Friday, February 26, 2021

After 5 years Netflix South Africa adds and now shows the local Film and Publications Board's age restrictions and content classification advisories.

by Thinus Ferreira

Five years after Netflix launched in South Africa the global video streaming service this week started adding local South Africa age restrictions to the content that it is making available in the country and with its content ratings that now includes those of the Film & Publications Board (FPB) as well.

FPB age restrictions and parental advisories now form part of Netflix SA content in the form of FPB triangle symbols denoting an age restriction in numbers, as well as content labels in the form of "S" for sex, "V" for violence", "N" for nudity", "L" for language" and several more.

Netflix's biggest rival in Africa, MultiChoice's Showmax, already incorporated the FPB classification system years ago.

When Netflix launched across Africa in January 2016 the global subscription video-on-demand service (SVOD) initially did so on the continent without adhering to individual countries' content classification systems like what exists in South Africa.

Netflix pushed back against calls to have its available content catalogue locally classified. This had not so much to do with the actual classification process but with the fact that video content operators have to pay hundreds of thousands of rand per year for local classification to local classification bodies, like for instance the FPB.

In October 2017 Netflix EMEA told TVwithThinus that Netflix won't submit to local classification of its content which it does itself and "doesn't have to pay those fees".

At the time Netflix said that "We do believe that we do not have to do that. And that's the same case in many countries in the world where they have content regulation and there's questions about ratings, or censorship."

"There's always a wish from a regulator to try to get power from things like video streaming services, and we're trying to move away from that because we do think that the content matters and we try not to censor content in general."

Netflix said "We want the freedom to regulate ourselves. When there are layers of complexities it's never good; it's just slowing the technology; everything."

In early-2020 Netflix bowed under pressure from the FPB and agreed to South Africa's local content classification rules and pay the classification body. Netflix won't make back-payments for anything for the period between 2016 and 2020 where its service was available in South Africa without content classification.

Now that change has become visible. On Netflix's help page for maturity ratings and classifications for South Africa specifically, Netflix now lists, explains and shows the FPB maturity ratings and classifications.

Netflix SA subscribers now see an FPB icon appearing, along with the appropriate age number.

Netflix SA subscribers will now also see updated content advisories on titles and Netflix confirmed that it will be using the themes identified in the FPB guidelines, as well as the added-context advisories currently available on Netflix.

A Netflix spokesperson in response to a media enquiry told TVwithThinus that "Our work with the Film and Publications Board is part of our wider efforts to give our members more control and choice".

"We want our members in South Africa to have the information they need to make informed entertainment choices for themselves and their families."


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TV REVIEW. Tali’s Baby Diary on Showmax delivers a magnificent momcumentary.


by Thinus Ferreira

Tali's Baby Diary on Showmax delivers as the best South African television of 2021 so far - meticulously crafted "super-television" that shines with incredible quality stitching visible in even the smallest production details.

As a second or follow-up season to the multiple award-winning Tali's Wedding Diary, the very DNA of Julia Anastasopoulos and Ari Kruger's TV baby brilliantly shines through in their latest TV stroller that they created and wrote, are executive producing, and with Julia also once again starring as the self-obsessed and deliciously borderline-delusional Tali.

With a set of familiar and some hilarious new characters added into the mix, Tali and everyone in her hapless orbit are sucked into a veritable baby shower hurricane in the next chapter of her vanity fair story.

Tali is once again more than ably supported by her long-suffering husband and wannabe-property mogul Darren (Anton Taylor) and his jack-in-the-box helper Rael (Glen Biderman-Pam) who are confronting a new set of rivals this season and who can very likely fully carry their own Showmax spin-off series with their blunders in Cape Town's property market. 

A muted Ashley (Lucienne Bestall) is hilarious as Tali's "Dame Edna's Madge"-inspired assistant; even asked to go pee on a pregnancy kit to test it and for whom nothing is too much or too far serving as the help fluttering around the aspiring "mom-fluencer".

For superbly adorable low-EQ characters - captured so distinctly and vividly - all of the very deserved SAFTA wins from the first season of this show are proof that Tali's show wasn't and isn't a one-season wonder.

While the wait was longer than 9 months, Tali's Baby Diary, produced by Sketchbook, once again delivers incredibly well-done and incredibly funny television.

With its fine attention to detail in absolutely every aspect of the new season's production values, Tali's Baby Diary is a joy to behold.

