Briefly… DStv ‘switches on’ its new TV Guide app; Bling it on with SHINE/SKITTER luxury book; ABF subcommittee agrees on Bursary recipient; Capricorn FM celebrates its fourth birthday with growth spurt; Top comics battle it out for charity in Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge; M-Net Mobile and Discovery channels launch on DStv Mobile; Good Morning Angels help family rebuild their life after tornado
DStv ‘switches on’ its new TV Guide app
DStv is making massive headway into the post-PC landscape with the launch of its updated iPhone TV Guide app, developed in partnership with leading digital consultancy immedia. iOS Developer Jitesh Nunnan says that although the new iPhone version may at first glance look similar to the recently launched iPad app, its look and feel resonates more appropriately with the smartphone user.
“The app allows the user to discover content and plan their viewing quickly – while still reflecting the richness of the DStv brand,” he explains. An example of this is the ‘Right Now’ view that lets the user know what’s happening on DStv in real-time – a feature that is not necessarily required in the iPad app.
The new app also includes features of the iPad app that have proven incredibly popular with viewers such as: a ‘Remind Me’ button that allows users to set alerts for their favourite TV shows; and social aspects for users to share what they have really enjoyed watching via Facebook or email.
The new iPhone app also boasts these innovative services:
· Access the Channel Guide for the next ten days (even when you don’t have an internet connection).
· Channel filtering according to country, genre, DStv bouquet or a selection of the user’s favourite channels.
· Daily highlights and access to additional up-to-the-minute entertainment news from DStv.com.
Bling it on with SHINE/SKITTER luxury book
A custom-created gold ‘46664’ bracelet from Elegance, a Chopard pear-shaped 56.52ct amethyst and tsavorite pendant dangling from a necklace of amethyst beads, and an 18-carat white gold and diamond Edwardian-style tiara handmade by Charles Greig are but three of the exquisite items you will find showcased in the third annual issue of Shine.
First launched in 2009 by Kerese Thom and Yvonne Shaff for Media24, the annual full-size magazine showcasing top local and international jewellery and luxury brands arrives just in time for holiday shopping. Bagged with the bumper December issues of three top women’s magazine titles – FAIRLADY, Sarie and True Love — SHINE is a sparkling addition that rewards readers with two stunning reads for the price of one.
In addition to the magazine’s jewellery coverage, there are celebrities aplenty, with beautiful photos of favourite celebs wearing the most coveted luxury brands and a Q&A with Dior spokeswoman Charlize Theron.
ABF subcommittee agrees on Bursary recipient
The ABF’s Bursary subcommittee meeting took place last week where judges reviewed a shortlisted five applications and portfolios to determine the ABF’s 2012 Bursary recipient. The winner will be announced on November 30.
“I was intrigued by the level of creativeness,” said Pluto Panoussis, department head of film from The Open Window School of Visual Communication. “We saw real talent in these five portfolios before us but unfortunately could only award one bursary.”
Sharlene Vallance, executive committee member of the ABF, says that the ABF has been awarding a bursary to a student from AAA School of Advertising for three years.
“Education is a massively important aspect of a young adult’s life and we are finding that more and more students are resorting to juggling two jobs in order to make ends meet and pay tuition fees,” she says. “Although this is not the ‘core business’ of the ABF, we are ready to put our fundraising where our mouths are and at least make a very real difference in one young person’s life. Giving an opportunity to a youngster like this might very well mean the difference between success and failure.”
This year, not only will the bursary award winner be financially rewarded and able to continue their studies, but for the first time the judges have agreed to provide this student with time to shadow them in their work environment. The bursary winner will be provided with time to be part of a creative team while they work on actual briefs and get firsthand experience every step of the way.
Capricorn FM celebrates its fourth birthday with growth spurt
Capricorn FM will turn four on November 26, buoyed by the news that 1.5 million listeners are tuning in everyday to Limpopo’s ’hottest frequency’.
“Capricorn FM has positioned itself as a station of choice for the people of Limpopo, a partner in development with government and a gateway into the Limpopo province for advertisers,” says the station’s CEO, Simphiwe Mdlalose. “In all that we do, we have placed our listeners and clients first. The fact that we have been community oriented in our focus since we began broadcasting has won us the hearts of all our stakeholders.”
