The fun about reporting on TV and the people in (or is it on?) it and the biz and the showbiz behind it all, is that I always always get the buzz and the inside scoop before that offical press release gets send out.
I just returned from the CNN African Journalist of the Year awards in Maputo, Mozambique where I got some great scoop you're reading here first!
For everyone with DStv already inundated with a plethora of channels, here's the good news. Some more new channels! Yep, DStv might deny or not confirm or play coy but I have it straight from the mouth of the highest sources that viewers will soon take longer to flip through everything, 'cause there will be even more channel numbers to take a peek at.
Another kiddie channel will most likely be added soon. It comes from the house of the mouse, otherwise known as The Disney Channel. Anyone remember The Gummi Bears? You'll see that and other great Disney kids' shows, cartoons, specials and series that are part of the Dinsey entertainment treasure trove. Of course adults can watch too.
(Speaking of adults, I did ask, but no adult channels to be added to the existing DStv bouquet in the foreseeable future. Did you know that adult entertainment channels - and there are many in existence in Europe and America - are the biggest revenue drivers of pay TV platforms worldwide? Its the fastest growing genre segment and content providers literally rake in the money from these T&A channels!)
Anyway, up next, Jessica Fletcher! No, not really she of Cabot Cove fame, but at least one channel coming soon with a ''crime and detective'' slant, a channel filled with CSI-like shows, specialising in crime investigation and murder mysteries.
Insomniacs, sleep walkers, night shift workers - take a look at what's on SABC3 late at night: That ''SABC Sport on 3'' is not as innocent as it looks.
It's all part of a big secret plan by the public broadcaster to NOT have SuperSport get all the sports action. The late-night SABC Sport on 3 is the test run for a fully fledged 24 hour SABC Sport channel. That will be the name too: SABC Sport.
From very reliable sources higher than high up within the corridors of Auckland Park, I have it that the channel will be rolled out as a 24 hour sport channel. Initially it will show all the sport that the SABC TV simply cannot accomodate on the existing three TV channels but the plan is to later acquire and show exclusive local and international sport content on this channel.
The other kicker: the plan is to offer this channel (possibly almost for free) to whoever the successful bidder turns out to be as the second entrant in the satellite TV market. (South Africa will get a second pay TV operator by probably the middle of next year - and SuperSport has its first real competition in years.)
DStv is also looking into expanding its genre of woman and lifestyle channels in which there is a huge interest (seems people love E! Entertainment and The Home Channel that just turned one recently.)
Also (but this is totally cocktail party-at-the-pool chatter and this bit wholly unconfirmed) - the SABC is looking into the idea of a new, news channel - sort of like CNN and what SABC Africa is supposed to be, but just concentrating on Africa.
Maybe just bogus, but the talk is definitely out there!
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