News Shorts: Disney+ Might Be Excluded From Certain African Markets Ahead Of Channel Closures, More Timeslot Changes Coming To eExtra Ahead Of Annekan Die Swa Kry's Debut On e.tv And MultiChoice To Cease Transmission Of The DStv Platform In Malawi

Disney+ is undergoing changes

During the month, it was learnt by Disney's CEO Bob Iger that Disney+ would be reviewing their portfolio in several countries with some limiting the amount of content produced within that region if not shut down alongside most of their linear platforms across the world.

Since Disney+ inception in 2019, there's still various markets in Europe, Africa and Asia without Disney+ and Bob Iger was able to confirm why some of these markets haven't been seen with the streamer. As seen in the last months, they're looking at regions which can make the streamer profitable.

Unfortunately most of Africa doesn't fit that description so various content like Only Murders In The Building, Loki and Solar Opposites will likely be folded under existing brands like Multichoice's Showmax, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video as opposed to getting a seperate platform as seen in South Africa.

It is believed by analysts that Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are doing something similar with consumers in other regions.

Winter Son and Annekan Die Swa Kry are doing a switcheroo

Last month, eExtra underwent a schedule change which saw various repeats move to the Power Up leaving the channel to air repeats to past programming alongside other content already viewed on both eReality and eXposed.

In recent developments, e.tv will be allocating a new Turkish drama known in Afrikaans as Annekan Die Swa Kry in place of the first season to Roekeloos Dade. As seen through an updated programme guide, the channel will be moving the 17:00 shows in which this new series resides to Winter Son's timeslot on eExtra at 12:25.

Winter Son airs weekdays on eExtra at 19:00 with repeats 2 and a half hours later at 22:30. The Heir gets burned off to midnights, possible indicator that the channel might be phasing out the Bollywood part of the brand.

MultiChoice to close shop in selected territories

MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH) said its decision followed an injunction issued by the High Court in Lilongwe in a matter between MultiChoice Malawi (MCM) and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) prohibiting an adjustment to the DStv tariffs.

MAH has argued that its local subsidiary is not responsible for setting prices for the service, which are set by the parent company independently. MultiChoice Malawi does not offer DStv to the Malawi public. The local outfit is responsible for the digital-terrestrial GOtv offering, for which it applied and received approval from the regulator for price adjustments.

Having argued repeatedly that the Malawi operation was not responsible for the DStv service, MAH said the subsidiary was incapable of complying with the court order to implement MACRA’s ruling on prices.

Since failure to comply could have “grave consequences for the directors and management of MultiChoice Malawi, including imprisonment”, it said it was withdrawing DStv from the country.

Disney+ Could Shut Down In Some Countries

Disney is taking steps to make its streaming services more profitable, including raising the prices of Disney+, Hulu, Hulu + Live TV, and ESPN+. In addition to these changes, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that there may be some changes to Disney+ internationally that could result in the service being shut down in certain countries.

During Disney’s earnings call, Iger mentioned that they have been evaluating markets around the world to determine which ones will help turn Disney+ into a profitable business. This means that some markets may receive less investment in local programming while still maintaining the service, while others may not have the service at all. There will also be high-potential markets where Disney will invest in local programming, marketing, and comprehensive content.

This news has significant implications for those living outside of the United States. Some countries may experience a reduction in original content, while others may lose access to Disney+ altogether. It is possible that Disney is exploring the option of selling rights to its content to larger streaming services in unprofitable areas as a way to increase profitability. By cutting back on original content in certain countries, Disney can minimize losses while still offering the service.

Disney’s streaming business has been facing financial challenges. In the fiscal third quarter, the direct-to-consumer business reported an operating loss of $512 million, an improvement compared to the $1.06 billion loss from the previous year. Disney aims to make Disney+ profitable in the near future, with reports suggesting that it could achieve profitability by 2024 or 2025. Bob Iger is committed to making Disney+ profitable as soon as possible.

At this point, Disney has not disclosed which countries are being considered for potential shutdown or cutbacks.

Development Alert: Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur To Stream On Disney+, No Plans To Launch On The Disney Channel

Few years ago, Disney XD was ripped away from viewers across Africa and most parts of the world as further content is allocated on Disney+. MultiChoice was able to retain the remaining linear offering from Disney through 2024 or as stated in press statement "another two years".

Several shows announced for one of their brands particularly The Disney Channel included a new season of Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir alongside new series Magic Bake Off, Secrets Of Sulphur Springs, Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur and Ghost Force.

As seen already most of the content had already been viewed on Disney Channel everything except for Marvel Studios' female tailored action series, Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur. 

Based on the characters of Marvel Comics, it follows 13-year-old supergenius Lunella as she accidentally brings 10-ton Tyrannosaurus rex Devil Dinosaur into present-day New York City via a time vortex, they work together to protect the city's Lower East Side from danger.

The series was slated to air by 2022 on Disney Channel but was pushed to the following year. Ahead of its debut, production had already begun on a potential second season with the show recieving acclaim for its writing, animation and soundtrack following its rollout.

With questions lingering regarding its fate of the show across Africa, Disney was asked whether the series was part of Disney Channel's launch calendar as seen in Scandinavia but similar to Chip 'n Dale: Park Life, the latter had been folded under on Disney+.

Meaning similar to the final seasons of Big Hero 6 and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure. Disney kept yet another show away from linear platforms as there are currently no plans to rollout any of this content on the Disney Channel.

Interesting to note, Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur accessible to the Disney Channel in Scandinavia with Chip 'n Dale: Park Life in Africa known internationally as EMEA. Following the merger of these feeds, the latter was silently removed from the lineup.

Could this be the end of the Disney Channel???

Similar to FOX, Disney Channel has also been bombarded with reruns (e.g. Lab Rats and Walk The Prank from Disney XD) and promoted various content currently streaming on Disney+ (e.g. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire).

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire To Be Broadcast Across Africa This August On Disney Channel

After its global premiere on Disney+ last month, The Walt Disney Company Africa today announced that the Disney+ Original anthology series “Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” will be broadcast across Africa when it lands on Disney Channel (DStv, Channel 303) this August.

Featuring stories from the continent, a double bill of films will be broadcast at 17:00 CAT each weekday from 28 August – 1 September with 5-film marathons airing at 15:15 CAT on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September respectively.

“Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” is an action-packed animated sci-fi anthology that presents ten futuristic visions from Africa, inspired by the continent’s diverse histories and cultures. Creators hailing from South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe present uniquely African perspectives to imagine brave new worlds of advanced technology, aliens, spirits, and monsters.

Says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa: “We are excited to be bringing this innovative and celebrated series to viewers across the continent, giving those without access to Disney+ the chance to be part of an unforgettable ride into Africa’s future, presenting visions of the continent as never before seen.”

The ten creators include Ahmed Teilab (Egypt), Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya and Malcolm Wope (South Africa), Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane (South Africa), Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya), Shofela Coker (Nigeria), Nthato Mokgata and Catherine Green (South Africa), Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove (Zimbabwe), Tshepo Moche (South Africa), Raymond Malinga (Uganda) and Lesego Vorster (South Africa).

The sci-fi series features an exciting cast from across the globe and includes the voices of Florence Kasumba (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), Kehinde Bankole (“Blood Sisters”), Pearl Thusi (“Queen Sono”), Hakeem Kae-Kazim (“Hotel Rwanda”, “Godzilla vs. Kong”), Sheila Munyiva (“Rafiki”), Stycie Waweru (“Supa Modo”, “Supa Sema”), Candice Modiselle (“Generations: The Legacy”), Lillian Dube (“Soul City”), Clementine Mosimane (“Poppie Nongena”), and Mandisa Nduna (“Blood Psalms”), as well as comedians Tumi Morake (“Serious Single”), Sne Dladla (“Black Tax”) and Tyson Ngubeni (“A Royal Surprise”) and rappers Nasty C (“Blood & Water”) and Gigi Lamayne (“Temptation Island: South Africa”).

Oscar®-winning director Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”), Tendayi Nyeke and Anthony Silverston all serve as executive producers. Triggerfish is the lead studio for the anthology, working in collaboration with animation studios across the continent and globally.

“Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire” will premiere on Disney Channel (DStv, Channel 303) with double bills each weekday from 28 August – 1 September at 17:00 (CAT), with special 5-film marathons on 2 and 3 September at 15:15 (CAT).

Disney To Halt Distribution Of DVD And Blu-ray In Australia

The sales of physical media, including Blu-Ray and DVDs, have been in decline for years, following the increased popularity of streaming services and a shift to digital movie releases.

Recently, Disney announced it was closing down its Movie Club program in Canada following a shift in consumer patterns to watching films on digital and Disney+. And now, according to Digital Bits, multiple industry, distributor, and retailer sources, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will be pulling out of distributing physical discs in Australia.

Over the past few years, many retailers in Australia and other countries, have slowly been withdrawing physical media, including video games, movies and music from sale, as audiences shift to digital platforms. Disney has previously stopped releasing movies on physical media in Latin America and across most of Asia. And it is likely other countries and regions will follow, as the sales of physical discs continue to fall.

For context, in the United States, in 2006, “Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest” sold 14,476,924 million discs.  In 2012, the highest-selling disc was “Hunger Games”, with 7,434,058 discs sold and in 2022, “Top Gun: Maverick” was the highest-selling DVD with 829,831 sold.  However, in 2023, currently, “Black Adam” is the highest-selling DVD of the year, with just 74,353 discs sold in the US.

Many movie fans are unhappy with this news, especially with a growing trend of streaming services like Disney+ making changes or removing content without notice. Disney has been releasing fewer of its films and shows on physical media over the past few years. Australian film collectors will still be able to import films from global retailers, but this will result in much higher costs due to international shipping etc.

“Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol 3” is set to be the last physical release in Australia, which arrives in stores in August. Previously released titles will continue to be on sale, but as stock is reduced, these may become unavailable over time.

Ultimately, as audiences have moved to watching films on streaming services such as Disney+ and buying/renting films on digital platforms, it now looks like it’s no longer sustainable to distribute physical discs in Australia.

Could National Geographic And The Disney Channel Also Be Shutting Down Across Africa By The End Of 2023?

Last month, it was reported that The Walt Disney Company plans to shutter the remaining linear offering in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Korea by the fourth quarter of the year with several content being integrated to Disney+ as the streaming service becomes their top priority.

During the week, it was learnt by Bob Iger, the current CEO of The Walt Disney Company that a possible restructure could be underway for their linear offering which could see some brands under their care being sold to foreign companies if not closed down as seen internationally.

MultiChoice extended their agreement with them for their remaining linear offering through 2024 and this included factual brands National Geographic and National Geographic Wild, sports brands ESPN 1 & ESPN 2 and children's channels Disney Channel and Disney Junior.

It's likely that these channels might be going dark by the end of the year if not later in 2024. Taking to account, the previous terminations: Disney XD closed September 2020 which coincides with the UK's Disney Channels followed by the FOX feeds in Africa, Germany and Asia in 2021.

Another thing, although MultiChoice states these channels will be carried through 2024 it's clearly stated in their 2021 press release that these channels stick around for "another two years" possibly hinting at a December 2023 closure which coincides with Asia.

Although not much has been confirmed on an end date, the blue brands favourite months for such escapades are January, February, June, September and December - kind of seasonal when you look at it.

In the past months, Disney Channel has been promoting a bulk of Disney+ content as well aired rebroadcasts of Walk The Prank and Lab Rats. Disney Junior schedules on the other hand is overcrowded by Bluey with some repeat variety in between.

Marketing for these brands had been downsized with further feeds seen internationally being merged as seen with Disney XD before it's demise.

Disney+ Developing New Animated Series ‘Duckie’

Disney+ is gearing up for an exciting new animated pilot called Duckie. The project is in the casting phase, managed by Disney TVA Casting, to find the perfect voice talent. The production is scheduled to begin on August 1, 2023, and will be based in Burbank, CA.

The project, which falls under the umbrella of Disney+, is a 22-minute animated pilot that aims to captivate audiences with its unique storyline and relatable characters. The show will explore themes of personal growth, mentorship, and the power of overcoming challenges.

The storyline of Duckie revolves around the eponymous character’s journey of self-discovery. Having recently survived a feral creature’s attack, Duckie finds herself scarred and plagued by self-doubt. While she grapples with the aftermath of this traumatic experience, Duckie enters a pivotal phase in her life. However, her path crosses with a mentor whose unwavering belief in himself is both awe-inspiring and foolish. Initially, they clash, but as their journey progresses, they form a unique bond that holds the potential to save the universe.

The central character, Duckie, is a spirited and headstrong 15-year-old duck who grapples with the desire to be seen as a fully-formed adult within her extensive family. Despite her youth, Duckie possesses a curious nature, an adventurous spirit, sharp wit, and impressive technological skills. However, she is currently recovering from a traumatic attack, causing her to doubt herself in stressful situations. Nevertheless, her world changes when she encounters a mentor who might just help her navigate through her challenges and, together, they might have the power to save the universe.

Duckie is poised to be an exciting addition to Disney+’s animated lineup, promising a heartwarming and adventurous story that will resonate with audiences of all ages. Stay tuned for further updates on the casting process and production timeline as Disney+ continues to bring captivating content to its streaming platform.

FX To Be Revived As A Linear Channel In Poland A Year After It Returned To South Africa On Disney+

Fox Extended (FX) was a general entertainment channel that was operated by The Walt Disney Company. It served as a sister channel to the defunct FOX brand alongside current entertainment channels National Geographic and Wild alongside Disney Channel and Junior.

Some of the shows seen on the channel included American Dad, Family Guy, The X-Files, Tyrant and The Bridge. Most of which were reverted to FOX brand after the channel was replaced by female based channel FOX Life in 2016.

FX was revived last year when Disney+ launched in South Africa with its own tile under the streaming service. Literally a year after we got the Disney XD of FOX, it was reported that more FOX channels in Europe would be axed.

Folks in Poland were alerted by The Walt Disney Company that FOX would be axed out not like what was seen in Africa and most parts of Europe where it was a complete annihilation. Instead, the brand would be supplemented by FX and not Star as seen in most Portuguese territories.

By November, these channels FOX and FOX Comedy would be known as FX and FX Comedy which just brings out a lot of mystery behind the future of The Walt Disney Company's remaining linear offering viewed in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

As some are aware, most of the companies remaining linear offering reside within these regions with Africa expected to retain these channels through 2024 as announced in 2021. Could it be possible that these channels will stick around for a while longer maybe?

If there's anything to learn about from their business in Latin America, don't trust that a simple change in paint secures the future of these channels. Unlike Africa, FOX was rebranded to Star with a lineup of content from Disney+ available to view and after a year that was ripped away.

Regular Nick Shorts: Cartoon Network And Max Acquired Rights To Lana Longbeard With Tara Duncan Loading Up On Disney Channel And Gamebox To Rollout A 60 Minute Ghostbusters Game

Zephyr Animation

2D-animated comedy Lana Longbeard has landed its first presales, with Warner Bros. Discovery (EMEA), Super RTL (Germany), Gulli (France) and CBC (Canada) claiming it for their regions. Co-produced by Zephyr Animation (APC Kids’ production arm) and Canadian studio Copernicus, the 52 x 11-minute series for six to nines tells the story of a courageous teen girl who sets sail on her father’s viking ship on a quest to become a famous adventurer. APC Kids has the global distribution rights.

Superights

Animated adventure series Tara Duncan will be distributed worldwide (excluding China) by Paris-based Superights. Produced by Princess Sam Pictures and based on a 15-book series by Sophie Andouin-Mamikonian, this CG-animated show stars a girl who travels to a magical planet to learn how to control her powers and defeat evil villains. Princess Sam has already sold the first season (52 x 13 minutes) to buyers including Disney (France, Belgium, Japan, Africa and the Netherlands), Rai (Italy) and RTE (Ireland), and a second 52-ep season is currently in production.

Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment

Who you gonna call? A Ghostbusters VR game is in the works at Columbia Pictures Location Based Entertainment and Immersive Gamebox. Based in London, Immersive Gamebox operates experiential game rooms where content from popular entertainment brands is projected onto the walls for kids to interact with through touch-screens and motion-tracking. The techco is gearing up to launch a 60-minute Ghostbusters: The Cursed Collection game at its 20 locations in the UK, EMEA and US later this year. In the experience, kids will explore haunted streets and battle ghosts from the ’80s movie franchise.

Disney Branded TV & Disney EMEA Kicked Off Next 100 Years Of Toons At Annecy

Disney Branded Television and Disney Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) took to the stage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to announce new projects, debut sneak-peeks, and highlight the expansion of current hit series that are poised to usher in the next century of Disney storytelling.

Titled “The Next 100,” the presentation centered on both Disney’s storied legacy in animation, as well as how the company is creating the next generation of hits. Hélène Etzi, Country Manager & General Manager of Media for The Walt Disney Company France, opened the presentation with Orion Ross, Vice President of Animation for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, and Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, making several announcements.

Ross announced greenlights for the all-new preschool adventure series Magicampers, set to premiere globally on Disney+ and Disney Junior next year, and the original comedy series The Sunnyridge 3. He also gave attendees a first look at the official trailer for the sci-fi anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, premiering July 5 on Disney+ (check it out here). New episodes of fan-favorite Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life, coming later this year, were revealed, and the latest artwork for the upcoming EMEA originals The Doomies and Dragon Striker was unveiled.

Davis gave attendees a sneak peek of upcoming series and made several announcements, including the greenlight of Disney Junior’s Ariel, a new series inspired by The Little Mermaid. Executive producer Lynne Southerland answered questions onstage and previewed an early animation test featuring Ariel and fan-favorite character Flounder.

Davis also announced the new Disney Channel series StuGo, as well as renewals for four popular series: season four of Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends, season three of Firebuds, season three of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and season two of Kiff. She also shared sneak peeks of several animated shorts, along with other announcements (see below).

Ross and Davis commented: “We’re delighted to be in Annecy announcing our continued commitment to working with leading studios and creators here in France and across the globe, to bring new voices, universal stories and brilliant animation to kids and family audiences around the world.”

New Series Greenlights
Disney Branded Television

Disney Junior’s Ariel (Disney Junior)
Executive producer: Lynne Southerland
Producer: Ezra Edmond
Supervising Director: Kuni Tomita Bowen
Art Director: Chrystin Garland
Story Editors: Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner
Produced by: Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior

Disney Junior’s Ariel is an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of The Little Mermaid. It follows eight-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. The series features fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder, as well as exciting new additions like Ariel’s two best friends, mer-children Lucia and Fernie, and lots of other adorable sea creatures. The series is currently in production for a 2024 release across Disney platforms worldwide.

StuGo characters
StuGo (Disney Channel)
Creator/Executive Producer: Ryan Gillis
Co-Executive Producer: Sunil Hall
Story Editor: Craig Lewis
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel

StuGo is an original animated series about six overambitious middle schoolers who are tricked into attending a fake academic summer camp by a mad scientist. Now they’re stuck for three months on a wild tropical island with mind-reading manatees, giant fighting fungi and fashion-forward mutants ― less academia than they’d hoped for, but a lot more adventure.

The newly announced cast includes Tania Gunadi as Pliny, Zosia Mamet as Merian, Gabourey Sidibe as Francis, Charlyne Yi as Larry, Zach Reino as Chip, Deborah Baker Jr. as Sara, and Lorraine Toussaint as Dr. Lullah.

Disney EMEA

Magicampers
Magicampers (Disney+)
Creator: Obie Scott Wade
Executive Producer: Sandrine Nguyen Tiet
Director: Daniel Dubuis
Writers: Ashley Mendoza, Simon Nicholson, Elizabeth Kamir
Produced by: Mikros Animation for Disney EMEA

Disney’s preschool original Magicampers follows the adventures of best friends Darly and Loomis at a day camp for magical creatures on a fantastical island. Darly is half-pig and half-Pegasus, Loomis is half-donkey and half-unicorn, and their young friends are also mythical mashups of all stripes. Every day they go on incredible journeys of discovery and dream of becoming legendary, having their stories told and retold for all time. At the heart of the series, Darly and Loomis will learn that becoming a legend isn’t about mastering magic powers or winning the biggest prize — it’s about understanding and accepting yourself and others and working together with all kinds of friends. The series stars a diverse young cast as the Magicampers, with Emmy Award winner Uzo Aduba (Mrs. America, Orange Is the New Black) as nature spirit and camp leader Treena.

THE SUNNYRIDGE 3 (Disney)
The Sunnyridge 3 (Disney+)
Creators: Stevie Gee and Essy May
Executive Producers: Chapman Maddox, Jen Coatsworth, James Stevenson Bretton, Jon Rutherford, Benjamin Lole
Director: Liz Whittaker
Head Writer: Jack Bernhardt
Produced by: Blink Industries and Boat Rocker for Disney EMEA

In the original comedy-mystery series The Sunnyridge 3, a trio of lifelong best friends investigate strange goings-on in a uniquely bizarre shopping center on the fringes of suburban London. Rose, Jeru and Wayne practically grew upat the Sunnyridge Mall, but this summer, the weirdness has gone to a whole new level. With their imaginations running wild, they will chase down any conspiracy theory no matter where it leads. Could it be werewolves, hauntings or an ancient curse? Robots, aliens or renegade AI? The trio will discover that the truth is always stranger than fiction in this unpredictable genre-bending mashup created by British team Stevie Gee and Essy May. Multiple award-winning U.K. animation studio Blink Industries (Dead End: Paranormal Park; Love, Death + Robots) produces, in association with multiple award-winning global entertainment company Boat Rocker (Dino Ranch, Love Monster).

Sneak Peeks
Disney EMEA

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (July 5 on Disney+) — See full coverage here.

The Doomies
The Doomies (Disney+)
Creators: Andrès Fernandez & Pozla (a.k.a. Rémi Zaarour)
Producer: Marc du Pontavice
Director: Andrès Fernandez
Head Writer: Henry Gifford
Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney EMEA

When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open a gateway to another world, they turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. Roped into an epic supernatural mystery, they will cross paths with the so-called “Chosen One” and do battle with both literal and inner monsters. The Doomies is a spooky comedy that combines thrills, chills and surprises with character-driven comedy from an odd couple of ordinary teens engulfed by extraordinary circumstances. Its fast-paced humor and high-stakes action take place in a quirky French town in the heart of Brittany, imagined with moody flair and graphic style.

Dragon Striker
Dragon Striker (Disney+)
Creator/Producer: Sylvain Dos Santos
Director: Charles Lefebvre
Head Writer: Paul McKeown
Produced by: Cybergroup Studios and La Chouette Compagnie for Disney EMEA

When the world’s most popular sport combines with magic, awesomeness escalates quicker than a dragon-powered strike! In this action-packed adventure full of comedy and high-stakes sports drama, elite players have magical signature moves they can use on the pitch. Twelve-year-old Key is a farm-boy fanboy who can only dream of entering the famous school where the greatest players train before joining the big leagues — until he discovers he has his own ultra-powerful spell and may even be the legendary Dragon Striker. Key joins a team of hapless underdogs who band together to take on the school champions, all the while fighting to prevent an ancient evil from resurfacing.

Disney Branded Television

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly (July 28 on Disney+)
Executive Producer: Paul Rudish
Producer: Philip M. Cohen
Director: Eddie Trigueros
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

The beloved Emmy Award-winning The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse shorts culminate with a final episode titled Steamboat Silly, which follows Mickey Mouse and his friends as they must stop hundreds of old film reel versions of Mickey from wreaking havoc all over town. The short will debut July 28 on Disney+ as part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.

Primos (Disney Channel)
Creator/Executive Producer: Natasha Kline
Producer: Philip Cohen
Supervising Director: Shaun Cashman
Story Editor: Karla Sakas Shropshire
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

From Emmy Award-nominated creator and executive producer Natasha Kline, Primos introduces Tater Ramirez Humphrey, an eccentric girl with big dreams, determined to find what makes her extraordinary. When her 12 chaotic cousins (“primos” in Spanish) move in for the summer, they help her discover her true self. The series is inspired by Kline’s childhood experiences with her extended multicultural Mexican American family.

The newly announced main cast includes Myrna Velasco as Tater Ramirez Humphrey; Melissa Villaseñor as Tater’s younger sister, Nellie Ramirez Humphrey; Michelle Ortiz as Tater’s mom, Bibi Ramirez Humphrey; and Jim Conroy as Tater’s dad, Bud Humphrey.

The recurring cast includes Angélica María as Tater’s grandmother, Buela; Liza Koshy as Tater’s friend, Serena; and cousins Becca Q. Co (Lotlot), Cristina Valenzuela (Tere and Toñita), Elizabeth Grullón (Lita), Jonathan Melo (Scooter), Sarah Tubert (Cookita), Natasha Kline (Gordita and ChaCha), Nomi Ruiz (Tabi), Rick Simon (Big Nacho and Cousin Bud) and Ryan Anderson Lopez (Nachito).

ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series
ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series (Disney Channel)
Executive Producers: Aliki Theofilopoulos, Jack Ferraiolo, Gary Marsh, David Light, and Joseph Raso
Producer: Melanie Pal
Supervising Director: Leah Artwick
Story Editor: Rachel McNevin
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim will reprise their roles as Seabrook’s star-crossed zombie/cheerleader couple, Zed and Addison, in Disney Branded Television’s next iteration of the hit ZOMBIES franchise. Fans can first catch the Seabrook crew in animated form in ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts, premiering Friday, July 21, on Disney Channel, Disney Channel YouTube and DisneyNOW, and thereafter on Disney+. Next, ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series, a new comedy-musical animated series, will premiere on Disney Channel.

ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts is an animated short-form series that continues the adventures of fan favorites Zed, Addison and the Seabrook crew from the hit ZOMBIES franchise. The shorts, which keep the spirit and jam-packed music of the movies, find the friends encountering new monsters — a carnivorous plant monster, horrifying mega-cricket and even evil clones — while dealing with school and new experiences like a never-ending summer time loop.

Reprising their roles are Ariel Martin, Chandler Kinney and Pearce Joza as werewolves Wynter, Willa and Wyatt; Carla Jeffery and Trevor Tordjman as cheerleaders Bree and Bucky; Jonathan Langdon as Coach; James Godfrey and Kylee Russell as zombies Bonzo and Eliza; and Terry Hu as outer space alien A-Spen.

Playdate with Winnie the Pooh
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Chris Hamilton
Co-Executive Producer: Elise Fachon
Producer: Greg Chalekian
Director: Jojo Ramos Patrick
Produced by: OddBot Inc. in association with Disney Junior

Playdate with Winnie the Pooh follows a young Pooh Bear as he enjoys playdates with his friends. Set in the exciting outdoors of the Hundred Acre Wood, these musical shorts emphasize collaborative play and the joy of spending time with others. Playdate with Winnie the Pooh is set to debut this summer in the U.S. and will then rollout globally.

Disney Junior Wonderful World of Songs (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Chris Hamilton
Co-Executive Producer: Elise Fachon
Producer: Greg Chalekian
Director: Henry Dalton
Produced by: OddBot Inc. in association with Disney Junior

These musical shorts for preschoolers celebrate the heritage of Disney with classic characters and songs from beloved movies, series and attractions that highlight the wonder and magic of the iconic brand. Performed by popular musical artists Rob Cantor and Genevieve Goings (Disney Junior Nursery Rhymes), the shorts feature reimagined versions of classic songs, including “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King,” “You Can Fly!” from “Peter Pan,” “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and “It’s A Small World.” The shorts will begin airing on Disney Junior and Disney+ in the U.S. this summer as part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.

Series Renewals
Disney EMEA

Chip ‘N’ Dale: Park Life New Episodes (Disney+)
Producer: Marc du Pontavice
Directors: Jean Cayrol, Frédéric Martin, Khalil Ben Namaane
Head Writer: Nicole Paglia
Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney EMEA

Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life stars Disney’s much-loved chipmunk underdogs in a nonverbal, classic-style comedy, following the ups and downs of two little creatures living life in a big city park. Combining the traditions of slapstick cartoons with contemporary, comedic character-driven narratives, season two introduces huge new adventures for the two tiny troublemakers. Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale are joined in their perpetual pursuit of acorns by Donald, Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies, great and small.

Disney Branded Television

Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 4 (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Harrison Wilcox
Co-Executive Producers: Bart Jennett and Chris Moreno
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Becca Topol
Supervising Producer: Steve Grover
Produced by: Disney Junior and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons

The first full-length Marvel series for preschoolers, Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends follows the adventures of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales as they team up with Iron Man, Hulk, Ms. Marvel and Black Panther to defeat foes like Rhino, Doc Ock and Green Goblin and learn that teamwork is the best way to save the day. Season four of the hit series will once again introduce even more new heroes and baddies for the Spidey team to interact with and be part of their adventures.

Firebuds Season 3 (Disney Junior)
Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
Producer: Craig Simpson
Supervising Director: Robb Pratt
Co-Story Editors: Krystal Banzon and Jeremy Shipp
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

From Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First), Firebuds is a music-filled series following a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, and their talking vehicle sidekicks, as they embark on adventures together and learn what it truly means to be a hero. Season three of the series will feature a water rescue theme.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 (Disney+)
Creator/Executive Producer: Bruce W. Smith
Executive Producer: Ralph Farquhar
Co-Executive Producer/Story Editor: Calvin Brown, Jr.
Co-Executive Producer: Latoya Raveneau
Producer: Jan Hirota
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

The Emmy and NAACP Award-winning The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder revival follows the adventures and misadventures of 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart. The 2020s bring new career highs for mom Trudy, wilder dreams for dad Oscar and new challenges for Penny. Penny’s friends return, including Dijonay, LaCienega, Zoey and Michael, along with a couple of new faces, Maya and KG. Penny’s Suga Mama also returns, ready as ever to dispense tough love or a gentle hand whenever Penny needs it.

Kiff Season 2 (Disney Channel)
Creators/Executive Producers: Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kent Osborne
Producer: Winnie Chaffee
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel

From South African creators and executive producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal, Kiff follows an optimistic squirrel, Kiff, and her chill bunny bestie, Barry, as they navigate school, relationships and their often-eccentric community in Table Town, a world where animals and magical oddballs tackle day-to-day life together. Inspired by the people and places Heavens and Smal experienced when they were growing up in Cape Town, each half-hour episode, comprised of two 11-minute stories, includes a new original song.

Disney Planning To Restart The Pirate Of The Caribbean's Franchise

Sean Bailey, the president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, recently spoke with the New York Times to talk about Disney’s live-action projects and one of those projects was Pirates of the Caribbean.

Bailey says restarting the Pirates franchise is a priority at Disney. “We think we have a really good, exciting story that honors the films that have come before but also has something new to say”

For those unaware, Disney is actually developing multiple Pirates projects and we highlight each project and share everything we know so far. So let’s set sail and get into the nitty-gritty.

Pirates Project #1

Back in 2018, it was reported that Deadpool and Zombieland 2: Double Tap writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, were brought on to write Pirates 6, but would drop out months later and were replaced by Chernobyl and The Last of Us creator Craig Mazin and Pirates alum Ted Elliot. While there have been no story details or massive updates on this project, it is still the main Pirates project Disney is actively working on. That said, in 2019, we exclusively reported that Guardians of the Galaxy star Karen Gillan was someone Disney was looking at to star. This project will exist in the previous Pirates of the Caribbean movies continuity, so a return from stars Orlando Bloom, Kiera Knightley, Brenton Thwaites, and Kaya Scodelario is definitely on the table.

Pirates Project #2

In 2020, a report surfaced that Harley Quinn herself Margot Robbie would star in a female-led reboot from Bumblebee writer Christina Hodson. This project is not intended to be a spinoff, but a new story, with new characters set in the Pirates universe. Despite rumors last year that this project was axed, franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer dispelled that, saying “I think that that script will come forward at a certain point. We developed two different stories for Pirates and the other one’s going forward first, so that’s what we’re working on, to try to get that one made.” The story Bruckheimer is referring to would be the first project we talked about. We had heard when this project was in active development Disney was looking at some pretty big-name actors to star alongside Robbie, names we heard included Jason Momoa, Richard Madden, and Sebastian Stan.

Pirates Project #3

A fun piece of information we shared on The DisInsider Show during our “Rumor of the Week” segment, is that Disney has put a Pirates of the Caribbean Disney+ on the drawing board and are in very early development stages. At this time, I don’t have any further information on this project as it is still in the early stages.

The Elephant in the Room

It’s what everyone wants to know, is Johnny Depp returning to the franchise as Captain Jack Sparrow? A role that garned him an Oscar nomination for his work in Curse of the Black Pearl. Despite rumors last year that the actor had actually closed a deal to appear in a sixth movie and that he was also planning to help co-write the film, after his very public defamation trial against Amber Heard last year, the actor made it very clear that he would never forgive Disney for the way they publicly distanced themselves from him. Some insiders believe he will return. Bruckheimer told Deadline earlier this year that he would still reach out to Depp because Johnny was both his friend and “an amazing artist.” Acknowledging that enough time has passed between him, Disney, and Depp, he explained his reasoning by saying, “You go through things in life that you wish you hadn’t done right.” Bailey was asked about Depp once again and said “Noncommittal at this point,” which is an inkling that a return is very possible.

Now, here is what we at The DisInsider know, we have talked with some people in the industry and we have heard the goal is to bring Depp back in a passing of the torch role, whether that would be in a starring, supporting, or cameo role is currently unknown.

The franchise originated with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme ride attraction, which opened at Disneyland in 1967, the last Disney theme park attraction overseen by Walt Disney. The attraction can be found at four Disney theme parks. Since then, it has become a moneymaker, the five films have grossed over $4.5 billion at the worldwide box office. The franchise has also become a revenue booster in video games, merchandise, and more.

Disney To Launch Single App In The Us With Disney+ & Hulu, Questions Lurking Over Star

During Disney’s quarterly results, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that in the United States, they will be launching a single app, which will incorporate Hulu content into Disney+.

Each app will still be available individually, and this might be a way around Disney getting ready to bring together Hulu and Disney+, until Disney sorts out its ownership of Hulu from Comcast.

Bob Iger stated that the one-app experience will offer a better service to its subscribers and increase advertising revenue.

“While we will continue to offer Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ as standalone options, this is a logical progression of our [direct-to-consumer] offerings that will provide greater opportunities for advertisers while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content, resulting in greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience,”
This follows other moves being made by studios, like Comcast and Warner Brothers Discovery, who are consolidating their apps. Disney feels it can spend more money advertising its major movie and show releases by marketing a single app.

The single-app experience will launch in the United States by the end of the year. Disney’s tech teams have been working on migrating the Hulu legacy system into the Disney+ tech, since early last year, and the teams referred to the project as “Nu-Lu”.

Bob Iger has had conversations with Comcast about buying its stake in Hulu, which Disney can force to happen in 2024. In the last few months, Bob Iger has come to the conclusion that offering more general entertainment with Disney+ content is what they need to do.

“What we’re doing right now — because we own two-thirds of Hulu, and we have an agreement with Comcast that may result in us owning 100 percent — is we’re really studying the business very, very carefully, all those competitive dynamics with an understanding that we have a good platform in Hulu.

We have very strong original programming, actually highly awarded original programming, some delivered by FX, which is a great not only producer but brand, and we also have a good library, so it’s a solid platform. And it’s also a very attractive platform for advertisers. It’s already proven to be valuable for them and advertising is proven to be valuable for us. But the environment is very, very tricky right now and before we make any big decisions about our level of investment, our commitment to that business, we want to understand where it could go”.

Bob Iger has said that the addition of Star to Disney+ internationally has been very successful and they want to offer more general entertainment alongside Disney, to reduce churn, increase revenue and reduce costs.

For more Disney+ and Video Entertainment updates head over to Insidus Plus

Disney+ Loses Another 4 Million Subscribers

Today, the Walt Disney Company has released its latest quarterly results for the fiscal second quarter 2023, and that means we get an updated look at how many subscribers Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ have.

This gives us a clear indication of how the apps are doing, especially with growth or decline in subscriber numbers. These subscriber numbers are based up to April 1st 2023.

Disney+ now has 157.8 million subscribers globally, down over 4 million subscribers from 161.8 million subscribers last quarter. All of these losses have come from subscribers leaving Disney+ Hotstar in India, following the loss of the cricket and, most recently, HBO content. In the US and Canada, they lost 300,000 subscribers, likely due to the recent price rise, less content and political issues. However, Disney+ subscribers in other areas, including Latin America, Europe and Asia, increased by 900,000.

While Hulu has added around 200,000 subscribers, ESPN+ has also added 400,000 subscribers in the US.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement:

“We’re pleased with our accomplishments this quarter, including the improved financial performance of our streaming business, which reflect the strategic changes we’ve been making throughout the company to realign Disney for sustained growth and success. From movies to television, to sports, news, and our theme parks, we continue to deliver for consumers, while establishing a more efficient, coordinated, and streamlined approach to our operations.”

More importantly, Disney’s streaming businesses have been able to increase its revenue by 12% to $5.5 billion and decrease its operating lost by half a billion dollars, which mainly came from better Disney+ and ESPN+ results, partially offset by lower operating income at Hulu.

The improvement at Disney+ was due to higher subscription revenue and a decrease in marketing costs, partially offset by higher programming and production costs and, to a lesser extent, increased technology costs. Higher subscription revenue was attributable to subscriber growth and increases in retail pricing, partially offset by an unfavorable foreign exchange impact. The increase in programming and production costs was due to more content provided on the service. Improved results at ESPN+ were attributable to growth in subscription revenue due to an increase in retail pricing and subscriber growth.

The decrease in operating income at Hulu was due to higher programming and production costs and lower advertising revenue, partially offset by subscription revenue growth and, to a lesser extent, lower marketing costs. The increase in programming and production costs was attributable to more content provided on the service and an increase in subscriber-based fees for programming the Live TV service, partially offset by a lower average cost mix of SVOD content. Higher subscriber-based fees for programming the Live TV service were due to rate increases and more subscribers. The decrease in advertising revenue resulted from lower impressions, partially offset by higher rates. Subscription revenue growth was due to increases in retail pricing and subscribers.

Disney has also provided a detailed breakdown per region: (Million)

Disney+ – Global – 157.8

Disney+ – Domestic (US & Canada) – 46.3

Disney+ – International excluding Disney+ Hotstar+ – 58.6

Disney+ Core – (excluding Hotstar) – 104.9

Disney+ Hotstar – 52.9

ESPN+ – Million Subscribers (US Only) – 25.3

Hulu – Million Subscribers (US Only) – 48.2

To compare, here are the subscription numbers (Millions) from November’s Investor Call:

Disney+ – Global – 161.8

Disney+ – Domestic (US & Canada) – 46.6

Disney+ – International excluding Disney+ Hotstar+ – 57.7

Disney+ Core – (excluding Hotstar) – 104.3

Disney+ Hotstar – 57.5

ESPN+ – Million Subscribers (US Only) – 24.9

Hulu – Million Subscribers (US Only) – 48.0

How Will Disney+ Adding Hulu Content Work?

It’s finally happening. Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced plans to bring together its streaming services in the United States under one app, bringing Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ content all together to offer subscribers a better experience but it also comes with many business benefits.

The details of how all of this will work are still very much unknown. Bob Iger was very vague about how Hulu content would be added within Disney+, but there are some key things we know.

• It will be happening by the end of 2023

• Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu will still be offered as separate services

• Hulu content will be available within Disney+

• More advertising is going to be offered

• Price rises for Disney+

However, we still know very little about how all of this will work out because the Hulu situation is very complicated. First off, Comcast still owns 33% of Hulu and due to a contract that was put into place when Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, which means Disney or Comcast can force Disney to buy out the 33% stake, for a minimum of around $9 billion. Bob Iger has said he has had meetings with Comcast over Hulu, but ultimately, the deal hasn’t been finalised, which is why the information has been so vague.

Disney is being open about its plans to consolidate its streaming services, similar to how HBO Max and Discovery+ will merge and how Paramount+ and Showtime have recently done. It’s setting the tone for the future, which Disney knows will be all about the streaming business as the linear business is declining yearly.

There are many reasons why the merger of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ will make sense. It will drastically reduce costs for the company. They can make less content and stretch it out easier, because when you look at all of the content being created across Disney’s studios, they release lots of shows and films. Publicity costs can be reduced, since they will be only promoting one app. Bob Iger even mentioned in the quarterly conference call that they’ve been releasing so much content on their streaming platforms, they’ve not been advertising them properly to get the most out of their investment. That’s in addition to savings that can be made on just running one platform, reduced overheads etc.

The merging of the platforms also will help reduce churn, as subscribers of the Disney Streaming Bundle have been generally less likely to unsubscribe, since there is usually something someone wants to watch on one of the three platforms.

ESPN+ is already available within the Hulu app, so Disney has already begun getting subscribers used to them being together. However, adding ESPN+ into Disney+ should hopefully be something that can happen easier, since they are built on the same tech. Disney has also already added ESPN content onto Disney+, but with the high costs of sports, it’s likely this will remain a premium add-on or as part of a bundle.

Internationally, Disney+ has had lots of success with the addition of the Star brand, which offers the majority of Hulu Originals and other general entertainment from Disney’s studios like 20th, FX and ABC. Bob Iger has said that it’s been a huge success and one of the reasons why they want to merge the platforms.

Unfortunately, with the Hulu contract, Disney has never been to share its plans for the future properly, but now with just over six months until 2024, it is starting to let subscribers know what’s going on. It makes the recent decisions for Disney+ to make more sense, such as moving to the next-day programming for Disney Channel and National Geographic content. Or why more Disney+ Originals have been added to Hulu and why “A Small Light” and the next Searchlight Pictures film, “Flamin’ Hot”, are being released on both Hulu and Disney+ simultaneously. Slowly blending together the two platforms.

Disney’s CFO Christine M. McCarthy also revealed during the quarterly results that they are going to be taking an impairment charge of approximately $1.5 to $1.8 billion, due to them planning to remove content from their streaming platforms. Disney+ in the United States generally probably doesn’t have a huge amount of content to remove, but Hulu has thousands of titles, many of which aren’t owned by them, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if we see lots of content removed from Hulu in the coming months, ahead of the merger.

There will no doubt be many more questions about how all of this is going to work in the coming months ahead. We know that Disney has been working on incorporating Hulu’s legacy system into the Disney+ tech since last year. Plus, the Disney Streaming Bundle accounts already use a single login, so that’s something that will hopefully make this smoother, but it’s bound to be a bit bumpy.

There are so many questions that we know nothing about such as:

• How much is the combined app going to cost?

• When will it happen?

• Will Hulu + Live TV continue?

• Will the Hulu brand continue?

• Will ESPN+ be a paid add-on?

• What will happen to other add-ons like HBO within Hulu?

• What will happen with the Star brand internationally?

Ultimately, the direction for a combined streaming platform for Disney makes sense. Offering multiple outlets is more expensive, and one platform will offer more content to more people. It’s already proven to work, but there are lots of hurdles, including Disney paying Comcast a huge cheque for billions of dollars. But now we know there is a plan to combine Disney’s streaming services under a single offering.

Eventually, a single app for all of Disney’s content is going to make it much easier for both subscribers and Disney, but it will also likely lead to less overall content being available, as Disney is looking to scale back its general entertainment side, but pairing it with Disney+, which has been lacking general entertainment, means the combination will result in us getting regular content constantly.

In Celebration Of Earth Day, Secrets Of The Elephants Lands On Disney+ As Well As A Special Broadcast On National Geographic Wild

Elephants are powerful, loving and wise, but we are only starting to unlock their deepest secrets. The ground-breaking, award-winning natural history franchise Secrets Of returns this Earth Day with its next installment, Secrets Of The Elephants, with a premiere on Disney+ as well as across Africa on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarSat 221).

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-at-Large James Cameron, the series travels the world — from the Savannahs of Africa to the urban landscapes of Asia — to discover the strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language of elephants, shaping a unique and dynamic culture. Narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman and featuring renowned National Geographic Explorer and elephant expert Dr. Paula Kahumbu, the four-part series not only reveals the extraordinary lives of different families of elephants but also highlights how similar they are to us. Secrets Of The Elephants will change everything you thought you knew about elephants forever.

Elephants have long been a source of wonder and mystery with their rich emotional lives and almost supernatural ways of navigating the world. In Secrets of the Elephants, we travel the globe to meet different families of elephants ― desert elephants, forest elephants, Asian elephants and African savannah elephants. Each with their own specific set of cultural behaviours passed between them, has an incredible story of intelligence, grace and survival to tell.

They are powerful, loving and wise but only now are we starting to unlock the deepest secrets of the elephants. Their strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language has created a unique and dynamic culture making them more like us than we ever thought possible

The four-episode series that explores the courage, tenacity and complexities of elephant life in these unique contexts will land on Disney+ on Earth Day, as well as in a special back-to-back broadcast on National Geographic Wild from 18:45 – 22:00 (CAT), providing viewers with a larger-than-life viewing experience. The four episodes – Desert, Savanna, Asia and Rainforest – will take families on a journey across the globe, providing insight into the fascinating creatures like never before.

Several National Geographic explorers including Dr Paula Kahumbu (winner of the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year 2021), Sandy Oduor, Shane Campbell-Staton, Dominique Gonçalves and others, collaborated on the research behind the production to uncover new dimensions of elephants’ remarkable lives, to unlock their secret worlds and to understand how each sub-species has adapted to their unique environmental context in the face of evolving climate change. Additionally, the latest science and camera technology helps portray not just how truly extraordinary they are in their own right, but also how similar they are to humans.

“With an over 135-year-old legacy in natural history content, we’re just as passionate about who’s telling our stories as the stories we tell, "said National Geographic Content President Courteney Monroe. “Whether it be our onscreen scientists in Secrets Of The Elephants, our narrators like Natalie Portman, or our filmmakers like Jim Cameron, we have become a port-of-call for best in class talent who want to tell meaningful stories that inspire a deeper connection to our world.  Our Secrets Of franchise reinforces our commitment at National Geographic to remaining THE leader in natural history storytelling," she concluded.

For Secrets Of The Elephants, Emmy Award-winners James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm for Earthship are executive producers. Lucinda Axelsson is the executive producer for Oxford Scientific Films. Her credits include “China: Nature’s Ancient Kingdom,” “Serengeti,” “Wild Brazil,” “Elephant Diaries,” “Elephants of Samburu,” “Meerkat Manor,” “Spy in the Wild.”

Episodes include:

Desert
This episode reveals the secrets of Namibia’s last remaining desert elephants. When droughts, sandstorms and even floods threaten them, their shared knowledge passed down from generation to generation keeps them alive. This is the toughest place on earth to be an elephant, and their story is one of triumph in a land of extremes.

Savanna
Big families and strong relationships are the basis of success for savanna elephants. As we uncover their secrets, we start to understand their remarkable language. It’s not just noise; they communicate like us. Good leadership and close friendships help them through the hard times as they scale cliffs, find their place in the hierarchy and mourn their dead.

Asia
As humans encroach ever further into their environment, Asian elephants are learning to adjust to the challenges facing them. They know how to use tools to break down electric fences, strike deals with farmers, and develop a cooperative arrangement on tea plantations where they do the weeding without damaging the crops.

Rainforest
The Congo rainforest is home to one of the world’s most elusive species, the African forest elephant. Everything about them—their bodies, their behaviors, their families—is adapted to life in the rainforest. But surviving here means more than just adapting. These elephants have shaped the forest around them to their needs and, in doing so, have created a habitat unlike any other on Earth.

How to tune in:
DSTV: Channel 182
StarSat: 221 on DTH, 221 on DTT (250 on DTT in Uganda)

Roundups #141: Peppa Pig's Glasses Show Has Been Deemed Inappropriate For Facebook's Guidelines, Marvel Studios Reportedly Set To Debut Two Series Within 2023 And Telemundo Set To Debut First Original Series In March 2023, Game Of Lies

Peppa Pig has become a laughing stock

During the week, Peppa Pig got some much needed attention after a Facebook user called Daily Nick uploaded a clip to one of the episodes titled Glasses Show and the Facebook rodents swooped in and deemed it sexually inappropriate.

Taking to account that Facebook has become an absolute joke and if there's one thing Elon can save it's Facebook. It's currently a trainwreck waiting to happen if Peppa Pig glasses is inappropriate then posting about the weather is deemed violent.

Peppa Pig has been having a run since 2004 and has been a part of gags, jokes and has even made various appearances take for instance Family Guy where she has killed in a car accident or Robot Chicken where she was deemed a criminal to society.

All of this makes me feel as if she was being targeted about Facebook's latest rant with the character is something to laugh about.

Regular Nick:
- Wonder Pets revival might be in the works for Nickelodeon
- Peacock greenlights two new animated series
- Boomerang to go dark on the DStv platform next month
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May

Marvel might be putting the breaks on new content

Marvel's big MCU Phase 5 reveal at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 revealed six shows would likely be arriving on Disney+ in 2023, that number allegedly may drop to only two with Loki Season 2 and Secret Invasion being the only "sure bets" for this year.

As reported by THR, this news follows comments by Disney CEO Bob Iger, in which he said the company needs to be "better at curating" franchise content that is "extraordinarily expensive.

Marvel content obviously doesn't come cheap, and Disney was planning on potentially releasing Loki's second season, Secret Invasion, What If... ?'s second season, Ironheart, Echo, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos in 2023. If these changes are to go through, sources say Loki and Secret Invasion may be the only ones to make it out, even though shows like Echo and Ironheart have wrapped their productions months ago.

“There is going to be a level of rigor on Marvel and across the entire company,” one company insider says. “Numbers matter now, and costs are going to be outlined and enforced.”

Telemundo still lagging behind schedule

For several months, Telemundo has been lagging behind in terms of original programming leading repeat padded African feed of the channel seen on MultiChoice's platforms to sought content from Colombian broadcasters Caracol Television and RCN Television.

Caracol Television had worked with the channel on Hidden Passions including the second season and is supplying the upcoming Ana's Revenge while RCN Television has Nurses and The Scent Of Passion with Until Money Do Us Part rolling out in the coming month.

After a long while since the channel struggled to obtain original programming, it was announced from the main feed that Telemundo will be rolling out a new show from March 7th 2023 titled Game Of Lies (Juego De Mentiras) starring Arap Bethke and Altair Jarabo.

The story is set in the city of Los Angeles and San Clemente, California, Game Of Lies follows the footsteps of César Ferrer, a hard working man who always dreamed of having his own family and who gives his life for his own daughter Noelia.

Everyday Novelas:
- Zee World to add an additional 3 shows to their lineup
- Second Chance and Hart Van Goud coming soon to Zee One and eExtra respectively
- Queen Of The Night and How Do I Say This? coming respectively to Timeless Dizi Channel and Zee World
- New Series Alert: eMedia Investments Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Turkish Romcom, Aşk Mantık İntikam

Disney+ And Disney Junior Announce Release Date And Additional Key Cast For “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures”

Disney+, Disney Junior, and Lucasfilm has announced that “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will premiere on Disney+ and Disney Junior (DStv channel 309) on May 4, 2023. Set during The High Republic era, the animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. 

Disney+ and Lucasfilm also released two stills from the series, which include Master Yoda, Jedi younglings Kai, Lys, and Nubs, and their friends Nash and RJ-83 on planet Tenoo. The second image shows Lys, Kai, and Nubs during a training sequence.

Produced by Lucasfilm for Disney+ and Disney Junior, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour (“Elena of Avalor”) is supervising director and co-producer; Jeannine Hodson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is producer; and Lamont Magee (“Black Lightning”) is consulting producer.

Insidus Games:
- Lizzie McGuire: On The Go!
- Tinkerbell
- Spy Muppets: Licence To Croak
- Winnie The Pooh: Hunny Trouble

“‘Star Wars’ transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters,” says James Waugh, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” executive producer and Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy at Lucasfilm. “When developing ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,’ the first ‘Star Wars’ series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a ‘youngling’s’ first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy. The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.”

Alyssa Sapire, Senior Vice President, Development, Series, Strategy, Disney Junior: “Our collaboration with Lucasfilm on this series is an amazing opportunity to introduce this universally cherished franchise to a younger generation. As an early entry point into ‘Star Wars,’ we have created a series with exciting new and familiar characters and storylines that highlight the values of compassion, teamwork, and friendship, which are important elements for all of our Disney Junior programming.”

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will debut on Disney+ and Disney Junior on May 4, 2023.

Regular Nick:
- Lego Monkie Kid returns this April on Cartoon Network
- Cartoonito to get a dedicated channel in France
- Da Vinci Kids plans co-viewing future
- PBS Kids has yet to rollout the new logo in other countries

Roundups #138: Triggerfish Working On An Episode Of Star Wars: Visions, Giyani: Land Of Blood To Return With A Second Season On SABC 2 And The River Currently Viewed On 1Magic To End With A Sixth Season

SA's Triggerfish is going global

Animation fans should diarise May the 4th this year as this is when the second instalment in Disney’s animated anthology, Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 lands. While we’re already excited to see what the different studios have created this time around, Volume 2 is of greater significance as South African animation house Triggerfish will be helming one of the episodes.

Disney+ and Lucasfilm announced that the second volume of the animated anthology series will premiere May 4, 2023, a.k.a. Star Wars Day, exclusively on Disney+. Volume 2, building on the Emmy Award-nominated first run of Star Wars: Visions in 2021, will feature nine new shorts from nine studios from around the globe; the shorts promise to feature unique animation styles from a variety of countries and cultures, depicting each filmmaker’s specific vision of the Star Wars galaxy,” Disney explained in a blog post.

With Triggerfish working on an episode, this hopefully means that local Disney+ subscribers will be to access Volume 2 at the same time as its international counterparts, as this was not the case initially when the streaming service rolled out in SA.

As for the episode itself, it is titled Aau’s Song, but it is unclear what direction the studio is taking with the story. Hopefully it leans on an African influence, like much of the studio’s previous content has. Either way, we are excited to see what it showcases.

Regular Nick:
- Cartoonito to get a dedicated channel in France
- Da Vinci Kids plans co-viewing future
- PBS Kids has yet to rollout the new logo in other countries
- Disney renews 3 adult animated series through 2025

SABC 2 welcomes back a fan-favourite series from February 6th

"Giyani – Land of Blood explores powerful, emotive and clear themes about land and answers the questions: who the rightful owner of the land is, who has the right to exploit the land," a press statement reads. "All these thematic views are infused with all the captivating backdrops of a classical telenovela – two warring families, a secret past and a forbidden love story between Khensani Mudau (now played by Mahlatsi Mokoena) and Musa Baloyi."

This season sees the introduction of the Khoza family, headed by successful lawyer Solani Khoza (played by Lesley Musina) and his former promo girl turned club manager wife Pele (played by Bokang Phelane). Zigi Ndlovu (as Dzovo) joins as Solani's son and Khensani's new love interest.

Reprising their roles are Rami Chuene (as Manoko), who continues with her manipulation and criminal activities and Ndivhuho Mutsila (as Richard), Linah Ngcobo (as Mhani Tsani), Noel Baloyi (as Mahlori) alongside Fumani Shilubana (as Vukosi) and Maduvha Madima (as Shoni).

"Season 3 is about coming full circle on these themes of the series, and secrets will be exposed. This season embarks on the show's final odyssey with a world that has expanded and changed – the banana plantation has been replaced by the game lodge, which Manoko continues to pillage, while the villagers remain marginalized and living in poverty on their supposed own land."

1Magic bids farewell to the only relevant show on the channel

1Magic’s most-watched telenovela The River is ending after six seasons on South African television. Co-creator Phathu Makwarela from Tshedza Pictures production confirmed the show is ending on social media yesterday.

This is after the departures of actors Tango Ncetezo, who played Paulina since season one, and multi-award-winning actor Lawrence Maleka and Hlomla Dandala, who played Zolani and Zweli respectively.

Shirley Adonisi, who is the director of local entertainment channels at Mnet confirmed the telenovela is ending after six seasons.

“At M-Net local entertainment channels we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the cast and crew of The River for a memorable five years. Their hard work, dedication, and brilliance have led to the telenovela’s success. The final season is going to be the show’s most epic one yet. The drama will be bigger and better, setting the stage for the ultimate finale.”

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