Lionel Messi Inspired Animated Series Is Coming To Disney Channel And Disney+

A Lionel Messi-inspired animated series will soon premiere on Disney Channel after Disney Branded Television acquired Messi and the Giants from Sony Music Vision and Sony Pictures Television – Kids, Billboard has learned. 

The sci-fi animated show follows a 12-year-old boy named Leo, who is transported from his home in Argentina into an alternate universe. The series will demonstrate how the character faces adversity, builds a team, and discovers how to become a hero. 

“I always dreamed of being involved in a project that would share the values of sports, the very same values that have been so important to my career, with younger generations,” Messi expressed in a press release. “Nothing truly is impossible with teamwork, perseverance, discipline, and hard work. I look forward to sharing this series with kids around the world, and I hope I will inspire them and motivate them to achieve their own dreams. Ever since I was a kid, I always loved animated series, and I look forward to watching this series with my own kids.” 

Each episode of Messi and the Giants is 22-minutes long and will premiere on Disney Channel, followed by Disney Channel On Demand and globally on DIsney+, and will be available in English, Spanish and other languages.  

“Football — or soccer as we call it in the United States — is the world’s most beloved sport, uniting and captivating millions of fans of all ages,” noted Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. “We are proud to work with Lionel Messi and Sony Pictures Television to bring ‘Messi and the Giants’ to our passionate, global kids’ audience. We know that its themes of family, friendship, and teamwork will resonate with not only football enthusiasts but everyone everywhere who loves a great story.” 

“It’s been a privilege to team with Leo and our colleagues at Sony Music on this first-time collaboration,” Joe D’Ambrosia, EVP and general manager, Sony Pictures Television – Kids added. “We’re thrilled that Disney is giving a global platform to this fun take on a classic tale and look forward to launching a global consumer products and branded partnerships program alongside the show’s debut.” 

“There is an incredible team all working together on this project, with Leo’s magic as the inspiration behind it all,” said Afo Verde, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Latin Iberia. “We are thrilled that Disney has now joined our roster to help bring this imaginative series to audiences and inspire fans all around the world.” 

Heads Up! Disney Junior And National Geographic Wild Go Dark In France By January 2025 As Orange Secures Rights To The Disney Channel

The Disney Channel and National Geographic channels will survive in France through Orange boxes. Disney films will also be available 4 months after their theatrical release on Orange's VOD service. The historic operator unveils a reassuring distribution agreement with the American giant.

Following the divorce between Canal+ and Disney, Orange took advantage of the situation and announced, against all expectations, on December 20, a distribution agreement with The Walt Disney Company which strengthens access to Disney content in France and enriches the entertainment offering for Orange TV subscribers.

This partnership allows Livebox subscribers to fully access Disney content through three offers:

Included access for all TV customers to Disney's iconic channels : Disney Channel, the reference channel for young people, and National Geographic will be included from January 2, 2025 for all Orange TV customers, from their decoder and the Orange TV application on smartphones and a wide selection of connected TVs.

The possibility of subscribing to the Disney + streaming service under special conditions. Customers of the Orange Livebox Max offer benefit from a €5 discount for life by subscribing to Disney +, this offer has already been in place since last October. Other TV customers will benefit from a promotion with the first month free to discover the Disney + service. Orange subscribers will continue to be able to watch the platform's programs on their decoder.

Access to Disney films 4 months after their theatrical release on the Orange VOD service  : Orange will offer, through its transactional VOD offer, the latest cinema releases from the Disney group studios (Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures) via the Orange VOD service.

Hélène Etzi, President of The Walt Disney Company France, said, “  We are very pleased to partner with Orange to make our iconic content and stories accessible to as many households as possible,” or 12.4 million French people. It remains to be seen whether other operators such as Free, SFR and Bouygues Telecom will try to reach an agreement with Disney.

The article was originally published by Univers Freebox

News Shorts: WildEarth Launches On Samsung TV Plus In The United States, Play Room To Broadcast DC Superhero Girls Following The Inclusion Of Batwheels And Telemundo Hits A New Low With Nurses S1

WildEarth launch on Samsung TV Plus

WildEarth.tv, home of the largest safari vehicle in the world, announced that the channel will officially launch on Samsung TV Plus in the USA on 12 December 2024, just in time for the holiday season.

Samsung TV Plus is the go-to service for free, premium entertainment that allows content owners and advertisers to engage consumers at scale. As a leader in free ad-supported TV (FAST) and video-on-demand (AVOD), Samsung TV Plus is the #1 free ad-supported app on Samsung Smart TVs, with over 3,000 ad-supported linear channels available across 30 territories and over 630M active devices, Samsung TV Plus is exclusively available across Samsung TV, Galaxy, Smart Monitor, and Family Hub

 lineups.

Earlier in the month, WildEarth was reinstated on MultiChoice's DStv this comes after the two had a carriage dispute with WildEarth going on a rant. Since then, the CEO of the channel had issued an apology to MultiChoice regarding their past remarks with both evading questions as to how they've come to an agreement.

The DC Universe enters Play Room

After Play Room acquired rights to the Netflix hit series Batwheels now the channel is set to expand this offering with DC Superhero Girls: Superhero Of The Year. The short series was initially broadcast on e.tv with the more longer format series and films on Cartoon Network.

DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year is an American animated superhero film based on the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It follows seven female students of Super Hero High as they discover their superpowers and fight the evil Dark Opal, who intends to develop a lethal weapon.

It will broadcast at 4PM from 13 December.

A rebroadcast of Nurses S1 replaces Hidden Passions 

Nurses was acquired on Telemundo back in 2022 and serves as one of the longest time productions viewed on the channel by Colombia's RCN who also produced shows like The Chosen Granddaughter and slated to also a return in the coming weeks, The Scent Of Passion.

It was quietly scrubbed from the line-up last year forcing Telemundo to temporarily halt primetime due to a change in legislation imposed in Cameroon and Uganda which prohibited broadcasters from promoting gay content. A censored version of the show was rebroadcast on the channel later in the year.

Now Telemundo is set to rebroadcast the first season of the medical drama from 19 December despite already doing so within the year of course the third and fourth season were left out at the time for unknown reasons.

Could Nicktoons Expand To DStv Access Consumers In South Africa If It Lives Through Another Year?

During the week, MultiChoice added the last remaining premium kids channels Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. from Paramount Global to DStv Compact consumers in South Africa. This means even less consumers would depend on the scraps from Nicktoons as they get further access to later seasons of SpongeBob Squarepants and DORA.

This would also give them further access to live-action series such as Henry Danger, Tyler Perry's Young Dylan, The Really Loud House and The Thundermans.

Nicktoons in recent years has moved away from being a mirrored version to Nickelodeon's late 90s to early 00s to now serving as a promotional window to most of their fresher shows. For the past 10 years, Family and Compact consumers had been reliant on the channel to get most of these titles from Nickelodeon.

Now that Nickelodeon is no longer a premium channel this only means that while it and Nick Jr. would garner more exposure less attention is going to be poured onto Nicktoons. MultiChoice Africa already distributes Nickelodeon alongside rivalled platforms which sort of widens the reach of the channel.

Nicktoons doesn't have exposure within Africa as MultiChoice distributes it under the Compact bouquet which to some extent can be considered premium. Even with Nick In Your Language, my point still stands who would want to watch weekly episodes of Transformers: Earthspark on Nicktoons if you can get it for more hours on Nickelodeon.

In South Africa, there is a bit of hope for Nicktoons if MultiChoice moved it to DStv Access as Play Room offers a rivalled offering to Nick In Your Language. Then there's CBeebies which very similar to Nicktoons has also been dubbing some of their preschool in local languages.

Skydance Media is currently in the process of acquiring Paramount Global by the first half of 2025 which is awaiting regulatory approval. According to Bloomberg, the plan is to merge MTV Studios with CBS Studios while reducing linear spend which could lead to the closure or merger of various TV channels.

Month Of Witches. Disney Channel Will Debut Wizards Beyond Waverly Place In January 2025 Across Europe, Middle East And Africa Alongside A Rebroadcast Of The Owl House

Last month, Disney Channel expanded their feed seen within Eastern and Western parts of Africa to most Southern African countries (excluding South Africa). This led to further additions with the launch of Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur after being made available on Disney+ when it launched in South Africa by 2022.

Now most parts of Africa are likely to miss out on the final season of The Owl House as rebroadcasts to the first season are aired on Disney Channel in South Africa. But alas, Disney Channel as seen with most other kids channels are distancing themselves from their edgier shows by moving them to late nights or early mornings.

The Owl House will broadcast daily at 06:00 CAT as a double bill from January 7th and also joining Anne and the rest of the gang on her journey to the new year will be a brand new series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place from January 28th at 17:00 CAT.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows an adult Justin Russo (David Henrie), who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family. When Justin’s sister Alex (Selena Gomez) brings Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) to his home seeking help, Justin realizes he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities — and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.

The series also stars Alkaio Thiele (as Roman Russo), Max Matenko (as Milo Russo), Taylor Cora (as Winter) and Mimi Gianopulos (as Giada Russo). Gomez will guest star in the first episode, and Henrie has already confirmed she will appear in later episodes as well.

Based on Wizards Of Waverly Place, the trailer of the sequel series had amassed 69M views across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube in the 10 days post-launch, making it Disney Channel’s most-watched trailer for a comedy series ever. The first season is set to consist of 21 half hour episodes.

e.TV Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Canadian Animated Series, Total Drama Island

Total Drama Island is the first season of Total Drama series, a Canadian animated television series created by Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch. The series premiered in Canada on Teletoon on July 8, 2007, and ran for 26 episodes, each 22 minutes in duration with a special 44-minute season finale. 

Internationally, Cartoon Network held rights to the first 6 seasons for consumers in Africa and some parts of the world including The Ridonculous Race which served as a spinoff. Play Room is currently distributing Total DramaRama in South Africa which is second spin-off to the franchise and in some way skewed toward a younger audience.

Now more South African households are going to garner access to Total Drama as e.tv introduces the first season to consumer's screens every Wednesday at 15:35 from 18 December. This would join Open Season: Call Of Nature and Angry Birds: Summer Madness as the many shows looking to launch on the channel.

