South Africa’s pay-TV operator DStv has dumped four e.TV channels. eMedia, owner of the channels, said the channels were dropped without warning. The decision comes after the country’s Competition Tribunal ruled against eMedia’s appeal to keep the channels on MultiChoice’s satellite TV platform. “Viewers were left in the dark with no programmes as they tried […]

Despite a plethora of OTT offerings as well as the well-established DStv pay-TV services in South Africa, it is clear that there’s plenty of life left in free-to-air commercial broadcasting, at least as far as eMedia and its e.TV broadcasting station is concerned. eMedia saw its share price rocket earlier this week when it said […]

South Africa’s Communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is facing a challenging distribution plan as part of the nation’s roll-out of digital TV services. The minister is looking to install around 450,000 set-top boxes over the next eight weeks despite having taken 6 years to distribute a similar number to would-be digital viewers. South Africa is committed […]

The Walt Disney Company will launch its Disney+ streaming service in South Africa in May. The output will offer quality including 4K and says that up to 4 devices will be able to stream simultaneously, thereby directly challenging the recent decisions by DStv which limits output to a single stream. May 18th is the launch […]

beIN Sports has announced a broadcast deal with World Rugby covering the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the remainder of the 2022 Series and the full 2023 Series. The agreement also includes rights to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022. The deal means that beIN will be the only place to watch World Rugby’s sevens […]

South Africa’s communications regulator ICASA has published draft updates to its end-user requirements for telco customers and users in the country. One major change is that the draft regulations require cellular and data operators to roll-over data bundles for a minimum of 6 months. The regulator says that companies can offer a longer roll-over period, […]

MultiChoice-owned OTT service Showmax is investing in four East African-produced original films and programming. Initially the output will be shown in Kenya this year. The new programming includes a feature film, a crime drama series, a high-level political thriller series set in a fictional county, and a thriller series. MultiChoice has not revealed the amount […]

South Africa has again delayed its digital switchover, which was scheduled for March 31st. This latest postponement has been ordered by South Africa’s High Court which ordered communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni not to complete the analogue television switch-off as she had planned. The Court had sat in Pretoria on March 28th and ordered a delay […]

Disney has confirmed the launch dates and pricing for its Disney+ SVoD in 42 countries and 11 new territories, starting with South Africa on May 18th followed by all other countries in June. Subscribers will have access to exclusive Star Wars live action series The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian, with Obi-Wan Kenobi […]

Netflix says it will pump 900 million Rand (€56.4 million) into South African movie and series productions over the next two years. This commitment will cover just four productions; One is an international project and three are mainly for local consumption although will be showcased to a wider market – and all will be filmed […]