Relative newcomer to the pay-television industry TopTV is set to have another blow dealt to its bouquet offering with the loss of one of its “hugely popular” third-party channels, Current TV.
This follows the discontinuation of two channels, Hi Nolly and One Music, which were suspended after their operator, HiMedia, was placed under liquidation in November.
At the time, TopTV said it would explore alternative channels to fill the slots, but could not offer a time frame as to when this would materialise. To date, the channels, 120 and 506 respectively, have not been replaced.
On Friday, TopTV said the future of Current TV, channel 406, is now also at risk, following the channel's carriage agreement with BSkyB in the UK not being renewed. “As BSkyB is the channel's biggest broadcast client, this will affect their ability to maintain operations, which will in turn impact on the channel being available to the South African market.”
According to BSkyB, the contract with Current TV is being unfavourably considered due to low viewership and under-performance.
Current TV, which is owned by former US vice-president Al Gore, was launched in SA via TopTV in May 2010. TopTV says the channel, featuring commentary and information programming, is “hugely popular” due to its informative and topical real-life documentaries, which appeal to enquiring minds.
“[We are] currently in discussions with the channel's management to discuss various options and possible alternative solutions to continue to broadcast the channel,” says TopTV. Current TV is also considering other business offers at the moment.
TopTV says the recent knock to its channel offering was beyond its control and that the content team is “under a lot of pressure” to find replacement channels and reinforce its bouquet.
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