Total Drama Island is set in the fictional titular reality show, which follows the competition of twenty-two unsuspecting and unwitting campers at Camp Wawanakwa, the most rundown, insect-infested, disgusting island in an unspecified area in Muskoka, Ontario. The campers participate in competitions and challenges that get more insane and dangerous each week to avoid being voted off the island by their fellow campers and teammates. 

At the end of the series, the winning contestant will receive C$100,000 (US$73,129.00). The competition is hosted by Chris McLean, assisted by the camp's chef, Chef Hatchet, who is also Chris's best friend despite being mistreated at times. 

SURPRISE!!! Paramount Africa Is Making Nickelodeon And Nick Jr. Available To DStv Compact Customers In South Africa

 

Get ready for a playful and fun festive season filled with joy, laughter, and one last 25th anniversary hurrah from SpongeBob SquarePants! From 6 December 2024, Nickelodeon (DStv 305) and Nick Jr. (DStv 307) will both be available on DStv Compact permanently, gifting more children and families across South Africa access to the very best in family entertainment.

 

As part of this exciting move, Nickelodeon, the number one entertainment brand for kids, invites everyone to celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants’ 25th anniversary with a festive extravaganza like no other. From exclusive new episodes and Nickelodeon favourites in isiZulu and Afrikaans to Zee Nxumalo’s Amapiano remix of the SpongeBob SquarePants theme-song! This holiday season promises something for everyone.

Nickelodeon (DStv channel 305) December Highlights

SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special – 21 December | Saturday at 12:30

The Loud House Christmas Special – 21 December | Saturday at 14:10

Young Dylan Christmas Special – 21 December |

Saturday at 18:30

The Patrick Star Show from 2–13 December at 15:00

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 23 December, weekdays at 19:45 

Nick Jr. (DStv channel 307) December Highlights

Rubble & Crew (new episodes) from 02 December, Monday-Friday at 17:30

DORA (new episodes) from 09 December, Monday-Friday at 18:00

Nick Jr’s Holiday Stunt Premiere episodes: Paw Patrol, Rubble and Crew, Hamsters of Hamsterdale, The Adventures of Paddington, The Tiny Chef Show from 21 December at 12:00

Nick in Your Language Continues to Shine

Nickelodeon’s commitment to inclusivity continues with the Nick in Your Language initiative, offering local language episodes of beloved shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, DORA, Rubble & Crew, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and PAW Patrol in local languages. Catch these dubbed favourites on Nicktoons (DStv channel 308), weekday mornings at 7:30–9:00, and afternoons at 15:00–16:00. 

January 2025: Start the New Year with Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.!

  

Transformers: EarthSpark S3 (new season) on 11 January at 11:00 on Nickelodeon (DStv channel 305), Baby Shark’s Big Movie! 5 January at 12:20 on Nick Jr. (DStv channel 307), Baby Shark’s Big Show S3 (new season), weekdays at 16:30 on Nick Jr. (DStv channel 307), starts 6 January. 

Dance in to the holidays with SpongeBob and Zee Nxumalo

To make this holiday season even more exciting, Nickelodeon has partnered with Amapiano sensation Zee Nxumalo for a special Amapiano remix of the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song, soon to be available on Spotify. Fans can join the #DanceLikeASpongeChallenge on TikTok and be part of the fun.

Follow @Nickelodeon_Africa for more information.

“At Nickelodeon we put kids first and we believe in the power of fun to bring families together. What better time to celebrate fun than during the holidays? As we mark SpongeBob SquarePants’ 25th anniversary, we’re thrilled that Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. content is now accessible to even more families, solidifying our mission to provide inclusive, world-class entertainment.” says Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Paramount Africa.

 

“We’re thrilled to make Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. available to DStv Compact viewers,” says Melusi Sibisi; Acting Head of 3rd Party Channels and Partnerships for the Multichoice Group. “This move underscores our commitment to ensuring that more families across South Africa have access to premium kids’ entertainment. With Nickelodeon’s rich line-up and beloved characters, this holiday season will undoubtedly be one to remember.”

 

This holiday season, Nickelodeon promises a Nicktastic Festive! Soak up the fun! Join SpongeBob, Patrick, the Ninja Turtles, and more as they bring endless joy and adventure to your screens.

Disney Is Planning To Close Disney Channel, Star Channel, FX, Cinecanal, National Geographic And BabyTV In Brazil By February 2025

The renowned Brazilian journalist Ricardo Feltrín announced for the first time that Disney Channel, Star Channel, FX and National Geographic would be discontinued in Brazil in February 2025. This information was verified and complemented by journalist Pablo Simoes from the PortalTVeStreaming site, to whom it was also confirmed the end of Cinecanal and BabyTV, along with the official closing date of all these channels in the country: February 28, 2025.

Although it has not been confirmed whether these broadcast cessations will apply to the rest of Latin America, Pablo stated that Disney assured him that these changes will apply only to Brazil, although certainly the outlook is not entirely encouraging for those who still tune in to these channels in our region. . TVLaint attempted to get a direct response from Disney on the issue, but at the time of publishing this entry it has not received an official communication.

So far, the only thing that is known is that the decision will not impact the six ESPN channels present in Brazil. Sports signals will, for now, be Disney's only presence on Brazilian pay TV.

