EMovies

EMovies is a South African movie-focused television channel associated with e.tv and eMedia Investments. It was introduced as a 24-hour digital satellite free-to-air service on 16 October 2013 and was designed to provide a continuous schedule of films to viewers in South Africa. The channel is distributed through Openview, eMedia Investments' free-to-air satellite television platform, and forms part of the wider e.tv family of television services. The EMovies brand later expanded through the launch of eMovies Extra, a companion channel introduced on Openview in 2016. The additional service broadened the group's movie-channel offering and operated alongside the original EMovies channel. Both EMovies services were subsequently carried by DStv, MultiChoice's subscription television platform, from 17 May 2017, together with other e.tv-related channels. This gave the channels access to a larger pay-television audience beyond their primary Openview distribution. The relationship with DStv later became the subject of a carriage dispute between eMedia Investments and MultiChoice. EMovies, eMovies Extra, eExtra and eToonz were initially scheduled for removal from DStv on 1 April 2022. The channels remained available for approximately two additional months while eMedia Investments pursued an application before South Africa's Competition Tribunal concerning the carriage arrangements. By the end of May 2022, EMovies and eMovies Extra had ceased transmission on DStv, where they were replaced or supplemented by other services, including KIX and the planned Movie Room channel. In August 2022, EMovies, eMovies Extra, eExtra and eToonz returned to DStv for a further six-month period while the related investigation remained pending. The carriage dispute was ultimately settled between eMedia Investments and MultiChoice by the end of August 2024. EMovies is therefore best understood as a television-channel brand rather than a standalone production company: its identity is tied to scheduled movie programming, the e.tv channel family, and distribution across Openview and, at various times, DStv.

EMovies launched in South Africa on 16 October 2013 as a 24-hour digital satellite free-to-air movie channel created for e.tv and eMedia Investments' Openview platform. Its programming proposition centered on continuous film scheduling rather than general entertainment, allowing the e.tv group to maintain a dedicated destination for movie viewers within its broader television portfolio. The brand expanded in 2016 when eMovies Extra was introduced as a sister channel on Openview. The companion service gave eMedia Investments a second movie-oriented outlet and strengthened the group's ability to organize its film offering across more than one channel. In addition to Openview distribution, both EMovies services were added to DStv on 17 May 2017 together with other channels in the e.tv family. This arrangement placed the free-to-air channel brand on South Africa's leading subscription television platform as well as its home satellite service. Distribution on DStv became contentious in 2022. EMovies, eMovies Extra, eExtra and eToonz were due to leave the platform on 1 April 2022. eMedia Investments filed an application with the Competition Tribunal concerning its carriage agreement with MultiChoice, and the channels continued to be carried for roughly two more months during the dispute. By the end of May, EMovies and eMovies Extra had ceased transmission on DStv. The channel space was supplemented by KIX and a forthcoming movie service referred to as Movie Room. The services were reinstated on DStv in August 2022 for an additional six-month period while the related investigation remained unresolved. The dispute was eventually settled by eMedia Investments and MultiChoice by the end of August 2024. EMovies' documented history consequently combines the development of a dedicated South African movie-channel proposition with the commercial and regulatory importance of television carriage agreements. Its principal continuing platform is Openview, while its DStv availability has changed according to the parties' distribution arrangements.

• 2024

  Distribution dispute settled

  [1]EMoviesen.wikipedia.org

  eMedia Investments and MultiChoice settle their dispute concerning the channels by the end of August.

• 2022

  DStv carriage ends after a dispute

  [1]EMoviesen.wikipedia.org

  Following a temporary continuation and a Competition Tribunal application by eMedia Investments, EMovies and eMovies Extra cease transmission on DStv by the end of May.

• 2022

  Temporary DStv reinstatement

  [1]EMoviesen.wikipedia.org

  EMovies and related eMedia channels return to DStv for a further six-month period while the carriage investigation remains pending.

• 2017

  EMovies joins the DStv lineup

  [1]EMoviesen.wikipedia.org

  EMovies and eMovies Extra are added to DStv alongside other e.tv family channels.

• 2016

  eMovies Extra launches

  [1]EMoviesen.wikipedia.org

  A companion movie channel, eMovies Extra, is introduced on Openview.

• 2013

  EMovies launches

  [1]EMoviesen.wikipedia.org

  EMovies begins operating as a 24-hour South African digital satellite free-to-air movie channel associated with e.tv and Openview.

A South African, movie-focused television channel brand offering continuous film programming through the Openview platform and selected third-party television distribution arrangements.

• Television channel · 2013

  EMovies

  The main EMovies service is a 24-hour South African digital satellite free-to-air channel focused on movie programming. It was created for e.tv and the Openview platform and serves as the core film channel in the eMedia Investments television portfolio. The channel has also been distributed through DStv at different points in its history.

• Companion television channel · 2016

  eMovies Extra

  eMovies Extra is the sister movie channel to EMovies. It launched on Openview in 2016 and operated as part of eMedia Investments' expanded film-channel offering. Like the main service, it was carried on DStv during periods when the e.tv family had a carriage arrangement with MultiChoice.

• 2022

  Challenge to DStv carriage changesOther

  Background

  MultiChoice planned to remove EMovies and related eMedia channels from DStv. eMedia Investments disputed the carriage arrangement and brought an application before the Competition Tribunal.

  Action taken

  eMedia Investments pursued the tribunal application, while the channels remained available beyond the initially announced removal date and were later temporarily reinstated.

  Aftermath

  EMovies and eMovies Extra ceased transmission on DStv in May 2022, returned temporarily in August, and the broader dispute was settled by August 2024.

  Source

1. 1EMoviesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2EMovies official pageetv.co.za