MultiChoice Tanzania increases DStv prices by up to 8.8% from July 2023 as the latest African country getting a DStv price hike.

by Thinus Ferreira

Tanzania is the latest African country getting a DStv price hike with MultiChoice Tanzania hiking DStv subscription fees from 1 July 2023 by up to ccc%.

Besides MultiChoice South Africa's DStv price increase in April this year, MultiChoice Africa also hiked prices in several other African countries during the first half of 2023 ranging from Ghana and Nigeria to Kenya and Uganda.

From July, DStv Premium in Tanzania is increasing from 155 000 TZS Tanzanian Shilling to 165 000 (R1268), a 6.4% increase.

DStv Compact Plus is increasing from 99 000 TZS to 105 000 TZS, an increase of 6%, while DStv Compact is getting hiked from 56 000 TZS to 60 000 TZS - an increase of 7.1%.

DStv Shangwe is increased by 8.8% from 34 000 to 37 000 TZS, and DStv Bomba is getting a 4.3% increase this year from 23 000 TZS to 24 000 TZS. The price of the DStv Poa bouquet will remain unchanged a 10 000 TZS.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana hiked fees by 19% in 2023, blames country's deteriorating economy as well as currency devaluation and fuel costs.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv prices again from May 2023 by up to 22.2% with cheapest GOtv bouquet seeing biggest price hike.

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. MultiChoice Kenya does second DStv price hike of up to 10% from April 2023 just 7 months after last fee increase, angry subscribers say they're cancelling and going to streaming.

ALSO READ: Six months after its last increase MultiChoice Uganda does another DStv price hike from April 2023 up to 10.25% as outraged subscribers slam pay-TV operator for 'garbage' content that's 'repeated and super old' .

ALSO READ: MultiChoice: Here is the pay-TV company's DStv pricing from April 2023 for South Africa.

Netflix adds Shaka Zulu before Mzansi Magic’s Shaka iLembe debut.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has acquired and added 1986's iconic 10-episode Shaka Zulu drama series just before MultiChoice and M-Net's new 12-episode Shaka iLembe drama series will make its debut on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) this Sunday night at 20:00.

A rising tide lifts all boats and Netflix appears to be betting that a surge in interest and online Shaka searches might channel some viewers to the video streaming service to sample the Harmony Gold and SABC co-production from William C. Faure that starred Henry Cele in the iconic warrior role.

On Tuesday Netflix SA, through its Eclipse Communications PR agency, was asked why Shaka Zulu was added now to the streamer's catalogue of content but it didn't respond with an answer.

Adding Shaka Zulu to Netflix just before the debut of Shaka iLembe on Mzansi Magic is the clearest move of so-called "counter-programming" yet by the streamer within the South African market.

It's a technique long-employed by rival American TV networks that would directly schedule a similar type of competitive content in the same timeslot as a first-announced original, hoping to dull some of its shine or dent ratings and lure over some viewers.

While the gaze of the 1986 series in English, told through flashbacks by the Irish Dr Henry Fynn is decidedly from a European settler perspective, the new Bomb Productions 2022 series done in isiZulu with a stellar ensemble cast and Lemogang Tsipa in the title role, flips the story to a South African gaze - telling the story of Shaka's rise to Zulu king from an insider's perspective. 

While the 1986 Shaka series has nudity and violence, Shaka iLembe ups the ante for the modern sensibilities of the HBO-sensitised audience, with more nudity, sex, violence and blood splatterings in service of the story, for a show definitely not meant for younger viewers.

Shaka iLembe was filmed in four locations across KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in Gauteng around Johannesburg and the Cradle of Humankind, employing one of the biggest cast and crews in South African television history at 9 150 people who contributed to the sprawling project.

While Shaka Zulu is a limited series of 10 episodes, MultiChoice and M-Net envision Shaka iLembe to run for three seasons.

Shocking Disney+ price hike from July for South Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

Disney has announced a shocking price hike of 16.8% for its Disney+ video streaming service in South Africa with the Mouse House increasing monthly subscription fees from R119 to R139 from 19 July 2023.

Walt Disney Africa's 16.8% fee increase for a monthly Disney+ subscription in South Africa is far above South Africa's inflation rate, with the Disney+ annual subscription fee which is also hiked far above the inflation price and increasing by 14.4% from R1 190 to R1 390. 

Walt Disney Africa didn't issue a statement or public announcement but is mentioning the price hike coming into effect from 19 July on its FAQ page for Disney+ for South African subscribers where it notes that "Starting 19 July 2023, the price of Disney+ will be revised to R139 per month and R1 390 per year".

According to Disney, all existing annual Disney+ customers in South Africa who get their subscription directly from Disney+ will have been sent an SMS from 4 June and monthly customers will be sent an SMS from 13 June to advise them that the price for their subscription will change on 19 July.

All existing customers who get their subscription in app via Google and Apple will be notified on 19 July with Apple customers new price coming into effect 30 days after notification and Google customers new price coming into effect 60 days after notification.

All existing customers who get their subscription through MultiChoice's "Add to bill" functionality will be notified with an SMS 30 days before the new price comes into effect on 19 July.

Disney isn't giving Disney+ subscribers any reason for the drastic increase on the Disney+ FAQ page, or why it is so far above the inflation rate.

On Tuesday Walt Disney Africa was asked why Disney+ is doing a price increase and what factors are responsible for the Disney+ price hike being so much higher than South Africa's current inflation rate. The company didn't respond with a statement.

Carte Blanche anchor and 'patriarch' Derek Watts reveals cancer fight.

by Thinus Ferreira

Derek Watts, the iconic South African TV anchor of Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sunday nights, and considered the weekly current affairs show's "patriarch", has revealed his cancer fight amidst an ongoing health battle, saying he's determined to return to the show he's anchored for 35 years when he's better.

The highly-respected journalist and TV presenter standing 1.9 metres tall who has been with Carte Blanche for 35 years, suffered a big health scare in late March which landed him in hospital, and on Sunday night revealed that he's privately been battling cancer as well.

The veteran Carte Blanche anchor was diagnosed with severe sepsis after he collapsed in Hoedspruit during a family trip and said that he had to learn to walk again with the help of a physiotherapist.

On Sunday night, a frail-looking Derek Watts in a taped recording made on Saturday from a Netcare hospital bed, revealed his cancer battle to Carte Blanche viewers but noted that he planned to return to the show when he's better.

Last year Derek Watts was diagnosed with skin cancer that had spread to his lungs. With the support of his family and specialists, he was able to continue presenting Carte Blanche, but the sepsis infection in March complicated his cancer treatment.

"Another short hospital stay, but I'm fine - I'll be out of here soon," Derek Watts said. 

"Really just wanted to say to our viewers - thank you for all the love, the messages, the prayers that give us all hope. and thanks of course for continuing to watch Carte Blanche. I'll be back soon, have a magic week and cheers for now."

The Hillbrow-born TV presenter who grew up in Bulawayo joined the South African public broadcaster's SABC News division in 1985 and later co-anchored its Top Sport sports magazine show.

He jumped to M-Net when the pay-TV channel decided to start Carte Blanche in 1988 as a new South African current affairs magazine TV show two years after M-Net had launched.

Derek Watts was the original co-host of Carte Blanche alongside Ruda Landman and has been with the Combined Artistic Productions produced show for the past 35 years - door-stopping various criminals caught in the act and doing interviews around the world, taking him from Mount Everest to the nuclear aircraft carrier George Washington during the Gulf War. 

MultiChoice in a statement on Sunday night after the episode confirmed that "Derek Watts will be stepping back from his work to focus on his health" for the time being.

"While this news is undoubtedly disheartening, we remain hopeful and optimistic about Derek's journey toward recovery. We have complete confidence in the expertise and dedication of his medical team, who will provide the best possible care and support throughout this process."

John Webb, Carte Blanche executive producer, in the statement, says "Derek has touched the lives of many throughout his remarkable career, and his unwavering spirit has been a source of inspiration for all. This was especially clear when, earlier this year, he was hospitalised with severe sepsis".

"Derek took enormous comfort from the thousands of messages he received during his recovery from sepsis. Following his cancer diagnosis, I know his resolve will be strengthened by the continued love and support of the people to whom he dedicated his working life. We join all of you in wishing strength and recovery to our patriarch, mentor, colleague, and friend."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment, says "M-Net would like to send a message of support and well-wishes to veteran investigative journalist and long-time Carte Blanche presenter Derek Watts".

"We hold him, his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers and wish him strength and courage as he fights this illness."

"The team at M-Net has the utmost respect and admiration for Derek and his commitment to the channel for the last 36 years. Derek's immense contribution to Carte Blanche forms the tapestry and legacy of the M-Net brand. We will continue to support him during this challenging time."

"During this challenging time, we kindly request that his privacy and that of his loved ones be respected, allowing him the space needed to focus on his recovery."

kykNET 11th Silwerskermfees: Film fest slate expands with TV premieres and CTICC award show categories

by Thinus Ferreira

kykNET is expanding the content slate of its 11th Silwerskermfees to television and is set to premiere pilot episodes of new upcoming TV series while its awards show which is moving to the Cape Town International Conference Centre that is expanding to include categories for top TV productions..

Set for four days from 23 August in Camps Bay, the film festival organised by M-Net's Afrikaans channels division - and colloquially referred to as "Cannes in Cape Town" with a blue carpet rolled out at the Bay Hotel and Theatre on the Bay - is moving its awards show this year for the first time to the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) on 26 August.

Besides a new collection for 2023 of feature films and short films supported financially and upskilling-wise as part of kykNET's ongoing annual push to grow South Africa's film industry and to support video content creation in Afrikaans, kykNET's Silwerskerm film festival has expanded into documentary support.

Similar to the festival's existing short film mentoring project, the Silwerskermfees is now also supporting producers to craft documentaries. For the first time ever the film festival will premiere the pilot episodes of upcoming new TV series made for pay-TV and video streaming services in August. 

The CTICC-held awards show will also include TV categories for the first time alongside film, with the awards show which will be broadcast the following night, Sunday 27 August on kykNET (DStv 144). The nominees for, and the various TV categories, will be announced at the end of June.

The competing films included in the film division of this year's awards ceremony include the five feature films, 14 short films and six documentaries which will all premiere during the film festival.

The feature films include Hans Steek die Rubicon Oor, Die Tragiese Saak van Pamina Vermaak, Fankie en Felipé, Blindelings and Old Righteous Blues.

The short films at this year's Silwerskermfees include Helmhart, Hier/daar, Die Swart Draak Ontwaak and animation and puppet work films including Straatrotte and Thrift tot die Dood. 

'n Doop chronicles the trauma of school initiation rites, with Dans dat die Biesies Bewe as well as Koors and Karen which are comedies. 

Volle Bors and As will premiere as dramatic short films, with the buzzy Een Saam tackling the subject of gender dysphoria. Werpsel is a thriller with Die Blokke putting a new spotlight on the gang violence in the Cape Flats.

The six short documentaries include Teater na die mense about the Cape Flats Players, the inspiring athlete profiles Langafstand and 'n Gids vir Louzanne. Call of the Wild is a profile about a bling young woman's journey of discovery through nature.

Besmet looks at how the African lion is threatened by poisoning with the arresting Born Behind Bars about a pregnant woman getting a 10-year jail sentence.

Showmax 2.0: How MultiChoice will relaunch its streamer to battle Netflix with English Premier League, more global content and thousands of Comcast engineers.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice plans to have a big launch for what it calls "Showmax 2.0" - the new version of its video streaming service - with the pay-TV operator saying that the Comcast-NBCUniversal-Peacock partnership will not just increase Showmax's international content offering but also boost its projected subscriber numbers by up to three times it would have been by 2032.

