big Secret with Khanyi Mbau.

South Africans will reveal their big secrets to friends and family members to see if it improves their lives - although it likely won't - in BET Africa's new 13-part reality series, The Big Secret that will be presenter by Khanyi Mbau.

Khanyi Mbau presenting The Scoop on SABC3 has been brought into the Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) fold by VIMN boss Monde Twala who, while heading up e.tv gave Khanyi Mbau her talk show Katch It with Khanyi that was later cancelled.

The Big Secret will start on BET Africa (DStv 129) on Wednesday 18 October at 21:30.

In The Big Secret viewers will see people "reveal their darkest secrets in their search to free themselves from emotional burdens," says Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

People will make their shocking revelations to family, friends and lovers in a "gripping final reveal" in The Big Secret with the producers saying the aim is to help viewers to "find the courage and inspiration to begin their own personal journey towards unburdening themselves and reclaiming their lives".

"Secrets trap people and stop them from progressing with their lives," says Khanyi Mbau. "The show is a platform for guests participating to free themselves emotionally and finally choose to live the life they were destined to."

"The Big Secret aims to support participants to build, empower and inspire themselves."

"Khanyi Mbau has a wealth of experience in interacting with diverse people and communities from allwalks of life together with the challenges she has personally worked through in her own life," says Monde Twala, vice president for BET, youth and music at VIMN Africa.

"Her exposure to life and its challenges has shaped her sense of compassion, empathy, sensitivity and insightfulness."

"These are the important qualities which make her relatable and trustworthy to both the audience and candidates. The Big Secret is going to be empowering and captivating reality TV."

Disney and M-Net in another historic TV first with new series, Inhumans, shown at IMAX.

In another South African television first, Disney and M-Net (DStv 101) are making history by screening the upcoming new Marvel TV series, Inhumans, at IMAX from today before the start on TV on 30 September.

Just like in America and elsewhere around the world where a historic partnership between IMAX, Marvel Television and ABC has resulted in Inhumans being shown on the very big screen as a TV-cinema event, the first two episodes is also being shown in South Africa on IMAX from today thanks to Disney and M-Net (DStv 101) that will start broadcasting Inhumans from 30 September at 20:00.

The first two episodes of Marvel's Inhumans have been filmed in IMAX cameras and has been slightly reworked as a double-bill feature before the 8-episodes are broadcast on television.

It's the first time episodes of a new TV series debuts on IMAX in America and South Africa.

The season opener episodes of the 5th and 6th seasons of HBO's Game of Thrones, also on M-Net, were previously shown as a simulcast in South African cinemas at the same 03:00 hour in South Africa as its broadcast in America.

"People won't go to a theatre to watch any TV show," says Richard Gelfond, CEO of IMAX in a statement. "I don't think Modern Family in IMAX would be a hit. But we were looking for something that had scale and scope, a franchise that appealed to our millennial audience. I think Inhumans is going to work."

Richard Gelfond in fact got the idea to take Inhumans to the IMAX screen after the success of the Game of Thrones theatrical experience.

On Thursday night M-Net did a special preview showing of Inhumans at IMAX cinemas for competition winners and the media across South Africa before the run from today for about two weeks.

The Inhumans, that first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1965, and made their TV appearance a while ago in the series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. also broadcast on M-Net, revolves around a group of superhumans living on the moon but unexpectedly finding their way to Earth and having to survive and fight for their lives.

The leaders of the Inhuman royal family Black Bolt (Anson Mount), Medusa (Serinda Swan) are dethroned in a coup by Black Bolt's brother Maximus (Iwan Rheon).

Interestingly the IMAX released version of Inhumans runs at 75 minutes and has a "secret" teaser at the end after the credit roll. At the end South Africans who streamed out of IMAX theatres at 21:30 on Thursday night, bundled back in when the show seemed to "continue" with the surprise teaser reveal setting up more drama.

When shown on M-Net and elsewhere worldwide on television from 30 September, the first two Inhumans episodes will run 84 minutes.

What it means is that the Inhumans TV version will feature extra scenes, making it worthwile for people who've already watched it on IMAX to tune in to M-Net and to watch it again.