How MultiChoice Is Tackling LGBTQ Following Same Sex Ban In Namibia?

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Not long ago, a new bill has been making rounds in Namibia which prohibit same sex relationships basically LGBTQ after discussions were underway to legalize such as in South Africa. But unlike Namibia, some countries within Africa primarily Cameroon and Uganda had tightened restrictions to a point where legal action can be persewed.

This actions affected several channels on DStv particularly Telemundo in 2023 where Nurses was unexpectedly yanked from the channel leaving only reruns. According to Telemundo, it was due to a change in legislation although not mentioning Uganda and Cameroon led to the temporary suspension of Nurses.

Since last year, MultiChoice has been working closely with channel providers with localized feeds to TLC and Disney Channel launching in Southern African countries. These feeds resided in the Western and Eastern parts of Africa and with their inception has led Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur and The Owl House to get exempted.

In previous years, MultiChoice had excluded such content from the Western and Eastern parts of Africa with Southern Africa being conjoined due to transponders. With these endeavours now making waves in more African countries, it has led to confusion amongst DStv consumers particularly in Southern Africa.

Some DStv consumers are wondering why Disney Channel suddenly appears on channel 315 and what's mind boggling is that Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur was announced as a new show for this channel despite it only being offered on channel 303.

Aside from TLC and Disney Channel, MultiChoice had been distributing localized feeds for M-Net, Nickelodeon, BBC Lifestyle and E! Entertainment. We can only assume that more of these feeds will likely integrate to Southern Africa with some exceptions like Zee World and SuperSport.

Harry Potter, Wizards Of Baking: Spellbinding Confectionary Creations Come To Life This February On Cartoon Network Africa

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Cartoon Network viewers and legions of Harry Potter fans are going to have an extra special holiday season this year with the premiere of the brand-new series, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, on Monday, 3 February at 18:15 CAT on Cartoon Network Africa. Capitalising on the enduring love for Harry Potter – a global phenomenon that continues to captivate people of all ages around the world – the ground-breaking series blends legendary storytelling and fantastical edible creations in a never-before-seen competition that will have audiences at the edge of their seats.

James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) bring their exceptional charm and behind-the-scenes anecdotes as hosts of this most magical series, joined by esteemed culinary judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef. Across the six-episode season, they will also be joined by special guests Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), who will help in evaluating the competitors’ showpieces and also share their own film stories.

The competition kicks off with a super-sized episode in which nine teams of pastry chefs and cake artists are tasked to craft massive, spellbinding edible showpieces inspired by moments and themes from the Harry Potter saga. Each week, the culinary artists will design eye-popping creations not only to tantalise the taste buds but also to offer surprising and enchanting visual elements. Fans of Harry Potter will recognise many iconically familiar places, as the series was produced at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, including amidst the backdrop of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, on some of the original sets where Harry Potter's journey was brought to life on screen. Contenders will have the unprecedented opportunity to present their creations in famed locations such as Platform 9¾, The Great Hall, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Diagon Alley, The Forbidden Forest and more.

A group of lucky fans will have the opportunity to taste some of the competitors’ handiwork, and then, in the finale, the team that wins the competition will be awarded the first-ever Wizards of Baking Cup and will have the opportunity to appear in a new Harry Potter cookbook.

Harry Potter fans can follow #WizardsOfBaking on social to chat with fellow fans and watch tons of videos from behind the scenes in the wizarding world. Plus, hear from the Phelps brothers as they return to Hogwarts, meet all the special guests stopping by and get to know the teams competing in this magical baking extravaganza. Fans can also get Harry Potter-inspired recipes, like Sorting Hat Cupcakes and Invisibility Cloak Pumpkin Pie. 

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is produced by Warner Horizon and theoldschool for Food Network. Warner Horizon’s Bridgette Theriault and Dan Sacks serve as executive producers with theoldschool’s Robin Ashbrook and Yasmin Shackleton. 

Don’t miss the spellbinding magic of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking when it premieres on Food Network on Monday, 3 February at 18:15 CAT. Tune in to see which team claims the first-ever Wizards of Baking Cup and takes home the ultimate prize!

Why Warner's Upcoming Restructure Will Serve As A Minus To Cartoon Network And Discovery Channel?

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Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to fold most of its cable networks which comprise of Cartoon Network, TNT and Investigation Discovery under the division Global Linear Networks. This comes after Comcast announced plans to unbundle majority of its cable networks later in the year.

Cartoon Network, TNT and Investigation Discovery being spun off from Warner Bros. Studios won't improve anything there for the average consumer. For Warner Bros. Discovery, this brand split means they'll be able to reduce expenses and less being spent on new content for these brands means more revenue.

Internationally, Warner Bros. Discovery always felt spun off they have proven that on a number of occasions. Take for instance, Cartoon Network has relied on imports like Jade Armor and Hero Inside or regional shows like CN To The Rescue and The Amazing World Of Gumball to build up their schedule so that's unlikely to change.

So you could say with this change what this means for Cartoon Network is similar to that of Universal TV where their parent company will rely heavily on M-Net or Showmax rather than their respective networks for these shows. If you look overseas, the current executives are moving most of Cartoon Network's shows from Max to Netflix.

If anything, the lack of content for these cable networks could lead both MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery to further streamline their portfolio. This transaction has a bigger effect on the factual part of the company which comprise of HGTV, Food Network and Travel Channel.

Unlike Cartoon Network and TNT, these networks had a lot of dependency on these properties and with the current state of pay-tv I expect for less to be invested towards these brands. Some channels like Discovery Family could get booted off while others like Food Network are either sold or turned into an import for Discovery+.

Rumour: Universal Kids, The American Counterpart Of DreamWorks Channel Is Shutting Down

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A major shakeup is happening to one of NBCUniversal’s linear channels. Universal Kids, a channel focused on children’s programming is shutting down later this year.

Cord Cutters News first learned that it will reportedly shut down on March 6, 2025, which is the day it’s also being removed from Spectrum TV.

Launched in 2005 as PBS Kids Sprout, the network changed its name to Sprout in 2009. In 2013, Comcast, the parent company of NBCU, acquired a full ownership stake in the network and fully rebranded it to Universal Kids in 2017.

Over the years, the network was home to popular children’s shows including Sesame Street, The Berenstain Bears, Where’s Waldo, American Ninja Warrior Junior, The Wiggles, and other NBCUniversal programming.

The network was aiming to compete with Disney Junior and the Nick Jr. Channel in the children’s programming space. However, Universal Kids struggled to maintain viewership in an increasingly competitive market with the rise of streaming services like Netflix, and Disney+.

This news comes months after it was announced that Comcast has officially spun off its linear TV networks, including USA Network and MSNBC into SpinCo. The Universal Kids shutdown and the spinoff are part of a larger strategy by NBCUniversal to streamline its operations and focus on more profitable ventures. The spinoff will take around one year to complete as NBCU tries to navigate through the ongoing transformation within the media industry.

NBCU hasn’t officially announced if the channel is going dark however, Cord Cutters News has independently confirmed that the network is shutting down on March 6, 2025.

This was originally published by Cord Cutter News.

Reminder: Cartoon Network Africa’s New Local Sitcom, The Lembwas, Premieres on Saturday, 18 January!

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The wildest family in Mzansi is crashing onto your screens in The Lembwas, a Cartoon Network Africa Original created and filmed right here in South Africa! Premiering Saturday, 18 January 2025, at 09h30 CAT, this fresh new live-action comedy is here to tickle your funny bone and have you rolling on the floor laughing. We’re talking 13 explosive episodes packed with crazy adventures, unexpected twists, and enough humour to leave you in stitches. Forget your chill Saturday plans — this show is going to be lekker jol!

 

Meet the Lembwas — They’re Like No Family You’ve Ever Seen!

Taps and Garcia, the dynamic duo of teenage brothers, are at the heart of this chaotic family. Taps is all about diving headfirst into adventure, while Garcia is a brainy genius whose science experiments have a way of going … um, very wrong. Their shenanigans range from accidental teleportation to some weird run-ins with interdimensional cockroaches (yes, there’s a talking roach living in their dustbin, but more on that later).

 

Joining them is Mama, the fierce queen of style and order, who juggles raising her boys and managing their madness with a “hold on to your hats!” mentality. Uncle Zeke, the ‘dodgy but lovable’ uncle, who claims to have been a rap star in Korea (still debatable), and Gogo, the silent mischief-maker with more tricks up her sleeve than we can count, complete the squad.

 

Oh, and let’s not forget Roach — a fast-talking, wise-cracking cockroach who hitched a ride to the Lembwas’ bin thanks to Garcia’s latest invention gone wrong. You’ll never look at trash the same way again!

This Ain’t Your Everyday Family Sitcom!

The Lembwas isn’t just another family sitcom — it’s a whole vibe! “We’ve created something entirely fresh with The Lembwas,” says Andr? Lembwa, the comedic genius who stars as every single character in the Lembwa family. “Imagine taking the chaos of live-action and mixing it with the unpredictability of animation — that’s the magic here. Plus, it’s proudly South African, with plenty of local flavour to boot!”

Born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), before moving to South Africa, Lembwa has a knack for impersonations that span diverse nationalities — from Congolese to Nigerian to South African and beyond. His ability to embody different accents and personas brings a unique authenticity to The Lembwas, reflecting the multicultural fabric of South Africa.

 

Andr? adds, “As a performer, it’s been an incredible journey to bring these characters to life. From Taps’ wild energy to Garcia’s nerdy brilliance, each character represents a part of my experience growing up in South Africa. I can’t wait for audiences to join us on this hilarious ride!”

“We’re beyond excited to bring The Lembwas to our African audiences,” says Ana Gonzalez, VP, Kids Content for Southern Europe, APAC, and Africa. “It’s a celebration of family, hilarity, and everything unexpected. With its local cast, local crew, and loads of humour, it’s an absolute must-watch.”

 

Shot in the Vibrant Heart of Cape Town

The Lembwas was filmed on location in the buzzing neighbourhood of Brooklyn, Cape Town — adding a fresh local flavour to the show. Created by Howard Fyvie and produced by High Fyvie, a creative production company founded by Fyvie, who brings two decades of experience in crafting compelling content, The Lembwas is brought to life by this production team known for crafting stories filled with heart and humour.

“With The Lembwas, we’ve created a show that totally has a specific South African flavour, but with universal themes at its heart - so hopefully, it impacts people across the continent and beyond,” says producer Howard Fyvie. “As I and my team have been working on this show, we've often stopped and reflected on how crazy, zany, and unique this show is. I honestly don't know anything else with the same sensibilities and comedic instincts as The Lembwas. We hope you guys fall in love with this family like we have!”

Why You Can’t Miss This

If you think The Lembwas is just another sitcom, think again! This show delivers laugh-out-loud moments in every episode, taking everyday situations and turning them completely on their head. Think flying kicks that last for minutes, supercharged go-karts, and a cockroach with a serious attitude. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s wildly entertaining!

 

So, grab the whole family, set your alarms for 09h30 CAT on Saturday, 18 January, and make sure you tune into Cartoon Network Africa for the premiere of The Lembwas — the show that promises to be anything but everyday. Bring on the laughter, the chaos, and the talking cockroach!

Smile TV, Former StarSat Channel Is Shutting Down In The US

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 Smile Of A Child (also known as Smile) was a Christian based children's network operated by Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) with a mixture of animated and live-action content. The channel offered shows like Superbook, Quigley's Village and Veggie Tales.

