America's 2021 American National Football League's (NFL) Super Bowl LV will be broadcast live on ESPN's 2 ESPN Africa channels, ESPN (DStv 218 / StarSat 248) and ESPN2 (DStv 219 / StarSat 249) early on Monday morning 8 February 2021.
The African broadcast of the 55th Super Bowl will include the entertainment halftime show but not the usually iconic American TV commercials.
ESPN tells TVwithThinus that in the place of the American commercials, viewers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa will see filler promos and other localised commercials, similar to when M-Net is showing American award-shows like the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards live.
With Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking on the defending champions of Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the ESPN coverage on the ESPN Africa channels will start on Monday 8 February at 01:30 in the morning (Central African Time CAT), with repeats at 07:30 and 14:30 later during the day on ESPN, and a repeat on ESPN2 at 20:30.
This year the Super Bowl LV halftime show will be headlined by The Weeknd. America's "The Star-Spangled Banner" national anthem will be a duet this year, performed by the R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan and the country singer Erich Church ahead of the match.
"This NFL Super Bowl LV is set to be a quarterback showdown as one of the league's brightest young stars, Mahomes, takes on one of its greatest, Brady, and both have a lot at stake," says Evert van der Veer, vice president of media networks at The Walt Disney Company Africa.
"On top of that, for the first time, fans across Africa will also be able to enjoy the world-renowned halftime show. It's going to be an incredible night."
MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax on Wednesday once again made a dubious viewership claim, without releasing any viewership statistics to back up that claim, with the streamer that claimed that The Real Housewives of Durban has become its most-watched first-day viewed show.
Showmax announced that The Real Housewives of Durban apparently "has broken all previous first-day viewing records, claiming top spot on the
streaming service" and that the show has remained the most-popular show on Showmax over the last week.
Showmax provided no numbers, ratings, or viewership stats to support or back up its nebulous claim.
Showmax was asked what the actual first-day viewership of The Real Housewives of Durban was since the press release contains no viewing numbers of the show or the previous first-day viewership record but Showmax told TVwithThinus that "Showmax doesn't release subscriber figures".
On 15 January last month, Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO, told South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in the regulator's inquiry into pay-TV in South Africa, that MultiChoice is deliberately not reporting Showmax user numbers or viewership figures for its video streaming service because the subscriber base is too small.
In a supplied quote on Wednesday, Candice Fangueiro, Showmax head of content, says "We know our reality fans come
for the drama and if you’re looking for fireworks, the first episode of The Real Housewives of Durban has it all, so we’re not surprised to see it break records.”
M-Net in January announced that The Real Housewives of Durban would start on its 1Magic (DStv 103) TV channel on 19 January, before inexplicably announcing a week later that it is now moving the series to Showmax.
The confusing public announcements - of first saying a show would be on a DStv channel, and then suddenly on Showmax that angered and confused DStv subscribers - once again underscored and revealed how MultiChoice is grappling internally and itself doesn't know what the specific programming strategy and alignment between Showmax and its various M-Net channels are or should be.
The first season of 14 episodes of The Real Housewives of Durban is produced by Let It Rain Films including a reunion and features the Durban socialites and business women Annie
Ludick, Ayanda Ncwane, Kgomotso Ndungane, Nonkanyiso Conco, Nonku Williams and
Sorisha Naidoo.
The new pan-African lifestyle channel HONEY will launch on 15 February on channel 173 on DStv with a collection of new programming including Anele Mdoda making a TV talk show comeback in a The View-inspired show featuring a set of women from different African countries as the panellists in The Buzz.
HONEY, produced by Media24 that is also responsible for the 5-year old Afrikaans lifestyle show VIA, will be carried by MultiChoice on its DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Cameroon.
HONEY will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.
HONEY is described as a lifestyle TV channel for "curious and connected Africans" and will offer a blend of African lifestyle content, including unscripted reality fare produced by African producers with African on-screen talent.
The channel's thematic programming will span from general lifestyle as well as food and cooking, to relationships and weddings, along with reality shows from various territories across the continent.
HONEY says that its "key ingredient" will be the channel's focus on authentic African storytelling, made possible through a groundbreaking content creation model in which the channel is partnering with producers in different African countries to create hundreds of hours of new African shows.