The new episodes, the first two of which Showmax made available to critics to preview, have a high rewatch value. 

You can go back and watch it over and over to find even more terrific awkwardness all created in Cape Town from carefully crafted cinematography, wonderful comedic timing from a comfortable-in-cringe cast with masterful editing.

Make a plan if you have a baby because Tali's Baby Diary is the best South African TV show of 2021 so far and 100% guaranteed to make you literally laugh out loudly.

Tali's Baby Diary brilliantly continues the local TV industry's investment in South African mockumentary making with a local show that can travel globally.

With its universally-relatable theme of having a baby, infused with neurotic-hilarious Jewish joy, Cape Town snobbery and its distinct ambient sunlight, and the Karen-nesque title character's crazy demands only a singular question remains: How long the wait until Showmax brings viewers Tali's Toddler Diary?

Tali's Baby Diary is now available on Showmax.
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eNCA blames pressure of live TV for its Budget Speech 2021 interviews mask-scandal, says TV news channel's apparent double standard ‘was not racially motivated’.


by Thinus Ferreira

eNCA (DStv 403) that has come under fire after viewers noticed how black politicians at parliament were asked to wear their Covid-19-masks but white, maskless politicians didn't get similar instructions blamed it on the pressures of "live television" that a reporter with 21 years of experience was under and says that its reporter isnt racist and that the apparent double standard is not because of "malicious intent".

The reporter Lindsay Dentlinger of the eMedia Investments TV news channel did a series of interviews on the steps of parliament during South Africa's 2021 Budget Speech where viewers noticed a pattern in which white politicians were seemingly treated differently from the rest during interactions with eNCA.


Pieter Groenewald, the Freedom Front Plus leader and a white man, wasn't wearing a mask but wasn't told anything, while Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, UDM deputy president, was told to please put his mask on. 

More examples followed of maskless white men followed by black men with masks and told to make sure their mask also cover their nose as well, which led to eNCA being accused of racial bias.

eNCA was asked multiple times for comment on Thursday and finally responded over the reporter's alleged inconsistent behaviour with a statement at 22:02 on Thursday night, saying "eNCA understands how an excerpt of Lindsay Dentlinger’s coverage could have created a space for general public conjecture".

"However, eNCA management, after meeting with Dentlinger to discuss the matter concluded that her conduct was not racially motivated or with malicious intent."

eNCA said that Lindsay Dentlinger "is a seasoned journalist with over 21 years of experience, 9 of which has been with eNCA. In her tenure with eNCA, she has primarily focused on political news".

"Having worked in print, radio and television, Dentlinger has interviewed many high-profile politicians from all sectors and parties without anyone calling her conduct into question. This incident represents an inaccurate and unfair image of her work."

John Bailey, eNCA managing editor, said that "In an intense live broadcast environment like the Budget Speech coverage, our journalists are under pressure to remain compliant while delivering fair, accurate and balanced news."

"When it comes to adherence to Covid-19 protocols, eNCA has broadcast extensive content to educate viewers while journalists are regularly urged to ensure that they and all interviewees remain compliant."

Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, in the statement said that "After carefully analyzing the situation, we understand that given the pressure of the live TV environment such unplanned occurrences can occur."

"Through our deliberations, we have found that there is no mal intent on the part of the journalist. We further found that the way the journalist and eNCA has been perceived through this incident is unfair and not a true reflection of the journalist or our channel."

"We also appreciate the sensitivity of the matter and people’s concerns and reaffirm our commitment to encouraging compliance with regulations designed to inhibit transmission of Covid-19 across our population irrespective of race, colour or creed."

The UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, in a strongly worded letter to eNCA's top execs on Thursday, slammed the channel and asked "Is eNCA serious about its message of non-racialism?"

"This appalling incident happened on a live eNCA broadcast for the world to see. The message wasn't lost: White South Africans are 'Covid-safe' and black South Africans are not".

"The UDM is perturbed by eNCA and Lindsay Dentlinger's blatant insult not only to the person of our deputy president but also by this culture of thoughtless racism."

"Like it or not, eNCA has in the past been criticised for showing a racial bias and this recent incident has cemented this perception. The mere fact that eNCA has been mum regarding this incident, since yesterday, seems to mean that eNCA is happy with its reputation."

"eNCA has the responsibility to uphold journalistic standards and integrity, as well as the code of conduct for broadcasters as it has fallen short in this instance. It should itself accountable." 

"Lindsay Dentlinger and eNCA owe Nqabayomzi Kwanka, the UDM and all past eNCA interviewees of colour an unequivocal and sincere apology, as well as an undertaking that this practice will stop effective immediately".

The EFF political party in a statement said that it "notes with disgust the racist news agency eNCA's racial profiling of members of parliament, which resulted in rude and racially motivated instructions of who must wear a mask".

The EFF said that "the actions of the journalist at eNCA vindicate the EFF's position that there is a culture of racism and factionalist at eNCA where the disrespect of black people thrives. The rot a eNCA is so deep that white individuals perpetuate a culture of hate and discrimination against black people boldly in the public domain".
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Thursday, February 25, 2021

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV reports and articles to read - 25 February 2021.


Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:    

"I hate myself and my life right now," says the TV personality and influencer who says she needs to make better choices.

















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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV reports and articles to read - 24 February 2021.


Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:     










As subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services have become all the rage in America and are damaging traditional pay-TV services, for many - especially smaller services - the real money is to be made internationally.















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'A road to hell': South Africa's parliament told that a new TV tax on DStv and Netflix will make people more interested to watch SABC.


by Thinus Ferreira

The South African government's controversial plan for an expanded new TV tax described as "a road to hell" is gathering steam with claims that a law to force laptop and tablet owners as well as DStv, StarSat and Netflix subscribers to pay for the SABC will generate more money for the broadcaster and "will get people more interested in watching programmes of the SABC".

With only 24% - a falling percentage - of TV households still bothering to pay for a SABC TV Licence, the South Africa public broadcaster and the country's department of communications and digital technologies, are desperate to try and dig the struggling SABC out of its financial black hole through finding new additional income streams.

Part of the aggressive new plan contained in draft legislation from communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, is to enlarge the fishing net of available SABC TV Licence revenue beyond the public broadcaster's own struggling collection fees division.

Changes to legislation would make private companies like pay-TV providers, as well as local and global video streaming services with a presence in South Africa, responsible for ensuring that their customers have a valid TV licence or to tack it on as a fee - whether those consumers watch the SABC or not.

Owners of tablets and laptops will also be forced to have and pay a SABC TV Licence whether they watch or consumer SABC content or not.

The initial inclusion of smartphones that was included in the plan as well has now been dropped from the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audio-Visual Content Services Policy Framework.


A grudge purchase
During an appearance of the SABC top executives and board as well as the department of communications before parliament's portfolio committee on communications on Tuesday and where the broadcaster shared details of its financial situation, it once again became clear how the vast majority of South Africans are going out of their way to avoid paying a SABC TV Licence.

A growing number of South Africans regard a must-buy SABC TV Licence as a once-off grudge purchase in order to buy a TV set. 

In 2019 the SABC had 401 321 new TV Licence holders who paid for one just to buy a TV set. Of them, only 68 093 bothered to pay for a first-time renewal when it was due after a year.

"This percentage of 17% of first-time SABC TV Licence renewals have been higher in the past, so clearly either the evasion rate or the attractiveness of the SABC's content did not speak to our audiences," Yolande van Biljon, SABC CFO told parliament.

Meanwhile, the SABC sits with a massive 76% SABC TV Licence "evasion rate" meaning that 76% of South African TV households that the public broadcaster are aware of and send a SABC TV Licence bill to, do not bother to pay their annual licence fee. 

Only 24% are still paying with the rate that keeps declining as the country's overall TV watching universe expands. 

Besides the SABC's TV Licence database there are millions more South African TV households with one or more TV sets that the SABC is not aware of and that don't have licences. 

There are also many millions more DStv and StarSat subscribers, as well as people with laptops and tablets, and a growing number of Netflix, Showmax and Amazon Prime Video subscribers.


'A road to hell'
On Tuesday Zandile Majozi, IFP MP, said "With the SABC draft bill moving for SABC TV Licence fees to the streaming services of Netflix - we support that. We believe it's a good strategy to begin with".

"It will generate more income for the public broadcaster and also it will get people more interested in watching programmes of the SABC".

Cameron MacKenzie, DA MP, warned that "we've seen a general public outcry at the minister's initiatives or ideas around collecting from Netflix and Showmax and MultiChoice and these other things of 'when you get a phone you must get a TV licence'."

"If you read the national mood, I think it will be very dangerous for any politician or any minister to go down in that direction - it really is a road to hell. I think we should stay well away from that," he said.

