HiTV ADDS DAYSTAR TELEVISION NETWORK TO IT'S PLATFORM.

HiTV will today,15th December 2010 launch Daystar Television Network on it's platform.

Daystar Television Network has a singular goal; to reach souls with the good news of Jesus Christ. We seek out every available means of distribution to a world in need of hope. With an extensive blend of interdenominational and multi-cultural programming, Daystar is committed to producing and providing quality television that will reach our viewers, refresh their lives and renew their hearts.The Daystar Television Network is headquartered in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is a d/b/a of Word of God Fellowship, Inc., a Georgia-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Marcus D. Lamb is President and Chief Executive Officer.

The channel would be open to both Premium and Correct subscribers.

MultiChoice launches e.TV Africa across 46 African countries.

DStv subscribers in 46 countries across Africa can now see e.tv Africa on Channel 144. The 24-hour African version of the South African free-to-air channel e.tv starts broadcasting on the pay television satellite platform , Tuesday 14 December 2010.

The channel’s group chief executive officer, Marcel Golding says, “e.tv Africa has been received enthusiastically across the continent where e.tv programming is popular and sought after. The channel will include local hit series, Rhythm City, Scandal, Backstage, eKASI, Club 808, Craz-e, as well as Forgive & Forget. This expansion forms part of our broader strategy to provide entertainment produced on the continent to countries outside of South Africa.”

The service also provides two half hour eNews Africa bulletins (5pm and 6pm). These bulletins focus on pan-African news and provide international news for Africans by Africans.

President of MultiChoice Africa, Collins Khumalo said, “We have witnessed the growth and popularity of channels made in Africa for Africa over the last few years, and we have responded by substantially increasing our investment in supporting these channels in Africa. I believe that e.tv Africa’s addition to DStv will add even more value to our subscribers.”  

e.tv Africa will be available on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access.

MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS WITH AIRTEL : - WINNERS LIST

Congolese artist Fally Ipupa, and Nigeria’s 2Face led the winners at the third edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel (MAMA), each taking home two trophies at the music awards ceremony at the Eko Expo Hall, Lagos on 11 December 2010.

Nominated in four separate categories, Fally Ipupa scored wins for Best Video (“Sexy Dance”) and Best Francophone act while 2Face, a former MAMA winner from 2009, picked up trophies for Artist of the Year and Best Male.

Cabo Snoop notched up a music first for Angola by becoming the first ever Angolan winner at MAMA 2010, taking home the prize for Best Lusophone act. The inaugural Best Anglophone award went to Kenyan Gospel breakthrough artist Daddy Owen – the first time a gospel artist has won a MAMA.

Song of the Year was won by South African pop/R&B outfit Liquideep for their hauntingly lovely 'Fairytale'.  New MAMA award category Best Performance was won by Big Nuz, the South African house trio making waves all over the continent.

Nigerian vocalist Sasha scored Nigeria’s first ever win in the Best Female category after Kenyan dominance over the last two years. Nigerian R&B duo P-Square (Nigeria) added yet another MAMA trophy to their awards cabinet – taking home Best Group for the third year running!  Rising Nigerian star Mo Cheddah notched up her first win in the hotly contested Brand:New category which recognises rising stars tipped by MTV for success. The prestigious Best International act was received by Eminem who accepted the award via satellite from the USA.  The MAMA Legend award, won by the late, great Miriam Makeba, was presented by Public Enemy founder and hip hop pioneer Chuck D.

The 2010 MAMA awards opened with an explosive performance by Hip Hop heavyweight, Rick Ross,  and closed with an unforgettable rendition of “Win” featuring T-Pain, Rick Ross, Da LES and 2Face - a world first.  In keeping with the tradition of the awards, the show featured an array of electrifying collaborations between artists from different parts of the continent, mixing up music genres, language and cultures in a unprecedented extravaganza of African talent.  Among the collaborations were Nigeria’s 2Face who hooked up with South African rock outfit The Parlotones. The performance of Banky W’s “Lagos Party” saw South Africa’s Big Nuz, Angola’s Cabo Snoop and Paul G and DRC’s Barbara Kanam rocking the house with the first ever truly pan-African version of the hit track.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, “Tonight’s MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel was a joyful and uplifting celebration of African youth culture and music.  It brought together the best talent from across Africa to showcase the incredible music that Africa has to offer to the world.  It is amazing to see the collaborations between the artists as it fosters a spirit of camaraderie and creative exchange that takes their music to a new level.”

Commented Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa, “The diversity and talent of the performances this evening was a reflection of the vast and rich talent pool that Africa has to offer.   We at Airtel are proud to partner with the MTV Africa Music Awards as it is a platform for the youth and young at heart in Africa, enabling them to showcase their talent to a global audience. Music is an important way to connect with Africa as we relaunch the Airtel brand on the continent. It will support Airtel’s mission of giving the youth a means to express themselves and the freedom to do more.”

Among the performers at the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel were: 2Face (Nigeria), Banky W (Nigeria), Barbara Kanam (DRC), Big Nuz (South Africa), Cabo Snoop (Angola), Daddy Owen (Kenya), Diamond (Tanzania), Eve (USA), Fally Ipupa (DRC), J. Martins (Nigeria), Jozi (South Africa), Liquideep (South Africa), Lizha James (Mozambique), Mo Cheddah (Nigeria), Paul G (Angola), P-Unit (Kenya), Public Enemy (USA), Radio & Weasel (Uganda), Rick Ross (USA), Sarkodie (Ghana), Sasha (Nigeria), T-Pain (USA), Teargas (South Africa), The Parlotones (South Africa), Wande Coal (Nigeria).

Guest presenters and celebrity guests included Ba Ponga, Dama do Bling, Lizha James, Daniel Amokachi, Oluchi, Julius Agwu, Genevieve Nnaji, Muthoni, Nneka, MTV VJs Vanessa Mdee  & Sizwe Dhlomo, Tatiana, JoJo and fashion designer Lisa Foluniyo.

MAMA 2010 WINNERS IN FULL

Best Anglophone - Daddy Owen (Kenya)
Best Francophone - Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Best Lusophone - Cabo Snoop (Angola)
Artist of the Year- 2Face (Nigeria)
Best Female - Sasha (Nigeria)
Best Male - 2Face (Nigeria)
Best Video - Fally Ipupa (DRC): “Sexy Dance”
Best Group – P-Square (Nigeria)
Brand New Act - Mo Cheddah (Nigeria)
Best Performance - Big Nuz (South Africa)
Song of the Year - Liquideep (South Africa): “Fairytale”
MAMA Legend – Miriam Makeba (South Africa)
Best International – Eminem (USA).

An entertaining, ''elegant'' and intelligent new news magazine show Monocle on TV coming to Bloomberg Television.

What surely looks like a simply great new, entertaining and intelligent television addition is Monocle on TV that will start on Saturday, 18 December at 13:00 on Bloomberg Television (HiTV).

I just heard back from Bloomberg Television in Britain who confirmed to me that the new magazine show will indeed be available and broadcast in Nigeria as well, since HiTV subscribers are getting the Europe/UK Bloomberg Television feed. (The show will be broadcast on Bloomberg's American feed as well.)

Monocle on TV that will be produced in London. It will be a new hourlong, weekly TV news magazine on Bloomberg Television that Tyler Brule, founder of the high society culture magazine Monocle told New York Magazine, will hopefully ''be a return to more elegant television'' and ''gentle, good, informative viewing''. Tyler Brule as well as various Monocle editors will be the presenters.

A Bloomberg spokesperson tells me Monocle on TV will have a repeat slot on a Saturday evening, as well as on a Sunday.

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.''