Kagiso Tiso Holdings' Kagiso Media invests undisclosed amount in Ghana's TV and radio in partnership with Sabido Investments.

Kagiso Tiso Holdings (KTH), through its media subsidiary Kagiso Media is investing in Ghana to grow a direct radio and TV presence in that African country similar to what Kagiso Media has in South Africa.

Kagiso Media is investing an undisclosed amount of money and has acquired 37% of Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC), a broadcasting company in Ghana.

GMABC runs four radio stations in Ghana (Happy FM, YFM Kumasi, YFM Accra and YFM Takoradi) as well as the free-to-air terrestrial television channel e.tv Ghana, which was launched in 2009 as the result of a partnership between GMA and Sabido Investments that owns e.tv in South Africa.

"We are looking forward to operating in Ghana and using this as a base to expand our reach into other West African territories. It also offers us an opportunity to use our  content production capability across more distribution platforms," says Mark Harris, CEO of Kagiso Media.

Kagiso Media's investment in Ghana will be followed by a similar investment in Kenya.

One Day Leader back on SABC1 for a 4th season; after 3rd season's scandal contestants may no longer have family members working for the SABC.

One Day Leader will be back on SABC1 for a 4th season with people who can enter now for the youth leadership show run by the SABC Education division.

One Day Leader found its credibility dented and its reputation tarnished last year as viewers wondered exactly what kind of leaders the SABC's One Day Leader show is actually producing.

The third season of One Day Leader became embroiled in a scandal when dishonest contestant Jabulani Sibiya was dumped just before the finale over dishonesty and lying.

The brouhaha followed after the discovery that his sister actually worked for the SABC - as a brand manager for SABC2 - and allegations of possible favouritism.

Now SABC Education and SABC1 have announced that entries for the fourth season of One Day Leader are open.

People who want to enter the 4th season of One Day Leader must be between 18 and 25, be South African, already matriculated (meaning the SABC's own chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng would not be eligible), must be involved in a community project of some kind and have a portfolio of work to show.

Contestants must be able to communicate well in English (since studios debates are in English), must be willing to live in Johannesburg for a period of three months and - to avoid another scandal like the third season - not have any family members working for the SABC.

People can enter and find the entry form at onedayleader.co.za or call 011 326 0276 and the colsing date is 1 November.

Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network to launch its first-ever animated mini-series, Over the Garden Wall on Halloween on DStv.

Cartoon Network (DStv 301) from Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) will launch the kids channel's first-ever animated mini-series, Over the Garden Wall, on Halloween on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Turner Broadcasting Africa didn't release the Cartoon Network information to South Africa's media when it was handed out at the MultiChoice Content Showcase in Mauritius earlier this month and that South African press and TV critics were not invited to.

However the information is just as relevant and applicable for Cartoon Network as seen on DStv in South Africa - in fact is punts only its viewership in South Africa.

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) says the Cartoon Network (DStv 301) "is ranked number one in South Africa with 2.4 million monthly views".

"With this staggering result, this unique channel  has managed to dominate the age groups of 4-14, 4-9 and 10-14 as well as its core target market, boys aged 4-14".

Over the Garden Wall will launch on Hallows eve as Cartoon Network's first-ever animated mini-series, with a cast which consists of Elijah Wood, John Cleese and Tim Curry.

Over the Garden Wall follows the story of two brothers - Wirt and Greg - as they find themselves lost in a strange forest, where they encounter numerous surprises and obstacles on their journey through the woods.

"It's got a nostalgic storybook feeling, inspired by folk art and classical illustrations, not to mention the Americana influenced soundtrack," says TBS.

We Bare Bears will start on the Cartoon Network in December.

The Powerpuff Girls which was first broadcast in 1996, is set for a global relaunch in 2016.

The new Ben 10 will start in Africa in autumn 2016 and in North America in 2017. Cartoon Network also has two brand-new seasons of The Amazing World of Gumball.

"It is another extraordinary year for Turner's kids' channels in 2015 and viewers can expect it to continue in 2016," says Pierre Branco, the vice president for Southern Europe and Africa for Turner Broadcasting System.

"With a mixture of new original productions and old favourites, our offer has never been stronger. We look for unique shows that have great characters, authentic to kids and this is more apparent than ever with our upcoming programming slate," says Pierre Branco.

Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros. signs multi-series deal for 450 half-hours of new original content for the Boomerang channel on DStv.

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and Warner Bros. - the two Time Warner companies - have strengthened their ongoing partnership with a global agreement to create more original content for the Boomerang channel seen in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform on channel 302.

Turner Broadcasting Africa didn't release the Boomerang channel information and press release to South Africa's media when it was handed out at the MultiChoice Content Showcase in Mauritius earlier this month and that South African press and TV critics were not invited to.

However the information is highly relevant and applicable for Boomerang as seen on DStv in South Africa - in fact is punts only its viewership in South Africa - and I now finally got it and can now share it.

Turner Broadcasting in a press release says the channel now reaches 2.4 million kids in South Africa monthly.

According to TBS, Boomerang is now the number 2 kids channel for kids aged 4-14, 4-9 and boy 4-14, just behind Cartoon Network which ranks number one in South Africa.

The agreement between Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros. Animation - which represents the first-ever original content being developed exclusively for Boomerang - includes nearly 450 half-hours of programming from Warner Bros. Animation that will premiere on Boomerang across the African continent.

"Turner Broadcasting has a very strong kids and family business around the world and our exciting new partnership with Warner Bros. presents a number of new opportunities that will help strategically grow the Boomerang brand," says Christina Miller, president and general manager of the Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels.

"Through this expanded relationship with our corporate partners, we will create new content that will engage fans across a variety of screens and platforms and further grow these timeless franchises that we'll leverage not only across Boomerang, but also our global kids and family portfolio businesses," says Christina Miller.

"With the television landscape becoming more and more crowded, we are extremely fortunate to have one of the largest animation libraries, with some of the world's most iconic and revered characters," says Sam Register, the president of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series.

"This deal presents an exciting creative opportunity to explore this vast collection, to develop new and compelling programming based on these beloved characters, and to introduce them to new generations of families".

Premiering on Boomerang will be the first of Boomerang's new original series from Warner Bros. Animation, Bunnicula - a new animated comedy series based on the bestselling children's book of the same name.

Bunnicula follows the paranormal comedy adventures of Bunnicula, the vampire rabbit who instead of drinking blood, drains the juice of carrots and other vegetables to boost his abilities.

Be Cool Scooby Doo! is a new 22-minute animated comedy series with the Scooby gang, back with a modern twist. This time the gang is trying to solve their own personal problems as they solve further mind-bending mysteries.

In Wabbit is a Looney Tunes Production. Boomerang viewers will see Bugs Bunny in new shorts that find the rabbit matching wits against classic characters like Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote, along with brand-new foes.

TCM channel's viewership on MultiChoice's DStv up by 85% since its on-screen refresh; has exclusive Star Wars documentary for December.

TCM's (DStv 137) viewership is up by 85% in South Africa between April and June this year compared to the period between January and March, horror movies will be screened on Saturdays in October on TCM, and an exclusive Star Wars documentary about George Lucas is on the schedule for December for the channel.

Turner Broadcasting Africa didn't release the TCM channel information and press release to South Africa's media when it was handed out at the MultiChoice Content Showcase in Mauritius earlier this month and that South African press and TV critics were not invited to.

However the information is highly relevant and applicable for the TCM channel as seen on DStv in South Africa as well, and I now finally got it and can now share it.

Since introducing its new on-screen look earlier this year, TCM at the MultiChoice Content Showcase touted its South African viewership on DStv: up 85% according to AGB Nielsen's South African ratings data for April to June 2015, compared to January to March this year.

According to AGB Nielsen's ratings data, TCM now has a total monthly viewership of 2.3 million viewers in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv.

The channel from Turner Broadcasting Systems (TBS) also climbed 4 places in the movie channels ranking on DStv in June compared to January 2015.

