Publications
Partners
Cape Town – TopTV and DStv are undergoing changes to their channel line-up this month.
Channel24 has learnt that TopTV's 1KZN community TV channel, which was added to its bouquet just a year ago, is jumping from TopTV to DStv.
The channel will no longer be available on TopTV from the end of November, which comes as the pay-TV operator is experiencing a cash crunch and is looking for an investor with big pockets.
TopTV is, however, planning to add another new channel, Setanta Action, as from next week.
DStv adding more channels
Meanwhile DStv is losing the VH1 music channel this month and will be replacing it with the VH1 Classic channel. This channel was tested by MultiChoice two years ago, but at that time "didn't test well" according to the pay-TV company.
Besides adding VH1 Classic and 1KZN from 13 November, DStv will also be adding kykNET Musiek and Mzansi Music as local music channels, BlackbeltTV as a martial arts channel and the community television stations BayTV from Port Elizabeth and Dumisa.
All the new TV channels, besides VH1 Classic, will be available to DStv Premium and DStv Compact subscribers. The NatGeo Wild nature channel will be made available on the cheaper DStv Compact bouquet.
"We are excited with these new additions," Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa said in a statement. "We believe they will add more value to our packages and give our customers more variety in entertainment."
"The addition of the three community television stations and the two additional music channels aims to provide our customers with a rich diversity of local content and forms part of our ongoing support of the development of the local television industry."
'A milestone to be celebrated'
TopTV didn't immediately have a media response to losing the 1KZN channel.
When 1KZN was asked about switching from TopTV to DStv, Themba Fazaki, the executive chairperson said that "this is indeed a milestone to be celebrated".
"The inclusion on DStv also offers an exciting opportunity to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of the people of KwaZulu/Natal," Fazaki said in his statement.
Edwin Mncwango, the executive director said that "being on DStv gives 1KZN the unique opportunity to grow as a station."
Channel24 has learnt that TopTV's 1KZN community TV channel, which was added to its bouquet just a year ago, is jumping from TopTV to DStv.
The channel will no longer be available on TopTV from the end of November, which comes as the pay-TV operator is experiencing a cash crunch and is looking for an investor with big pockets.
TopTV is, however, planning to add another new channel, Setanta Action, as from next week.
DStv adding more channels
Meanwhile DStv is losing the VH1 music channel this month and will be replacing it with the VH1 Classic channel. This channel was tested by MultiChoice two years ago, but at that time "didn't test well" according to the pay-TV company.
Besides adding VH1 Classic and 1KZN from 13 November, DStv will also be adding kykNET Musiek and Mzansi Music as local music channels, BlackbeltTV as a martial arts channel and the community television stations BayTV from Port Elizabeth and Dumisa.
All the new TV channels, besides VH1 Classic, will be available to DStv Premium and DStv Compact subscribers. The NatGeo Wild nature channel will be made available on the cheaper DStv Compact bouquet.
"We are excited with these new additions," Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa said in a statement. "We believe they will add more value to our packages and give our customers more variety in entertainment."
"The addition of the three community television stations and the two additional music channels aims to provide our customers with a rich diversity of local content and forms part of our ongoing support of the development of the local television industry."
'A milestone to be celebrated'
TopTV didn't immediately have a media response to losing the 1KZN channel.
When 1KZN was asked about switching from TopTV to DStv, Themba Fazaki, the executive chairperson said that "this is indeed a milestone to be celebrated".
"The inclusion on DStv also offers an exciting opportunity to reflect the diversity and inclusivity of the people of KwaZulu/Natal," Fazaki said in his statement.
Edwin Mncwango, the executive director said that "being on DStv gives 1KZN the unique opportunity to grow as a station."
