DStv And Openview Channel Changes From 01 January 2025 To 31 March 2026

Continuing onto 2024, MultiChoice hasn't been productive in new channel allocations we can only assume this had to do with the loss in DStv consumers. With Canal+ that takeover in 2025 is working on trying to reverse these losses.

We're going to divulge on the number of developments to have occured between 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2026.

As we've previously mentioned, MultiChoice hasn't done much in terms of additions with Star Khanya that made its 2025 slate followed by Base Pulse in 2026. There was also the rebrand of E! to Bravo and Trace Africa to Trace Ngoma.

With Canal+ taking the heels they do promise new content for 2026 so we'll see what happens. But to a lot of people that worked around this industry, 2025 for MultiChoice was kind of sloppy but an improved from the bloodbath of 2024.

MultiChoice lost about 12-14 within the 2024 period and only got 2 to 3 new channels added. Last year, these cuts only affected 7 channels including 1Max, Qwest TV, CBS Reality, CBS Justice, BET, MTV Base and TLNovelas.

These numbers could have skyrocketed to 19 channels if Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery couldn't come to an agreement to continue carriage of Discovery Channel, TLC and Cartoon Network.

Aside from this, consumers got to see the expansion on existing DStv services with Compact and Access that got 5 channels and Family that got 6 channels. These would include DreamWorks Channel, History, Comedy Central and Zee World.

eMedia Investments had also moved at a slow pace in terms of additions on Openview but in their case it's understandable considering there's no monthly fees. In 2024, consumers welcomed two channels to their offering, Sporty TV and Star Khanya.

It was also a disastrous and embarrassing year as it's failed pay-tv venture Ultraview was silently discontinued. To top it off, eMedia Investments opted to keep the closure details of this offering under wraps from the media.

Unlike OUTtv and FUSE whose offering formed part of eVOD, eMedia Investments didn't retain any of the content from Star Select and Zee Family. The only way anyone can view the lineup would be getting the DStv Indian package.

JioStar and Zee Entertainment Enterprises that serve as the distributors of Star Select and Zee Family also distribute Star Life and Zee One on Openview. So it's likely that some of the content will resurface dubbed on these channels.

Below is a summary of the changes 

DStv

New channels/rebrands

Star Khanya

Bravo (formerly E!)

Trace Ngoma (formerly Trace Africa)

Base Pulse 

Closure

1Max

Qwest TV

CBS Reality

CBS Justice

BET 

MTV Base

TLNovelas 

Expansion

SuperSport Action - from DStv Compact+ to Compact 

History - from DStv Compact+ to Compact 

Curiosity Channel - from DStv Compact+ to Compact 

CBS Justice - from DStv Compact+ to Compact 

Africa Magic Showcase - from DStv Compact+ to Compact 

Disney Channel - from DStv Compact to Family

HGTV - from DStv Compact to Family 

Comedy Central - from DStv Compact to Family 

Nickelodeon - from DStv Compact to Family 

Nick Jr. - from DStv Compact to Family 

DreamWorks Channel - from DStv Compact to Family 

Nicktoons - from DStv Family to Access 

Zee World - from DStv Family to Access 

SuperSport Schools - from DStv Access to Easyview 

WWE - from DStv Family to DStv Access

Trace Ngoma - from DStv Family to DStv Access

Trace Gospel - from DStv Family to DStv Access

Openview

New channel

Sporty TV

Star Khanya

Closure 

Star Select

Zee Family 

Op 'n Afgrond, Brand New Series Launches On eVOD

eVOD, a South African based streaming service operated by eMedia Investments will be rolling out a new Afrikaans dubbed Turkish drama called Op 'n Afgrond. Known in Turkey as Siyah Kalp, it will be streaming on eVOD from Wednesday 13 May.

It starred Ece Uslu as Sumru Devresli, Aras Aydın as Nuh Çakırca, Hafsanur Sancaktutan as Melek Çakırca, Burak Tozkoparan as Cihan Şansalan, Leyla Tanlar as Sevilay Günser and Burak Sergen as Samet Şansalan.

Synopsis for Op 'n Afgrond 

The story kicks off with the arrival of twins, Nuh and Melek, in Cappadocia. They are seeking the mother who abandoned them years ago—Sumru.

Sumru has built a new, wealthy life as the matriarch of the Şansalan family, keeping her first children a complete secret from her husband and her current life.

When Nuh and Melek find her, they aren't just looking for a reunion; they are fueled by the pain of abandonment. Their presence threatens to dismantle the "perfect" facade Sumru has carefully constructed.

As the twins infiltrate the Şansalan world, they become entangled with Sumru's other children and business associates. This creates a web of forbidden romances and high-stakes rivalries, particularly involving characters like Cihan and Sevilay.

SA Rugby and Canal+ Sign Rights Renewal Agreement

SA Rugby and the CANAL+ Group, MultiChoice Group’s parent company, have concluded the renewal of their multi-year domestic broadcast rights agreement.

The renewal of the agreement will see SuperSport, Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, continue to be the only official broadcast rights holder for all SARU’s domestic competitions and Springbok women’s and junior age-group matches in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This announcement is the first of its kind with a major local sports federation since CANAL+ joined forces with the MultiChoice Group in September last year, reaffirming CANAL+’s long-term commitment to local sport.

SuperSport has been a proud SA Rugby broadcast partner for more than 30 years.

SARU President Mark Alexander said: “We are very happy to have concluded our first agreement with the MultiChoice Group and CANAL+ Group after a thorough and extensive series of engagements. They have demonstrated a shared understanding of the importance of rugby to the South African public and we trust this is the first of many such agreements.”

CANAL+ Africa CEO David Mignot was delighted with the continuation of the domestic rights agreement, which will make all domestic rugby matches available exclusively on SuperSport.

'PROUD MOMENT'

In South Africa, the SuperSport channels are supplied by Canal + Africa to MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd, which provides the DStv offering to subscribers.

“As promised, we are doubling down on our investment in local content, including the sports content that matters the most to people on the continent. In the South African market, rugby has grown into becoming a part of the national psyche – as evidenced by the national euphoria that erupted each time the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup,” said Mignot.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer added: “Broadcasting rights are fundamental to the health and sustainability of sport in South Africa and rugby is no different. SuperSport has been a long-standing and trusted partner to South African rugby, and we are delighted to continue our partnership.

“The world of rugby and broadcasting has changed significantly since we signed our first agreement in the 1990s but it is a testimony to our mutual interests that the partnership continues to endure.”

Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa : “The renewal of the domestic broadcast agreement is not just the strengthening of our long-standing partnership with SA Rugby but a victory for DStv viewers and subscribers, who have come to trust us to bring the best sports content to them in our world-class broadcast quality.

“To be able to continue this promise is a proud moment for us, and it reaffirms our commitment to the sports fan. We’re grateful to our partners at SA Rugby for their collaborative spirit.”

e.tv Is Bringing Two Original Dramas To The Lineup: eGagasini: Waves Of Change And The Four Of Us

e.tv is bringing two new original dramas to its primetime lineup with the upcoming premiere of eGagasini: Waves of Change and The Four of Us. Scheduled to launch on 29 June 2026, the two series will anchor a brand-new primetime power hour, delivering exactly what South African audiences want at the peak of the evening schedule: intense conflict, compelling characters, and high-stakes drama.

Both titles join a strong slate of local storytelling on e.tv, stepping into the timeslots held by two of South Africa’s most-loved dramas, Scandal! and House of Zwide. With eGagasini: Waves of Change and The Four of Us, viewers can expect bold narratives rooted in family, ambition, betrayal, and survival - brought to life by two of the country's most respected production houses.

Joining the new 7:30PM slot is eGagasini: Waves of Change, taking over from House of Zwide as a stylish youth music daily drama produced by Stained Glass TV, the award-winning production house behind Durban Gen. Produced by Gugulethu Zuma and Pepsi Pokane, the series delivers a fresh, youthful story set against the vibrant pulse of Durban's fast-rising music scene.

Tshedza Pictures brings a gripping new family drama to the 8PM slot with The Four of Us, marking the acclaimed production company's first-ever production for e.tv and taking over from Scandal!. Produced by celebrated storytelling duo Phathutshedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, the series promises the kind of captivating, character-driven drama that e.tv audiences know and love.

Speaking on the production, Stained Glass TV executive producer Pepsi Pokane says eGagasini is a story about the dangerous collision between dreams and consequences.

"At its heart, eGagasini explores what young people are willing to sacrifice in pursuit of success. It is vibrant, aspirational, and deeply rooted in music culture, but beneath that is a tense thriller about guilt, fear, and the weight of one life-changing decision. We are excited to bring audiences a story that feels fresh, contemporary, and emotionally charged."

Phathutshedzo Makwarela, Executive Producer at Tshedza Pictures, says the production marks a significant milestone for the company.

"Tshedza Pictures is proud to be debuting a new telenovela on e.tv for the very first time. We are going on a journey with the loyal viewers of e.tv, a journey built on relatable characters and the kind of compelling, edge-of-the-seat storytelling we love delivering to millions of South Africans. The Four of Us is a story worth waiting for."

"Launching two new shows signifies a major expansion in our primetime storytelling at e.tv. We are excited to partner with these renowned, award-winning production houses, whose expertise will help us craft narratives that authentically reflect the complexities of our societies. Our channel is dedicated to delivering content that sparks conversation and cultivates audience engagement and loyalty," said Helga Palmer, Group Head of Content Development and Strategy at eMedia.

Together, eGagasini: Waves of Change and The Four of Us form e.tv's new primetime power hour — a double commission that gives South African viewers two unmissable new reasons to be in front of the screen each night.

DStv Stream Debuts Beaulah: Queens Van Die Kaap Season 2

The queens are back — and according to the cast of Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap, the drama, shade and glamour are bigger than ever.

The SAFTA-nominated reality series returns for a second season on DStv Stream from 12 May 2026, once again taking viewers behind the scenes of Cape Town’s vibrant drag world.

Produced by Pop24, the team behind shows including The Mommy Club, Tollie & Manila and Bae Beyond Borders, the series follows seven drag performers as they navigate friendships, rivalries, performances and personal struggles.

Season Two Promises More Drama and New Alliances

Season one of Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap left audiences with fractured friendships, simmering tensions and plenty of unforgettable moments. Now, season two picks up right where the drama left off.

According to the show’s producers, “the beef and shade are still very much alive,” with viewers set to see shifting loyalties and surprising new dynamics among the Cape Town queens.

The cast includes multi-pageant winner Emogan Moore, Miss Sovereign Western Cape winner Ina Propriette, Miss Cape Town Pride winner Kat Gilardi, television personality Madison Scarr, Miss Gay Western Cape winner Maxine Wild, rival house mothers BB Vahlour and Madison Scarr, and SA’s Got Talent runner-up Manila Von Teez.

BB Vahlour Reflects on Representation and Growth

BB Vahlour, one of the show’s three trans women cast members, said returning for a second season carries both meaning and responsibility.

“Returning for a second season feels like an opportunity to deepen the work we started and to grow alongside the audience and the ‘characters’ we are on the show,” she said.

“It is both an honour and a responsibility to keep the story authentic and true to ourselves, while also showing where our drag is in our lives now, what and who we represent and the importance of uniting all drag queens.”

Expect Bigger Looks, Bigger Personalities and Bigger Fights

Fabian van Schalkwyk, better known as Emogan Moore, teased an explosive new season packed with fashion, friendships and drama.

“There is so much to look forward to this season, with many new and unexpected friendships forming… and way more lashes, wigs, garments, and drama,” he shared.

For veteran queen Kat Gilardi, viewers should prepare for some shocking revelations.

“Of course there are [new dynamics], major ones. You will see how some people reveal who they really are, but it should not come as a shock. They are simply showing you who they have been all along,” she said.

Drag Visibility Matters

Several cast members also reflected on the importance of the series for LGBTQ+ representation, particularly for trans women.

Maxine Wild, who has been doing drag for 13 years, said the show provides a powerful platform for visibility and affirmation.

“Beaulah has been, and continues to be, an incredible platform for us to showcase who we are,” she explained.

“As a trans woman, its importance lies in allowing people who feel the same way about their gender and their journey to see that there are others out there living their truth unapologetically in society.”

Madison Scarr added that she is excited for viewers to witness more of her personal journey.

“I’m excited for the audience to see the evolution in my trans journey and the personal challenges I’ve overcome, as well as the fun, playful moments I’ve had with growing my drag,” she said.

A Show That Changed Lives

For Manila Von Teez, the impact of Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap has been life changing.

“I am a completely different human being, this show has changed me in so many ways and offered me opportunities I could never could dream about,” he said.

Ina Propriette echoed the excitement around drag once again taking centre stage.

“Returning for a second season means drag gets another moment in the culture at the forefront,” he said.

“It’s been a dry spell and I’m just extremely excited to have my artform be a beacon for our community because we seriously missed and needed this.”

Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap Season Two will be available to binge-watch on DStv Stream from Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

Netflix Unveils First Looks At 'Charlie Vs. The Chocolate Factory' Film, Upcoming Anime Slate Including 'The One Piece', And Jason Reitman & Gil Kenan For 'Ghostbusters' Series

What’s New:

• Exclusive sneak peeks for Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory and THE ONE PIECE as part of the Next on Netflix Animation Showcase

• Anime Studio Focus featuring exclusive sneak peeks at THE ONE PIECE, Sparks of Tomorrow, THE RIBBON HERO, as well as anime-inspired series inspired by Japanese anime like Blue Eye Samurai’s season 2 (logline revealed) and Bass X Machina

• Concept Art for Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn; Aardman’s Peter Lord moderating the conversation with Brad Bird

• New Still & Release Date for Ricky Gervais’ Alley Cats

• Release Year for Ghostbusters Series; Jason Reitman & Gil Kenan attending

• A KPop Demon Hunters outdoor sing-along screening

Netflix returns to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a genre-spanning line-up of films and series featuring visionary filmmakers, as well as up-and-coming talent. This follows an unprecedented year for Netflix Animation, with the triumphant KPop Demon Hunters taking home a history-making two Oscars1, 13 Annie Awards wins including three for Love, Death + Robots, and Ultraman: Rising nabbing the Children and Family Emmys for Outstanding Animated Special and Sound Mixing & Sound Editing for an Animated Program.

A full rundown of Netflix’s Annecy activity includes: 

Steps Work-in-Progress session at Salle Pierre Lamy on Tuesday, 23 June with directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa, art director Dan Casey, and head of character animation Jason Figliozzi, who will share their creative insights on the re-imagining of the classic Cinderella tale, told from the perspective of one of the so-called “evil” step-sisters. 

Also on Tuesday, Netflix will host a dedicated Anime Studio Focus titled “Netflix Anime: Bold Stories, Boundless Worlds” at la Salle de la Volière. As the home for anime with more than 150 million Netflix members around the world choosing to watch it, this session is set to be a must-see showcase of the very best of anime for every taste and mood, whether you’re a hard-core fan, casual viewer or a beginner to the medium. Buckle up for an in-depth look at the upcoming slate led by THE ONE PIECE, Sparks of Tomorrow, THE RIBBON HERO; as well as anime-inspired series Blue Eye Samurai’s season 2 and Bass X Machina.

Next on Netflix Animation: from Ghostbusters to Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn returns to Théâtre Bonlieu on Wednesday, 24 June. Executive producers Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, and showrunners/Executive Producers Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan will unveil a world exclusive preview of next year’s Ghostbusters series produced in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation. And visionary director Brad Bird will take to the stage and provide a very personal insight into his animated feature Ray Gunn, his 30+ year in the making passion project produced at Skydance Animation; this conversation will be moderated by stop-motion legend, Peter Lord, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Aardman who are also celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Additionally, the session will feature glimpses at THE ONE PIECE series and the Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory animated film.

A masterclass with multi-award-winning comedy genius Ricky Gervais at Théâtre Bonlieu follows on Thursday, 25 June. Ricky serves as creator and director on his upcoming adult comedy series Alley Cats and will participate in a moderated conversation. Audiences will also get an early look at two episodes ahead of its debut on Netflix on Friday, 7 August.

THE RIBBON HERO will have its world premiere as part of the festival’s Annecy Presents programming.

To celebrate the first anniversary since KPop Demon Hunters became a global and cultural phenomenon, there will be an outdoor sing-along screening on Wednesday, 24 June by Lake Annecy. 

And finally, Sparks of Tomorrow (Episode 1), Long Story Short (Episode - “Shira Can’t Cook”) and Love, Death + Robots (Episode - “How Zeke Got Religion”) will compete in Annecy’s Official TV Films Competition. 

1 The first non-Disney/Pixar animated film ever to win more than one, and Netflix’s second animated film to win the Oscar in 4 years.

Film:

CHARLIE VS. THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Release date: 2027

Synopsis: Willy Wonka (Waititi) has spent the years since the Golden Ticket contest behind bars (not the chocolate kind) for the crime of turning a child into a blueberry. Having served his time, Wonka returns to his factory determined to add a little sweetness to a bitter world. But one thing stands in his way: teenager Charlie Paley (Connor) and his friends. Facing eviction, this next generation of “rotten” kids plot to break into the factory, nab a priceless Wonka Bar, and save their homes. But like many before them who enter the fantastical world of the factory, these kids are in for a bit more than they can chew...

Directors: Jared Stern & Elaine Bogan

Producers: Aron Warner, Timothy Yoo

Executive Producer: Taika Waititi

Cast: Kit Connor and Taika Waititi

Animation Studio: Sony Pictures Imageworks

Asset: First Look Image

RAY GUNN

Release date: 2026

Logline: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.  

Director: Brad Bird

Producers: John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Lisa Beroud

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits

Animation Studio: Skydance Animation

Images: First Look Images; Concept Art

STEPS

Release date: 2026

Synopsis: Think you know Cinderella's “evil” stepsisters? Think again! When misunderstood Lilith (Ali Wong) is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand, she accidentally turns her sister Margot (Stephanie Hsu) into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a prince-obsessed mean girl. Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) (and a surprisingly dreamy troll) to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairytale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily-ever-after.

Directors: Alyce Tzue & John Ripa 

Produced by: Amy Poehler, Jane Hartwell, Kim Lessing. Poehler and Lessing producing for Paper Kite Productions.

Cast: Ali Wong, Amanda Seyfried, Stephanie Hsu

Animation Studio: Netflix Animation Studios

Images: Images

THE RIBBON HERO

Release date: August, 2026

Director: Yuki Igarashi

Inspired By: “Princess Knight” by Osamu Tezuka

Original Character Design: Kei Mochizuki

Character Design Cooperation: Mai Yoneyama

Animation Character Design: Issei Arakaki

Art Director: Cedric Herole

Production Company: Twin Engine

Animation Studio: Outline

LOGLINE: Yuki Igarashi, regarded as one of the industry’s most versatile animators, directs the film. He first drew wide attention for the sophisticated animation he handled alone as key animator on the ending sequence of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1. His directorial debut, Star Wars: Visions - Lop & Ochō, received high praise in Japan and abroad for its delicate storytelling and dynamic action scenes. THE RIBBON HERO marks Igarashi’s first time directing a feature-length film.

Bringing together a team of highly skilled creators, the film depicts the story of a lone hero who chooses to defy a harsh destiny, set in a delicately crafted world and brought to life through polished action.

Images: Teaser Art

Series:

ALLEY CATS

Release date: August 7, 2026

Synopsis: Alley Cats is a sitcom created by and starring the multi award-winning Ricky Gervais. The adult animation follows the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life. From the funny to the absurd, the series is packed with Gervais’ signature style of heart and social commentary that audiences have come to expect.

Creator and Director: Ricky Gervais

Co-director: Elliot Dear

Executive Producers: Ricky Gervais, Steven Hamilton Shaw

Production Designer:Tang Heng

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, Diane Morgan, and also featuring Natalie Cassidy and Tony Way

Animation Studio: Blink Industries

Asset: New Image 

BASS X MACHINA 

Release date: Coming Soon

Synopsis: In a lawless Steampunk West overrun by brutal outlaws, machines, and supernatural terrors, a father is forced to become judge, jury, and executioner—knowing that every act of justice meant to protect his family may ultimately cost him the very people he’s fighting to save.

Executive Producers: Brian Tyree Henry, LeSean Thomas, Jennifer Wiley-Moxley, Chad Handley

Animation Studio: Studio Mir

Images: Images

BLUE EYE SAMURAI - Season 2

Release date: Coming Soon

Logline: In season 2, Mizu’s bloody quest continues in London, where she faces new friends, old foes, and her own demons. In Japan, Akemi and Taigen navigate Edo Castle under a dangerous new Shogun, while Ringo searches for new purpose.

Created by: Amber Noizumi and Michael Green

Executive Producers: Amber Noizumi and Michael Green

Animation Studio: Blue Spirit

Images: Images

Untitled GHOSTBUSTERS Series

Release date: 2027

Logline: Hailing from Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, the high end animated series based on the beloved Ghostbusters IP will debut exclusively on Netflix in 2027.

Executive Producers: Ben Hibon, Elliott Kalan, Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan, and Amie Karp  

SPARKS OF TOMORROW

Release date: July 5 2026

Synopsis: In an alternate version of the early 20th century where technological progress evolved along a different path shaped by steam power, Kyoto is blanketed in constant smoke. A boy, hardened by the loss of his brother, grows distrustful after their shared dream of an “Age of Electricity” is cut short. A deeply devout girl hides her dreams and regrets for her deceased mother deep within her heart. When the two cross paths, they set about exploring the secrets of the 20th Century Electrical Catalog, a glimpse into the future they long for. Together, they must confront their pasts and carve a path toward the future they once believed in.

