Danie Odendaal Productions to restart production on 7de Laan's final 45 episodes after struggling SABC makes a bit payment.

by Thinus Ferreira

7de Laan will restart filming on Thursday on the outstanding 45 episodes to conclude SABC2's cancelled soap after the SABC paid some money this week after the show was forced to shut down production on Monday because of the public broadcaster's failure to pay the massive amount of money owed to the series.

TVwithThinus has reliably learnt that production will resume on Thursday on the 45 episodes left which must be filmed at Sasani Studios before 24 October. 

These episodes will keep 7de Laan on the air for its final season on SABC2 which will conclude with the last episode shown on 26 December.

After the SABC decided to cancel the long-running Afrikaans soap in July which is SABC2's second most-watched show on the channel, the cast and crew of Danie Odendaal Productions took a decision to try and make the remainder of the episodes very special but the show got sabotaged by the SABC which failed to pay the massive amount of money due to the production to keep it on the air.

Anxious crew and cast - already stressed about their work and income ending at the end of next month - were plunged into additional anxiety when Danie Odendaal Productions said it's unable to pay them any further since the SABC has not kept up making the payments to its show that it is supposed to.

Making the decision to shutter the show over the weekend after the SABC told the producers last week Monday that it doesn't have any money to pay, meant that the show's production schedule was thrown into turmoil since booked guest actors, artists and others needed for certain days and scenes had to be cancelled and will have to be rescheduled - if it's even possible.

Now the production will gear up to restart filming from Thursday and to try and rework the lost production days and hours of the week and to make up for that in the coming days.

According to industry insiders, while the SABC promised a partial payment this week to the show, a large amount of money is still outstanding, with no indication from the public broadcaster - once again heading to a financial cliff - on when the rest of the outstanding money owed to various production companies and suppliers will be paid.

The SABC didn't respond to a media query made on Tuesday.

Danie Odendaal on Wednesday morning confirmed to TVwithThinus in response to a media query that the show will now restart filming on Thursday.

"After further engagement with the SABC regarding outstanding payments, Danie Odendaal Productions is pleased to announce that although the full amount owed has not yet been settled, there are now sufficient funds to resume production."

"We can confirm that production will recommence on Thursday, 7 September, 2023. The cast and crew are committed to delivering the high-quality content our fans and viewers deserve."

The SABC has not yet published its 2022/2023 financial report but is set to again declare another huge annual loss, this time in excess of R1 billion.

ALSO READ: SABC cancels SABC2's 7de Laan after 23 years.

ALSO READ: Tears and sadness but planning the best end ever: Inside the shock as 7de Laan got its cancellation news.

ALSO READ: SABC: 7de Laan's 1.2 million viewers on SABC2 are not enough for the show to stay on air.

ALSO READ: SABC: Cancellation of more shows likely, Isidingo could possibly return.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: 'Old' faces could return to Oppiekoffie for jaw-dropping moments.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: Petition to save TV show grows to thousands as fans rally to save 'beacon of hope'.

ALSO READ: SABC can't say when it will pay massive amount of money owed to 7de Laan as time runs out for shuttered SABC2 soap to film its final 2 months of episodes.

ALSO READ: SABC2 viewers facing blunt 7de Laan end with fewer episodes to the series finale over SABC non-payment.

Alex Okosi upped as managing director of Google Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

Google has upped African regional YouTube boss Alex Okosi as new managing director of Google in Africa.

In his new position Alex Okosi will oversee Google's operations across Africa "helping businesses and economies on the continent grow, as well as expanding access and providing tools to help the next billion users get more from the web" Google says in a statement, announcing his promotion.

Alex Okosi exited Paramount Africa, then called Viacom International Media Networks Africa, to join Google's YouTube for Africa in January 2020 as managing director of YouTube for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

"I am excited at the prospect of leading Google’s team in Africa and the opportunity to be an even closer part of this diverse and dynamic region, which is so close to my heart," says Alex Okosi in a supplied quote in the statement.

