Tag Archives: KykNET

kykNET enters Deep Waters with Penguin

August 18, 2022NewsDeep Waters, Diepe Waters, KykNET, Penguin Films, Waldimar PelserJohn Winfield

South African network kykNET, which broadcasts in the Afrikaans language, will debut a new telenovela called Diepe Waters (aka Deep Waters) in October.

Produced by Penguin Films, the prodco behind kykNET soaps Arendsvlei and Afgrond, Diepe Waters revolves around a competitive swimming club. The business brings together several families “who will do everything in their power to keep their heads above water while they hope that their secrets will sink into deep waters,” according to the producers.

Waldimar Pelser, director of the kykNET channels, said: “Diepe Waters was created by a world-class team that knows and tries to better understand kykNET’s viewers and the South Africa of today. Every weekday evening between Monday and Thursday at 18.00, these characters will live in the homes of our viewers, with whom we hope they will fall in love.”

Roberta Durrant, creative producer of Diepe Waters and co-owner of Penguin Films, added: “This show is unusual and something different, yet a telenovela about love, secrets, intrigue and plans for revenge. We have an incredible cast and interesting setting, and we hope viewers will resonate with that.”

tagged in: Deep Waters, Diepe Waters, KykNET, Penguin Films, Waldimar Pelser

MultiChoice racks up SAFTA nominations

May 19, 2021News1Magic, Black Tax, Gomora, Housekeeper, KykNET, Lebo M: Coming Home, Legacy, Life With Kelly Khumalo, lockdown, Loving Thokoza, MultiChoice, Mzansi Magic, SAFTA, Somizi & Mohale, South African Film & Television Awards, The River, Yolisa PhahleGary

Pay TV company MultiChoice has received more than 140 nominations across all categories in the 15th edition of the South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTAs).

The company said the achievement demonstrated its high investment in local content and is a win for the local TV and film production industry.

The TV shows nominated include telenovela Legacy, 1Magic’s The River and Mzansi Magic’s drama Housekeeper.

The KykNET channel secured 50 nominations in the TV Soap, Telenovela, TV Comedy and Feature Film categories; Gomora received five nominations in the Best Telenovela and Most Popular Telenovela categories; 2019 Rugby World Cup documentary Chasing The Sun secured four nominations for Best TV Documentary, Best Directing, Cinematography and Editing.

Showmax originals including Lockdown, Loving Thokoza and Black Tax were also nominated, while TV series Lebo M: Coming Home, Life With Kelly Khumalo and Somizi & Mohale are competing against each other in the category of Best Structured Reality TV Show.

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment for MultiChoice group, said: “We are excited to once again see most of our shows scoop the bulk of this year’s SAFTA nominations. This is a win for local TV and film and demonstrates MultiChoice Group’s commitment to investing in local content to allow for local stories to be told by Africans.

“The nominations are also a testament to the incredible resilience of all the talent, cast and crew in various productions as our industry navigated the complexities brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic, which were characterised by production stoppages and a period of uncertainty for many creatives.”

The SAFTAs ceremony will take place on May 22 on Mzansi Magic DStv channel 161 at 19.00.

tagged in: 1Magic, Black Tax, Gomora, Housekeeper, KykNET, Lebo M: Coming Home, Legacy, Life With Kelly Khumalo, lockdown, Loving Thokoza, MultiChoice, Mzansi Magic, SAFTA, Somizi & Mohale, South African Film & Television Awards, The River, Yolisa Phahle

kykNET, Red Letter produce SA film

May 6, 2022NewsHans Steek die Rubicon Oor (Hans Crosses the Rubicon), KykNET, M-Net, Red Letter Day PicturesJohn Winfield

Afrikaans television channel kykNET, owned by South African pay TV operator M-Net, and Stellenbosch-based film and TV prodco Red Letter Day Pictures have collaborated to produce a film called Hans Steek die Rubicon Oor (Hans Crosses the Rubicon).

The film is produced by Rudi van Rensburg and based on his book of the same name, with Corné van Rooyen directing. It follows a hopeful 90-year-old man named whose life is turned upside down when he is forced to move to a nursing home.

Actor Pierre van Pletzen, who plays the lead role, said: “There is so much pressure in society to stay young that I am excited to show the other side. I want to show how growing old on your own terms can be celebrated and can be very exciting. It is also a great privilege to work with some of South Africa’s greatest veteran actors to really bring Rudi’s book to life.”

Other cast members include Cronjé, June van Merch, Sandra Prinsloo, Nicola Hanekom, Diaan Lawrenson and Juan-Pierre Moller. The premiere date for Hans Steek die Rubicon Oor has yet to be announced.

tagged in: Hans Steek die Rubicon Oor (Hans Crosses the Rubicon), KykNET, M-Net, Red Letter Day Pictures

Showmax adds pop-up channels

January 20, 2021NewsKykNET, MultiChoice, Mzansi Magic, ShowmaxJohn Winfield

MultiChoice-owned VoD service Showmax has added two pop-up channels that will be available until the end of March.

The addition of kykNET and Mzansi Magic will give Showmax users who don’t have access to the two DStv channels the ability to view them 24 hours a day.

MultiChoice Group CEO for general entertainment and connected video Yolisa Phahle said: “We’re always looking at ways of making the Showmax experience better for our customers.

“During last year’s lockdown, we gave subscribers access to live news channels. Now, following this month’s presidential address, South Africans will continue to spend more time at home, and so, once again, we’d like to make sure our customers have something extra.”

While Mzansi Magic is exclusive to South Africa, kykNET will be available to subscribers in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The live streams will be available on all Showmax packages including Showmax, Showmax Mobile, Showmax Pro and Showmax Pro Mobile.

tagged in: KykNET, MultiChoice, Mzansi Magic, Showmax

MultiChoice ends DStv Select

October 4, 2019NewsDSTV, DSTV Family, KykNET, MultiChoice GroupGary

Pay TV operator MultiChoice Group has informed its subscribers it will discontinue the DStv Select service from October 29 and will migrate them to the DStv Family package.

In a statement it said: “DStv is continuously reviewing its content line-up, packaging structure and pricing to ensure that customers have access to the best fresh content at great value. As a result, we will be discontinuing some packages and re-directing customers to the main packages where the same programmes and channels can be found.”

The company stopped selling DStv Select packages in April 2013 and replaced it with DStv Family, while existing subscribers who chose to stay with the package because it included access to Afrikaans channel KykNET were allowed to continue using it as long as they were not inactive for more than three months.

“Your favourite channels are, however, still available on our various other packages,” the company said.

tagged in: DSTV, DSTV Family, KykNET, MultiChoice Group