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TV BIZ
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Uzalo production house Stained Glass produces four films for a first time local Netflix movie collection titled Umjolo. First flik: The Gone Girl. Sibongiseni Shezi stars as Lethu who's life implodes when her health is compromised, shattering the illusion of a perfect relationship with her fiancé Lucky, played by Tyson Mathonsi. Loads 8 November 2024. >>
1 Comment
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11 Oct 2024 18:04
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TV BIZ
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National Film and Video Foundation selects Black Swan Media to produce 2024 SAFTAs live shows. Relebogile Mabotja and Bruce Townsend at the helm. Repertoire includes Miss SA (2022 - 2024), Single Wives SA, The Voice SA 3 and The Remix SA. >>
1 Comment
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03 Oct 2024 11:00
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TV BIZ
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Gayton McKenzie turned up as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture and suddenly SuperSport says that "strong relations" are developing between SuperSport and the SABC and they're flinging sports matches onto the public broadcaster. They described this new situationship in a statement about the sub-licensing deal between the SABC and MultiChoice for the PSL rights. See comments. >>
3 Comments
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16 Sep 2024 17:46
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TV BIZ
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A+E Networks EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) rebrands to Hearst Networks EMEA - it's now fully owned by Hearst. More network wheeling and dealing in a landscape filled with acronyms and acquisitions, leaving viewers with whiplash. Who owns what and when?! A+E-turned-Hearst operates The History Channel in Africa. According to the company's release, Hearst EMEA has 29 linear channels and 20 streaming services, tailored for different countries and cultures.
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12 Sep 2024 13:13
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TV BIZ
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Did you know? British-American streamer Acorn TV holds the distribution rights to Recipes for Love and Murder for the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, Multichoice holds the rights for Africa and Global Screen sells to the rest of the world.
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10 Sep 2024 17:47
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TV BIZ
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Primedia Studios (Deal or No Deal, Wheel of Fortune) and Rapid Blue revive Dancing with the Stars South Africa. No clarity on which channel or broadcaster. We assume SABC but could be e.tv or one of the BBC channels because of SABC's never-ending flailing budget. Series aired on SABC2 and 3 as Strictly Come Dancing for eight seasons (2006 - 2015) and moved to M-Net as Dancing with the Stars for one season in 2018.
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03 Sep 2024 12:04
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TV BIZ
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MultiChoice to produce My F*k, Marelize, a film based on the viral video. News was announced at kykNET's Silwerskerm Festival, happening in Cape Town from 28 to 31 August. The movie's set in Windhoek and inspired by the true events that led up to the rugby pole incident. Follows the accident-prone Marelize Horn as she prepares to become an au pair in the Netherlands and her mother, Heidi, as she handles a cancer diagnosis. Filming starts in September. >>
1 Comment
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29 Aug 2024 12:09
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TV BIZ
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Max streaming service now available in 25 countries in Europe with content from HBO, Discovery, Warner Bros, DC, Eurosport and CNN. Seems unlikely we'll get it here soon considering HBO and Discovery shows are already on DStv, unless they do a similar set-up to Paramount+ where it's a section in DStv instead of the full blown streaming service.
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25 Jun 2024 15:01
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TV BIZ
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Prime Video announces Legally Blond prequel series titled Elle at its first Upfront presentation. Follows Elle Wood as a high school student. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Hello Sunshine, a media company founded by Reese Witherspoon who starred as Elle in the flik.
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15 May 2024 14:53
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TV BIZ
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Disney Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery launch bundled streaming package in the US consisting of Disney+, Hulu and Max. Ad-free and with-ads versions. A clear sign that streamers can't keep up with delivering enough new shows to keep subscribers satisfied with one streaming service.
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09 May 2024 10:44
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TV BIZ
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Prime Video to showcase new shows and movies in it first Upfronts on 14 May. The Upfronts are a US TV industry event that take place in May each year. Broadcasters and streamers present their new offerings to advertisers - this is the first time that Amazon's presenting too. They used to only feature broadcasters but now include Netflix, YouTube and some streamers linked to broadcasters e.g. NBCUniversal.