Through their website, it was announced that Smile would cease to exist from January 12th with content being integrated to Yippee TV and TBN+ both of which are streaming services. In other countries, TBN's 24 hour channel of the same name offers an educational block for most shows.

Prior to Smile's demise, StarTimes served as one of the various broadcasters to distribute the channel before TBN made the decision to close its offering internationally. It had been alleged that Smile was struggling to garner traction in most of these markets which is the reason all of the content reverted to TBN.

If Smile TV's demise has taught us anything is to preserve life while you still got it. This is further indication that cable networks aren't the latest fashion trend right now as Comcast looks to discard most of its cable networks while the remaining networks offer very little to new content.

2025 could shape up to be one of the most historic years for cable networks aside from Comcast you have Warner Bros. Discovery spinning off its cable networks from Max and Warner Bros. Pictures followed by Skydance's aggressive takeover of Paramount Global.

Could We Baby Bears Be Getting Cancelled On Cartoon Network After Two Seasons?

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Recap To Last Year: Cartoon Network Merges Feeds In Some Parts Of Europe

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The Cartoon Network station uplink , or signal source for operators, has undergone quite a significant transformation. In the past, the version for our region, referred to as CEE (Central and Eastern Europe), was intended only for the Czech, Slovak, Hungarian and Romanian markets . The original RSEE feed  intended primarily for the Balkans has now been absorbed into this feed , along with the Polish one . Now, in addition to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, the "new CEE" also serves Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Macedonia, Moldova, Albania and others.

The sister station for the little ones, Cartoonito , or the competing portfolio of Nickelodeon stations , operates on a similar principle of a universal feed for many countries, with regional "opt-outs" for filler and advertising. Internally, this de facto old-new pan-European feed, similar to the one in the nineties, is called " Europe 2/Europe - East" . This is because similar cuts have also occurred in Western European markets - specifically in France, Germany and Portugal .

For this block, another playout is called " Europe 1/Europe - West" . A large part of the markets, especially from our corner, broadcasts the program without commercials and uses trailers and filler in the form of program excerpts between programs. Commercials have remained for now, for example, in Hungary and Poland. In the territory of the former federation, advertising has been missing from broadcasts for over a year. Its deployment in our country was represented by Atmedia from 2018 to 2022 .

Thanks to these steps, the program scheme had to be unified and the station graphics adjusted . The content page has been updated with the EPG program guide and will be somewhat revitalized through the deployment of more thematic blocks. The first visible visual change is the logo adjustment. The station identifier has become larger and moved more to the upper right corner. It has also lost transparency. The viewer can therefore better recognize which station they are watching. Logos have had a similar appearance for a long time, including in England and the USA .

The old jingles from the " Check It 4.0" era have also disappeared from the broadcast and everything is now set in a newer " Dimensional" guise. Reminders for the next show have moved from the bottom right corner to the top next to the logo. They are smaller and more animated. The bumpers for the next show are also more sophisticated thanks to the use of newer branding and unified with the recently added idents.

Premieres have a yellow sticker with black glitter instead of a small purple exclamation mark behind the logo in the lower left corner. There they also have an icon with a smiling smiley face of the aforementioned filler. At the end of the programs, dubbing cards of the producers of the individual versions are displayed - such a list is familiar to users of streaming services, for example.

Thanks to these changes, the operator will save costs and will be able to be more flexible in any further changes regarding the scheme or graphics. This modification was not directly communicated. The station has been present on our market practically since its entry into the European continent in the early nineties. However, it was officially launched here only in 2017, when it received a Czech audio track and subsequently advertising - before replacing it with the current filler.

Since 2018, it has been broadcasting in high definition Full HD, which gives it a certain advantage over competing stations Disney Channel, Minimax and Nickelodeon . The website is also still in operation, although according to our information, it should be turned off in favor of the Max platform containing a number of broadcast programs. These changes were described in detail for MediaGuru.cz by reader Lukáš Jaro , who has been following the activities of WarnerBros. Discovery for a long time.

The article was originally published by MediaGuru

2025 On Insidus | Channel Premieres: Iyanu: Child Of Wonder, Suits: LA And The Gelukbringers | Returning Shows Including Road To Destiny And Mr. Bean | More

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Some of these titles are rumoured 

Regular Nick

• Cartoon Network/Cartoonito/Adult Swim: Iyanu: Child Of Wonder, Lana Longbeard, Dino Ranch: Island Explorers, Common Side Effects, Lazarus, Invincible Fight Girl, Dragonball: Daima (Rumour), Go Go Mystery Machine, The Karters, Mermicorno: Starfall, Baby Lemmings and Mr. Bean S4.

• Disney Channel/Disney Junior/Disney+: Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, StuGo, Phineas And Ferb S5, Vampirina (Live-Action), Doomies, Hey AJ, Kindergarten: The Musical, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Reboot, Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends,  Robogobo, Messi And The Giants, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Win or Lose, Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombies and How We Became The Biggest Band In The World.

• Nickelodeon/Nick Jr./Nicktoons: Avatar: The Last Airbender Sequel Series, Super Duper Bunny League and The Thundermans Undercover.

Other premieres Motel Transylvania, Winx Club, Long Story Short, Devil May Cry, Leviathan, Astérix and Obélix: The Big Fight, SpongeBob Squarepants (Play Room), Fireman Sam (Play Room), The Thundermans (Play Room), Archibald's Next Big Thing (DreamWorks) and The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (eToonz).

Everyday Novelas

• Telemundo: La Mujer De Mi Vida (The Woman Of My Life), The Count: Love And Honor (El Conde: Amor Y Honor), La Venganza De Analía (Ana's Revenge), Sed De Venganza (Thirst For Vengeance) and La Jefa (Woman Of Steel Remake).

• TLNovelas: Un Refugio Para El Amor (A Shelter For Love), Un Camino Hacia El Destino (Road To Destiny), Perdona Nuestros Pecados (Family Sins),

Nadie Como Tú (One Of A Kind), El Amor Invencible (The Invincible Love), Eternamente Amándonos (Happily Ever After), Tierra De Esperanza (Land Of Hope) and Vencer La Ausencia (Overcoming Loss).

• Zee TV channels: One More Try (Zee World SA, January 3rd), Taxi (Zee World), Driven By Deceit (Zee World SA, January 8th), Ruzia Sultan (Zee One, January 13th, Married Again (Zee One, January 13th), Curse Of The Sands (Rebroadcast on Zee One, January 13rd), Fire & Ice (Zee One, January 13th),  Age Is Just A Number (Zee One, January 13th) and My Daughter's Keeper (Zee One, January 26th)

• eMedia channels: Gelukbringers, Chrysalis S3, Doodsondes S6, Bloedspoor, Eet Wit Leuen, Stout, Housewives, uMbali, Mother Of All, Nyama Battle and Splintered Pieces.

Rumoured shows include Ventino: El Precio De La Gloria (The Price of Glory, Ventino), Rojo Carmesí (Crimson Red), Escupiré Sobre Sus Tumbas (Until You Burn), Hercai (Inconstant Love) and Sefirin Kizi (The Ambassador's Daughter) and Gülcemal (Rose Faced).

DStv Flex:

• M-Net/Showmax/Universal TV: Paris Has Fallen (Rumour), Shifting Gears, Doc, Watson, The Pitt, The Hunting Party, Extracted, The Americas, Suits L.A., Grosse Pointe Garden Society, FBI, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Dexter: Resurrection, Sheriff County, The Burbs, Lanterns, Murder In A Small Town, Celtic City, It: Welcome To Derry, Happy Face, Snowflakes and Revival.

• Canal+ pending takeover to acquire MultiChoice set to conclude by April 2025

• Skydance pending takeover of Paramount Global which might conclude by mid 2025

• Comcast's upcoming spinoff which comprise of SYFY, E!, MSNBC and CNBC set to rollout by fall 2025.

• Warner Bros. Discovery folding its linear operations like Cartoon Network and Discovery under Global Linear Networks with Max and Warner Bros. Pictures under Streaming & Studios which is also set to rollout by mid 2025.

For more developments you can visit the upcoming section on this link: click here

Play Room To Debut DC's Longest Running Animated Series "Teen Titans GO!" In January 2025

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Play Room, a South African based children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group that offers a mix of animated and live-action content has acquired rights to the first season of Teen Titans GO!. This comes after the broadcaster had acquired Batwheels and various films from the DC Superhero Girls franchise.

Synopsis on Teen Titans GO!

The character-driven comedy series focuses on the funny that happens in between saving the world and living together as teenagers without adult supervision. The comedic mayhem of the animated series is punctuated by pranks and the occasional need to fight crime, but it will also deal with the everyday issues of adolescence. With epic staring contests to decide who does the laundry, a series of quests and battles to construct the perfect sandwich or fighting crime in Jump City , one thing is for sure, these Titans will always be ready for an adventure inside the house and out.

The principal voice cast from the original Teen Titans series, based on DC Comics characters, will reprise their roles in Teen Titans Go!, with Scott Menville as the voice of Robin, the slightly power-mad perfectionist and leader of the Teen Titans. Hynden Walch voices Starfire, an alien struggling to fit in; Tara Strong voices Raven, the sardonic, deadpan demon girl; Greg Cipes returns as the slightly dim but always loveable loafer, Beast Boy; and Khary Payton provides the voice of Cyborg, a laidback kid who is half teen, half robot.

Since it's rollout on Cartoon Network, it serves as one of the longest running animated series in DC history with its 400th episode broadcast by the channel globally. This was accompanied with an all day marathon and a new short form series, Beast Boy: Lone Wolf.

The first season of Teen Titans GO! will broadcast daily on Play Room at 15:00 from 2nd January with the series also viewable on Cartoon Network.

My Holiday Card To Readers: A Prediction Of What's To Come In 2025

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 SOUTH AFRICA

• Canal+ gets the greenlight to acquire MultiChoice 

- MultiChoice rebrands to MultiChoice: A Canal+ Company.

- Canal+ is given control over M-Net, SuperSport, DStv and GOtv while other shareholders manage the brands licenses in South Africa and focus on Showmax, Namola and SuperSportBET.

- Canal+ looks to reduce DStv's linear offering as they look to extend the reach of France24, Zacu TV and W-Sport. 

- M-Net Movies 3 and 4 merge into one channel as M-Net continues to simplify it's offering. 

- Canal+'s Novelas TV extends its reach to Anglophone countries on DStv and GOtv replacing Telemundo and also offers content in local languages.

- Cartoon Network West and East African feed is made available to consumers in Southern Africa (not South Africa) on channel 313.

- Play Room gets a branded block on Mzansi Wethu and extends its reach to other African countries.

- eMedia's 4 channels eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz exit the DStv platform with further content on Openview.

• Free-To-Air Households 

- eMedia Investments discontinues Zee Family and Star Select from the Openview platform.

- Muvhango gets cancelled for the second time on SABC 2, Isidingo revival/spin-off is being developed.

- Netflix acquires rights to SA's Got Talent previously held by the SABC and Family Feud SA from e.tv.

- SABC looks to launch two separate divisions one targeted on their archives and SABC+ with the other comprising of SABC 1-3 and Sport. They look into reducing commissions on these channels as they explore possible partnerships with VIU and Netflix.

GLOBAL

• Canal+ looks to acquire Senegalese based company Marodi TV and Nordic pay-tv provider Viaplay with MC Vision rebranding to Canal+ Mauritius.

