Launched on Monday, 28 September and running across all their channels globally, Picture This will leverage the TV channels’ storytelling expertise to engage viewers around environmental issues important to each of their territories markets.

In South Africa, Picture This will be promoting initiatives to save the rhino on both the Sony Channel, channel 127 on DStv, and Sony Max, channel 128 on DStv.

Picture This initiatives in other territories include: recycling in Russia; eliminating plastic bag use in Asia; waste disposal in Italy and India; urban gardening in Latin America; and deforestation in Romania.

Says Andy Kaplan, president, worldwide networks for Sony Pictures Television (SPT); “With the reach of our global networks and the passion of our storytelling, our networks will both engage the community and energise people to action by picturing a better environment. Collectively we can make noise heard around the world on behalf of issues that are central to everyone’s well-being and do it in an entertaining way.”

According to Savetherhino.org, rhino poaching in South Africa has reached a crisis point, and if the killing continues at its current rate, rhino deaths would overtake births between 2016 and 2018, meaning rhinos could go extinct in the very near future. Figures compiled by the South African Department of Environmental affairs show the dramatic escalation in poaching over recent years. During 2014, a staggering 1215 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa, one every eight hours. Compare this to 2007 when 13 rhino were killed.

Lyle Stewart, senior vice president for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMA) for Sony Pictures Television Networks says; “We can only stop the extinction of the rhinos’ through our collective efforts.  As a local market platform, the Sony Channel and Sony Max are delighted to be able to support such a worthwhile campaign and one that many South African’s care deeply about.”

For more information, visit www.sonychannel.co.za. Alternatively connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.