News Shorts: German Based Broadcaster Deutsche Welle Shutters It's Linear Operations Across Europe And Africa, National Geographic And ESPN Have Been Added To Zuku TV And A Rebroadcast Of Dayan, Destructive Beauty Launches On eExtra

DW goes dark across Europe

The move is part of a package of measures presented by DW director Peter Limbourg to the DW broadcasting council in Berlin on March 17, 2023.

“We will no longer broadcast linear programming in German after the changeover, but we will offer singular content on digital platforms,” the DW spokesman said. The date for the closure of the German TV channel has not yet been set. “I’m not able to provide a specific date at this time,” he added.

With the package of measures as part of the 2024 budget planning, Limbourg wants to drive the digital transformation of the German international service. Included are savings, budget shifts from linear to digital offerings and to regional languages, as well as investments in digital working environments.

Zee TV dying down on eExtra

After cutting down on primetime for more Annekan Die Swa Kry and axing Naagin much earlier than anticipated. A rebroadcast of Dayan, Destructive Beauty is expected to join the channel's line-up in the coming weeks replacing the timeslot of Naagin supposedly.

Dayan, Destructive Beauty was the first and probably last Bollywood drama to have been made exclusive to eVOD before being added to linear platforms. Now eVOD's international drama lineup outside of Kuiertyd is revolved on content viewed on eSeries and eExtra.

It follows Janvi Maurya, a well-educated and family oriented girl hailing from Ujjain, stumbles upon a dangerous ploy by an evil force as many unusual and mysterious happenings occur in her hometown. With a threat to her life, she must unmask the identity of a Daayan.

Sports makes a comeback on Zuku TV

Last year, it was revealed through several social outlets that Zuku TV will be relaunching National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV and ESPN 1 after removing them back in 2021. The only difference FOX and ESPN 2 aren't part of this offering.

These channels were replaced with Animal Planet, Discovery and TLC from Warner Bros. Discovery, Filmbox from SPI International and Planet Fun years prior. But the pay-tv platform failed to substitute the sporting line-up with any chances of a replacement likely dead at this point.

Development Alert: FOX And FOX Life Will Become FX And FX Life Across Baltics And CIS By January 2024, More International Disney Channels Are Expected To Close

FX returns to the Nordic and Baltics region

The Nordic and Baltic branches of The Walt Disney Company will adopt a new name and a striking visual identity on January 24, 2024, when FOX and FOX Life become FX and FX Life. FX and FX Life continue to deliver familiar and beloved content, bringing premium entertainment, including the best international series, to local audiences. 

“When FOX and FOX Life become FX and FX Life, our overall entertainment content will align with the Disney+ streaming platform while continuing to offer fans their favorite stories. This includes global hit series such as Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, This is Us, Castle, 9-1-1 and more. 

We look forward to bringing new shows and high-quality entertainment to our Estonian audience next year," said Hans van Rijn, SVP and Head of The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic. He added, "Linear television remains a priority for us, enabling our audiences to experience exciting content from the many world-class studios in the Disney family." 

The FX brand has been refined and adapted to meet the needs of local television, while maintaining the bold and confident legacy created by FOX.

Disney is pulling the cord of more TV channels

Since Disney+ inception back in 2019, Disney has closed various Disney Channels across the UK, Asia and Italy while a majority of channels still reside within Europe and Africa. Part of which still have no access to Disney+ and are therefore just losing out on content.

Theoretically, it was estimated that Disney could close their remaining linear offering by 2025 but Disney+ is still not sustainable in some of the areas launched. The linear offering is one way to help sustain the streamer and if possible lure potential audiences.

Despite the setback, Disney was still able to close it's remaining linear offering in Asia who also handle operations in the Middle East and North Africa. Since then a majority of international feeds are aligned/managed within Southern Africa (also known as Europe, Middle East and Africa).

Although there's no official confirmation, National Geographic People (Nat Geo People) and FOX Action Movies are anticipated to go dark by 2024 across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) seeing as these were handled in Asia whose offering is being migrated to Disney+. 

As mentioned, most international territories (including MENA) are being handled by Disney EMEA who only supply children brands Disney Channel and Disney Junior alongside factual brands National Geographic and National Geographic Wild.

In Portugal, all the FOX channels are being folded under the Star brand by 2024 (i.e. FOX Life becomes Star Life). This includes consumers in Angola and Mozambique for which MultiChoice operates their service and also supply the affected brands like FOX, FOX Life and FOX Comedy.

Possible Channel Termination: Could National Geographic Wild's Content Get Migrated Onto National Geographic And Disney+?

A few months ago, Disney and Spectrum renewed their agreement which saw brands like ABC, Disney Channel and National Geographic remain onboard their platforms while secondary channels like FXX, Disney Junior and National Geographic Wild went dark on their platforms.

Since then it has brought a lot of questions regarding the future of these brands as well as others distributed by NBCUniversal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Disney on the other hand had explored the possibility of selling some of their linear channels.

Current properties like Disney Star is said to be acquired by Reliance with Disney said to be holding minority stake in the company and a similar fate is said be awaiting both ESPN and National Geographic of course we've received an update on one of the latter channels.

According to sources, Disney is looking to sell or better yet fold National Geographic under A+E Networks. Home to factual brands like HISTORY, Lifetime and Crime + Investigation, it serves as a joint venture between Disney, Sky (Europe) and Hearst Corporation.

The idea of possible sale of National Geographic came through a recent survey into the market which revealed that ABC, FX and Disney Channel were priority brands for audiences especially Disney when it pertains to profit making National Geographic and Disney Junior obsolete.

A+E Networks operates a number of singular brands as mentioned above so wouldn't seem far fetched if National Geographic Wild were to merge onto National Geographic and Disney+ seeing now that the main channel is not viewed as a priority brand on both cable and streamer.

National Geographic would remain intact for the time being but overtime they'd be shortage in programming which could lead to more cord cutting or in this case National Geographic Wild. As the content from Wild would help build the lineup of the main channel.

HISTORY vs. National Geographic

As mentioned, HISTORY which operates under A+E Networks is a factual entertainment channel which offers programming based on mechanical and civil engineering, science, mystical creatures and organised crimes part of which resides within National Geographic.

With National Geographic Wild possibly on the chopping block perhaps the main National Geographic channel will take up the identity of Wild and focus solely on wildlife and natural history programming as seen with rival brands like BBC Earth. 

