A new movie channel Studio Universal launches on DStv Channel 119 on Friday, 30 September. It goes live at 19h00 and will be available to Premium and Compact subscribers.
The channel's owned by Universal Networks International and forms part of the networks stable of channels which include: Universal Channel (on DStv), SyFy Universal (dedicated to sci-fi series), Diva Universal (a channel for women) and 13th Street Universal (which specialises in action and suspense).
On the night of it's debut Universal Studio will feature a mix of genres in the titles including The Fast and the Furious starring Vin Diesel, Miami Vice with Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
The channel's structured round themed movie nights with a focus on punctuated nights of the week: Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends. We took a look at the October highlights to get an idea of what we can expect and what sort of titles will be on offer.
Saturdays and Sundays feature a double bill of action classics, starting at 18h00 on both nights.
Titles in the October line-up include The Bourne Identity - the original 2002 movie - followed by the 2004 sequel The Bourne Ultimatum. Rocky Balboa - the 2006 version with grandad Stallone - will be on the following weekend, on 16 October.
Friday nights are dedicated to comedy movies, starting at 20h00. Titles in October include Eddie Murphy's 2007 flik Norbit, in which he plays a desperate husband who needs to get rid of his wife (who he plays too) so that he can be with Thandie Newton - the woman of his dreams.
Other Friday night titles across October include Barbershop 2 starring Ice Cube and Blades of Glory - with Will Ferrell and John Heder as arch rival figure skaters.
The channel marks mid-week with Hollywood Blockbusters on Wednesday nights at 20h00. Movies scheduled for October include Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn in the thriller The Interpreter on 12 October and Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill on 26 October.
What do you think of the addition of the channel? Is it a welcome addition to your bouquet or are there too many movie's on DStv already? Will it add value to your viewing?