The station will take time to reflect and celebrate all that is has achieved in the past four years. Capricorn FM has also launched a partnership with Groupigg, LLC (Groupigg), a leading daily deals, software provider, making it the first radio station in Africa to host daily deals.
Another first for the station this November is Capricorn Jobs, in essence Capricorn FM can promote the station’s own job offering to loyal listeners and build annuity income base and further advertising base. Whilst not losing any on air or digital advertising revenue from other job portals or recruiters who wish to advertise with the station, it will generate more traffic and make a stronger business case to sell the digital online revenue.
Top comics battle it out for charity in Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge
Where is the last place you’d expect to find nine of SA’s top celebrity comedians? Probably exactly where they will be on November 20 – battling it out in this year’s Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge.
John Vlismas, Chris Forrest, Nik Rabinowitz, Ndumiso Lindi, Warren Robertson, Trevor Gumbi, Dave Levinsohn, Joey Rasdien and Malcolm Ferreira have come together for a hugely entertaining concept to raise sponsorship funding for the Topsy Foundation (www.topsy.org.za)
The Topsy Foundation is a non-profit organisation that works with impoverished rural communities in South Africa, empowering people infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS – through medical care, social support and skills training.
The celeb comics are asking members of the public to get involved in the battle by picking a side to support and voting for their side via SMS. Each R15 SMS is a donation to the Topsy Foundation.
SMS TOPSY FORREST to 39810 to vote for Chris Forrest (if you think he can take this rag-tag bunch of funny-men)
SMS TOPSY COMICS to 39810 to vote for the crew of comics (if you think their combined insanity can drive them over the finish line first!)
For full details see this page: www.topsy.org.za/vote
M-Net Mobile and Discovery channels launch on DStv Mobile
DStv Mobile has announced that critically acclaimed channel M-Net Mobile and the informative Discovery channel have been added to the DStv Mobile family of channels. This effectively means that there are now three packages for DStv Mobile subscribers to choose from:
e.mobile – E! Entertainment, Channel O, SuperSport Blitz, The eNews Channel, CNNi – Free
DStv Mobile – SuperSport 1,2,3,4, AfricaMagic, M-Net Series, SONYMax, Cartoon Network, Discovery plus all channels in the e.mobile package – R36 per month.
DStv Mobile for Premium subscribers – all channels in the DStv Mobile package plus M-Net Mobile. Available to DStv Premium subscribers at no subscription cost.
“Getting the channels is a huge plus for DStv Mobile subscribers who have been vocal and specific about their content preferences. We strive to acquire content that consumers want to watch and happy to welcome M-Net Mobile and The Discovery Channel into the DStv Mobile family” commented Motheo Matsau Head of Sales and Marketing DStv Mobile.
DStv Mobile coverage is available in the nine major cities of South Africa. For network coverage, programming schedule and compatible device details visit www.dstvmobile.com.
Good Morning Angels help family rebuild their life after tornado
When a tornado hit Duduza on October 3, 2011, the lives of Thabitha Sithole, her daughter Sibongile and her grandson changed drastically when their house was completely destroyed. There was a lot of fixing to be done and Jacaranda 94.2 and Builders Warehouse stepped up to the challenge!
On the evening the tornado struck at about 6:15pm Thabitha was in the kitchen preparing tea. Her grandchild then saw that the roof of their house was flying off and ran to his granny to tell her, but when he got there he found Thabitha lying on the floor. She had been struck by a brick and lay unconscious. The boy immediately ran to his mother who, in the chaos, rallied up neighbors, who helped get Thabitha to hospital.
Their story came to the attention of Jacaranda 94.2’s Good Morning Angels and Builders Warehouse Boksburg. Sibongile was surprised by an early morning phone call from one of Jacaranda 94.2’s lead angels, Dianne Broodryk, who informed her that Builders Warehouse won’t only be donating R 5000 to help the family to buy the groceries they need for a few months to come, but will also be sponsoring building material to the value of R50 000 to rebuild the family’s home.
Olga Mhlongo from Builders Warehouse and Jacaranda 94.2 Good Morning Angels agree: “Other companies need to join in these efforts in whichever big or small way they can. The devastation is almost incomprehensible and most families’ lives are in ruin, but, with the help of everyday people – as we see happening all over Duduza – miracles still happen today!”
