DStv LAUNCHES 3RD SUPERSPORT HD CHANNEL

On Friday, 8 April 2011, a third High Definition sports channel, SuperSport HD3, will join the DStv family. This is in addition to the two existing SuperSport HD channels.

The introduction of an additional HD channel has given SuperSport the opportunity to slightly reshuffle its sports offering across the three SuperSport HD channels:

SuperSport HD1, channel 171: SS HD1 consists of a variety of sporting codes, including local and international rugby, PSL football, Uefa Champions League, tennis majors, European Tour, US PGA golf, F1 and MotoGP.

SuperSport HD2, channel 174: SS HD2, which currently shows the EPL, will be the new channel which will be available from 8 April 2011 at 5am (Nigerian time). It will feature various High Definition sports programming, including selected cricket, Bundesliga soccer, PSL soccer, Europa League soccer, tennis majors, Champions League soccer, F1 and MotoGP.

SuperSport HD3 Nigeria, channel 177: SS HD3 will now broadcast the 24-hour English Premier League channel (previously available on SS HD2 Nigeria). A limited amount of programming, particularly legacy matches will be in Standard Definition because of their historical nature.

M-Net Africa HD (channel 170) will be used for sport on Saturdays between 1-6 pm, mainly rugby but also some soccer and PGA golf. This channel will only be used in the event that the regular SuperSport HD channels cannot accommodate additional sport.

“We made a commitment to our viewers and now we are delivering,” said Andre de Villiers, SuperSport’s marketing director. “Sporting events are increasingly being produced in High Definition and SuperSport is committed to bringing more of this broadcast technology to the market. Sport, in particular, lends itself to the excellent quality offered by High Definition.”

The addition of SS HD3 brings the total number of High Definition channels on DStv Africa to 7: 3 SuperSport HD channels, M-Net Africa HD, M-Net Movies 1 HD, i-Concert and Discovery HD Showcase. The High Definition channels are available to DStv Premium subscribers who use an HD PVR decoder, and are included as part of the monthly access fee of 1,800 naira.

“High Definition channels are becoming the television standard globally. We don’t want our subscribers to be left behind - our focus is on rolling out as many High Definition channels onto the DStv platform as possible,” commented Aletta Alberts, GM: Content, MultiChoice.

Schedules are available via the OK button on DStv remotes and on the on screen TV Guide. HD schedules (for 2 weeks in advance) can also be found on the SuperSport website.


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SONY MAX LAUNCHES ACROSS AFRICA ON DStv.

A brand-new 24 hour Sony Max action and reality TV channel is the male-skewing channel that will be replacing the defunct Animax on channel 126 on DStv from 1 February at 8pm.and will be available to both Compact,Compact Plus and Premium subscribers.


''We are delighted to launch a new Sony-branded channel for the men of Africa, working closely again with such an established pay TV player as MultiChoice,'' says Eddie Nelson, senior vice president of the Europe,Middle East and Africa region of Sony Pictures Television. ''With our great line up of movies, series and not-to-be-missed action and reality programming, Sony Max offers world class entertainment.''

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager of content says the pay TV platform is ''excited about the launch of another Sony-branded channel''. ''Sony Max will provide more adrenaline-filled, action programming which our viewers love; with the welcome return of several viewer favourites such as Ninja Warriors and Takeshi's Castle.''
New for African TV viewers on the Sony Max schedule is Mexican wrestling in CMLL Presents: Arena Mexico, and the comedy drama Call me Fitz starring Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Jason Priestly that starts on 8 February at 8pm. In March Sony Max has the 2nd season of the drama The District and I Dare You! The Ultimate Challenge. Sony Max also has the rights to the Video Game Awards 2010 which will be broadcast on Sunday, 13 March at 1:30pm and Tuesday 29 March at 8pm.

MultiChoice set to launch The Food Network on DStv's channel 185, 2 December at 11:00.

I can be first to reveal that MultiChoice is set to imminently announce the addition of the brand-new TV channel, The Food Network that will debut on DStv tomorrow, 2 December at 11am on DStv channel 185. The Food Network will broadcast for 24 hours per day.


I have reliably learnt that final negotiations between MultiChoice on the one side, and the London-based Chello Zone and Scripps Networks Interactive that distributes the American food channel internationally, was concluded last night and that The Food Network will launch tomorrow across Africa. The Food Network is already seen in the Middle East and North Africa.


The Food Network returns to African viewers a dedicated food TV channel after the previous food channels - the Carlton Food Network and BBC Food - that MultiChoice had on the DStv bouquet, were discontinued. The Food Network will introduce African viewers to a tasty plethora of foodcentric shows, from ''how to'' preparation shows, as well as more entertainment skewed food shows including some lifestyle and reality genre shows. 


From tomorrow viewers would be able to see Iron Chef America, and the Food Network Challenge, Barefoot Contessa with Ina Garten, Throwdown with Bobby Flay and30 Minute Meals with the American chef and talk show host Rachael Ray who got her start on this channel.


''We know Africans and our subscribers love food and watching food channels. MultiChoice is very happy to reintroduce a 24-hour food channel on the DStv platform,'' says Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content. ''As we are heading into the festive season, we are especially delighted to give our subscribers this gift of a dedicated food channel to help them prepare their festive treats.''

DStv Premium subscribers can look forward to the return of the popular holiday channel on DStv. The m199 channel, previously known as the M-Net holiday channel, gives subscribers the opportunity to catch up on their favourite series or movie that they might have missed during the year,'' MultiChoice says in a just-released statement.

m199 will start to broadcast from Wednesday, December 10 and run until January 9, 2011 from 07:00 in the morning until 01:00 - of course on channel 199 on DStv and not on channel 198 as in the past. "This time of the year is all about providing the whole family with great entertainment,'' says Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's general manager for content. ''We believe that m199 will add to the overall experience and give our subscribers more choice this festive season.''

The m199 holiday channel will be themed according to days, as well as timeslots. Family friendly movies will go out daily between 07:00 and 19:00. Medical shows such as Mercy I, Private Practice II and House VI will run on the ''Midday Medical'' timeslot at 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00 respectively.

Fridays will have musicals and Saturdays superhero movies while ''Bridal Specials'' will be shown on m199 on Sundays with movies like Painted Veil, Bride Wars, Rachel Getting Married, Made of Honour and The Proposal.

Series will be shown at 16:00 daily, with themed movies at 20:00. Mondays are devoted to comedy movies, Tuesdays to drama, Wednesday to action and Thursday night will go to chick flicks. A special ''Horror Hour'' awaits on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 22:00. Omnibus broadcasts of series are scheduled for Sundays with the final season of Lost (4 episodes per Sunday), The Pacific I (2 episodes per Sunday) and Nurse Jackie (2 episodes per Sunday).