Another would be the company's property being distributed on National Geographic as a means to get more recognition for their portfolio.

In other developments, Disney is set to close their remaining linear offering in parts of Asia by the end of December and this includes National Geographic and National Geographic Wild as the company is putting more emphasis toward the direct to consumer business.

Disney Is Reportedly Looking To Sell National Geographic And Freeform To A+E Networks

Ever since back in July 2023, in an interview with CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger left an option open to sell some of its TV assets, including ESPN, ABC, and more. Now we have a new report that Disney may have a buyer in mind for some of its networks, including Freeform and National Geographic.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Disney has completed its review of its cable networks and has decided which ones it wants to sell. According to this report, three networks are seen as the most profitable to Disney, including ABC, FX, and the Disney Channel. These channels produce a lot of content not just for cable TV but also for its streaming service, Disney+.

According to this report, Disney is considering selling some of its smaller networks, including Freeform and National Geographic to A+E Network. This deal will let Disney keep partial ownership of these networks as A+E Networks is already a joint effort between Disney and Hearst.

This sale would let Disney break free of the high costs of these networks and remove them from their books. At the same time, keeping the door open for any potential profits from these networks. This is very similar to what AT&T did by spinning off DIRECTV but still keeping a majority ownership.

A+E Networks is a 50/50 split between Disney and Hearst Communications. In the past A+E Networks was also owned by NBCUniversal, but they sold their share to Dinsey and Hearst in July of 2012. Hearst and Disney also share ownership of ESPN, with Hearst being a minority owner.

Excluding ESPN, Disney saw TV network revenue drop 9.1% in the 4th quarter of 2023. Cutting some unprofitable networks like Freeform could help Disney reduce these losses on its books.

Recap To The Month: National Geographic And National Geographic Wild MENA Had Been Merged With EMEA, FOX Might Close Within The Region

Following the inception of Disney+, multiple Disney Channels have been closing down across the world as the company looks to consolidate their content to the streamer. They've also been looking at possibly selling their linear offering of course this is applicable to the United States.

But from what this entails, Disney is working towards a deadline to the remaining linear offering with Asia set to close theirs by the end of the year with a lot of European countries still harvesting most channels and other regions which have yet to receive Disney+.

Last month, Disney closed a number of linear channels across Asia and this included National Geographic and National Geographic Wild. They also managed the brands of the same name whose feeds had since then been managed within EMEA following these closures.

Despite having its operations merged with Africa, National Geographic Wild to date still has varied offering from the rest of Europe which brings to question it's future as a pay-tv channel. 

From what we've heard, Disney EMEA now takes charge of National Geographic Wild but unlike Disney Channel it appears Disney Asia still maintains control of the channel. Either National Geographic Wild will integrate probably by 31 December 2023 or close down to its entirety.

Prior to the demise of Disney MENA, the FOX channel remain intact within these regions. Considering that Disney in Asia and EMEA no longer supply the FOX brand as further content has been integrated to Disney+ it's likely that the channel will close down.

Another theory that would come in mind would be having Disney merge the FOX MENA (Arabic) with the ones seen in Portugal and Mozambique (Portuguese). Seeing as most FOX channels such as FX and FOX Movies trace back to these territories its the only liable option.

Why The Disney Channel Could Be Shutting Down On DStv And NOT National Geographic And ESPN?

A few months ago, it was reported by Disney's CEO Bob Iger that the company is looking to sell their linear channels and these include ABC, FX, National Geographic and Disney Channel as these are not seen as part of the core for the brand. Of course, it doesn't include content or the studios they use to manufacture them.

Internationally, the company has shuttered several linear channels across Asia and Europe with more territories set to join by the end of this current financial year. As seen in these markets, further content had been folded under Disney+ with the company looking to exclude the streamer in several countries and to cutback on original programming.

Now in Africa (excluding North Africa), the only known region to distribute the streamer is South Africa and with these recent developments I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Disney+ were to limit their stance in the region perhaps supply selected content to local steamers in the region if not at all.

On the basis of their linear offering, MultiChoice distributes their remaining linear offering which include factual and wildlife brands National Geographic and National Geographic Wild, children brands Disney Channel and Disney Junior and sports brands ESPN 1 and ESPN 2.

As seen in most parts of Europe which is where we reside, these brands have been dying down particularly Disney Channel and/or Disney Junior. The latter had been bombarded with reruns to past programming if not a bulk of content from Disney+ and the other is just clinging around 1 program to build their schedule.

It wouldn't seem far fetched if one or both of these channels were to be on the close down with National Geographic and ESPN serving as the remaining linear offering for not only DStv but the rest of Africa. That's what's currently being seen in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Turkey so why not Africa.

The only reason these channels are still on would be for revenue as Disney would need the income to produce shows like Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire and getting these onto their linear platforms would be one way to boost their future endeavours being Disney+. But as seen in a recent interview by Bob Iger that may not be the case here anymore.

Bob Iger was able to brief the media on why these closures are occurring and it doesn't paint a good picture for their channels in Africa as stated below they're seen a decline in revenue for both their local and international channels. They even highlight there's been a major decline in the general entertainment sector.

At Linear Networks, operating income declined versus the prior year by $580 million driven by declines at both domestic and international channels.

It could explain why FOX and Disney XD were ripped away from parts of the world and why ESPN and National Geographic (in Europe) haven't closed off yet as they see more value there particularly with ESPN as they look to restructure the business and turn ESPN into a major powerhouse in sports.

As mentioned, Disney will be closing off more channels by the end of the current financial year particularly in Asia and with MultiChoice's contract set to expire in the coming months I wouldn't be shocked if Disney were remove more channels around the same period across Africa.

The only thing that's certain here is that ESPN and National Geographic could stick around for sometime before closing down as seen in some parts of the world as Disney is looking to go all streaming and this is part of a global effort which has taken longer to subside in several territories.

Reminder: Disney To Close Their Remaining Linear Channels Across Asia In The Coming Months, More Markets Likely To Follow

Disney is to close its six remaining linear TV

channels in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan

and Korea as the conglomerate puts a greater

emphasis on direct-to-consumer streaming.

The channels concerned are National Geographic,

National Geographic Wild, Star Chinese Movies,

Star Chinese Channel, Star Movies and Star World.

Linear services will end from September in

Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Korea, and by

December in Taiwan.

The group expects to retain a streamlined

television portfolio with channels in Japan, China,

Australia and New Zealand for the time being.

Consumers can continue to access content from

these channels on the conglomerate’s Disney+

and Disney+ Hotstar streaming platforms, which

are now fully rolled out within the Asia-Pacific

region, except China. The twin platforms carry

movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star

Wars, National Geographic and Star, Disney’s

general entertainment brand.

While the moves may help reduce costs and push

consumption onto its D2C businesses, sources

close to the group say that Disney still expects to

grow its media and entertainment businesses –

D2C, theatrical, consumer products and theme

parks – in the region.

The moves were foreshadowed by similar moves

in 2020 and 2021 . Disney closed its sports

channels in Taiwan in 2020. In September 2021, it

closed Fox, Fox Crime, Fox Life, FX, and Channel

V; movie channels Fox Action Movies, Fox Family

Movies, Fox Movies and Star Movies China; sports

channels Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports 3,

Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2; kids channel Disney

Channel and Disney Junior; factual services Nat

Geo People and SCM Legend. Many of those

channels had been brought into the Disney group

by the 2018 acquisition of 21st Century Fox.

In the five largest markets of Southeast Asia

proper (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore

and the Philippines) SVOD subscriptions reached

49 million at the end of the first quarter, according

to data from research house Media Partners Asia.

It estimated that, in terms of subscription

numbers, the leading platforms in the first quarter

were Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar with 9.4

million, Viu with 8.5 million, Netflix with 8.0

million and Prime Video at 1.3 million. (A

categorization by revenue might produce a

different ranking.)

Other recent reports have pointed to U.S.-

produced content accounting for only 20% of

video viewing time in the region, eclipsed by

Korea content at 30%. However, since the launch

of the streaming platform, Disney has become a

significant investor in locally-made Asian content.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Disney Branded Television Could Be Put Up For Sale

Disney CEO Bob Iger sat down with CNBC's David Faber at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on Thursday.

Disney announced Wednesday that it was extending Iger's contract by two years through 2026. Iger returned to the helm of Disney late last year. The company has since undergone thousands of layoffs and cut billions of dollars in spending, including from content.

Disney CEO Bob Iger on media landscape: Challenges are greater than I had anticipated

DisneynhhCEO Bob Iger opened the door to selling the company's linear TV assets as the business struggles during the media industry's transition to streaming and digital offerings.

Iger appeared Thursday on, the morning after the company announced it would extend his contract by two years through 2026. He returned to the helm of the company in November after Disney's board ousted Bob Chapek with a two-year contract through 2024 and plans to find a next successor.

"After coming back, I realized the company is facing a lot of challenges, some of them self-inflicted," Iger told David Faber at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, noting he's accomplished a lot of work in seven months but there's more to be done.

At the top of the list is assessing the traditional TV business, Iger said. Disney owns a portfolio of TV networks, from broadcast station ABC to cable TV channels like ESPN. 

Disney is going to be "expansive" in its thinking about the traditional TV business, leaving the door open to a possible sale of the networks. "They may not be core to Disney," Iger said, adding the creativity that has come from those networks has been key for Disney. 

On Thursday, ABC News President Kim Godwin to employees expressed support for Iger's contract extension, according to a person familiar with the matter. Godwin encouraged ABC staffers to focus on their work and audience, the person added.

Cable TV channel ESPN is in a different bucket, however. On that front, Iger said Disney is open to finding a strategic partner, which could take the form of a joint venture or offloading an ownership stake. 

Iger said when he had left the company he had predicted the future of traditional TV and had been "very pessimistic," and has found since his return that he was right in his thinking, adding it's worse than he expected. 

When Iger last spoke with Faber in February, soon after announcing a major restructuring at the company, he said that he felt "a sense of obligation" to return to Disney and that his preference was to stay for his two-year contract.

"We've gotten a lot done very quickly, significant cost reductions and significant realignment of the company," Iger said. "But dealing head on with some of our biggest challenges."

The appearance in February came shortly after Disney announced a sweeping restructuring that included thousands of layoffs and billions of dollars cut in spending.

The reorganization warded off a potential proxy fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz.

Disney reorganized into three segments: Disney Entertainment, which includes most of its streaming and media operations; an ESPN division; and a parks, experiences and product unit.

These were some of Iger's most significant actions in the months after his return. Disney revealed it would cut $5.5 billion in costs, consisting of $3 billion from content, excluding sports, and the remaining amount from noncontent costs. The company earmarked 7,000 layoffs.

In addition to looking for his next successor, Iger has been tasked with bringing Disney's streaming business to profitability. In the last year, media executives across all companies have focused on how to make streaming profitable, particularly after behemoth Netflix lost subscribers early last year and since instituted an ad-supported tier and a crackdown on password sharing to drive revenue.

While the company posted revenue and profit in line with Wall Street estimates last quarter, it saw a loss of 4 million subscribers at its flagship streamer Disney+.

Those subscriber losses were offset by price increases, which Iger said in May weren't to blame for the lower numbers. Instead, he said it showed room for further increases when it comes to streaming, and pushing customers toward the ad-supported tier, with the aim of reaching profitability.

In an effort to bulk up Disney+ and attract more subscribers to its cheaper, ad-supported tier – which it launched last year – the company announced last quarter it would add Hulu content to Disney+.

Disney has been weighing whether it should buy all of Hulu, as it owns 66% and Comcast

 owns the rest. It's likely Comcast will sell its Hulu stake to Disney at the beginning of 2024, CNBC previously reported.

Iger said Thursday that since he returned to Disney, he ultimately concluded the company is "better off having Hulu." 

He added the combined Hulu and Disney+ offering would be available by the end of the calendar year, and the upcoming negotiations with Comcast over valuation wouldn't prevent that. 

"The combination of those apps is designed to obviously help the [streaming] business become profitable," Iger said.

The Walt Disney Company To Close 11 Channels In Taiwan, Could Africa Follow Perhaps?

In 2021, The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans to close 100 international channels so there was a lot of fear for the Disney Channels in Africa following the closure of Disney XD and FOX but MultiChoice managed to secure rights for these brands through 2024.

Fast forward to 2023, The Walt Disney Company had confirmed the closure of more channels with consumers in Taiwan set to lose out on a number of brands including National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV, Star Entertainment and Star World.

Disney+ launched in 2019 and has since then become a top priority for the blue brand. Not much investment is going onto Disney Channel or National Geographic as the brands being used to promote the bulk of content seen on the streaming service.

Following the demise of these channels in Taiwan, there's now a lot of fear for these channels in Africa and I know MultiChoice had managed to carry Disney Channel, Disney Junior, National Geographic and National Geographic Wild through 2024.

But for all we know these channels could go dark by the 31st December 2023 at 23:59 which rounds up to 2024 as seen in Taiwan. It had been speculated that most of The Walt Disney Company"s linear offering won't leave past 2025 in European territories.

Disney XD was terminated in Africa alongside the United Kingdom's Disney Channels in 2020 followed by FOX which saw the brand exit Germany, Asia and Africa by 2021. Now there's rumours swirling that the brand would be closing channels across Africa by early 2024.

National Geographic Ventures Deep Into The Underworld With Third Season Of Award-Winning Series Trafficked With Mariana Van Zeller, Premiering Thursday 9 February

This February, multiple award-winning investigative journalist and correspondent Mariana van Zeller plunges deeper into the illicit shadow economy in the much-anticipated third installment of National Geographic’s Emmy-nominated docu-series Trafficked With Mariana Van Zeller, premiering on Thursdays at 21:00 from 9 February 2023 on National Geographic (DStv 181, Starsat 220).

A recipient of the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and the duPont Award, Mariana has made it her life mission to explore the inner workings of the global underworld’s most dangerous, illegitimate markets. In each episode, she infiltrates a different trafficking network to investigate the reasons behind the illegal trade of black-market organs, LSD, ghost guns, cyber pirates, MDMA, gangs, terrorist oil, crypto scams, fight clubs and black-market babies. She meets with both the traffickers and the victims to better understand the world’s growing multi trillion-dollar shadow economy.

This season, Mariana’s investigations are shaped more than ever by the political, economic and social global landscape as she travels to Ukraine, where the war with Russia has upended the surrogacy industry; embeds herself within a ring of crypto scammers, right on the cusp of an industry crash; and exposes how 3D-printed ghost guns are being funneled into dangerous hands. Afforded National Geographic’s trademark inside access, Mariana’s plights take her thousands of miles across the globe, from Nigeria to Thailand and Belize, eventually bringing her closer than ever to home. Viewers are given a 360-degree view of the trafficking world from the perspective of the smugglers, law enforcement and those caught in the crossfires.

“Almost half of the world’s economy is dominated by black and gray markets. This shadow economy has an impact on every single one of us. And yet, we know very little about this dark and secretive side of the world,” says Mariana. “With Trafficked, we’re trying to change that. And in this season, the stories and issues we investigate feel even more relevant and urgent than ever before.”

Trafficked With Mariana Van Zeller has been nominated for five News and Documentary Emmys, including Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary, Outstanding Writing: Documentary for “Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs,” Outstanding Writing: Documentary for “Romance Scams” and Outstanding Promotional Announcement in 2022 and Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary in 2021. The series received a Critics Choice Real TV Award nomination for Best Crime/Justice Show for two consecutive years in a row in 2021 and 2022. The series was a 2021 Gracie Award winner for Best Reporter/Correspondent – Mariana van Zeller.

DStv Flex:
- NCIS: Los Angeles cancelled after 14 seasons on M-Net
- Brand new seasons of your favourite shows coming to History
- February on The Home Channel
- February on HONEY

Episodes Include the following:

Black Market Organs
Around the world, hundreds of people die every day for lack of available organs. That statistic has fueled a shady underworld of transplant tourism, a trade that connects desperate patients from the world’s wealthiest countries with desperate donors facing their own brutal realities. It’s a global trade worth roughly 1.5 billion dollars. But how exactly does it work?

LSD
LSD is making a comeback because of the growing faith in its healing power. Underground therapy is booming as the drug is used to treat abuse, depression and traumas of all kinds. And yet, LSD remains 100 percent illegal, which is why the handful of chemists responsible for the world’s supply protect a deeply guarded secret. Van Zeller is on a mission to locate a chemist and understand the secrets kept by the community.

Ghost Guns
Ghost guns are quickly becoming the weapon of choice for criminal organizations nationwide. Built from kits that anyone can buy online without a background check, these ghost guns lack serial numbers, rendering them untraceable. Van Zeller sets out to expose how a largely unregulated industry has blossomed into a bustling underground market that funnels weapons into very dangerous hands.

Terrorist Oil
Van Zeller embarks on a 3,000-mile journey from Africa to the Middle East to uncover the ways in which illicit oil is fueling terrorist groups around the globe. Her investigation delves into how “black gold” is stolen, smuggled and is finding its way into the hands of America’s most dangerous enemies.

MDMA
An alarming message from her son’s middle school about MDMA sparks van Zeller into high gear. She traces the supply chain of “the love drug” within the Los Angeles clubs back to its booming epicenter in the Netherlands, where a mob-infested underworld has recently murdered a well-known journalist. Is it possible that MDMA consumption in the U.S. is helping to turn the Netherlands into a narco-state?

Black Market Babies
Ukraine was the epicenter of the billion-dollar global surrogacy business until its war with Russia upended the controversial industry. Now, nearly a year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, other countries are stepping in to fill the void. But that’s not necessarily a good thing. In this episode, van Zeller investigates how the dream of starting a family incites a burgeoning babies-for-cash underworld market.

Cyber Pirates
Cyber crimes like credit card scams, identity theft and ransomware are among the fastest-growing shadow economies in the U.S., making data a more valuable commodity than even gold, guns and drugs. In this episode, van Zeller explores how our personal and financial information is stolen, sold and distributed by a dark network of hackers and thieves with the goal of exposing a system of global proportions.

Gangs
Violent crime is soaring in Los Angeles to levels not seen in 30 years. To understand the realities and the rivalries feeding this gruesome trend, van Zeller spends time with two of America’s most notorious street gangs — the Bloods and the Crips. Surprisingly, her journey leads her from some of LA’s roughest neighborhoods to the tiny Central American country of Belize.

Crypto Scams
Cryptocurrencies have gone mainstream, minting billionaires around the globe. But this get-rich-quick fever, paired with a lack of government oversight and regulation, has created the perfect opportunity for scammers. In this episode, van Zeller embeds within a crew of crypto “rug-pull” scammers, who show her how they make millions of dollars in mere weeks.

Fight Clubs
Van Zeller probes the growing popularity of bare-knuckle fighting. On a journey that takes her from the blood-shedding mecca of Thailand to underground fights throughout the U.S., she explores the allure of these violent, sanguine bouts and how they’re inflaming a larger push to bring bare-knuckle fighting to the mainstream.

Trafficked With Mariana Van Zeller is produced for National Geographic by Muck Media. From Muck Media, Executive Producers are Mariana van Zeller, Darren Foster and Jeff Plunkett, who also serves as Showrunner. From National Geographic, Bengt Anderson and Sean D. Johnson are Executive Producers.

DStv:
- Cape Town TV unveils fresh new look
- MultiChoice might be adding two new catch-up channels
- BBC to close linear channels and move to an internet only digital future
- What Consumers Should Be Concerned About Regarding SABC's Yet To Be Launched Channels On DStv?

National Geographic’s Team Sayari To Broadcast On Disney Channel From 12 December 2022

The Walt Disney Company Africa, along with its partners the US Department of State, The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), and WildlifeDirect, are pleased to announce that Team Sayari will air on Disney Channel, (DStv 303) at 14:05 (CAT) from Monday 12 December 2022, with one episode airing each day from Monday to Friday.

This announcement follows the successful launch and first run of the entertaining and educational program, Team Sayari, on National Geographic Wild, in response to requests from those that didn’t get the opportunity to see it and for those that would like to enjoy it again over the holidays. 

This innovative, children’s documentary series is produced by Kenyan production company, White Rhino Films and aims to celebrate, encourage and inspire the next generation of environmental champions to interact with, look after, and safeguard the environment and its resources. The series aims to instill knowledge and encourage actions to conserve the world’s biodiversity in a fun way.

The series is hosted by Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10) and Adarsh Nagda (12) and incorporates a team of brilliant youngsters as field reporters from various parts of Southern, Eastern and Western Africa, to provide Team Sayari viewers with an engaging and diverse experience.

South African viewers will be able to follow the adventures of a range of kids from across the continent, including three home-grown presenters. Nature enthusiasts Atule Mazane (13) and Khahliso Khojane (14) hailing from the Western Cape and Thandolwethu Fani (15) from Gauteng, feature as field presenters in the programme. In Team Sayari, they travel to wilderness areas and interview experts on the ground to learn and share what is needed to conserve our natural world, reporting into Sayari Base Camp in Kenya.

Team Sayari is the result of a collaborative effort between National Geographic, The Walt Disney Company Africa, USAID, the U.S. State Department and WildlifeDirect.

Tutankhamun’s Tomb 100th Anniversary Commemorated With Premiere Programming

King Tutankhamen, or King Tut as he is more commonly known today, was relatively unknown to the world until 1922, when his tomb was discovered by Howard Carter. Now, 100 years later, this unprecedented historic discovery will be commemorated with the premiere of Tut’s Toxic Tomb on National Geographic (DStv 181, Starsat 220) on Fridays at 19:00 (CAT), from 18 November 2022, as well as with fascinating library programming exploring various facets of the renowned pharoah’s life.

On 26th November 1922, Howard Carter made what was dubbed as the greatest archaeological find of all time – entering the treasure-filled tomb of the Egyptian boy king Tutankhamun. Tutankhamun’s tomb contained thousands of artifacts, a sarcophagus containing his mummy, and a now-famous headdress. It took Carter and his team almost ten years to catalogue the contents of the tomb. The over five thousand artifacts and well-preserved mummies found in the tomb have since brought new insights into life in ancient Egypt and the astounding governance of the boy who became king.

The news lit up the world. But when people who entered the tomb began dying, tales of a “pharaoh’s curse” spread. Were the deaths just coincidences or stories created to sell newspapers? And can modern science explain the truth behind the legend?

In the two-part Tut’s Toxic Tomb series, paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi begins to unravel the extraordinary, scientific truth behind the legend and dives deeper into the mystery behind the Tutankhamun curse story. Exploring potential toxins inside the tomb and on some of the artefacts, she questions whether science can help explain some of the deaths that were linked to the tomb. On her journey, she shines fresh light on this global legend and reveals the greater legacy of Howard Carter’s discovery.

Additionally, viewers can enjoy King Tut In Color (4 November at 19:00) in which the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb is revealed for the first time in colour, thanks to colourisation of black-and-white newsreel and photographs.

In Tut's Treasures: Hidden Secrets (11 November at 19:00), follow how Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 made headlines across the world, sparking a global frenzy for ancient Egypt. Watch as the boy-king's 5,398 priceless objects are being reunited for the first time.

International: Disney To Close A Further 3 Channels This Month

Last year, The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans to close a further 100 channels globally as more content goes onto the streaming service, Disney+. With MultiChoice carrying parts of these channels through 2024 means viewers have more time to unwind until the same occurs as seen in these regions.

Later in the year, it was reported that FOX in Turkey the only International feed to offer original content part of which has been supplied to e.tv such as Dokter Ali (Mucize Doctor), Doodsondes (Yasak Elma) and DisComplicated (Sen Çal Kapımı) will go off air by 2023.

Ahead of its demise, FOX Crime will suffer the chop by the end of this month which kind of coincides with FOX and FOX Life's termination in Africa as both were shuttered within the same period just years apart from each other.

In Italy, Sky was able to confirm that both National Geographic and National Geographic Wild will also go dark by the end of the month not only on their platforms but the whole region. This comes as the operator in that region just like DStv has seen a loss in channels.

Although it's not the distributor's fault when a supplier stops supplying a certain product. It is however their job to keep viewers entertained although the sad part about that is the alternatives will be nothing like these channels and viewers only hope at this point is Disney+.

With several households struggling to get fibre even a platform like DStv and Sky. Viewers will have to make due with what's already available to them.

National Geographic Channels Reveal Spring/Summer 2022 Content Slate

National Geographic and National Geographic Wild to take viewers further this Spring and Summer, with premieres of several premium productions.

Channels now broadcast in high-definition
Highlights include Team Sayari, America’s National Parks, Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge, Europe From Above S4, Tut’s Toxic Tomb, World of Flavor with Big Moe Cason, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted Showdown and Critter Fixers S2

The Walt Disney Company Africa today announced the upcoming content slate for both National Geographic and National Geographic Wild for Spring/Summer 2022. With a promise to ignite the explorer in all of us, and with a 133-year legacy, viewers across the continent will also be able to immerse themselves in the very latest and ground-breaking storytelling in stunning high definition for the very first time, taking them further than ever before.

Featuring the best and brightest scientists, explorers, photographers and filmmakers in the world, the coming months’ content highlights offer something for everyone, as several new natural history series, feature documentaries, and programming stunts will showcase the wonder of the natural world, take them on exhilarating adventures and illuminate historical figures who epitomize the strength and triumphs of humankind.

In National Geographic’s first locally produced pan-African children’s production, Team Sayari, viewers will follow a group of young conservationists, along with Akili – an AI computer represented as a large DNA helix – as they become Africa’s protectors, working from a fun and high-tech base known as Sayari basecamp. Airing each Saturday at 13:00, Team Sayari premieres on Saturday 24 September and each episode promises adventures and investigative missions, visiting exciting places across Africa, meeting interesting people, sharing knowledge about the continent’s biodiversity and exploring the need to become champions for conservation.

Fan-favourite survivalist Bear Grylls is back with Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge. Premiering on National Geographic on Wednesday 28 September at 21:00, Bear takes the daring adventures up a level by teaching celebrity guests, such as Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Simu Liu, Anthony Anderson and others, essential survival skills that they will have to master and then prove they can use in a high-stress situation.

Viewers will enjoy a new perspective of Europe through the changing seasons across a year in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania Serbia and Scotland when Season 4 of Europe from Above premieres on Wednesdays at 19:00, from 28 September, revealing how tradition, engineering and natural wonders have shaped this fascinating continent, in a vibrant portrait of the region and the people who keep it alive.

In Lost Treasures Of Arabia, premiering Friday 28 October at 19:00, we investigate AlUla’s unsolved mysteries and unravel the many dramas that played out on this ancient stage. This television special features reveals the historical heritage, exquisite natural assets and the immense legacy of art that continues to inspire future generations in this middle eastern city.

King Tutankhamen, or King Tut as he is commonly known today, was relatively unknown to the world until 1922, when his tomb was discovered by Howard Carter 100 years ago. To celebrate the centennial anniversary of this remarkable find, National Geographic will premiere Tut’s Toxic Tomb on Friday 18 & 25 November at 19:00, with library content King Tut in Color, on Friday 4 November at 19:00 and Tut’s Treasures, The Golden Pharaoh on Friday 11 November at 19:00, to further explore the many facets of the great Pharoah’s life and legacy.

In November, two sumptuous programmes will take the adventure from the wilderness into the kitchen. In Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted Showdown, premiering Wednesdays at 21:00 from 9 November, the multi-Michelin star chef and Ironman athlete Ramsay faces off against those closest to him. including going head-to-head with his daughter Tilly in a culinary showdown. Later that month, Navy veteran Big Moe Cason leaves his culinary comforts behind and embarks on an epic journey to seek out the most mouth-watering dishes cooked over an open flame. World Of Flavour With Big Moe Cason premieres on Wednesdays at 21:00 from 30 November, exploring the connections between American barbecue and cultures around the world.

Meanwhile, 100 miles south of Atlanta, Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson are two longtime friends who own and operate the Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital. Between emergency visits to the office and farm calls throughout rural Georgia, the Critter Fixers and their loving staff are constantly bombarded with unique cases only seen in the country. Critter Fixers S2 premieres on Fridays at 18:00 from 11 November on National Geographic Wild.

For the world’s top adventure athletes, the line between triumph and tragedy is sometimes razor thin. The epic 10-part series, Edge Of The Unknown by Academy Award®-Winning executive producers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, will takes audiences inside the minds of pioneering adventure athletes as they recount the most consequential moments of their lives on their journey to perfect the mastery of their craft, will premiere Sundays at 21:00 from 25 December on National Geographic.

“The exciting line up of National Geographic programming delivers on our core purpose to tell exceptional stories that ignite wonder and inspiration for people of all ages, enabling them to better understand the world and their place in it,” said Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We can’t wait to bring these wildly entertaining documentary series, feature documentary films and extraordinary natural history shows from the best storytellers in the world to viewers across the continent, and especially in HD for the very first time.”

Team Sayari Revealed As Title For National Geographic Kids Africa Programme

Following field production commencing earlier this year, as well as the announcement of the local hosts, The Walt Disney Company Africa, together with its project partners, National Geographic, the US Department of State, the US Agency for International Development (Usaid) and WildlifeDirect have today revealed both the title and the set of the highly anticipated National Geographic Kids programme.

Inspired by the programme’s aim to motivate lasting, impactful behavioural change in young viewers across the continent and create the next generation of environmental conservation leaders, the programme will be titled Team Sayari. Incorporating the Swahili term for ‘planet’, the title embodies the programme’s goal – to provide viewers with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to conserve and protect the natural world, in a fun way.

In the series, the young presenters will visit the wild to meet African experts in five countries across the continent to explore, discover, learn about our environmental challenges, and be inspired to reduce their impact, protect and restore nature.

Filming has also commenced in a custom-built set in Nairobi, the Sayari basecamp. A first-of-its-kind in Kenya, the set embodies childhood imagination and adventure with a tree house-inspired hideout that is locally built and designed, including African-inspired and nature-based motifs, coupled with elements of advanced technology. It comes complete with a mission control wall, a cosy chill area and a lively interview spot. The Sayari basecamp was produced almost entirely from recycled and upcycled materials, true to the ethos of the show.

The central feature is a gigantic tree, with a textured trunk named Funzi (derived from the Swahili word for learning) featuring interactive artificial intelligence technology and a DNA helix, and which imparts knowledge about the environment and challenges our young presenters. To impart a sense of movement, Funzi’s inner section spins slowly during interaction.

Wood panelling, leafy foliage and porthole-style windows complete the ambience of a hideaway nestled in a tree, high in the sky. Upholstery on the furniture, that was made from organic materials, features dual-level African print, which provides layers of texture and pops of colour. The set’s shelving is hand-crafted, adding an element of quirkiness to the design. A live-edge table where the markings of the tree have been preserved for a raw look, will be dressed uniquely per episode.

Marita Lucas and Shanah Manjeru on the Team Sayari set

At basecamp, Funzi gives the studio presenters, Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10) and Adarsh Nagda (12) missions to complete, laying the foundation for the many adventures and fun throughout the episodes. It is also from this intriguing environment that they will link with other presenters from East, West and South Africa.

Team Sayari is the result of a collaborative effort between National Geographic, The Walt Disney Company Africa, Usaid, the US State Department and WildlifeDirect. The series, produced by local production company White Rhino Films aims to celebrate the environment and raise awareness of conservation and associated issues in a fun and relatable way, will air later this year on both National Geographic Wild and Disney Channel across Africa. There will also be engaging digital extensions on social media platforms that will allow viewers to further explore topics addressed in the series as well as an outreach programme that will extend the reach of the programme into countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Rumour: MultiChoice To Add A Further Two HD Channels To The Existing Rumoured Batch

Earlier in the month, MultiChoice had begun testing out the homegrown lifestyle channel The Home Channel from Arena Holdings and Christian channel TBN from the company of the same name known as Trinity Broadcasting Network for a possible HD feature.

After a few days, they've began adding two channels to the existing batch National Geographic and National Geographic Wild from The Walt Disney Company although children's brands Disney Channel and Disney Junior haven't been seen on the section just yet.

But from what most remembered The Walt Disney Company is moving their content to Disney+ therefore closing a further channels with about 100 channels planned to go off-air in the near future with Disney XD, FOX and FOX Life to have tragically joined the list.

So my question is why now especially when you know you'll have these channels for another year or two. Several consumers have demanded to have these channels in HD but were reluctant to get any of that.

And I'm certain several consumers will be more than happy now that their prayers have been heard but again why now couldn't it have happened sooner I mean first minute you're watching Snakes In The City in crystal clear HD next minute the whole channel goes dark.

National Geographic Africa Series “Vikings: The Rise & Fall” Uncovers Ground-Breaking Discoveries About The Vikings To Offer Fresh Perspective On The Vast Global Achievements Of The ‘Greatest Warriors In History’

National Geographic takes viewers on a televisual roller-coaster ride to uncover ground-breaking new discoveries revealing who the Vikings really were, in the intriguing new six-part documentary series Vikings: The Rise and Fall. This new six-part docuseries premieres on National Geographic (DStv 181, Starsat 220) on Wednesdays at 21:00 (CAT) from 29 June 2022.

For over 300 years, the Vikings waged war from the seas with brutal effect. But, were they blood-thirsty plunderers or cunning political operatives? Through National Geographic’s trademark premium lens, in the compelling new series, we witness the Vikings’ first voyages beyond the Scandinavian coast, the sacking of York, and sieges of Paris, as we uncover the trade routes the Vikings developed as far east as Baghdad and West, to reach America. We hear the myths, meet the legends and witness the rise and fall of the greatest warriors in history.    

 

 

Throughout history, Vikings waged war from the seas, notoriously ruthless and with their own set of rules. The Viking expansion was unprecedented in the veracity of its spread. Known for merciless bloodshed, the Norsemen became the most feared people in history. However, their story has generally been told from a one-sided point of view and only now, after rigorous research through mythical sagas and bioarchaeological finds, can we uncover the truth about who the Vikings really were.

This fresh perspective on the Vikings, narrated by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, is painstakingly pieced together by documentary producers with the help and onscreen input from 20 of the world’s foremost Viking experts. This includes Stefan Brink (Professor of Scandinavian Studies, University of Cambridge); Terry Gunnell (Professor of Folkloristics, University of Iceland); Anders Winroth (Professor of Medieval History, University of Oslo); Cat Jarman (Bioarchaeologist & Author of “The River Kings); Søren Michael Sindbæk (Archaeologist, Uni of Aarhus); Dr Clare Downham (University of Liverpool, Author of ‘Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland’) and many others.

 

Over time, tales of the Vikings have evoked images of slaughter and terror, wanton pillage and savage bloodletting. However, beneath the infamy of sordid violence lies a fascinating story. The Vikings were fierce warriors, but they were also seasoned navigators, intrepid explorers, craftspeople, merchants, politicians, and poets.

Between the years 700 and 1100, these Norse warriors conquered Britain and Ireland, laid siege to Paris, built complex trade networks as far east as Constantinople and Baghdad and were the first Europeans to set foot on the wild plains of America before fading into obscurity. Tracing their rise and fall, this incredible new series involves an epic journey across the globe, starting with the 8th Century and a detailed look at who the Vikings were and why they first sailed beyond their own shores.

Episode synopses

EPISODE 1: THE ROAD TO LINDISFARNE
An attack on a small religious community on the holy island of Lindisfarne in AD 793 heralded the start of the Viking Age of conquest and expansion but before this, we look at the Vikings’ beginnings in Scandinavia.

 

EPISODE 2: THE GREAT HEATHEN ARMY
The Siege of York occurred from 866 when the Great Heathen Army laid claim to the Northumbrian capital of York. We look at the major battles, players and strongholds in 9th Century England.

EPISODE 3: AS FAR EAST AS BAGHDAD
The “Silk Road '' opened up a world of trade for the Scandinavians in the East. Seeking further wealth, the Vikings known in the East as “the Rus” attacked Constantinople in 860. The Rus became a permanent and feared fixture in the Byzantine Empire.

EPISODE 4: THE FALL OF FRANCIA
The siege of Paris in 885 was the culmination of the Viking invasions of Francia. We look at the persistent Viking attacks on Francia and the enduring presence of the Scandinavians on the Frankish Empire and beyond.

EPISODE 5: THE WILD WEST
Political turmoil in Norway leads a voyage of discovery west. The Vikings discover Iceland where they established lasting settlement. Further exploration from Iceland leads to the discovery of Greenland and to the shores of Newfoundland, making them the first Europeans to reach America.

 

EPISODE 6: THE SECOND VIKING AGE
The mid-10th-century reign of Harald Bluetooth as king of a newly unified, powerful and Christianized Denmark marked the beginning of a second Viking age. But the reign was not to last with the Normans finally winning the English Kingdom in 1066. We look at the final days of the Viking empire.

