Tag Archives: eMedia

MultiChoice to launch DreamWorks channel

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African pay TV company MultiChoice is set to launch a 24-hour channel called DreamWorks on its digital satellite platform DStv.

Lee Raftery

The channel will beam kids and family entertainment across sub-Saharan Africa and will offer subscribers to the DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact channel packages access to a variety of TV content. DreamWorks starts airing on March 18 on DStv 304.

The move comes after DStv said it would drop four channels run by Cape Town-based eMedia from its DStv satellite platform on April 1, namely eMovies, eMovies Extra, eExtra and eToonz. DStv is expected to add a new movie channel later this year.

Lee Raftery, MD for Europe, Middle East and Africa at DreamWorks’ parent NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-To-Consumer, said: “We are thrilled to be expanding our long-standing, successful partnership with MultiChoice through its DStv platform, by bringing DreamWorks’ animated series and its beloved characters to households across sub-Saharan Africa. DreamWorks offers the best in kids’ entertainment for all the family, with a strong and engaging content slate that will captivate DStv customers of all ages.”

Georginah Machiridza, executive head of content strategy and third-party Cchannels at MultiChoice, said: “As a business we continue to look for opportunities to expand both our local and international content offering across Africa. By adding DreamWorks, we believe we are adding more value and entertainment to our already expansive kids entertainment portfolio. With DreamWorks our customers can look forward to entertainment suitable for the whole family.”

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MultiChoice drops four eMedia channels

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South African pay TV operator MultiChoice is set to drop four channels from Cape Town-based eMedia from its DStv satellite platform from April 1.

In a statement, free-to-air broadcaster eMedia said: “eMedia and MultiChoice have renewed a channel supply agreement in which MultiChoice has opted not to carry certain eMedia channels, namely eMovies, eMovies Extra, eExtra and eToonz. Effective 1 April, DStv will only broadcast eNCA (channel 403) exclusively and the daily Afrikaans News Bulletin on kykNET (channel 144).”

The company added that its flagship channel e.tv, licensed to MultiChoice under a separate agreement, will continue to air on the DStv platform and all the eMedia channels will continue to broadcast and are still available on South Africa’s Openview free-to-air satellite TV platform via a decoder.

Explaining the move, MultiChoice said viewers still have access to other entertainment channels carried by the DStv platform. MultiChoice is planning to launch more of its own channels targeting movie fans and children, the latter via a recent deal with US giant DreamWorks.

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SABC launches sports channel

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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has launched SABC Sports Channel to provide “compelling and exciting” local and international sporting content.

Gary Rathbone

SABC Sport Channel is available on eMedia’s free-to-air satellite platform OpenView 124, TelkomONE’s mobile platform and the SABC’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) service.

The move comes after the network’s soft launch via the same platforms in April. The channel also has a YouTube presence.

Gary Rathbone, general manager of SABC Sport, said the South African public broadcaster had always been the ultimate sporting home for the country’s sports fans.

“Through the events we showcase on the SABC platforms, we want to inspire up-and-coming athletes in the various sporting disciplines to reach for their dreams,” Rathbone said.

“Our newly launched sports channel on the DTT, OpenView and TelkomOne platforms, must also be commended. Since the channel became operational in April this year, its audience figures have been positive, with the latest TAMS figure showing a total reach of over two million, a 5% share of the national television market.

“On OpenView alone, the channel has established itself amongst the top 10 on the bouquet, with a total reach of over 1.4 million, representing a 24% share of the OpenView market. This is really positive start for an exciting new Sport Channel that South Africans will be able to access without needing to pay a subscription.”

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