DStv BoxOffice with the exclusive two hour Terra Nova premiere 'preview'? Why doing this would be such a winner for everyone.

If I could wish one thing (a thing that would be so good for the South African TV viewer, good for MultiChoice, good for its new video-on-demand service DStv BoxOffice, good for M-Net, good for everybody) it would be for MultiChoice to make the 2 hour premiere of the upcoming new TV drama Terra Nova available at the end of September or in October as a DStv BoxOffice movie. Even if it's just for a week.

I doubt that it will happen. But it would be such a great thing.

Last month of course I exclusively broke the news RIGHT HERE that M-Net has definitely acquired the rights to Terra Nova and that the new Steven Spielberg drama chronicling a family traveling back in time to prehistoric times to make a new start, will start in January on M-Net. Of course MultiChoice also just launched its new DStv BoxOffice service making a constantly updated selection of 15 movies available for rent at R25 each.

I don't think that MultiChoice has that clout, and for various technical and business and licensing price point and gumption reasons I don't think it can happen or would be something that MultiChoice would give energy to pursue, but it's a nice idea. When i daydream about television, it is things like this that I fantasize about: That South African viewers can get the opportunity to see the next best new thing, while its hot.

Let's play along. Terra Nova starts on 26 September in America as a two hour premiere. It will be on the Fox network and is made by Steven Spielberg. Now, TopTV has proved that with the first season and the upcoming new second season of The Walking Dead, as well as the current Falling Skies (made by Steven Spielberg, gotten to South Africa by ... Fox International Channels) its possible to see television episodes of a show within 48 hours of it being shown in America.

Imagine, imagine, if, as for one of its rolling movies, the new DStv BoxOffice acquired ''Terra Nova 2hr premiere feature'' as a R25 movie, as part of its playlist selection - even if its just for a week - just after the America premiere on 26 September. (And MultiChoice and M-Net has an even better and longer history and relationship with Fox than what TopTV has.)

DStv BoxOffice will win. I will definitely pay R25 to see the 2 hour Terra Nova premiere in high definition in my living room shortly after its American debut when it will be a global pop culture buzz topic around the world. Subscribers will use and sample DStv BoxOffice if they find out that the year's biggest new TV show (dinosaurs! family drama! secrets! amazing special effects!) is available for a very limited time as a special preview sampler movie - one you cannot even get on a DVD yet.

M-Net will win. DStv Premium subscribers who already have M-Net are introduced to the new TV show that's coming and get a delicious want-to-see ''preview''. Of course you're going to tell other people; of course you're going to return when the full first season of 13 episodes start in January on M-Net.

The South African television viewer will win. You get to see and sample the latest television. In that way you're fun won't get spoiled when it's months later and you've accidentally already read about the orange, the feathers, the Six, the mysterious ancient hieroglyphics in a ancient world where even the ape-forebearers of humans should not yet be ... I've said too much already.

I think if MultiChoice and DStv BoxOffice and M-Net are clever, doing this kind of thing will be the brilliant and dynamic forward-thinking thing from a programming point of view to start doing immediately and into the future. Hard work for sure, but work that will pay off for the viewer and for everybody in brand building, habit forming, true cross-promotion, revenue generation and true TV viewer satisfaction.

Animal Planet filming a new spin-off series from the popular Whale Wars; focusing on protection of whales around Faroe Islands.

Whale Wars on Animal Planet (DStv 264) is getting a new spin-off series that will be focused on protecting whales as well.

Filming has started a few weeks ago this month on the docu-reality show, currently with the working title of The Faroe Islands Project, focusing on saving whales around the Faroe Islands. The islanders' practice - known as ''The Grind'' has been for centuries to force long fin whales into shallow water and then kill them, making their living off of selling whale products.

The Faroe Islands Project will focus again on the Sea Shepherds Conservation Society that also features in Whale Wars and the often extreme measures on the open seas the group goes to, to protect whales and obstruct vessels from attacking whales.

The Faroe Islands Project is produced by The Lizard Trading Company with Liz Bronstein and Lisa Lucas as executive producers. Animal Planet doesn't yet have a broadcasting starting date for the show in America or internationally.

BREAKING. eBotswana set to appear in court on Thursday facing off against Sentech for allegedly failing to prevent piracy signals of the SABC channels.

Sentech's failure to stop widespread broadcast piracy in Southern Africa is negatively impacting on Botswana's television industry says e.tv, and the free-to-air broadcaster that is broadcasting in Botswana as eBotswana, is ready to tackle the South African signal distributor Sentech in the South Gauteng High Court tomorrow about this serious issue.

ALSO READ: eBotswana about taking Sentech to court: ''Piracy of the SABC signal is having a negative effect on the local television industry in Botswana.''
ALSO READ: eBotswana set to takesignal distributor Sentech to court as the issue of broadcast piracy in Southern Africa keeps growing.

eBotswana – a sister company to e.tv – is in court tomorrow (Thursday 28 July) arguing an application against the South African signal distributor Sentech for failing to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent pirate viewing of the SABC channels in Botswana.

''At the moment, approximately 70% of the Botswana population is watching the pirated SABC channels, thereby seriously damaging growth in the local broadcast, production and advertising industries through the loss of potential advertising revenue,'' says eBotswana general manager Dave Coles.

eBotswana argues that Sentech has failed to maintain the encryption system on its Vivid decoder platform which has led to the piracy. ''Despite repeated requests from eBotswana since 2009 and Sentech's undertakings to South Africa's parliament that it would upgrade the encryption by March 2011, it has failed to do so,'' says e.tv.

''Due to Sentech's failure to maintain the encryption system, the SABC signal is currently being pirated off Sentech's Vivid Bouquet with the use of a satellite receiver commonly referred to as the Philiboa. We believe that the television industry not only in Botswana but the entire Southern Africa region will benefit greatly if the piracy is stopped,'' says Dave Coles.

BREAKING. eNews Channel readying a week of special reports from 1 August looking at globalisation and if South Africa's lagging behind.

You're reading it here first.

Not as much as even a word from e.tv or the eNews Channel (DStv 403) to the press about this, but I can tell you that the 24 hour South African news channel is preparing a week of special reports looking at globalisation and South African competitiveness that will run daily for the week, from this coming Monday.

In a series of daily special reports that will start on the eNews Channel from this coming Monday, 1 August, reporters from the channel will be looking at whether South Africa is lagging behind with its economy when it comes to globalization.

Although South Africa has the continent's largest and most advanced economy, the country has been struggling with poverty and inequality which has proven tough to overcome as China, Brazil, India and others are making gains.

BREAKING. M-Net launches brand-new bursary fund to help students in advertising, communication and film schools in South Africa.

M-Net has launched a bursary fund for previously disadvantaged students going into their 2nd and 3rd years of study within the broader South African media industry.

In December 2010 I broke that news RIGHT HERE about the South African pay TV broadcaster's plan to launch a bursary fund in 2011 to help students attending South African film, advertising and communication schools.

For bursaries from the new M-Net bursary fund, providers have to apply on behalf of their learners, since individuals can't apply. Providers are only allowed to apply on behalf of learners going into  their 2nd and 3rd years of tertiary study and who won't be able to continue their studies because of financial reasons. Students studying within the fields of animation, advertising, film or television are eligible.

The new M-Net bursary fund will form a part of the newly relaunched M-Net Vuka! Awards that's now known as TAG, or the M-Net Television Awards for Good which is aimed at rewarding Public Service Announcements, or so-called PSA ads in South Africa. The M-Net bursary fund will help disadvantaged students from advertising, communication and film schools in the country.

The deadline for applications for bursaries from the new M-Net bursary fund is 31 October and an application form needs to be filled in. The names of the successful beneficiaries will be announced in the second week of January 2012. Application forms for the M-Net TAG Awards bursary fund can be emailed to Shelli Miller at shelli@thebomb.co.za or faxed to 086 503 4540.

BREAKING. BBC renews youth drama Merlin for a 5th season and 13 further episodes helped by a 'strong international fan base'.

The Arthurian youth drama Merlin with Bradley James and Colin Morgan thas just been renewed for a 5th season by the BBC in Britain.

Merlin just started its first season on Top One (TopTV 150) in July in South Africa and just ended its 3rd season on M-Net (DStv 101) in June. Merlin is produced by Shine Television and is currently shown in 183 countries around the world (and like in the case of South Africa twice on different pay broadcasters). Outside Britain Merlin is distributed by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME).

The 4th season of Merlin will start within a few months on BBC1 in Britain and is currently in production. It has now been renewed for a 5th season and 13 further episodes which will also be filmed in Wales and France like the previous seasons. Production on the 5th season of Merlin will start in March 2012.

''Consistent audience figures in each territory, a strong international fan base and a fantastic cast further cement its cross generational appeal,'' says David Ellender, global CEO of FME in a press statement announcing the 5th season of Merlin.

Jesus Perezagua the new president of Fox International Channels for Europe and Africa as Fox looks to build a new 'growth engine' for TV in Africa.

Jesus Perezagua (pictured right) has been promoted to president, Fox International Channels (FIC) for Europe and Africa as Fox is looking to build a new ''growth engine'' for television in Africa.

FIC runs the set of very well-received and well-liked Fox channels like Fox Entertainment (TopTV 180), Fox FX (TopTV 110) and Fox Retro (TopTV 181) on TopTV, and has a share and runs the National Geographic Channel (DStv 260) and Nat Geo Wild (DStv 261) on MultiChoice's DStv.

 Jesus Perezagua who's been with the company since 2003 is widely credited with spearheading the growth of FIC's business in Europe and has now been appointed president, while Jason Thorp (pictured left) who's also been with FIC since 2003 has been promoted to executive vice president of content for the same FIC Europe and Africa. FIC says it's looking at Africa as a new ''growth engine'' for its television business.

''As FIC looks to expand in Europe, own more content worldwide, and build a new growth engine in Africa, I am thrilled to count on their help in this new stage of our business,'' says Hernan Lopez, CEO of FIC and National Geographic Channels about the promotions of Jesus Perezagua and Jason Thorp in a press release.

''Consolidating our strong operations in Europe and the additional resources allocated to Africa are key to sustaining and invigorating our growth in these regions,'' says Jesus Perezagua. ''I am thrilled to lead FIC's extraordinary group of executives as we build on our first class TV channels and services to become the leading international TV group in the region.''

Earlier today (my story RIGHT HERE) FIC announced that the second season of the hit drama The Walking Dead will be shown ''within hours'' globally in 122 countries and territories after it starts in October in America.

Earlier today TV with Thinus broke the news exclusively story (RIGHT HERE) thatthe second season of The Walking Dead will be starting on Tuesday 18 October in South Africa on Fox FX, 48 hours after it's shown in America.

BREAKING. The 2nd season of The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on Tuesday, 18 October just 48 hours after it starts in America.

You're reading it here first.

I can exclusively break the news that the brand-new second season of the acclaimed zombie drama The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on FX (TopTV 110) on Tuesday 18 October - a mere 48 hours after the first new episode starts in America.

I'm told that 18 October is the preliminary starting date and that there's still a slight possibility that it might change. However, I'm told that Fox International Channel (FIC) and Fox in South Africa is ''firmly committed'' to have The Walking Dead start in the very same week after the weekend it starts in America and that subsequent episodes will be shown as quickly.

FIC just announced this morning that the second season of The Walking Dead will start in 122 countries worldwide ''just hours'' after the American debut with South Africa now definitely a lock as one of these 122 territories that will be able to follow the show in virtual real global playout time.

ALSO READ: The second season of The Walking Dead to be shown globally ''within hours'' of its American debut.

BREAKING. The Walking Dead's 2nd season to be shown globally 'within hours' after it starts in October; how quickly will South Africa see it?

You're reading it here first.

No word from either TopTV or from Fox in South Africa yet but Fox International Channel (FIC) in Europe just said that the second season of the critically and viewer acclaimed zombie drama The Walking Drama will start globally just a few hours after its start in America.

ALSO READ: The second season of The Walking Dead will start in South Africa on Tuesday, 18 October, just 48 hours after it starts in America.

The first season of The Walking Dead was shown last year on Fox FX (TopTV 110). It started in November in South Africa and episodes were shown in South Africa three days after it was shown in America on the AMC channel. South Africa was one of 120 countries worldwide where The Walking Dead were quickly broadcast very close to the American broadcasting date.

Now the second season of The Walking Dead will be shown in a similar way in 122 coutries according to FIC ''within hours'' globally just a few hours after it starts on Sunday 16 October in America.

TopTV and Fox in South Africa has not yet given any indication of whether South Africa is also included in the list of territories that will be seeing The Walking Dead's second season super quickly, and whether it will again be three days - or a slightly shorter or slightly longer interval for this upcoming season.