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Showing posts with label HBO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HBO. Show all posts

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Warner Bros. Discovery's Plan To Split Up Studios From Cartoon Network And HBO Could Come With Everlasting Effects

Warner Bros. Discovery after accumulating so much debt even after the formation of Discovery and WarnerMedia is exploring a separation of assets. This would see Warner Bros. Studios operating independently away from linear brands like Cartoon Network and HBO.

With that huge debt, no company can afford it to absorb it unless some cost cutting measures were implemented in an attempt to reduce that debt. The only other option in mind at this point would be splitting up as seen prior or selling assets separately. 

Separating Cartoon Network from Warner Bros. Studios could come with various risks like if there's no funding coming from Warner Bros. Discovery how will it survive. Even if the idea were to sell, Cartoon Network could become more like The CW and TBS.

It could lose credibility and give brands like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel more of an advantage. Maybe, it's possible that the channel could survive the purge and build similar positioning to DreamWorks and Moonbug which serves as promotional. 

Cartoon Network unveiled several new projects at Annecy like Foster's Funtime For Imaginary Friends, an untitled Regular Show series and Scooby-Doo! Go Go Mystery Machine. These are likely projects they want to distribute on other platforms.

Max had join the likes of SABC+ and BBC iPlayer platforms with little to no original content as they shift focus on archived material. Those titles are likely being shipped from platform to platform.

The splitting of Warner Bros. Discovery also guarantees job losses and the possibility of cord cutting. If two people were managing TNT and TBS separately they could let go of one and also seek to merge TNT and TBS alongside its programming. 

Warner Bros. Discovery was operating independently in other countries with Warner TV and Cartoon Network continuing to add new content. There's no guarantee that the services in those markets will stay afloat especially if the lot depend on its studios for survival. 

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Max Originals Likely Dead Is A Good Sign For HBO And Cartoon Network

Not long ago, it was reported Warner Bros. Discovery had dumped the Max trademark from upcoming shows Harry Potter and IT with these being branded as HBO originals. Similar to Disney+ Star, Max will continue to exist for a collection of content. 

When Max launched in 2020, it served as a rival offering to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Showmax and Disney+. It offered a range of animated shows like Close Enough and Jellystone alongside live-action shows like The Flight Attendant and Gossip Girl.

Not only that, it became the exclusive home of all things Cartoon Network and this included Tiny Toons Looniversity, The Fungies! and upcoming show Iyanu: Child Of Wonder. Unlike HBO, most shows to have been filmed by their studio were credited as Max Originals.

With the demise of Max, it means Cartoon Network will be more recognition after being shunned by Adult Swim as shows like Invincible Fight Girl and My Adventures With Superman were pulled from the network. 

The reason Max is being trimmed has to do with the current economic climate as the streaming market is oversaturated and Max is basically struggling to compete. Internationally, they're licensing content to various broadcasters including Sky and M-Net.

Another similar to Disney+ Star, consumers aren't familiar with Max the moment HBO was dumped from the name. In this day and age we're seeing companies revive or expand on IPs in order to get an extra buck and retain audiences while getting new ones.

As mentioned, HBO is expanding the universes of IT and Harry Potter while Cartoon Network is doing that with revivals to The Amazing World Of Gumball and Regular Show. 

Max Originals Likely Dead As ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘It’ Prequel ‘Welcome to Derry’ And Other Warner Bros. Tentpole Series To Be Branded as HBO Originals

To paraphrase a long-running network slogan, “It’s Not Max. It’s HBO.” HBO and Max content CEO Casey Bloys is changing the delineation between what an “HBO show” and a “Max show” is, moving most of Max’s upcoming big-budget, tentpole Warner Bros. IP projects to under the HBO umbrella.

That means the upcoming “Harry Potter” TV show, as well as the “It” prequel series “Welcome to Derry” and the just-announced Green Lantern adaptation “Lanterns” — in other words, major DC franchise and other big-budget titles — will all now be branded as HBO originals.

This is a switch from the most recent decision to place all series based on Warner Bros. IP in the Max bucket, which was first established when Bloys added oversight of Max in 2020.

“We felt like we had to delineate between an HBO show and a Max show,” Bloys said of that initial distinction. “The idea of using Warner Bros. IP as a delineation for Max felt right. At least that gives you a clear lane. But as we started producing those shows, we were using the same methods, the same kind of thinking, as how we would approach HBO shows. In a lot of cases, the same talent that has worked on HBO shows.”

On “Lanterns,” for example, writers include Chris Mundy, who worked on HBO’s “True Detective,” and Damon Lindelof, whose HBO output has included “The Leftovers” and “Watchmen.” Even DC Studios co-head Peter Safran has described “Lanterns” as “a huge HBO-quality event” that is “very much in the vein of ‘True Detective.’”

“What we ended up with is shows at this scope and scale that look great, and great narratives and talent we’ve worked with,” Bloys added. “The idea of the delineation kind of started to feel unnecessary. Like, why are we doing this? Let’s just call them what they are: HBO shows.”

The change officially takes effect with shows launching in 2025. That means “The Penguin” and “Dune: Prophecy,” both of which premiere later this year, are expected to still be called Max originals. Those shows had already been sold overseas with the Max label — and even last week, HBO sent out a “Penguin” teaser that still included the Max branding.