Although the measure is not surprising since Disney has been getting rid of its television signals around the world for more than four years in search of boosting its Disney+ streaming platform, it occurs in an ironic context considering that Disney Channel is usually the second children's channel most tuned in in Brazil, and Star Channel is the channel with the largest general audience only behind ESPN itself, according to Pablo's statements on his Twitter/X account.

It is a sad week for Disney Channel fans, since a few days ago it was announced that it would cease broadcasting in Spain after 27 years on the air, leaving fewer and fewer signs of the channel that gave so much joy around the world.

This massive closure of signals in Brazil is the most significant in Latin America since the beginning of 2022, when Disney discontinued the operations of the Star Premium suite and the basic TV channels Disney XD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Kids, FX Movies and Star Life, all in a period of less than three months. Curiously, on that occasion Disney stopped broadcasting Disney Junior in Brazil, but the channel continues to broadcast in the rest of Latin America to this day, with no plans to end. The contents of the preschool channel have since remained in a block on Disney Channel, which is not present in other countries.

A peculiar case is that of Cinecanal, which, although it already existed in Latin America, debuted in Brazil as a replacement for Star Life during the "massacre" of channels in 2022. Now, it will be one of the channels that will cease operations after almost three years in the air.

All content present on Disney Channel, Star Channel, FX, Cinecanal and National Geographic will remain exclusive to Disney+ in Brazil. BabyTV's content is the exception to the rule, which has an official and active channel on YouTube.

e.TV To Kick Off The School Holidays With Angry Birds: Summer Madness

e.tv has acquired broadcasting rights to Angry Birds: Summer Madness animated series which premiered on Netflix in 2021 as it featured a teenage version of Red, Bomb, and Chuck as they head to summer camp. The broadcaster had already launched several animated series including Pororo The Little Penguin and Open Season: Call Of Nature.

The series will air as a double bill from Thursdays at 14:55 from 12 December.

Angry Birds: Summer Madness will follow the beloved birds who will be up to their regular antics and wild adventures, under the direction of their camp counselor, Mighty Eagle. Of course, the rather obnoxious Pigs won't be far away and will be setting up camp across the river, because no summer camp experience would be complete without a rival camp causing chaos.

While this is the first Angry Birds title to come to television, the franchise has already released two successful films, with the first title bringing in $107 million.

Angry Birds creator Rovio Entertainment has elected to continue its partnership with Cake Entertainment to bring the animated series to Netflix. "Angry Birds animated content plays a key role in our long-term franchise strategy," said Rovio's Ville Heijari. "After more than a decade in hit games, blockbuster movies, and licensed products, this is the Angry Birds’ first foray into a long-form series. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Cake and can’t wait to unveil the world of Angry Birds: Summer Madness to viewers on Netflix."

"Angry Birds are about to smash the small screen and we are thrilled to be making the journey with Netflix as our global partner," said Cake Entertainment's Ed Galton.

What Happened To Former Barbie's Former Rival Bratz?

With the resurgence of Barbie dolls through Greta Gerwig's Barbie, the natural next pick would be a look into the world of the Bratz doll. After all, in many ways, Barbie and Bratz became opposing rivals in the toy world for years.

Girls on the playground would often debate the merits of their favorite dolls. Sometimes, though, they would mix the two together and use their imagination to bridge the gap. With a recent look into Barbie, it begs the question: What happened to Bratz?

What happened to Bratz dolls?

Bratz dolls were released long after Barbie, debuting in 2001. But, they were created by a former employee of Mattel, the company that owns Barbie, so the competition between the two was immediate. Over the years, they've faced public backlash and ridicule.

Bratz dolls are still somewhat available, although they've been discontinued a few times. Not shockingly, Mattel slammed them with a lawsuit due to some similarities and copyright issues. After Bratz's parent company, MGA Entertainment, won the case, they lifted a pause that had been put on the brand.

They even launched a 10 year anniversary line with some modifications. In 2014, the line of the time wasn't available in North America and, when the company came back in 2015, they only lasted for a year before being discontinued again.

Why do people hate Bratz dolls?

The issues in regards to Bratz dolls vary depending on the person. Staunch Barbie lovers weren't happy with the seemingly copy cat creation, but their anger was put to rest when the litigation settled.

A major issue that the Bratz dolls faced was red flags about unrealistic beauty standards. Bratz dolls were very glam in nature, often wearing full faces of makeup. Plus, many argued that the body proportions and facial features were pushing a certain type of standard on young girls.

In fact, the last line of Bratz dolls' main criticisms was that the dolls were marketed towards young girls rather than tween and teen markets which were believed to be better suited to the more 'sexy' look. The adult-like portrayal left parents uncertain about handing over the toy to their kids.

Of course, the body standard argument didn't only apply to Bratz dolls as Barbie has often received the same sort of feedback. However, Barbie supporters often argue that her design is typically more reserved in fashion and that her storyline includes aspirational jobs meant to inspire young women.

Issues with Bratz dolls stemmed beyond just the design. The manufacturer was slammed with allegations of paying its factory workers a very low rate, around $0.515 an hour, according to a report from China Labor Watch.

MGA denied the allegations. After that, the company became ensnared in a variety of legal issues. Lady Gaga even took the company to court at one point, alleging that the company purposefully delayed the release of a doll that was supposed to look like her.