MultiChoice plans to unveil its relaunched and retooled second version of Showmax by the end of March 2024 in its big quest to take on Netflix.

MultiChoice and Comcast plan to jointly battle Netflix as the leading video streamer in South Africa and across the African continent by adding premium English Premier League (EPL) content, more international shows, foreign movies and more global content - while making use of Comcast's army of thousands of engineers who will work to improve the capabilities and user experience of the video streaming service that will have a Peacock underbuilt.

Throwing down the gauntlet, for the first time for a streaming service in Africa will carry English Premier League (EPL) content when the wrapping is taken off the improved and shinier "Showmax 2.0" streamer in a year's time.

During the pay-TV operator's first Capital Markets Day which was held virtually, MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela said that "linear TV still represents an attractive growth opportunity - especially in the rest of Africa".

He said that MultiChoice will continue to grow its traditional DStv linear pay-TV business by bringing subscribers localised and sports content but that the company is stepping up its "ambitions in streaming".

In March MultiChoice announced that it's joining with Comcast - its NBCUniversal division running its Peacock streamer, as well as Sky in the United Kingdom - to redevelop and relaunch its Showmax streamer.

While Peacock is much smaller than global video streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+; MultiChoice - together with Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky - wants to frontload and reload Showmax to take on the global streaming players who have encroached on its turf.

With MultiChoice's turbo-boosted Showmax, the plan is for Showmax 2.0 to gobble up whatever subscribers are available in South Africa and across Africa before the Netflixes of the world are "fully deployed" on the continent - in MultiChoice and Comcast's words.

"We needed a technology solution that matched our ambitions and could help us to scale as fast as the market grows," Calvo Mawela said.

Netflix, Showmax and Disney+

There is a huge opportunity for subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) in Africa," Yolisa Phahle, Showmax and connected video CEO at MultiChoice, said during Wednesday's event.

Showmax wants to use regionalised local productions across various African countries to drive subscriber growth and increase scale, as it fights to increase its growth curve which has ebbed somewhat and is lower than Netflix which is in first place in sub-Saharan Africa.

Yolisa Phahle shared a chart showing subscriber growth of the major over-the-top (OTT) streaming services in sub-Saharan Africa between December 2020 and December 2022 - but without any numbers or scale.

According to the chart, Netflix is number one in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with Showmax in second place and with a slower growth curve - with Disney+ that suddenly jumped into third place with a sharp growth spike since its launch in South Africa. 

At the bottom of the pile are other players like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, VIU and iRoko.

It should be noted that MultiChoice declines to make specific Showmax subscriber numbers available and only provides percentages not attached to scale. Although they're Showmax's biggest two rivals, MultiChoice now also carries both Netflix and Disney+ on its DStv Explora Ultra decoder as OTT services.

Speaking about what MultiChoice is observing in the fast-changing operational setup of American streaming services, Yolisa Phahle said Hollywood studios are having a rethink and scaling back their massive financial investments after a few years of huge content investment to try and fuel subscriber growth and to scale up streaming services.

"What we're seeing is that several streaming providers, Disney for example and more recently Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO seem to be recalibrating their strategy to speed up profitability. Some of the other issues impacting the industry are the need to continually improve the tech and the platform experience," she said.

"Demanding live sport on SVOD is actually becoming the norm. This is something we've been focusing our Showmax Pro offering on. Also, ad-supported offerings are gaining traction, especially under younger viewers."

"The good news in all of this is that Africa is seen as the final frontier of SVOD growth globally," Yolisa Phahle said.

Boost: Three times more Showmax subscribers

MultiChoice says NBCUniversal's scaleable Peacock streaming platform will "deliver significant benefits to Showmax".

"We'll have access to their best-in-class tech," said Yolisa Phahle. 

Because of the combined Comcast-MultiChoice partnership, MultiChoice has revised its Showmax subscriber projections and now expects the subscriber numbers of Showmax 2.0 to be three times more by 2032 than if it continued Showmax alone. 

Andrea Zappia who is exiting this month as Sky's executive vice president and CEO for new markets and business, said that Showmax 2.0 will be "launching at the right time" since "the global players are not fully deployed yet into the continent".

Yolisa Phahle said "streaming will take off. There's no going back. It's is the future and we will ride into the future with the right partner".

"In Comcast we found an incredible platform," she said, noting that "they have an engineering team of thousands who will continually be working to improve the capability of the platform to make it a wonderful place for the consumer to find our great content."

Boost in international content, EPL on Showmax

About Showmax's limited international content library, MultiChoice said the partnership with Comcast, NBCUniversal and Sky will boost the library of Showmax 2.0's global shows.

"Up until this point we were spending most of our time and effort really promoting the incredible local content because that is what brings us subscribers," Yolisa Phahle said.

"The research we've been doing over the last 12 months with Comcast has also shown that audiences want fantastic international programming. Now, with this guarantee of this content, we will be relaunching Showmax and marketing movies, marketing international series. We've also got great kids programming coming through."

"All of the questions about why are we not talking more about international content will be addressed and not only will we have NBCUniversal programming but HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony ... In fact, if you think about it, we will have international content first and exclusively on Showmax from 80% of the world's biggest international producers. It's going to be an incredible line-up: local, sports, and international content," Yolisa Phahle said.

English Premier League (EPL) content will be placed for the first time on Showmax 2.0 as well, she revealed.

"There will be a big launch," Yolisa Phahle said. "We're aiming that Showmax 2.0 is out there before the end of March 2024. But right now we are producing content, we are acquiring content, we are thinking about the packaging and the pricing."

"Sub-Saharan Africa is at the beginning of its streaming journey. It's a vast market and we are here with a strategy which is well differentiated from our competitors."

MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer has thousands of subscribers' login details hacked in security breach.

by Thinus Ferreira

The login details and password of over 27 000 subscribers of MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer have been hacked and leaked publicly, forcing the streaming service to log out thousands of subscribers who must change their details after the security breach.

On Monday MultiChoice told TVwithThinus in response to a media query that "a small number of Showmax customer emails and passwords were shared on an illicit website".

MultiChoice says "We want to emphasise that this was an external incident and that there was no breach of Showmax's databases".

TVwithThinus understand that over 27 000 subscribers who were registered on Showmax's service had their login details and passwords compromised. 

MultiChoice and Showmax became aware of the breach of customer information on Thursday 1 June 2023 and says a "notice was released on Friday 2 June 2023. Our initial investigation showed that some of our customers' emails and passwords were compromised".

"However, customer financial information remains secure. The initial file is no longer available online, and all impacted customers have been notified and advised to reset their passwords".

MultiChoice says "all affected users have already been contacted, automatically logged out of their accounts and prompted to reset their passwords".

On its website Showmax says it is "committed to improving our security measures to protect our customers' information. Rest assured that we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the continued safety of your data".

Desperate StarTimes SA management breaks 0% price hike promise for 2023 and hikes pay-TV prices by up to 9%.

by Thinus Ferreira

Just three months after promising a 0% price increase for 2023, with "desperate" StarTimes Media SA management saying they have no choice, will suddenly hike StarSat subscription fees in South Africa by up to 9% from mid-June.

In mid-February, China's StarTimes Media SA which runs the StarSat pay-TV service in Southern Africa, announced with glee that a 0% price increase is "the least we can do" after rival MultiChoice announced its annual DStv price hikes which would come into effect from April.

StarTimes Media SA at the time in a press statement said that it would "be increasing its prices by 0% across its pay-TV portfolio" and that it hoped that "these non-adjustments, which are far below the projected inflation rate for 2023, will help its customers continue to enjoy great TV at affordable prices".

On Thursday the Midrand-based pay-TV operator shocked when it suddenly broke its promise and announced that it would be hiking its subscription fees by up to 9% in two weeks, blaming South Africa's deteriorating economy. 

From 15 June StarTimes Media SA is hiking its StarSat Special package by 8.3% from R120 to R130 per month for 60 TV channels. The StarSat Super bouquet is increased by 8.6% from R230 to R250 per month for 79 TV channels.

StarTimes Media SA is hiking its top StarSat Max bouquet by 9.1% from R330 to R360 per month for 140 TV channels.

"On 17 February we, in good faith, released a statement to our loyal subscribers announcing a zero-rated price increase for the 2023 financial year - we did so based on reliable market indicators that rand value would maintain a degree of stability for 2023," StarTimes Media SA says in a statement explaining why it's now backtracking on its 0% promise.

"The seismic devaluation of the rand is historic - caused by several factors acting in unison - what some describe as 'the perfect storm'. Such factors include: rise in interest rates due to inflationary pressures, persistent load-shedding, geopolitical events (war in Ukraine, US allegations of SA weapon supply to Russia etc.), all of which has resulted in a drop in investor confidence."

"Despite desperate efforts by StarSat management to maintain bouquet price stability we are left with no choice but to implement marginal price adjustment of between 8% to 9% across each StarSat bouquet."

ALSO READ: StarSat: 0% price increase for 2023 'is the least we can do'. 

And just like that, Samantha's back in Sex and the City sequel series.

by Thinus Ferreira

After an acrimonious split behind the scenes with Sarah Jessica Parker which became public and saw her turn her back on Sex and the City and her former co-stars, Kim Cattrall is now returning and will be back in the second season of the sequel series as sex-positive publicist Samantha Jones.

The New York Post was first to reveal Kim Cattrall's return to her role as the beloved feisty and sex-open Samantha Jones for the second season of HBO's And Just Like That, seen in South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101), that will start on 22 June in the United States and seen in South Africa as an Express from the US title.

While Samantha return is great, it comes with caveats and while sure to please fans, it won't be exactly what they've expected and all they might want it to be be the episode is aired in August as the final of the second season's 11 episodes.

Variety followed up The New York Post's reporting, further revealing that Kim Cattrall's return is thanks to the intervention of Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, who personally reached out to her a few months ago to ask her to reprise her role.

After years of animosity between her and Sarah Jessica Parker, Cattrall has stated in multiple interviews that she has no desire to return to Sex and the City and has closed the door in the show and her relationships with her former co-stars Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Now she will be back although Samantha will only be seen in the final episode of the second season, although she didn't film any scenes with any of her co-stars.

During the first season of And Just Like That, Carrie was seen texting with Samantha, with the show in a sense mirroring the rift and estranged relationship which exists between the actresses in real-life. 

The relationship between Carrie and Samantha have become strained for unstated reasons, but Samantha did sent a massive bouquet of flowers to the funeral when Mr Big, played by Chris North, unexpectedly died.

Carrie kept in touch, and in the final episode Samantha agrees to meet with Carrie, although it happens off screen.

Kim Cattrall confirmed to The New York Post that she had decided to reprise her role. An insider whispered that "The fact that they’re keeping it very hush-hush says that there's some implication that she might be coming back — not this season, but it's definitely a cliffhanger that's gonna get people to come back for season 3".

Variety reports that Samantha will only appear in one scene and that Kim Cattrall filmed her scene on 22 March in New York City, and without interacting, seeing or speaking with either Sarah Jessica Parker or showrunner Michael Patrick King.

The famous designer Patricia Field who had worked on Sex and the City but not And Just Like That, returned to dress the character of Samantha for the scene.

Samantha has moved to London and is seen speaking with Carrie on the phone in the final episode of the upcoming second season, although Cattrall filmed her speaking scenes separately.

Also back for the second season of And Just Like That is John Corbett who is reprising his role as Carrie's former fiancé Aidan Shaw.