Skittish reaction to programming
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SBS has signed a deal with the US media company Vice to package its content library into a new channel, SBS Viceland, which will replace the SBS2 free-to-air digital channel service. SBS says the new programming slate will cover "culture, music, sports, fashion, technology and more". The news was met with a somewhat skittish reaction from the community, segments of whom have flagged concerns that US cable-channel content is too great a departure from SBS's charter obligation of programming which reflects Australia's multi-cultural community. SBS has not yet revealed the full program line-up for the channel, but plans to launch it on November 15.
Presto platform to close
The streaming platform Presto will close in the first major shake-up to the local subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market. The move followed Foxtel buying out its Presto joint venture partner Seven Media and then confirming the closure of the platform. Foxtel will instead focus on its own streaming platform, Foxtel Play. A new HBO deal for Foxtel means the Foxtel Play service will offer the HBO library as one of its key programming assets. The move leaves Netflix and Stan as the market's two leading standalone SVOD players. In a separate move, the US company Karma Media has acquired the SVOD and DVD mail-order company Quickflix.
Dynasty remake commissioned
The US network The CW has commissioned a remake of Dynasty, the 1980s prime time soap opera which defined the excesses of that decade. The legendary soap, which aired between 1981 and 1989, was a drama about two duelling families, the wealthy Carringtons and their rivals, the Colbys. The reboot is to be produced by the creative team behind Gossip Girl, producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and Dynasty's original creators, Richard and Esther Shapiro. No casting information has been released. CBS Studios will produce a pilot before deciding whether to proceed to series.
Euro vision for Alexa
Alexa Curtis, the winner of The Voice Kids in 2014, will represent Australia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. It is the second time an Australian has competed in the contest, following Bella Paige's performance at the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Sofia, Bulgaria. Though Australia is not located geographically within Europe, we have been competing in the main Eurovision Song Contest for two years now and we will likely return next year to compete in Kiev, Ukraine, ahead of the launch of an Asia-based spin-off singing competition. The 12-year-old Alexa Curtis will compete in November in Valetta, Malta.