VIU And HBO Max Bundle Is Launching In Southeast Asia, Showmax Likely To Follow Soon For Consumers In Africa

HBO Max and Viu are bundling their services in Southeast Asia into a single subscription, which will bring HBO shows such as The Last of Us and The White Lotus together with Viu’s original Korean and Chinese dramas.

The bundle will launch in Q4 across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and is almost certainly the first of its kind spanning multiple markets in Asia Pacific.

HBO Max is bundled with other services elsewhere in the world, including in the States, where several variations exist. The service launched in seven key Asian territories in November last year – then known as Max, prior to the re-rebrand back to its original name over the summer.

“Following the proven consumer and business benefits of HBO Max bundles in other parts of the world, this new streaming offering will provide strong entertainment value for consumers across Southeast Asia, and help drive subscriber growth and stronger retention,” said James Gibbons, President of Asia Pacific at Warner Bros. Discovery.

“With access to two complementary and world class collections in a single subscription, local fans can enjoy even more choice – from premium Hollywood movies and series to standout local Asian content.”

The HBO Max/Viu bundle will include the likes of the Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and DC Universe franchises, feature such as Spinners and The Minecraft Movie, legacy series such as Friends and HBO originals, including The Last of Us and The White Lotus. From the Viu side comes reality series such as Running Man and 2 Days 1 Night, Chinese dramas including The Immortal Ascension and Love Has Fireworks and upcoming Viu original Korean dramas Taxi Driver 3 and My Youth. Yesterday, we revealed My Youth had been snapped up for Rakuten Viki for the U.S., Europe and Latin America.

Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and Managing Director of PCCW Media Group, said: “Our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is an exciting step forward in our promise to continually enhance Viu’s entertainment options and meet our viewers’ evolving tastes.

“By combining HBO Max’s Hollywood content with Viu’s Asian favorites in a single bundle subscription, we’re offering more choice in shows, easier access to diverse content and greater value across a wider range of programming.”

WB Discovery Acquires ‘Totally Spies!’ S7

 

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Warner Bros. Discovery has acquired the seventh season of spy-fi animation series Totally Spies! across EMEA and the U.S.

French broadcaster Gulli and Discovery Kids LatAm have previously been announced as co-producers of the Zodiak Kids & Family France (part of Banijay Kids & Family) show.

The 2-D animated franchise returns to screens in 2024, following its original six-season run beginning in 2001. Premiering on Cartoon Network U.S. and later launching on Max in EMEA, the upcoming series follows the three legendary secret agents, Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.

The 26 x 22’ season will be produced by Benoît Di Sabatino and directed by Stephane Berry, who directed five previous seasons of the show. Gary Milne and Ludovic Taron serve as executive producers. Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution handles global distribution for the franchise.

HBO Max To Be Renamed Max From May 23, Unveils New Content And More

“This is our time. This is our chance,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said today in his livestream intro for the company’s unveiling of Max, its rebranded streaming service that goes live May 23. “This is our rendezvous with destiny.”

Max will be the streaming destination for Max and HBO originals, Warner Bros. films, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and kids content, along with programming across food, home, reality, lifestyle and documentaries from leading brands including HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, ID and more.

Calling WBD “the greatest storytelling company on Earth” and the biggest and most successful creator of content, Zaslav said Max is “home to shows that have a supersized effect on people an culture,” singling out The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Succession and Euphoria.

Billing Max as “the one to watch for every mood and every moment,” the service’s three-tier pricing also was announced: $9.99 a month/$99 a year for ad-supported tier Max Ad Light; $15.99/$149.99 for Max Ad Free, which offers two concurrent streams; and $19.99/$199.99 for Max Ultimate Ad Free, up to four concurrent streams.

“This new brand signals an important change from two narrower products — HBO Max and Discovery+ — to our broader content offering and consumer proposition,” JB Perrette, WBD’s President & CEO of Global Streaming & Games, said during the presentation. “While each product offered something for some people, Max will have a broad array of quality choices for everybody.”

Among the programming highlights discussed today:

• Max original Harry Potter series, a faithful adaptation of the beloved original book series by J.K. Rowling, who will serve as executive producer;
Max original comedy series derived from The Big Bang Theory;
• HBO original Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight;
Max original drama series based on The Conjuring films;
• Magnolia Network’s Fixer Upper: The Hotel;
Discovery Channel’s Survive the Raft;
Max original Peter & the Wolf short film from U2’s Bono;
• Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty: The Anime;
Investigation Discovery’s Lost Women of Highway 20;
• Cartoon Network’s Tiny Toons Looniversity; and
• TLC’s Love & Translation

Max also provided first looks today at upcoming titles including:

• The Penguin starring Colin Farrell
• HBO Original drama series The Sympathizer, an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel;
• HBO Original limited series True Detective: Night Country, starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis
• HBO Original limited series The Regime, starring Kate Winslet (retitled from The Palace);
• Max Original six-part docuseries SmartLess: On the Road, following Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes as they take viewers on an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the sold-out live tour of their podcast
• Max Original kids series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai
• HGTV’s four-part Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge hosted by Ashley Graham.

Also making announcements during WBD’s streaming day were Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, and HBO SVP Programming Kathleen McCaffrey.

“Our incredible team has been hard at work taking the best of both legacy technology platforms to deliver a product that works much better,” said Perrette. “We’re confident that all these enhancements will deliver a stronger experience for our customers, which will drive more engagement, help enhance retention, and improve customer satisfaction, which in turn will help us continue to scale.”

Here are some highlights of Max product features:

Premium Video Playback. A new video playback experience will deliver smooth and cinematic video to users, wherever and however they prefer to watch. Whether binging their favorites, watching offline on-the-go, or tuning in on Sunday nights for the latest episode of Succession, users can count on seamlessly diving into their preferred worlds.

Personalization. Max will expand personalization beyond just the home page, offering a differentiated and high-performing experience for every user across the whole service.  By significantly increasing our investment in machine learning while maintaining an editorial voice, Max will deliver a unique human and machine approach that will help surface the best content for our users.

More Prominent Kids Experience. At launch, Max will introduce a default kids profile for new subscribers along with accompanying parental controls. Parents can choose to customize settings and select to limit content for the kids profile by ratings: little kids (tv-y), big kids (tv-y7, tvy7-fv), big kids plus (tv-g, g), preteens (tv-pg/pg), or teens (tv-14, pg-13). Parents will also have the ability to set individual profile PINs to lock access to their adult profiles, as well as a parent code to lock their children inside of the Max kids experience.

Simplified Navigation. Max works harder so viewers don’t have to. Streamlined categories, improved content details pages, shortcuts, dedicated brand hubs and thematic content rails, make exploring the app and discovering new interests easier. The updated design coupled with a better personalization engine will help consumers quickly find and discover the best of what they are looking for.

4K UHD. The Ultimate Ad-Free tier of Max will have an expanded catalog of content available in 4K UHD including key programming such as Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Dark Knight Trilogy and more. All Warner Bros. movies released this year and going forward will also be available in 4K UHD when they arrive on Max following their theatrical windows.

Newly Rebranded Max Streaming Service Unveils New Content For Kids And Families

Warner Bros. Discovery disappointed the children’s TV industry last year when it pulled a number of shows from HBO Max, signaling an exit from this part of the business.

However, now, with the launch of the rebranded Max service, the company behind the Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera libraries is returning strong to the sector and admitting that it was ostensibly technical difficulties that caused some of its problems for younger folk.

“We sit on the best library of IP for kids content [compared] to anyone so we’re not only going to reboot a lot of what we already have in our library but we’re also going to make new [shows],” said Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Networks Group

Finch revealed three new kids projects as part of the Max launch: Peter and the Wolf, a short film from Bono and Gavin Friday, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, which launches on May 23, and Tiny Toons Looniversity.

She also added, “We’ve got all kinds of projects… in the works. It’s a way for us to really target the kids market in a way that that HBO hasn’t been able to because… HBO is not a kid friendly brand, necessarily, even though Warner Bros. has some of the best IP in the business.”

David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, seconded this. He pointed out that parents were unlikely to tell their babysitter to turn on HBO Max to sate their children and the service, known for airing series such as The Sopranos and The Wire, didn’t have the requisite parental controls.

"We have great kids content from Sesame Street to Harry Potter to Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and all the original content that Kathleen’s team produces Cartoon Network. But there wasn’t an entry point. So, when anybody goes to Max on [launch] day, they will wake up and there will be a kids hub and right away it will be kid friendly. And we never we didn’t even have the parental

JB Perrette, President and CEO of Global Streaming and International at Warner Bros. Discovery, added that kids hasn’t “met its true potential” on the old HBO Max service.

“Our leading kids brands like Cartoon Network and Boomerang, bolstered by content from DC, Wizarding World, Hanna Barbera and Looney Tunes used to get double digit shares with 2 to 11 linear audiences [but] in streaming that has virtually disappeared even though all the great content and franchises as are still here. Max will better curate our rich history of amazing animation, seminal children’s television and blockbusters the whole family can enjoy as well as new product features.”

HBO Max did have Sesame Street, with new seasons running on the service through 2025.

However, one of the problems that Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, found was that it didn’t surround it with other similar types of programming.

“We had Sesame Street on HBO, which is one of the greatest brands in kids. One of the problems was we didn’t surround it with anything else. So, [this solves] part of the problem. One of the benefits here is we don’t have to go figure out how are we going to get a kids business up and running. We have the expertise in house doing so,” Bloys added.

Recap To Last Year: Hoho's 'Toad And Friends' Ready To Roll With Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA

Hoho Entertainment today announced that it has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA to bring the riverbank adventures of Mole, Toad, Ratty and Badger to life for a new generation of viewers in Toad & Friends (52 x 11’), a brand-new CG animated series based on Kenneth Grahame’s classic British novel The Wind in the Willows (1908).

“With over 85 million copies of the book sold in 29 languages, The Wind in the Willows is not just a British classic, it’s a global classic,” says Oliver Ellis, Joint Managing Director of Hoho Ent. and producer of Toas & Friends. “We can’t wait to introduce today’s children to these beloved characters, with 52 new and original stories.”

Toad & Friends is produced by London-based Hoho Entertainment, animated in Scotland by Wild Child Animation and directed by Tim Searle (Danger Mouse, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed!). The new series has been developed and supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland and produced with the support of the Creative Media Program, MEDIA of the European Union, and is set to launch on Warner Bros. Discovery’s preschool brand Cartoonito across EMEA and on HBO Max in Europe in 2023.

“Toad & Friends is a beautiful series packed full of adventure and wrapped in the nostalgia of the original The Wind in the Willows stories that many parents will remember with such fondness. It’s a perfect fit for Cartoonito and HBO Max and we’re thrilled to add it to our growing slate of European productions,” comments Zia Sands, Lead – Acquisitions, Partnerships & Coproductions, Kids & Family EMEA, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Working with a diverse cast, group of writers and production team, Toad & Friends aims to honor the legacy of the original novel and its gentle values about community and citizenship while refreshing the characters and storylines to resonate with a modern audience. The original characters are joined by some ‘feisty’ new female protagonists, including fearless Hedge, scheming Tinker, diligent Heron, mischievous Adder and motherly Mrs. Otter.

The series celebrates the countryside and children’s simple joy of being outdoors as they follow their favorite characters on brand new humorous adventures in which they discover moral courage, respect and the value of friendship.

“It is a joy to bring the teeming hedgerows and bustling riverbanks of the beautiful British countryside to life using the very latest animated technology and techniques,” adds Wild Child Animation’s Ken Anderson. “We hope our reimagined version of Grahame’s world of natural adventure and discovery will encourage children to venture into the great outdoors a little more themselves.”

HBO Max (Or Max) Will Likely Fold Under MultiChoice's Showmax Streaming Service, No Word On Discovery+ As Yet

During the month, NBCUniversal in partnership with MultiChoice are planning to rollout a revamped Showmax streaming service featuring content from the highly anticipated streamer, Peacock. Of course details about the pricing have yet to be revealed.

As some are probably unaware, NBCUniversal has done several partnerships with MultiChoice over the years aside from Universal, DreamWorks and E! and the digital component Universal+. Through their Sky service, MultiChoice was able to distribute a number of television sets.

This deal doesn't come as a shock, not that I was anticipating something like this but the reality is Peacock coming as a standalone put itself in a very risky position hence the reason SkyShowcase (a merger with Paramount+) exists in various European markets.

All of this had got me thinking about Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming service.

As some consumers are aware these two are set to the last entry in Africa as we got most of the major streaming services Netflix, BritBox, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock (as mentioned) with Paramount+ gearing up for its rollout later in the year.

Last year, it was stated that HBO Max and Discovery+ would merge to form this giant streaming service which would have complicated things as the HBO side of the business was waiting till 2025 for contracts to go null therefore giving HBO Max the greenlight.

Compared to HBO Max, there was no problem in getting Discovery+ out to those regions which had a deal in place for the other streamer. If it wasn't for this restructure, we could have gotten Discovery+ or at least recieved an update about the platform in Africa.

After several months, it was revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery scrapped plans to merge these two but would rather keep Discovery+ intact as it's cheap while boost the lineup of HBO Max (soon Max) as the brand had seen a cutback of original content back in 2021.

In April, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to unveil more details about this new Max streaming service which I honestly think won't be made available to African consumers compared to Discovery+.

As mentioned, they will be the last entry to the streaming game and as above-mentioned streamers have been reeling in potential consumers. With that in mind is it possible that HBO Max will fold under Showmax?

Showmax is home to various locally produced content and they also supply a number of international content from NBC, Starz, CBS Studios, Sony Pictures Television. They also supply various titles exclusive to HBO Max alongside catalogue from Adult Swim.

MultiChoice even have various linear channels from HBO Max's parent company including TNT, Discovery Channel, TLC and Cartoon Network. Even supply various shows to M-Net such as The Flight Attendant and House Of Dragons which serves as a spinoff to Game Of Thrones.

Showmax becoming the official home to HBO Max wouldn't be far fetched as Warner Bros. Discovery in recent months had signed deals with local broadcasters in Australia and Japan which go over 2025 which boosts the possibility of the same outcome in Africa.

Showmax in general supplies content various content from BritBox and Paramount+. With those deals set to expire, it's possible these streamers would want to keep the content abroad their platforms and distribute them across linear stations.

HBO Max benefits Showmax in the long run as it would help build their international portfolio and help them serve as a strong contender to Netflix and Disney+ which too have a lot of international content in the pipeline. I'm just so lost with with plans for Discovery+.

I mean the platform has too much content that I feel not everything would fit under Showmax so maybe Discovery+ being the only standalone platform wouldn't be a bad idea and MultiChoice distributing a freemium version also wouldn't be a bad thing for DStv consumers.

Before the merger, Discovery Inc. wasn't expecting Discovery+ to be Disney+ big or to compete with other streaming services mentioned here so far.  So all I'm saying is HBO Max being apart of Showmax isn't a bad thing as consumers can't pay for all these platforms.

Discovery+ could as well serve as both a freemium and pay-tv type service. Showmax could bundle selected content particularly premium or first run content perhaps.

Recap To The Past Week: Scooby-Doo And The Mystery Pups No Longer Moving Forward On HBO Max, Cartoonito Remains Safe In Case You're Wondering

Cartoonito is a brand name Warner Bros. Discovery gives to their preschool offering and by the end of the March it would have replaced several Boomerang feeds across Europe. As seen this past week, Cartoonito lost another original show, Scooby-Doo And The Mystery Pups.

Announced in 2022, Scooby-Doo And The Mystery Pups was meant to serve as the first ever preschool series for the Scooby-Doo franchise. It would have featured Scooby and Shaggy as camp counselors who would be recruiting three pups as mystery solvers.

In a tweet by animation writer Roger Eschbacher, he mentioned that the show wrapped early as they lost their distribution to HBO Max so they're hoping another platform would pick up the project and this is not the first Scooby-Doo based project to have gotten canned as well.

Last year, they axed SCOOB!: Holiday Haunt despite the wrapping production to the film and curating a soundtrack. Not long ago, two projects had surfaced Haunted Highrise which would have welcomed back The Hex Girls and another on Krypto The Superdog.

Since word on these cancellations came out several consumers have started speculating the demise of Cartoonito. I mean sure the brand had severed some minor setbacks following the cancellation of Little Ellen but there's been some upsides in the process.

Batwheels launched in 2022 and become the most streamed show for preschoolers on HBO Max. Aside from that, it gained popularity internationally the same popularity that is currently found on Cartoon Network for several decades despite the fall in viewership in the U.S.

Roundups #140: Lego Monkie Kid Returning For A New Season On Cartoon Network, Borderline To Make Its Free-To-Air Debut On SABC 3 And Discovery+ To Remain Onboard While As HBO Max Gets Renamed Possibly WBD+

More Lego Monkie Kid for D

Stv customers this April

Inspired by the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, Lego Monkie Kid serves as one of many  trilogies which follows the adventures of a young teenager, MK, as he comes into terms of his mission to save the world.

It is led by Jack De Sena, Dave B. Mitchell, Stephanie Sheh, David Chen, Patrick Seitz, Sean Schemmel, Victoria Grace, Steve Blum, Gwendoline Yeo, Kyle McCarley, Kimberly Brooks and Kimberly Brooks.

Sean Schemmel who currently voices The Monkey King is also known for voicing Goku in the Funimation Dub of Dragon Ball, which much like the show, is also inspired by Journey to the West.

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

Love is also in the air with SABC 3

It seems like eExtra won't be the only thing sharing the love this Valentine's Day, SABC 3, South African free-to-air channel owned by the SABC home to various local and mostly international productions had acquired rights to the British drama, Borderline.

This mockumentary follows an incompetent UK border control department based in the fictional Northend Airport. Inspired by immigration issues in Britain at the time of filming, this comedy touches on the topic with light-hearted humour. In charge of the unit is Chief Inspector Proctor who leads the In charge of the unit is Chief Inspector Proctor who leads the team of border agents and baggage handlers who all seemingly hate their job. 

Trouble brews as the motley crew deal with everything from new derivatives to unruly travellers. It stars David Avery, Jackie Clune, David Elms, Liz Kingsman, Jamie Michie, Ralf Little and Guz Khan.

Openview Plus:
- Ratings for SABC 1-3 and e.tv for December 2022
- e.tv to rollout a rebroadcast of Die Put
- eExtra scrapped the launch of 4 telenovelas
- Verdeelde Liefde to return with a second season on eExtra

Warner Bros. Discovery starts off 2023 with more confusion

According to the Journal’s sources, Warner Bros. Discovery is still planning to launch a “supersize streaming service” in the near future. The service will feature all of the HBO Max content and most of the content that can currently be found on Discovery Plus. Nevertheless, Discovery Plus will still be available as a standalone option for consumers.

The sources claim that WBD doesn’t want to risk losing the 20 million Discovery Plus subscribers that may not be interested in paying more for a combined offering. Therefore, the new service and Discovery Plus will share some content, including Discovery Channel’s Shark Week block and TV shows from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network.

During the week, Twitter users recently discovered a private account they suspect might be connected to the company. The account is named WBD+ (@wbdplus) and its bio reads: “All in one.” The account has zero followers and its tweets are protected, but there’s a chance that this could be the name of the upcoming streaming service.

Or it could be a troll with too much time on their hands.

Roundups #132: Moonbug Kids To Distribute New STEAM Focused Series Ocean Explorers, MultiChoice And M-Net Likely To Unveil Two New Channels Titled SWITCHED ON And Gossip Girl Cancelled After 2 Seasons On HBO Max

Moonbug Kids unveils its first new series of 2023

Kids2, a global company that designs holistic solutions to help early-stage parents and families, announced the launch of Baby Einstein™ Ocean Explorers™, a new STEAM-focused ocean adventure edutainment series in conjunction with a comprehensive line of two dozen products for children, including toys and baby gear.

Created in partnership with child development experts, Hello Einstein Studios and EDH Animation, each Baby Einstein™ Ocean Explorers™ 5-minute episode reinforces early learning skills through repetition and interactivity as beloved Baby Einstein characters Cal, Neptune, Opus, Tinker and Dean discover undersea and seaside wonders together with young viewers.

“Baby Einstein Ocean Explorers is our biggest launch of content and product yet,” said Ryan Gunnigle, CEO and Owner of Kids2 and Founder of Hello Einstein Studios. “From its expert-led creative direction to its unique format, the show reimagines how entertainment can engage, teach, and inspire young viewers. Plus, we bring the nautical theme to life with more than two dozen products that integrate the series’ songs, characters, and themes.”

Regular Nick:
- Could Universal Kids be the next channel to close down from NBCUniversal?
- Here are other ways to view PBS Kids
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj coming soon to Nickelodeon
- Predictions: Nicktoons and Boomerang's untimely demise

Get ready to SWiTCH up the entertainment on DStv

Expanding from what was already reported from yesterday, MultiChoice and M-Net have allocated SWiTCHED ON on channels 109 and 110 probably hinting at them likely being a pop-up channel for viewers to catch-up on what they've missed out on similar to what eMedia Investments unveiled this past week.

The first channel is a kykNET and Mzansi Magic infused channel just lost as to how the second is only based on Mzansi Wethu. Is it possible that maybe kykNET Lekker is running this content smoothly so there's no need to repeat any of the content missed or that viewers won't care much about this.

At the moment, most parts of these unofficial channels have yet to be filled up. From what is already seen they broadcast 18 hours a day apparently similar to eMedia's Power-Up and there's nothing worth exploring.

Judging by the content, I'm guessing that DStv Compact, Compact+ and Premium will get both channels while as other packages but Easyview get the other for the time being as Eskom doubles down on power cuts.

* Take into account, nothing is official for now.

DStv:
- BBC to close linear channels and move to an internet only digital future
- kykNET Lekker Opened To More DStv Customers For A Limited Time
- What Consumers Should Be Concerned About Regarding SABC's Yet To Be Launched Channels On DStv?

HBO Max unsurprisingly cancels another series

HBO Max has cancelled the Gossip Girl reboot show after two seasons, just days before the premiere of the final episode of the second season on January 26.

Like the original show, which was developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the new reboot series was also based on the book by Cecily von Ziegesar and was developed by Joshua Safran.

Set eight years after the parent series, the reboot follows a new generation of New York school teens who get to know about the social surveillance of the Gossip Girl site. It stars Jordan Alexander, Julien Calloway, Whitney Peak, Thomas Doherty, Evan Mock, Eli Brown, Tavi Gevinson, Emily Alyn Lind, Zion Moreno, Elizabeth Lali, and Savannah Lee Smith, among others.

“We are very grateful to showrunner/executive producer Joshua Safran, and executive producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz for bringing us back to the Upper East Side and all the scandals at Constance Billard,” HBO Max said in a statement to Deadline. “Although we are not moving forward with a third season of Gossip Girl, we thank them for the enticing love triangles, calculated backstabbing and impeccable fashion this series brought to a new audience.”

YouTube Premium:
- HBO Max's new series Velma scaring away viewers
- VH1 is making a comeback to international shores through BET
- DStv Streama bundles Disney+
- The Walt Disney Company to expand the reach of Star Channel

Roundups #130: Iwayu Created By Set To Debut On Cartoon Network In 2024, Zoey 101 Is Getting A Feature Film On Paramount+ And Conspiracy Theory Surrounding kykNET Lekker's Availability Finally Revealed

New Nigerian animated series loading on Cartoon Network

Based on the graphic novel series from writer Roye Okupe and artist Godwin Akpan, HBO Max and Cartoon Network's upcoming Iyanu: Child of Wonder will be heavily influenced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Financed and overseen by Lion Forge Animation, the 2024 animated TV series chronicles the tale of Iyanu, an orphaned teenage girl with no memories of her upbringing who yearns for a simple, normal life. Those dreams get shattered when a set of circumstances triggers Iyanu's dormant divine abilities. Teaming up with two other teenagers, Iyanu embarks on a quest to confront the Corrupt, a great evil rising in their homeland that threatens humanity. Along the way, Iyanu will slowly uncover the truth about her past, parents, powers, and destiny as the Chosen One.

The epic superhero adventure promises to draw from Nigerian culture, music, and lore. In addition, creator Okupe has written and directed multiple episodes. Lion Forge's head of production Saxton Moore, who serves as supervising director, and executive producer David Steward II recently spoke about adapting the graphic novel, cultural representation, Iyanu's quest, and anime influences.

Regular Nick:
- Kartoon Channel expands to Africa
- Could Universal Kids be the next channel to close down from NBCUniversal?
- Here are other ways to view PBS Kids
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj coming soon to Nickelodeon

Another Nickelodeon revival gets the greenlit for Paramount+

Zoey 101 star Jamie Lynn Spears announced on Instagram a reboot of the Nickelodeon series, titled Zoey 102, is coming to Paramount+.

“IT’S OFFICIAL! 🎬 Are you ready…. @paramountplus @nickelodeon,” Spears wrote in her Instagram caption on Thursday, teasing the show’s iconic theme song, which she sang.

The film was written by Monica Sherer and Madeline Whitby, according to the script shown in the Instagram post. Variety reported on Thursday that production has begun on the movie, and it is expected to be released later this year.

The Instagram post shows a photo featuring the names of some of the original characters, including Chase (Sean Flynn), Logan (Matthew Underwood), Michael (Christopher Massey), Quinn (Erin Sanders), and Stacey (Abby Wilde).

Paramount:
- Conspiracy Theory: The introduction to Nick Jr. Global
- The Smithsonian Channel is closing down in the UK
- VH1 is being redirected to BET
- MTV Hits no longer available in South Africa

kykNET Lekker is part of a mysterious open window

In December 2022, MultiChoice opened up kykNET Lekker (DStv 148) which was exclusive to only Access customers to their DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact and Family with not much info available as it occurred prior to the festive holidays.

As school's reopened and consumers reverted back to their daily lives, a source at kykNET was able to confirm that kykNET Lekker is in fact an open window but couldn't provide any more details other than what you already heard.

Basically, the kykNET Lekker's open window is what has been seen from 2022 - a mystery. The channel isn't listed on other packages compared to when channels like Nickelodeon have open windows and them listed on that package and the other having to be the lack of info regarding the channel.

DStv:
- MultiChoice might lose yet another two channels
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform

Roundups #128: Dungeon And Dragons TV Series Has Been Ordered By Paramount+, Kartoon Channel Greenlit New Roblox Inspired Reality Series And Plot Synopsis For HBO Max Upcoming Series Velma Scares Away Potential Viewers

Another video game is getting a TV adaptation

Paramount+ has given an eight-episode, straight-to-series order to an adaptation of Hasbro’s wildly popular Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game franchise. Red Notice filmmaker Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote the pilot script and is set to direct the first episode of the series which will be a co-production between eOne and Paramount Pictures.

eOne, the lead studio, took the project out in November, garnering interest from multiple buyers, with Paramount+ ultimately landing the show in a competitive situation. eOne and Paramount Pictures are partnering on the Dungeons & Dragons series after also co-producing and co-financing the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie directed by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley, which premieres March 31.

At Paramount+, the Dungeons & Dragons series will join Halo, the video game adaptation, which is one of the streamer’s most popular originals. Over the last couple of years, there has been a resurgence in bringing gaming titles to television, and this is the latest example.

Insidus Games:
- Powerpuff Girls Snowboarding
- Baby Felix Halloween
- Looney Tunes Monster Match
- Thor: The Dark World

Roblox TV series is coming to Kartoon Channel

Aimed at tweens, Kidaverse Roblox Rumble (10 eps between eight and 15 minutes long) will follow a group of contestants ages eight to 12 as they compete for a grand prize of US$1,000.

The kids must avoid getting eliminated in each round by winning a variety of physical games, including everything from an arctic obstacle course, to a dune buggy race. GBI will also turn these offline challenges into Roblox games.

Former NFL star Rashad Jennings (pictured) will host the series, which should launch on GBI’s Kartoon Channel! later this year. Jennings is an avid gamer himself, and the author of The Coin Slot Chronicles, a kids book series published by Zonderkidz. 

Regular Nick:
- Could Universal Kids be the next channel to close down from NBCUniversal?
- Here are other ways to view PBS Kids
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj coming soon to Nickelodeon
- Predictions: Nicktoons and Boomerang's untimely demise

Velma is receiving criticism from several Scooby-Doo fans

HBO Max’s latest adult-oriented animation Velma will be premiering on Jan. 12 and fans of the Mystery Inc. Gang have been anticipating the Scooby Doo gang origin story (minus the mystery-solving dog). The show is executive produced by Mindy Kaling of The Office and The Mindy Project fame and the star will voice the near-sighted main character as she forms relationships with the rest of the Scooby crew. As the show’s premiere date draws closer, Velma‘s plot synopsis is making the rounds on social media and even the most diehard Scooby fans are not impressed.

A tweet by @LightsCameraPod shared the synopsis, describing it as “certainly something.” Twitter users evidently agreed and quickly began roasting the synopsis which reads as follows:

“At Crystal Cove High School, Daphne (Constance Wu) is a popular mean girl orphan who deals drugs because of a dark family secret. Her boyfriend Fred (Glenn Howerton) personifies mediocre white richness. His mansion holds a dark secret — and he has teeny widdle privates, a subject of much conversation. “Shaggy” has become Norville (Sam Richardson), a school-newspaper striver friendzoned by his beloved Velma. He worries he’s a beta male; remember that lame humor concept from 20 years ago?”

