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A&E Networks reacts to DStv's ditching of HISTORY, Lifetime and C+I

Written by TVSA Team from the blog News on 02 Oct 2019
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So it's oves for HISTORY, Lifetime and Crime + Investigation.

This according to DStv who posted a message on their website yesterday stating that the three channels will be discontinued at the end of October 2019, replaced by two new channels at an unconfirmed date.

You'll find their post here: Channel Changes

A&E Networks Africa (who own HISTORY etc.) has confirmed the news to TVSA, in a statement that makes it clear that negotiations between the two parties have stalled and that they want to try to keep the channels on the platform.

DStv's decision comes as no surprise to us for two reasons: 

1. HISTORY has been an annoying let down for years with its deluge of irrelevant reality shows that have nothing to do with history. 

2. Lifetime's scheduling has been a problem for a long time, riddled with errors e.g. in September, the channel promoted five highlights in their monthly highlights doc. and every one of them was advertised for the incorrect time.

The only channel that keeps it together properly is C+I and now it's at the mercy of the others.

This is A&E's statement:

DStv announced that they plan to take away the A+E Networks Africa family of channels, including HISTORY (channel 186), Crime+Investigation (channel 170) and Lifetime (channel 131) from their customers.

DStv has decided that our channels do not offer good value to their subscribers. Fans of our channels could soon miss out on the thousands of hours of new and unique shows we provide across our world class global brands including Surviving R Kelly, Forged in Fire, American Pickers, Curse of Oak Island, Damian Lewis Spy Wars, The First 48, Homicide Hunter, Married at First Sight, Little Women, Lifetime movies, Lost Gold of World War2, Watergate, Treasures Decoded, and many more.

This includes current and upcoming local programming such as Crime Stories SA, Don’t Tell the Bride SA and Loved Like Crazy.

We have been very proactive in trying to reach an agreement that is best for our viewers and for DStv. Our goal is to continue to bring our high-quality, award-winning programming to our local audiences. Our channels are available to viewers in over 160 countries around the world, and we negotiate several of these deals every year.

We are willing to keep negotiations open and we sincerely hope DStv will find a way to work with us to keep our channels so we can continue to share our great upcoming local and international programmes with our loyal fans. Everyone at A+E Networks Africa is committed to continue working with DStv to try to achieve a positive outcome.

-----

How does this impact on you? Is it a big loss to your viewing?
 



1 Comment

TVSA Team
31 Oct 2019 12:33

TVSA Team edited on
10/31/2019 12:35 PM

The latest: HISTORY and Lifetime are staying DStv and Lifetime's been added to Compact.

C&I's still gone.

DStv's just sent this statement saying they've reached an agreement with A & E to keep the channels on air:

HISTORY and LIFETIME channels remain on DStv

MultiChoice is delighted to have reached an agreement with A+E Networks Africa to extend the current contract to air HISTORY and LIFETIME channels on the DStv platform.  The extension of the contract, which was set to expire at the end of October, will ensure that viewers continue to enjoy their favourite factual entertainment shows on HISTORY, alongside exciting entertainment series on LIFETIME.

This means that viewers won’t lose out on amazing Lifetime programmes which include the premiere of Heartbreak Island, new seasons of Married at First Sight and the upcoming series Surviving Jeffery Epstein. 

Diehard History fans can look forward to new seasons of favourites including, Curse of Oak Island and Forged in Fire as well as factual series such as Watergate and Rise of the Superbombs.

“We are excited to have reached this agreement as it allows us to ensure we meet our commitment to get the best programming for our customers, based on commercial terms that make sense and provide a value for money offering to customers. We are pleased that Lifetime will also now be available to our Compact customers from Friday 1st November”, commented Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO for General Entertainment.

“We appreciate our customers’ patience and feedback and have their best interests in mind as we continue to work hard to improve our entertainment offering”, Phahle continued.

“We are pleased to have agreed a long-term renewal of our flagship brands, HISTORY and LIFETIME in Africa with our partners, DStv. As part of this renewal, the new distribution of LIFETIME in Compact presents an exciting opportunity to reach millions of new viewers with our unique programming offering”, commented Dean Possenniskie, Managing Director A+E Networks EMEA.


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