"I’m a firm believer in the potential for technology and, in particular, the internet to improve people’s lives and help individuals and businesses in Africa to thrive."

Meir Brand, vice president for the EMEA emerging markets region at Google, says in the press statement that "Alex has a deep understanding of African countries and a passion for using technology to empower people and businesses".

Google has offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

SABC2 viewers facing blunt 7de Laan end with fewer episodes to the series finale over SABC non-payment.

by Thinus Ferreira

A blunt, abrupt ending to 7de Laan with no proper conclusion – as well as even fewer episodes to the end – is what waits for SABC2 viewers if the SABC doesn't very quickly find the money to pay Danie Odendaal Productions to resume filming of the remainder of the soap's episodes.

After the SABC cancelled the long-running Afrikaans soap on SABC2 in July, the production worked to complete the remainder of the final season's episode order but was forced to abruptly shut down production on Monday – two months before the supposed final day of filming on 24 October – after the SABC failed to pay the show what it's owed.

The SABC owed Danie Odendaal Productions a massive amount of money, as well as other production companies doing local shows for the public broadcaster.

The SABC on Monday in a statement admitted that it owes Danie Odendaal Productions money but is unable to pay and unable to say when it will be able to pay due to the broadcaster's massive financial troubles.

The SABC has not yet published its 2022/2023 financial report but is set to again declare another huge loss, this time in excess of R1 billion. 

The broadcaster is once again trying to do various "payment arrangements" with various suppliers, including production companies who the SABC have contracts with to deliver content in return for payment.

The SABC only contracted Danie Odendaal Productions to produce 7de Laan episodes until 24 October, which is supposed to keep 7de Laan on the air with original episodes until 26 December. 

The production company in turn contracted the crew and cast until 24 October, with 45 episodes which remain to be filmed.

Since work stopped, it's becoming a growing danger that SABC2 will no longer get 45 completed episodes from Danie Odendaal Productions since the time doesn't exist to produce this number of episodes in the available production schedule days which are fast running out.

In addition, the current 7de Laan cast and crew won't be available after October since they've accepted work on other shows and productions, so even if the SABC pays later, the show's talent in front of the camera and behind the scenes won't exist and be available to film episodes in November.

The SABC will also have to struck the sets like Oppiekoffie and the other Hillside sets at Sasani Studios in the final days of October and take it elsewhere where it wants to store it – any days over and the broadcaster, which owns all of the sets, props and wardrobe, will have to pay additional rent to Sasani to house property that's no longer being used.

The SABC only paid Danie Odendaal Productions for its June invoice on 1 September with a lot of money still owed and outstanding.

Danie Odendaal Productions told TVwithThinus on Tuesday in response to a media query that it hasn't yet heard anything from the SABC after production on 7de Laan ceased on Monday due to non-payment.

"There been no further developments or response from the SABC," the production said on Tuesday morning.

ALSO READ: SABC cancels SABC2's 7de Laan after 23 years.

ALSO READ: Tears and sadness but planning the best end ever: Inside the shock as 7de Laan got its cancellation news.

ALSO READ: SABC: 7de Laan's 1.2 million viewers on SABC2 are not enough for the show to stay on air.

ALSO READ: SABC: Cancellation of more shows likely, Isidingo could possibly return.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: 'Old' faces could return to Oppiekoffie for jaw-dropping moments.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: Petition to save TV show grows to thousands as fans rally to save 'beacon of hope'.

ALSO READ: SABC can't say when it will pay massive amount of money owed to 7de Laan as time runs out for shuttered SABC2 soap to film its final 2 months of episodes.

M-Net continues "One Chicago" franchise with Tuesday night marathons of Fire, Med and P.D.

by Thinus Ferreira

Despite the writers and actors strike in Hollywood M-Net (DStv 101) is able to continue its trifecta Chicago TV franchise known as "One Chicago" and will show season 11 of Chicago Fire, season 8 of Chicago Med and season 10 of Chicago P.D. on Tuesdays from tonight.

While the new seasons of multiple American procedural shows - like the various Chicago series - for the new season starting in late 2023 will be delayed severely, the "One Chicago" series are not "Express from the US" shows on M-Net, with three complete and cross-aligned seasons available for M-Net to broadcast.

Season 11 of Chicago Fire will start tonight at 19:00 on M-Net (DStv 101), followed by season 8 of Chicago Med at 20:00, and then season 10 of Chicago P.D. at 21:00. 

These three shows will continue to have new episodes on Tuesdays on M-Net as part of a Tuesday night "One Chicago marathon". 

While it's not a crossover episode, tonight's 8th season premiere of Chicago Med features a dazzling array of cameos from Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., as well as the shocking return of some characters and the departure of others.

Netflix SA says streamer remains committed to 'create a diverse range of stories across genres' from South Africa, commissioned Soweto Love Story rom-com film and Heart of the Hunter for 2024.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix South Africa today again said that the global streaming service remains committed to "create a diverse range of stories across genres" from South Africa for subscribers and announced new film commissions for 2024 including a romantic comedy Soweto Love Story and a spy thriller Heart of the Hunter that will be directed by Mandla Dube.

Netflix Africa held a panel session today in Cape Town at the Fame Week 2023 and MIP Africa conference where the streamer did a preview of its upcoming programming for the remainder of 2023 and 2024.

Most titles were already announced previously but Netflix SA reiterated its "commitment to variety and authenticity" with a South African slate of local films and series.

Although it was a South African panel and public engagement about South African content, Netflix notably gave the information and press release to American publications including Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety who all published before 16:00, before its PR company Eclipse Communications sent out an email blast with the press release at 16:00 on Monday afternoon to South African media.

The already-known new and returning series from Netflix SA showcased at the event were Miseducation, the new series from Burnt Onion Productions making its debut on 15 September following Mbali Hadebe (Buntu Petse) as a university student.

There's also YOH' Christmas as a new holiday series which will be released in late 2023, produced by Johnny Barbuzano, Tiffany Barbuzano and Morishe Matlejoane for BBZEE Productions.

The teen drama series Blood and Water set in Cape Town from Gambit Films will launch its fourth season in the first quarter of 2024, and the second season of Savage Beauty produced by Quizzical Pictures will be on Netflix in 2024.

Meanwhile production will start soon on the third season of the reality series Young, Famous & African.

Feature film wise the next film in the Kandasamy film series, Kandasamys: The Baby will premiere on Netflix on 20 October from writer and director Jayan Moodley.

Director Mandla Dube is behind the camera for the spy thriller Heart of the Hunter which is based on the novel by Deon Meyer. Heart of the Hunter is the first film that forms part of a 3-film deal between Netflix and Mandla Dube. The film will launch on Netflix in the first quarter of 2024. 

Soweto Love Story is a romantic comedy feature set in the heart of Johannesburg's famous township which will also be released on Netflix in the first quarter of 2024.

In terms of local partnerships with filmmakers and production companies Netflix said that it's working with Akin Omotoso and Ochre Media for a multiple-title books adaptation partnership, as well as with director Donovan Marsh on a 3-film partnership.

Netflix continues to work with Gambit Films on a multi-title partnership across various genres and formats which include series and films.

With Jayan Moodley Netflix has signed a new 3-film partnership as well which starts with Kandasamys: The Baby which is currently in production.

Stained Glass Productions with Gugu Zuma-Ncube and Pepsi Pokane also has a multi-title book adaptation partnership with Netflix Africa across a variety of genres. 

Meanwhile producers Mandla Ngcongwane and Mpumelelo Nhlapo and their Black Brain Pictures production company also have a Netflix partnership for films and series.

In a supplied quote, Ben Amadasun, Netflix’s vice president of content for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, says "We are incredibly excited to continue with our investment in South African storytelling and to expand our relationships with these amazing storytellers".

"These long-term partnerships with local filmmakers have enabled us to uncover unique perspectives and diverse stories from South Africa to entertain our more than 238 million members around the world. This is why we’re committed to investing in South Africa’s creative industry and showcasing the incredible talent the country has to offer."

SABC can't say when it will pay massive amount of money owed to 7de Laan as time runs out for shuttered SABC2 soap to film its final 2 months of episodes.

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC on Monday morning confirmed that it hasn't been able to pay 7de Laan on SABC2 in order for the production company's now-shuttered show to restart filming episodes, with the public broadcaster unable to say when it will do so or how it plans to rectify and fix the disastrous situation.

The SABC on Monday confirmed that it is unable to pay 7de Laan and can't say when the broadcaster will be paying the company to resume production. The SABC reportedly owes Danie Odendaal Productions "a massive amount of money".

On Monday the 7de Laan cast and crew didn't report for work at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg and started a stayaway after Danie Odendaal Productions shut down production of the long-running SABC2 show which has two months of filming left.

According to industry insiders, members of Danie Odendaal Productions were summoned to a meeting last week Monday at the SABC in Auckland Park where Merlin Naicker, SABC head of video entertainment, and Lala Tuku, SABC head of content for video entertainment, told the production company that the SABC doesn't have any money to pay the show.

Tuku has jetted off to Cape Town where she is a panellist this week at the Fame Week Africa 2023 conference.

"In terms of the meeting that the SABC had with production houses, it must be noted that this was one of the regular meetings in which the SABC discussed payment plans with everyone," Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson told TVwithThinus on Monday morning in response to a media query made on Sunday.

"The SABC is committed to ensuring that all production houses affected are prioritised and continuous engagements happen with relevant stakeholders to resolve the matter."

"The situation is regrettable and is as a result of various factors including the SABC's financial status that is known in the public domain and the external factors such as the dire effects of analogue switch-off and loadshedding that affect the audience ratings to enable the SABC to generate revenue as the corporation relies on this as the main source of income."

"The SABC urges all interested parties to advocate for the viability of the public broadcaster and encourage the payment of TV licenses as stipulated by law."

On Sunday Danie Odendaal Productions in response to a media query confirmed that 7de Laan is shutting down due to SABC non-payment.

In a statement the production company said filming is stopping until "the SABC meets its financial obligations" and that "due to these outstanding funds, we are currently unable to cover the salary and operational costs necessary to continue production. As a result, the decision was made to temporarily suspend production until such time as the SABC can fulfil its financial commitments to 7de Laan".

The cast and crew employed by Danie Odendaal Productions have been paid for August, but the production company - since it hasn't been paid by the SABC - doesn't have the money to either continue production or to pay anyone at the end of September and October.

The very real danger now is that 7de Laan will simply end when the SABC abruptly runs out of the last delivered episode months before 26 December when the final episode is supposed to air which hasn't even been filmed yet.

If the SABC doesn't pay Danie Odendaal Productions, filming won't start, with the cast and crew whose contracts only run until 24 October when the final episode was supposed to be filmed after which they are released.

Now the SABC and the production company are losing valuable time they can't get back. Should filming restart, the 7de Laan episodes that remain to be filmed will have to be squeezed into whatever time remains, meanwhile with an even more stressful production schedule.

The show might also lose out on booked and potential guest actors, former actors returning and other artists invited for guests appearances since all of this is now off the table and will have to be reorganised and rescheduled - if or when 7de Laan starts filming again.

ALSO READ: SABC cancels SABC2's 7de Laan after 23 years.

ALSO READ: Tears and sadness but planning the best end ever: Inside the shock as 7de Laan got its cancellation news.

ALSO READ: SABC: 7de Laan's 1.2 million viewers on SABC2 are not enough for the show to stay on air.

ALSO READ: SABC: Cancellation of more shows likely, Isidingo could possibly return.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: 'Old' faces could return to Oppiekoffie for jaw-dropping moments.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: Petition to save TV show grows to thousands as fans rally to save 'beacon of hope'.

MultiChoice boss Calvo Mawela's full internal memo to staffers on 'void left by seasoned executive' as Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle steps down and other top exec shuffles.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice staffers - especially those at Showmax - at shocked at the latest top executive changes the Randburg-based pay-TV operator announced internally late on Friday, which include Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle stepping down and MultiChoice SA boss Marc Jury now also taking on this responsibility.

MultiChoice insiders are wondering about, and pointing to, what seems like a growing and ongoing lack of leadership and executive succession planning inside MultiChoice City - with especially Yolisa Phahle's exit as Showmax boss raising fears and anxiety levels since the relaunch of MultiChoice's video streamer set for mere months from now in partnership with Comcast's NBCUniversal and Europe's Sky pay-TV division.

News about Yolisa Phahle's exit as Showmax CEO first started circulating last week on Thursday, with MultiChoice staffers who got told in an internal memo on Friday evening.

Collen Dlamini, who was MultiChoice group executive for corporate affairs but who has now been replaced in this position, didn't respond to media queries made about this last week. 

TVwithThinus first asked MultiChoice on Thursday evening about Yolisa Phahle stepping down as Showmax CEO and her resignation. Collen Dlamini on Friday morning told TVwithThinus "to give me an hour and I will get back to you" but didn't.

On Friday afternoon when called again, Collen Dlamini asked for an emailed media query to again be sent and said he would "respond in writing" but never did.

Laura Cooke, Showmax publicist, didn't return calls and didn't respond with answers to a media query around Yolisa Phahle's resignation.

As TVwithThinus reported on Friday, besides MultiChoice SA CEO Marc Jury immediately taking over oversight of Showmax as well from 1 September and Yolisa Phahle providing "advisory support" for a period of 6 months, Collen Dlamini has been replaced by Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng as MultiChoice's new group executive for corporate affairs and stakeholder relations, reporting to MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela.

Besides being group exec for corporate affairs, Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng will continue to oversee stakeholder management and regulatory functions for the rest of Africa outside of South Africa.

MultiChoice has also moved up its sport prince to be, Rendani Ramovha's full-time appointment as new SuperSport CEO. Rendani Ramovha who would only have started full-time in the position from 2024 is now SuperSport CEO since 1 September.

Below is the full internal memo MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela sent out to staffers on Friday evening:

"I am pleased to announce the following leadership changes effective 1st September 2023.

In what could be characterised as the end of an era defined by a solid career and almost two decades with the Group, it is with mixed emotions to announce that our Showmax CEO, Yolisa Phahle, is making her way into the next chapter of her career.

Discussions have been underway with an understanding that she will be entering the retirement phase of her career in the near future, thus the need for a seamless transition.

Knowing the void that would be left by this seasoned executive, we have been planning a smooth and seamless transition with Yoli for a while. After careful deliberations, we have concluded that Yoli will start a handover process wherein Showmax will report to Marc Jury from 1st September, with Yoli providing full time advisory support to Marc for a period of six months.

From March 2024, Yoli will continue to consult to the Group for a period of 12 months and reporting into Marc. This means that Marc will run Showmax and our South African operations as we continue our search for a new Showmax CEO.

Yoli will be remembered for her unparalleled work since joining M-Net in 2005 as General Manager for Channel O, and later being appointed Channel Director for Local channels SA where she launched the Mzansi Magic portfolio of channels. 

Due to her distinguished work, Yoli was appointed M-Net CEO in 2015. In 2020 Yoli was appointed as CEO for Showmax and having worked with me and the board to set the new direction we wish her the very best of luck as she begins the new episode of her professional life.

Chief Executive Officer for SuperSport

We are pleased to follow up on the initial announcement made earlier this year regarding Rendani Ramovha’s appointment as SuperSport CEO.

On this note please be informed that Rendani will assume his new role from 1st September 2023, reporting to Marc in the interim to ensure a seamless handover of strategic relationships with sporting bodies. 

In his current role as Head of Marketing and Commercial, Rendani has led some exciting initiatives within SuperSport including SuperSport Schools, Super Picks (BetKing and SuperSport partnership) and the SA20 Cricket league.