Over all, Bratz dolls certainly had their moment in early 2000s culture, but they haven't stood the test of time as well as brands like Barbie. They're still an option for kids today, but not as widespread.

This was originally published by Distractify

e.TV Acquires Broadcasting Rights To Open Season: Call Of Nature And Unveils Release Date

 e.tv currently ranks as the most watched channel in South Africa during primetime as seen in their annual results dated 30 September 2024. This contributed to further launches of Isiphetho: Destiny and the broadcaster's first Afrikaans soap Kelders Van Gehieme with the channel slated to air a new animated series titled Open Season: Call Of Nature.

Produced by 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films with Sony Pictures Animation, Open Season: Call of Nature is created for kids 6-11, and follows best friends Boog, a lovable, risk-averse grizzly bear, and Elliot, a fast-talking, ‘act-first, think-later’ deer. When they discover an abandoned summer camp in the middle of nowhere, they embark on a brave and hilarious adventure to create a new place to live where animals get to embrace their inner wild.

9 Story Distribution International has worldwide distribution rights for the series and 9 Story Brands has worldwide merchandising rights. Aside from e.tv, other broadcasters to have licensed the show include DRTV (Denmark), RTS (Switzerland), AMC Networks (CEE), Canal Panda (Portugal), Paramount Media Networks (U.K., Italy), Roku (U.S.), XUMO (US), and PCCW (Hong Kong and Macau).

The series broadcasts on Monday 9 December at 14:55.

Open Season: Call Of Nature would serve as the fourth additional the broadcaster has introduced to their platforms. Other shows also slated to rollout in the month include Magic Adventures: The Crystal Of Dark, ChiChi Pingping and Pororo The Little Penguin for eToonz all of which reside in Asia unlike Open Season which is filmed in Canada.

Goodbye To Disney Channel: It Will Stop Broadcasting In Spain At The Beginning Of 2025 After 27 Years

An era in television for the little ones in the house is coming to an end as Disney Channel, a historic channel for children and young people's content, will end its broadcasts in Spain on January 7, 2025 after 27 years on our TV, as Tele has learned exclusively.

With platforms on the rise, The Walt Disney Company is betting on promoting its paid service Disney+ and will stop offering a free-to-air channel, Disney Channel, which for almost three decades has been the spearhead of its immersion in the Spanish market and a benchmark in children's television .

It will be next January 7 , after the Day of Kings, when it will disappear from DTT permanently. All the content that made up Disney Channel's linear programming will be available on the Disney+ platform, as confirmed by the company to verTele.

In an official statement to this portal, The Walt Disney Company Spain “thanks the support of its fans in Spain” and assures that they will continue “investing in both direct-to-consumer (OTT) distribution and linear businesses with the aim of offering our viewers multiple entry points to our content and our brand.”

The end of Disney Channel as a channel will not mean the end of its 'little brother' Disney Junior , a more child-oriented channel, which will continue to be available through pay operators such as Movistar Plus+, Orange TV and Vodafone TV, among others. It is confirmed as the last 'survivor' of a group of channels from which Disney Cinemagic (2008-2015) and Disney XD (2009-2020) have already disappeared, and now Disney Channel (1998-2025).

In addition to Disney Junior, the company's other brands will also be maintained in the subscription television services in Spain: "Disney is committed to continuing to drive the growth of Disney+ and maintaining a solid portfolio of channels , with leading brands in the general, factual and family entertainment segments in Spain: STAR, Disney JR, Baby TV, National Geographic, and National Geographic Wild ," the company details.

It is also important to note that Canal+'s current deal with Disney is set to expire on 31 December 2024 meaning this would be the second Disney Channel to exit international feeds. Unlike Spain, it had been reported that the batch of channels will exit France leaving questions as to what awaits the feeds in French Overseas.

Part of this article was published by verTele!

Celebrate The Holidays With Disney Channels Festive Programming

As part of their biggest festive campaign to date, Disney is continuing to Spark Joy This Holiday, with a festive feast of programming for young and the young at heart this December and January, exclusively on Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303) and Disney Junior (DStv Channel 309).

 

Whether you're snuggling up for a holiday classic, enjoying brand-new episodes, or discovering exciting new shows, there's something for everyone. Gather your loved ones, relax, and let the holiday cheer come to life with a mix of heartwarming specials, exciting series, and plenty of holiday cheer.

 

Festive movies and specials galore on Disney Channel

 

Kick off the summer break with the stunning comedy adventures Frozen and Frozen 2 on Disney Channel. The films, telling of epic adventures and unforgettable characters like Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Sven, will premiere on Thursday 28 November at 17:50 CAT and Friday 29 November at 17:00 CAT, with a back-to-back marathon on Saturday, 30 November at 17:50 CAT

 

From 16 December, Disney Channel kicks off a movie marathon at 11:05 CAT, starting with ZOMBIES – a music- and dance-filled story set in the fictitious world of Seabrook, a cookie-cutter community brimming with perky conformity 50 years after a zombie apocalypse. Round off the full trilogy with ZOMBIES 2 on 17 December and ZOMBIES 3 on 18 December.

 

On 19 December, don’t miss Big City Greens: Spacecation, where the Green family’s cosmic vacation goes hilariously wrong when Cricket drags them on a space adventure. Then, on 20 December, join Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, and the gang in Lego Star Wars Holiday Special for a festive adventure full of laughs and holiday spirit on Life Day. Rey sets off on a new adventure with BB-8 to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force.

 

 

On 21 December at 10:15 CAT, Home Sweet Home Alone brings Max Mercer, the ultimate trickster, into action. Left home alone while his family is away, Max must outsmart burglars trying to steal a valuable heirloom.

 

The Naughty Nine airs on Christmas Eve, 24 December at 17:00 CAT, where Andy, feeling slighted after landing himself on Santa’s naughty list, teams up with a group of fellow “naughty listers” to execute an elaborate heist in Santa’s Village at the North Pole to get the presents they feel they deserve.

 

Miraculous World: London - At The Edge of Time brings Ladybug and Cat Noir fans an exciting new adventure on 27 December at 17:00 CAT. Marinette becomes Chronobug and teams up with Bunnyx to defeat a mysterious opponent who travels through time, to save the future from a terrible fate.

 

The gang’s all together this Holiday on Disney Junior

 

From 14-25 December, Disney Junior is spreading more holiday cheer with festive episodes of SuperKitties, Pupstruction, Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Ariel, Firebuds, and Alice's Wonderland Bakery - airing at 09:30 CAT.

 

Plus, get ready for fresh, new episodes of Firebuds and Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends! From 7-15 December, tune in for Firebuds weekends at 09:30 CAT, where the team faces a forest fire while attending a family summer camp. Then, from 9-23 December, Spidey and the gang transform into dinosaurs to chase down baddies, protect nature and defend their amazing new Dino-Web Tree House, with the help of Reptile and their special new Dino-Web Suits.

 

The new year kicks off with brand-new episodes of SuperKitties starting 1 January at 10:25 CAT. And then, be sure not to miss the cutest little shorts Me & Winnie the Pooh - based on A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories – that follow Winnie the Pooh and his friends as they play, paint, and explore the Hundred Acre Wood. Watch them in batches on 18 January at 11:15 CAT and again at 12:45 CAT.  

 

More to win!

 

Be sure to tune in to both Disney Channel and Disney Junior this festive season, not only for the holiday programming, but a chance to win too! Together with FNB, PEP and Lego, Disney are giving away 10 festive hampers worth R10 000 each until 14 December, and all you have to do is spot the tree on the channel, snap a picture and send it to 31120*. Follow the prompts to enter your picture into the lucky draw to win a hamper of including a Christmas tree with decorations, Lego® goodies, a PEP Voucher, as well as exclusive Moana, Mufasa and Encanto merchandise.

 

This holiday season, Disney Channel and Disney Junior invite families to relax, enjoy some quality time together, and create lasting memories with a festive lineup that’s full of fun and heart. So, gather around, share the joy, and let the magic of the season fill your home with laughter and love.

eToonz Acquires Broadcasting Rights To 3rd Korean Series Within The Month, Magic Adventures: The Crystal Of Dark

eToonz is a South African based children's channel operated by eMedia Investments that distributes a mixture of animated and to live-action content. The channel is also looking to bolster it's Asian lineup with Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark which joins other series such as Beyblade X and soon ChiChi PingPing and Pororo The Little Penguin.

The series are slated to air on the channel from Monday 2nd December at 13:15 while ChiChi PingPing airs at 06:00 with Pororo The Little Penguin at 14:00.

Synopsis on Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark

The main character of the story is Olivia. She is from a fantasy world called Magic Land. Her hometown is under threat by an evil wizard Dark. Olivia is sent to Earth to collect magic crystals. The crystals can save Magic Land from Dark. While on earth, Olivia makes two new friends, Jack and his sister Bella. Together they go on a magic adventure both on earth and in magic land to save Olivia's hometown from destruction.

Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark serves as a coproduction between Hongdangmoo (Korea) and Cartoon Tendering. It was the most screened series at the MIPJunior event in 2017 alongside 44 Cats which had also been picked up for eToonz and Nickelodeon in Africa.

eToonz Acquires Broadcasting Rights To The 3rd Season Of ChiChi Pingping And The 7th Season Of Pororo The Little Penguin

 eToonz is a South African based children's channel operated by eMedia Investments that distributes a mixture of animated and to live-action content. The channel is looking to rollout two new preschool shows in the coming months: ChiChi PingPing and Pororo The Little Penguin both of which reside in Asia.

Both series are slated to air on the channel from Monday 2nd December with ChiChi PingPing airing weekly at 06:00 with Pororo The Little Penguin at 14:00.

Synopsis on ChiChi PingPing

ChiChi PingPing is an animated fantasy-adventure series based on the classic novel, “Around the World ‪in 80 Days‬”. The series involves exciting stories of Chi Chi, Ping Ping and their friends traveling around the fantasy world to win the World Adventure Tournament and unexpected events that follow along the way.

It is an animation series with a mix of fantasy, adventure and action that helps children learn to become global leaders by encouraging creativity and imagination. By presenting a group of friends who travel to unknown places, meet diverse people and face new challenges, it is packed with a wide range of values and friendship among the characters.