“We will start in 2025, although ‘The Penguin’ would be an obvious fit as an HBO Original,” Bloys said. “Unfortunately, the process of licensing it internationally has already started.”

Explaining the timing of the decision to realign the stable of HBO and Max Originals series, Bloys noted that it became even more clearer to him that these big shows should get the HBO label as Max started developing series that are more in the broadcast/traditional TV vein. That includes John Wells’ and R. Scott Gemmill’s upcoming 15-episode medical drama “The Pitt,” starring Noah Wyle, as well as the crime thriller “Duster,” from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, both of which remain Max series.

“That felt like a much more natural delineation of what we’re trying to do with Max versus HBO,” he said. “What we talked about with John was specifically how you would approach a network show for a streamer. Typically, the production budget allows you to do more episodes. There’s closed-ended storytelling per episode, which is not typically what you would see in an HBO show.

Bloys stops short of giving a budget mandate to the difference between HBO and Max shows, but clearly there is — and one might hover in at around the $15 million per episode threshold. Anything above that would clearly be in HBO territory.

That’s on the drama side. Comedy is a bit trickier, as budgets are different and it’s a little harder to tell the difference between a tentpole HBO laffer and a Max one.

“If I’m using the network analysis, with closed-ended stories, going about something at a certain budget level so that you can tap more stories, trying to be broader… it is definitely harder but we’re trying to do the same thing,” Bloys said. “But definitely, it’s fuzzier there for sure.”

Already, Amy Gravitt oversees comedy for both HBO and Max, so the separation matters a lot less internally anyway. As for the HBO and Max split on the drama side, that does mean that now Sarah Aubrey, who oversees Max’s original dramas, will work with HBO drama chief Francesca Orsi on the shows that will now bear the HBO banner (like “Harry Potter” and “Lanterns”). Beyond that, the structure does not change.

One other tweak: Now that shows like “Harry Potter” and “Lanterns” will be branded for HBO, they’re now guaranteed to run on the linear network in addition to Max. That guarantees a larger volume of programming for the network in 2025 — and Bloys is looking at keeping both Sunday and Thursday as original series nights for the channel.

“I like the idea of having a Sunday and a Thursday,” he said. “But as we schedule for 2025, 2026, 2027 together, we’ll lay that all out and figure out what works best.”

Of course, all of these shows will still stream on Max, so this tweak in branding will likely go unnoticed among most consumers. Indeed, Bloys noted that another reason to make this shift is that the majority of viewers already assume these are HBO shows.

“For a show that feels big and cinematic, they already are going to make the assumption that it feels like an HBO show,” he said. “This is just leaning into that.”

So, why not make all shows HBO shows, and let Max just be the platform that runs series from all of Warner Bros. Discovery brands?

“I do think it is helpful to have a brand that doesn’t put the expectations or the intention of an HBO show,” Bloys said. “If it’s not designed to do that, it shouldn’t have to. I like having that flexibility, that you can experiment with things creatively, format-wise.”

Of course, on the awards side, there already is no delineation. HBO and Max shows are submitted and campaigned in exactly the same way, as “HBO/Max.” And in marketing, most ads promoting HBO series also include a Max logo, since that’s where audiences will stream the show no matter what.

“It’s a confusing time in the business, consumers figuring out streaming and shows that were on linear and streaming and vice versa,” Bloys said. “We’re trying to adapt and figure out what is the best way to approach this in a world where streaming is dominant. So, there is going to be experimentation, there are going to be mistakes. Because this is all still relatively new in the history of television.”

Sunday, February 25, 2024

News Shorts: Epic Mickey Getting Remade For The Nintendo Switch Later In The Year, Arch Nemesis Coke And Pepsi To Face Off In Standalone Film And Harry Potter TV Series To Stream On Max In 2026

Disney is doing another remake

Developer Purple Lamp and publisher THQ Nordic announced that their 3D platformer remake dubbed ‘Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed’ will be coming to PC via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox consoles, and the Nintendo Switch later this year. Previously a Nintendo Wii exclusive by Warren Spector many moons ago, this beautiful remake sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey through Wasteland, a realm of forgotten Disney characters. As Mickey, you will dive into a fantastical world and, armed with paint and thinner, shape your adventure and the fate of this alternate world.
Cola Wars greenlit by Sony

Sony has stepped up with a seven figure bid to uncap Cola Wars, a movie pitch that tells the true story of Pepsi’s attempt to challenge Coca-Cola’s century-long reign as the world’s top cola, sparking the unforgettable “Cola Wars” of the mid-1980s. This behind-the-scenes account, from Michael Jackson’s fiery mishap to the New Coke debacle, tells the ultimate underdog tale of history’s most iconic second-place contender vying for the No. 1 spot. Sources said it was around $1.5 million while Sony said it was $1 million, still a whopping deal for a pitch.

It falls into place alongside films about products like the Ben Affleck-directed Air, about the battle by Nike to win Michael Jordan for a shoe line that transformed the company. There were rival bids massing with elements attached, but Sony stepped up. Maia Eyre, the exec who oversaw the hit Anyone But You, will shepherd this one.
Harry Potter remake coming in 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed Friday that a long-planned Harry Potter series is aiming to debut on Max in 2026.

This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content about the project, which he also assured fans would be “a faithful adaptation.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

MultiChoice Renews Several Studio Deals Including NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney And More

Every year, MultiChoice would usually host a content showcase where they'd display various attractions currently or yet to be seen across their platforms. 2023 was one of those years were for some reason none of this occurred so another option would be the interim results.

Interim results are usually the one way MultiChoice is able to engage with consumers about the performance on their platforms and also a downsized version to the content showcase which reflect mostly toward their assets than 3rd parties.

It is through this report hidden way in a page is the renewal agreement with NBCUniversal, MGM, Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and Disney for their content distributed to M-Net and linear channels. Of course, MultiChoice doesn't provide a duration or terms to these new agreements as seen with Disney back in 2021.

It was also highlighted that they had reduced 3rd parties cost which could mean a number of things: First with Showmax 2.0. set to rollout in the first quarter of 2024 MultiChoice would have to reduce their portfolio so that NBCUniversal can use their 30% stake in the platform.

M-Net had undergone a similar route following the rollout of Disney+ and had since then (co-)produced a number of shows like Devil's Peak, Reyka, Recipe For Love And Murder, and Blood Psalms.

Another would have to pertain to their linear offering, most companies highlighted provide a selection of factual, lifestyle, general entertainment and children's channels. It's likely that one of these channels are going dark soon if not building the lineup for another channel.

National Geographic possibly becoming a member of A+E Networks could mean the end of National Geographic Wild as A+E Networks sustains one channel. Nickelodeon possibly being sold to Warner Bros. Discovery would signal the end of Nicktoons and Nick Jr. as linear channels.

Monday, November 7, 2022

Roundups #110: Winx Club Reboot And New Movie Is In Development, HBO's Westworld Cancelled After 4 Seasons And Shelley Duvall Makes A Comeback In Horror Flick The Forest Hills

New Winx content in the works

Straffi said Friday on Instagram that a "big budget" film and a new animated series are in the works.

The post follows news that Fate: The Winx Saga was canceled at Netflix after two seasons.

"I am working on many exciting Winx projects in the near future, some of which I take so much joy in sharing with you," Straffi wrote. "First off -- a brand new CG Winx animated series reboot is going into production. Yes, a reboot that I promise to sweep you back to the Winx world."

"The second piece of news is about my long-time dream to produce a big-budget Winx movie that all of you deserve," he added. "For all the love you have given to Winx, I am working hard hoping to bring you a top-quality movie where you can experience the Winx world, embracing once again all the core values of what this iconic brand has meant for you."

Warner Bros. Discovery cancels yet another show

HBO announced late on Friday that it has cancelled its science fiction drama series Westworld after four seasons. The series aired in Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) and MultiChoice's video streamer Showmax.

The TV series, of which just the first season costed a reported $100 million, was based on Michael Crichton's science fiction film of 1973 about a futuristic amusement park where self-conscious androids start to kill and escape, and made its debut in 2016. The ever-dwindling ratings fell from 12 to 4 million over the course of its run, however.

Westworld's ratings fell sharply in the United States as viewers and critics complained that the story became too dense and confusing, with the show that has now fallen victim to Warner Bros. Discovery's ongoing cost-cutting across the company.

The Shining actress is set to star in another horror film

Shelley Duvall (The Shining) is gearing up to return to screens via The Forest Hills — an indie horror-thriller from writer-director Scott Goldberg, which marks her first project in 20 years. (The first behind-the-scenes still featuring the actor can be found above.)

Also starring Edward Furlong, Chiko Mendez and Dee Wallace, The Forest Hills follows a disturbed man who is tormented by nightmarish visions, after enduring head trauma while camping in the Catskill Mountains. Duvall will play the mother of the mentally and emotionally disturbed Rico (Mendez), who serves as his inner voice.

“We are huge fans of The Shining and it’s honestly one of my favorite horror movies of all time, up there with John Carpenter’s Halloween and George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead with the dark tones they delivered in their movies, along with perfect scores and elements that make them my personal favorites,” said Goldberg. “Shelley contributed to The Shining being an absolute masterpiece by giving her all, and performing in a way that really showcased the fear and horror of a mother in isolation.”

Thursday, August 18, 2022

HBO Max Quietly Drops More Titles, Animation Takes A Heavy Hit

After Netflix gutted their animation department and canceled a slew of their announced projects back in May, HBO Max appears to have taken the "hold my beer" approach and followed suit by absolutely gutting their own animated offerings on the platform. The streamer has already been quietly removing a number of films and series since the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, but today's announcement was an absolute bloodbath, with animated projects taking the brunt of it all. Nearly 40 titles either already have been or will be removed from HBO Max by the end of the week, including 20 HBO Max originals.

"As we work toward bringing our content catalogs together under one platform, we will be making changes to the content offering available on both HBO Max and discovery+," the streamer said in a statement. "That will include the removal of some content from both platforms."

Yeah, yeah, the official statement is cute and all, what with referring to fully produced series as "content," but it doesn't take into consideration how this decision is not just removing hours of animated (and unscripted, I don't want to gloss over their losses) entertainment, but also the results of countless hours and artistry from so many people.

We worked for 5 years to make 100 episodes of animation. We worked late into the night, we let ourselves go, we were a family of hard working artists who wanted to make something beautiful, and HBO MAX just pulled them all like we were nothing. Animation is not nothing!

— Julia Pott

Julia Pott, the creator of "Summer Camp Island" took to Twitter to express her frustrations, noting that her team spent five years making 100 episodes of animation, "and HBO Max just pulled them all like we were nothing." She ended her tweet with what feels like a rallying cry by saying, "Animation is not nothing!"

Blatant disrespect toward the animation industry
Nate, Jesse, and Lake in Infinity TrainHBO Max
The industry has a serious, serious problem with its treatment of animation. The Oscars incorrectly declared that animation was only something for children to enjoy and adults to endure during this year's broadcast, Hollywood A-listers continue to take away opportunities from seasoned voice-over artists in animated features, and now streamers are sending animated series into a void of nothingness as a means to write them off on their taxes. The entire entertainment industry is treating the world of animation like a public school cutting out arts programs to make way for a new football field.

"Tig 'n Seek" art director Levon Jihanian took to Twitter, imploring people to watch the show, saying this is probably the last chance. "Probably won't stream anywhere else. Absolutely infuriating," he wrote.

If you're my friend and still havent gotten around to watching Tig N' Seek, this is your last chance. Probably won't stream anywhere else. Absolutely infuriating.

— Levon Jihanian (@ForkFrenzy) August 18, 2022

Marie Lum, a storyboard artist and revisionist on "Aquaman: King of Atlantis" and "Infinity Train" tweeted "please watch our cartoons before [they're] removed this week. I see nearly my entire cartoon career being removed here on these lists, which is wild." She finished her post with a heartfelt message: "thanks for watching and supporting the things we make with love."

please watch our cartoons before theyre removed this week. i see nearly my entire cartoon career being removed here on these lists, which is wild. thanks for watching and supporting the things we make with love

— Marie Lum

Perhaps most disheartening is that many of the HBO Max originals will not have a life after they are removed from the platform. The idea that Warner Bros. Discovery would allow one of their competitors to pick up a show like "Tig n' Seek," "Infinity Train," or "Close Enough" is unlikely.

Today is a bleak day for animators and fans of animation, and it's hard not to think this could have been avoided if the industry had some respect for the people and projects that represent one of the most beloved mediums in all of entertainment.

However, there is one ray of hope: in a statement to The AV Club, Cartoon Network confirmed that "Victor & Valentino" and "Summer Camp Island" will continue to air on the cable network. The dates are currently TBD, but "fans can look forward to the remaining new episodes of both shows on CN this year."

All of the new titles being removed from HBO Max
Gweeseek and Tiggy in Tig 'n SeekHBO Max
Below are all of the titles being removed from HBO Max. While there's no news on where all (if any) of these titles will end up, there are a handful that will still be available on other streamers due to existing deals. "OK K.O.! – Let's Be Heroes," for example, is as of publication still available on Hulu, albeit in the wrong episode order.

A moment of silence for those that are getting tossed like table scraps, because someone with a ridiculous amount of power couldn't see the feast right before their very eyes.

HBO Max Original Programs
"12 Dates of Christmas"
"About Last Night"
"Aquaman: King of Atlantis"
"Close Enough
"Ellen's Next Great Designer"
"Esme & Roy"
"The Fungies!"
"Generation Hustle"
"Genera+ion"
"Infinity Train"
"Little Ellen"
"My Mom, Your Dad"
"Odo"
"Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness"
"Summer Camp Island"
"The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo" (and select "Sesame Street" specials)
"The Runaway Bunny"
"Theodosia"
"Tig n' Seek"
"Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs"
"My Dinner with Herve"

Cartoon Network Programs
"Dodo"
"Elliott From Earth"
"Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart"
"Mighty Magiswords"
"OK K.O.! – Let's Be Heroes"
"Uncle Grandpa"
"Victor and Valentino"

Additional Acquired Programs
"Detention Adventure"
"Messy Goes to Okido"
"Mia's Magic Playground"
"The Ollie & Moon Show"
"Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures"
"Make It Big, Make It Small"
"Squish"

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Recap: The State Of Warner Bros Discovery Including Series Cancellations, Merger Of HBO Max And Discovery+ And Cartoon Network's Dismal Offering

During the week, Warner Bros. Discovery cancelled several original productions like Scoob: Holiday Haunt, Batgirl and Little Ellen but here's the thing out of three two had finished production all that was left was distribution with the last being Little Ellen which was renewed ahead of time but recent changes suffered the same effects as the others.

Later today, Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to address these changes alongside unveil more details in regard to the merger of HBO Max and Discovery+.

News broke out about the merger started around the time prior to the time WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. functioned seperately and were on the verge of becoming Warner Bros. Discovery as seen with these recent cancellations the streamer is said to hold more Discovery than HBO.

The news has seen immense backlash for not only HBO Max fans but also Discovery has not a lot of consumers are accustomed to Cake Boss or Dr. Pimple Popper.

But if you look at the cutbacks from a clearer perspective, it actually helps a streamer like Disney+ which has been lacking in adult entertainment overseas.

HBO Max and Discovery+ have their 50% but if you look on Discovery there's reality, lifestyle, wildlife, factual, decor, motor, food and homegrown programming which is a lot you can do with a measly 50% while HBO had mostly dramas and movies before I can expand further some of Discovery+ content can be slotted under general entertainment which is where HBO Max sits.

Not that I'm happy about the downfall of HBO Max but if you kind of look at this merger just evens out the content as seen on Netflix the only brand I'm more curious about at this point is Cartoon Network alongside Cartoonito which has established linear presence internationally.

As it is there has been I wouldn't say cutbacks as seen with TNT, TBS and The CW but production is very slow as most shows have gone through development hell while others are ending soon and I wouldn't be shocked if Adult Swim got caught into the mix following the cancellation of Close Enough.

Friday, May 6, 2022

Development Hell: The Lost Stuart Little Reboot

Stuart Little is 1945 American children's novel by Charlotte Web writer, E.B. White. It was his first children's book which went on to be widely recognized as children's literature with illustrations handled by Garth Williams, an artist who worked on several children's books.

From 1999-2005, the novel was adapted into two live-action and computer animated films with the third solely focused on animation. The first two films recieved praise for its humor and visual effects while the last one killed all aspects the first two worked hard to conceive.

 
 

Since 2015, a remake has been discussed with no updates available for the past couple of years. According to entail, it will revolve mainly on the books and not that of the 1999 film.

Just like Disney's Pocahontas, even Stuart Little recieved some re-editing throughout the books. Take for instance, Stuart who worked as a teacher to make a living in order to search for the family bird Margalo who was likely eaten by a friend of Snowbell.

 

Anyways, the talk is not on the book but the remake questions amount to how original this movie will turn out to the book cause if anything I wouldn't be shocked if they tried to modernize the whole franchise and add stuff like k-pop or WAP items that didn't exist in his timeline.

 

According to Giant Freakin Robot, Marvel's very own Star Lord (played by Chris Pratt) might be in talks to star as the little guy in the long awaited remake. He will be voicing the video game character Super Mario in the movie of the same name even has a project for Garfield The Cat.

If this is true, then it would be the first time in almost a decade since we've gotten actual news from the little mouse.

Friday, April 29, 2022

New Series For M-Net, 1Magic And Showmax (Rumour #4): "Would I Lie To You", "61st Street", "The Garcias", "Come Dance With Me", "The Man Who Fell To Earth" And More

Would I Lie To You (American Remake)
In all rounds, the scoring system is the same: teams gain a point for correctly guessing whether a statement is true or not, but if they guess incorrectly the opposing team gets a point. Prior to the sixth series, it was impossible for viewers to follow the scores until they were read out at the end of each round, as some questions are edited out. However, from the sixth series the scores were re-recorded to reflect what had made the edit and not the whole recording.

61st Street
Moses Johnson, a promising, black high school athlete, is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system. Taken by the police as a supposed gang member, Johnson finds himself and his lawyer Franklin Roberts in the eye of the storm as police and prosecutors seek revenge for the death of an officer during a drug bust gone wrong.

 
 

The Garcias
'The Garcias' chronicles an American family based in San Antonio, Texas who are gathered for a summer vacation in their fancy beach house in Mexico. 'The Garcias' is a groundbreaking reboot of The Brothers Garcia, which was the first English-language sitcom to have an all-Latino cast and creative team.

Come Dance With Me
The show pairs young dancers with a family member that has supported their training, and the pair perform a dance together for a panel of judges before the determining who continues to the next round. The show was created by LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

The Man Who Fell To Earth
Based on the novel of the same name, the series follows an extraterrestrial who lands on Earth seeking a way to ferry his people to Earth from his home planet, which is suffering from a severe drought.

The First Lady
A revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.

The Baby
When 38-year-old Natasha is unexpectedly landed with a baby, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, dramatically implodes. Controlling, manipulative and with violent powers, the baby twists Natasha's life into a horror show. Where does it come from? What does it want? And what lengths will Natasha have to go to in order to get her life back? She doesn't want a baby. The baby wants her.

 

I Love That For You
Joanna Gold, an aspiring host for shopping channel SVN, who lies that her childhood cancer has returned in order to keep her job; the story is inspired by Bayer's personal experience with childhood leukemia.

Tokyo Vice
In 1999, American student Jake Adelstein has relocated to Tokyo and must pass a written exam in Japanese to have the chance to join the staff of a major Japanese newspaper. He succeeds in becoming their first foreign-born journalist and starts at the very bottom. Taken under the wing of a veteran detective in the vice squad, he starts to explore the dark and dangerous world of the Japanese yakuza.

Gaslit
The series is about the Watergate scandal and focuses on several untold stories, including Richard Nixon's subordinates, deranged zealots, and the whistleblowers who would eventually bring the whole enterprise crashing down. The story will center on Martha Mitchell, a celebrity Arkansan socialite and wife to Nixon’s loyal Attorney General, John N. Mitchell. Despite her party affiliation, she is the first person to publicly sound the alarm on Nixon's involvement in Watergate, causing both the presidency and her personal life to unravel. As attorney general, Mitchell is forced to choose between Martha and the president.

 
 

We Own This City
The miniseries details the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it.

The Offer
Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy 's never-before-revealed experiences of making The Godfather (1972).

The Thief, His Wife And Canoe
The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe explores John Darwin's big scam and how it was carry out. It also shows how his wife Anne became complicit in her husband’s bizarre deception to avoid bankruptcy, as she played the grieving widow and tried to convince the world, their friends, the police and insurance companies that John had gone missing while canoeing off the North East coast.

 

Whitney, A Look Back
Lost performances and rare moments with Whitney, featuring new details about the days leading up to and following Whitney's death.

Bill Maher: Adulting
From the stage of Miami's Fillmore Theater, Bill Maher returns for a scathing hour of his signature commentary on hot-button issues, bringing his no-holds-barred perspective to cancel culture, quarantine, Q-Anon and everything in-between.

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

The Murder Of Dee Blanchard: From HBO To Telemundo Here's A List Of Brands That Documented Gypsy's Freedom From Her Abusive Mother

Dee Dee had been making her daughter pass herself off as younger and pretend to be disabled and chronically ill, subjecting her to unnecessary surgery and medication, and controlling her through physical and psychological abuse.

Gypsy Rose, daughter of Dee Dee is currently serving a 10-year sentence for second-degree murder while Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In 2017, HBO produced the documentary film Mommy Dead and Dearest directed by Erin Lee Carr about the murder and its relationship to Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The film includes interrogation footage and exclusive interviews with Nick Godejohn and incarcerated Gypsy Rose.

Later that year, The CBS network talk show Dr. Phil, episode "Mother Knows Best: A Story of Munchausen by Proxy and Murder" featuring interviews with Gypsy Rose, her father and step-mother.

In 2018, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) news and information series Good Morning America, segment "Mother of All Murders" aired an exclusive in-prison interview with Gypsy Rose. The ABC network other series 20/20, did an episode titled "The Story of Gypsy Blanchard".

The Sony Entertainment Television channel series CID aired an episode titled "Death on Social Media" on 13 August 2017, based on the case but the setting for the episode was changed to India; the characters Aria and Aanchal were based on Gypsy and Dee Dee Blanchard respectively.

The Investigation Discovery channel series James Patterson's Murder is Forever episode "Mother of All Murders", season 1, episode 2, premiered on January 29, 2018. Investigation Discovery also aired a two-hour-long special documentary titled Gypsy's Revenge.

Love You to Death aired on Lifetime in January 2019, dramatizing the case as "inspired by true events". Marcia Gay Harden starred as the fictionalized version of Dee Dee, Emily Skeggs starred as Gypsy Rose's counterpart, Brennan Keel Cook starred as Nick's counterpart, and Tate Donovan starred as Rod's counterpart.

In 2019, the streaming service Hulu announced the creation of the true crime series The Act. The 8-episode miniseries is based on Michelle Dean's 2016 BuzzFeed article. Dean is an executive producer and writer for the first season of the series.

Later that year, Netflix web television series The Politician, the characters Infinity Jackson, Ricardo, and Dusty Jackson are respectively based on Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Nicholas Godejohn and Dee Dee Blanchard. Telemundo's Decisions 13th episode "Amor de madre" was also used to tell the tale.

Gypsy Rose's case has been treated more as a child abuse as opposed to her fiancee case which is murder. Her actions garnered media attention as opposed to her mother whose family flushed her ashes down the toilet.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

Read Also:
- Channel roundups for DStv including new channels and popups
- Televisa and Univision set of channels likely to get a name change
- Upcoming programming for Telemundo
- Boomerang reportedly closing down across Europe, Middle East and Africa
- The Search For Frida coming soon to Telemundo
- Disney Channel and National Geographic will likely stop airing in Africa by 2024
- List of series launching this year on Disney+
- New series and movies launching on HBO Max
- National Geographic Kids launching later in the year across Africa
- Steve Harvey becomes a judge in new series
- Paramount+ slate of content for the new year
- A list of animated series coming in 2022

Friday, December 31, 2021

What's Coming To HBO Max In 2022 Including Series And Movies

Although the service is not available in most parts of Europe. Several content has since then been available on several local partners. Here's the list of content coming within the new year:

Peacemaker
Set after the film, the series explores the origins of Peacemaker who believes in achieving peace at any cost. It is produced by Troll Court Entertainment and The Safran Company in association with Warner Bros. Television, with Gunn serving as showrunner.

Take Out With Lisa Ling
Lisa Ling is going behind the counter of some of America's more than 45,000 Asian restaurants.

My Mom, Your Dad
Insecure Star Yvonne Orji is hosting this reality series.

Búnker
It is a criticism towards people who only see the world by material possessions instead of connecting with people and the excessive pursuit of power of the patriarchy in the midst of strong dose and humor.

Queen Stars
A singing competition with drag queen, presented by Pabllo Vittar and Luisa Sonza.

Love and Death
The series is based on the true story of Wylie, Texas housewife Candy Montgomery's brutal axe murder of her friend Betty Gore in 1980.

Julia
It is based on the life of TV chef Julia Child.

The Staircase
Michael Peterson, a crime novelist, is accused of bludgeoning his wife Kathleen to death after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home.

DMZ
Alma, a medic becomes a symbol of hope in a demilitarized Manhattan island while trying to also find her lost son during the Second American Civil War.

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin
The show follows a new generation of girls who are made to pay for the sons of their parents.

Our Flags Mean Death
Semi-based on the story of Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his life to become a pirate.

The Big Brunch
The series centers around celebrating inspiring but still undiscovered culinary voices from all across the U.S.

Garcia!
Set in a version of current-day Spain at the verge of societal collapse, the fiction follows Antonia, a reporter who accidentally unravels a decades-old plot concerning a super-agent created in the 1950s by the Francoist secret services, García, who was subsequently cryogenized.

The Winner
The six-part dramedy of director Jan Hrebejeko discusses the Slovak prime minister who is leaving his successful career as a politician and returning to normal life.

List of animated series: click here

Returning shows:

Raised By Wolves
The Flight Attendant
Gossip Girl
Made For Love
That Damn Michael Che
Hacks
The Sex Lives Of College Girls
Wahl Street
Legendary
Selena + Chef
FBOY Island
The Hype
Sweet Life: Los Angeles
Doom Patrol
Titans
The Other Two

Film

The Fallout
High schooler Vada navigates the emotional fallout she experiences in the wake of a school shooting. Relationships with her family, friends and view on the world are forever altered.

KIMI
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Seattle, an agoraphobic tech worker discovers evidence of a violent crime while reviewing a data stream, and is met with resistance and bureaucracy when she tries reporting it to her company. To get involved, she realizes she must face her greatest fear by venturing out of her apartment and into the city streets, which are filled with protestors after the city council passes a law restricting the movements of the homeless population.

Moonshot
In a future where Mars is terraformed and colonized by the best humanity has to offer, two college students wind up joining forces and sneak onboard a space shuttle to the red planet in order to be united with their significant others.

Diego, The Last Goodbye
Based on the life of Diego Maradona.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts
The special marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the series' first instalment, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). It is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon and executive produced by Casey Patterson.

Moses Storm: White Trash

Did I Do That to the Holidays? A Steve Urkel Story
It is centred around Steve accidentally ruining Christmas and looking to save it.

Merry Little Batman
"Merry Little Batman" focuses on 6 year old Damian Wayne alone in Wayne Manor. He becomes "Little Batman" to defend home and Gotham City from the crooks and super villains intent on destroying Christmas.

Batgirl
Batgirl is an upcoming superhero film based on the DC Comics character Barbara Gordon / Batgirl. Produced by DC Films and Burr! Productions for the streaming service HBO Max, it is intended to be an installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Evil Dead Rise
In Evil Dead Rise, a road-weary Beth pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie, who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.A apartment. The sisters’ reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book deep in the bowels of Ellie’s building, giving rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusting Beth into a primal battle for survival as she is faced with the most nightmarish version of motherhood imaginable.

The Father Of The Bride
Latin adaptation of the American film of the same name.

House Party
A high schooler sneaks out to his friend's house party in what turns into a wild night full of antics, hip-hop, dance, and lots of fun.

Other titles include Land Of Gold, Scoob! Haunted Holiday, Untitled Looney Tunes Cartoons film and Untitled The Boondocks special.

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets (Lnk.Bio).

Read Also:
- January on TNT, Cartoon Network and Boomerang
- Boomerang reportedly closing down across Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Disney+ greenlit several African animation
- January on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
African Animation Network partners up with Baboon Animation
January on Comedy Central, BET, Nickelodeon and many more
Upcoming programming for Cartoonito in Europe, Middle East and Africa
January on Da Vinci Kids
January on Nickelodeon, Nicktoons and Nick Jr
Kartoon Channel and Moonbug Kids reach new heights, could DStv or StarSat perhaps get it?
National Geographic Kids Africa launches in 2022
More new series coming to Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and many more
Star Life rebranding to Life OK???

Friday, March 26, 2021

HBO Max To Rollout In 60 More Countries By The End Of 2021


Some consumers are no longer waiting for these streaming services to rollout in Africa as they've found several torrent sites to stream content like WandaVision, The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Apparently, HBO Max will launch in 60 countries and territories by the end of 2021, 21 of those countries/territories will be Europe (the countries where content is available direct through HBO and not through a third-party local partner, the 21 countries are located in Nordics, Central Eastern Europe as well as Spain and Portugal).

Africa is likely not listed in those 60 countries for the same reason as Disney+, they want to put their focus on the major parts of Europe before anywhere else while Disney+ is estimated to be in Africa by 2022/3 with HBO Max it's likely to be 2025-7.

Reasons being they have existing contracts with other providers in those regions so they're likely to cancel some of those agreements and wait on others if possible launch when they have enough content despite those contracts.

Read Also:
- Cartoon Network and Boomerang are dominating the kids circuit
WarnerMedia is working on more content for kids
- Several titles coming to Discovery+
- Update on the 4 pop-up channels on DStv
- 44 projects in development on Paramount+
R.I.P. FOX, long live Star, will other markets follow?
- BBC recognises African animation
- 80 projects in development on Disney+, some might have aired already
Utsav branding takes affect on Vijay TV, will StarPlus and Star Life follow in Africa
Will Paramount+ lead to the shutdown of several linear channels?

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Telemundo & HBO Latin America Ink Exclusive Distribution Deal

On Monday, Telemundo Internacional announced the signing of an agreement to become the exclusive distributor of HBO Latin America Originals in Europe, Middle
East, Asia, AFRICA and Oceania as of
January 2016. The announcement was made during the first day of MIPCOM 2015 in the Palais des
Festivals, in the presence of local and international media. The alliance not only grows the Telemundo
Internacional portfolio, but also confirms the positioning of the company worldwide, stated Marcos Santana, President of Telemundo Internacional. "Our goal has always been to expand through the sale of
the very highest quality products and through unique formats inspired by real life -- content born out of the imagination of writers and creatives whose work goes above and beyond traditional standards. And this
agreement, signed today with HBO Latin America, validates that effort," explained Santana. In the past decade, Telemundo Internacional
has become the second largest distributor worldwide of high quality visual and innovative Spanish-language programming to more than 120 countries. The agreement strengthens the partnership
that began in June 2014, when HBO Latin America Group (HBO LAG) was appointed as the exclusive affiliate sales representative for the Telemundo Internacional channel
throughout most of Latin America.
Subsequently, in July of this year, HBO LAG became responsible for the distribution of the NBCUniversal International channels in the Spanish-speaking regions of Latin
America. "This agreement represents another step in
our collaboration," noted Emilio Rubio, CEO of HBO Latin America. "Our products perfectly complement each other; and we are convinced that Telemundo Internacional is
an ideal partner to represent our catalog, built through more than 10 years producing premium content under the label HBO Latin America Originals," Rubio said. Telemundo Internacional will be representing
the catalog of fiction and documentary series for HBO Latin America in the assigned territories, starting with El Hipnotizador, Magnífica 70, El Negocio and Psi --
exclusive series that, until now, have only been available on the HBO channel, and will be available as of January 2016 for distribution. This new agreement will centralize content distribution without affecting the work of current distributors in these territories through December 31, 2015. Telemundo Internacional will incorporate the productions into its catalog as they become available for the territory. Titles to be distributed include award-winning series recognized by critics worldwide, such as Capadocia, winner of a GLAAD Media Award in 2009 and a two-time International Emmy nominee; Epitafios, nominated for an International Emmy as Best Drama Series in 2010; and Prófugos, nominated in 2014 for
an International Emmy as Best Drama Series, among others. El Hipnotizador tells the story of Arenas, a hypnotist who can put people into a trance and make them reveal their innermost secrets. Starring the internationally-known
Argentine actor, Leonardo Sbaraglia,
nominated for an International Emmy for his role in the second season of HBO's Epitafios, this series is HBO Latin America's first
bilingual production, spoken in Spanish and Portuguese, and based on an Argentine comic of the same name written by Pablo de Santis.
Magnífica 70, recently picked up for a
second season, is HBO Latin America's first "period" series, which takes place in the 70s in the neighborhood of Boca do Lixo in Sao
Paulo, Brazil, where most of that era's cinematic production took place. The series tells the story of Vincent, a married man who leads a comfortable but repressed life,
working in the office of the Federal
Censorship of Sao Paulo, spending his days viewing reports and films to be censored. While watching the film A Devassa da Estudante (The Wonton Student) he is captivated by the main character, Dora Dumar, who leads him to live in a seductive
and chaotic universe marked by obsession. El Negocio tells the story of Karin, Luna and Magali -- three beautiful, intelligent women who come together to revolutionize their
profession. Applying marketing strategies to the world's oldest profession, the three professional escorts Create a brand in the market that is synonymous with status,
growing their customer base and increasing sales of their business. Following the success of the first two seasons, the series was recently confirmed for a third season. Psi is a drama with touches of comedy that chronicles the adventures of Carlo Antonini, a psychiatrist, psychologist, and a
moderately pathological and highly
interventionist psychoanalyst, both inside and outside the office. Based on the character of the works of Contardo Calligaris, the series explores the complexities that link clinical enigmas, police investigations and passionate
relationships. Psi recently premiered its second season on HBO in Latin America.

ABOUT Telemundo INTERNACIONAL
Telemundo Internacional, a division of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, is the international Syndication and distribution arm of the US-based Telemundo and NBC
UNIVERSO networks, as well as other leading content producers around the world. Its international assets include the pay TV channel Telemundo Internacional, which has
distribution in more than 20 countries in Latin America, and the Telemundo channel in Africa, which offers content dubbed in English and Portuguese to more than 48 countries in the region. With a content portfolio including original telenovelas, series, specials, variety and music shows, as well as fiction and entertainment formats, Telemundo Internacional has become the world's second largest distributor of Spanish language content, reaching more than 120
countries with more than 200 programming slots dubbed and subtitled into more than 40 languages, registering a total of 56,000 programming hours outside the United States and Puerto Rico.

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