A few months ago, it was reported that Canal+’s MultiChoice may be looking to add eMedia’s eReality and eSeries channels to the DStv platform. The reports gained traction after several DStv viewers spotted programme guides for both channels on the DStv i-Plate.
eMedia Investments already distributes eExtra, eToonz, eMovies and eMovies Extra on DStv, so the idea of adding more of its channels does not seem far-fetched. Although the two broadcasters previously clashed over carriage, they have since resolved their differences, leaving the door open for a new partnership.
eReality positions itself as a home for some of the world’s most popular reality programmes. It focuses on real-life stories, fascinating personalities and raw human emotion, with titles such as Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition, Guy’s Grocery Games and The Challenge.
eSeries, meanwhile, offers a mix of international comedies, nostalgic sitcoms, procedural dramas, darker series and lifestyle shows. Its line-up includes titles such as MasterChef Australia, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and New Amsterdam.
MultiChoice began testing the channels in late August. This testing period has coincided with a broader restructuring of the DStv platform, which has already seen the closure of M-Net Movies 1, Mzansi Bioskop and kykNET Lekker. Those channels were replaced by M Movies+, Wethu+ and kykNET & kie.
It is possible that eReality and eSeries form part of this wider restructuring.
A few months ago, MultiChoice removed CineMagic and Magic Showcase from the platform. In other African markets these were largely replaced by Africa Magic Epic and Family. DStv EasyView subscribers, however, were not given the same replacements and were left with fewer channels as a result.
Given that eSeries has some overlap with eReality, it would not be surprising if MultiChoice made the channel available down to DStv EasyView. Viewers on that package have already lost access to local dramas such as Arendsvlei and Isibaya. Adding eSeries could help fill the gap left by Magic Showcase.
Much of the programming on eSeries is already available on channels such as M-Net, Universal TV and Comedy Central. Placing it on EasyView would therefore make logical sense and would give a larger group of viewers access to content that has, until now, been limited to higher packages such as Premium and Sports.
As for eReality, one possibility is that it could replace Moja 9.9 as MultiChoice begins rolling out its new packages in other African countries. The company is already in the process of migrating viewers from Moja 9.9 to Moja Love.
Moja Love currently serves higher-tier packages in several African markets, while Moja 9.9 exists mainly for lower-tier packages. It would not be surprising if MultiChoice eventually encouraged Moja 9.9 viewers to switch to Moja Love for a fuller programming line-up.
This approach would be consistent with how MultiChoice has handled previous channel closures. When 1Magic and Me were shuttered, for example, no direct replacements were added because alternatives such as Bravo, MTV, Universal TV, BBC Brit and Comedy Central were already available on the platform.
In this case, eSeries and eReality appear well placed to fill the gaps left by Magic Showcase and possibly Moja 9.9, as both channels cater to similar audiences. Given eMedia’s existing presence on DStv through eExtra, eMovies and eMovies Extra — channels that have generally been well received by subscribers — the addition of eReality and eSeries would represent a natural next step.
No comments:
Post a Comment