How can i start a Channel on DSTV

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xt50

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Hi

I would like to have a channel on DSTV showing true life documentaries. I have already shot two so far and that is all i can afford at the moment but i have plenty of locked scripts ready to shoot that i spent money on by hiring researchers and PIs. My initial plan was to sell the finished product to SABC but was strongly advised doing so. Etv never got back to me because i might have been dealing with the wrong person. All this happened for a reason - i might as well start a channel and i see lots of channels like Glow tv, Ed, etc
 
Well, if you shoot documentaries as well as you spell, that Oscar is just around the corner for you.
 
Minimum you would need 30 hours of new content per week. 120 Hours a month and this is being an absolutely annoying channel being full of repeats
 
xt50 said:
Hi

I would like to have a channel on DSTV showing true life documentaries. I have already shot two so far and that is all i can afford at the moment but i have plenty of locked scripts ready to shoot that i spent money on by hiring researchers and PIs. My initial plan was to sell the finished product to SABC but was strongly advised doing so. Etv never got back to me because i might have been dealing with the wrong person. All this happened for a reason - i might as well start a channel and i see lots of channels like Glow tv, Ed, etc
Click to expand...

Sell the content on a non-exclusive basis. That way you can sell to dstv, sabc, vod players,rest of africa and internationally either direct or through 3rd party b2b platforms. Wait 6 months after the first sale and then sell direct-to-consumer. There are platforms for that too.

Use the profits to shoot more doccies. Once you have a bigger library and a track record, start your tv channel with that channel-in-a-box solutions from many satellite companies. You just pay a monthly price and they do all the work for you: onscreen graphics, 24/7 playout (it can be 8hours x 3 times a day), epg and getting the channel to your carriers. All you need to do is uploading new content via ftp to them. Always sell the new content to your content buyers, then upload to your channel, 6/12 months thereafter. That way you thru 2 air windows you have 2 income streams.

Forget about youtube or direct streaming.
 
Last edited:
xt50 said:
Hi

I would like to have a channel on DSTV showing true life documentaries. I have already shot two so far and that is all i can afford at the moment but i have plenty of locked scripts ready to shoot that i spent money on by hiring researchers and PIs. My initial plan was to sell the finished product to SABC but was strongly advised doing so. Etv never got back to me because i might have been dealing with the wrong person. All this happened for a reason - i might as well start a channel and i see lots of channels like Glow tv, Ed, etc
Click to expand...
Why not pitch it to showmax, if it's good enough they will call it an original ShowMax production.
 
xt50 said:
I sent Showmax CEO John Kotsaftis a message on Linkedin in November 2017 he hasn't responded.
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It would be best if you get a distributor to pitch show on your behalf, there's a better chance of it being picked up than you personally sending emails and reauests
 
Hello

I would like to have a channel on DSTV showing true life documentaries. I have already shot two so far and that is all i can afford at the moment but i have plenty of locked scripts ready to shoot that i spent money on by hiring researchers and PIs. My initial plan was to sell the finished product to SABC but was strongly advised doing so. Etv never got back to me because i might have been dealing with the wrong person. All this happened for a reason - i might as well start a channel and i see lots of channels like Glow tv, Ed, etc

I would appreciate if I hear from you I really want to open a channel
 
OP has resurfaced from his tomb as Mr Malatji.

Obviously his doccies never shot to stardom overnight
 
Minimum you would need 30 hours of new content per week. 120 Hours a month and this is being an absolutely annoying channel being full of repeats
 
Joseph malatji said:
Hello

I would like to have a channel on DSTV showing true life documentaries. I have already shot two so far and that is all i can afford at the moment but i have plenty of locked scripts ready to shoot that i spent money on by hiring researchers and PIs. My initial plan was to sell the finished product to SABC but was strongly advised doing so. Etv never got back to me because i might have been dealing with the wrong person. All this happened for a reason - i might as well start a channel and i see lots of channels like Glow tv, Ed, etc

I would appreciate if I hear from you I really want to open a channel
Click to expand...
Which cases did you shoot? You are going to need at least R1.5 million.
 
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