British Streaming Service BritBox Will Be Shutting Down In South Africa After 3 Years By The End Of August

Launched in South Africa by August 2021, BritBox was a joint venture between British broadcasters BBC Studios and ITV which was home to content accessible on BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Earth, CBeebies and BBC UKTV all of which were accessible on MultiChoice's DStv. 

South Africa was the only African region to offer BritBox and one of eight countries across the world. It is also the second region looking to not close its operations following the UK by the end of April as operations were merged with ITV's existing offering. 

BBC Studios had acquired global rights to the remaining shares of BritBox International. Under this agreement would continue to offer content from ITV with the deal described as a "tremendous opportunity to grow its services and take it to new heights".

Unlike the UK, BritBox will not be replaced with another streaming service and if anything further content is likely to resurface on MultiChoice's Showmax and Netflix. As BBC Studios despite serving as a rival broadcaster continued licensing content to other platforms. 

The news of its demise comes after Acorn TV had closed its doors in the market by the end of 2022. Since then, BBC Studios was the only broadcaster to offer the best in British entertainment now consumers have until the end of August to use their services.

Statement from BritBox about its closure in South Africa 

BritBox has made the difficult decision to discontinue its service in South Africa to align with the brand's strategic priorities. This decision follows careful consideration of market dynamics and business objectives. We sincerely appreciate your past support on behalf of our entire team.

It will cease operations in South Africa by Friday, August 30, 2024. 

New Series Alert: Grizzy And The Lemmings And The Weasy Family Coming Soon To CBeebies And BBC Kids

The BBC has just picked up a pair of CG-animated series from French studio HARI— Grizzy and The Lemmings and The Weasy Family (pictured above and below, respectively).

Seasons three and four of Grizzy and the Lemmings World Tour (156 x seven minutes) will join the pubcaster’s schedule soon, targeting kids ages six and up and families. Production is still underway on a fourth season that should deliver in 2024. This slapstick comedy series centers around a grizzly bear who is perpetually perturbed by a group of mischievous lemmings.

Since launching in 2016, Grizzy has built up a strong viewership on both streaming platforms and linear channels. Last year alone, it landed among Netflix’s top-10 shows in more than 60 territories, and was the most-aired French animated series worldwide, according to a release. HARI also estimates that the show generates roughly a billion views on YouTube each year.

The new deal with BBC includes a presale for HARI’s upcoming series, The Weasy Family (78 x seven minutes), as well. Set in a Wisconsin barn, this family-centric toon follows an irresponsible weasel who must raise twin ducklings after accidentally incubating their egg. Broadcast partners already on board include France Télévisions, Germany’s Super RTL and Télé-Québec in Canada.

Both series will launch on linear nets CBBC and CBeebies, as well as on BBC iPlayer, in 2023 and 2024.

HARI is executing what it calls a “benevolent slapstick cartoon” strategy with The Weasy Family —while the series doesn’t have any dialogue, it stands apart from Grizzy and typical slapstick shows by not featuring its characters getting hurt.

The genre has a lot of potential in the UK market, according to HARI head of sales Sophie Prigent, who noted in a release that slapstick humor “really resonates with British families.”

Roundups #120: Lioness Returns For A New Season On M-Net, The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder Gets Season 2 Renewal And BritBox To Add Two New Doccies To Their Lineup

Another local drama gets a season 2 renewal

Shannon Esra returns to TV screens as Samantha Hugo when M-Net's (DStv 101) edgy thriller drama, Lioness, returns for its second season next year.

Lioness returns for season 2 on 16 January. It follows the story of a woman fresh out of jail for fraud and returning to a life even more fractured than when she left.

"After the cliffhanger finale of season 1, season 2 picks up with Adrian Hugo's (played by Jacques Bessenger) second wife (played by Carla Classen) in desperate search for her missing husband," a press statement reads. "The fiercely protective mother (as the titular "lioness") that she is, Samantha must shield her son Liam (played by Joshua Eady), no matter the cost."

DStv Flex:
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- What to expect this December on TNT?

The Proud Family is back on Disney+

The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder fans rejoice as the Proud Family revival gets renewed for season 2!

But, before we delve deeper into what we know about the upcoming new season on Disney+, we have to mention that the series is unquestionably making its mark as it recently won the Outstanding Casting for An Animated Program award at the first Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.

Season 2 of The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder will hit the airwaves in February and is expected to feature a stellar list of new guest stars. According to JustJaredJr.com, here are some of the voices that we can expect to hear in upcoming new episodes and the names of the characters that they will portray.

- Gabrielle Union as Talia Rouge
- Chance the Rapper as Darrius St. Vil
- Normani as Giselle
- Leslie Odom Jr. as Kwame
- Anthony Anderson as Ray Ray
- Gymnasts Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas and - Laurie Hernandez as themselves
- Holly Robinson Peete as Dr. Lord
- Maury Povich as himself
- Storm Reid as Emily
- Courtney B. Vance as Merlin Kelly
- Liana Mendoza as Singing Judge

Regular Nick:
- Best & Bester coming soon to Nicktoons
- Moonbug Kids gets a dedicated cameo account
- January on Disney Channel
- January on Disney Junior
- January on Da Vinci Kids
- The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang (review)

BritBox picks up two British actor documentaries

The Ghost of Richard Harris debuted in September 2022 at the Venice Film Festival. The actor is known to modern viewers best as the Original Dumbledore, but he had a long career before Harry Potter, including starring in the Oscar-nominated This Sporting Life and Camelot. However, he was even better known for his hard-partying ways, with a reputation for drinking and riotous behavior.

The documentary will feature his children, who followed in his footsteps to Hollywood, including Jared Harris (The Crown), Jamie Harris (Carnival Row), and director Damian Harris (Brave The Dark), as well as co-stars Vanessa Redgrave and Dick Cavett, and his late wife, Elizabeth Harris.

Peter O’Toole – Along the Sky Road to Aqaba only just debuted recently at the end of November 2022 in Spain. Directed by Jim Sheridan, who ironically also appears in The Ghost of Richard Harris, the documentary is structured into four acts, each introduced by a quote from or about the Lawrence of Arabia star to encapsulate that period of his life.

Nominated seven times for Best Actor, the new documentary covers everything about O'Toole from his self-belief to his alcoholism, using his own words, gleaned from 100s of hours of footage, allowing him to act as a narrator for his own life. It also includes interviews with O’Toole’s family, artists, actors, and directors, including Sir Kenneth Branagh, Brian Cox, Stephen Fry, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Sir Derek Jacobi.

YouTube Premium:
- VH1 is making a comeback to international shores through BET
- DStv Streama bundles Disney+
- The Walt Disney Company to expand the reach of Star Channel
- Acorn TV shutting down in South Africa
- TelkomOne rebrands into SABC+
- New Spider-Man series coming to MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video

Acorn TV Closing Down By The End Of The Year In South Africa, Still No Clue If AMC+ Will Launch In The Market

A few months ago, AMC International unveiled plans to rollout AMC+ in Central Eastern Europe by the coming year with the brand joining the likes of NBCUniversal's Peacock and Warner Bros Discovery's soon to be merged HBO Max and Discovery+ that have yet to launch in the market.

AMC International already supply various channels in the market including CBS Reality and CBS Justice in partnership with Paramount Global which are said to be up for renewal by early 2023 on MultiChoice's DStv alongside JimJam.

Now their AMC+ streaming service kind of like Peacock's effect on the NBCUniversal's channels, there's not much clashing going between them as both are one of the few companies to balance their portfolio as the streamer comes with content from AMC, Sundance Now, IFC and Shudder.

Just recently, Acorn TV announced on all their platforms that they would be inactive by the end of the year which leads me to wonder as to why this may be taking effect. I mean my guess has to do with BritBox offering most of their content.

On the other, could AMC+ have some involvement I mean the little original offering would make a perfect fit for the brand's existing offering.

As of right now, Acorn TV is scheduled to close by the end of the year which joins another streaming service TelkomOne which was acquired and rebranded into SABC+ during the month of November.

BritBox Launches In South Africa While Peacock TV Rolls Out Globally Likely Through Paramount+ In Some Territories

NEW BRITISH STREAMING SERVICE LAUNCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA

The British video streaming service BritBox, jointly run by ITV and the BBC, announced on Tuesday evening during a virtual press event that it will be launching in South Africa on 6 August.

SA is only the 5th global territory - after the US, UK, Canada, and Australia - where it will be available at a price of R99.99 per month, including a 7-day free trial.

BritBox will join South Africa's video streaming wars.where MultiChoice's Showmax, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ are competing with VIU, Vodacom Video Play and TelkomONE. Other international streaming services like HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock and Discovery+ are still to launch locally.

Then there is also Acorn TV, likely BritBox's biggest competitor that is already available in South Africa, also offering a 7-day free trial and costing R79 per month for access to its revolving catalogue of British TV content.

Britbox in South Africa will be accessible online, as well as on all mobile and tablet devices, while Apple TV set-top boxes, Samsung and LG smart TV sets are also included.

Reemah Sakaan, BritBox International CEO, at the virtual media launch on Tuesday evening, said that when BritBox launches in South Africa on 6 August, it will have "record-levels" of exclusive content.

ITV Choice and BBC First from were recently terminated on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service and saw the loss of a large chunk of British TV content.

"We chose South Africa as our next priority region because we know there's a massive loyal fanbase for British television and it's growing," she says.

"BritBox is perfectly placed to respond to the new shifting patterns of behaviours of the way people want to watch. We see new audiences discovering gems from the past to love and generational audiences finding hot new premieres to sink their teeth into - and that's the beauty of streaming."

"In the past few years, British content has moved firmly into streaming centre-stage while also maintaining its high-quality benchmark in character-driven storytelling. That's why we seized the opportunity to tap into that appetite and created BritBox."

What to expect?
Britbox series will include stars ranging from Idris Alba, Helen Mirren, Judi Densch, Martin Clunes and Dominic West. Some of the shows at the launch of BritBox will include Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, Broadchurch, Fawlty Towers, Inspector Morse, Line of Duty, Luther, Manhunt, Mr Bean, Unforgotten, Professor T, The Midwife, The Office, Wedding of the Century, Vera, as well as Victoria.

"In a sea of other streamers Britbox does exactly what it says on the tin. We pride ourselves in giving subscribers a highly curated and distinctive offering versus others. It's the largest selection of British box sets all in one place for all to discover, rediscover and to binge and enjoy."

"Due to the recent closure of some linear TV channels, BritBox in South Africa will have record-levels of exclusivity," Reemah said during the launch live from New York City.

"Premieres will regularly arrive within hours of their UK transmission, she said "making us the fastest from UK screen to BritBox stream.”

"Our research tells us that South African audiences have a really broad variety of tastes. We know for instance that they love British comedies, are passionate about crime series, and mad about period drama, and who doesn't love a classic Agatha Christie mystery?

"They're also adventurous and keen to try something new and edgy. So it's all of that finding a sweet spot for South African audiences as we hand-select
programmes."

Exec Neale Dennett, BritBox new markets launch director, said that BritBox South Africa will be bringing consumers several latest seasons of ongoing British series.

Customers who sign up for BritBox for a 1-year subscription will get two months added on for free.

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PEACOCK AND PARAMOUNT+ BOSSES IN TALKS FOR STREAMING TOGETHER

The heads of both Comcast and ViacomCBS have been meeting in recent weeks to discuss a possible streaming partnership, at least internationally, according to persons familiar with the situation.

According to the Wall Street Journal, at a New York meeting around the end of June, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and ViacomCBS Chair Shari Redstone, along with ViacomCBS CEO Robert Bakish, discussed a variety of possible partnership opportunities that would allow the two companies to enter markets outside the United States together.

The talks have come, according to the WDJ, as both Comcast and ViacomCBS are preparing to broaden their international streaming footprints.

In May, ViacomCBS said that Paramount+, which is set to launch next month in Australia, would be available in 45 markets by 2022.

According to Roberts, Comcast is looking at crafting partnerships with local programmers and distributors in overseas markets in an effort to expand Peacock, the service launched by its NBCUniversal division in the United States.

Comcast’s Sky unit in Europe also has a streaming division of its own.

Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that gives access to up to 15,000 hours of content including original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series.

While some Wall Street analysts said that ViacomCBS and Comcast have been potential merger candidates at some point, according to the Journal, Roberts has been eyeing potential acquisition targets for Comcast — including ViacomCBS. The Journal said that Roberts has told people that he does not feel the need to seek a merger.

The WSJ says both Comcast and ViacomCBS were relative latecomers to the streaming game in relation to their competitors and are trying to make up for lost ground both in the United States and internationally.

Peacock has built up a significant audience for ad-supported programming, but continues to grow its subscription business subtantially, according to sources close to the company. In late April, Comcast said Peacock had 42 million sign-ups.

According to the Journal, less than 10 million people had paid for the service as of late May.

Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 12,000+ TV show episodes including originals Star Trek: Discovery, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants, and MTV’s Laguna Beach. Meet captivating characters, catch up on your favorite sport, explore new worlds in the growing collection of Paramount+.

The premium version of Peacock is free for Comcast pay-TV and broadband subscribers and is also available to Cox Cable subscribers.

A potential international partnership with ViacomCBS could involve both Peacock and Sky, according to the WSJ report.

ViacomCBS said in May the company has 35.9 to its subscripion-based streaming services — Paramount+, Showtime , and [BET+]. Its ad-supported Pluto TV streaming service has 49.5 million active users monthly with a total streaming revenue that reached $816 million (R11.8 billion) in the third quarter, according to the Journal.

The Journal said that before ViacomCBS launched Paramount+ earlier this year, Comcast proposed the idea of the two companies joining forces on streaming. ViacomCBS was not interested at the time.

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