HBO Max And Discovery+: My Expectations For The Purposed Max Streaming Service

WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. merged to form Warner Bros. Discovery during the year which has been met with a lot of media scrutiny following the cutback on staff and programming and one of the topics already discussed the newly formed company was the merger of their two streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+.

HBO Max was more of a general entertainment type service as it offered drama series and movies from DC Comics, HBO, The CW and several others with animation coming from Cartoon Network and Crunchyroll. Basically, it made the HBO brand name more valuable.

Discovery+ was more factual and reality based supplying and expanding content from various Discovery brands including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, TLC, HGTV, Food Network and an endless list of brands.

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

I don't know why these two streaming services are merging soon but it kind of makes sense from a business perspective. HBO Max is lacking in terms of variety it's definitely something I'd recommend to anyone but let's be honest here compared to Discovery+ they have more of the same thing with alternatives.

That's probably why they were even relevant to consumers like me in the first place. The part that mostly turned me on was the anime, DC and Cartoon Network everything else was okay I got to watch certain shows like Euphoria and Flight Attendant.

Discovery+ isn't what I'd call a strong competitor in the market but Discovery Inc. before the merger wasn't putting all their hopes in killing off Netflix but keeping it sustainable in the near future. What can I say there's a lot to explore on the app but it depends on the consumer.

The thing about Discovery is that some of the content can come in the alley of HBO Max which is general entertainment particularly that of TLC and Discovery Channel. You could say Discovery+ offered more than HBO Max in terms of variety so the merger makes all the more sense.

Warner Bros Discovery:
- Boomerang might be rebranding in more parts of Europe to Cartoonito
- Inside Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA kids content strategy
- Warner Bros. Discovery to launch new free-to-air channel in some parts of Europe by 2023
- The history of Fine Living
- Warner Bros. Discovery cancels several animated shows
- Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education launch new channel

Warner part of the service has the audience while the Discovery part has the content all of which will soon be available under one streaming service with the working title, Max.

Max from what other outlets not gonna mention names speculated family and kids wouldn't be part of this new streamer which made absolutely no sense as those are one of the biggest consumers around particularly on Disney+ and the other having to do with the content as brands like Animal Planet are regarded as such.

Taking to all the cutbacks into account, I'm guessing that the proposed Max streaming service will HBO Max come out simply as HBO in one tile with another tile for movies infused with doccies from Discovery+ then you have Cartoon Network also coming as tile under it is content for Cartoonito and Adult Swim with Crunchyroll serving as a seperate tile.

In short, I'm expecting more Discovery to come out of this streaming service not that there won't be any Warner in it but Discovery produced a lot of original content (partially duplicated) while the other had a few brands picking up all the slack with the others getting scraps.

Review On The Potential Name To The Merged HBO Max And Discovery+ Streamer, Max And Also Some Weird Names You See Online

WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. merged to form Warner Bros. Discovery during the year which has been met with a lot of media scrutiny following the cutback on staff and programming and one of the topics already discussed the newly formed company was the merger of their two streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+.

HBO Max was more of a general entertainment type service as it offered drama series and movies from DC Comics, HBO, The CW and several others with animation coming from Cartoon Network and Crunchyroll. Basically, it made the HBO brand name more valuable.

Discovery+ was more factual and reality based supplying and expanding content from various Discovery brands including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, TLC, HGTV, Food Network and an endless list of brands.

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

I don't know why these two streaming services are merging but it kind of makes sense from a business perspective. HBO Max is lacking in terms of variety while Discovery+ needs a boost in audiences and who better than Emmy Awarded brand like HBO.

Been keeping tabs online to the merged streaming service which is set to unveiled by mid 2023 with most parts of Europe which is where I reside only getting access to what's left of Discovery+ and HBO Max by 2025/6 due to pending deals on HBO's side with local broadcasters.

Anyways regarding the merged streamer, folks were awaiting on the brand name for several months and I'm more shocked that they haven't shared anything I mean I'm not expecting an official logo which is where Warner Bros. Discovery wants to get at when unveiling it but honestly I'm kind of disappointed.

The justification was already proven when the purposed name for the streamer surfaced the net, Max.

Insidus Games:
- Nicktoons: Freeze Frame Frenzy
- Garfield 2: Royal Adventure
- Legend Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Sonic Advance 3
- Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends: Cheese Phone's Home
- Wheres Waldo Now?

I mean there's nothing wrong with it but is this what everyone was awaiting several months for. The new name was right in front of our faces the entire time regardless it's not a bad name as HBO Max unlike Discovery+ had branded content as Max as to not collide with the current HBO brand.

But Max has been used one to many times so I can clearly see why it's regarded as a working title. I don't have a better option to Max but one way I'd find a suitable brand name is to look into old properties or existing franchises like a certain company did when rolling out Utsav in parts of Europe.

Now some of the names I've seen online for the purposed streamer includes HBO Discovery, Discovery Max (DMAX), WBMax, The WB, The WD and several others.

Warner Bros Discovery:
- Boomerang might be rebranding in more parts of Europe to Cartoonito
- Inside Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA kids content strategy
- Warner Bros. Discovery to launch new free-to-air channel in some parts of Europe by 2023
- The history of Fine Living
- Warner Bros. Discovery cancels several animated shows
- Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education launch new channel

Some of these names seem idealistic such as HBO Discovery but DMAX is a definite no some people are still woke by this merger blaming Discovery Inc. when the truth is WarnerMedia was always hovered with problems.

Max is not a bad idea as it doesn't cause much conflict within the Warner or Discovery better yet it's more of a crossover I mean Max exists as a linear channel in parts of Europe and HBO couldn't have thought of a better time to bring Max up proving my point earlier - crossover.

If Max happens to be what everyone is going for I'll just have to accept it. I mean they are two Discovery one for insurance and another for entertainment the difference is in the logo and the fact one had ended the company name with Inc. so I'm saying only a certain amount of people will know these companies ain't linked.

"Max" Is Being Eyed As Potential Name To Merged Discovery+ And HBO Max Streaming Which Is Set To Rollout In Europe By 2025

Warner Bros. Discovery executives are close to formalizing a new name and platform for its soon-to-be-launched streaming service that will combine the preexisting HBO Max and Discovery+ services.

The merged platform’s expected name, “Max,” is being vetted by the company’s lawyers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Executives haven’t finalized a decision and the name could still be changed, but Max is the likely choice, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Some senior executives are still debating a final name, said two of the people. Internally, Warner Bros. Discovery has given the new service a code name of “BEAM” while a final name is being debated, said the people. Lawyers are vetting other names, as well.

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

The app itself will share similarities with Disney+’s platform, with Warner Bros. Discovery’s brands as individual tiles, the people said. HBO, Discovery, DC Comics and Warner Bros. will be among the landing hubs on the platform, the people added.

A Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said a name was still being discussed.

CNBC reported last year that WarnerMedia executives wanted a new name for the combined streaming service. While branding HBO Max with HBO crystalized the prestige image of the product, several executives felt the name may eventually dilute the HBO brand as consumers conflated it with everything on the streaming service.

Regular Nick:
- The Simpsons: A look at various spinoffs that never got greenlit
- Garbage Boy And Trash Can still in development on Cartoon Network
- Team Sayari coming soon to Disney Channel
- Boomerang being swapped for Cartoonito in these region
- Review: The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang
- What to expect this December on Da Vinci Kids?

Chief Executive David Zaslav has cut back on HBO Max original series spending, which has helped reform HBO’s branding. Still, HBO has a limited audience that’s largely U.S. based, and the streaming service will offer much more than HBO — including reality TV from Discovery, news documentaries from CNN, movies from Warner Bros., kids programming, and possibly, eventually, live sports. Zaslav and his team see the value in making HBO a sub-brand within the larger streaming offering, said people familiar with their thinking.

Warner Bros. Discovery management pushed up the launch date for the combined service to spring 2023, the company announced in its most recent earnings call in November. Zaslav said during a earnings conference call that a team has been preparing for the launch of the combined offering, and also experimenting with changes “in large part to address some of the deficiencies of the existing platform.”

Zaslav noted recent changes already being rolled out on HBO Max that reflects that work, including the addition of Discovery content.

“These early green shoots bolster our strategic thesis that the two content offerings work well together and when combined, should drive greater engagement, lower churn and higher customer lifetime value,” Zaslav said on the call.

Warner Bros Discovery:
- Boomerang might be rebranding in more parts of Europe to Cartoonito
- Inside Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA kids content strategy
- Warner Bros. Discovery to launch new free-to-air channel in some parts of Europe by 2023
- The history of Fine Living
- Warner Bros. Discovery cancels several animated shows
- Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education launch new channel

The pricing of the combined streaming service is still being discussed, the people said.

HBO’s confusing branding
There has been debate at Warner Bros. Discovery about keeping HBO in the name of the new streaming service given its prestige. But removing it from the name will also end a run of HBO-branded streaming services that have confused consumers. HBO Go and HBO Now preceded HBO Max.

Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to reform through a series of changes and cost cuts. The company is contending with a heavy debt load, and, like the rest of the industry, it is figuring out how to make the streaming business profitable, rather than chasing subscribers while spending heavily on content. Zaslav told investors in November that the focus for the business, and its streaming strategy, would be reaching profitability, and not necessarily subscriber numbers. The company’s goal is to notch $1 billion in earnings in streaming by 2025.

“While we’ve got lots more work to do and some difficult decisions still ahead, we have total conviction in the opportunity before us,” Zaslav said.

Roundups #115: Tom And Jerry In New York Cancelled On Boomerang And HBO Max, Lord Of The Skies Returns For An Eighth Season On Telemundo USA And The Addams Family Spinoff Wednesday Is A Global Success On Netflix

Tom And Jerry likely cancelled on HBO Max

Based on the 2021 theatrical film, Tom and Jerry In New York settle in to their new digs at the Royal Gate Hotel and unleash mayhem across the Big Apple, inciting chaos uptown, downtown and everywhere their manic escapades take them.

The series premiered in the same year on HBO Max and was made available to Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels internationally with a total of 13 episodes each with a duration of 21 minutes over 2 seasons.

Since November 2021, no more episodes had been ordered and with the reconstruction of Warner Bros. Discovery it wouldn't be shocking if it were cancelled considering how the theatrical film performed.

Regardless, the crew are working on the preschool series Tom And Jerry Time for Cartoonito.

Aurelio returns for another season on Telemundo

It's official! Telemundo revealed the premiere date for season 8 of 'El señor de los cielos'. Through its social networks, the television house shared a video where Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya) is seen being tortured in jail.

"They took me out of the grave, they made everyone believe that I was dead. Locked up, tortured, like an animal, but there is no caged animal that does not want to escape and that does not want to return to its herd. The family is not touched, much less if they are Casillas", the protagonist is heard saying.

Season 8 of 'El señor de los cielos' premieres on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 on Telemundo.

For the continuation of the story, one of the actors who confirmed his return was Isabella Castillo, who shines with Isidro (Garbiel Bonilla), who returns with his role as the son of Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya). Another beloved character is Tata (Wendy de los Cobos), who published an image with her fictional son, Ismael Casillas.

Wednesday becomes a global sensation

Wednesday, the comedy-horror series from Tim Burton about the titular daughter of the Addams Family starring Jenna Ortega, made its highly anticipated debut on Netflix last week on November 23. In that time, the series has been well received by critics and has now even broken a Netflix viewing record! The show is now at the top of the list for the most viewed hours of a Netflix debut for an English-Language TV series at a staggering 341.2 million hours viewed in its first week.

The eight-episode series came in at #1 on the global Netflix Top 10 for the week of November 21 - November 27, with it reaching the top spot in 83 countries, a feat that has only been achieved by Season 4 of Stranger Things. The series was also featured in the Top 10 of all 93 countries tracked. Burton serves as both director and executive producer on the series with Alfred Gough and Miles Millar acting as executive producers, writers, and showrunners. Fellow executive producers include Steve Stark, Andrew Mittman, Kevin Miserocchi, Kayla Alpert, Jonathan Glickman, Gail Berman, Tommy Harper, and Kevin Lafferty.

Review: The Concept Of Boomerang And Cartoonito

Boomerang is family skewed brand owned by Warner Bros. Discovery is home to franchises such as Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes and Tom And Jerry and has experienced success with the likes like Mr. Bean, Ninja Express, Lamput and Zig & Sharko.

Outside of that lied a brand which craved attention and needed to better their offering to match that of the main network, Cartoon Network. Unfortunately, it only served as a runner up in its eyes as it fills it's lineup with gags and family infused movies.

Overseas, it is treated as a pushover while as other regions it is able to stand up its two feet. If you dive deeper onto, isn't it more like Comedy Central nowadays as both can keep viewers a certain capacity and lack the Netflix experience.

Netflix dwells on originality and there's plenty of quality and originals to go around while Boomerang just seems to make up the other portion of their hub and there enters Cartoonito.

Cartoonito seeks to reinvent Boomerang's dismal selection. Instead of relying on Movie Stars to build primetime, they want to use Thomas And Friends, Lucas The Spider, Moley and Dino Ranch to keep audiences occupied kind of similar to the main brand's approach in series.

It's led Boomerang to become a crossover between the two with most of its energy on preschool with shows like Mighty Mike, Masha And The Bear, Grizzly And The Lemmings and Legend Of Spark - another approach in reinventing or establishing a brand.

Which brings me to my final calling, Cartoonito seeing as it is taking away or reestablishing what was once a TCM of our generation. How much of the old Boomerang would reside in this new brand? How is anyone sure it won't wide up like Disney Junior?

Before Cartoonito, Disney Junior was a family based channel sure there was preschool but the previous incarnate had 101 Dalmatians: The Series, Emperor's New Groove and the original DuckTales now it's been reduced to Marvel's Spidey and Puppy Dog Pals.

Point being made, Boomerang was the only brand that could actually cater to preschool and family and Cartoonito is expanding further into the preschool portion only God knows how much of that will give anyone the future former brand.

Roundups #114: Spider-Man Spin-Off Silk: Spider-Society Greenlit By MGM+ And Amazon Prime Video, Ultra Violet And Black Scorpion Cancelled On Disney Channel After One Season And Looney Tunes Cartoons Cancelled On Cartoon Network And HBO Max

The Spiderverse continues its expansion

Superheros are taking the television world by storm, and Amazon Prime Video is taking this opportunity to get in on all the action. The first confirmed Spider-Man spinoff will be Silk: Spider Society, but it won't be the only one according to Sony.

For those who remember, Sony and Disney didn't see eye to eye when it came to the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies. After the second installment, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Sony and Disney had a hard time coming to a financial deal, leaving many to wonder if the third film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, was going to happen. However, the two companies came to terms with the fact that Sony will hold the screen rights to all of the Spider-Man films and characters, which is now allowing Sony to jump in on creating spin-offs of its own.

Amazon Studios and Sony will introduce audiences to Cindy Moon, a.k.a. Silk. While no one is sure how many shows fans are getting, one is Silk: Spider Society, which will be the first to kick off the new Spider-Man universe when it debuts on MGM Plus domestically before launching globally on Prime Video. There is no word on how exactly the series will portray Moon's backstory, but there should be some excitement around The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang, who will also be heading Silk: Spider Society. Kang will also serve as executive producer alongside Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with whom she developed the series.

Ultra Violet And Black Scorpion Cancelled

Unfortunately, it’s not all confetti and cake. Villains of Valley View may live to fight another day, but its superhero block mate, Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion is heading to early retirement. Disney Channel decided to end the series after only 1 season. It’s a disappointing ending for yet another Latina superhero this year. First Leslie Grace’s Batgirl, now Scarlett Estevez’s Violet? This year has actually been marked by a concerning amount of Hispanic-led series cancelled too soon.

First announced way back in January 2020, it was intended to star professional wrestler Blue Demon Jr. and have a heavier luchadore / profesional wrestling influence. The pandemic and other behind the scenes issues resulted in a long road to get the show off the ground. The first major issue is that the pandemic left the series from receiving full greenlight until January 2021, one year later. At that time, Scarlett Estevez joined the series as Ultra Violet.

For reasons unknown, Blue Demon Jr. departed the series along with the original producer and it was retooled as Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion. In August 2021, J.R. Villarreal tagged in as Black Scorpion to replace Blue Demon and the series finally filmed. Disney could have aired a special sneak peek of the pilot during Hispanic Heritage month in 2021, but did not. When it finally premiered this past June, it seemed that they’d been holding it back for a few months already. Then, it felt like they were burning it off when they dropped the entire summer’s set of 10 episodes on Disney+ right away. The television ratings certainly suffered from this decision.

Looney Tunes Cartoons is officially on its way out, this is the version of the series that premiered on HBO Max

Developed by Pete Brown (Creator of Uncle Grandpa), he wanted Looney Tunes Cartoons to go back to the basics. These didn't go out of the way to reinvent Bugs Bunny and everyone else. Instead, it was more of an update to the 1940s Looney Tunes era which isn't a bad thing.

These characters are timeless, thrown in any time period and setting and maybe change a few things here and there it's still fun to watch.

While the reception of this show is positive, Pete revealed something on Instagram:

Today was a final mix of the 209 Looney Tunes Cartoons shorts we created. Congratulations to all involved. That's all folks.

The end of this version doesn't mean the end of the franchise as Looney Tunes has got a ton of upcoming projects such as Bugs Bunny Builders, Tiny Toons Looniversity, Tweety Mysteries and The Day The Earth Blew Up.