Synopsis on Pororo The Little Penguin

Fun adventures await in the forest named Porong Porong Village where Pororo and friends live. New friends show up in the village and many exciting things happen in the forest. Our playful little penguin Pororo, naughty dinosaur Crong, sweet and lovely beaver Loopy, cheerful and sporty penguin girl Petty, clever fox Eddy, strong robot Rody, trustworthy polar bear Poby, happy-go-lucky hummingbird Harry, magical dragon wizard Tong-Tong, and a red sedan car Tu-Tu live in this snow-covered wonderland. 

Every one of themselves has different characteristics, looks different and each of them want to do different activities. By disporting themselves, they learn about their own merits and faults and how to be considerate of others.

Weekly Roundups #7: A Blast From The Past This Festive Season On Telemundo And Star Life, Hasbro Looking To Compete With Nintendo As Their Latest Movie Releases Tank In Cinemas

 

1. A rebroadcast of Forever Yours launches on Star Life by 28 November

2. A rebroadcast of The Scent Of Passion launches on Telemundo by 28 December 

3. Shadows Of The Past, former FOX telenovela makes its debut on TLNovelas by 2 December 

Based on 2001 telenovela El Manantial, it follows Two very different families live in the village of Santa Lucía who are involved in a whirlwind of passion, pain, and revenge. From those opposite sides, Aldonza and Cristóbal meet and a bond that will face hurdles is formed.

4. DOJ looking to make Google sell Chrome

To recap, this is the result of a major court ruling back in August that found that Google had acted illegally to maintain its monopoly over online search and the advertising markets closely intertwined therein. In October, news began to percolate about which remedies the US department of Justice would seek, with its sights set on Android and Chrome for the part these areas of the business played in unfairly prioritising Google Search and related products.

5. MultiChoice to rollout new DStv Explora Ultra with AI capabilities

The next generation DStv Explora Ultra decoder will be the latest hardware release from MultiChoice and takes the place of the much-hyped DStv Glass - a customised version of Comcast's Sky Glass for South Africa that MultiChoice planned to release here but scuppered because of its worsening financial position.

6. Jack Harlow drops new single Hello Miss Johnson 

7. Cartoon Network closes their official websites across Europe, Middle East and Africa 

8. Idris Elba set to star in He-Man's Masters Of The Universe live-action film 

9. WWE Network (app) will close internationally by 31 December with further content on Netflix 

10. One More Try launches 25 November for Zee World consumers outside South Africa 

This series delves into the complexities between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, highlighting the significance of love, mutual respect, and understanding. At the heart of the story is a brave daughter-in-law who defies societal expectations and takes a stand to arrange her mother-in-law’s wedding, despite the odds stacked against her. Through her journey, the series emphasizes the power of compassion, and the lengths one can go for the happiness of a loved one.

11. Famous SpongeBob composer Andy Paley dies at 72

12. Hasbro will no longer be financing movies following dismal performance of Transformers One and Dungeons And Dragons 

In a new report, it is learned that Hasbro is moving away from concentrating on movies and is now going to focus on the digital route, which includes new video games for G.I. Joe and Dungeons Dragons. Hasbro will also be further expanding its popular Magic brand.

13. Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz are BACK IN ACTION streaming on Netflix from 17 January 

Canal+ Extends Distribution Deal With Warner Bros. Discovery To Include Discovery, TLC, Cartoonito And Boomerang

Warner Bros. Discovery is pleased to announce the extension of the distribution of its emblematic children's channels, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Cartoonito in CANAL+ offers in addition to their availability via Max. From today, Thursday November 21, 2024, CANAL+ subscribers can access these flagship linear channels via the Entertainment Pass and certain historic CANAL+ offers (Family, Complete pack) and benefit from the channels' on-demand service to catch up on their youth programs favorites after their TV broadcast.

This initiative is part of Warner Bros.’ commitment. Discovery offers diversified youth programming, suitable for all ages and the whole family.

Cartoon Network, with its popular series such as The Amazing World of Gumball and Teen Titans Go!, is aimed at children aged 6 to 12.

Boomerang, with its timeless classics such as Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo, is aimed at a family audience for moments shared between young and old.

Cartoonito, newly launched in 2023, offers content designed for young people, including programs from flagship Warner Bros. franchises. Animation or Cartoon Network Studio, appropriate for their age. Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders, Jessica and her little world, so many exciting stories to help little ones discover the world, open up to others and their emotions.

This extension of the distribution of Warner Bros. channels. Discovery Kids will offer families even more flexibility to follow their favorite children's programs, on-line or on demand.

In addition to France, the distribution partnership between CANAL+ and Warner Bros. Discovery Kids is strengthening with the upcoming arrival of Boomerang, Cartoon Network and Cartoonito in CANAL+ offers in the Antilles, Guyana, Reunion, Mayotte, Africa, the Comoros and New Caledonia/French Polynesia.

The article was published by RegularCapital and Overblog

DreamWorks, Telemundo, CNBC, MSNBC, Universal TV And Studio Universal May Have To Undergo A Name Change Under Comcast's Spun Off Company

As some readers are aware, NBCUniversal similar to Disney is looking to reducing its linear portfolio in the coming years with NBC, Telemundo and Bravo being what's left of the company alongside Peacock. As E!, CNBC, MSNBC and Universal TV are all being spun off under a separate company which will be financed by few shareholders at Comcast.

