Based on a True Story
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Comedy-Drama, Thriller
Over the last decade, a true crime phenomenon has swept over America.
Podcasts, documentaries, fictional shows based on true stories - they dominate the culture.
Murderers have become celebrities and celebrities have become murderers, which was the inspiration about this show.
A dark comedic thriller, Based on a True Story is about a realtor, a former tennis star and a plumber who seize a unique opportunity to capitalise on America's obsession with true crime.
Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) stars as Ava Bartlett alongside Chris Messina (Damages) as Nathan and Tom Bateman (Da Vinci's Demons) as Matt.
In the series premiere, "The Great American Artform": A married realtor and a former tennis star struggle to stay afloat as an infamous serial killer terrorises Los Angeles.
In the second episode of the weekly double bill, "BDE": After Nathan's botched proposal, Ava fights to keep him on target.
When detectives visit the club, a petrified Nathan worries he's a suspect.
Faltu
Channel: Star Life (DStv 167 / Openview 110)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Telenovela
What's in a name?
Amid the arid landscape of Rajasthan, a dreamy-eyed young woman battles to prove her mettle whilst navigating through cultural stereotypes.
In the series premiere: Faltu, an unwanted Rajasthani girl, is disregarded by everyone.
Meanwhile, Ayaan Mittal, a former cricketer, is determined about his decision to quit cricket.
MORE:
New! Faltu Teasers - August 2023
Strings of Love
Channel: Star Life (DStv 167 / Openview 110)
TX Time: 18h30
Genre: Telenovela
The fate of the three Brar brothers – Angad, Garry and Veer is intertwined with the three Monga sisters – Sahiba, Seerat and Keerat.
It's hate at first sight for Sahiba and Angad.
But destined to be together, their lives get intertwined by a marriage alliance, and a love-hate story ensues.
The original Hindi title of the show is Teri Meri Doriyaann.
MORE:
New! Strings of Love Teasers - August 2023
Dynasty
Channel: S3
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Drama
Fallon Carrington is charismatic, cunning, and poised to become the new COO of her father's global energy empire - or so she thinks.
When her father, Blake Carrington, summons Fallon and her brother, Steven, home to the family compound in Atlanta, Fallon is horrified to learn that the reunion isn't to announce her promotion - but rather to make the acquaintance of their stepmother-to-be, Cristal.
Cristal is stunning - and almost as young as Fallon, as Fallon is quick to point out - but she isn't just some flimsy gold-digger to be scared off.
Cristal is driven, principled, a savvy publicity maven at Carrington Atlantic, and she truly loves Blake.
However, the wealth and privilege of the Carringtons' world proves challenging to her, as she clashes with the staff, including Blake's butler Anders, as well as Fallon, who all make it very clear Cristal doesn't belong.
Family dynasties flow through blood, and Fallon would sooner draw blood than call Cristal "Mom."
Fallon asks Culhane, the family's chauffeur - and Fallon's secret lover - to help expose Cristal for the fraud Fallon thinks she is.
But when that backfires, and Blake chooses Cristal over his own daughter, Fallon sidles up to Blake's biggest rival, Jeff Colby, mixing business and pleasure to seek her revenge... leaving a jealous Culhane to watch from the sidelines.
While the Carringtons' rocky relationships prove the theory that family sticks together no matter what, Cristal is reminded of exactly that when her nephew, Sammy Jo, arrives with a suitcase full of secrets from Cristal's past.
Now Cristal's carefully concealed history could bring her future crashing down - and who knows who else she might take down with her.
The Real Housewives of Miami 5
Channel: 1Magic (DStv 103)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Docu-Reality
Follows six of the most connected and influential women of Miami as they live their lives to the fullest in this sunny city where the party never stops.
The Season 5 cast includes returning housewives Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Dr. Nicole Martin, Alexia Nepola and Larsa Pippen.
Friends Kiki Barth, Adriana de Moura and Marysol Patton will also be featured.
Coming up this season:
The Real Housewives of Miami is back for another muy caliente season with new alliances, loyalty and relationships on the line.
The ladies of the "Sunshine State" are still turning up the heat and dialing up the drama.
Guerdy is busier than ever and will stop at nothing to remain the best wedding planner in Miami... until her husband Russell says it's time to slow down.
She's ready for a fresh start with Alexia, after some unresolved issues resurface following last year's failed wedding preparations.
Lisa is working on mending her friendship with Larsa.
However, their friendship takes a turn when Larsa discusses Lisa and Lenny's finances, which makes the ladies question what is really happening on the home front.
Lisa's life as she knows it is turned upside down when rumours swirl that Lenny is dating another woman.
Julia is a complete empty nester and struggles with the realisation that her daughters are off to college and no longer living at home.
As she works on balancing life between being a city girl and life on the farm, she tries to strengthen her bond with Martina as they face new challenges in their marriage.
Dr. Nicole is still relishing being newly engaged to her long-term partner, Anthony.
Just as everything seems to be falling into place, she must face healing her old wounds with her father and mull over giving him a second chance.
Alexia is happily married to Todd and their love is on full display.
As they get ready to celebrate their wedding with family and friends back in Miami, Alexia is still balancing her new marriage and relationship with sons Peter and Frankie.
Larsa is newly divorced, living it up in her new duplex in the sky and ready for a new start as she dips her toes in the dating pool.
However along with the good vibes, she's making sure no one is going to get her off track with new business ventures on the horizon.
Kiki finds an unexpected friendship with Larsa as these single ladies enjoy Miami's nightlife.
She's always in her friends' corner while also playing matchmaker.
Adriana is giving love another chance and is hoping to find true friendship with Larsa after years of butting heads.
When left to prove the ladies wrong about a rumor, she's left picking up the pieces.
With so much going on, Adriana is ready to let her hair down and make a music video for her new song with hopes that the ladies will join as her backup dancers.
Marysol is still the comic relief among the group, but she soon finds herself in the middle of an argument between Lisa and Larsa.
In the Season 5 premiere, "Not So New Beginnings": A grudge between Guerdy and Alexia taints her long-awaited wedding celebration.
Meawneile, Larsa hosts a "new beginnings" party but falls into old habits when she discovers a joke made at her expense.
Also, on Star Island, trouble bubbles in Lisa's marriage.
Let the Right One In
Channel: Me (DStv 115)
TX Time: 22h00
Genre: Horror, Drama
Life forever changed for Mark and his daughter Eleanor 10 years ago when she became a vampire.
Forever on the run, forever on the hunt, they have returned home at last to New York City in a desperate bid to find a cure.
Others are drawn into their nightmare – a close friend from the past with everything to lose, a homicide detective raising her son alone and an heiress to a pharmaceutical empire trying to save her infected brother.
Terrifying and deeply human, this story asks how far we will go to give new life to those we love.
Inspired by the acclaimed Swedish novel and film, their emotionally charged and terrifying story turns a naturalistic lens on human frailty, strength and compassion.
In the series premiere, "Anything for Blood": After ten years away, Mark Kane and his daughter, Eleanor, return home to New York City, hoping to find a cure for a rare affliction.
Meanwhile their neighbour Naomi Cole, an NYPD Homicide Detective, tries to balance investigating a brutal murder at work with raising her son Isaiah, whose newly sober father has suddenly come back into their lives.
Claire Logan, a brilliant scientist, receives a devastating call from her estranged father, summoning her home.
Farmhouse Facelift 2
Channel: The Home Channel (DStv 176)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Reality Makeover, Home Improvement, Reality
Billy, a craftsman contractor, and Carolyn, a designer, tackle the toughest farmhouse renovations for their clients, bringing stunning designs and customized modern conveniences to each new project.
Siblings Billy and Carolyn are a professional rebuild team who grew up on their own family's farm, learning firsthand how to restore and reclaim the charm of heritage homes.
In this series, Carolyn's stunning designs and Billy's custom craftsmanship undo decades of past renovations.
Breathing new life into these spectacular vintage spaces, they give each project a fresh start for the next generation of homeowners.
In the Season 2 premiere, "Home Sweet Homestead": Ron and Jason's 150-year-old farmhouse is in desperate need of repairs.
They purchased the property from Ron's 84-year-old grandmother who still lives in the cherished family homestead with them.
To bring the neglected farmhouse into the 21st century, Billy and Carolyn need to make some big changes.
Their radical redesign must please two generations of family and include modern conveniences, without losing any of the charm.
Dinner Date 12
Channel: BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Reality, Dating Game Show
Watch as a single guy or girl tries to find love over food.