"HONEY showcases Africans living their best lives and depicts an honest modern-day view of our diverse countries, cultures and peoples," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment and connected video.
"This is a lifestyle channel made in Africa for Africans by Africans," she says.
"DStv is thrilled to launch HONEY. The channel is part of our commitment to keep bringing fresh, authentic and local content to our African subscribers. For many years we've seen lifestyle is a popular genre on the continent and now our subscribers will see their own talent, food, celebrations and their families as the well-deserved hero".
Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, says "Africa's dynamism and way of life is the perfect ingredient for this exciting channel. HONEY is going to add sweet and sticky flavour to our subscriber offering".
"Lifestyle content is the ideal vehicle to reflect the continent's diversity and sameness. Everyone curious about food, style, and weddings is in for a treat."
Izelle Venter, HONEY channel head, says "Media24 is delighted to collaborate with MultiChoice on this new adventure. The goal is to combine both companies' best qualities, experiences and knowledge to serve DStv subscribers with a new channel that is familiar, unique and entertaining".
Zinzi Velelo, HONEY's head of content, says "We are working with producers across the continent to ensure that the lifestyle stories we tell are real and relevant. Our goal is to showcase the characters, talent and dynamics of everyday African life as never before".
Here are some of the HONEY launch programmes and series descriptions:
The Buzz
South Africa's Anele Mdoda is the host of this talks show also featuring Pearl Umeh from Nigeria, Rachel Wakesho from Kenya, Zanna Katoka from the DRC, and Davina Mavuwa from Zimbabwe. Sparks fly as these five women, with different personalities and from different cultures, solve a viewer’s dilemma, whether concerning romance, health, side hustle or family and friends.
Pastor's Wives
Meet the women who keep things together in well-known religious households. This reality series, produced by Sonia Mbele who is also responsible for The Real Housewives of Joburg, features pastors' wives from across the continent as they do their best for their families and church communities. Expect opulence and plenty of behind-the-pulpit drama.
Love Swap
This Nigeria reality drama series presents a relationship challenge in which couples swap partners for a home-cooked meal. Each episode will culminate in a joint dinner featuring both couples, during which they share their impressions of each other and what they have learned about their relationships.
Making the menu
In each episode of this proudly Kenyan series, two food bloggers create a bespoke meal for a popular local eatery, with the restauranteur deciding which dish deserves a space on the menu. Viewers will also enjoy a journey through Nairobi's cultural attractions and the city's sights, sounds and traditions as the contestants look for inspiration outside the kitchen.
Yes! Ndio! Beeni!
Singer
and actress Patricia Kihoro and the TV and radio host Foi Wambui team up for
another Kenyan production. The two help lovers to ask someone if they will marry them and act as event planners to design a proposal that not
only stays true to the couple’s love story but guarantees a "yes!".
Ehe, it’s a match
There
is more matchmaking in this colourful dating show shot in Zambia, in which a
cooking cupid invites two potential love birds to his or her home and cooks
them a meal. After the meal, the two decide whether to meet up again at a local
eatery. Will they or won’t they find love?
Shine Shine
Presented
by Mbali Nkosi,this show focuses on personal transformation, with a
makeover squad coming to the rescue of someone in need of a new look and a
confidence boost to take the next big step in their life. Viewers can look
forward to witnessing surprised and deserving contestants undergo dramatic
transformations.
Hoot, cook, go
A
vibrant food culture, particular palates and often curious cultures are put to
the test as three teams compete for a prize on this show. Each team is given a
chance to show off exactly who they are with a plate of food that they only
have an hour to prepare. When they hear the hooter, it’s time to get in the car
and move on to the next team’s house.
The next big trender
From 19 March 2021 the
search is on for Africa’s hottest influencers. Six aspiring social stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa will all compete to win over the opinionistas.
The mysteries, deceit and secret desires all locked behind a suburban gated community will be spilling out in SABC3's new locally-produced The Estate that will start in April as its new weekday telenovela as SABC3 once again tries to reposition the public broadcaster's struggling TV channel.
The Estate - produced by Clive Morris Productions also responsible for the new Isono telenovela on ViacomCBS Africa's BET and SABC2's Vutha telenovela - is SABC3's replacement for Isidingo that was canned after 21 years and ended a year ago in March 2020.
