In a world of video on demand, streaming services and a clear trend towards non-linear content consumption, Movie Room, a new 24/7 entertainment channel on DStv Channel 113, dedicated to showcasing a curated line-up of movies for every taste, goes live this weekend.
- Movie Room is the brainchild of the Ngwato Nkosi Group, founders of Newzroom Afrika.
- The channel will go live on August 27, from 7:30pm, with a build up to the 8:30pm movie.
- Promising a new approach to scheduling movies, Movie Room joins half a dozen other movie channels on the DStv bouquet.
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The company, which is a partnership between television entrepreneurs Thabile Ngwato and Thokozani Nkosi, is building on the achievements of Newzroom Afrika and looks to expand its entertainment business with the launch of Movie Room.
It’s great that South Africa’s film and TV industry continues to expand and diversify with more, and different production companies able to do and provide content, and third-party content packaging of TV channels that in decades past was only really done from overseas providers and M-Net. It enables a bigger plurality of voices within the industry, more job opportunities, industry growth and spurs creativity.
// Television Journalist, Thinus Ferreira
A select group of media attended the official launch event of Movie Room this week. Renowned comedian, show host and television personality Mpho Popps hosted the launch dressed as an interpretation of The Mask. The event was held at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience featuring dancers, a performance by Shekhinah and formalities, before guests settled into one of three cinemas for a themed menu of action, romance and comedy movies.
Ngwato Nkosi Group CEO Thabile Ngwato said Movie Room would provide viewers with more choice to enjoy entertainment for every mood in a curated line-up of local and international movies, carefully selected from the best blockbuster favourites and unforgettable classics.
The one odd thing is that Movie Room is another linear movie channel and not a premium channel so content will be a mix of what a lot of DStv subscribers have already seen. Perhaps the idea of a linear TV channel showing movies has reached the sell by date, although Hollywood is proving anew the strength of how sequels and prequels like Top Gun Maverick can lure audiences back into physical cinemas. We should never underestimate the nostalgia effect when it comes to movies and perhaps Movie Room will capture some of that with its channel content offering.
// Television Journalist, Thinus Ferreira
Movie Room’s Head of Channel, Malebo Phage, was also present at the event. He has been in the media industry, mainly in television, for more than 35 years and occupied various positions, from head of news, to channel programming, strategy and stakeholder management across major broadcasters.
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