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07 May 2024 17:37
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TV BIZ
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The score right now: 1 to eMedia, 0 to MultiChoice. Competition Tribunal grants interim relief to eMedia to lift all restrictions to broadcast sporting events of national interest on the SABC channels on OpenView, meaning MultiChoice can't repeat what they did with the Rugby Wold Cup. Case still in progress. Final decision still to be decided. >>
1 Comment
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16 Apr 2024 16:58
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TV BIZ
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French broadcaster Canal+ makes offer to buy all MultiChoice shares it doesn't already own for R125 per share in takeover deal. MultiChoice share price on Monday 8 April at 10h13: R116,50. Their previous offer was for R105 per share. Shares were R75 on 31 January 2024 when they first announced their intention to buy.
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08 Apr 2024 10:31
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TV BIZ
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SABC to introduce programming block of BBC shows on S3 in deal between the pubcasters. Titled BBC Primetime, Mondays to Fridays between 21h00 and 23h00. Launches in May 2024. (Updated) Shows include crime drama Luther, romantic comedy Cheaters, Top Gear, medical drama Critical and documentary series Louis Theroux: Forbidden America.
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20 Mar 2024 10:32
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TV BIZ
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MultiChoice and The Walt Disney Company Africa renew their distribution deal until 2027, meaning Disney's channels will continue on DStv until then. They are: National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, ESPN and ESPN2.
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20 Feb 2024 11:04
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TV BIZ
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Netflix to become "exclusive new home" of WWE from January 2025 in new partnership with TKO Group Holdings. Deal includes broadcast of WWE’s other weekly shows e.g. SmackDown. Rolls out in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America first, followed by international territories. How will this impact SuperSport?
3 Comments
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23 Jan 2024 16:20
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TV BIZ
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Primedia Studios acquire the rights to MasterChef South Africa - to air on S3 in a takeaway from M-Net where it ran for four seasons. Produced by Homebrew Films who did the latest season, with a tasty prize of R1,000,000. Premieres June 2024. Casting Call later in Jan.
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17 Jan 2024 16:07
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TV BIZ
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Showmax rebrands and launches new platform, using Peacock's streaming tech. Introduces Premier League mobile plan at R69/pm and drops Entertainment subscription from R99 to R89 (free on DStv Premium). Showmax Mobile stays the same at R39. Entertainment and Premier League combo on mobile only: R99. R140 on all devices. New app will be available from 23 Jan, rolled out in phases across Africa.
1 Comment
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15 Jan 2024 12:42
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TV BIZ
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South African production house Both Worlds Pictures (Recipes for Love and Murder) partners with Paris-based Paradoxal for new Prime Video series The Morning After. British actress Amara Okereke stars as an aspiring UK singer who gets adopted by a misfit group after she washes up, alone and naked on a Cape Town beach. Local cast includes Tarryn Wyngaard, Khaya Dladla and Gaosi Raditholo.
1 Comment
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06 Dec 2023 16:45
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TV BIZ
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Noot vir Noot team Stemmburg Television and Emo Adams take new music game show titled Oppi Noot to kykNET. Singers compete in musical challenges for cash prizes with viewer participation. Audition details to follow.
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29 Nov 2023 10:24
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TV BIZ
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Former MultiChoice and SuperSport Marketing Manager Nomsa Chabeli appointed as new group CEO for SABC. Most recently she was the brand and marketing manager for MTN.
Comments
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27 Nov 2023 10:25
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TV BIZ
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Netflix rescues animated series Star Trek: Prodigy by streaming Season 1 from 25 December. It was on Paramount+ and was renewed for Season 2 but Paramount cancelled it before Season 2. Follows a group of young aliens who discover abandoned spaceship Protostar. Netflix picked it up after Trekkies went berserko - they hired a plane to fly over streamer offices in LA with the banner “Save Star Trek Prodigy”.
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14 Nov 2023 15:14
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TV BIZ
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Tinseltown SAG-AFTRA union actors end strike after reaching what they're calling a "tentative agreement" with studios. Also describing it as historic. According to Variety, it includes protection against AI, a streaming participation bonus and increases in pension and health care contributions. This a month after the writer's strike ended.
1 Comment
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09 Nov 2023 10:14
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TV BIZ
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Dr Phil follows in Oprah's footsteps again, launches his own cable channel called Merit Street Media, starring a comeback of his talk show, in primetime instead of daytime. Title: Dr. Phil Primetime, filmed for a live studio audience in Texas. Channel describes itself as “a new cable TV network dedicated to bringing viewers essential news and entertainment.” Launches in the US in early 2024.
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07 Nov 2023 13:05
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TV BIZ
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Prime Video to debut first South African series on 24 November titled In Your Dreams, starring Didintle Khunou, Jesse Suntele and Kiroshan Naidoo. Described as a fantasy, action-adventure. Six eps. Poster and synopsis released >>
1 Comment
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16 Oct 2023 12:46
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TV BIZ
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Disney's releasing a centennial short film on 16 October titled Once Upon a Studio and it's airing on a surprise channel: e.tv - and all e channels on OpenView. Will be on Disney Channel on DStv and Disney+ too - no surprise, but being on e is new. What does it mean? See comments with trailer and times: >>
1 Comment
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13 Oct 2023 14:55
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TV BIZ
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Kim Cloete speaks up about exploitation of actors by production houses and the silence of actors who are too scared to say anything. Andre Odendaal responds, saying actors are afraid because they'll be blacklisted. South African Guild of Actors launched a petition about the issues the day after this convo. See comments for Kim's post >>
1 Comment
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09 Oct 2023 15:31
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TV BIZ
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Tinseltown writer's strike has ended after an initial vote by the Writers Guild to return to work. A final vote takes place in early October when the terms of the deal between writers and studios will be formerly voted on. The actor strike continues.
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27 Sep 2023 15:06
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TV BIZ
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Writers Guild of America and production studios/streamers reach what's being described as a "tentative deal" to end the five-month long Tinseltown writer's strike. Writer's Guild committee, board and council members must still vote on it. Strike continues until then, but no picketing, while actors are still picketing. >>
1 Comment
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25 Sep 2023 16:09
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TV BIZ
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M-Net partners with multiple studios on another international co-production titled Endangered, based on the book Piranha by crime writer Rudie Van Rensburg. Centres round Montgomery Smith, a wealthy Englishman-in-exile, who runs an illegal, dangerous syndicate smuggling endangered rhino horn, and veteran detective Captain Kassie Kasselman who aggressively pursues him. Six episodes. Production begins in 2024.
2 Comments
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19 Sep 2023 16:22
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TV BIZ
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Drew Barrymore backtracks on decision to resume her talk show amidst the Tinseltown strike. This after a backlash to her previous announcement that the show would return without writers. And this four weeks after she tackled tabloids in a scrum of huge specs. See comments for vid >>
1 Comment
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18 Sep 2023 13:31
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TV BIZ
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Netflix signs multi-title partnerships with South African producers Black Brain Pictures, Jayan Moodley (The Kandasamys franchise), Donovan March (iNumber Number), Gambit Films (Blood & Water, Unseen), Akin Omotoso, Ochre Media and Uzalo creators Stained Glass TV who'll produce multi-book adaptations across genres. Streamer announced the news at TV trade show MIP Africa, happening in Cape Town this week.
Comments
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05 Sep 2023 11:35
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TV BIZ
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American actors officially join writers on strike after unions and studios failed to reach an agreement this week. Main points of contention involve two key demands: increased base pay and residuals for writers and actors from streaming services, and an assurance that their work won't be replaced by artificial intelligence.
1 Comment
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14 Jul 2023 13:43
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TV BIZ
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MultiChoice uses Shaka iLembe to upsell subscribers from Access and Family to Compact. Episode 1 will air on Mzansi Wethu on Wednesday 21 June at 21h30, with a repeat on Friday 23 June at 20h30. Behind the Veil moves to 22h30 on Wednesday. Friday's shift-around unclear.
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20 Jun 2023 15:46
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TV BIZ
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Irrelevant Golden Globe Awards sold in a complicated deal that sounds like a Waystar Royco plot line in Succession. Simply put: the Hollywood Foreign Press journalists will be employed by a new entity to judge the next awards. Each paid $75,000 (R1.4-million) annually for five years. >>
1 Comment
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13 Jun 2023 14:46
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TV BIZ
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HBO Max officially changed name to Max on 23 May after the merge between HBO Max and Discovery Plus by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.
Comments
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24 May 2023 17:06
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TV BIZ
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Multiple American TV shows shut down or postponed as a result of the writer's strike. Impacted productions include Abbott Elementary 3, Billions 7, Hacks 3, P-Valley 3, Severance 2, Stranger Things 5, Cobra Kai 6 and Yellowjackets 3.
1 Comment
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11 May 2023 19:00
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TV BIZ
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The chopping and changing of TV network mergers and acquisitions continues... this time with a new name for streamer HBO Max which becomes Max in May. Why? HBO Max and Discovery Plus have been merged by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. News was announced in a global event this week, except it doesn't apply globally. Still not available in South Africa. Might launch in 2024, but no confirm.
Comments
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13 Apr 2023 13:58
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TV BIZ
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Who yo' daddy? Us. We hit the nail on the head when we predicted that Openview's new Spice bouquet will be Indian-themed. Launches on the Ultraview Pay TV service on 6 April. Features Hindi shows and movies on Star Select and Zee Family, with English subtitles. Cost: R119,99 per month. Free from 6 April at 18h30 until midnight on 10 April. Star Life and Zee One remain free. >>
1 Comment
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03 Apr 2023 16:39
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TV BIZ
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According to BritBox International, the streamer reached 3-million subscribers at the end of February 2023, across the eight countries in which it streams: South Africa, U.S., Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Comments
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07 Mar 2023 13:07
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TV BIZ
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M-Net and Quizzical Pictures start production on another international co-production with Fremantle in early March, titled White Lies. Stars Natalie Dormer and Brendon Daniels as investigative journalist Edie Hansen and Detective Forty Bell who lock horns when Edie's estranged brother gets murdered at his luxury home in Bishopscourt, Cape Town. >>
3 Comments
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02 Mar 2023 15:38
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TV BIZ
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kykNET Channels Director Waldimar Pelser promoted to M-Net channels directorship too. He takes over from Jan du Plessis who's retiring after 28 years at M-Net. Waldimar will now oversee both the kykNET and M-Net channels as head of DStv's Premium management team. >>
1 Comment
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03 Feb 2023 12:34
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TV BIZ
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Disney+ app now available on Playstation 5 consoles.
Comments
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08 Dec 2022 16:41
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TV BIZ
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Of course BBC's being hush hush about why the sudden switch from Openview to DStv for BBC UKTV. This is all they'll say: "We are disappointed that BBC UKTV did not launch on Openview as planned. We are not in a position provide any more information at this time in relation to Openview specifically, but are keen going forward that BBC UKTV reaches as many viewers as possible."
Comments
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07 Dec 2022 16:56
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TV BIZ
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SABC+ launches pop-up channel for the festive featuring music and comedy. Line-up includes The Pop Profiles series, music festivals, Comedy Central Roasts, Top 20 music chart shows and repeats of Live Amp. Goes live at 18h00 on 1 December. Available 'til 8 January 2023. >>
1 Comment
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01 Dec 2022 16:24
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TV BIZ
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We suspected something beefy happened behind-the-scenes at Giyani when Season 2 suddenly disappeared in May and now it seems even more likely because 19 episodes of the season remain. They're airing in February 2023, before the start of the 105-episode Season 3. Would have made much more sense for them to have aired in May and June, suggesting there was more to the "production break" than meets the eye.
1 Comment
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23 Nov 2022 10:12
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TV BIZ
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Streamer Paramount+ coming to SA soon. Website has gone live on www.paramountplus.com, with updates via e-mail. It launched in the US in 2014 as CBS All Access, featuring CBS series, and then changed name in 2021 after CBS re-merged with Viacom. Also features Showtime series.
Comments
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15 Nov 2022 23:57
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TV BIZ
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The SABC now brands itself as SABC Video Entertainment to reflect that its content doesn't only air on TV but also on phones, computers etc.
Comments
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09 Nov 2022 13:23
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TV BIZ
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The SABC scraps the concept of a set time frame window for unsolicited proposals for new shows. Anyone can now submit ideas at any time of the year, on the SABC website under "Commissioning".
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09 Nov 2022 12:32
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TV BIZ
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Disney+ becomes the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland. BBC maintains the rights in those countries and Disney holds the rights everywhere else. New eps only arriving in November 2023, for the show's 60th anniversary. David Tennant will play the 14th Doctor for three specials and Ncuti Gatwa plays the 15th Doctor over the festive. >>
1 Comment
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27 Oct 2022 12:31
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