The Estate that will compete with M-Net's Legacy, produced by Tshedza Pictures, will delve into various South African hot-button issues and forms the new bedrock of the SABC3's latest programming attempt to turn around the struggling channel's image and ratings decline over the past decade.
Just like Isidingo did in its heydey when it caused buzz for things like introducing Nandipha as an HIV-positive character, SABC3 tasked Clive Morris Productions to stir the pot with a mix of diverse colourful families living inside and outside of Echelon Estate.
The new series will be tackling issues in storylines ranging from land and identity, corruption, patronage, money both old and new, as well as power struggles, as well as class and equality.
The Estate will revolve around the people living inside the beautiful homes of Echelon Estate with its manicured gardens, landscaped green parks, a clubhouse, a gym and a golf course - all surrounded by an 8-metre high brick wall and tight security.
Inside Echelon Estate the super-elite are secretly struggling to keep up appearances, while the struggling middle class is trying to keep up with the neighbours, while the working glass "help" serve the champagne, and are little more than "labouring visitors" in this wonderland, although they see and hear everything.
Somewhat similar to The River on 1Magic, troubling is also brewing outside the wrought-iron gates of the estate, with growing pressure around a land claim from the neighbouring Thembalethu township, as privileged Echelon Estate residents fear that the "peasants will be storing the castle".
Long-buried secrets will literally be unearthed in The Estate, SABC3 says, as a deal with the devil is revealed between two bad men.
"The Estate is a metaphor, a symbol of modernity and status - but the show begs the question: Is this all we aspire to as humans? When is enough, enough?" says Pat van Heerden, SABC3 channel head.
"The show tells moving tales of family, loyalty, love, sacrifice, betrayal and human foibles while addressing some of the issues in our country as we scramble our way into the future."
"Clive Morris Productions and the SABC content team have brought us a cutting-edge telenovela which will serve our citizens with world-class storytelling with an award-winning cast, writers and incredible production value. South Africans are in for a treat," she says.
"The Estate forms part of an exciting chapter of SABC3 where the channel is repositioning to reflect a modern, complex and thoughtful South Africa. We will announce these exciting developments."
According to Clive Morris Productions, The Estate will incorporate themes like "identity and heritage, historical disempowerment and the fight for true economic freedom, truth vs lies, corruption and its consequences and other social issues that have relevance and resonance, in the current state of South Africa".
"The show will reflect a wide mix of diverse characters that speak to the 3 strata of society and how they are interconnected. As Clive Morris Productions we are incredibly excited to tell this story."
The Estate cast includes the Phakathwayo family with Sdumo Mtshali as Solomuzi, Jo-Anne Reyneke as Lwandle, Sparky Xulu as Siya, Linda Sebez as Goniwe, Zenokuhle Maseko as Sindi and Aubrey Poo as Castro Kamanga.
The Mokobane family is portrayed by Don Mlangei as Shadrack, Clementine Mosimane as Mmathsepo and Mpho Sibeko as Dumisani.
The Van Wyk family has Jacques Blignaut as Martin and Carla Classen as Tessa as part of the cast, while the newcomer Molefe family is played by Dineo Langa in the role of Mmakoena and Matli Mohapelo as Lesiba.
In the Le Roux family, Nadia Velvekens will be seen as Suzaan, Penny Wolhurter plays Leah and Charlie Bouguenon was cast in the role of Ryan.
After a month and a half on shelves, MultiChoice is dropping the price of its expensive new DStv Explora Ultra decoder in South Africa and also lowering decoder and monthly subscription fees across Africa, although the pay-TV operator's annual 2021 price hike for subscribers looms that will be announced later this month.
Specifically citing the debilitating economic impact that the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has had on African consumers and saying it's cutting prices to help them, MultiChoice is lowering DStv and GOtv decoder prices, as well as monthly subscription fees in countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
MultiChoice Nigeria is cutting the price on decoders as well as certain subscription fees from 1 February, while MultiChoice Uganda has slashed the price of a GOtv decoder and subscription set by a whopping 23% from yesterday.
Martin Mabutho, MultiChoice Nigeria's chief customer officer, on Friday told the media in a virtual briefing that DStv is slashing decoder and subscription prices to try and lessen the economic impact of Covid-19 on customers and that it is a reflection of the pay-TV provider's commitment to making quality entertainment more accessible.
Jonah Wegoye, MultiChoice Uganda's head of sales, told the media that "The slow recovery rate of the country’s economy from the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the recently concluded election period has compelled us at MultiChoice Uganda to consider a price reduction in a bid to ease our customers' burden and cushion them against financial distress".
While MultiChoice is increasing DStv subscription fees in Angola from 4 February, it is slashing subscription fees in notable markets like Ghana, Kenya and Zambia as well, saying that "in the most challenging of times, our priority is to ensure everyone has access to the best viewing entertainment at a price they can afford".
While MultiChoice South Africa hasn't announced any subscription price cut it quietly lowered the price of its expensive new DStv Explora Ultra decoder.
MultiChoice launched the new DStv Explora Ultra decoder in mid-November 2020 and gives DStv subscribers who want to use it access to streaming services like Netflix SA, Amazon Prime Video and Showmax, with more subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services that will be added over time.
MultiChoice launched the DStv Explora Ultra at a recommended retail price of R2 499 for just the decoder, and R3 699 when it includes installation. That compares to the DStv Explora 3 that can be bought for R999, or around R 1499 including installation.
MultiChoice told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry on Monday that it has now dropped the DStv Explora Ultra price by R200 - an indication that MultiChoice has now started subsidising this decoder.
"MultiChoice can confirm that the recommended retail price of the DStv Explora Ultra decoder has been adjusted with effect from 1 February 2021. The new recommended retail price is R2 299 for a standalone Explora Ultra, or R3 499 to have the new decoder installed".
When asked why the DStv Explora Ultra is so expensive, Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO, during the company's investors' call for its financial results for the 6 months until the end of September 2020, said that "what we've decided to do with the DStv Explora Ultra decoder is not to introduce any subsidies as yet, and that is why you see the pricing, if you compare with others, it's a little bit out of sync with what you have seen in the past."
Tim Jacobs, MultiChoice chief financial officer (CFO), said that the DStv Explora Ultra decoder is "really targeted at early-adopters and we think that the initial target market is the guys that want to experiment a little bit".
"But like all of our products, we'll start and then we'll look at the market demand and then make judgement calls about whether to introduce pricing differentials [subsidies] later. It's a good starting point to simply introduce the DStv Explora Ultra into the market."
With the ongoing economic impact of Covid-19 in South Africa that hasn't diminished and with the annual 2021 DStv subscription increase looming from April for South African consumers - always announced in February - MultiChoice was also asked if it's going to increase monthly subscription fees, if it would keep them the same to help South African subscribers, or would be staying unchanged for certain DStv packages.
"DStv will announce any subscription price adjustments to customers in due course," says MultiChoice.
After increasing prices in the United States in late-2020 and from February 2021 in the United Kingdom, TVwithThinus asked Netflix whether it intends to increase prices for Netflix South Africa subscribers in 2021. Netflix SA didn't respond to the media enquiry that was made on Monday.
In response to a fast-growing petition to try and save the SABC2's Afrikaans weekday soap 7de Laan in its weekday timeslot, the show tells TVwithThinus that it makes "absolute sense" that viewers are disturbed over the SABC's shocking decision.
The financially struggling SABC that is going through a retrenchment process confirmed that SABC2 plans to cut 7de Laan down from 5 to 3 episodes per week from April in the 18:00 timeslot, with the Venda weekday soap Muvhango that is also getting axed from 5 to 3 episodes per week from August in its 21:00 timeslot.
After a Cape Town viewer, Jermaine Christians started a "Keep 7de Laan on-air for 5 days! Save 7de Laan" online petition on change.org, public support has seen it surge to close to 3 500 signatures and comments just over a week later by Tuesday morning.
SABC2 and its channel head Gerhard Pretorius plans to replace the Muvhango timeslot on Thursdays and Fridays with the second season of Giyani.
SABC2 plans to replace 7de Laan on Thursdays and Fridays with a new Cape Town-set call centre drama series in Afrikaans and Xhosa entitled Die Sentrum produced by Penguin Films that is currently in production.