MultiChoice currently supplies channels like Universal TV, E!, Telemundo, Studio Universal, DreamWorks, CNBC and MSNBC from NBCUniversal. With this separation, these channels will look unrecognizable in the coming years not only by what it chooses to air but also by name.

Comcast plans to retain the studios used to produce the content viewed by these channels and if we're reading between the lines E! won't own The Real Housewives as much as DreamWorks won't own Shrek. Yes, it's likely that when this spinoff occurs they'll try to retain as much of their former selfs but overtime it will change.

Considering these aren't members of Comcast, what is likely to transpire now is that the latter will have to undergo a name change or close altogether. This is what happened when Disney acquired FOX it had to remove the FOX trademark from various properties while it's linear channels either closed or rebranded to FX/Star.

It will be interesting to see what identity these channels take up once this whole ordeal unfolds by 2025 as Comcast holds the NBC, Telemundo and Universal trademarks. What I imagine them doing particularly with Telemundo is dissolving the brand as SpinCo doesn't own the content and is likely to prioritize on their "more broader channels".

DreamWorks, another TV channel like Telemundo is the broader channel and SpinCo could try to capitalise on its success. NBCUniversal has always been a local when it comes to its linear portfolio, internationally this was also spearheaded by what is known as SpinCo but this time it has do it without these studios in its pocket.

Cartoon Network Celebrates The Winners Of The CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative

Cartoon Network has announced the winners of its CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative, a campaign that empowered children aged 6 to 12 across South Africa to combat climate change. The initiative saw enthusiastic participation from 250 schools spanning all nine provinces.

The campaign was inspired by a recent Cartoon Network survey revealing that:

• 94% of South African children are concerned about climate change

• 95% want to take action to address it

• 90% are eager to learn more about the issue

 

“At Cartoon Network, we are passionate about the power of small, everyday actions to create significant global impact,” said Monika Oomen, VP of Brand, Communications, and Digital Content Strategy for Kids EMEA at Warner Bros. Discovery. “The CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative has been instrumental in inspiring teachers and students to delve into, debate, and actively address climate change.”

 

The initiative provided schools with weekly themes on crucial environmental issues such as recycling, energy conservation, plant life, plastic pollution, and e-waste. Engaging content, including facts, videos, quizzes, and challenges, helped teachers integrate climate change topics into their classrooms.

 

Students actively participated in activities like rainwater harvesting, clothing recycling, and climate-focused presentations. Schools also submitted photos and videos of these activities for a chance to win weekly eco-friendly prizes.

 

A highlight of the initiative was the "creative upcycling" competition, challenging schools to create models or sculptures using recycled materials. The top ten schools received prizes, with the top three demonstrating exceptional innovation:

 

• Atholl Heights Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, took home first place with their charismatic recycling mascot, Penelope the Penguin. This student-built creation, crafted from recycled materials, embodies the school's dedication to recycling and climate change education. Penelope serves as a powerful visual reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and the impact of climate change on vulnerable species like penguins. The project showcased the students' creativity, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact on their school community.

• Rosehill Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, clinched second place with their multifaceted approach to sustainability. Already known for their environmental stewardship, the school created a vibrant garden oasis built entirely from recycled materials. Students crafted functional items like a water-saving irrigation system from recycled bottles and earbuds, demonstrating resourcefulness and ingenuity. The project extended beyond the garden, inspiring students to create practical items like pencil holders from recycled materials and fostering a school-wide culture of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

 

• Alipore Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, earned third place by tackling both food insecurity and sustainability with their innovative "Alipore Primary Big Build" project. Inspired by the Climate Champions Challenge, students constructed a vertical vegetable garden using recycled 5-litre bottles. This initiative not only provided a sustainable source of fresh produce for the school and community but also instilled a sense of environmental responsibility and community spirit among the students.

 

"We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and creativity displayed by students across South Africa," said Oomen. "The CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative proves the power of education and engagement in fostering environmental stewardship from a young age. Congratulations to all the winners and participants—your dedication to sustainability inspires us all."

 

The competition showcased the remarkable creativity and passion of young minds dedicated to eco-friendly innovations. Cartoon Network congratulates all participants for their commitment to protecting the planet for future generations.

DStv Moves Disney Channel To Channel 315 In Some African Countries

MultiChoice said the move [from channel 303] to channel 315 would not affect any of the content, which is so popular with young DStv viewers.

“There is no change to the range of content that younger viewers know and love, from premieres to classic favourites and everything they expect from Disney,” MultiChoice said in a statement.

They said some upcoming highlights on Disney Channel included Klik Klub Season 3, with new episodes each Friday at 4:50pm from November 15, as well as Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, a new animated series starting at 4:30pm on November 25.

Njanji said Mech-X4, an action-packed, live-action series, would show on Fridays at 5pm, also from November 25 and The Wonderful Autumn of Mickey Mouse is a new special premiering on Wednesday November 30 at 9:50am.

She said a December keynote feature would be Disney’s festive movie Festival airing daily and including Home Sweet Home Alone and Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever.