IGNITION becomes a 24-7 channel on DStv

Petrol heads and motoring fanatics will be able to indulge their passion 24/7 from Saturday, 5 July, as SA’s first motoring-only channel, IGNITION, kicks it up a gear when it launches a 24-hours-a-day, 7- days-a-week offering.

IGNITION, part of Times Media TV, has been broadcasting weekends-only on DStv Channel 189 since its launch in 2008. With the expansion in broadcasting hours, comes 20 new hours of programming every week including some of the best motoring content from around the globe and a vibrant slate of new local shows.

“IGNITION has proved a hit with car-mad viewers over the past five years and the opportunity to give them a chance to feed their obsession during the week as well has been long awaited,” says Lindsay Vine Smyth, executive producer for the channel.

From classics to race cars, documentaries to reality shows and everything in between, IGNITION 24/7 will hold wide appeal, not just for die-hard motoring nuts but also for the general viewing public looking for entertaining TV.

“South Africans don’t just love cars, they live cars,” says Times Media TV head Vernon Matzopoulos.“While our new IGNITION line-up stays true to the passion of the brand – it’s also becoming a bit younger, hipper and funkier. We’re predicting IGNITION will double its audience in a year.”

Aletta Alberts, general manager for content for MultiChoice, commented: “IGNITION has gone from strength to strength as a weekend offering and we’re delighted that this much loved channel will now be available 24/7 on the DStv platform. Local content is very important to our customers – IGNITION will continue to deliver more exciting local content to a predominantly male audience in the lifestyle genre.”

Expanded line-up

The expanded line-up will include new faces on IGNITION as well as some old favourites. Rally driver Gugu Zulu heats up the track on IGNITION GT every week as the GT LapZ segment searches for the fastest cars in the land; Sagie Moodley and Adam Ford continue to give viewers the lowdown on what cars to spend their money on in Buyer’s Guide; and Petrolheads, hosted by spunky newcomer Sbu Skosana, brings all the latest from the hottest motoring events in Southern Africa. Joining Sbu on one of the channel’s top-rated shows is DJ Deon Govender – continuing his search for the sickest tuned cars in KZN and superbabe Rikki Brest, who’ll be chatting to local celebs about the cars they drive.

Other home-grown programmes like The Bike Show, That 4×4 Show and Street Rods Africa are also in the line-up for the coming months. And new shows in development include Laduma with Vooma – a peek into the motoring lives of SA’s top soccer stars, and Tuned in SA – a showcase of what the country’s top tuners are up to.

New international shows that will appeal to the ultimate petrol head include Supercars, a German- produced series that goes under the hoods of the world’s fastest and most expensive machines; I Want That Car takes British vehicle buyers to famous UK race tracks to size up three different options when it comes to buying a used car; And Funkmaster Flex gets to grips with celebrity rides – literally – as this hip hop DJ gets to work on customising ordinary cars and transforming them into ferocious street rides in Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex.

IGNITION will kick off with its new programming schedule on Saturday 5 July on DStv Channel 189 and will be available to DStv Premium, Extra, Compact and Family customers. Any programmes missed over the weekend can be viewed as repeats during the week, with Monday to Friday prime time programming airing between 7pm and 11pm.

Visit www.ignitiontv.co.za for more information and full broadcast schedule.

 

[ source : IGNITION ]

[Auto Trader News and Reviews brought to you by vehicle information specialists]