Afrikaans drama on SABC2 was previously broadcast in other timeslots where it didn't replace or impacted on the longrunning 7de Laan, while the first season of Giyani was shown at 21:30, serving as the Muvhango lead-out and where there similarly wasn't an issue having episodes of both shows on-air on the same day but at different times.
The SABC in a statement says that the "change forms part of SABC2's channel strategy to increase and diversify its drama offering and provide audiences with entertaining, fresh, diverse and relevant local content".
The SABC also says that "it must be noted that the SABC's programming strategy is informed by viewership statistics as supplied by the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRCSA). This industry body measures the success and popularity of TV programming in South Africa that the SABC considers when making any programme decisions".
"Viewers can therefore be assured that they will not lose 7de Laan as it will still broadcast from Mondays to Wednesdays".
The SABC and SABC2 are silent over why the diversified drama offering is taking over and replacing weekday soap timeslots.
A big specific concern is that habitual and repeat viewing are crucial and extremely important to sustain ratings for serialised shows like 7de Laan and Muvhango, making SABC2's unexplained scheduling change and the reason why Giyani and Die Sentrum are not scheduled in other timeslots, even more perplexing.
Danie Odendaal Productions filming 7de Laan at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg tells TVwithThinus that upset viewers who are angry about the weekly frequency cut to episodes are justified in how they're feeling about SABC2's decision to downscale the number of episodes.
"7de Laan is a soap that has been part of South Africans' lives for almost 21 years. We are part of millions of TV viewers' homes and family time and most South Africans at some point in the lives have interacted with 7de Laan," the show says in response to a media enquiry asking what the producers are making of the petition.
"It makes absolute sense that viewers are disturbed over the news of the scheduling change."
Cast, crew and freelance workers on both 7de Laan and Muvhango who don't want their names mentioned since they fear possible repercussions from speaking out publicly while still working on these shows, say they are scared of losing work and that SABC2 is costing them income especially during the tough economic environment worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
About people attached to these shows who will be working less because of SABC2's decision, Danie Odendaal Productions says that "for now the scheduled times remain unchanged because we are still expected to deliver the number of episodes as agreed upon for the 22nd season in the contract with the SABC. As a result, the staff's working hours and budget have been adjusted to what it is currently".
When the soaps are reduced to three episodes per week, after a Wednesday's episode, viewers will have to wait 4 days before a new episode of 7de Laan or Muvhango on SABC2 with both that will be more days off-air than what the serialised soaps will actually be on-air.
Schedule interruptions like this usually have a debilitating impact on the ratings of shows since viewers tend to drift and forget to return when their TV routine or viewing pattern gets disturbed.
Where and when cliffhangers appear, usually on a Friday - with for instance a shot fired, an explosion or a shocking relevation to keep viewers buzzing, engaged, pondering and to help keep a show top of mind and to drive them back on a Monday - will also have to change.
"We can only wait and see what the effect of the 3 days a week is going to be on viewership figures," says 7de Laan. "We're just thankful that for the biggest part of the week we'll still get the opportunity to entertain South Africa".
"Viewers will still want to tune in for our programme content. Our cliffhangers will be adjusted to end off a week well even if it is on a Wednesday - something that will probably frustrate viewers, but with new zeal we will keep our show alive on social media platforms".
"From our side, we ask viewers to continue to watch 7de Laan from 5 April from Mondays to Wednesdays at 18:00 on SABC2. For now, they can still enjoy 7de Laan from Mondays to Fridays at 18:00 on SABC2," says the show.
The former eNCA sports anchor Sandile Ngobese known as Sandile kaNqose has died. He was 42.
eNCA (DStv 403) on Monday evening announced that the former eNCA and e.tv's eNews Direct and eNews Primetime bulletin sports anchor had died earlier today. His cause of death isn't known yet.
Sandile KaNqose leaves behind his wife Monica, a son and a daughter.
eNCA said Sandile kaNqose was "a die-hard sports fan and a man who had a love for broadcasting".
Sandile kaNqose started his career in 2008 as a freelancer before joining eMedia Investments in 2009 as a permanent staffer. He also worked at YFM and was also a producer and co-founder of Afrikan Horizons.
"My heart is broken in a billion pieces, a former colleague, a phenomenal broadcaster, a real mensch, Sandile ka Nqose, goodbye my brother, I will hold you in my heart always," wrote the SABC News anchor Florence Letoaba, who previously worked with him at eNCA, on Twitter.
"Xoli Mngambi, an anchor at Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) who previously worked at eNCA with Sandile kaNqose, said "This is devastating, a passionate and enthusiastic broadcaster is no more. Our on-air banter was always filled with fun and laughter. I cannot imagine the pain and heartache that his family is going through".
Thabiso Sithole, a SABC News anchor, on social media said "Heartfelt condolences from the SABCNews sports desk to the family and the sports desk headed by Vata Ngobeni at eNCA on the passing of a colleague and respected broadcast rival Sandile kaNqose".
Is it possible for MultiChoice and M-Net to theoretically allocate its 007 James Bond channel to the channel number of 007 on DStv?
Imagine for a moment that MultiChoice was able to place its 007 James Bond DStv pop-up channel, that it just revived for a third time on its pay-TV platform, on the channel number of 007 on DStv.
If the 007 James Bond channel were available on DStv channel number 007, it would have been an example of mnemonics, or what we call a mnemonic device - a tool to help people remember something and/or to make it stand out.
What would be cooler to remember or to do that to keep in mind that to watch James Bond films, you need to press "0", "0", "7" on your DStv remote control (or what would essentially amount to "7")?
Not to go too deep into the field of semiotics, but 007 as the channel number and "sign" of such a channel would work in terms of brand, it would work in terms of channel number memory short-hand, and it would work in terms of coolness factor. But is it even possible?
Two weeks ago, a few days before M-Net's 007 James Bond pop-up channel started, I suddenly thought about the MultiChoice channel numbering nomenclature and process.
I decided to ask MultiChoice, through its PR company Aprio, in light of the 007 pop-up channel, if it would ever be possible to have a channel on "channel number" 007 for instance - as well as more broadly a series of questions, for context, around how its channel numbering works and what is possible and not when it comes to DStv channel number allocation.
The M-Net Movies 009 James Bond pop-up channel on DStv then started on 22 January, and has now come and gone and ended on 31 January. Unfortunately MultiChoice didn't bother to - or for whatever reason couldn't - answer any of the questions TVwithThinus asked during the duration that the channel was on DStv.
How did MultiChoice's channel numbering convention for instance start and come about? M-Net as DStv's most important channel, of course, occupies the prime spot of 101, but why for instance did MultiChoice start numbering from 101 and not 100, or not 10, or 001?
MultiChoice didn't respond.
Would it theoretically be possible to place a TV channel on the DStv decoder on a channel number like 010, or is it that Mayan and Mesopotamian zero at the beginning that causes machine blindness and makes a computer unable to read it as a placeholder "number"?
Or is it possible to do, but because of purely consumer psychology behaviour it's not so advisable? Do consumers struggle to start a remote control numerical input with anything like zero's? Again, MultiChoice could possible have shed some light but didn't bother to answer while the 007 channel was running.
Interestingly, some overseas pay-TV operators do make use of -digit channel numbers, for instance "82", there are occurences of a 1-digit channel number, and some even use a 4-digit channel number code, for instance "1002".
Would it theoretically be possible for there to exist on MultiChoice's DStv channel number system a 1-, 2-, and 4-digit DStv channel codes, and if yes, why have these channel number "ranges" never been used? Could it ever be used?
Again, nothing from MultiChoice with a response that was zero.
Anyway, these are answers that would be interesting and insightful to know for highly interested readers who are really into knowing more about television, as well as that group of pay-TV viewers who are extremely engaged with a brand like DStv subscribers - and of course you, reading this article right now.
