All The DStv Shows To Look Forward To In May 2020

There will be no slowing down when it comes to entertainment on DStv in May. In fact, it’s going to be one of the most exciting months of the year in terms of new series and seasons. Here are just a few of the highlights that DStv customers across the spectrum of packages can look forward to.

DStv Premium

When it comes to international series, M-Net (101) is on fire this month. Brand new shows include Shrill, about a curvy young journalist trying to increase her self-worth despite what society has to say about her weight; Carol’s Second Act, starring the ever-hilarious Patricia Heaton as a 50-year-old medical intern; The Plot Against America starring Winona Ryder in an almost-true-to-life story about a celebrity-turned-president (sound familiar?) whose woeful ways capture the imagination and votes of the masses and On Becoming a God in Central Florida, which has been called “the best TV series of the year” and stars Kirsten Dunst as a working class mom who claws her way up the pyramid scheme that left her family broke. Then there’s tear-jerking family drama Council of Dads, which has been compared to This is Us, and is about a dying father who enlists his best friends to look after his family.

Returning favourites include Hawaii 5-0 S10 and the second season of Magnum PI.

My Brilliant Friend was a massive hit last year and now the series about Italian friends Elena and Lila returns for a second season. Cult-hit American Horror Story’s new season is called 1984 and the action takes place in a summer camp. There are also new seasons of the highly regarded A Million Little Things and Tell Me A Story.

BBC First (119) has some great series on its line-up, including White House Farm, a six-part drama about one of Britain’s most notorious murder cases – a family of five all shot to death on their estate in Essex. The second season of Liar promises more secrets and drama, as the mystery deepens.

On the documentary side, BBC Earth (184) brings Easy Ways to Live Well with celebrity chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (River Cottage) and Steph McGovern (BBC Breakfast) who test the latest health hacks. Anomaly: The Bermuda Triangle in Space looks at a possible Bermuda Triangle in Earth’s orbit. Tigers: Hunting the Traffickers is a fascinating and saddening under cover look at the cruel confinement and butchery of tigers in South East Asia. The absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley returns with another travel show, Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti where she finds secret gems in unlikely places.

The Sunday night M-Net movies this month include Stuber, an action-comedy starring Dave Bautista that sees an Uber driver and a cop team up to solve a crime. POMS is a heart-warming comedy about two women in a retirement home who start a cheerleading squad and stars Diane Keaton. The highly rated Us, starring Lupita Nyong’o, is a horror directed by Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele. Cold Blood sees French hitman Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional) return to our screens as Henry, a recluse murder-for-hire gunman. John Wick 3 features Keanu Reeves once again as a reluctant hitman. This time around John is declared excommunicated and fair game for bounty hunters.

For the kids, Nick Jr (307) brings Rusty Rivets, to inspire those with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths through the accomplishments of two young inventors.

The Adventures of Paddington is an animated show about the Peruvian bear, perfect for four-year-olds and up.

DStv Compact Plus

1Magic (103) sees the start of Guess Who? This local drama tells the story of family, life, love and everything in between. And speaking of love, The Oprah Winfrey Network brings you Love & Marriage: Huntsville S1, a reality TV series that’s going to serve straight up realness. Three high-powered black American couples come together to help the thriving city of Huntsville Atlanta. Then there’s Power S6 about wealthy nightclub owner James “Ghost” St. Patrick who secretly runs a drug operation. Reality show Growing Up Hip Hop S2 looks at the next generation of hip-hop royalty. Are they now ready to step out of the shadow of their parents?

Lovers of true-life stories are in for a real treat with the Lifetime (131) line-up this month. Movies include The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, the story of the highest-selling gospel group of all time; When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story about a 16-year-old teen mom who falls in with the wrong company; and Bobbi Kristina, about the tragic life of Whitney Houston’s daughter.

HISTORY (186) brings some riveting documentaries to life, including America on Fire, focusing on the American militia movement, Lost Relics of the Knights of the Templar, which attempts to establish a link between some old relics and the mythical Knights, D-Day: The Untold Stories about the key events of the Allied invasion of Nazi-held Europe and Alone: The Beast, a survival series showcasing three strangers attempting to survive for 30 days in the wilderness.

More documentaries are in store for true crime fans, who will be obsessed with the new season of The Real Prime Suspect and Murder for My Man on CBS Justice (170)which focuses onstories about women who would do anything to please their men ­– even murder.

Reality sees brand-new series The Funny Dance Show make its debut on E! Entertainment (124). Two teams of comedians compete in a series of comedic dance-offs each week. Total Bellas S5 again focuses on life and love outside the wrestling ring. Comedy Central (122) sees the start of sketch show Alternatino with Arturo Castro S1, focusing on Latino people living in America.

Hey Duggee on CBeebies (306) is a preschool series perfect for children and parents to watch together as it can lead to important conversations about experiences that youngsters might encounter on a daily basis. Dogs Loves Books is an adorable new cartoon that tells the story of Dog who loves books, loves reading them and loves collecting them. Nickelodeon (305) features SpongeBob SquarePants Best Escape Ever Marathon, as well as the Kids’ Day Marathon, a special day for children everywhere that will have them spoilt for choice with a day dedicated to their favourite Nickelodeon shows.

DStv Compact

The superhero universe is alive on M-Net City (115) this month. Favourites Supergirl and The Flash, and new series Batwoman started at the end of April and joining them in May is Arrow, who returns for an eighth and final season. Also on M-Net City is the second season of Charmed, in which Mal, Macy and Maggie must use their magic powers to ward off monsters and demons.

Mzansi Magic (161) boasts its usual line-up of local series, and adding to the list are a collection of local movies, which will be screened every Saturday night. Viewers can look forward to movies such as Uyangenza, Umlingisi and Monate Mpolaye.

There’s also plenty of movie action on Studio Universal (112). Offerings include Bulletproof Monk, about a monk chosen to protect a secret scroll, and Blood Brother, about a man who was arrested 15 years ago and is now seeking revenge on his friends who set him up.

On National Geographic (181), documentaries include Stonehenge Decoded: Update which looks at new theories on who actually built the ancient monument;  Airport Security: Peru & Brazil which focuses specifically on drug smugglers in these regions, Heroes of the Sky: The Real Mighty Eighth which examines the Eighth Air Force and the role it played in bombing Germany during World War II; Saving Notre Dame, which takes a look at the rebuilding of the iconic French church; and X-Ray Earth S1, which uses new technology to reveal incredible information about our planet.

Stacey Dooley may have won the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing, but she’s better known for her real job as a hard-hitting journalist who always asks the right questions. This month you can see her on BBC Brit in Stacey Dooley: Bounty Hunters; Stacey Dooley: Face to Face With Arms Dealers; Stacey Dooley: Isis Brides and Stacey Dooley: Inside Spain’s Narcos War.

More hard-hitting news comes your way in the form of Torn from the Headlines: New York Post Reports on Investigation Discovery (171). It’s a jaw-dropping six-episode series that details some of the Big Apple’s headline stories told by the journalists who broke the story.

On a brighter note, HGTV (177) brings the much-talked about Celebrity IOU to our screens. The Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott help Hollywood A-listers express their gratitude to a special person in their lives. One of the guests is Brad Pitt.

DStv Family

Moja Love’s (157) got some more local programming to love in May, starting with season 4of Ufelani. Settle in for more South African true-crime stories in the new season of this heart-breaking docu-drama series.There’s also No Excuses Pay Papgeld S5 in whichDr Malinga is once again hot on the trail of deadbeat dads who have ducked and dived when it comes to paying child maintenance.

On the series front, the brand-new crime-buster series Deputy starts on Universal (177). When the busy Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department loses their beloved sheriff, a fifth-generation lawman Bill Hollister (Dorff) takes over the reins. But Bill soon find he has to deal with more than just crime.

New reality series include Fish or Die on Discovery Family (136), followingfour friends who venture into some of the most remote and dangerous places on Earth to go fishing.

Myne vir Joune is abrand-new Afrikaans reality series on VIA (147), that will see two members from two different South African families suddenly find themselves in each other’s homes! There’s also a second season of Afrikaans foodie magazine show Klankbord, also on VIA.

The children are going to love the new shows on NickToons (308). There’s Kingdom Force which will have pre-schoolers everywhere literally jumping for joy as they watch this brand-new animation series. Then there’s  ALVINNN!!! And the Chipmunks S2 and Danny Phantom S3.

DStv Access

MTV Base (322) will keep the party going this May with Gqom Fridays, featuring thehottest Gqom tracks from the biggest artists. Then, on Saturdays, there’s Breakfast Bangers, in which the hottest music playlists are curated just for you.

Reality will see a very special season of 90 Day Fiancé: Self-Quarantined S1 on TLC (135). This five-episode spin-off will feature over 40 people who’ve formerly appeared on the show, updating viewers on their lives as they stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic through self-shot footage and remote camera interviews.

There’s also another season of Judge Judy on CBS Reality (132). The much-loved and feared retired Manhattan family court judge will preside over even more eye-popping cases. Also on CBS Reality is a fresh season of Border Security, which sees airport customs officers take on some of the world’s most innovative smugglers.

On the documentary side, National Geographic Wild (182) presents Women of Wild. Every  Wednesday evening will be dedicated to focusing on the strong, resilient, independent, highly-professional and compassionate women who care for the wild.

History of Africa S2 sees presenter Zeinab Badawi return for a second season of her breath-taking exploration of the African continent on BBC World News (400).

The Home Channel (176) will take viewers to the Coolest Places to Stay, focusing on utterly phenomenal getaway spaces. You may not be able to live the dream but you can definitely see it up close in the finest detail.   

The little ones can watch more exciting adventures in the second season of Vampirina on Disney Junior (309); ThunderCats Roar onCartoon Network (301)and Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures S3 on Disney Junior (309).

So sit back, relax and rest assured that DStv’s legacy as your home of entertainment is everlasting!

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb