Rubi And La Fuerza Del Destino To Launch On TLN Network Across Africa

TLN Network, a Portuguese based entertainment channel operated by TelevisaUnivison will be rolling out Rubi and La Fuerza Del Destino. These shows formed part of TelevisaUnivison 2000s portfolio and recieved international acclaim during its run.

Synopsis for Rubi

The story follows Rubí Pérez, a stunningly beautiful but impoverished university student living in a poor neighborhood with her hardworking sister, Cristina, and their sick mother, Refugio. 

Rubí befriends Maribel de la Fuente, a wealthy but shy girl who is self-conscious about a childhood accident that left her with a leg brace. Rubí secretly envies Maribel’s wealth and despises her own poverty.

Through Maribel, Rubí meets two men: Alejandro Cárdenas, a handsome orthopedic doctor, and Héctor Ferrer, a wealthy architect.

Rubí falls deeply in love with Alejandro, but when she discovers he is not a millionaire—he is a middle-class scholar—she cruelly dumps him despite her feelings. She decides to seduce Héctor, Maribel’s fiancé, solely for his money. 

It starred Bárbara Mori as Rubí Pérez Ochoa, Eduardo Santamarina as Dr. Alejandro Cárdenas Ruiz, Jacqueline Bracamontes as Maribel de la Fuente, Sebastián Rulli as Héctor Ferrer Garza and Ana Martín as Refugio Ochoa Vda. de Pérez.

Synopsis for La Fuerza Del Destino 

The story begins in Álamos, Sonora, where 14-year-old Iván Villagómez and his mother, Alicia, return to seek recognition from his biological father, the wealthy and powerful Juan Jaime Mondragón. Juan Jaime rejects them, forcing Alicia to work as a servant for the Lomelí Curiel family. 

As a young man, Iván is seduced by the frivolous Maripaz Lomelí Curiel, who becomes pregnant. To hide the scandal and protect their family's name, Maripaz's mother, Lucrecia, orders her thugs to beat Iván. During the confrontation, a man is killed, and Iván is framed for the murder. With no other choice, he flees illegally to the United States. 

In Los Angeles, Iván is adopted by a kind businessman, Anthony McGuire, who provides him with an education and a new identity as Iván McGuire. Eleven years later, Iván returns to Mexico as a successful professional to clear his name and find his mother, only to discover she has died. 

He soon finds himself entangled with the Lomelí Curiel family once more, but this time his focus shifts to Lucía, Maripaz’s virtuous younger sister who has loved him since they were children. Together, they must navigate a web of secrets.

It starred David Zepeda as Iván, Sandra Echeverría as Lucía, Gabriel Soto as Camilo, Laisha Wilkins as Maripaz, Juan Ferrara as Juan Jaime and Alejandro Tommasi as Gerardo.

Disney Channel Celebrates 20th Anniversary in Africa

• Channel launched on 25 September 2006

• Brand-New Programming from Animation to Live-Action

• Viewers invited to celebrate with iconic stories, characters, surprises and more

 

On 25 September 2006, Disney Channel debuted on DStv (Channel 303) for the first time and welcomed viewers to a world of humour, music, friendship and feel-good fun, through iconic live action and animation series. Since then, the channel has continued to introduce unforgettable stories and characters and, in 2026, Disney Channel will be celebrating with fans and viewers across Africa. 

 

In the run up to the 20th anniversary, expect the very latest and greatest programming, on-screen superstars and fun, as well as extra surprise reveals, events, competitions and activations throughout the year, inspired by everything the channel has become synonymous with - music, fashion, friendship and adventure. Keep your eyes glued to the channel as well as on social media platforms for more details.  

 

Link to launch promo video 

 

Kicking off the celebrations this March, a special Throwback programming block will be introduced to the channel, bringing special themed episodes from iconic series. For the first time, fans will have a hand in curating the block by voting on social media for what they want to see - from Hannah Montana to Raven’s Home, Liv & Maddie, Bunk’d and more. With voting now open, the power lies in the hands of the fans.  

 

There is also a slate of brand-new content coming to the channel later in the year. These include the animated original Dragon Striker, set at an elite academy where sports and magic combine, as farm boy Key discovers his ultrapowerful natural talent and learns he may be destined to become the legendary Dragon Striker. Also on the animation front, the brand-new ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series follows the daily lives of Zed, Addison, and the entire Seabrook crew as A-spen’s alien time-warp technology gives them a chance to relive senior year with all their friends. Celebrating the high-energy music from the iconic Descendants and ZOMBIES franchises, the Descendants/ZOMBIES Worlds Collide Tour thrilled sold-out crowds in over 40 arenas across North America last summer - a concert special will be coming exclusively to Disney Channel.  

 

The channel will also continue its Movie Mayhem slot every Friday at 17:00 where fans can catch all their favourite Disney and Pixar movies - from Toy Story to Wreck it Ralph - as well as several Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs), including The Suite Life Movie and Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe. Fans of the wildly popular Descendants franchise will also be pleased to know the DCOM returns later this year, welcoming new Descendants from Alice in Wonderland and more! 

 

For two decades, Disney Channel has offered up some of the best in entertainment for kids as we’ve danced through the halls of East High with High School Musical, navigated the supernatural secrets of Wizards of Waverly Place, and grown up alongside legends like Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana and Zendaya in K.C. Undercover.  

 

The channel also found local resonance with shows like the SAFTA award-winning series Disney’s Cookabout - a cooking adventure series that saw local kids learning about where their food comes from. The animated series Kiff - which premiered in 2023 was created by South Africans Nic Smal and Lucy Heavens. The buddy-comedy is currently in its second season and has been renewed for a third. 

e.tv Unveils New Daily Drama Emzini Set To Replace Smokes & Mirrors

Every family protects its secrets. But when a legacy is built on blood, betrayal, and deception, accountability becomes the ultimate price to pay. This is the world of Emzini, e.tv’s new prime-time daily drama set in the vibrant, fast-paced heart of Alexandra Township.

Centred on a popular and lucrative lounge of the same name, Emzini unfolds in a world where power, status, and family legacy are everything. On the surface, the brand carries all the hallmarks of success: wealth, influence, and a commanding presence in the community. Below that surface lies a history of personal sacrifice, moral compromise, and decisions that can never be undone.

The Creative Vision:

Emzini is brought to life by respected storyteller Loyiso Maqoma, whose work on Imbewu: The Seed and Smoke and Mirrors has built sustained audience loyalty through emotionally layered narratives and authentic South African storytelling. The series is executive produced by Zuko Nodada, the same creative team behind Smoke and Mirrors, returning to the 9 PM slot with another story that earns its place there.

The show’s visual identity reflects its central tension. The gold logo anchors the Emzini brand in the wealth, power, and premium lifestyle associated with the family’s successful lounge business, while the tagline “Family Legacy”cuts to the heart of the story: a dynasty built through ambition, sacrifice, and difficult choices. The creative direction holds both sides of that tension without resolving it. The glamour is real, and so is the cost.

The opening title track was created to carry that same weight. Haunting and deeply symbolic, it was composed with the director’s conceptual vision at its core, specifically the image of blood being washed away, a powerful metaphor for a past that cannot be outrun. The track draws on themes of ancestry, sacrifice, and consequence, reinforcing what the series asks of its audience: that every legacy leaves a mark.

Additional details about the Emzini cast and creative team will be announced in the coming weeks.

Canal+ And PPF Considering Viaplay Takeover After Building Up Stake At Pay-TV Company

Canal+ and PPF are considering a joint move that would bring Viaplay into private ownership, according to a Bloomberg report.

The move would mark the next stage in the Nordic streaming group’s post-recapitalisation reshaping. The two companies already hold roughly 29.3% each of Viaplay following the Swedish broadcaster’s 2024 rescue recapitalisation, meaning they already control close to 60% of the company between them.  

Neither Canal+, PPF nor Viaplay has commented publicly on the report. Viaplay has spent the past two years rebuilding after its near-collapse, with Canal+ and PPF emerging as cornerstone shareholders through the SEK 4 billion (€0.36 billion) recapitalisation completed in early 2024.  

Any deal would come against a backdrop of a sharp recovery in Viaplay’s market value from distressed levels, even if the stock remains far below where it traded before the crisis. 

Viaplay’s footprint today centres on the Nordics, the Netherlands and Poland, while the company has been focusing on profitability and simplification. It withdrew from a number of territories, including the UK, where it sold the former Premier Sports business back to its original owners.

Its latest full-year results, published on 19 February, also reflected the acquisition of the remaining shares in Allente, underlining that the group is still in active portfolio and ownership transition.  

BBC Studios Expands It's Footprint With The French-Language Launch Of BBC Earth With Canal+ In Africa

The launch will bring world-class natural history programming and premium factual storytelling to a wider African audience, providing 22 French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries access to the channel.

The new French-language feed will bring BBC Studios’ award-winning factual catalogue to millions of additional viewers, offering a breathtaking window into the natural world, pioneering scientific documentaries and extraordinary human stories.

At launch, BBC Earth will present a standout line-up of landmark natural history series and powerful documentaries from BBC Studios’ acclaimed factual library. Viewers can expect celebrated productions from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, including Seven Worlds, One Planet, The Green Planet, Frozen Planet II and Blue Planet II, all narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The channel line-up also features a wide selection of specialist wildlife documentaries such as Natural World: Giraffes – Africa’s Gentle Giants, My Congo, Cheetah Family and Me, and Natural World: Cheetahs Growing Up Fast offering intimate portraits of remarkable species and the people working to protect them. Global series including Africa, Earth, Universe and The Planets will also be available on the channel, providing perspectives on the natural world.

Adventure and exploration are also central to the channel, with titles such as Where the Wild Men Are, Life Below Zero, Arctic with Bruce Parry and Steve Backshall’s Extreme River Challenge taking viewers into some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments.

The channel’s programming will be dubbed into French and expertly curated scheduling tailored to the interests and viewing habits of Francophone markets.

Pierre Cloete, VP for Africa at BBC Studios, said: “The French-language launch of BBC Earth on Canal+ marks a significant milestone in BBC Studios’ commitment to making exceptional factual content accessible to global audiences in their own language. We are thrilled to expand BBC Earth’s footprint in partnership with Canal+. African audiences have a deep passion for documentary storytelling and we are proud to bring even more people the very best of BBC Studios’ natural history, science, and factual catalogue.

Fabrice Faux, Channels & Content director for French-Speaking Africa said: “Canal+ is happy and proud to offer its subscribers the high-quality factual entertainment from BBC Earth, which will ideally complement its discovery vertical. Educational programming is also a key component of Canal+’s offers in Africa, and BBC Earth is a strong addition in this area."

The channel will be available on Channel 203 within Tout Canal+.

India: A Love Story, Brand New Brazilian Drama Launches On eExtra

eExtra, a South African based channel operated by eMedia Investments that offers dubbed telenovelas from Turkey and around the world has announced the rollout of India: A Love Story. The Brazilian Drama replaces Kuma: The Other Wife in April.

Synopsis for India: A Love Story 

Maya, a modern woman working at a call centre, falls deeply in love with Bahuan. Her world is shattered when she learns Bahuan is a Dalit (an "untouchable"), making a relationship between them a social taboo.

Raj is an executive who fell in love with Duda, a Brazilian woman, while working abroad. His traditional family, led by his strict father Opash, refuses to allow him to marry a foreigner. 

Under intense family pressure, Maya and Raj are forced to abandon their "impossible" loves and enter into an arranged marriage with each other. Maya enters the marriage with a massive secret: she is pregnant with Bahuan's child.

Known in Brazil as Caminho das Índias, it was broadcast on 19 January 2009 and concluded on 11 September 2009 after 160 episodes internationally.

It starred Juliana Paes as Maya Meetha, Rodrigo Lombardi as Raj Ananda, Letícia Sabatella as Yvone Oliveira Magalhães, Tony Ramos as Opash Ananda, Alexandre Borges as Raul Cadore and Débora Bloch as Sílvia Cadore.

Prior to its rollout on eExtra, India: A Love Story was initially slated to rollout on the now defunct eBella channel before getting pulled off from the lineup. The drama was also broadcast on M-Net's Mzansi Magic alongside the former Caribbean Love.

India: A Love Story will broadcast weekdays at 23:00 from 21 April.

eExtra Resumes Broadcast Of Uzozisola: Regrets Following It's Departure From e.tv

Last month, e.tv yanked the Zulu dubbed Bollywood drama Uzozisola: Regrets and replaced it with a rebroadcast of Broken Vows. This came after it was removed from e.tv's primetime offering and moved onto late nights.

Now it's scheduled to broadcast on eExtra from 14 April at 09:00 when most viewers will not be in their homes during this time.

The short-lived drama series likely had low ratings during its broadcast on e.tv which is why it went to eExtra. Even Broken Vows was met with a similar fate before getting redirected to eExtra.

Unlike Broken Vows, e.tv had misled the viewers labelling Uzozisola Regrets removal on the channel as an "finale". While those who already saw it on Glow TV know that wasn't the case and others that could only see on e.tv will be missing out.

The reality here is that eMedia Investments shunned this offering on eExtra to weekday mornings or late nights. Despite the existence of ePlesier and daily repeats on e.tv, rebroadcasts to Dokter Ali, Chrysalis and Yosef take up these timeslots.

That even getting to shows like Naagin, This Is Love and Two Women is just a luxury that viewers aren't willing to latch by the horns.

The last anyone got word on the ratings for eExtra it had around 300,000 to 500,000 viewers for shows like Gebroke Harte. Then there was Annekan Die Swa Kry which had 1.8 million viewers on e.tv and now imagine if that was Uzozisola: Regrets.

For Gebroke Harte and Annekan Die Swa Kry these were primetime slots where the viewership is larger compared to Uzozisola: Regrets where it's lower.

Canal+ To Shutter Showmax Streaming Service By The End Of April As Content Moves To DStv Stream

Showmax has today confirmed key dates marking the end of the streaming service that has operated across 44 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa for the past 11 years.

In an email sent to subscribers on Wednesday evening, the platform outlined a phased wind-down of its current service, with 31 March 2026 set as the final day for subscription renewals and voucher redemptions. From 1 April 2026, new subscriptions and renewals will no longer be available.

Existing subscribers will continue watching content until their subscription expires, or until the end of April 2026, whichever comes first.

This new update provides the clearest consumer-facing timeline yet, following the announcement roughly two weeks ago that Canal+ would shut down Showmax, citing “unacceptable” losses at the African streamer as it sought cost-saving measures.

That announcement sent shockwaves across the industry, from Nairobi to Lagos to Johannesburg, with filmmakers and actors raising concerns over the loss of a key African platform that had, for over a decade, commissioned and amplified local storytelling at scale.

At the same time, the announcement was also met with uncertainty, particularly due to the absence of a clear shutdown timeline or transition plan for subscribers.

Even now, some subscribers have already begun expressing frustration over the short transition window. “It’s really annoying how little time is left,” one subscriber and regular Showmax viewer said in a WhatsApp message.

Showmax Originals will now move to DStv Stream, positioning it as MultiChoice’s central hub for streaming offering, at least for now.

“Showmax is starting a new chapter, and your favourite shows are getting a shiny new home on DStv Stream,” the company said in the email.

But the language used in the communication also suggests that there is more to come. In stating that the content will join “a bigger world of entertainment, all in one place,” MultiChoice hints at a broader consolidation strategy — one that could see Canal+ and MultiChoice’s currently fragmented digital products folded into a more unified streaming ecosystem. There have been reports that Canal+ is exploring a single “super app”, one to rule them all, though this remains unconfirmed at this stage.

In the meantime, it remains unclear whether Showmax users will be migrated to DStv Stream, and what that process would look like in terms of pricing, packaging and access, especially given the current price disparity between the two services. 

The company says further details on how subscribers can continue “enjoying Showmax Originals and more” on DStv Stream will be shared soon.

For now, it’s confirmed without a doubt that Showmax is entering its final weeks.

April 2026 On Studio Universal Across Africa | Epic Easter Weekend With Channel Premiere: Fast X | Comedy After Dark With Cocaine Bear | More

 

Epic Easter Weekend

3rd – 6th April - All Day Every Day

We have an exciting line-up for the four-day weekend, including channel premieres Uncharted, Gran Turismo, and Fast X!

Gran Turismo

3rd April at 18:00

This high-octane drama, based on a true story, makes its channel debut. An ambitious marketing executive and the management of video game Gran Turismo launch a competition offering the winner a chance to become a real-life, professional racer. Fate brings together dedicated Welsh gamer Jann (played by Archie Madekwe) with cynical former driver Jack (David Harbour) and together, they set out to turn Jann from a console champion to fully fledged king of the racetrack in a Nissan-sponsored car.

Fast X

4th April at 20:00

Channel premiere. Louis Leterrier directs the tenth entry in the franchise, which sees Dom enjoying family life. After he and his team are asked to organise a theft in Rome, Cipher arrives warning him that Dante (Jason Momoa), Hernan Reyes’ son, wants revenge for his father’s death. Dom and wife Letty head to Rome, where Dante tries to cause mayhem with a bomb, but Dom ends up in the frame for the crime. With the Agency wrongly on his heels, Dom seeks to put an end to Dante, once and for all.

Gods Of Egypt

5th April at 17:50

Brenton Thwaites and Gerard Butler lock horns in this sword-and-sandal fantasy, in which Bek (Thwaites), a thief, sets out to defeat Set (Butler), the god of darkness. He has snatched the Egyptian throne, plunging the world into chaos and putting Bek’s lady love in peril. The streetwise mortal makes an unlikely ally in the form of Horus (Nikolaj Coster Waldau), a powerful deity, and together they take on the merciless Set, aiming to restore the Egyptian empire to its rightful glory.

Uncharted

5th April at 20:00

Channel premiere. Bartender Nate is spotted pick-pocketing clients by treasure hunter Sully, who invites him on his latest job: to find explorer Magellan’s gold. What Sully doesn’t know is that Nate’s missing brother had the same dream. After a bumpy start, the two men team up to locate the loot. However, they reckon without a ruthless rival, who dogs their steps at every stage of the globe-trotting hunt. Can they stay one step ahead and find the booty first? Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg star.

Action Weekend Warriors

11th – 26th April - Double-bills from 8pm War, what is it good for? Action Weekends, that’s what!

The Hard Corps

11th April at 20:00

Ex-soldier Phillip Sauvage, who has PTSD, joins the bodyguard team of heavyweight boxer-turned-businessman Wayne Barclay, after rap mogul Terrell Singletery is released from jail. He blames Barclay for his imprisonment and quickly targets him for assassination. Sauvage realises he needs to bolster Barclay’s security and calls in an old friend to train some hand-picked new recruits. But can they protect him from Singletery when the chips are down? Jean-Claude Van Damme and Vivica A. Fox star.

The Marine

12th April at 20:00

John Cena flexes his muscles and leans heavily into our Weekend Warriors theme, playing John Triton, a soldier who was sent home from the Iraq War against his will. Once back on U.S. soil, he must call on all his military skills after the head of a sinister criminal gang kidnaps his wife. Cue a deadly game of cat and mouse in the wilds of South Carolina as John faces arguably the most perilous – and urgent – mission of his life. Good support comes from Kelly Carlson and Robert Patrick.

Sisu

19th April at 20:00

Jorma Tommila heads the cast in this World War II drama, inspired by real events and set in Finland. During the German army’s violent retreat from the north of the country, ex-soldier and gold prospector Aatami’s latest haul is stolen by a ruthless SS officer. However, the latter reckons without the Finn’s implacable determination to take back what belonged to him, even in the face of impossible

odds. Before long, there’s a visible and bloody trail

of destruction. Aksel Hennie also features.

The Art Of War II: Betrayal

26th April at 20:00

Wesley Snipes stars in this sequel to the 2000 original, reprising the role of covert operative Neil Shaw. This time around, he’s reluctantly drawn out of hiding and thrust back into the fray after an old friend, who was harbouring political ambitions, is murdered. Shaw joins forces with the man’s daughter to track down the culprit, but the pair are caught up in a corrupt weapons maker’s deadly web, while Shaw is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. With Lochlyn Munro and Athena Karkanis..

Comedy After Dark

20th – 24th April - Monday-Friday @9pm

Five nights of funnies, including the channel premiere of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You

You Don’t Mess With The Zohran

21st April at 21:00

There are giggles galore in this action comedy from director Dennis Dugan. A bequiffed Adam Sandler heads the cast as Zohan Dvir, a top-class Mossad agent who dreams of being a New York hair stylist. After faking his own death with the help of his arch enemy, Zohan hot-foots it to the Big Apple, landing his ideal job in the salon of Palestinian owner Dalia. Life is perfect – until a face from his past threatens to destroy everything. Good support comes from John Turturro and Emmanuelle Chriqui.

The Hangover: Part III

22nd April at 21:00

Two years after the second movie, three quarters of the Wolf Pack – Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) – have happily embraced the stability of domesticity. The same can’t be said of Alan (Zach Galifianakis), whose family send him to a clinic and ask his friends to escort him there. Trouble ensues when the quartet are abducted by someone who demands to meet Mr Chow, and things only go downhill from there. The sparkling cast includes John Goodman and Melissa McCarthy.

Cocaine Bear

22rd April at 21:00

Elizabeth Banks directs this action comedy, which is based on real events. In 1985, a bag crammed with millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine falls from a drug runner’s plane into Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest, where it becomes a 500-pound American black bear’s lunch. While the criminals who lost the bag scour the wilderness for their missing booty, the animal embarks on a cocaine-fuelled, hours-long rampage, threatening everyone who gets in its way. Ray Liotta and Keri Russell star.

Anyone But You

24th April at 21:00

Will Gluck’s romantic comedy makes its channel premiere. Glenn Powell and Sydney Sweeney play a young couple whose first date goes like a dream. The following day, a miscommunication prompts the pair abruptly to go their separate ways, with no intention of ever meeting again. But fate has other plans, and the pair run into each other on the other side of the world, at a wedding in Australia. Instead of keeping their distance, they pretend they’re a couple, and comedic chaos ensues.

April 2026 On Universal TV Across Africa | Returning Shows Including Blue Ridge And The Equalizer | More

 

BLUE RIDGE

Season 2 - Territory Premiere

Premieres Thursday 2nd April @8pm

Blue Ridge returns with Sheriff Justin Wise facing a new wave of threats in the Appalachian Mountains – from bounty hunters and deadly drugs to old enemies resurfacing.

THE EQUALIZER

Season 5 - Channel Premiere

Premieres Friday 3rd April @8pm

In its fifth and final season, The Equalizer delivers a high-stakes conclusion as Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) faces her most personal and dangerous mission yet.

NCIS: SYDNEY

Season 3 - Territory Premiere

Premieres Monday 6th April @8pm

Season 3 opens with the discovery of two missing U.S. Navy aviators adrift in the Coral Sea, pulling the multinational task force into a high-stakes terrorist plot.

HUDSON AND REX

Season 8 - Territory Premiere

Premieres Tuesday 14th April @8pm

Season 8 of Hudson & Rex marks a dramatic new chapter as Detective Hudson steps in to lead Major Crimes alongside Rex, thrusting the duo into high-stakes investigations.

Continuing shows include LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Season 27.

Parliament Looking To Intervene In Canal+'s MultiChoice Decision To Discontinue Showmax

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies is planning a special oversight visit to the broadcasting sector following Canal+'s announcement to discontinue its unprofitable streaming service, Showmax.

This decision comes after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sixolise Gcilishe contacted the committee chairperson, Khusela Sangoni-Diko, regarding the shutdown. Launched by MultiChoice in 2015, Showmax has been a platform for African films and TV series, available in at least 44 African countries.

"MultiChoice, part of CANAL+ SA ... today announces the forthcoming discontinuation of the Showmax service," Canal+ said in a statement.

"The substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business have proved unsustainable."

Gcilishe had requested that MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd provide an update to the committee on the termination of the Showmax platform, the associated job losses, and the prospects for local productions.

“This decision raises significant concerns relevant to our committee's responsibilities, particularly regarding the support of the local creative industry, job retention, and adherence to transformation goals within our digital economy. 

“Showmax has been crucial in contributing to our national identity and pushing the South African narrative by providing a platform for local producers, actors, writers and technical teams,” Gcilishe said.

“Any significant corporate changes by a major entity like MultiChoice will likely result in job losses, affecting not just the company but also the wider creative sector, including writers, directors, editors, and freelance workers reliant on streaming services for income.”

Gcilishe asked that MultiChoice be prepared to address the following specific topics in their presentation:

• the definitive timeline and rationale for ending or restructuring Showmax,

• a thorough assessment of the potential job losses, both at MultiChoice and within the wider film and television industry, and

• The future of existing Showmax Original productions and their accessibility to South African viewers.

Sangoni-Diko said that the matters Gcilishe raised are significant to the stability of South Africa’s creative economy and the sustainability of local content production.

“It is for this reason that the committee had already initiated engagements with key entities with a view to inviting them to account to Parliament.

"The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Competition Commission are scheduled to brief the committee on 17 March 2026 on the regulatory conditions, public interest commitments, and compliance requirements linked to the final approval of the Canal+ acquisition of MultiChoice,” Sangoni-Diko said.

“Following this, the committee is working on scheduling a special oversight visit to the broadcasting sector on 31 March and 1 April 2026, covering eTV, MultiChoice, and other commercial broadcasters,” she said.

Channel Premiere: Impilo Kasuman Coming Soon To Star Khanya

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood entertainment channel operated by JioStar will be rolling out a new series called Impilo Kasuman. Known in India as Suman Indori, it will broadcast on the channel daily at 6PM CAT.

Synopsis for Impilo Kasuman 

The central plot revolves around Suman's reluctant marriage to Teerth Mittal (Zain Imam), an ambitious politician from a powerful family. 

Suman’s brother, Rishi, is a loyal supporter of Teerth. During a protest, Rishi is critically injured and, as a deathbed request, begs Teerth to marry Suman to ensure her protection. Teerth, originally set to marry his sister-in-law’s sister, Kritika, for political leverage, agrees to the marriage to preserve his public image and out of a sense of duty to Rishi. 

Once Suman enters the Mittal household, she faces intense opposition from Devika (Anita Hassanandani), the manipulative elder daughter-in-law (jethani). 

Suman eventually suspects that her brother's death was not an accident but a murder orchestrated by Devika and her associates. Much of the series follows her efforts to find clues and expose Devika’s true nature. 

Based on the Colors Kannada's TV series Kendasampige, Impilo Kasuman was broadcast on Colors TV on 3 September 2024 and concluded on 27 April 2025 after 236 episodes.

It starred Ashnoor Kaur as Suman Sharma Mittal, Zain Imam as Teerth Mittal, Anita Hassanandani as Devika Gupta Mittal, Sai Ballal as Chandrakant Mittal, Nishigandha Wad as Geetanjali Mittal and Aman Sharma as Gururaj Mittal.

Canal+ And SuperSport Renew Distribution Partnership With SA Rugby

SA Rugby and the CANAL+ Group have discussed and planned a continued partnership with SuperSport, Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, following fruitful and productive engagements in Johannesburg this week.

SA Rugby executives met with their CANAL+ Group counterparts at the MultiChoice offices in Randburg, Johannesburg, where both entities discussed strategic plans to bring rugby fans and viewers closer to the game through the existing broadcast partnership.

The two organisations met for a series of information-sharing sessions to better understand each entity's long-term strategy and move forward with a common purpose and goal as partners in delivering the best possible rugby viewing experience to viewers and DStv subscribers across the continent. These include the immersive experiences as well as storytelling, which brings viewers more of the sports content they desire beyond the live action.

With SA Rugby preparing to stage some of the most exciting rugby matches in history starting in 2026 – across Springbok men, women, junior teams, as well as sevens – the partnership with SuperSport – part of the CANAL+ Group, ensures that millions of rugby followers will get to participate in the excitement.

SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer, said: “SuperSport has been at our side for decades, bringing rugby fans all the action, including Rugby World Cups, and we’re excited to continue this journey with them. We had very fruitful discussions with CANAL+ leadership in Johannesburg and, along with them, we are very excited about the road ahead.”

Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, said: “As part of CANAL+ Africa and the CANAL+ Group, we are proud to be able to enhance our existing partnership with SA Rugby.

“Rugby plays an important role in the sports package we deliver to our CANAL+ Africa SA Pay-TV audience and the partnership with SA Rugby is crucial to delivering the very best in local and international rugby.

“We are excited to engage with the rugby governing body to find ways to deliver the sport to audiences across many different touchpoints: linear television, streaming, digital and social media.

“The robust and engaging discussions were aimed at ensuring that the viewer gets the ultimate rugby viewing experience, courtesy of this SuperSport partnership. We cannot wait for the viewers and DStv subscribers to experience all that we have in store this year, leading up to the Springboks’ title defence in Australia next year.”

Ultimate Survival Test: Naked And Afraid Returns For Its Most Extreme Season Premiering On Discovery Channel Africa On Wednesday, 18 March At 20:05

Discovery Channel dives deep into one of the most audacious and high-stakes challenges on Naked and Afraid S12, premiering on Discovery Channel Africa (DStv 121) on Wednesday, 18 March at 20:05. 

 

This season, a fresh crop of intrepid survivalists will be plunged into what can only be described as hell on Earth. Stripped of every comfort and convenience without water, food, or even clothing. They face the ultimate reckoning of body, mind, and spirit. From scorching deserts to unforgiving jungles, they're abandoned in five of the planet's most brutal and diverse landscapes, armed with nothing but their raw determination.

 

The two-hour season premiere kicks off with a bang, as Naked and Afraid legend Matt Wright makes a surprise appearance. He throws a rookie and a returning challenger, desperate for redemption, into the punishing Florida Everglades. Here, intense heat, severe storms, swarming mosquitoes, and aggressive alligators conspire to turn the swampy terrain into a relentless battle for survival. As the season pushes deeper into its global challenges, the series returns to southern Africa, where survivalists face the raw wilderness of Botswana’s arid desert terrain and the dense, wildlife-rich landscapes of Zambia, two locations long known within the franchise for their extreme heat, scarce resources, and close encounters with predators.

 

In a new move for the franchise, this season features a first: expert survivalists Ky Furneaux and Dan Link face a staggering 14 days on a remote island, completely devoid of tools, firestarter, pot, or blade. It’s the most extreme test of human ingenuity and resilience ever conceived. Adding another fascinating twist, a group of five fearless social media influencers will trade their filtered feeds for raw reality, attempting to prove if their online personas can truly withstand the primal force of Mother Nature.

 

Don’t miss the drama, danger, and raw human resilience on full display.

Naked and Afraid Season 12 premieres 18 March, airing Wednesdays at 20:05, until 3 June on Discovery Channel Africa (DStv 121).

Comedy Central And Adult Swim Could Benefit From The Warner Bros. Discovery And Paramount Merger

Paramount is in process of trying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery home to brands like CNN, Cartoon Network and OWN. This merger would mean that Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, CBS News and CNN, and BET and OWN will operate under one roof.

The biggest gainer within this M&A would be Comedy Central and Adult Swim.

Comedy Central's content slate has been reliant on reruns of sitcoms like Becker, Hot In Cleveland, The Nanny and Rules Of Engagement. The only thing basically carrying the channel would be South Park and The Daily Show.

Adult Swim has been regarded as destination hub for adult animation with shows like Rick And Morty, Robot Chicken, Primal and Final Space. Unlike Comedy Central, it lacks in scale with it's linear operations residing mainly in Canada.

With this merger, Comedy Central stands to benefit with an increased slate of content. The channel is no stranger to animation with Beavis And Butthead and it's spinoff Daria as well as Drawn Together, The Ren And Stumpy Show and Ugly Americans.

Canada is the only known market to offer a 24 hour channel for Adult Swim maybe this merger will even lead more feeds for the brand perhaps under Comedy Central. 

Paramount Buys Out Tyler Perry’s Stake in BET+, Plans To Fold It Under Paramount+

Paramount Skydance has acquired Tyler Perry’s stake in BET+ and will fold it into Paramount+ at the beginning of June.

Perry had held a 25 percent stake in BET’s streaming service since 2019. Now, the more than 1,000 hours of content on BET+ will move to Paramount+.

Perry is still under an overall deal with BET Media Group that will run through 2028. He will continue delivering content to BET and now Paramount+.

In an internal memo, Louis Carr, president of BET Networks, said, “As we continue to drive BET’s growth, our stories have to live in more places. Beginning in June, we are expanding our reach by making Paramount+ the new home for BET+ content. This powerful next step ensures the stories we champion, the creators we support and the culture we represent go further than ever before.

“Paramount+ will bring global fans over 1,000 hours of iconic series, films, originals and cultural touchstones that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, including hits like The Ms. Pat Show, All The Queen’s Men, Zatima, Average Joe and Diarra from Detroit. Our celebrated Black storytelling will live alongside Paramount’s premium series, sports, specials and films, where it will be clearly branded, prominently featured and easy to find in the BET Hub.”

More Details Regarding The Possible Expansion Of SuperSport Play On DStv

During the month, it was reported that MultiChoice might be looking to add SuperSport Play to its DStv decoders. For sometime, MultiChoice limited the channel's reach to its Free-To-View subscribers on the soon to be revamped DStv Stream app.

We assume due to Canal+'s takeover in 2025, they're basically cleaning house and assessing some of the poor decisions made by MultiChoice. In this case, it could as well be the availability of SuperSport Play.

SuperSport Play is basically a mashup of SuperSport Grandstand and Variety 4 as it sources mainly highlights and local content from SuperSport's premium sports channels. It tends to air replays to certain sporting events.

Unlike Variety 4, SuperSport Play doesn't have any live or first run content which made it the ideal channel for DStv Stream's Easyview customers.

Not long ago, MultiChoice had begun work on another SuperSport channel for DStv consumers. Initially, they used the feed for one of the Variety channels but overtime it had been replaced with a separate feed not accessible on their website.

For any future additions, usually there's some programme guide but for this one it's not the case.

From what I could gather, Reel Africa and World Of Freesports are on the lineup alongside highlights to NASCAR and International Cricket. It should be noted that none of these are seen on SuperSport Play's programme guide during that time.

But what led us to believe that it could have something to do with the channel mainly had to deal with the lineup. 

As mentioned, SuperSport Play very much like Variety 4 revolves on highlights and local content which is the case for this channel. We can only assume that maybe a linear version is starting to take shape as it's now spotted on Lyngsat.

SuperSport Play also took some of its content from SuperSport Blitz and Schools and maybe this version would have that content omitted. Seeing as Blitz and Schools are already available on Easyview.

But again this channel is in its early stages and more could be added overtime and who knows it could be a pop-up. I have doubts cause no pop-up would be airing Reel Africa as MultiChoice has its Variety channels for that.

Canal+ Aiming To Launch Showmax Replacement App Under DStv Stream In MultiChoice Markets

Canal+ unveiled its financial year results ending 31 December 2025 and gave some indicators on what awaits MultiChoice after completing it's acquisition last year. 

As reported earlier in the month, Showmax will be shutting down its operations after 11 years. The news doesn't come as a surprise and it was long speculated after MultiChoice shortened the window for shows exclusively for Showmax through DStv. 

Now the French giant plans to use to the existing footprint of DStv Stream to expand its streaming endeavours in MultiChoice territories. This service has already been active in 25 African countries and will likely go live by the end of 2026.

“As you know, this was a severely loss-making activity on which we saw no recovery, no matter what was done,” the CEO said.

Saada explained that Canal+ quickly came to an agreement with Comcast to shut down Showmax as soon as possible, but said he couldn’t share details on the negotiations.

During their financial year presentation, Canal+ confirmed that Comcast was on board with the decision to end it's joint venture for Showmax. Of course, they didn't want to divulge on the details except promising enhancements to DStv Stream.

Saada explained that Canal+ quickly came to an agreement with Comcast to shut down Showmax as soon as possible, but said he couldn’t share details on the negotiations.

They also plan to migrate existing Showmax customers to DStv Stream and have shows like Die Kantoor and Youngins accessible to viewers.

What is currently unknown is when this service will be released but it's likely slated for 2026 considering that Showmax will be discontinued in the "near future" according to their release.

Of course another challenge would be the pricing because consumers were billed R45 to R99 monthly for Showmax while Premium subscribers got it at no additional charge. Under DStv Stream, the price range for affected content is over R400 per month.

StudioCanal Takes A Majority Stake In Italy's Lucky Red

STUDIOCANAL, Europe's leading film and television studio and CANAL+ in house studio has today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in LUCKY RED, one of Italy's major Italian distribution and production companies.

Established in 1987 in Rome by Andrea Occhipinti, Lucky Red initially operated as an independent art-house film distributor. It has since expanded its scope and now stands as a major player in Italy’s independent film distribution and production landscape. Over nearly four decades, Lucky Red has released more than 600 films, many of which have received major international distinctions, including awards from Cannes International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, the Academy Awards and the David di Donatello Awards. Its catalogue includes films from some of the world’s most acclaimed directors (Bong Joon-ho, Jafar Panahi, Joachim Trier, Paolo Sorrentino, Michael Haneke, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wim Wenders, Danny Boyle, Luca Guadagnino, Alexander Payne, Todd Haynes, Stephen Frears, Asghar Farhadi). In 2024, Lucky Red was awarded ‘best international innovation for distribution’ at the third International Film Distribution Summit.

Lucky Red and STUDIOCANAL are building on a long-standing relationship that has bought audiences an array of cinematic hits from The Coen Brothers' INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS to STUDIOCANAL's German production HEIDI, and the acclaimed WE LIVE IN TIME starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Their partnership continues with the highly anticipated release of Aardman and STUDIOCANAL's SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM coming to theatres this Halloween, ELSINORE, currently in post-production in the UK for STUDIOCANAL, Lucky Red, Magnolia May Films and LD Entertainment, VIOLETTE (Changer l’eau des fleurs) from acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and FONDA from Academy Award and BAFTA winning director Justine Triet, announced last week. FONDA will star Mia Goth and Andrew Scott with Allison Janney in talks to join the project shooting this Spring. STUDIOCANAL picked up several major territories including Italy.

With this acquisition, the partnership enters an exciting new phase, giving STUDIOCANAL a unique opportunity to expand direct operations into a major European market, alongside its existing direct distribution and production presence across 11 European territories, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, with offices in the United States and China. For Lucky Red, the move unlocks the potential to board more ambitious projects, reinforcing its ability to attract both seasoned filmmakers and emerging talent, setting the stage for even greater creative and commercial success.

Lucky Red continues to deliver strong box office success at the Italian box office with recent hits including THE BOY AND THE HÉRON, PERFECT DAYS, EMILIA PEREZ, DRACULA, BERLINGUER: LA GRANDE AMBIZIONE, NO OTHER CHOICE, A SIMPLE ACCIDENT, SENTIMENTAL VALUE. The company’s success also extends to television with acclaimed titles such as BELCANTO (RAI & Netflix), GIGOLO PER CASO (Prime Video) and CHRISTIAN (Sky), demonstrating its ability to captivate audiences across both big and small screens.

Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL and Chief Content Officer of CANAL+: "I am delighted that STUDIOCANAL is deepening its partnership with the incredibly talented team at Lucky Red, one of Italy’s most vibrant film and television companies. This development enables us to gain a solid presence in one of Europe’s prime markets, further reinforcing our status as the leading European studio. Both Lucky Red and STUDIOCANAL are dedicated to bold and distinctive storytelling across all forms, supported by deeply experienced teams committed to delivering extraordinary stories to audiences. This collaboration will further strengthen Lucky Red’s position as a major player in film and television”.

Andrea Occhipinti, founder and CEO of Lucky Red: “We are thrilled to be joining the most dynamic company in the European entertainment industry. Lucky Red and STUDIOCANAL are both distributors and producers of successful films and series, with complementary strengths and a shared long-term vision. Thanks to the incredible catalogue of film from STUDIOCANAL and its production slate, this prestigious international partnership will allow Lucky Red to strengthen its legitimacy as a major player in the local film industry, attracting high-caliber talent and producing first class content. I firmly believe that this is a perfect match and a great opportunity for further growth”.

Canal+ And Sky Launch New Partnership To Develop English-Language Drama

Sky and CANAL+ announced a strategic co commissioning partnership to develop premium, English language scripted content, bringing together complementary creative expertise, shared investment and international reach to support ambitious storytelling.

Sky and CANAL+ will work together to develop a minimum of two projects per year over an initial three-year term, co-financing green-lit projects. Drawing on the capabilities of STUDIOCANAL and leading independent producers, the partnership will provide a stage for both established and emerging talent.

The collaborative model is designed to support wide distribution, reaching audiences across Europe and beyond, and providing a strong route to market for UK led stories with international resonance.

Maxime Saada, CEO CANAL+, said: "Sky and CANAL+ share the same storytelling DNA and drive to develop globally successful content and IP. Our previous co-productions, like The Young Pope and Zero Zero Zero, are great examples of what we can do together through this complementary and ambitious new partnership.”

Dana Strong CBE, Group CEO Sky, said: “We are excited to build on our strong working relationship with CANAL+ to create this partnership. Sky and CANAL+ share a strong track record in creating premium drama, and through this collaboration we will bring our creative ambition and expertise together at scale.”

With the agreement now in place, Sky and CANAL+ will begin developing the first slate of tentpole projects in the coming months. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to long term collaboration and sustained investment in premium scripted content, developed in the UK and designed to travel internationally.

Canal+ Announces Plans To Deploy OpenAI To Its Streaming App, Forms Partnership With Google Cloud

Enhanced Canal+ App Experience With OpenAI Technology

Starting June 2026, CANAL+ will roll out a major evolution of the CANAL+ App using the technology from OpenAI to power content search and discovery. This new feature represents a major breakthrough in delivering a more intuitive, intelligent, and personalized user experience - a world first innovation in the entertainment industry that further confirms CANAL+’s position as a pioneer and consistent trend setter.

The CANAL+ App will offer a uniquely enhanced search experience that goes beyond traditional keyword based queries. Thanks to OpenAI frontier models, subscribers will be able to express what they want to watch in their own words - based on their preferences, their mood, or even spontaneous curiosity - and receive tailored content suggestions that truly meet their expectations.

Whether a subscriber types “I would like a comforting romantic comedy” like BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY, “an epic historical series” like KING & CONQUEROR or “something lighthearted, fun and entertaining to watch” like LOUPS-GAROUS into the search bar, the CANAL+ App will be able to suggests tailored content that matches subscribers’s queries.

Deploying OpenAI is a natural continuation of CANAL+’s long-standing tradition of pioneering innovations that shape the future of entertainment experiences. Just as CANAL+ pioneered the ability to watch the best content all in one place with its aggregation strategy in 2019, and was the first to offer a content viewing experience in connected vehicles in 2024, this collaboration continues to redefine how its subscribers access and enjoy entertainment.

Maxime Saada, CEO of CANAL+ : “We are delighted to collaborate with OpenAI, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies, to enhance the entertainment experience of our 40 million subscribers. This collaboration is part of CANAL+’s long-standing tradition of innovation and its commitment to continuously reinventing entertainment. Today, our subscribers already access the very best international and local content on the CANAL+ App. With this technological collaboration, we are proud to take a major leap forward, redefining how audiences discover content.”

Ashley Kramer, VP of Enterprise of OpenAI : “People increasingly expect technology to understand them the way they naturally express themselves. By bringing OpenAI into the CANAL+ App, subscribers can describe exactly what they feel like watching. It’s a great example of how advanced AI can make everyday entertainment experiences simpler, more intuitive, and more personal.”

CANAL+ will use Google Cloud’s AI technology to optimize content discovery and propel video creativity

CANAL+ and Google Cloud have announced a new multi-year partnership focused on artificial intelligence. Starting in June 2026, CANAL+ will deploy Google Cloud’s latest generative AI technologies across European and African markets where the CANAL+ App is available, unlocking a new era of creative possibilities for the group.

Tailor made entertainment experience fueled by Google Cloud content video Indexing

Using Google Cloud’s technologies, CANAL+ will accelerate the content video indexing of its extensive content library. The new content classification will provide the global media and entertainment group with an in-depth multimodal database combining sound, video, and text data. This increased granularity in content classification will enable smarter, more personalized content recommendations on the homepage of the CANAL+ App, matching each subscriber’s preferences according to their viewing habits. This will make it easier than ever for subscribers to discover even more content they love on CANAL+.

CANAL+’s multimodal database of video content paves the way for a wide range of opportunities - from enhanced content discovery to entirely new business models.

A new creative frontier fueled by innovation and faster experimentation cycles

CANAL+ will also leverage Veo3, Google’s new genAI video technology to provide its production partners and creative teams with tools that will unlock the creative ambitions of their talent, for instance, previsualizing a scene before shooting it or recreating historical moments from a single archival photo.

The partnership guarantees a very secure technical environment, where rights, assets ownership are deeply protected. Using these tools & platform, CANAL+’s partners will have full control of their production, of their editorial decision, with opportunities to try new approach while ensuring cost control, thanks to significantly shorter experimentation cycles.

This secure technical platform and tools will be made available to production who wish to use it in films supported by CANAL+.

Stéphane Baumier, Chief Technology Officer of CANAL+ : “We are pleased to leverage Google Cloud’s most advanced AI technologies to drive CANAL+’s technical innovation. Building on a long-standing collaboration with Google, this strategic partnership paves the way for limitless possibilities. Content video indexing for CANAL+ at scale gives the group a significant edge, notably by enabling us to deliver sharper discovery and truly enhanced personalized journeys on the CANAL+ App across all our markets. Creativity is the cornerstone of CANAL+’s content production. We are excited to push creative boundaries by providing creators with tools that enable AI-generated video scenes, impossible to produce using traditional methods.”

Matt Renner, President, Chief Revenue Officer of Google Cloud : "The entertainment industry is at a pivotal inflection point where the intersection of creativity and compute power defines market leadership. Our deepened collaboration with CANAL+ is a testament to a shared culture of relentless innovation. By leveraging Google Cloud’s generative AI technologies, CANAL+ is not just adopting tools; they are architecting the future of media and fundamentally transforming the entertainment landscape on a global scale.”

You Are My Love, Former Glow TV Series Has Been Picked Up By Star Life

A few years ago, eMedia Investments removed South African based entertainment channel Glow TV from their platforms. With no other platform available to package the channel, Nismedia that served as the parent company ended it's operations.

Since then, various shows from Glow TV had started to resurface in South Africa with the short lived Uzozisola - Regrets on e.tv while Star Life aired Saras & Kumud and Forbidden Love. Now Star Life will expand this lineup with You Are My Love.

Synopsis for You Are My Love

The story revolves around the intense love story of Pankti Sharma, a beautiful, kind-hearted young girl with dreams of becoming a successful singer, and Ahaan Dhanrajgir, a charming, aspiring rockstar musician from a wealthy family.

Pankti lives under the control of her materialistic and failed actress mother, Anita Sharma, who is deeply in debt and bankrupt. In a shocking and exploitative twist, Anita "sells" her daughter Pankti to JD (Jayant Dhanrajgir)—Ahaan's rich, powerful, cruel, manipulative, and much older uncle—for money to sustain her lavish lifestyle. Pankti is forced into a exploitative arrangement as JD's mistress, trapping her in a life of emotional and financial bondage.

When Ahaan meets Pankti, he falls deeply in love with her at first sight, and she reciprocates his feelings. Ahaan, unaware at first of the dark reality behind Pankti's situation, becomes determined to rescue her, help her pursue her singing dreams, and free her from JD's clutches. Their romance faces immense obstacles, including family opposition, JD's ruthless interference, betrayal, societal judgment, and dramatic twists involving blackmail, revenge, and emotional turmoil.

Known in India as Tu Aashiqui and broadcast on Glow TV as The Cost Of Love. It was broadcast on 20 September 2018 and concluded on 12 October 2018 on Colors TV after 288 half hour episodes.

It starred Jannat Zubair Rahmani as Singer Pankti Dhanrajgir, Ritvik Arora as Musician Ahaan Dhanrajgir, Rahil Azam as Jayant Dhanrajgir, Gauri Pradhan as Anita Sharma, Rushal Parekh as Uday Mathur and Nidhi Shah as Poorva Sharma.

You Are My Love will broadcast daily at 16:00 CAT from 19 March on Star Life.

Channel Premiere: Mannat, Colors TV Original Launches On Star Life

Star Life, a Bollywood based channel operated by JioStar has announced that they'll be launching a new series called Mannat. Known in India as Mannat – Har Khushi Paane Ki, the series will air daily at 21:30 from 19 March.

Synopsis for Mannat

The story is set in vibrant Mumbai and centers on Mannat, a talented, happy-go-lucky, and determined young chef who aspires to become one of India's renowned chefs. Abandoned as a newborn at Marine Drive by her biological mother, she was saved by a young boy and raised by her loving maternal aunt (maasi), Shruti, whom she initially believes to be her mother.

After graduating from culinary college, Mannat lands her first job at a high-end restaurant called "Mezbaani," owned by the cold, ruthless, and critical Aishwarya (her biological mother, who abandoned her) and her business partner Vikrant Saluja (the male lead, who becomes supportive and romantically involved with Mannat).

Unaware of her true origins, Mannat faces challenges in the professional world, including prejudice due to her disadvantaged background. Aishwarya, initially harsh toward Mannat and even fires her at one point, shares a deep but hidden connection with her. The narrative explores Mannat's journey to fulfill her career dreams while uncovering shocking truths about her birth, family ties, and identity.

It starred Ayesha Singh as Mannat Khanna, Adnan Khan as Aman "Vikrant" Saluja, Mona Vasu as Sonia "Aishwarya" Khanna Raisingh, Manit Joura as DCP Dhairya Kumar, Mamata Verma as Shruti Khanna and Yami Khandelwal / Trisha Sharda as Dua Saluja.

Since it's inception on Colors TV, Mannat continues to be broadcast on the channel with over 390 episodes having being filmed. It will join Noyontara: The Hidden Truth as another TV show to have aired on Colors TV.

Mannat will broadcast daily on Star Life from 19 March at 21:30 CAT replacing Sweet Love.

New Series Alert: Parineeta Coming Soon To Zee One

Zee One, a Bollywood based entertainment channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises offering English dubbed content has announced the addition of a new show, Parineeta. It is scheduled to broadcast daily on Zee One from 28 March.

Synopsis for Zee One

The story begins with the contrasting worlds of Parul, an ambitious girl with a thirst for knowledge, and Rayan, a wealthy, sharp-tongued city-bred man. 

Their lives collide when a series of events—including threats from a local character named Tapoti—compels Rayan and Parul into an unwanted marriage. Rayan initially rejects Parul, harboring deep resentment from their brief, antagonistic time at university.

After moving into the domineering Basu household headed by Rayan's grandfather, Ashutosh, Parul faces constant hostility from Rayan and a complex love triangle involving Shirin, who attempts to sabotage her at every turn.

Parineeta debuted on Zee Bangla on November 11, 2024 and since then over 470 half hour episodes have been produced. It starred Parul Adhikari as Ishani Chatterjee, Rayan Basu as Uday Pratap Singh and Shirin as Surabhi Mallick.

Parineeta premieres 28 March 2026 on Zee One replacing Padamatis Love. Other shows set to rollout on the channel during the month include How Do I Say This and Undercover Love.

Has eExtra Decided To Call It Quits For Bollywood Dramas?

Before Star Life and Zee One, there was eExtra that brought India to South Africa with shows like Madhubala, Yeh Teri Galiyan and Piyaa Albela. But in recent months, it appears that eExtra's Kuiertyd is building up it's airtime on the channel.

By the afternoon, eExtra now has daily repeats of Yosef, Sout Van Die Aarde, Chrysalis and Dokter Ali. This was the timeslot used to accommodate ramp up it's rivalled offering for Star Life now that's been reduced to a one hour slot for Naagin.

Uzozisola - Regrets gave Naagin the weight it needed but after e.tv scrapped further airings. Naagin just became an outsider on eExtra as daily repeats of e.tv soaps take up the morning with Kuiertyd taking up the afternoons and primetime.

Empress In The Palace, a former show on eExtra has since found its way onto eSeries. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if eMedia Investments decided to move all its Asian stories to eSeries in order to combat with those repeats.

As for Bollywood dramas, I feel like eExtra's story had come to an end I mean it never gained much recognition. For DStv viewers, there was Zee World with Glow TV on Openview and with it's afternoon slot most viewers were probably at work by then.

It could never garner the Zee World recognition it deserved even with Star Life and Zee One only airing repeats by then.

As for Kuiertyd, that's another story as Ouma Sarie and Droomvelore's broadcast on e.tv those shows were able to attract over 3 million viewers. Their continued success led KykNET to ramp up their own portfolio with Dikker As Water and Landman.

For sometime now, several Openview consumers didn't really see the need of having eExtra air these shows. Especially since eMedia Investments had been outsourcing from their competitors who had branded channels (i.e. Zee One) on Openview.

This market as some people recall has been overcrowded on both DStv and Openview. Not that it's a bad thing but in scenarios like this it's hard for a broadcaster like eExtra to offer alternatives if there's bigger prey out there.

Development Alert: eVOD Originals uMbali And Splintered Pieces Resurface On Openview

eMedia Investments had added the first seasons of uMbali and Splintered Pieces to eSeries on weeknights at 22:15 and 22:45 respectively. The latter was produced for eVOD and eMedia Investments had limited it's reach to Openview.

Following eVOD's rollout in the market, eMedia Investments had been giving some of its content an open window on their other platforms. But for shows like uMbali and Splintered Pieces, e.tv had been struggling to accommodate these shows.

They attempted to have it take up the timeslot of the Sunday movie block on e.tv and with minimal success for its movie offering. eMedia Investments decided to yank it to weeknights at 22:00 and that too had a limited run.

Now they've limited it's reach to Openview instead of allocating it on eExtra since it's also available on DStv or try to accommodate these shows on e.tv a lot better. One of the two would have helped these shows get more ad revenue compared to eSeries.

Synopsis for uMbali

Mbali is a "beguiling beauty queen" who uses her looks and street smarts to climb the social and economic ladder. After her boyfriend is arrested and her family loses their primary financial support, she vows to do whatever it takes to escape her circumstances.

Her pursuit of "the good life" leads her to steal husbands and boyfriends, creating a trail of enemies. She eventually finds what she believes is true love with her sister's fiancé, Peter, but her past and relentless ambition constantly threaten her safety and the lives of those around her.

Synopsis for Splintered Pieces 

The series explores the lives of two friends caught in a web of secrets and blurred boundaries. It focuses on Linda, a successful therapist who is bored in her relationship with her boyfriend, Paul.

On her birthday, Paul throws a surprise party where Linda meets and sleeps with a photographer named Jade. The situation becomes more complicated when Linda also sleeps with Tebello, the husband of her best friend Tshepi.

Tshepi is struggling with infertility, and when Linda falls pregnant, the paternity of the baby is unclear. A DNA test eventually confirms Tebello is the father, leading to a heartbreaking arrangement where Linda gives the baby to Tshepi and Tebello to raise as their own. 

Canal+ Might Overhaul The Current DStv Structure And Take A Dig At SuperSport

As it is understood, MultiChoice has lost almost 3 million DStv subscribers in the last two years and this is the reason Canal+ is backing out from further price increases. The focus has shifted on returning the company back to its 2023 projections.

Post the takeover, MultiChoice reportedly had 23.5 million 90 day active subscribers and this dropped further by 11% to 18.5 million. In South Africa, the DStv Premium base (including Compact+) saw a drop of 96,000 subscribers.

Since last year, MultiChoice had been exploring the possibility of unbundling SuperSport from the current DStv offering to make the costs flexible. This isn't the first time such experiment occurred and it's not known why they hadn't pursued it earlier on.

In France, Canal+ already offers the Canal+ Sport bouquet which includes sports from rival brands like DAZN and Eurosport. There's even a base package with select sports like UEFA Champions League, Formula 1 and Moto GP.

It is currently priced at €34.99 (R671, 89).

Of course, it's Canal+ Afrique's operations uses the same model as DStv which is why there's a lot of skepticism about a SuperSport only package. Canal+ CEO had dismissed the idea stating that "everyone who has tried this has failed". 

If such exists, it's going to be almost as pricey as your current DStv Premium bouquet. It's less likely they're going to make it cheaper as the current DStv structure helps subsidies the costs.

This new structure MultiChoice has been testing out for DStv will only benefit the non sports fanatics on lower tiered packages.

DStv Premium has been in decline for 10 years so it's a safe bet that MultiChoice will gradually use this offering to phase out that market. The plan for this offering was to have 3 sports package one for football with other sports on another package.

There's plenty of Premium subscribers that don't watch football and MultiChoice would give them the option to exclude it from their offering. They'll be times where you don't feel like watching SuperSport and MultiChoice would make that possible too.

In the end, you as a Premium client can continue catching shows like Landman and Doc on M-Net while watching One Piece on Netflix. You can do all this for under R700 and still have R300 to yourself.