MultiChoice dumps DVB-H broadcasting in Kenya as its DStv Mobile and GOtv Mobile service reaching end of life, will get shut down 1 September.

MultiChoice is finally also dumping its DStv DVB-H mobile pay-TV service in East Africa with MultiChoice Kenya shuttering its DStv Mobile service from 1 September.

The outdated and obsolete DStv Walka and DStv Drifta are going dodo with the DVB-H service - "H" standing for handset - getting shut down this coming Saturday, 11 years after DStv Mobile was launched in 2007 in South Africa and in 2011 in Kenya.

MultiChoice wants mobile users to access DStv and GOtv through the DStv Now app, streaming TV content through using data.

"Our Mobile TV service was fist launched in 2007. At the time, we were the first to pioneer technology to broadcast to mobile mobile phones," say MultiChoice Kenya in a statement.

"However, as technology has evolved, and with the introduction of broadband, the streaming of audiovisual content to multiple devices - for instance smartphones, tablets and laptops - has become more attractive."

"DVB-H-based mobile TV broadcasting, along with the range of devices used to access this technology, have reached their end of life. The DStv Mobile and GOtv Mobile TV service will therefore end on Saturday 1 September".

Katlego Arnone appointed new MultiChoice Botswana managing director from September.

Katlego Arnone has been appointed as the new MultiChoice Botswana managing director overseeing Naspers' pay-TV business in the Southern African nation from 3 September that operates services like DStv Botswana and GOtv Botswana.

Katlego Arnone will oversee MultiChoice Botswana that employs around 80 staffers and comprises a national Botswana footprint of 69 retailers, 90 accredited installers, 6 agents and 24 direct sales force agents.

MultiChoice says Katlego Arnone's new role will "include a sharp focus on customer service and reshaping the business to improve on customer experience, whenever and wherever there is customer engagement".

Katlego Arnone joins MultiChoice Botswana from Liquid Telecom where she was chief commercial officer. She has an MSc in leadership and change management from Leeds Metropolitan University and a B.Com management degree from the University of Botswana.

Katlego Arnone in a statement says "In line with the business purpose of enriching lives, MultiChoice was a natural choice for me".

"It offers a number of platforms to fuse my passion for people and technology into powerful projects to change lives; whether it is the life of the boy in the rural area who has never seen a TV set before, to reaching out to those who we have left behind, to tapping into the creativity and tech savviness of the youth."

"After a rigorous search process, we are delighted to welcome Katlego Arnone to the MultiChoice family," says Nyiko Shiburi, MultiChoice's southern regional director in a statement.

"Katlego has very significant experience in the ICT industry with an emphasis on customer experience. I look forward to working with Katlego to continue the growth of our business in Botswana".

MultiChoice has over 10 000 pay-TV subscribers in Botswana.

The country's telecommunications regulator recently ordered MultiChoice Botswana to first submit applications and notifications of possible subscriber price hikes to the regulator for approval, before DStv and Gotv subscribers' fees are increased - something MultiChoice said it won't and can't do.

From over 3 100 entries from 13 Africa countries, MultiChoice Africa announces the 60 students that will take part in its first MultiChoice Talent Factory TV and film internship programme.

MultiChoice has started to announce the students from across Africa that will receive year long internships as part of its new MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) programme to help them gain experience and knowledge in Africa's TV and film industry.

MultiChoice Africa's MultiChoice Talent Factory follows M-Net in South Africa's 4-year old Magic in Motion Academy that was established in 2014 to provide a year long intensive internship to new graduates in the film and TV sector.

The students from across sub-Sahara Africa, but excluding South Africa, will get training at three MultiChoice Talent Factory academies hosted in Nairobi, Kenya (for East Africa); Lagos, Nigeria (for West Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (for Southern Africa) - with 20 students each.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory received over 3 100 entries from 13 African countries.

Students will create local content that will be broadcast on the various M-Net channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv satellite pay-TV platforms throughout Africa, including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, Maisha Magic Bongo, Zambezi Magic, M-Net and SuperSport.

Each of the three academies will be overseen by an Academy Director who are experts in film and TV: Njoko Muhoho in Nairobi, Femi Odugbemi in Lagos and Berry Lwando in Lusaka.

"From the thousands of applications received, it's evident that there's a strong desire to learn from and work with other African creatives," said film director and producer Femi Odugbemi.

Four filmmakers from Ghana will attend the first year at the West African hub that the MultiChoice Talent Factory will run. They are Edmund Kobby Asamoah, Henry Konadu Denkyira, Irene Dumevi Yaamoakoa and Patience Esiawonam Adisenu.

Nigerian filmmakers who will attend the programme include Idongesit Amba, Allen Onyige, Gilbert Bassey, Precious Iroagalachi, Nanret Paul Kumbet, Akpera Mnena, Umm’salma Saliu, Ugwu Uchenna Eileen, Sonia Nwosu, Moses Akerele, Metong Minwon, Bolaji Adelakun, Joseph Adeniyi, Kemi Tamara Adeyemi, Tochukwu Nwaiwu, and Blessing Bulus.

Three filmmakers from Namibia will attend the programme in Zambia. They are Esther Beukes, Ashivudhi Nghidipohamba and Sally Jason.

Two Zimbabwean filmmakers will attend the programme in Zambia. They are Nobert Mapfoche of Bulawayo and Rutendo Mahofa from Harare.

Two Botswana filmmakers will attend the programme in Zambia. They are Serena Serene Mmifinyana and Nikita Mokgware.

In East Africa 11 Kenyans grabbed spots for the programme that will start on 1 October. The 11 from Kenya are Adala Makhulo, Michelle Angawa, Tecla Joan, Shilla Gathoni, Mary Wanjiku, Samuel Makau, Hillary Lanogwa, Karanja Ngendo, Antony Njoroge, Millan Lwanga and Hillary Sabuni.

For filmmakers from Tanzania will attend the programme in Nairobi, Kenya: Sarah Kimario, Wilson Nkya, Jamal Kishuli and Jane Moshi.

Four filmmakers from Uganda will also attend the programme in Nairobi: Cissy Nalumansi, Hilda Awori, Aaron Tamale and Casey Lugada.

Fisehatsion Nibret from Ethiopia has also been selected to attend the MultiChoice Talent Factory in Nairobi.

Dumped Afro Worldview channel's staffers won't all get employed by Newzroom Afrika when the new TV news channel launches in early 2019 on MultiChoice's DStv.

The staffers from Mzwanele Manyi's controversial and now shuttered Afro Worldview TV channel on DStv won't all be employed by Newzroom Afrika when the new TV news channel makes its debut in early 2019 on MultiChoice DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Newzroom Afrika will give "special consideration" to former Afro Worldview staffers, but this doesn't mean that they will be hired. Also not all Afro Worldview staff will apply. 

MultiChoice dumped Afro Worldview last week as it said it would at the beginning of 2018, leaving 300 people jobless who were employed at the former Gupta-owned ANN7 that shut down after 5 years mired in allegations of corruption and of being a propaganda channel.

The owners of Newzroom Afrika, Thokozani Nkosi and Thabile Ngwato on Tuesday said they would give "special consideration" to people who have worked at Afro Worldview and who apply for positions - not advertised yet - at Newzroom Afrika.

That however doesn't they will get jobs.

In an email to Afro Worldview staffers, Mzwanele Manyi told them that details about their salaries will be communicated soon. Mzwanele Manyi said there's no further future for Afro Worldview and that operations have to shut down.

Mzwanele Manyi told staffers not to hope that they'll get employed by Newzroom Afrika and to search for other employment opportunities without waiting. Contracts of Afro Worldview staffers are not being formally terminated.

Meanwhile the Communication Workers Union (CWU) wants to meet with Mzwanele Manyi to negotiate severance packages for staffers.

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) said it welcomes the commitment by Newzroom Afrika to give "special consideration" to Afr Worldview staffers for possible jobs.

"Sanef notes the fact that the channel is 100% black owned and 50% women owned. We also note MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika's stated commitment to journalism ethics and independence and the decision to establish an oversight body," said Sanef in a statement.

"We will be carefully watching this space to see if the new channel's commitments are upheld. We also keenly await their announcements in early 2019 about their programming offerings and line-up."

Mr. Robot seen on M-Net and Showmax cancelled after 4 seasons; 4th season in 2019 gets expanded final episode order.

The computer hacking drama series Mr. Robot, first seen on M-Net (DStv 101) for its first two seasons and then inexplicably shunted to Naspers' subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax for its third season, has been cancelled with the upcoming 4th season that will be its last.

Mr. Robot followed Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a cyber-security engineer who becomes involved in the underground hacker group fsociety, after being recruited by its leader (Christian Slater).

While the first season of Mr. Robot was great, the show imploded during its second season and lost buzz and ratings and never recovered.

Now it's cancelled with the 4th season that will be its last, with The Hollywood Reporter that first reported the news and that the final season will see its episode order increased from 8 to 12 episodes.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail says "when I first created the world of Mr. Robot, I thought it would be a niche television series with a small, cult following".

"Over the past three years, it has become so much more, and I am continually humbled by the show's recognition and by the amazing cast and crew that work tirelessly to help bring my vision to life."

"Since day one, I've been building toward one conclusion - and in breaking the next season of Mr. Robot, I have decided that conclusion is finally here".

He said that "we ultimately have too much respect for Elliot's journey to extend past its inevitable ending. Therefore, season four will serve as the final chapter of the Mr. Robot story. To fans of the show: thank you for the past three years, and I can't wait to share this exciting final season with you."

Andre van der Veen quits as eMedia Holdings CEO after just a year, replaced by Khalik Sheriff.

Andre van der Veen is out as eMedia Holdings CEO after just a year, with the executive who had resigned effective from 20 November.

Andre van der Veen was appointed eMedia Holdings CEO from November 2017 and eMedia Holdings didn't bother to give any reason for his resignation.

Andre van der Veen will be replaced by Khalik Sherriff who has been deputy CEO.

eMedia Holdings that is listed on the JSE, owns 67.7% of eMedia Investments.

eMedia Investments runs broadcaster e.tv, the TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite platform, the struggling and still unprofitable Openview free-to-air satellite platform that recorded a net operating loss of R367 million in the financial year to 31 March 2018, and the YFM radio station.

Trying to put a positive spin on Andre van der Veen's quitting and Khalik Sheriff's appointment, eMedia says in a statement that Khalik Sheriff "has worked in the media industry for more than 25 years".

"He is the most experienced television executive within eMedia Holdings, having been with the group for more than 15 years and has been responsible for revenue and the success of the company’s dynamic sales team".

"Khalik’s extensive knowledge of the changing South African media industry will continue to be of immense value as he takes over the reins from Andre," says eMedia Holdings in its statement.

Netflix South Africa switches to pricing in rand - and is suddenly cheaper as it now rivals Naspers' Showmax in basic price.

Netflix South Africa is switching to pricing in rand with the result that South Africans consumers using the global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service are now paying less and with Netflix SA's basic price now the same as rival Showmax but with a bigger catalogue.

Netflix decided to switch to billing South African subscribers in rand instead of dollar from Tuesday 28 August and in a media enquiry confirmed to TVwithThinus that the dollar to rand switch happened and is part of its "ongoing efforts to localise its offering for the South African market".

The dollar to rand billing switch and resultant decrease brings Netflix's Basic subscription fee of R99 per month to exactly the same as Naspers' Showmax SVOD service run by MultiChoice that is also priced at R99.

Netflix South Africa is aggressively ramping up its efforts to increase its presence, market penetration and general consumer brand awareness at the southern most tip of Africa, the most sophisticated TV market on the African continent and Netflix's "test case" for the continent.

Netflix is targeting rivals like MultiChoice, Showmax, Cell C black, Amazon Prime Video and the flurry of smaller SVOD players trying to make inroads in the growing over-the-top (OTT) digital direct-to-consumer video market.

"With the switch to billing in rands, Netflix has released the local pricing structure for each package. The Basic plan will cost R99 per month, the Standard plan R139 per month, and the Premium plan R169 per month," Netflix tells TVwithThinus.

Until before the dollar to rand switch, Netflix South Africa users had to pay $7.99 (R114.69) for Basic, $9.99 (R143.40) for Standard and $11.99 (R172.11) on Wednesday's rand-dollar exchange rate. 

"Since launching in the country in January 2016, the content library on the Netflix SA service has grown by over 500%, with shows that speak to South African audiences such as Girlboss (produced by SA-born Charlize Theron), Mindhunter (also developed for Netflix by Charlize Theron) and Troy: Fall of a City (filmed in Cape Town)," says Netflix that also recently licensed the South African film, Catching Feelings, as a Netflix Original.

Netflix says it will "add even more locally-developed content to its library. This will include exclusive series, movies, documentaries, stand-up comedy shows and kids’ content."

"New product features and enhancements to the overall Netflix experience will also ensure that South African viewers can always find something great to watch, fast."

M-Net renews The Voice South Africa for a third season, entries open until 30 September.

M-Net (DStv 101) has renewed The Voice South Africa for a third season that will start on the channel in early-2019 and with entries for singers who want to be on the show open until 30 September 2018.

"We know that there are many nightingales, crooners, songbirds and rockers out there who are reacting to the news with songs of joy," says Lani Lombard, M-Net’s head of publicity.

"During the past couple of months, our M-Net social media accounts were inundated with direct messages from performers and fans with a burning desire to take part in The Voice South Africa."

"Now the moment has arrived, with the launch of a new season, and we can't wait to meet the next group of talent whose vocal artistry will swirl the coaches' chairs around and launch their musical journeys to stardom."

M-Net will announce the names of the presenters and coaches for the third season later.

The previous two seasons of The Voice SA were produced by AMPN based on the Talpa format. For the third season M-Net will be doing the production of the format reality competition show in-house.

The Voice SA has no upper age limit but contestants must be at least 18 and a South African citizen. Solo singers and duos may enter and sing in the genre of their choice – from pop, rock and indie, folk and country to cabaret, opera and blues.

For the new 3rd season there's only one way to enter The Voice South Africa – through the online entry form on the M-Net website.

People who want to enter at mnet.tv/thevoice, must complete an online audition process that includes an application form with a few personal questions and thereafter submit a 90-second long video showcasing your vocal talent.

"Don’t fret too much about the visual aspect of your video," says Lani Lombard. "Remember, as the name of this worldwide television hit suggests, it's all about The Voice. The selection team only wants to assess the quality, tone and timbre of your vocal chords and get a sense of your performance skills."

For the video entry, you have to sing the verse and chorus of any song that will show off your vocal prowess. The song may be performed with or without accompaniment. Live videos in front of audiences, music videos or produced singles and tracks will not be allowed.

Online applications that are successful will be contacted by The Voice SA team for call-backs.

The eventual winner will get a recording deal with Universal Music South Africa, as well as some other prizes.

BREAKING. MultiChoice chooses Newzroom Afrika to replace Mzwanele Manyi's dumped Afro Worldview as a new local TV news channel on DStv.

MultiChoice has chosen Newzroom Afrika as the new 24-hour local TV news channel to replace Mzwanele Manyi's dumped Afro Worldview channel on DStv.

Newzroom Afrika will launch in early 2019 on DStv and no channel logo is available yet.

When Newzroom Afrika launched early next year, it will take the channel number of 405 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, the one where ANN7 that turned into Afro Worldview, launched and was dumped from earlier this month.

Newzroom Afrika, following after eNCA (DStv 403) and SABC News (DStv 404) will be made available to all DStv subscribers, meaning that it will have a wider reach that eMedia Investment's eNCA.

MultiChoice received 111 expressions of interest for a new TV news channel on DStv.

The two directors heading up Newzroom Afrika are Thokozani Nkosi of the production company Eclipse TV, and Thabile Ngwato of Rapid Innovation, the SABC News anchor who left the SABC last week.

Eclipse TV produced shows for the South African public broadcaster like It's Gospel Time and I want to sing Gospel for SABC2 and The Chatroom and Big Up for SABC1.

"Today marks the birth of an exciting new and independent media voice in South Africa," said Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice South Africa CEO.

"We set out to find a quality, new, black-owned, independent news channel to expand the diversity of South African news and enrich our democracy - we're excited by the outcome.

"The Eclipse TV and Rapid Innovation teams have a track record of entrepreneurial success. They will be supported by an editorial team that will deliver independent views of events unfolding in South Africa and around the world, while the owners concentrate on running the business successfully."

"Their bid stood out for its potential to bring a fresh, creative and diversified approach to news reporting, which included an integrated digital strategy, combined with sound audience analysis and appealing on-screen execution".

MultiChoice in a statement says "this new channel will greatly enhance and enrich the news offering on DStv, while at the same time creating a new black-owned entrant in South African news media. It will promote the diversity of voices in media and give all our customers the chance to find a news channel on DStv that resonates with them."

"We were looking for a news channel that is distinctly different from what is currently available‚ and we certainly found it in Newzroom Afrika. We want to drive sustainable transformation in the television industry and to contribute to the diversity of views in our country and our continent."

Thabile Ngwato in a statement on Tuesday said Newzroom Afrika "is committed to provide independent and dependable reporting, and will deliver that through our strong editorial team".

Thokozani Nkosi said "this is a great opportunity for us to bring a fresh perspective to the South African news agenda by building a news channel from scratch. We're excited and raring to go."

MultiChoice and Newzroom Afrika will start negotiations about the channel carriage agreement soon.

Zanele Mthembu who was previously the group head of e.tv's content production division, will head up Newzroom Afrika's broadcasting operation, with Malebo Phage running the newsroom operations. Malebo Phage also previously worked for e.tv.

Joe Thloloe and Dinesh Balliah will be on Newzroom Afrika's editorialethics oversight board.

Newzroom Afrika won't hire all of the Afro Worldview staffers who got fired last week when Afro Worldview got dumped from DStv, if if some of them apply, they will get "special consideration".

"In terms of employees at Afro Worldview, they will certainly be prioritised when it comes to our recruitment process. Each and every person who applies for various positions will be given an opportunity to go through the recruitment process but they will certainly be prioritised," Thabile Ngwato said at a media briefing on Tuesday.