Connect with us

Broadcasting

DStv Prepares Series Pop-up with M-Net Binge for Premium Subscribers

Published

on

DStv.jpg
Kindly share this post

Do you belong to the TV tribe who get all antsy when the end credits of your favourite series start to roll?  Because, instead of waiting for another week, you want to watch the entire show in ONE go.

If so, reach out for the record button on your DStv remote control, because soon you’ll be able to binge like never before!

M-Net and MultiChoice have whipped up another special treat for fans of international television series: a brand new, weekends-only “record channel” called M-Net Binge. From Saturday 6 May M-Net Binge will give DStv Premium customers across the African continent the opportunity to record an entire season of top-notch shows proven to be addictive viewing when they were screened on channels such as M-Net, M-Net Edge and VUZU Amp.

M-Net Binge will be live on DStv Channel 899 on Saturdays and Sundays between 8:30pm and approximately 04:00am the next morning with back-to-back episodes of the selected series for the weekend.

Viewers who opt to record these shows will then be able to create their own box sets of shows on their decoders to enjoy when it suits them best. 

While themed binge weekends – like a Shonda Rhimes breakaway or Superhero take-over or period drama indulgence – are on the cards, M-Net Binge will offer a special lead-up to the much-anticipated worldwide arrival of the reboot of Twin Peakson Tuesday 23 May.  On Saturday 6 May, M-Net Binge will bring you all nine episodes of the first season of David Lynch’s iconic crime drama. Thereafter, Season 2 of the eerie Twin Peaks, comprising a total of 23 episodes, will come your way in three batches on Sunday 7 May, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May respectively.

During the rest of May, recent highly acclaimed series such as Big Little Lies, with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman leading a powerhouse female cast, and HBO’s masterly crafted The Night Of will form part of the M-Net Binge offering.

“In the ever-changing world of television, binge watching has become a worldwide phenomenon.  This channel gives viewers a chance to binge on their favourite series” said Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO. “M-Net’s successful movie pop-up channels have shown that our Premium viewers love themed and curated content andM-Net Binge is an exciting initiative for series’ fans to catch up with the best of the best shows that they may have missed or want to watch again. This means that our viewers can clearly distinguish between channels built around fresh content like M-Net with its extended prime-time that runs between 05:00am until midnight and channels that speak to viewer convenience, ” explains Phahle.

DStv Premium customers will be able to set their M-Net Binge recordings as soon as the EPG becomes available, which is usually eight days before the day of broadcast. You can choose to either record the entire series to compile your own box set or record individual episodes.

The full schedule for M-Net Binge will be available atmnet.tv, as well as on the schedule on the TV Guide or on the DStv Now App.‎


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Broadcasting

Spotify RADAR Africa Turns the Volume Up on FOLA and Thakzin

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Spotify is turning the spotlight toward the next wave of African music innovators with its latest RADAR Africa picks: Nigerian Afrobeats talent FOLA and South African Afro House DJ and producer Thakzin. As part of Spotify’s ongoing commitment to discovering and amplifying emerging voices across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), RADAR continues to champion boundary-pushing artists shaping the sound of tomorrow.

FOLA, born Folarin Odunlami, first caught attention with his freestyles on social media, quickly making a name for himself with his blend of Afrobeat rhythms and soulful storytelling. His breakout EP What A Feeling, featuring the Bella Shmurda-assisted hit “Who Does That,” laid the foundation for a fast-rising career that now includes collaborations with BNXN, Magixx, and BhadBoi OML. “Looking at where I’m coming from, I see every opportunity as a blessing. So, it’s a blessing to have been selected, just like others before me,” says FOLA. “I want my fans to know that in the midst of all the noise, I made something they could truly connect with, feel and share with those who mean something to them. I want everyone who listens to at the very least, recognise that they’re witnessing the early days of something truly special.”

On the southern tip of the continent, Thakzin’s journey began in Ivory Park, Johannesburg, where early jazz and kwaito influences, plus a deep respect for traditional percussion, shaped his signature sound. With co-signs from Black Coffee and international tastemakers like Laurent Garnier, his genre-defying approach to Afro House, heard in his 2023 anthem “The Magnificent Dance,” is setting global dance floors alight. Following the release of Magnificent Dance, his version of Horns In The Sun by DJ Kent became a viral hit across South Africa and gained global traction, potentially surpassing the success of Magnificent Dance itself. Thakzin’s sound is rooted in African spirituality and healing, inspired by the rhythmic power of traditional drums. Shaped by a musical upbringing and guided by his father, a keyboardist, he blends rich harmonies with percussive elements to create an immersive Afro-house experience. His music evokes emotion, movement, and ancestral energy, anchored in freedom and African expression. In recognition of his role in shaping 3-step, Thakzin was the first cover artist of Spotify’s 3 STEP playlist.

Spotify RADAR isn’t just a platform, it’s a launchpad. It reflects Spotify’s commitment to empowering local artists across SSA and delivering the best listening experience in the region. From Lagos to Johannesburg, RADAR celebrates the diversity of talent on the continent, offering artists equal access to global audiences.

“At Spotify, we believe in the power of African storytelling through music. FOLA and Thakzin are both incredibly unique artists who represent the spirit of RADAR—fresh voices with global potential,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa. “By amplifying their journeys, we hope to inspire more creators across the continent to believe in their vision and reach for bigger stages.”

With FOLA and Thakzin stepping into the spotlight, one thing is clear: Africa’s future sound is already here, and Spotify is where you find it first.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Broadcasting

Paradigm Initiative Applauds Malawi’s Judiciary for Outlawing Criminal Defamation

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) commends the decision by the High Court of Malawi, sitting as the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), which finds that section 200 of the Penal Code of Malawi, criminalising defamation, is unconstitutional. This follows a unanimous ruling by Justices Chifundo Kachale, Fiona Mwale, and Mzondi Mvula.

The decision by the three-judge bench concludes a case brought by Joshua Chisa Mbele against the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, where the latter leveled charges against Mbele for alleged defamatory statements made regarding a public official in Malawi. In his defence, Mbele challenged the constitutionality of section 200 of the Penal Code of Malawi, which criminalised defamation, arguing that this provision infringed the right to freedom of expression as provided for under section 35 of the country’s Constitution, as well as running counter to Malawi’s obligations under regional and international human rights law.

In its commendable ruling, the ConCourt upheld the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Malawian Constitution and described the punishment of imprisonment, as outlined in Section 200 of the Malawi Penal Code, as having a “chilling effect on public discourse and democratic participation.” In a ruling delivered on July 16th, 2025, the court said it did not find Section 200 of the Malawi Penal Code reasonable or necessary in light of the civil remedies available to deal with defamation.

PIN celebrates this win, having expressed concerns in the past over Malawi’s repressive laws through the Londa report on the state of digital rights and inclusion in Malawi and a joint advocacy statement calling for the repeal of laws infringing on freedom of expression.

PIN hopes that this decision will stir the legislature in Malawi to repeal laws that have a bearing on freedom of expression such as the Electronic Transactions and Cybersecurity Act 2016, which is increasingly being deployed as a weapon to criminalise freedom of expression and media freedom in Malawi with broad provisions such as section 87 that criminalises publication of offensive communications and an overly broad section 91 of the Act (prohibiting cyber spamming) which has been used to target individuals for insulting the President.

Acknowledging the judiciary’s vital role in promoting fundamental rights and freedoms and ensuring that repressive laws are outlawed, PIN applauds the progressive decision. The Malawi judiciary has demonstrated this leadership with a landmark case that can lead to further legislative reforms in Malawi and inspire other African judiciaries to adopt a human rights-based approach to adjudicating over such cases.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Broadcasting

Canal+ Clears Final Hurdle to Acquire South Africa’s MultiChoice

Published

on

Kindly share this post

France’s Canal+ said Wednesday it had cleared the final regulatory hurdle for the buyout of Africa’s largest pay TV enterprise, MultiChoice, and further expand its footprint on the continent.

The company said in a statement that the South African Competition Tribunal had given its approval for Canal+ to acquire the approximately 55 per cent of MultiChoice shares it does not already own.

The approval “clears the way for us to conclude the transaction in line with our previously communicated timeline” by October 8 at the latest, Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada said in a statement.

“I’m excited about the potential this transaction unlocks for all stakeholders… the combined Group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies,” he added.

Canal+ is present in 25 African countries through 16 subsidiaries and has eight million subscribers, according to the French group.

MultiChoice operates in 50 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and has 14.5 million subscribers, it says. It includes Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, SuperSport, and the DStv satellite television service.

“It is a hugely positive step forward in our journey to bring together two iconic media and entertainment companies and create a true champion for Africa,” Saada said about combining Canal+’s French language offerings with the English and Portuguese content on MultiChoice.

Canal+ hopes that the acquisition will allow it to grow to 50 to 100 million subscribers in a few years, from 27 million currently.

The mandatory share offer of 125 rand (6 euros) per share values MultiChoice values the company at $3.0 billion (2.6 billion euros).

The approval came with several public-interest conditions worth about 26 billion rand over three years and keeping MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa. Shares in Canal+ climbed 1.3 per cent in trading in London, and are up 12.8 per cent this year.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending