Recap To The Decade: 10 TV Channels You Probably Forgot Existed On Openview

Openview is a free-to-air platform operated by eMedia Investments that also manage brands such as e.tv, eReality and eExtra part of which are ranked the top 10 channels. For several years, they've been to be a worthy foe to pay-tv serving affordable entertainment.

It wasn't always like this initially the platform was more of an Easyview type platform and if we remember the DStv bouquet it was one of MultiChoice's crappiest products to exist and Openview at the time was basically that with the exception of eMovies and eToonz.

Now we look at 10 forgotten channels once seen on Openview.

1. English Club TV

English Club TV sets out to be one of the most least crappiest products on this list. If anything the channel was very promising as it featured documentaries, films, cartoons and music video all of which are illustrated for those who study English.

At the time this channel was around, eMedia Investments didn't have that much consumers. In some way, English Club TV was a victim of unfortunate circumstance which contributed to the cancellation.

2. Inspiration TV

Inspiration TV is a Christian themed channel operated by Inspiration Ministries that is home to the likes of Charles Stanley, TD Jakes and Joel Osteen. It was meant to form the initial offering of Openview when it launched in October 2013 but didn't unfortunately.

eMedia Investments had tried numerous times to get the channel onboard but due to some technologies those plans were halted.

3. BiCars

Bi-Cars TV was a reality street motorsport

lifestyle channel similar to Ignition TV on DStv. It showcased motorsport news, fashion, celebrity riders and real-life stories of street Moto-sport lifestyle, entertainment and music.

Some of the content featured on Bi-Cars TV included Mzansi Celebrities Bikers, Bi-Car Make Over, Battle Of Crews , BC League, Championships Of Speed and Sound, and Torque Talk.

Similar to most of the channels on the list, a vast majority weren't tuning in to the Ignition duplicate.

4. United Christian Broadcasting Network (UCBN)

United Christian Broadcasting Network (UCB Network TV) is a Christian based channel providing religious content. UCBN programming include shows such as Men of Honour, Women In Me, Pastor's Corner, Africa Talent Show, Nuggets of Wealth and Leadership, U Kids.

The channel was terminated due to low viewership.

5. Ekurhuleni TV

Ekurhuleni TV is a community TV station carrying local news, music, educational, health and religious programming.

The channel was terminated due to low viewership.

6. Relevant TV

Founded and run by Joshua McCauley, Relevant TV was intended to be a non-denominational Christian lifestyle TV channel that will look at the spiritual needs of Christians from all walks of life. The main target market of the channel is young adults, although it will cater for other groups as well.

The channel was removed due to unforeseen circumstances and without prior notice by eMedia Investments.

7. Alex TV (LXTV)

Alex TV, stylised as lx tv, was a community based channel with Lucky Siwela as chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder, revolves around covering and mirroring the life and issues of the vibrant, yet impoverished South African township and "suburb" of Alexandra.

The channel was yanked off Openview after its broadcasting licence had expired. Since then, rival company MultiChoice was able to fill the void with GauTV which caters to Sandton all the way to the Bekkersdal township.

8. ASTV (now MYtv)

ASTV was a lifestyle channel in which eMedia Investments had minority ownership broadcast a mix of actuality, outdoor, youth and teen content as well as Afrikaans music videos. Some of the content available on the channel included Vaskap, Eksieperfeksie, Kos Is Oppie Tafel, Ons Gesels Met... and Klankbaan.

Similar to OnseTV on StarSat, the channel wasn't watched by majority of the viewers and hasn't gained much traction as seen with kykNET's offering on DStv. Forming part of Openview's initial offering it went dark after 3 years of service (and 12 on StarSat).

9. Wild TV Africa

Wild TV Africa, developed by Dewald Visser, brought viewers outdoor and adventure programming focusing on camping, mountain-biking, fishing, 4X4 trails, scuba diving, conservation, mountain climbing, hunting, sport shooting, skydiving and big wave surfing.

Similar to most brands on the list, the channel was axed due to low viewership. Of course, similar content can be found on People's Weather and on DStv, WildEarth.

10. Shembe TV

Shembe Unyazi TV will show viewers programming around the African religion founded by Prophet Isaiah Mloyiswa Shembe, known as Bombela, in 1910 and which has 8 million followers in Southern Africa.

Basically a rival to the Nigerian based Emmanuel TV on DStv, it's currently unknown as to why the channel was removed but it was believed to be low viewership with the low rated channel currently seen on StarSat.

What Happened To Trace Sport Stars?

Trace Sports Stars is a lifestyle channel that celebrated the life of sports through factual entertainment, reality shows and gossip similar to E! operated by NBCUniversal. The channel supplies various originals such as Up Close, Bad Boys In Sports and Football Stars.

The channel was added in 2011/2 on Sky UK and MultiChoice's DStv across Africa as Trace Sports. Two years later, it went dark in the UK which coincides with the rebrand to Trace Sports Stars as they didn't offer live sports and the name didn't coincide with the offering.

When looking at a brand name like Trace Sports, one would assume they'd play actual sports like English Premier League, La Liga and WWE and although the content is focused solely on that topic. It just didn't really stick with some consumers.

In general, Trace Sports Stars was a wreck not because the channel couldn't get fresh content as it did possess potential but likely due to the fact that this type of content promoted by the channel isn't watched by vast majority as seen with the actual sporting events.

That in mind is what led to it's demise on MultiChoice's DStv with Trace Africa coming in place and at that time it was made available on rivals On Digital Media and StarTimes' StarSat and eMedia Investments' Openview platform.

This was Openview's first attempt at anything sports with StarSat offering a platform to reject channels or affordable entertainment. But of course, both brands ended scrapping the channel before 2018 for similar reasons as MultiChoice - viewership.

As of 2023, Trace Sports Stars is not viewable anywhere in Africa but that doesn't mean the channel is completely lost as it can be obtained on Binge Networks (USA), Sky (Mexico), Viaccess-Orca (France) and NTV Plus (Russia).

To be frank, Trace Sports Stars remains sustainable if anything it's not performing as well as it's musical family Trace Urban, Trace Gospel, Trace Toca, Trace Mziki and Trace Naija all of which are viewable on MultiChoice's DStv in selected territories.

Ultraview Vs. A Regular DStv Platform: A Better Understanding On How To Consume Your Money

For several weeks, eMedia Investments has been briefing audiences about their new pay-tv tier to the Openview platform, Ultraview. A multiverse platform where consumers are given the option of two packages Pride and Spice but both come at a hefty price with some comparing it to the likes of DStv.

Before we give our opinion on the matter let's first look at the basics.

DStv is a pay-tv outlet operated by MultiChoice where consumers get access to over 120 channels ranging from movies, sports, drama series, reality shows, kiddies, music, doccies and movies. It currently ranks as Africa's top player in the pay-tv business.

Ultraview is more of a diverse or cultural outlet by eMedia Investments as of this moment it only has Bollywood and LGBTQ based channels but that doesn't mean you can't find a variety of content if anything only a portion of DStv's lineup can be viewed on these channels.

MultiChoice has been in the market for decades with the DStv bouquet and have been criticized by several consumers for the load of repeats funneled onto their platform, the number of channels that have already been removed and the excessive costs in programming.

DStv:

- Boomerang might be first channel to exit the DStv platform in 2023

- MultiChoice shares crytpic message about eMedia's 4 channels

- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments gets roasted over load shedding plans

- BBC to close linear channels and move to an internet only digital future

During the week, eMedia Investments had gotten a taste of the MultiChoice criticism ahead of Ultraview's rollout and this mainly has to do with the quantity and pricing of the packages as well as the offering in general part of which is deemed offensive to Christians.

For several years, DStv consumers wondered when MultiChoice was planning on unbundling their channels and Ultraview gave a clear reflection when charging consumers either R75p/m or R120p/m for just two channels.

Same goes with the likes of Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, BritBox and HBO Max where you need about R700p/m or R800p/m to view the best of HBO, Adult Swim, NBC, BBC, ABC and Showtime altogether versus R450p/m with your Compact bouquet.

It goes show the best entertainment doesn't always come in cheap as seen with Ultraview's current offering. In general, it's not about who has more on the table but how productive you make a business.

eMedia Investments:

- SABC+ Vs. eVOD: The Consequence Of Free-To-View Television

- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments plan to combat load shedding get a lot of attention

- Ultraview Pride and Ultraview Indian coming soon to Openview

- Could SABC be unveiling another two channels for Openview Ultra?

To those viewing MultiChoice as a better contender take to account, only a fraction of the actual total of channels are watched by DStv consumers. Sure, it may be cheaper but most of the content in question will likely to date back to 90s/00s if not approachable.

As for Ultraview prior to when it was only Openview, eMedia Investments often sought out brands which gained traction which could be the case for this package the downside has to do with the quantity as that's distracting consumers from Ultraview's potential.

I mean I get it these are M-Net type channels but the moment another brand tags along with the something similar if not the same expect consumers to follow that brand if it means paying less to view that alternative or waiting longer to access a particular show.

In the end, I feel that Ultraview doesn't cater enough to eMedia's current audience as a lot of viewers aren't familiar with this concept they're putting forward as opposed to DStv which has a number of options like AddMovies, DStv Internet, Decoder Insurance etc.

BYUtv Offers The Very Best In Kids And Family Entertainment, Could DStv, StarSat Or Openview Perhaps Get It?

With family at its core, BYUtv - a non-commercial, value-based television network - brings inspiring and uplifting entertainment into million of homes across the nation through cable, their website or on the app. BYUtv has a place for everyone -- together.

BYUtv produces shows under several categories: BYU Sports, Campus, Documentary, Faith, Family, Lifestyle, People, and Performing Arts. This includes original series, documentaries and religious service programs, along with family and faith-based films from several major studios.

Some notable original series include Studio C, Random Acts, All-Round Champion, Relative Race and Wayne Brady's Comedy IQ.

StarTimes and On Digital Media once provided a religious channel Smile TV operated by Trinity Broadcasting Network. This channel would have made a suitable alternative had they considered replacing the channel the moment TBN opted not to supply it.

MultiChoice is set to lose a pair of channels in the near future - Disney Channel and Disney Junior. With that entail, an alternative will be needed in order to keep viewer's minds at ease. BYUtv can make up for the soon to be lost live-action slate on Disney Channel.

eMedia Investments once offered the Da Vinci educational channel on the Openview platform until it formed one of their never ending attempts to save money. BYUtv could make up for the lost factual content especially now that Openview+ is on the cards.

Its eMovies And eMovies Extra Vs. TNT And CineMagic: Another Openview Vs. DStv Saga

Openview has been dominating the South African market for several years giving companies like MultiChoice a run for their money particularly for those residing on lower bouquets such as DStv Easyview as the once underachieving platform is about to go through some changes.

MultiChoice will be adding two new entertainment channels to the bouquet in the month of November, Magic Showcase and CineMagic which just helps build onto the number of alternatives in South Africa.

Openview offers less channels but they have managed to win a lot of audiences with the selection of sports, local dramas, international series, kids shows and movies. Now it appears as if MultiChoice has begun catching up to the free-to-view platform.

DStv Easyview only offered 1 movie channel TNT which has been having a bit of its ups and downs with the likes of Blade, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Final Destination, Anaconda and so forth. If it was for TNT Original Movies and All Elite Wrestling I don't how far the channel could have gotten.

Point is, TNT was at a disadvantage as Openview provided two movie channels eMovies and eMovies Extra which were able to juggle around a mix of emotions. eMovies had Pokémon, Mama Jack and Oh Schuks while eMovies Extra had Fast And Furious, Transporter and Rush Hour.

With the inclusion of CineMagic, I'm not expecting them to read each other's mind or become the sibling duo as these two fall under different grounds so the only thing that anyone should be excited about is the number of options available.

CineMagic is set to feature a mix of local and international films 18 hours a day leaving TNT to the remaining 6 hours. Although, a schedule hasn't been provided my guess would be the content is based from M-Net Movies and Mzansi Bioskop.

Over to the winners which there's none, you got to look at the benefits to the above brands to reach your conclusion. eMovies is very selective I guess that's what made them favourable on DStv, TNT has got All Elite Wrestling and CineMagic by my hunch has the local productions.

kykNET Vs. eExtra: MultiChoice's Purposed Attempt To Replicate Kuiertyd

MultiChoice and eMedia Investments have been on opposite sides for long time and the matter only worsened when the pay-tv operator opted to replicate the current offering seen with the red brand which led to the discontinuation of their 4 channels.

Now we look at what MultiChoice regards as the new eExtra.

kykNET serves as the Afrikaans division to M-Net's local endeavours offering content ranging from drama series, movies, lifestyle, reality shows and news something that's been lacking with SABC 2. Some notable titles include Tussen Ons, Suidooster and Binnelanders.

Honestly speaking, you can clearly see why MultiChoice would want to burden customers with something like kykNET I mean it has a lot of variety something which eExtra's Kuiertyd had but was later revamped to match that of Telemundo.

eExtra is very much regarded as general entertainment it doesn't have to be anything like HBO but anything that can offer a variety of flavours in one pot is cool by me. The channel features a range of telenovelas from Turkey, Korea and India including Elif and Twist Of Fate.

Let me say this one fact, if it wasn't for Kuiertyd I doubt a lot of consumers would take a lot of initiative to the Afrikaans movies and Die Kontrak. I'm not expecting them to get as much shows as most dubbed soaps but the impact does come with its own benefits.

It's not really about the language that got viewers glued to Doodsondes but the content in general. As it is, eExtra has a Turkish slot which falls out of Kuiertyd which is all the more proof that content drives in the ratings.

eExtra through Kuiertyd may lack a lot of things like reality shows, music and local dramas but you have to admit these Turkish shows is what gets anyone more viewers latched onto anything kykNET at this point.

Why Openview Has Been Excluded From Delayed SABC Channel Expansion?

eMedia Investments and the SABC finalised their deal for 3 additional channels one of which were SABC Sport alongside 19 radio stations in 2021. As consumers wait over a year for the two channels which are set to carry a lot of existing content there's been some speculation one of which was cleared up is SABC Education.

SABC Education is a DTT channel currently seen on TelkomOne and soon on the likes of DStv and StarSat is based on the educational division formed by the SABC which is home to shows like Takalani Sesame, Matric Reloaded, Ispani, Uzalo, Geleza Nathi and 90 Plain Street.

The channel has remained active as of May 2020 and used as a catch-up channel to programs currently viewed on SABC 1-3 with plans to roll out the brand onto more platforms still underway.

As seen through several consumers on the Openview platform is SABC 1-3, SABC Sport alongside the 19 radio stations but SABC Education doesn't form part of the bouquet with SABC News being exclusive to DStv and DTT consumers.

So the question would have to be is eMedia Investments waiting on SABC Education like DStv?

Probably not as MultiChoice is waiting on two other channels to roll out on the DStv platform and SABC Education alongside SABC Sport and the 19 radio stations did form part of TelkomOne's initial offering when it launched in October 2020.

There could be a number of reasons SABC Education won't form part of the offering. The first has to do with costs, second would have to do with their rivalry perhaps they don't want to invest too much and last may have to do with the existing educational offering on Openview being DBE TV and Mindset.

Development Hell: The Pending The Third Season To Star Life's The Evil Eye

The Evil Eye was the first and one of the few attempts Africa got to supernatural on Star Life alongside A Magical Love Story which came amidst a pandemic with the second season was also filmed in such a climate.

Since its abrupt end, some viewers can't stop boasting about the show that it got to a point where they advertised fake repeats and even listed Bengali adaptation Nojor (pictured above) as The Evil Eye season 3.

Ever since A Magical Love Story ended, there hasn't been a site of venomous snake or anything supernatural on Star Life even on Zee World as regional stations are the closest to viewing them dubbed while others are distributed in their original language with subtitles.

 

Amidst the phasing out of these shows sources state that Star Life picked up Bold And Beautiful and The Evil Doom which were scheduled for a late 2021 to mid 2022 release which never came to pass.

Joining that trio was the fake third season of The Evil Eye which is now considered a new season but supposedly on a new Indian entertainment channel that was set to replace Star Life.

This supposed channel was said to focus on Bengali which is similar to Hindi in an attempt to "differentiate" the offering from StarPlus but hey some of the content from Bengali are remakes to the Hindi content and vice versa.

 

The thing about this was Disney Star the owners of these brands already operated a Bengali channel Star Jalsha which is niche I mean every market has their niche. In South Africa, it is Tsonga, Sepedi and Siswati as Zulu, Afrikaans and Ndebele dominate the region.

The question would have to be why trade one group for another if the plan was to replace wouldn't it be better to source areas like Telegu, Tamil and Malayalam as they also reside in the Bollywood community under the Disney Star.

Zee TV had every chance to launch such a channel but instead opted for reruns channel, Zee One.

What If A Modernized SABC Encore Launched As The Two Channels On OpenView?

SABC and eMedia Investments reached an agreement back in March that would grant OpenView customers access to SABC's 19 radio stations alongside 3 additional channels one of which being a sports channel.

It was stated at the time that SABC Sport alongside the 19 radio stations would roll out in the month of April with the other two being carrying content from SABC archives alongside new programming being unveiled within the next 3 months being April to June likely to crossover onto July.

SABC Education was suspected to be the first one but it was stated the two would be entertainment channels besides that OpenView already has 2 other educational channels that often air the same programs.

The second rumored channel was the Encore channel formerly available on DStv but the idea from SABC was to also give these new channels some fresh content so I derived it into SABC 4 and SABC 5 channels the broadcaster initially plotted to launch before downsizing to just three channels.

Perhaps, SABC Encore a channel SABC hoped to continue on another platform could be the mysterious brand for OpenView except it won't actually return but split into two parts.

The name SABC 4 and 5 could be a better way to "label' these Encore channels.

SABC 4 would be home to all the local dramas and soapies currently seen on SABC 1-3 such as Yizo Yizo, Soul Buddy, Velaphi and Intersections while as SABC 5 will bring in factual, religious and lifestyle entertainment such as Motswako, 50/50, Voetspore and Psalted.

SABC is currently in a TV licence brawl with MultiChoice and is scheduled to also launch a streaming service later in the year with eMedia Investments launching theirs in the month of July.

Read Also:

- SABC Education's status on both DStv and StarSat

- House Of Zwide coming soon to e.tv

- e.tv to become another SABC

- Nickelodeon returns to e.tv 

- Analogue TV is going off air soon, be sure to get a decoder when purchasing a TV set

- BritBox to launch in South Africa

- Is an SABC 4 and SABC 5 channel on the way?

- Details on SABC's kids brand (not SABC Education)

- Current status of TV licence

- Linear channels switch to 7 day viewing, Will SABC and e.tv viewers be able to cope