Pinky Kekana, the deputy minister of communications, said that "the industry is moving aggressively moving online and the SABC is trailing behind".

"The main goal is for us to declare the SABC as public service media. And once we do that, then it will be able to be competitive".

"If you look at the old TV1 which was predominantly English and Afrikaans, the old Springbok radio - they were well funded."


New 'public household levy' for the SABC 
She said that the South African government is looking at introducing a type of "public household levy that can assist the SABC to then have proper funding".

"We must initiate some of the discussions, mindful of what Cameron MacKenzie was saying. We can't fold our arms and say the status quo must remain when we know our public broadcaster is dwindling".

"These are the things that we should put in the public arena and look at whether government can fund the SABC directly from the fiscus or whether we can be creative in looking at the household levy".

Pinky Kekana said that "both from the department's side and from the SABC's side we're working very closely together to say, 'What are the options?' And these are not conclusive. Members can still look into some of those things, and indeed even when the amendments to the audio and audio-visual white paper engagement takes place".
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Tuesday, February 23, 2021

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 23 February 2021.


Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:     

 



"The TV news business is stacked with talented **holes". 





Zambezi Magic’s Date My Family Botswana producer, Onkabetse Reikeletseng, on his journey in filmmaking.




As the last of the new global streaming services to launch Paramount+ will have a mountain to climb.

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Bye, bye to The Bold and the Beautiful – again – as AMC Networks International's repeat-padded EVA telenovela channel gets axed after 5 years on MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv.


by Thinus Ferreira

After months of repeats the EVA channel from AMC Networks International is the next TV channel getting axed from MultiChoice with the American daytime soap The Bold and the Bold that is getting ripped away from South African TV viewers for a second time when the telenovela channel will go dark in March after 5 years.

DStv subscribers – who have asked about the channels' schedules that became filled with unending rebroadcasts over the last few months – have now been told that EVA, as well as EVA+, will both terminate and disappear from MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv pay-TV service across Africa on Monday 22 March because MultiChoice "no longer has airing rights". 

For the past few months, all of the telenovelas on EVA has been repeats except for The Bold and the Beautiful, produced by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, that remained as the sole original daily episode on the schedule.

Viewers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa will now lose The Bold and the Beautiful – that recently broadcast its 8 000th episode in Africa – for a second time after SABC3 abruptly ended it in March 2019 after which they had to switch to EVA to watch it on linear television.

AMCNI launched the EVA (DStv 141) channel in March 2015 with Latin American telenovelas dubbed into English and into Portuguese on DStv channel 508 as a competitor to NBCUniversal's Telemundo. 

In November 2016 EVA+, as a sister channel, launched on DStv and GOtv, with AMC Networks International saying at the time that with the channels it aims to "satisfy the African audience’s growing appetite for telenovelas" with a crop of "hand-picked, high-quality serial dramas".

In the latter part of 2020 both EVA and EVA+  – similar to the FOX Life and Disney XD channels before they got culled – suddenly stopped adding new content except for the daily Bold and the Beautiful episode.

Viewers quickly noticed that the EVA and EVA+ schedules became padded with the rebroadcasting and repeating of telenovelas that DStv and GOtv subscribers had already seen.

AMCNI in response to a media enquiry says that "After discussion with DStv, we have decided to no longer offer EVA/EVA+ in Africa".

"We’re focused on optimising our portfolio across the region, and these changes are related to that ongoing review. This does not affect other services in our portfolio, including CBS Justice, the newest channel in our portfolio which launched exclusively with DStv in November 2019, in addition to CBS Reality and JimJam which are available to DStv and other operators throughout Africa."

MultiChoice spokesperson Sbu Mpungose in response to a media enquiry confirmed the axing of EVA and EVA+, saying that "from time to time, MultiChoice together with 3rd party channel owners reviews the channels available on the DStv platform which may result in the addition or removal of channels".

"For this reason, EVA and EVA+ will no longer be available on the DStv platform from 22 March 2021. Viewers will, however, be able to continue to view our recently introduced favourite channels such as TLnovelas (DStv 133) and the HONEY channel (DStv 173)."

Asked about what will be happening to the schedule and shows that have not completed the run of their episodes by 22 March, for instance Mujercitas (Little Women) that would only conclude on 13 April, Sbu Mpungose said that "almost all of the series which are currently on EVA and EVA+ are reruns".
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Monday, February 22, 2021

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 22 February 2021.


Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:      

 


















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