Group Executive Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations

In order to enhance our Group’s positioning in the industry, and to cement the stakeholder-centric posture of our platform vision, we have decided to make changes in the Corporate Affairs division.

These changes will form part of the broader process of reviewing and repositioning the division going forward. 

Collen Dlamini will step out of the role and provide advisory services on legislative, regulatory and policy effective from 1st September. We wish Collen well in his future endeavors and thank him for his contribution over the years- most notably his role in positioning MultiChoice as the platform of choice as well as his key role in various internal and external programmes.

I am pleased to announce Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng as the new Group Executive Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations, reporting to me. He will continue to oversee the Rest of Africa Stakeholder management and Regulatory functions. 

In his current Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Relations role within MAH, Kea has in a short space of time proven himself by assisting the business to navigate complex stakeholder issues and forging meaningful partnerships across the continent.

Kea, who is a former Sunday Times award-winning journalist, brings a wealth of experience from both the private and public sectors where he held senior corporate governance, corporate citizenship and public affairs roles across the African continent. 

He holds a PhD in Managerial Sciences from Durban University of Technology, a Senior Executive Fellows programme at Harvard University- and completed an Executive Development Programme at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

We wish Rendani, Marc and Kea the best as they take on their new responsibilities and gratitude goes to Tex Teixeira who has been diligently holding the fort on the SuperSport front. We look forward to their contributions as we pivot our bold content ambition to fruition.

Regards, Calvo"

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle resigns - plus other executive changes.

MultiChoice's Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle resigns - plus other executive changes.

by Thinus Ferreira

Yolisa Phahle has resigned as Showmax CEO with immediate effect, according to sources, who told TVwithThinus that more top-ranking staff are planning to leave - with Yolisa Phahle's exit as the latest high-profile MultiChoice executive to walk away from the African pay-TV company triggering heightened anxiety inside the corridors just months before the planned relaunch of Showmax with Comcast's NBCUniversal.

According to insiders MultiChoice SA CEO Marc Jury will now shepherd Showmax as well with Yolisa Phahle providing "advisory support" to Marc Jury for the next six months.

MultiChoice and Showmax on Friday didn't respond to multiple media queries first made since late on Thursday.

TVwithThinus reliably learnt that with Yolisa Phahle completely existing the business, Collen Dlamini, MultiChoice group executive for corporate affairs is also stepping down from the position replaced by Dr Keabetswe Modomoeng.

In another sped-up change, Rendani Ramovha who would have become the new SuperSport CEO from April 2024, has seen this timeframe moved up to becoming the CEO with immediate effect.

It's still unclear where Yolisa Phahle is moving to. Her exit as the latest very high-ranking executive to leave MultiChoice ranks is rattling staff who've had to deal with and already experienced the departure of a litany of top MultiChoice and M-Net execs over the past two years.

Several have been scooped up primarily by global streaming services that have entered South Africa like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ which collectively represent an existential threat for the decades-old traditional pay-TV business. 

Yolisa Phahle's resignation follows that of MultiChoice's chief information officer (CIO) Brad Eliot who has also handed in his resignation.

Yolisa Phahle exits MultiChoice after just over 18 years since she joined M-Net in August 2005 from the BBC where she was a host, producer and sound and vision mixer, to head up M-Net's new DStv music channel, Channel O, at the time.

At the Randburg-based pay-TV operator, the talented manager and executive with a keen eye for detail and problem-solving quickly progressed to become the Mzansi Magic channels channel director in July 2009. 

Yolisa Phahle was then appointed M-Net South Africa CEO in March 2013 - making history as the first black female in the role - and two years later as M-Net CEO in October 2015 overseeing the M-Net cluster for the entire continent.

In November 2017 Yolisa Phahle was promoted again and took on the new role of MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment - a promotion that necessitated a move to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. 

In September 2020 Yolisa Phahle's ambit was expanded again, this time to MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment and connected video, a restructuring which brought Showmax under her purview.

During her high-level MultiChoice reign, the well-liked and respected executive - who is a trained classic pianist and violinist - oversaw the production of literally thousands of hours over the past decade and a half of localised TV content in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa for over 20 M-Net packaged TV channels on DStv for various African countries.

As Showmax CEO, Yolisa Phahle's executive attention over the past few months has been squarely focused on the intricate and high-stakes relaunch of "Showmax 2.0" - an upgrade of MultiChoice's video streaming service, which is supposed to happen and to be rolled out within months.

After MultiChoice and Comcast's NBCUniversal - together with its London-based European pay-TV arm Sky - earlier this year announced a new partnership to relaunch and jointly manage and run a reinvigorated and retooled Showmax, trans-Atlantic teams have furiously started work to ready a new Showmax with a new underbuilt, which is supposed to be unveiled before the end of March 2024 or even earlier.

According to MultiChoice and the Nasdaq-listed Comcast, the retooled Showmax in which MultiChoice will carry a 70% stake, will feature a beefed-up selection of international content.

The new-look content juggernaut's biggest task will be to take on primarily its biggest streaming rival on the African continent: Netflix.

The new Showmax will also carry live English Premier League (EPL) football for the first time - which also means substantial competition for linear SuperSport - as well as an increase in the volume of its local content slate for which MultiChoice has increased the local production budget by millions of rand.

Yolisa Phahle attended kykNET's multiday 11th Silwerskermfees film festival in Cape Town last week where she had various meetings and attended the blue carpet première of the Showmax and Canal+ co-production Spinners which is set to start in November. 

At the film festival Showmax publicist Laura Cooke turned down an interview request with Yolisa Phahle to talk about the progress with Showmax 2.0 and where plans and the work currently are around the upcoming relaunch.

On Thursday evening an insider said that Yolisa Phahle "has resigned with immediate effect", noting that "it's not good at all" and that other execs "have put in notice" as well.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice boss Calvo Mawela full internal memo to staffers on 'void left by season executive' as Showmax CEO Yolisa Phahle steps down and other top exec shuffles.

MultiChoice to add new DStv kids channel Play Room with a live afternoon tween show.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is adding a third TV channel from the Ngwato Nkosi Group, with Play Room which will launch on DStv channel 300 on 6 November as a new kids channel with animation content dubbed into isiZulu and a live afternoon show aimed at a tween audience.

The Ngwato Nkosi Group already provides the Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) channel as a South African TV news channel to MultiChoice, and also added the film channel Movie Room (DStv 113) a year ago. 

"From a local content perspective, we're excited to expand on local representation in the form of content being dubbed in local languages. The launch of Play Room is an enhancement that we believe parents and children will have a strong affinity to," says Georginah Machiridza, MultiChoice head of general entertainment.

"We will also have a fresh Play Room Live offering every Monday to Friday from 15:00 until 16:00 which will see us bring back a tried and trusted format that audiences love."

The plan with Play Room is to combine education and entertainment through a mix of South African and international content like Paw Patrol and Game Shakers, together with animated titles dubbed into isiZulu.

"We are bringing dubbed content to parents who are eager for their children to learn their home languages," says  Thabile Ngwato, CEO of the Ngwato Nkosi Group.

"The languages used will be conversational and accessible, with language switching taking place as we do in everyday speech. Watching titles such as Cocomelon and Akili and Me in isiZulu empowers children to explore the world and their feelings in their own language."

"For the pre-teen kid, our content re-affirms that the way they express themselves and experience the world is also valid. Our content will give kids the tools they need to create the world they want to live in."

Morning programming on Play Room will be centred around educational material for 4 to 6-year-olds, including interactive shows that encourage physical movement, as well as values-based and creative content designed to stretch children's imaginations.

Afternoons will feature live action and a local live show with high entertainment value for tweens.

The afternoon live show on Play Room which will follow the KTV and YO.TV mould, will "combine the world of television with social media to create an interactive, always-on world of fun and entertainment for teens and tweens".

Play Room will use a multilingual approach and there will also be sign language representation.