TBS says TCM is now "poised to be the go-to channel for entertaining American cinema" following Turner Broadcasting's overhauled TCM offering with a refreshed look and feel as well as an updated programming slate.

"By introducing this major change in the channel's tone, brand image and programming strategy, the TCM experience has initiated a whole new level of quality entertainment," says Guillermo Farre, the head of general entertainment channels for Africa at Turner Broadcasting.

"We are delighted with the growing success of the TCM brand as it delivers new and exciting programming to existing and new viewers."

"Prime time and weekend specials have also been rejuvenated to include explosive action-blocks, chilling thriller specials and frontier-pushing sci-fi events."

Turner Broadcasting in Africa will do more on social media in 2016 to try and further create awareness for the refreshed TCM brand.

In October DStv subscribers can look forward to the seasonal event of Halloween being celebrated on TCM when the channel will screen "some of the most terrifying movies of all time".

Horror will be served every Saturday at 21:00 and on the last Saturday, 31 October, viewers will  be able to enjoy a whole day horror marathon," says Guillermo Farre.

In December TCM will also be scheduling an exclusive in-house documentary about George Lucas to celebrate the release of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens at cinemas.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 21 September 2015

SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng embroiled in staff intimidation.
Case opened at Brixton police station last week. Nadiva Schraibman told to stay quiet and not talk to the media. Got a threatening message while working on documentary about Desmond Tutu, purportedly from the SABC's chief operating officer (COO).

StarSat will broadcast the FIFA Under/17 World Cup matches.
but can't bother to tell South Africa's TV critics or the press after StarTimes acquired the sport rights.

ITV's Downton Abbey draws lowest viewership ever for a season premiere episode.
The 6th and final season's first episode had 7.6 million viewers in the United Kingdom.

Jana Bennett now the president and general manager of A+E Networks' History (DStv 186).
The former BBC Worldwide president immediately promoted to being the boss of History, based in New York.

Trailer for The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story.
Flat acting but looks good. No broadcasting dates yet for this upcoming movie and the 90210 one on Lifetime (DStv 131) in South Africa.

Stop meddling with the BBC says Europe's media bosses.
Urge the United Kingdom to stop breaking the BBC and to protect its independence.

DStv subscribers flock to MultiChoice demanding compensation.
MultiChoice no longer repairs or supplies old SD PVRs or DualView decoders and won't repair or replace them. Tele marketing agency On Air takes weeks to help DStv subscribers and consumer columnist has to help.

Trevor Noah tells Stephen Colbert that Jon Stewart is "the Jewish Yoda".
"You can't live up to Jon Stewart. It's insane," says Trevor Noah who takes over The Daily Show next week on Comedy Central (DStv 122).

Jenna Coleman has dumped Doctor Who on the BBC.
Confirms that she has filmed her last scenes as Clara.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) will have a second season of
Years of Living Dangerously. Will play out in 171 countries, including South Africa.

SABC paying Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Ellen Tshabalala's legal fees by submitting claims to the SABC's insurance company.

It's come to light in parliament that the SABC is paying the large legal fees of Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the public broadcaster's controversial and famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) and the disgraced former chairwoman Ellen Zandile Tshabalala who lied about qualifications she doesn't have.

South Africa's minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, in response to questions by the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party, revealed that the SABC has been submitting claims to the public broadcaster's insurance company to pay for Ellen Zandile Tshabalala and Hlaudi Motsoeneng's legal fees.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng is mired in a protracted court battle over his appointment as COO and after the Public Protector's scathing report in February 2014 according to which he admitted in a recorded interview that he lied about having matric and made up symbols for a matric certificate he knew he couldn't produce.

The Public Protector's report implicated him in serious maladministration and several instances of abuse of power and found that Hlaudi Motsoeneng should "never have been appointed at the SABC" and that a disciplinary hearing should start immediately.

The SABC never did and the court case that  will now likely determine the powers of the Public Protector has now reached the Supreme Court of Appeals.