Director: Minoru Ota

Animation Studio: Kyoto Animation 

Images: Key Art

THE ONE PIECE 

Release date: February 2027

Original manga by: Eiichiro Oda (Weekly Shonen Jump, Shueisha)

Synopsis: Produced by WIT Studio, THE ONE PIECE is a brand new anime adaptation starting from the very beginning of the original manga’s East Blue saga. Separate from the TV anime series that has charged full speed ahead over the course of more than 25 years, this series taps into the expressive potential of modern technology to offer a familiar yet fresh take on the adventures of Luffy. 

Director: Masashi Koizuka

Assistant Director: Hideaki Abe

Series Composition: Taku Kishimoto

Character Design & Chief Animation Directors: Kyoji Asano, Takatoshi Honda

Creature Design & Image Boards: Yasuhiro Kajino

Prop Design: Eri Taguchi

Action Animators: Ken Imaizumi, Shuhei Fukuda

Art Director: Tomonori Kuroda

Animation Producer: Ryoma Kawamura

Animation Studio: WIT STUDIO

Images: Concept Art

Clifford The Big Red Dog Is Back With Reimagined Animated Series On PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS announced the production of the newest animated series for kids ages 3-5 based on the beloved Scholastic book series by Norman Bridwell, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG®. The series is inspired by the importance of community and will introduce important foundational social skills, including understanding how to engage in social problem-solving, joining groups, making friends, and including others, as well as modeling how even young children can play a contributing role in their communities. The reimagined buddy comedy centers around Emily Elizabeth, a kid with big-hearted ideas, and her giant best friend Clifford, who turns small problems into gloriously oversized adventures – literally! With 9 Story Media Group (SUPER WHY’S COMIC BOOK ADVENTURES, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD) producing and the award-winning studio, Brown Bag Films*, animating, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG is slated to premiere on PBS KIDS in 2027.

“Clifford has been a favorite with children and families for generations, and we can’t wait to reintroduce this Big Red Dog to PBS KIDS audiences across the country,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS and Education. “Giving kids the skills, knowledge, and encouragement they need to connect with others and sustain relationships is more vital than ever to prepare them for success in school and life.”

“Since he first filled a page, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG captured the heart of Scholastic and his adventures connected with readers everywhere, creating remarkable, global recognition,” said Iole Lucchese, Scholastic Chief Strategy Officer, President of Scholastic Entertainment and Executive Producer for Clifford. “This new series builds on Clifford’s most endearing traits through fresh storytelling, creating new opportunities for audiences and marking an exciting step in the continued growth of the franchise.”

“With this next chapter, we’re leaning into a more comedic approach that amplifies the scale and playfulness of Clifford, while staying grounded in the warmth and emotional connection audiences have always loved,” said Vince Commisso, President and CEO of 9 Story Media Group and Executive Producer for Clifford. “We’re also proud to once again partner with PBS KIDS, a trusted home for a brand that has resonated with families for generations.”

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG by Norman Bridwell was first published in 1963 by Scholastic and now boasts more than 135 million books in print in 20 languages distributed worldwide. This new series will include 26 new episodes, comprised of two 11-minute stories, and an interactive game designed to extend the fun and social skill development for preschoolers. These additions join the already expansive and award-winning library of Clifford content currently available on PBS KIDS, including episodes from both the 2019 and 2000 animated series, as well as three games. The upcoming reimagined CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG series was developed by 9 Story Media Group. Jason Hopley (NANALAN’, BIG AND SMALL, CORN & PEG) is Head Writer and Cory Bobiak (PEG + CAT, XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM) is Director. 9 Story holds worldwide distribution and consumer products rights. The series was commissioned by PBS KIDS (US), CBC (Canada), and Sky Kids (UK).

*Brown Bag Films Toronto is a business unit of 9 Story Media Group.

SABC Provides An Update On Pimville Production

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) wishes to provide an update regarding the production of Pimville, currently broadcast on SABC 2.

The SABC wishes to confirm that the broadcaster has duly fulfilled its contractual obligations to Bakwena Productions. The corporation is therefore up to date with payments, underscoring its commitment to the smooth running of productions. It must be noted, that in this case the production company concerned is in breach of the contract with the SABC.

In response to the current situation, the SABC is:

• Actively engaging the production company to remedy the situation.

• Implementing contingency plans to ensure continuity of content on SABC 2

• Exploring alternative production solutions, should this become necessary.

• We have engaged the cast of Pimville today.

The SABC became aware of concerns regarding the production company following the commissioning of Pimville and the contracting of Bakwena Productions. Following this, a set of risk mitigation measures were put in place. While these interventions were intended to safeguard the production and protect the SABC, recent developments indicate that further action is required.

We remain committed to ensuring that all productions adhere to the highest standards of governance, accountability, and fair treatment of all industry professionals.

Could Canal+ Look To Discontinue DStv Easyview?

As some people have noticed in the last months, Canal+ has been cleaning house at MultiChoice after completing it's buyout in 2025. This included the discontinuation of Showmax and reduction in costs for its decoders.

Canal+ had mentioned that MultiChoice charges way too much for its services in Anglophone markets compared to them in Francophone Africa. This is what's causing people to flee their offering with plans underway to rectify this error.

MultiChoice currently offers 17 different packages from DStv Premium to Easyview with various Add-ons from Explora Ultra and AddMovies. Not to mention, there is GOtv which we might discuss later 

Canal+ made it clear that this is not what consumers want and this many offerings drives a lot of confusion. They pivoting and looking to offer less brands, more simplicity, cheaper packages and decoders.

DStv Premium in it's current form could be a goner amidst this restructure I don't think it will die down like Compact+ but in terms of pricing and content that's likely to change. Same goes for its lower entry packages such as DStv Family and Easyview.

Canal+ wants to ensure that MultiChoice remains competitive in the long run and view Africa as the next destination to help in those endeavours. This would include trying to make DStv packages attractive for which DStv Easyview is not.

DStv Easyview serves as the cheapest offering amongst MultiChoice's services which carries mainly provincial and news channels with other content in the mix. This would include SABC 1-3, Soweto TV, SABC News, BBC UKTV and Real Time.

In other MultiChoice markets, this offering is known as DStv Lite which has seen more press and enhancements with SuperSport Variety 4, Mzansi Bioskop, Telemundo and BBC Lifestyle. MultiChoice SA has been fallen behind with other markets here.

We don't know what the final DStv product will look like but if Canal+ sees the audience numbers on Easyview are low - they might discontinue it. MultiChoice has never revealed how many people use Easyview as they usually liked grouping figures.

DStv Easyview numbers went hand in hand with Access and Family, and while they didn't divulge numbers it's clear to some that it has the least subscribers amongst packages.

MultiChoice often treats DStv Easyview like it's failed GOtv pay-tv venture in South Africa. They don't really market the offering as much as other countries do with DStv Lite or curate content exclusively for those audiences.

DStv Access consumers got KykNET Lekker and Moja 9.9. which by all means are not carried on other packages while Easyview inherited Magic Showcase which is also seen on Access.

If Canal+ is able to reverse DStv's growth projection, the question would have to be whether they'd still want something like Easyview. It currently competes with Openview which has two sports channels, three Bollywood channels and only lacking in local news.

Companies like MultiChoice or at least the ones I've seen in other African markets or even MultiChoice Africa don't really offer such package. The cheapest package being DStv Lite costs KSh 750 (R97.50) in Kenya while Access is KSh 1,450 (R188.50).

In some MultiChoice markets either one serves as the cheaper alternative.

What Happened To M-Net Movies Pop-Up Channels On DStv?

M-Net Movies pop-up channels was once a staple on DStv for franchises such as Spider-Man, Harry Potter, Fast & Furious and Star Wars. It served as one of those high profile events for DStv Premium and AddMovies subscribers.

Pop-up channels was once a concept that not only MultiChoice but various pay-tv companies around the world had offered at one point. In some cases, this meant giving viewers a glimpse behind the action with documentaries and interviews.

Instead of launching separate channels, M-Net would rather consolidate this offering on existing channels. One example is the Fan Favourites Festival where DStv viewers can pick what broadcasts on the screen.

This reduces the technical cost of running a dedicated extra channel while still offering that "binge-fest" experience. 

MultiChoice had also shifted their priorities for such events to DStv Stream and Catch-Up. Instead of waiting on a movie to broadcast on a pop-up channel, you can now find these movies under a particular tile or folder through these services.

Now under French hands, Canal+ is looking to simplify packages and rationalize on brands. There's no telling what's to become of DStv Premium and AddMovies as MultiChoice had lost millions of its top paying clients since 2016.

We can only imagine that Canal+ will probably look to merge some packages and bring down the prices for others while closing a couple of channels.

For MultiChoice, they have about 10 movie channels and this doesn't include Mzansi Bioskop, CineMagic, Zee Cinema and Africa Magic Epic. There's no telling if under Canal+ they'd continue having this many movie channels as they're in cost cutting mode.

Recap: May The 4th Be With You As Disney Unveils Themes Events And Programming

- Mando Mondays announced at Comic Con Africa Cape Town In Celebration of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu Hitting Cinemas Nationwide on 22 May 

- May The 4th is a beloved commemoration of the Star Wars saga

- Galactic Programming Across Disney Channels and Disney+

- An Array of Star Wars Product from LEGO® to Figurines and Plush Available

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 4 May 2026; In celebration of International Star Wars Day, Disney Africa today has announced Mando Mondays – a fan-driven celebration of the upcoming action-adventure must-see cinematic event from Lucasfilm, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

In the film, the evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu also stars Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White.

Ahead of the film’s release from 22 May 2026, and as announced at a fan-filled Star Wars face off at Comic Con Cape Town this past weekend, Disney Africa is calling on South African fans to get in on the celebrations by visiting the Star Wars and Disney Studios Africa Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date on news and competitions to be announced throughout May. More competitions featuring the latest Star Wars products will be in hand through influencer unboxings and reveals, and there’s a galaxy to discover each Monday exclusively on Takealot, with a live shopping experience today only on Takealot.com. 

Burger King® is bringing the Force to flame-grilling with the launch of a limited-time menu inspired by Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Rolling out from 27 April in South Africa the new menu combines bold flavours, immersive packaging and exclusive collectibles to create a truly galactic experience for fans of all ages.  

This Is The Way… To Binge It All On Disney+

Lucasfilm’s acclaimed and celebrated series Maul: Shadow Lord premiere’s its last two episodes on 4 May and adds to the enthralling story of the iconic Maul, a former Sith, who is plotting to rebuild the Shadow Collective crime syndicate to aid in his relentless pursuit of revenge.

As the home of Star Wars, Disney+ has a galaxy of stories awaiting including the complete Star Wars Saga, original series from Ahsoka and Andor, to incredible animated offerings like The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch, to documentaries and specials and much, much more for every Star Wars fan to celebrate on May the 4th and beyond.

Discover Special Programming

Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303) viewers are in for a treat as two LEGO® Star Wars series premiere on the channel. From 4-7 May at 16:30 (CAT), LEGO® Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy sees the entire Star Wars Galaxy getting completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling, unearths a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi Temple. Then from 11-14 May at 16:30 (CAT) LEGO® Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy Pieces of the Past sees Sig, Jedi Bob, Yesi, Servo and the villainous Dev return and must face off against a new enemy – the powerful and mysterious Solitus. Our heroes will make unlikely alliances as they traverse new and dangerous parts of the hilariously mixed-up galaxy in an effort to stop the growing threat Solitus poses to all they hold dear.

The Most Wanted product in the Universe

Retailers nationwide will stock the latest and greatest collectibles, accessories and toys for the whole family from the exclusive Star Wars: Most Wanted celebration.

Highlights include the LEGO® BB-8 Astromech Droid Building Toy, lightsabers for any Padawan or Jedi and an array of Star Wars plush toys. In anticipation for the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, fans can collect a number of fun products from Hasbro including the interactive animatronic figure Star Wars: Adventure Buddy Grogu, Star Wars: Huggin Grogu Figure with motion-activated hugging arms and sound effects as well as the Star Wars: Snacking Grogu featuring expressive movements, sound effects and interactive feeding play. LEGO® will also offer the Star Wars: Grogu™ (Mandalorian Apprentice) building set, a must-add for any collector.

May the 4th Be With You

Say “May the 4th Be With You” out loud and you’ll hear the pun that Star Wars fans worldwide have turned into a rallying cry to proclaim their love of the saga.

Today - 4 May - is the day to say “May the Force be with you” to all and celebrate the beloved Star Wars story that binds our galaxy together. From dressing up as their favourite characters, reliving the classic film moments by holding Star Wars movie marathons, holding Star Wars-themed parties (complete with blue milk and Death Star Popcorn Balls, Wookie Cookies and more) – the only limit is a fans imagination that stretches a galaxy (far, far away)! Discover more: https://www.starwars.com/star-wars-day.

Below Deck Mediterranean Returns For Its Milestone Tenth Season As They Set Sail To Spain From 17 May On Bravo Africa.

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 will premiere on Bravo Africa (DStv 124) on Sunday, 17 May at 6:10 PM with new episodes every Sunday until 13 September 2026. Franchise favourites Captain Sandy Yawn and Chief Stew Aesha Scott return to lead the ship alongside Nathan Gallagher, the season nine Deckhand upped to Bosun, and a familiar face from season eight, Deckhand Max Salvador.

Additional new crew include Chef Josh Bingham, Stews Kizzi Kitchener and Victoria SanJaun, and Deckhands Christmas Trimino and Tessa Budd.

Coming up this season:

The vibrant energy and artful cityscapes of Barcelona provide the perfect backdrop as Captain Sandy reunites with a newly engaged Chief Stew Aesha for a landmark 10th season that toasts to a decade of unforgettable yachting. Back on board and recently promoted to Bosun, Nathan will need to prove himself in this new role and Max is back as a deckhand to showcase his growing maturity. On deck of the sleek new M/Y Bravado, Captain Sandy immediately feels in her element, back in the city she once called home.  

With a top-tier team of stews by her side, Aesha is able to run the interior with efficiency and seven-star Med service. With this new-found excellence, will she finally become the mentor she always wanted to be? Nathan steps on board after a shocking delay and instantly feels the pressure with a team that seems inexperienced and unmotivated, forcing him to make a tough decision. New Chef Josh is Michelin trained and, having lived on a commune, brings a unique blend of carefree clown-like creativity and skill to the galley. As requests pile up, however, he begins to battle sleepless nights.

This season, the pressure is on to make the charters unforgettable as the crew must navigate the demands of guests with ultra-luxurious taste and a wild streak to match. Unpredictable Mediterranean weather leads to unexpected docked days, leaving guests restless and pushing the crew to get creative under pressure. For the first time, an eligible bachelor enlists his matchmaker to invite six women on board with the ultimate hope of finding love.  

Flirtations spark early as a stewardess with a wandering eye catches everyone’s attention leading to deeper connections and continuous drama throughout the season. After a messy start, Nathan rekindles his past connection with Gael and this time it grows into something much more than they both imagined.   

Below Deck Mediterranean is produced by 51 Minds Entertainment. Jill Goslicky, Ryan Braun, Mark Cronin, Tania Hamidi, Julie Pizzi, Zachary Klein and Nicole Elliott executive produce.

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10 premieres on Bravo Africa (DStv 124) on 17 May at 6:10 PM, with new episodes every Sunday until the season finale on 13 September 2026.

 

DStv Might Be Restructuring It's Promo Channel

Since Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice, the French broadcaster had begun integrating it's offering onto the company. This would include Pulaayu and Zacu TV which was once only available to Canal+ Afrique now being accessible on DStv.

Even the corporate name MultiChoice had been embedded with the Canal+ trademark alongside its media contacts for M-Net and SuperSport. I mean with a takeover these things tend to happen as the acquiring company wants to familiarise consumers.

Now another restructure that might be underway soon for DStv consumers (most likely GOtv) would be the promo channel Dish that operates in the 100 spot just before M-Net.

Since late 2025, the number of ads seen on Dish had been radically reduced with majority of it coming from KykNET. This might form part of another restructure as there's been a debate about the axing of Afrikaans commentary on SuperSport.

Aside from Francophone Africa, Canal+ also operates in Europe, France and Asia so maybe some advanced version of Dish is underway. This version will probably promote the bulk of content seen on Canal+ Afrique if not the latter markets.

I mean such conclusion wouldn't seem that far fetched as a lot of assets within MultiChoice has already gotten the Canal+ emblem. Even their press portal not only requires MultiChoice credentials and personal but also that of the French overloads.

Canal+ is expected to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in the coming months and it's likely to mirror the current value of the company in London. This shares were trading at R75 and with this merger that's likely to almost double in value.

Could Canal+ Be Looking To Rebrand M-Net's African Channels On DStv?

A few months ago, it was announced SPI International was looking to rebrand it's FilmBox channels in Europe, Africa and other parts of the world to FilmBox+. This formed part of an alignment strategy as a means to strengthen the brand.

Canal+ took control of SPI International by 2023 after buying up shares in the company. This would make FilmBox part of the larger Canal+ ecosystem which include significant movie/TV content production and distribution assets like StudioCanal.

The recent reporting of them rebranding FilmBox Action to FilmBox+ Action with Kino TV being phased out for FilmBox+ One is to make these brands appear more unified. I think the question now is whether the same fate awaits M-Net.

Aside from M-Net 101, there's also Mzansi Magic, KykNET, Africa Magic, Abol TV, Maisha Magic, Akwaaba Magic, Zambezi Magic and Pearl Magic.

Will these brands also be given the + symbol with M-Net being phased out for Canal+ Premium perhaps?

While there's no guarantees, SPI International is singing the same tune as MultiChoice with both of them now identified as A Canal+ Company. They both also have seen certain aspects of the company rebranding to Canal+.

Although Canal+ doesn't intend to reduce local content that doesn't exclude the possibility of a rebrand. With Canal+ looking to launch its streaming service in MultiChoice markets we could as well be see a "+" symbol on Mzansi Magic's name.

Magic is how the previous regime at MultiChoice and M-Net chose to identify and Canal+ may want to enhance that by adding the "+" symbol. Because in most if not all the markets they operate in that's how they usually identify themselves. 

Let's remember that sometime ago when asked about M-Net, KykNET and Africa Magic responded to say "we love SuperSport".

PAC-MAN Launches New Animated Shorts, Live Events & Collabs For ‘PAC-MAY’

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is powering up this month to celebrate PAC-MAN’s birthday with PAC-MAY. Using the theme “Connect the Dots,” the month-long celebration promises exciting announcements and activations commemorating one of video games’ most iconic characters, who debuted in 1980. The “Connect the Dots” theme aims to bridge the past and present as well as usher in the future of PAC-MAN through the lens of storytelling.

Leading up to PAC-MAN Day, May 22 marks the debut of PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks, a new 2D-animated short series in partnership with New York-based studio Cartuna that is sure to delight multi-generational audiences and long-time fans alike. The birthday celebration extends to live events including The Paley Museum PAC-MAN CHOMPIONSHIP Tournament along with other fan events in New York City and Los Angeles. Coming up, Bandai Namco and Halfbrick Studios will serve up a treat for gamers with the Fruit Ninja x PAC-MAN crossover.

PAC-MAY kicked off with the first teaser trailer of the PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks animated shorts. Bandai Namco Entertainment, in partnership with animation studio Cartuna, produced the animated series, which follows PAC-MAN as he leaves PAC-Village for the fast-paced, neon sprawl of NEW PAC-CITY, where everyday life bursts into high-speed, snack-fueled adventures. With Team Ghost always on his tail, PAC-MAN’s boundless optimism is the ultimate power-up. By combining action, high-energy comedy and inventive worldbuilding, the new series honors the franchise’s iconic history while launching PAC-MAN into a bold new chapter of adventures in NEW PAC-CITY and beyond.

Directed by Noah Pardo (Lost in McDonaldland, Powerline Live! A Goofy Movie 360° Concert Experience) with lead producers Adam Belfer, James Belfer, Monica Mazel, Garrett Beltis and Ben Bishop, the series features a bold, retro-inspired visual identity and fast-paced comedic storytelling tailored to digital audiences. The principal cast features Mike Cefalo as PAC-MAN and Inky, Mike Bodie (Quokka’s Wild Life, Angry Birds on the Run) as Blinky, Rebecca Wang (Beyblade X, Solo Leveling) as Pinky and Lukas Arnold as Clyde.

PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks will launch on the official PAC-MAN YouTube Channel on May 22 with new episodes debuting each month.

Continuing PAC-MAN’s month-long celebration, Bandai Namco will be hosting various events across the U.S. for fans of all ages to participate. In New York City, a birthday event coinciding with the “45 Years of PAC-MAN” exhibition at The Paley Museum will be held on May 16 with a PAC-MAN: Snack Breaks panel and special screenings of the premiere episode before its official debut. The event will also include classic games to play, PAC-MAN meet & greets, iconic artifacts to view, crafts for kids and giveaways. The Paley Museum will also let fans of all ages compete in the PAC-MAN CHOMPIONSHIP tournament, where players will compete for the highest score in the classic PAC-MAN arcade game with the highest score taking home the grand prize and the title of “PAC-MAN NYC Chompion 2026.” More live events will be announced in the coming weeks.

PAC-MAN promotions will also take place for gamers of all ages, serving up Ghost-Chomping action in a special collaboration with Fruit Ninja starting May 6 where players can participate in four PAC-MAN-themed in-game events to unlock blades, dojos and special rewards. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. also has a gift for all PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC players: a new free costume following on from the Holiday Costume. To celebrate PAC-MAN’s birthday, this free costume will be added to Nova’s Costume Shop. Put it on and set off on a grand adventure through Pac-Land.

Comedy Combo On eSeries: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S2 + Superstore S6 (Final)

eSeries, a general entertainment channel home to various action, crime, comedy and medical series has announced the return of Billions, NCIS: Los Angeles and New Amsterdam. Below is a breakdown of each program in the month of May.

Here's a description of the two shows featured in the "Comedy Combo" promo: 

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Season 2 starting Saturday 2 May at 6:16 PM) is an American romantic musical comedy-drama series that originally aired on The CW from 2015 to 2019 (4 seasons). It was created by and stars Rachel Bloom (who also co-wrote many of the songs).

Plot summary:

The show follows Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), a high-achieving but deeply unhappy New York lawyer. After a chance encounter with her old summer-camp flame Josh Chan, she impulsively quits her prestigious job and moves across the country to the suburban town of West Covina, California — convincing herself (and others) that it's not because of him. The series cleverly explores themes of mental health, relationships, feminism, and self-discovery, all wrapped in sharp humor and original musical numbers that range from catchy pop to rap and Broadway-style ballads.

Superstore (Season 6 starting Thursday 14 May at 6:15 PM) is an American workplace sitcom that aired on NBC from 2015 to 2021 (6 seasons). It was created by Justin Spitzer and stars America Ferrera and Ben Feldman.

Plot summary:

The show is set in a fictional big-box retail store called Cloud 9 (a clear stand-in for places like Walmart or Target) in St. Louis. It follows a quirky ensemble of employees as they deal with difficult customers, ridiculous corporate policies, sales events gone wrong, personal dramas, and the everyday chaos of retail life.

It's Called Football: My Name Is Francesco Totti, Take Pass And More On eReality

Here's a breakdown of the four episodes featured in the eReality promotional poster for the "It's Called Football" football legends programming block at 8PM in May 2026. 

1. Saturday 9 May 8 PM – Cristiano Ronaldo

This is a biographical or highlight-focused documentary on one of football's greatest modern icons. It likely covers his journey from a humble upbringing in Madeira, Portugal, through his explosive rise at Sporting CP and Manchester United, his record-breaking years at Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, and his international career with Portugal (including the 2016 Euros win).

2. Saturday 16 May 8 PM – Unidentified player (crouched pose on the pitch)

It may feature another football legend or a thematic episode (e.g., a South African or African football story, or a player known for iconic crouched celebrations/moments of pressure). Given the block's focus on legends, it could involve a player like a younger Ronaldo highlight, or another icon. The crouched pose suggests themes of resilience, comeback, or intense focus.

3. Saturday 23 May 8 PM – "TAKE THE PASS" 

This appears to be a thematic episode centered on creativity, playmaking, passing genius, or iconic "pass-and-move" moments in football. It may highlight visionaries and flair players (the imagery suggests flair/technical masters). 

4. Saturday 30 May 8 PM – Francesco Totti – "My Name is Francesco Totti

This is the well-known 2020 Italian feature documentary (Mi chiamo Francesco Totti) directed by Alex Infascelli. In it, the AS Roma legend and one-club man retraces his entire life and 24-year career while watching footage of it on the big screen alongside the audience. It blends career highlights (his leadership, goals, loyalty to Roma, 2006 World Cup win with Italy) with personal reflections, emotions, family moments, and the highs and lows of his journey from Roman street kid to club icon and captain. Totti himself narrates and guides the story, making it intimate and nostalgic. 

New On eSeries In May: Billion S3 + New Amsterdam S2 + NCIS: Los Angeles S12

eSeries, a general entertainment channel home to various action, crime, comedy and medical series has announced the return of Billions, NCIS: Los Angeles and New Amsterdam. Below is a breakdown of each program in the month of May.

1. Billions – Season 3 Starts: Saturday, 2 May at 9:40 PM

Genre: Sharp financial/power drama.

This is a high-stakes drama about the cutthroat world of New York finance, politics, and power. It follows the intense rivalry between Chuck Rhoades (a U.S. Attorney determined to bring down the ultra-wealthy) and Bobby Axelrod (a brilliant, aggressive hedge fund billionaire). Season 3 escalates their personal and professional war, with shifting alliances, betrayals, legal battles, and moral gray areas. The show is known for its sharp dialogue, complex characters, and exploration of greed, ambition, and revenge in the world of billionaires.

2. New Amsterdam – Season 2 Starts: Monday, 18 May at 7:35 PM

Genre: Medical drama.

A medical drama inspired by real events at Bellevue Hospital. It centers on Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold), the idealistic and unconventional medical director who takes bold (sometimes chaotic) steps to reform the underfunded public hospital and prioritize patient care over bureaucracy. The series blends emotional patient stories with hospital politics, personal struggles of the doctors, and social issues in healthcare. Season 2 continues Max’s fight to change the system while dealing with his own health challenges and team dynamics.

3. NCIS: Los Angeles – Season 12 Starts: Tuesday, 19 May at 8:30 PM

Genre: Action-packed crime procedural / procedural drama.

A spin-off from the original NCIS, this procedural follows a special team of NCIS agents in Los Angeles who handle high-risk cases involving undercover operations, terrorism, espionage, and crimes affecting naval personnel. The team uses advanced tech, deep-cover tactics, and strong camaraderie. Key characters include Callen, Sam Hanna, Kensi, and Deeks. Season 12 features intense action, personal storylines, and big cases (e.g., missing military assets or international threats). It's known for its mix of procedural cases and character-driven moments.

Een With Leuen Makes It's Linear Debut On eExtra Following Rollout On eVOD

eExtra, a general entertainment channel offering Afrikaans dubbed telenovelas alongside other programming will be airing Een Wit Leuen from Monday 12 May. Known as Benim Tatli Yalanim in Turkey, the series had also been streaming on eVOD.

Lente Na Die Storm was originally slated to rollout in place of Blink Kant Bo as advertised by the channel through its ratings cards. As seen with potential airings of Uzozisola - Regrets on e.tv, it appears that will no longer be the case.

Synopsis for Een Wit Leuen 

What starts as an innocent lie evolves into a complex "family game" as Suna becomes an integral part of Kayra's life and slowly falls in love with Nejat, a devoted father trapped in his own web of lies.

Suna Doğan, a high-spirited woman who agrees to the lie to help save her father's coffeehouse and ends up becoming a true mother figure to Kayra.

The secret is constantly threatened by Hande, Nejat’s business partner who wants him for herself, and the eventual return of the real Aylin, who seeks custody of Kayra.

Kayra eventually learns the truth, leading to a period of devastation where she feels betrayed by both Nejat and Suna.

Produced by O3 Medya for Star TV, it was Turkey’s top-performing drama series in the summer of that year, according to Eccho Rights. Several adaptations had been filmed by Markiza (Mom For Rent, Slovenia) and Open TV (Like A Lie, Greek).