• Star on Disney+ rebrands to Hulu 

• We Baby Bears cancelled on Cartoon Network after 2 seasons alongside Kiff on Disney Channel and Rock, Paper & Scissors on Nickelodeon.

• Skydance gets approval to acquire 77% stake in Paramount Global making them majority shareholder

- Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon fold under the division MTV Entertainment Group away from Paramount Pictures and CBS Studios.

- Pluto TV and Paramount+ are merged to one streaming service.

- BET Media Group and The Smithsonian Channel are put up for sale.

• Comcast finalizes transaction with proposed spin-off

- Comcast continues to license various content to new company which comprise of E!, USA Network, Oxygen and Syfy.

- Sky Group becomes an independent company and retains its pay-tv services and studios in parts of Europe.

- New company looks to acquire some assets from Warner Bros. Discovery.

- Universal Kids is closed down in the United States as further shows move to Peacock alongside Telemundo in Africa.

- MSNBC and CNBC retain their trademark but retract the Comcast logo.

- Last minute: Universal TV and Studio Universal undergoes a rebrand and closes down in some countries.

"New Paramount" May Be Looking To Discard Cable Networks Like MTV, Comedy Central, BET And Nickelodeon

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The landscape of television is undergoing a seismic shift, with streaming services increasingly dominating the entertainment industry. This transformation is forcing media conglomerates to re-evaluate their strategies, and for Paramount, this means a potential downplaying, or even outright disposal, of once-iconic cable networks like MTV and Comedy Central.

According to a recent report from The Hollywood Reporter, these networks, along with Nickelodeon and BET, are “simply not as high a priority” for the incoming Skydance regime following the anticipated merger with Paramount. This news raises serious questions about the future of these channels, which have played a significant role in shaping pop culture over the past few decades.

The report suggests that CBS is the only television asset considered completely safe under the new leadership. Incoming company president Jeff Shell has previously referred to CBS as a “crown jewel,” indicating its central importance to the merged entity. This prioritization of CBS comes at the expense of other networks within the Paramount portfolio.

The signs of this shift have been evident for some time. Paramount has reportedly entertained numerous bids for BET, including offers from prominent figures like Tyler Perry and media mogul Byron Allen. This willingness to consider selling BET demonstrates a clear shift in priorities away from these formerly key cable assets.

Perhaps the most alarming indicator of this deprioritization was the recent wiping of digital archives for networks like MTV News and Comedy Central. This erasure of digital history suggests a lack of commitment to preserving the legacy of these channels, further fueling speculation about their future.

The current strategy of bringing established sitcoms like “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory” to MTV raises further questions. This move suggests a reliance on established, syndicated content rather than investment in original programming, potentially signaling a decline in the network’s focus on creating new, cutting-edge content. This is a far cry from MTV’s earlier days as a trendsetting music and youth culture channel.

The Hollywood Reporter cites a December 19 Bank of America research report from Jessica Reif Ehrlich, which predicts a trend of media companies divesting their cable TV network assets. The report suggests these assets would be “better positioned as a consolidated, linear-focused vehicle with scale benefits that can drive affiliate and advertising negotiation as well as synergies.” This analysis points towards a potential consolidation of remaining cable networks as a way to maintain some level of competitiveness against the streaming giants.

The potential decline of MTV and Comedy Central raises broader questions about the future of cable television as a whole. As streaming continues to gain momentum, traditional cable networks are facing an existential crisis. The convenience and on-demand nature of streaming have proven highly attractive to viewers, leading to widespread cord-cutting.

Whether these legacy networks can survive independently or face extinction remains to be seen. However, the winds are clearly blowing in the direction of streaming, and media conglomerates are adapting accordingly. The anticipated Skydance and Paramount merger is likely to accelerate this trend, potentially marking the beginning of the end for some of television’s most iconic cable brands. The focus on “synergies,” as mentioned in the Bank of America report, suggests that any remaining cable assets may be bundled together or sold off as a single entity, further diminishing their individual prominence in the media landscape.

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

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.