Zero is never nothing, and maybe one day we'll find out what role this deceptively "nothing number" plays in something like a DStv decoder.
by Thinus Ferreira M-Net is apologising to DStv subscribers for a big programming mess with
the BBC series, The Capture, that got viewers hot under the collar since its
debut and that the pay-TV channel has still not been able to fix properly. While errors with programming, content acceptance and checking of
international series, and scheduling are very rare on pay-TV services like
M-Net (DStv 101) and much more prone to happen on free-to-air channels like the
SABC for example, M-Net keeps angering very confused pay-TV subscribers who
can't figure out what went wrong with the channel's The Capture that has turned
into a viewing exercise of frustration. The British mystery crime-drama that received positive reviews from
critics and viewers in late-2019, when it was broadcast in the United Kingdom, is
getting anything but that in South Africa after M-Net failed to properly check
and watch the episodes received. M-Net continues to severely botch the broadcast playout of episodes
scheduled on Thursday nights at 22:30, as well as how the series is loaded and
made available on MultiChoice's DStv Catch Up service. M-Net told TVwithThinus on Monday that it fixed the problem in the past
week after a flurry of complaints, but it apparently didn't and viewers
continue to be upset about the showing of the series that makes no sense on
either the linear broadcast playout or on the digital video-on-demand (VOD)
catch up. What happened with The Capture, starring Holliday Grainger as Detective
Inspector Rachel Carey, is that there are actually two versions of the series –
a "domestic" one that was shown on BBC One in September 2019, as well
as an internationally distributed version, edited differently. The two versions
also have a different number of episodes. What happened, according to insiders, is that M-Net accidentally got a
"third" version – a wrong batch that mixed together episodes from
both the domestic version of The Capture, as well as the international version.
Episodes from the one and of the other were both jumbled as one package of
episodes in this third version which M-Net then slotted for broadcast and that
was put on DStv Catch Up. The past week, after a lot of complaints, M-Net and MultiChoice
scrambled to try and fix the problem, although M-Net broadcast a wrong episode of The Capture yet again on Thursday when episode 4 was oddly a repeat of an episode already
shown, while MultiChoice removed all of the episodes from Catch Up and reloaded
a new batch but again with mistakes. Since the debut of The Capture, DStv subscribers have been complaining
that characters are missing across episodes and would suddenly pop-up without
any introduction or backstory, that crucial scenes and story development are
missing, that episodes are even shown out of chronological order, that episodes
are abruptly cut short, and that DStv would list episode 3 and 4 on Catch Up,
and M-Net would broadcast episode 3 and 4, although 4 is just repeating the
same episode. In response to a media enquiry made last week, M-Net publicist Nomntu
Mnengi on Monday told TVwithThinus that "there are two versions of The
Capture – the original version and the international version". "M-Net licensed the international version in line with broadcast
geographical regulations. The original version which aired on the BBC has 6
episodes, the international version has 8 episodes, hence the difference in
episode duration". "The confusion occurred when the channel received the footage and
metadata. The international version's footage was delivered with the original
version's metadata instead. This error has since been rectified and the
episodes will be available on Catch Up." "All the episodes have been reprocessed by the programming
acceptance (PGA) team. Viewers can now access the correct version
(international) of episode 3 and onwards. We do apologise for the inconvenience
caused". M-Net viewers, however, continue to experience problems with trying to
watch and follow The Capture. On Saturday a viewer, James asked "DStv, why is episode 4 of The
Capture a repeat of episode 3 both on Catch Up and recording?"
Another
viewer said, "In The Capture series an episode was not available for a
whole week and now the sequence for episode 3 and 4 are mixed up. Please do
better". "Which idiot put episodes 3 and 4 of The Capture on M-Net in the
wrong order then flighted episode 4 again on Thursday? Throws the whole
storyline out of sync," said Martin Godfrey. "Is there an issue with the order of episodes for The Capture on
DStv Catch Up? I saw episode 3 last week called Truffle Hog and I see the same
episode is loaded as episode 4. The description for episode 4 seems right but
the video is wrong," remarked another subscriber. Viewer Andrew Field said "DStv, the programme The Capture has been
badly edited and is missing parts and doesn't make sense". "MultiChoice why do you guys cut the shows you bring? Case in point
The Capture. Episode 2 is missing 2 storylines. Why is an international series
modified by you lot from the original? Not censored because of SNVL but
deliberately chopped to 43 minutes," asked another angry viewer. Amanda said "DStv we have been watching The Capture on channel 101.
There is a whole chunk of the show missing between episodes 2 and 3. If you
read the synopsis of the episodes first shown in the United Kingdom, we missed
the interrogation in the safe house. It didn't make any sense."