They are presented with five unique menus, of which they must pick the three that appeal to them the most.
In turn, the three successful... 'chefs' then cook their meal for their guest in an attempt to win their affections and the prize of a second date in a classy restaurant.
But will anyone find their soulmate?
In the Season 12 premiere, "Armineh": Aesthetic pharmacist Armineh chooses three blind dates from five potential partners, based entirely on the menus they have created.
Bloodline Detectives 3
Channel: CBS Justice (DStv 170)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: True Crime, Documentary Series, Docu-Drama
In the same way that DNA profiling fundamentally changed forensic science, familial DNA testing is supercharging DNA profiling.
It is the forensic revolution that is seeing cold cases solved all over the world and Bloodline Detectives explores and tells the stories of some of the most extraordinary cases solved to date.
Using witness testimony, new interviews, archive footage and dramatic reconstructions, Bloodline Detectives reveals a new and dynamic form of crime fighting.
In the Season 3 premiere, "Date Night Murder in Michigan": Terry Wood comes home to find his wife Roxanne, lying dead in a pool of blood.
She has two deep cuts carved into her neck, suffered blunt force trauma, and has been sexually assaulted.
Storage Wars 14
Channel: HISTORY (DStv 186)
TX Time: 18h10
Genre: Reality
Storage Wars, which makes entertainment out of items getting seized from Californian storage units and then sold off at auction, is back for a new season.
Bidders, who are desperately trying to outdo each other and pocket bucketloads of cash, range from 20-somethings out for fun and adventure to husband and wife teams looking to make fast and large cash.
In each episode of Storage Wars, the cast of characters head to storage units and wait anxiously for the big reveal of what is behind the door.
The owner of the facility will cut the lock and raise the door for the first time, allowing bidders to peer inside for a brief moment, aided only by a flashlight.
This short glimpse is their only opportunity to evaluate whether they think the unit holds rags or riches.
Then, the bidding begins.
In the Season 14 premiere, "The Hunchy-Back of LA Habra": The buyers try their luck at a new facility in La Habra, where Ivy decides that school will be in session.
Dusty brews himself up an interesting unit, while Kenny weighs the value of childhood memories in selecting a locker.
In the second episode of the weekday double bill, "The 300th Time's the Charm!": Ivy dons his bright white lucky sneakers in Van Nuys.
Meanwhile, Brandi and Lisa's "friendship" is tested as they go head-to-head on a pair of lockers.
Also, Kenny sets his fears aside and takes the plunge on a unit that might just immerse him in profit.
Forever Maybe
Channel: 1Magic (DStv 103)
TX Time: 16h00
Genre: Reality
Lerato Kganyago is the host of this reality series, which documents couples working through marital crises.
Kganyago is joined by psychologist Lindelani Magubane, as four couples whose marriages are on the verge of collapse move into a house for a month in a last-ditch attempt to stay together and find a healthier path forward - or call it quits forever.
While they are cocooned in the bubble, they are allowed contact from their trusted family members who will act as their confidants and have say over the couples' final decision.
If the intervention fails, this could spell the end of their marriages.
As host, Kganyago's role is to facilitate the round table discussions, and to engage the couples in post-mortem conversations after certain exercises and activities designed to test the individuals and their relationships.
Beat Bobby Flay 15
Channel: Real Time (DStv 155)
TX Time: 12h05
Genre: Food, Reality Competition
Two talented cooks go head-to-head in an epic cooking battle, with the winner then taking on celebrity chef and restauranteur Bobby Flay in this culinary competition series.
Each episode, the contestants must impress the guest judges with their cooking, and the one who does the best gets the opportunity to face the master, Bobby Flay.
To give them a fighting chance against such an experienced and successful chef, the contestant chooses what recipe they and Bobby make, before the judges decide whose was best.
Coming up, Bobby is challenged to make a variety of dishes like a giant seafood sandwich, ropa vieja, chocolate tart and loco moco. Can any of these brave challengers beat Bobby at his own game?
In the Season 15 premiere, "Windy City Wants More": The winds of fortune are blowing for Toronto's David Adjey and Chicago's Cory Morris.
It's up to Chopped judge Scott Conant and Internet star Hannah Hart to decide who goes up against Bobby.