It starred Furkan Palali as Nejat Yilmaz, Asli Bekiroglu as Suna Dogan, Lavinya Ünlüer as Kayra Yilmaz, Gonca Sariyildiz as Hande Eymen, Asli Inandik as Saniye Dogan and Cem Zeynel Kiliç as Hayri Hicdurmaz.

Would Comcast's NBCUniversal Have Been A Better Suitor To MultiChoice?

Since late 2025, Canal+ managed to complete it's acquisition of MultiChoice and have begun slashing costs at the company. This is the norm for a majority of mergers and acquisitions and consumers have already seen the after effects.

M-Net had a licensing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for titles like Penguin, The Peacemaker and Euphoria. In their last carriage deal, Canal+ let that deal die as it retains Cartoon Network and Warner's other cable networks.

Even SuperSport wasn't immune to costs as the merger lead to the loss of World Darts Championship, Winter Olympics and Philly's Games.

Showmax is expected to suffer the most from this ordeal as Canal+ admitted that the streamer has a commercial failure and only worsening MultiChoice's finances. Since last year, they've been engaging with Comcast about it's viability.

NBCUniversal bought a stake in the streamer a few years ago and this led to various enhancements for Showmax. This included additional catalogue from NBC, Telemundo Studios, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation.

Post the takeover, MultiChoice and NBCUniversal had also been locked in to various partnerships including that of Universal+ on DStv Stream. They've even provided Universal TV, Studio Universal and Telemundo to DStv consumers.

Some outlets even speculated that a merger between NBCUniversal and MultiChoice was another endeavour on the cards. Although we're less likely to see how this would have turned out the outcome would probably have been different.

NBCUniversal spun off majority of its cable networks under a separate company, Versant. For all anyone knows, this probably would have been the outcome for M-Net's local portfolio either that or sale and best guess on a buyer would be Canal+.

Canal+ has a 30+ year presence in the African space and have been growing their portfolio in the market and prior to MultiChoice they bought Nigeria's ROK Studios and Rwanda's Zacu TV. So it would only seem logical for them to snatch these assets.

NBCUniversal would probably retain M-Net and likely make it an equivalent the main NBC network in America. Another brand they would likely keep is SuperSport and maybe all if not most of these recent cuts would have been avoided.

As for DStv, this would probably go 50/50 while Canal+ retains MultiChoice's entire operations. NBCUniversal could have looked into shutting down some of MultiChoice's operations or keeping the profitable ones as seen with Sky in Germany.

‘Casper’ Live-Action Series In Works At Disney+

In a very competitive situation involving a five-way bidding war, Disney+ has landed a new series take on Casper the Friendly Ghost.

The live-action project comes from Rob Letterman and Hilary Winston, executive producers of another Disney+ supernatural series, Goosebumps; Steven Spielberg, who executive produced the 1995 Universal movie Casper starring Christina Ricci; and UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

There are no details yet about the new Casper, described as a modern update on the classic ghost story, which is in the early stages of development. It is believed to have a dark edge to it the way Wednesday tackles the Addams Family lore.

Letterman and Winston are writing, with Letterman set to direct. The duo are executive producing with Spielberg.

Casper originated as an affable translucent ghost featured in a string of animated movies by Famous Studios released between 1945 and 1959. That’s when the character was acquired by Harvey Comics, which had published Casper comics since 1952. Since then, Casper has headlined a slew of comic books, five animated TV series as well as Universal Pictures’ 1995 live-action feature Casper, produced by Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and The Harvey Entertainment Co. 

In 2001, Harvey Entertainment was acquired by Classic Media. In 2012, Classic Media was bought by DreamWorks Animation, which in turn was acquired by Universal Pictures parent NBCUniversal in 2016, explaining why the potential Disney+ series is a co-production between DreamWorks Animation TV and UCP.

Like was the case in the 1995 Casper movie, which starred Ricci, Bill Pullman as well as Malachi Pearson as the voice of the title character, the new live-action series is expected to feature CGI effects.

If Casper, which has a premium development deal, goes to series, it will be Universal Studio Group’s first on Disney+. I hear that was a consideration when choosing the winner in the bidding war as having shows on all major streamers has been a goal for the studio. USG’s Universal TV has several series on Netflix, including A Man on the Inside, The Four Seasons as well as new medical drama Lovesick starring Claire Danes, which just landed there with a straight-to-series order, also in a competitive situation.

On Prime Video, the studio has We Were Liars, at Apple TV the upcoming Cape Fear and at HBO Max Hacks and The Gilded Age. At Hulu, UCP recently produced Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and Universal TV just sold for development bodyguard drama Close Protection.

In 2022, UCP set up for development at sibling streamer Peacock a different Casper live-action series, written/executive produced by The Ghost Bride head writer Kai Yu Wu, which ultimately did not go forward.

This is a rare Disney+ series project based on famous IP that is not from within the Disney ecosystem or derived from books. If Casper goes to series, the character will co-exist on the platform alongside famous Disney ghost characters, including The Nightmare Before Christmas‘ dog Zero.

Letterman developed the 2023 Goosebumps, based on the book series by R. L. Stine, with Nicholas Stoller. Letterman, who had directed the 1995 Goosebumps feature, was an executive producer/director and Winston an executive producer/showrunner on the series, which ran on Disney+ and Hulu for two seasons. Letterman’s feature credits include Monsters vs. Aliens and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, which he co-wrote and directed. He is repped by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, and attorney Eric Sherman.

Winston serves as an executive producer and co-showrunner on the current second season of Fox’s comedy series Going Dutch. Her writing-producing credits also include Krapopolis, Community, Happy Endings, My Name is Earl and well as CBS’ Bad Teacher, which she developed. Her feature writing credits include The Lego Ninjago Movie and The Bad Guys. Winston is repped by UTA, Rise Management and Yorn Levine Barnes.

Madagascar: A Little Wild, Brand New Series Launches On Play Room

Play Room, a South African based children's channel offering animated and live-action content is launching a new series, Madagascar: A Little Wild. This will be their second show from DreamWorks Animation following Fast And Furious: Spy Racers. 

Madagascar: A Little Wild will broadcast daily on Play Room at 10:25 from Monday 11 May. The series had already been broadcast on DreamWorks Channel, eToonz, Netflix and Showmax.

Filled with original music and dance worthy songs, Madagascar: A Little Wild captures the beloved personalities of the Zoo Crew — Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo — reimagined as kids residing in their rescue habitat at the Central Park Zoo. They might be small, but like everybody who lands in New York City, these little guys have big dreams.

From executive producer Johanna Stein (Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny) and co-executive producer Dana Starfield (Monster High: Welcome to Monster High), Madagascar: A Little Wild features the voices of Tucker Chandler (I Lost My Body) as “Alex,” Amir O’Neil (Mann and Wife) as “Marty,” Shaylin Becton (Fast & Furious: Spy Racers) as “Gloria,” Luke Lowe (Big City Greens) as “Melman,” Jasmine Gatewood (Animal Kingdom) as “Kate” and Eric Petersen (Kirstie) as “Ant’Ney.”

Spanning four feature films that have made more than $2.2 billion at the worldwide box-office, cherished shorts, holiday specials and the Emmy Award-winning series All Hail King Julien, the Madagascar franchise has been a global fan favorite for the past 15 years.