From eggs-citing Easter viewing to taking a look at the fight for freedom throughout history, celebrate it all this month with DStv.
Freedom Month in South Africa is a time of both celebration and reflection as DStv commemorates the first democratic post-apartheid elections held on April 27, 1994, as well as examine the many challenges the South African nation must still overcome. Add to that the merriment of Easter weekend and get ready for an April filled with love, family, fun and friends.
Adding to the adventures of egg-hunting, DStv’s School of Laughter has a slate of egg-tastic shows planned across Boomerang (DStv channel 302), ZooMoo (DStv channel 314), NickToons (DStv channel 308) and Cartoon Network (DStv channel 301) to keep the children in high spirits – even after the sugary, chocolatey treats have been eaten. For the home cooks, Easter Basket Challenge on The Food Network (DStv channel 175) will not only give you amazing ideas for your next Easter table but also have you salivating beyond the delicious creations at the ultimate prize of US$25,000!
To add even more fun to a weekend of family and friends, TNT’s (DStv channel 137) Fun with the Fam Easter weekend line-up harks back to simpler times with classic family-friendly films. From Saturday, April 3 through Monday, April 5, enjoy movies such as Dreamer with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot featuring a much younger Sylvester Stallone, Mighty Joe Young with SA export Charlize Theron and a pre-Twilight Kristen Stewart in Catch That Kid, amongst other great films.
History Channel (DStv channel 186) explores the path to freedom across the world with a slate of documentaries that cover slavery, colonialism and even unlikely heroes. Catch In Their Own Words: Muhammad Ali, 400 Years: Taking The Knee and more every Saturday throughout April to learn more about what it took men from the past to afford us the freedoms we enjoy today.
Awards season may have just ended, however, the biggest show is still to come. The 93rd Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, was pushed back due to the global pandemic and for good reason. The organisers of Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony have ditched digital and is going old-school with a full-on red carpet extravaganza. Tune in to E! Entertainment (DStv channel 124) from Sunday, April 25 at 23h00 for all the glitz, glam and designer looks.
For home-made fare, local television has pulled out all the stops with a slate of new programmes. From comedy series such as Op My Eish and G.I.L. (Grobbies Internasionale Lughawe) on kykNET (DStv channel 144), The Buzz on Honey (DStv channel 173) and Rumble & Humble on CBS Reality (DStv channel 132), which provides a unique look into the everyday life of SA’s most-awarded tattoo artist Lewis “Vudulew” Williams, there’s lots of local love going around. There’s also two brand-new shows coming to Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) this month in the form of Diep City on Monday, April 5 and Lingashoni on Thursday, April 1.
There’s also plenty of local reality on Moja Love (DStv channel 157) and VIA (DStv channel 147), while Vuzu (DStv channel 116) has all-new seasons of much-loved shows first. These include Bachelor in Paradise Australia, First Dates UK, Survivor: Winners at War and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition. And if that’s not enough drama for one month, DStv’s latest pop-up channel, tVN (DStv channel 134), is home to the best bite-sized seasons of Korean television.
Whether you’re feasting on tasty chocolate morsels or relishing in the freedom to choose from the world’s best entertainment, you’ll find it all on DStv.
To highlight the struggles of the world’s heroes who fought for the abolishment of slavery and colonialism, History Channel (DStv channel 186) has an array of amazing factual films and documentary series airing every Saturday throughout April.
Start with the channel’s Freedom Month theme on Saturday, April 3 at 20h15 with a look at historical events that defined an era and bred a multitude of brave figures who stood up against injustice and paved the way for future generations. On Saturday, April 10, 400 Years: Taking The Knee is a two-part special that goes beyond South Africa’s borders to focus on the European slave trade, the intertwining of British and American slave history, and the individuals from around the world who fought and struggled against colonialism, slavery and their legacies.
The first of a new biography film series, In Their Own Words: Muhammad Ali followers the world-famous boxer’s rise from the Columbia Gym in Louisville, Alabama to international fame. Illuminating Ali’s profound impact on both culture and history, the film is a close look at how a polarising figure transcended his athletic achievements to become a beloved and honoured hero. Tune in to relive the “World’s Greatest” on Saturday, April 17 at 20h15. Then at 21h05, the award-winning film Salute recounts the role of the white man in the defining moment of the American Civil War rights movement – the 1986 Black Power Salute. After US Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and Australian silver medallist Peter Norman, raised their fists on the victory dais following the Olympic 200-metre final in Mexico City, the men were reprimanded by the authorities. Smith and Carlos were banished from the United States Olympic team and subjected to abuse and death threats, while Norman was never allowed to run for his country again. In Salute, Norman’s nephew, Matt Norman, tells the complete story and paints a timely portrait of the three competitors who became brothers through one brave act.
Round off a month of freedom-fighting on History Channel with The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution on Saturday, April 24 at 20h15. The film is the first feature-length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture and the political awakening of a people who for centuries have been oppressed.
Each year, millions of viewers across the globe tune into what is known as the biggest awards show for actors and actresses in the United States: the Academy Awards. More widely known as the Oscars, winners are selected by their peers – the highest honour performing artists can receive. The 2021 ceremony was delayed to April 26 due to the coronavirus pandemic but is definitely still taking place – with all the majesty and grandeur we’ve come to expect from its red carpet.
Tune in on E! Entertainment (DStv channel 124) for E! Live From the Red Carpet: 2021 Oscars on Sunday, April 25 at 23h00, where you can expect amazing fashion worn by the biggest and brightest stars of Tinsel Town. You can also get a full style breakdown of the night’s show-stopping looks with Red Carpet Rundown: 2021 Oscars on Monday, April 26 at 01h30.
Home is where the heart is – and during Freedom Month in South Africa, local entertainment reaches its peak with new seasons of much-loved dramas on kykNET (DStv channel 144), Honey (DStv channel 173) and CBS Reality (DStv channel 132). Plus, brand-new movies and shows – such as the highly anticipated Diep City and new episodes of Lingashoni on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) –will keep you coming back for more.
Reality television just got more real. Vuzu (DStv channel 116) gives us the inside scoop on the nuptials of well-known reality couples and famous family feuds in Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition and The Real Housewives of Potomac, respectively, as well as a sneak peek into the lives of singletons in First Dates UK and Bachelor in Paradise Australia. Over on Moja Love (DStv channel 157), Lovey Dovey One Million tasks 14 locals with a series of challenges in a bid to become the golden couple and winners of R1 million. Plus, Survivor USA returns for its 40th season on Vuzu while VIA (DStv channel 147) gives South African couples a chance to finally tie the knot in Eendag.
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