Contributors include:

Stefan Brink (Professor of Scandinavian Studies, University of Cambridge)
Terry Gunnell (Professor of Folkloristics, University of Iceland)
Anders Winroth (Professor of Medieval History, University of Oslo)
Cat Jarman (Bioarchaeologist & Author of “The River Kings)
Søren Michael Sindbæk (Archaeologist, Uni of Aarhus)
Dr Clare Downham (University of Liverpool, Author of ‘Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland’)
Gísli Sigurðsson, (Professor, The Árni Magnusson Institute, University of Iceland)
Dr Jonathan Shepard (University of Oxford, Viking Rus & the Byzantine Empire)
Dr Philos. Knut Paasche (Archaeologist, Head of the department: Digital Archaeology, NIKU)
Judith Jesch (Professor of Viking Studies Uni of Nottingham)
Jan Bill (Professor of Viking Age Archaeology, University of Oslo)
Cecily Spall (Archaeologist, Portmahomack Excavations)
Dr Christian Cooijmans (University of Liverpool, Vikings in the Frankish Realm)
Dr Thórir Jónsson Hraundal (University of Iceland Middle Eastern Studies & the Viking Age)
Rev Dr Simon Coupland (Historian, University of Cambridge)
Dr David Petts (Department of Archaeology, Durham University)
Kim Hjardar (Historian, Author of 'Vikings at War')
Torfi H. Tulinius (Professor of Medieval Icelandic Studies, University of Iceland)
Sverrir Jakobsson (Professor of Medieval History, University of Iceland)
Dr Caitlin Ellis (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Vikings in Britain, Ireland and the North Atlantic)

Roundups #51: National Geographic Kids Africa To Launch By The End Of 2022 On National Geographic And Disney Channel, Afrikaans Voice Actors For eExtra's New Series Fenix, MultiChoice's Monopoly Reboot Could Be On The Cards

National Geographic enter the playground

The Walt Disney Company, Wildlife Direct, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Department of State have announced that production has commenced on the National Geographic Kids Africa educational entertainment series.

The 26-part television series will be shot primarily in East Africa with additional filming in West and Southern Africa.

Additionally, the series’ first group of presenters has been announced. Mysha Hodson (13), Marita Lucas (12), Shanah Manjeru (14), Railey Mwai (10), and Adarsh Nagda (12) will serve as the studio and Nairobi-based hosts for the show.

 

As mentioned last year, the series will air across Africa on both National Geographic Wild and Disney Channel, late in 2022, with engaging digital extensions on social media platforms that will allow viewers to further explore topics addressed in the series.

Who is who in eExtra's new series?

In 2 weeks, eExtra will be the releasing the Fenix, the Turkish adaptation of the French miniseries The Bonfire Of Destiny which follows the story of the 3 women who lives have changed amid a devastating fire which led to the deaths of several people.

 

Each cast member has an Afrikaans voice actor and they go as follows:

Hannah Borthwick as Cemre Kayabeyli
Karli Heine as Rüya Yildirimlar
Celeste Loots as Çiçek Görgülü
Marvin-Lee Beukes as Ömer
Terence Makapan as Ozan
Eben Bester as Kenan
Niël Tait as Ali
Daniel Snyman as Atlas
Electra Hartman as Tomris
Geon Nel as Bulent
Nicola Koen as Günes
Jacques Theron as Cemre's husband Çelebi.

MultiChoice's wings might be clipped

South Africa's broadcasting regulator is restarting its inquiry into South Africa's pay-TV industry and superficially the near-monopoly market dominance of MultiChoice, citing "ongoing developments in what is a rapidly changing market".

"Based on ongoing developments in what is a rapidly changing market, the consultation process in respect of the Inquiry into the Subscription Broadcasting Services Market must be extended into the current financial year," Icasa announced.

 

These over-the-top players like Netflix SA, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, VIU and others are making headway in signing up pay-TV subscribers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa, with The Walt Disney Company Africa set to launch its streaming service Disney+ on 18 May in South Africa adding another one to the mix.

"Icasa is mindful that any regulation of the market and/or its market segments must be aimed at enhancing competitiveness in the market going forward."

"The rebooting of this process is meant to enableIcasa to take account of all relevant and current developments to inform a robust, forward-looking regulatory intervention that balances interests of consumers and stability of the broadcasting services market."

The Walt Disney Company Investing More Than 500 Series For Regional Content For Disney+, This Includes More Regional European Animation and Anime For The Animation Catalog

Disney has previously revealed it has 500 shows in the pipeline outside of the U.S., but on Wednesday, the company broke down for the first time how those planned local-language programs are being dispersed throughout global regions.

According to Christine M. McCarthy, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, 140 of those shows are in the works in the Asia/Pacific region, including Southeast Asia; 150 are in markets in Europe, West Asia and Africa; 100 are set up in India, and another 200 are being developed for Latin America audiences.

 

 

Elsewhere on the call, CEO Bob Chapek was pressed by analysts on another international topic: Disney’s lack of traction in recent months with getting its movies approved for release in China. Noting that the latest MCU release — “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” — reached nearly $500 million worldwide in its opening weekend without a berth in China, the world’s most populous country, Chapek said the box office split in China is not as generous for distributors as it is in other overseas markets.

 

‘It doesn’t really preclude our success, given the relatively lower take rate that we get in the box office in China compared to the rest of the world,” Chapek said.

Ahead of Disney’s quarterly earnings call on Wednesday, the company reported Disney+ gained 7.9 million customers in the first three months of 2022 to reach 137.7 million subscribers total. That new figure is up 33% year over year. The stat beat analysts expectations, as Wall Street had forecast Disney+ would net 5.2 million new subscribers for the quarter that ended on March 31, per FactSet.

Disney+ is currently available in 64 countries across North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific and Latin America. Disney+ Hotstar is offered by Disney in India.

 

Disney’s trio of streaming services reached 205.6 million globally (a quarterly net increase of 9.2 million, driven by Disney+). As of the end of the quarter, that included 45.6 million for Hulu (up 10% year over year) and 22.3 million for ESPN+ (up 62% year over year). Disney+ subs in the U.S./Canada region netted 1.5 million in the March 2022 quarter, to 44.4 million.

Also during the call, McCarthy said, while Disney had previously expected fiscal ’22 content spending to be as much as $33 billion, it now projects about $32 billion because of a “slightly slower cadence of spending than anticipated” during the first half of 2022.