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Cape Town – The new movie channel Studio Universal will be added to MultiChoice's DStv platform when the TV channel will be made available in 47 African countries.
The carriage agreement between MultiChoice and Universal Networks International follows 18 months after Hallmark was rebranded to the Universal Channel which is also run by Universal Networks International.
South Africa and Africa will be only the third continent to receive the new rebranded Studio Universal channel also seen in Europe and nine countries in South America. South Africa and Africa were first to get the new-look Universal Channel in March 2010.
Universal Networks International, a division of NBCUniversal, and MultiChoice initially declined to comment but have now issued a press statement confirming that Studio Universal will be added to the line-up.
The new addition is expected to go live on channel 119 on DStv on September 30.
"Universal Networks International and MultiChoice today announced that Universal Networks International's movie channel Studio Universal will launch on the DStv platform on 30 September at 19:00 reaching 47 countries across Africa," said the statement.
Themed film nights
"Studio Universal, which will be available on the DStv Premium and DStv Compact bouquets on DStv channel 119, will offer viewers a host of blockbuster action and comedy movies, in addition to a range of themed film nights."
Colin McLeod, managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) emerging markets for Universal Networks International, said: "Given Universal Networks International's successful collaboration with DStv through the Universal Channel, it is natural that we extend our relationship to encompass a movie channel dedicated to the best of recent Hollywood movies.
"The Studio Universal brand capitalises on its strong heritage through Universal Pictures International (UPI) – which has been producing movies for nearly a century. We are sure DStv subscribers will love this new channel that combines top films from UPI and other studios."
Movies a key driver for pay TV
Studio Universal will start with a line-up of successful blockbusters from the Universal Pictures catalogue such as The Fast and the Furious, Miami Vice and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
"Movies are a key driver for pay TV viewers," says Aletta Alberts, general manager for content at MultiChoice. "We are always looking to strengthen the DStv channel line-up by offering our subscribers more high value content. We believe that Studio Universal will enrich the entire DStv platform – giving our DStv Compact and DStv Premium viewers a dedicated blockbuster movie channel."
Channel shuffle?
With Studio Universal placed at channel 119 on DStv – the only remaining open channel number in the front end numbers on the channel bouquet – it means that Studio Universal, a movie channel, is no longer strictly grouped with the movie channels.
High definition (HD) versions of channels are also not located close, or next to similar genre channels. The Studio Universal channel addition could be an indication that DStv might no longer be able to strictly adhere to the "genre blocks" mapped out after MultiChoice's last channel number reallocation a few years ago.
Is another MultiChoice channel number shuffle therefore on the cards in the nearby future sometime? Asked, MultiChoice said there is nothing to report at the moment.
Thinus Ferreira is a TV media expert. Read his blog here.
The carriage agreement between MultiChoice and Universal Networks International follows 18 months after Hallmark was rebranded to the Universal Channel which is also run by Universal Networks International.
South Africa and Africa will be only the third continent to receive the new rebranded Studio Universal channel also seen in Europe and nine countries in South America. South Africa and Africa were first to get the new-look Universal Channel in March 2010.
Universal Networks International, a division of NBCUniversal, and MultiChoice initially declined to comment but have now issued a press statement confirming that Studio Universal will be added to the line-up.
The new addition is expected to go live on channel 119 on DStv on September 30.
"Universal Networks International and MultiChoice today announced that Universal Networks International's movie channel Studio Universal will launch on the DStv platform on 30 September at 19:00 reaching 47 countries across Africa," said the statement.
Themed film nights
"Studio Universal, which will be available on the DStv Premium and DStv Compact bouquets on DStv channel 119, will offer viewers a host of blockbuster action and comedy movies, in addition to a range of themed film nights."
Colin McLeod, managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) emerging markets for Universal Networks International, said: "Given Universal Networks International's successful collaboration with DStv through the Universal Channel, it is natural that we extend our relationship to encompass a movie channel dedicated to the best of recent Hollywood movies.
"The Studio Universal brand capitalises on its strong heritage through Universal Pictures International (UPI) – which has been producing movies for nearly a century. We are sure DStv subscribers will love this new channel that combines top films from UPI and other studios."
Movies a key driver for pay TV
Studio Universal will start with a line-up of successful blockbusters from the Universal Pictures catalogue such as The Fast and the Furious, Miami Vice and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
"Movies are a key driver for pay TV viewers," says Aletta Alberts, general manager for content at MultiChoice. "We are always looking to strengthen the DStv channel line-up by offering our subscribers more high value content. We believe that Studio Universal will enrich the entire DStv platform – giving our DStv Compact and DStv Premium viewers a dedicated blockbuster movie channel."
Channel shuffle?
With Studio Universal placed at channel 119 on DStv – the only remaining open channel number in the front end numbers on the channel bouquet – it means that Studio Universal, a movie channel, is no longer strictly grouped with the movie channels.
High definition (HD) versions of channels are also not located close, or next to similar genre channels. The Studio Universal channel addition could be an indication that DStv might no longer be able to strictly adhere to the "genre blocks" mapped out after MultiChoice's last channel number reallocation a few years ago.
Is another MultiChoice channel number shuffle therefore on the cards in the nearby future sometime? Asked, MultiChoice said there is nothing to report at the moment.
Thinus Ferreira is a TV media expert. Read his blog here.
