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Yesterday DStv announced that they're introducing changes to their channels so I thought I'd share them with you step-by-step to put you in the picture as to exactly what's going to be happening over the next two months.

Channel Shuffle

Basically the setup is that at approximately 02h00 on 1 October DStv's going to be reshuffling all their channels.

Each channel's going to move to being on a three digit number instead of on one or two digit numbers as most of them currently are.

This means all channels will start from channel 100 eg. M-Net (currently on Channel 3) will change to being on channel 101.

There are two main reasons for the changes happening:

1. The number of channels on DStv has grown from 13 to over 70 since they first launched twelve years ago and they've been added without grouping them in any particular order.

By reshuffling them they want to organise them more specifically according to interest and genre so that things flow from one channel to the next more smoothly as you browse across them all. The genres are going to divided in the following way:

- general entertainment (starting with M-Net on 101)
- movies
- lifestyle and culture
- sport
- documentaries
- news and commerce
- kids
- music
- religion
- consumer channels

2. They want to space things out so they have room to add new channels in the right genres.

Getting info on the changing channels:

To keep updated on what's doing down and see which channels are where you'll be able to get all the info you need from these various places:

- The October issue of Dish is going to have an explanation of things and will include a listing of all the new channel numbers. There's going to be a special pull-off-and-keep cover for next to your TV to see which channels are where.

- The info will be available on DStv's website as from 10 September and from 20 September Channel 199 will have the info too.

- You can get e-mail updates on the info by Sms'ing your e-mail adress to: 32444.

- You can phone up your local Multichoice and ask questions.

Important things you'll want to know right now:

1. Apparently the whole thing's going to be a seamless process that shouldn't involve any interruptions. Your decoder will download the changes at 02h00 on 2 October and will guide you through what you need to do as it always does.

2. The changes apply to the audio and radio channels to so they'll change their numbers as well.

3. If you have a PVR and you've recorded programmes before the 2nd October but haven't watched them yet, they'll still be there as they were once the changes take effect so need to worry that you'll lose anything.

4. That thing your decoder does when you try to punch in three numbers and struggle - when it jumps to a one or two digit number before you've had time to punch in three - this won't happen anymore.

I've always thought it was just my remote that did it and was pleased when I discovered that it's actually part of the software programming. This is going to be re-programmed when the three digits come in so that you have time to punch them in.

New Channels Coming Soon

Five new channels are going to be introduced at the beginning of November. These are them:

1. Sony Entertainment Television

This is similar to M-Net in that it's a variety mix of movies, shows etc. I'm confused about it though because the are four or five different SET channels that cater to different regions like India and Asia so I'm not sure which we're getting exactly. I'll find out more info and get back to you.

2. Animax

A 24-hour Anime channel that runs all sorts of anime shows 24/7. The age range it caters for is 15 to 29 - from the sounds of it it's a Manga fans heaven.

3.  Movie Stars

An extra movie channel featuring movies that have already been on across all the movie channels in the past.

4. One Gospel

A religious musical channel featuring 90% local gospel music.

5. An as yet unconfirmed lifestyle channel. I imagine it'll be a decor, fashion, home or food type channel. As soon news about this is confirmed you'll find it on TVSA.

So, that's it - the most important things you need to know to make sure you don't have a TV nerve-out when you see things starting to change.

PS: In February they'll be adding more new channels from the BBC specifically. BBC's going to be changing BBC Prime so that it caters to specific areas i.e. scheduled more according to SA times and lifestyles and there'll be more BBC channels added, including a bit of local programming in them. From the sounds of it BBC's setting up an office In SA so they can be more in tune with things.

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