According to Gavin Davis, DA member of parliament and member of parliament's portfolio committee on communictions, the SABC paying Ellen Tshabalala and Hlaudi Motsoeneng's legal fees means that taxpayers are funding their legal costs.

"It is now clear why EllenTshabalala was prepared to use every tactic her legal team could dream up to delay the outcome of the parliamentary inquiry, including a court interdict. She had been guaranteed a bottomless pit of public money to avoid justice for as long as possible. Ellen Tshabalala stated last year that her legal fees came to more than R1 million."

"Hlaudi Motsoeneng is appealing a high court judgment ordering the SABC to suspend and discipline him, as directed by the public protector, says Gavin Davis. "The exact cost of Hlaudi Motsoeneng's legal fees so far is not known, but it is likely to be in the region of R1.5 million - and counting".

"With the public paying his legal expenses, it is no wonder that he has vowed to take his case all the way to the constitutional court if his appeal fails."

"Not only is it morally unjustifiable for the public to pay Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Ellen Tshabalala's legal costs, there are serious question marks over the legality of the SABC's decision to indemnify them from paying."

"Both lied about their qualifications before they joined the SABC. This means they committed wrongdoing in their personal capacity; it cannot be said that they committed these acts in the course and scope of their employment. Indeed, the SABC should be taking action against Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Ellen Tshabalala, not funding their legal battles".

In April, Hlaudi Motsoeneng's lawyer, Zola Majavu, said that Hlaudi Motsoeneng had been paying his own legal fees in the case which had already run into millions of rands.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday morning.

PRESS ROUND-UP: Your comprehensive news summary of The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards 2015.

The complete list of winners  of the 67th PrimeTime Emmy Awards for 2015. And the winners according to show and channel.

2015 was highly unpredictable due to rule changes - resulting in (the usual) snubs but also several surprises. And how Tracy Morgan's surprise appearance after his car accident, stayed a surprise. He got a standing ovation.

Viola Davis made history as black actresses won big.

A review of the ceremony and another review and yet another review of the "night of breakthrough".

Inside the Emmys - 11 things you didn't see on TV. How the Emmy wins of Viola Davis, Uzo Aduba and Regina King marks progress for black women in Hollywood and helped to create a night that meant something culturally.

Emmy's finally recognises a fantasy series as the rules change helps Game of Thrones over the wall. HBO thanked for "believing in dragons". Show breaks the record for most Emmy wins in one year.

HBO obliterates with winning 14 Emmys. Mad Men's Jon Hamm finally gets an Emmy (and thanks his ex girlfriend) and Allison Janney her 7th Emmy.

The 17 best and worse moments, the 11 best jokes from Andy Samberg's Emmy opening monologue that you can watch here). Variety says he wasn't that good a host and explains why.

Works in a Donald Trump joke, slams Bill Cosby and Paula Deen, and celebrates TV's diversity in opening monologue - mock's TV's overload of programming. Also mocks the Mad Men finale with a Coca-Cola parody just like in the last episode.

Jon Stewart calls life after The Daily Show a "barren wasteland" in his Emmy speech. Julia Louis-Dreyfus also knocks Donald Trump in her speech.

Why the celebrities wore green ribbons (climate change!). It's a golden age for television but not for America's broadcasting channels - just for pay-TV channels.

SABC warns its staff that those who got a Springboks T-shirt must wear it every Friday - 'will be viewed in a serious light' if you got one and don't wear it.

The SABC is warning its staff in an internal communique today that those who got given a SpringboksT-shirt to tie in with the Rugby World Cup 2015 better wear it every Friday - and any non-compliance will be seen "in a serious light".

The SABC gave T-shirts to some workers but those who don't wear their hand-out every Friday to work for the duration of the Rugby World Cup 2015, will apparently be in trouble.

The SABC, always addressing its staff as "First Citizens", sent a communique today to remind workers to wear their Springboks T-shirts for the duration of the Rugby World 2015 "every Friday".

"Please note that if you have been allocated the T-shirt and do not wear it, this will be viewed in a serious light," the SABC warned staff.

"Heed the call and rally behind the Bokke!" says the internal SABC message.