October is a scream on DStv Premium
25 September 2020
DStv Premium subscribers can gather treats from every channel on DStv this October.

25 September 2020
DStv Premium subscribers can gather treats from every channel on DStv this October.
October brings us 2 full moons and a candy bag of a month, full of spooky programming for Halloween on DStv, including the long-awaited The Walking Dead S10 finale special on FOX (DStv 125), and the ecological comic book horror series Swamp Thing on M-Net City (DStv 115). The Lifetime Channel (DStv 131) dishes up 4 tales of terror in its creepy October movies about women lured into dangerous relationships.
And there are loads of Halloween-themed movies that’ll be available on the DStv Catch Up service to watch whenever you’re feeling haunted. For the kids, there's a magical, bewitching new series called The Owl House on Disney Channel (DStv 303), and all the kids' channels will be running their Halloween-themed episodes of the tinies' favourite shows on Saturday, 31 October.
There are dynamite new dramas including Ethan Hawke’s surprisingly funny Civil War abolitionist tale The Good Lord Bird on M-Net (DStv 101), the revamped Party Of Five if you’re looking for a show that’ll steal your heart and make it bleed on M-Net (DStv 101), and Vula Vala, a new tale of secret fathers, soccer stars and crime bosses, is #goals on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).
Reality fans can settle in for Miss Fabulous herself Khanyi Mbau's intimate new show on BET (DStv 129), E! (DStv 124) will be celebrating Kim Kardashian's 40th birthday, as well as introducing us to a new reality clan to love with The Bradshaw Bunch.
Talent show fundis can keep an eye out for South African singer Belinda Davids in Britain's Got Talent S14 on M-Net (DStv 101), and quiz show Pointless returns to BBC Brit (DStv 120), as does Strictly Come Dancing, as we wiggle along to S18.
Caffeine addicts will have a new BFF when they meet Henriëtte Marx in kykNET's new lifestyle series Netkoffie (DStv 144), adventure junkies will get a new perspective on Africa – especially South Africa, thanks to Instagram celeb World Wide Nate, who now has his own cooking and travel show on Discovery Family (DStv 136), and if you're looking for old friends, kykNET is bringing back Nataniël in his sneaky lockdown travel and cooking show Toegang. Those looking for only the spiciest local flavours can give Phat Joe's new celeb chow down on Cheeky Palate a shot on 1Magic (DStv 103). And if you're just looking for relaxing chat and music, Kelly Clarkson is back with a second season of her talkshow on M-Net (DStv 101).
True crime buffs, prepare to feast like Tiger Kings as Investigation Discovery (DStv 171) brings us a brand-new Tiger King series and a documentary special. Documentary fans can also look forward to the inspiring Chasing The Sun series on M-Net (DStv 101) that takes us inside the SA Rugby Team's 2019 World Cup victory in Japan and shows us how their teamwork made the dream work. Samuel L Jackson's brilliant and heart-wrenching exploration of the Transatlantic slave trade takes the spotlight on 1Magic (DStv 103). And the History channel (DStv 186) is coming up Trumps in the run-up to the US Presidential election on Tuesday, 3 November as it delves into the background of the current President, examines The US's political divisions, and takes us inside a White House special project and Air Force One itself. It’s World Animal Day on Sunday, 4 October, and National Geographic Wild (DStv 182) will be celebrating with a whole day of animal-centric specials, along with dedicating the entire month to one extra-scary animal in particular: the crocodile. Welcome to Croctober, fans!
Finally we’ll be welcoming a brand-new Miss SA on M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday, 24 October.
October is packed wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor. Read on for all the dates, times and details of all these shows and more below,
The world rejoiced when Zozibini Tunzi became Miss Universe in December 2019, passing her Miss SA Crown to Alberton-born Sasha-Lee Laurel Olivier. What a year it has been for Sasha, who took up the fight on behalf of survivors of sexual assault and abuse with her #itsnotyourfault campaign all through lockdown during the global pandemic. Now while she’ll continue her fight, she’ll be passing on the crown, sash and platform to a new beautiful mind. This 2-hour special comes to viewers live from Cape Town, where we will see this year’s 10 finalists show why they should represent South Africa and possibly – if they make the top 3 – go on to take the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Supranational pageants.
Watch on Saturday, 24 October on M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) at 17:00
Early on in the pandemic lockdown, people all over the world were obsessed with the Netflix Tiger King series, a bizarre tale of murder allegations, murder for hire, big personalities, big cats and the epic battle between Joe Exotic and his nemesis, Carol Baskin. Now 2 new documentaries are aiming to take a different perspective on the story. The news that actor Nicolas Cage is preparing to play Joe Exotic isn't even the strangest thing to have happened in the Tiger’s tale this year.
The Lifetime channel is going all-out this October to bring us psychological horror and stories of human monsters that will make your skin crawl. For ultimate effect, watch for the dubious safety of your bath with rose petals, candles, a glass of wine… and a sense of paranoia that’ll have you wondering whether you just heard footsteps or saw a shadow pass under your door.
There’s something spooky and kooky for the kids this October, too.
In this brand-new animated fantasy series, 14-year-old human girl Luz (voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) stumbles across a hidden magical world while she’s at a summer camp for juvenile delinquents. Despite not having any innate magical powers, Luz is determined to study as an apprentice with Eda (voiced by Wendie Malick), the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles. Thanks to her success at helping Eda on a quest, Luz eventually becomes an exchange student at Hexside Academy.
“I’m a big fan of old, medieval art. So the general look and concept of the show first came from when I was looking through old art books and old history books, rediscovering the works of Hieronymus Bosch, which was basically Pokémon in the 1500s,” says series creator Dana Terrace. “One of the main themes that I really like, with Luz and the other characters, is freedom of expression – and that being different is okay.”
Watch from Monday, 26 October on Disney Channel (DStv 303) at 15:15
Plan your Halloween Saturday with special themed episodes of all the following shows, which will be playing on your kids’ favourite channels…
The Scare-A-Thon Stunt Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Nickelodeon (DStv 305) from 11:05
Halloween Marathon Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Nick Jr (DStv 307) from 13:00
Bunnicula Halloween Stunt Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Boomerang (DStv 302) from 15:10
Halloween Stunt Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Disney Channel (DStv 303) from 16:10
Siesta Z Halloween Special Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Da Vinci (DStv 318) at 17:10
Science Max Halloween Special Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Da Vinci (DStv 318) at 17:40
Make Me a Super Halloween Special Watch on Saturday, 31 October on Da Vinci (DStv 318) at 18:10
All of the following movies can be enjoyed on DStv Now, or you can watch them on DStv Catch Up to create your own special Halloween weekend movie marathon.
And check out this link to see what’ll be on the brand-new all-action KIX Channel (DStv 114) over the Halloween weekend.
DStv Premium viewers will crush those Sunday blues in October thanks to this uplifting collaboration between M-Net (DStv 101) and SuperSport. Chasing The Sun tells the story of a Springbok rugby team and their journey from dejection and underperformance to becoming the champions of the world. And you don’t have to have watched a minute of rugby or even care about sports at all to take that in and make it your own.
Throughout its 5 40-minute episodes, Chasing The Sun gives viewers unprecedented access to behind-the-scenes footage of the Springboks in their preparation for the World Cup – from matches, locker room discussions, practices, and exclusive fresh insights from the coaching staff, players and commentators.
The title of the show is taken from a quote from former president Nelson Mandela. As the last century ended and Nelson Mandela was resigning from public office, his 1999 farewell speech to Parliament closed with his dream that “all our children may play in the sun” – 21 years later, a team made up of those varied children, chased and found that sun, in Japan.
Starts Sunday, 4 October on M-Net (DStv 101) at 18:00
Executive producers Samuel L Jackson and LaTanya Jackson, and author/broadcaster Afua Hirsch and investigative journalist Simcha Jacobovici, are probably about to educate you more about slavery in these 6 episodes than your entire school career might have. The documentary takes Samuel’s experiences of searching out his family’s roots in Gabon, to reframe the misery, cruelty and scope of the Transatlantic slave trade. Each episode combines 3 angles: Samuel’s personal journey; the search for a sunken slave ship (a different ship in each episode); and Simcha and Afua’s historical research into the documented evidence produced by the trade throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas. “I count myself as being from a tribe of survivors," says Samuel as he introduces this story. And as much as this documentary is an indictment of the trade as a whole and the thought used to justify it, it is also a celebration of the resilience of the survivors and the traces of their culture and homes that they clung to against all odds and abuses.
Starts Wednesday, 21 October on 1Magic (DStv 103) at 20:30
National Geographic Wild’s special day of programming on Sunday, 4 October will include 2 new brand-new episodes of Secrets Of The Zoo, one focussed on tigers and the other on rhinos. Here’s what to expect on the day:
Watch on Sunday, 4 October on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182) from 00:30
This stunt of programming is dedicated to one of the fiercest predators in the wild today: the crocodile. As well as digging back into the prehistoric times, the shows will bring us in-depth stories of how crocs around the world hunt and live. Enjoy the following specials:
Sunday, 11 October
Sunday, 18 October
Sunday, 25 October
Starts Sunday, 11 October to Sunday, 25 October on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182) from 18:00
Dr. Lauren Thielen (Dr. T) from pet & vet series Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER is opening up her own exotic animal practice in her home state of Texas. She’s next door to one of the state's largest and busiest animal hospitals. Dr. T will be one of 12 specialists called on to treat everything from emus, to hedgehogs, lemurs to cockatiels. There’s even a kangaroo. She specialises in the smaller exotic animals, who require the most delicate of handling. “In Florida and Texas, for the most part, the climate is acceptable, but they’re also the biggest hubs for exotic animal importation, actually, Texas being huge for that. So I think that’s why we get a lot of it,” explains Dr. T. “I like the little prickly or fuzzy ones – or animals that I can just carry around effortlessly, that’s my type of pet or patient.”
Starts Wednesday, 14 October on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182) at 18:00