What To Expect On DStv's Newest Addition, SuperSport Schools?

Immediate focus for both streaming and broadcast will be on The KES Water Polo Festival, the Graeme College 150th festival, Spar hockey from KZN, the St Mary’s hockey festival, the St Andrew’s netball festival, Premier Interschools netball and rugby, the Border Rugby Day, KZN schools football and the Gauteng Development League (GDL).

The GDL is especially appealing and will include age group football matches across 34 weekends from March to November. Comprising 18 clubs and schools, including teams like Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United, plus schools like Rosina Sedibane from Centurion, they will compete in nine head-to-head fixtures across a number of age groups per week.

In addition to the legacy content to be found on the linear channel, the all-new SuperSport Schools vodcast (a podcast that contains video content) will be broadcast. It touches on a variety of school sport subjects and leans towards being entertaining and informative.

Given the wealth of extraordinary achievements that occur on a weekly basis, often in remote areas and small-town schools, the new channel will also seek to highlight these for viewers who may otherwise have missed them.

The channel went live at 8am and is available to subscribers from Premium to Access.

Could The Rumoured SuperSport Schools Channel Perhaps Be Added As A Replacement To Another DStv Channel?

During the week, MultiChoice had begun tests on a possible channel for SuperSport Schools making it South Africa's probably the world's first ever sports channel for the youth promoting a variety of sports from soccer, netball, swimming and probably basketball.

Not much details have been shared on a release date or a possible channel number or package but my hunch is that MultiChoice will probably unveil it in the coming weeks or later in March where schools out and it's addition alongside Cartoonito would prove favourable.

As seen with Cartoonito, it is set to replace Boomerang when the channel goes dark by the end of the month incorporating the best of Boomerang but that left me thinking about the position of SuperSport Schools on the DStv platform.

Last year, MultiChoice in legal battle with eMedia Investments had mentioned they were faced with transponder constraints and that they wouldn't be able to add a lot of channels in the coming future unless they remove some which led to the untimely demise of eMedia's 4 channels.

DStv:
- SuperSport might be rolling out a new channel
- Boomerang is the first channel to exit the DStv platform in 2023
- MultiChoice to hike DStv fees from April 2023
- CBS Reality is the only brand to retain its identity in the UK from Paramount and AMC International

Analysing some of the new channels in question notice how they only add a new channel to replace one from the same section on DStv. Take for instance, MTV Hits with Qwest TV both of which were music channels same goes for ITV Networks and Hilaal TV.

Taking that to account, is it SuperSport Schools will replace one of the sports channels and here are some of my picks:
- Ginx eSports TV: A gaming channel featuring news, highlights and other game themed content. It's not a bad channel for promoting what it loves but it's better off as a digital channel I mean only a selected view gaming through cable much less DStv.
- WWE Channel: SuperSport didn't credit it as much when renewing through partnership with WWE only referenced Raw, SmackDown, NXT and PPVs as those are the only things consumers watch on the channel.

Another logical theory is that another channel perhaps TNT, Discovery Family, eMedia's 4 channels or even one of the current SuperSport channels would be abandoning ship but there's always chances this may as well serve as another addition to consumers.

New Channel Alert (Rumour): SuperSport Schools To Get A Dedicated Channel On The DStv Platform

In 2021, SuperSport acquired a majority stake in School Sports Live, a YouTube channel that livestreams and provides highlights and profiles of school sports across South Africa which lead to the introduction of SuperSport Schools.

Since it's acquisition, SuperSport Schools has become a multimedia platform for the SuperSport brand broadcasting live on YouTube or the app of the same name. SuperSport has even used supplied most of their content to the ever growing Variety 4 channel.

In an interview on whether or not SuperSport had planned to give the brand a linear channel as seen with WWE Channel. The folks behind SuperSport Schools felt that most audiences would prefer viewing the content from where it currently resides.

Of course that doesn't mean MultiChoice won't think otherwise as seen these past years several channels such as WildEarth, Moonbug Kids and Curiosity are all based on online brands with SuperSport Schools looking to join the trio of channels.

As seen this past week, MultiChoice has been conducting tests on the possible channel for the brand featuring shows like 50+ Years Of Sports, Spirit Of Yachting, The Outdoor Sports Show, The Greatest Of All Time, Arena Sports and several others.

Taking to account this is a sports channel branded for children is it possible that maybe it will be allocated on channel 300. I mean the last channel KTV died decades ago and MultiChoice hasn't been doing much on that area but it's possible they'll put on channel 216.

DStv:
- CBS Reality is the only brand to retain its identity in the UK from Paramount and AMC International
- Warner Bros. Discovery hinting at a possible rebrand to Boomerang as more preschool content fills the lineup
- MultiChoice shares crytpic message about eMedia's 4 channels
- BBC to close linear channels and move to an internet only digital future

As for packages, SuperSport Schools operated several pop-up channels through the DStv app each of them were tailor made for Easyview. As of right now, not sure if that's the case for the this version as MultiChoice has a history of doing otherwise.

All in all, Easyview doesn't have a sports channel perhaps as a news channel SuperSport Blitz but other than that you have SABC. Making all the more sense to include another sports channel even if it doesn't happen to be SuperSport Schools.

MultiChoice has made a lot of improvements with Easyview last year following the rollout of Magic Showcase, CineMagic and BBC UKTV on the already existing Real Time, TNT and PBS Kids putting them in a somewhat better position with rivals Openview.

As the channel number is concerned, the pop-up channel occupied channels 247/8 but seeing as those were OTT numbers. My guess it will probably occupy channel 216 or seeing this is a youth channel sit alongside Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.

But honestly I think it would make sense having it closer to SuperSport as not a lot of adults even browse those sections as seen with Mzansi Magic or Africa Magic for starters and 216/7 seems ideal as 218 and 219 are technically used for ESPN.

DStv Flex:
- March on The Home Channel
- The River cancelled after 6 seasons on 1Magic
- Virtual Reality offers a new opportunity for African filmmakers
- Ratings for DStv from December 2022

I'm guessing Access customers are probably relived should this the channel exist as more sports comes to the package joining the already available Racing240 alongside SuperSport brands Blitz and Variety 4 which has been carrying a lot of SuperSport Schools.

As for whether Variety 4 will stop supplying SuperSport Schools that has yet to be seen I can see them keep it as several SuperSport channels still air WWE but considering how much content would be available I'm guessing the hours will be reduced if not scrapped.

SuperSport Variety 4 in other countries have been airing it's fair share of football I think that should be something SuperSport should be looking into as Access fans just like Compact have football fans and it would put them in a competitive position with SABC Sport.

A lot of content is based in South Africa, I'm not sure if SuperSport Schools will be added to other countries considering this is SuperSport. It wouldn't be shocking if they did acquire it for these regions and perhaps try to grow the original offering in those regions.

The channel is anticipated to rollout either in the coming weeks or next month which is also a school holiday.

Vince McMahon Reportedly Looking Into Returning To WWE In Order To Sell It

He left control of the WWE to his daughter Stephanie and son in law Triple H, real name Paul Levesque, a wrestling legend himself.

But now, according to Wall Street Journal, McMahon is looking to make a WWE comeback in order to help sell the sports entertainment giant.

He still has majority voting power through his ownership of WWE’s Class-B stock and is believed to have informed staff of his plans to return.

McMahon is said to have told the company he is electing himself and two former co-presidents and directors, Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, to the board.

Superhero:
- G4 has been shut down
- Showmax to become exclusive home of WWE
- 10 real freak accidents on WWE

But the move to reinstate him, something the board previously rebuffed, and the others will require three current directors to vacate their positions.

Rumours of a sell have swirled for years despite the WWE receiving a $1BILLION cash injection after selling US rights to the WWE Network to Peacock.

McMahon decided to leave the WWE last summer following a series of scandals.

There were claims he paid an ex-employee $3million to stay quiet about an affair.

The probe began in April 2022, finding non-disclosure agreements involving claims made by female ex-WWE employees of misconduct by McMahon and John Laurinaitis, the head of talent relations.

WWE:
- Could the WWE channel be exiting the DStv platform?
- NXT Europe to rollout later in the year
- The controversial history of The Fabulous Moolah

The WWE put out a statement on confirming McMahon "voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities" within the company.

The American bought Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the holding company that owned the then-World Wrestling Federation from his father, Vincent J McMahon, in 1982.

He expanded the company during the pro-wrestling boom in the 1980s and over the years, WWE has cited McMahon as the key to the company's success.

It has seen them rocket to the top of pro wrestling, a position they have maintained throughout their existence.

10 Real Freak Accidents In WWE

Freaking accidents can be regarded as an accidental event that resulted in physical and mental harm. A freak accident can happen and this extends to superstars in WWE. Throughout WWE there had been several incidents where a superstar is involved in an accident either inside or outside of the circle. These accidents sometimes altered their career even ended their life.

Thankfully all the individuals on the list lived to tell the tale now a look at the 10 WWE wrestlers involved in a freak accident.

10. Randy Orton injured himself

The WWE wrestler had his fair share of freak accidents throughout his career but perhaps the most unusual freak accident involved him dislocating his shoulder at the 2010 Over The Limit PPV in his match with Edge.

He was setting up for an RKO by pounding his fist to the mat and that's how he wind up dislocating his shoulder. This had to be one of the weirdest ways anyone would injure themselves while wrestling. Due to the injury, Orton and Edge would have change the match if he was gonna walk out alive.

9. Shane McMahon is in a helicopter crash

Shane McMahon has been involved in dramatic stunts throughout his career and he managed to survive them all without serious injury.

However in 2017, Shane's life flashed before his eyes as he was involved in a helicopter crash that took place at the coast island of New York. The helicopter suffered engine failure forcing the helicopter to plummet onto the water.

The pilot had no choice but to call an emergency landing and legal authorities were able to handle the matter and no one was hurt and Shane addressed the whole matter in an interview:

Well, it's very unsettling when you have all of a sudden something happen. You hear a bang and then you say "we're gonna do an emergency landing in the water" yes it was unnerving.

8. Dolph Ziggler, Zack Ryder and Justin Robert's Limo Crash

In 2012, news broke out on WWE's website about the incident following the stars gig at Comic Con. The car unexpectedly went at the back of the limo. Robert suffered serious injury while Ziggler and Ryder were fine. Justin Roberts now an AEW announcer discussed this in an interview:

It was a big limo, so we couldn't tell exactly what was going on outside, but we merged on to a highway and then we braked. Zack basically slid down the bench, Dolph and I were sitting in the back facing forward and Zack was on the bench sitting sideways. Then, out of nowhere we got hit pretty hard.

7. The Undertaker's iconic entrance goes horrifically wrong

At the 22nd Hall Of Fame, The Undertaker obtained a reputation of being one of the toughest man to step foot into the WWE ring. He had the ability to push through injuries and personal turmoil to deliver his best performances as he never wanted to let his peers or fans down.

It was clear at the 2010 Elimination Chamber PPV, during his entrance his pyro malfunctioned and he recieved third degree burns, his hat and coat were burnt and it was even a miracle that he could even compete.

He had to apply water to the injury and the winner Chris Jericho revealed that he was able to smell the flesh burn off his skin and was amazed The Undertaker was pulling through.

6. Vince McMahon's Quad Tear

Although 2005 Royal Rumble should be known for Bautista winning the annual matchup. In reality, it's known for WWE Chairman Vince McMahon tearing both of his quads following a botched match where the referees declared John Cena and Bautista champions.

This resulted in Vince McMahon angrily entertaining the ring but tear both his quads while entering. It left him to set awkwardly in the ring and tell WWE officials what to do. He managed to walk out the ring without assistance considering a quad tear is one of the most painful experiences an athlete can face.

5. Seth Rollins Knee Injury

In 2015, Seth Rollins was in the middle of a 220 day reign as WWE Champion when a random freak accident with Kane changed everything. Rollins would go for a Sunset Power Flip Buckle and would tear his ACL and MCL and it couldn't be avoided and it was no fault of either man at the match of course the injury would put him out of action for 6 months forcing him to relinquish his championship.

This would be a huge blow for WWE as Seth Rollins became the top heel of the company and his injury altered their plans.

4. Vic Joseph in a car crash

After The Bell podcast showcases real life stories WWE talents have kept private. It was the place where Vic Joseph had to brief everyone in on the incident before his time on WWE.

I've never talked about this publicly, I went from the back seat to the front seat, and had to go to speech therapy to learn how to talk. There is a scar under my face that no one sees. My knee from top to bottom was completely out. I was on the side of the road with a white sheet over me. That's how bad it was, I'm being dead serious. I moved and they screamed 'he's alive'. They put me on a gurney, cut my shirt off and I made a joke. I woke up with a neck brace on. I have a scar on my face and there's still a piece of glass in there.

He even discussed how he had to learn and do speech therapy again and meet several WWE stars.

I had to go to speech therapy and learn how to talk, I went to an independent show and I met Rhyno. He and I closer than most people care to know. He is family to me. He said "start jumping in the car with me on my off weekend". Every weekend, I was in the car with him. He let me pick his brain in for hours in the car. He introduced me to Person A and B. I ended up meeting Tommy Dreamer. He had a promotion he was running. The day his promotion was going. He asked me if I wanted to call the show. This  is what stated me on the road to WWE.

3. Triple H Quad Year

WWE Legend Triple H hasn't been lucky when it comes to injuries. He's torn his quad twice during his career and both occasions were freak accidents.

In 2001, as he enters Raw to to stop the welds of Chris Jericho and this resulted him struggling to put weight on one side of the leg another incident happened in 2007 when Triple H would perform a spin buster on Randy Orton.

2. Randy Orton's motorcycle accident

Randy Orton hit headlines in 2008 after it was announced that he was involved in a motorcycle accident that could have ended in tragedy. Orton who had been riding for a month revealed he was riding on a short sharp curve when a vehicle came in his way forcing him to make a huge turn hurt a curb and fly out of his bike to the ground.

In an interview he revealed he was lucky to have survived:

When I came to, I know I had rebroken my collarbone, When the police and foremost fireman got there, they asked me "where's the guy in the wreck" and I said "it was me". Without a helmet, I would be dead. Now that I have a newborn daughter, so much was going through my head.

1. Ric Flair's Plane Crash

On October 4th, 1975 Ric Flair's career almost ended when he was involved in a plane crash which took the life of the pilot and paralysed Johnny Valentine. Flair broke his back in 3 different places and was told he wouldn't be able to wrestle again but Flair had no plans to retire at the age of 26 as he entered intense therapies and returned to the ring in under 3 months which resulted in him changing his in ring style to one fans are accustomed to and this resulted in Flair wrestling until his mid 60s.

The Search Is On For Africa's Next WWE Superstar, Entries Close By Mid December

WWE in conjunction with its Sub-Saharan Africa broadcast partner SuperSport, has announced a continent-wide talent search to find Africa’s next WWE Superstar. The campaign was announced today in Lagos, Nigeria, the host city for a multi-day tryout in February 2023.

“The Search for Africa’s Next WWE Superstar” will begin today and is open to citizens of any African country. Submissions will be accepted until December 18. Learn more about the application process at www.supersport.com/WWEAfricaSuperstar.

Interested candidates will be asked to submit a video highlighting their potential to become a WWE Superstar. Successful applicants will be invited to participate in the Lagos tryout in February 2023. A select number of tryout participants will then be awarded an all-expenses-paid experience to continue their tryout journey alongside current and prospective WWE Superstars ahead of WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles in April 2023. A fulltime WWE developmental contract may be offered to the top-performing participants who will then begin their new career at the world-class WWE Performance Centre in Orlando, Florida.

“Africa is a focal point of our renewed global talent recruitment strategy and this initiative in Lagos will launch what we envision becoming a year-round, multi-country effort to cultivate relationships and identify talent that will resonate with our passionate and loyal African fanbase,” said James Kimball, WWE Head of Talent Operations and Strategy. “The region has incredible potential to serve as a meaningful talent development hub for WWE and we look forward to working with our tremendous partners at SuperSport to uncover the next generation of Superstars through this program.”

“The continent abounds with athletes and Africa has had several WWE Superstars, so this is the perfect opportunity to showcase fresh new talent,” said Marc Jury, Chief Executive of SuperSport. “As there is a massive appetite among African audiences for WWE action and entertainment, we expect this initiative to be very popular with aspirants. SuperSport looks forward to telling this exciting story in the weeks and months to come.”

Last week, WWE and MultiChoice announced a major broadcast partnership that will see Showmax – the leading streaming service available in the region – become the new home of WWE Network in Africa. The partnership incorporates all WWE Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, as well as WWE Network’s vast library of original and archived programming available to stream on-demand by more people in Africa from early 2023 on Showmax, Africa’s most loved streaming service.

SuperSport, the sport broadcasting subsidiary of video entertainment platform MultiChoice, will continue to broadcast live weekly episodes of Raw®, SmackDown® and NXT® as well as all of WWE’s Premium Live Events in a multi-year extension.

Could SuperSport's WWE Channel Be The Next Channel To Exit The DStv And GOtv Platform?

A few years ago, SuperSport acquired rights to the wrestling promotion WWE after eMedia Investments opted not to renew their agreement reflecting on costs as another measure to leave millions of households with the likes of watered down, Impact Wrestling.

Ever since the move to pay-tv, WWE has managed to retain some of their audiences while others well have to view from the sidelines. I wouldn't say the popularity declined but following it's transition to pay-tv it was kind of evident that the hype would eventually shimmer down.

Now operating as a 24/7 channel featuring Raw, SmackDown, NXT and PPVs even various content from the digital service, WWE Network. It was announced Showmax will become the new home to the WWE Network in Africa.

What this entails is that all the content seen on the WWE Channel will be made available on Showmax Pro but what got readers more intrigued about this during the week was what SuperSport got out of all of this.

"Additionally, SuperSport, the sport broadcasting subsidiary of video entertainment platform MultiChoice, will continue to broadcast live weekly episodes of Raw®, SmackDown® and NXT® as well as all of WWE’s Premium Live Events in a multi-year extension."

Implying the possible end to the WWE Channel, it doesn't mean viewers won't stop getting the above-mentioned brands as highlighted in italics but viewers will possibly have to rely on SuperSport Variety and possibly Action to view more of this brand.

While other shows known to viewers on the WWE app will revert back to being a digital exclusive but this time under Showmax's pay tier Showmax Pro.

WWE Network (not to be mistaken with SuperSport's WWE Channel) hasn't been much of a success in the United States that's why it's on Peacock and the same could be said for other countries such as Indonesia where it can be found on Disney+ Hotstar.

Take into account, most of what is said about WWE Channel's demise is just speculation but from what's seen across the world. Would it be shocking if WWE reverted back to the format seen with Impact Wrestling on e.tv and AEW on TNT.

The current linear offering appears to be running out of content and funneling their schedule with countdowns, playlists, highlights and some here and there's like Notsam Wrestling and WWE Icon. Again, this is all speculation but with MultiChoice's recent cutbacks anything can happen.

Showmax To Become The Exclusive Home Of The WWE Network

WWE® (NYSE: WWE) and MultiChoice today announced a major broadcast partnership that will see Showmax – the leading streaming service available in the region – become the new home of WWE Network in Africa.

The partnership incorporates all WWE Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania®, as well as WWE Network’s vast library of original and archived programming available to stream on-demand.

Additionally, SuperSport, the sport broadcasting subsidiary of video entertainment platform MultiChoice, will continue to broadcast live weekly episodes of Raw®, SmackDown® and NXT® as well as all of WWE’s Premium Live Events in a multi-year extension.

The weekly programming will continue to be broadcast 52 weeks a year, captivating fans with a unique combination of edge-of-your-seat action, unpredictable drama and world-class athleticism. SuperSport recently launched a brand-new localized WWE content series called JAMBO WWE, and the expanded WWE and MultiChoice partnership will see additional partnership initiatives leveraging WWE IP announced during the term.

“Showmax Pro is the market leader and a perfect home for WWE content,” said Matt Drew, WWE Senior Vice President, International. “By delivering our premium live events including WrestleMania, we believe this partnership will expand our audience and deliver even more to WWE fans throughout the region.”

Barry Dubovsky, Chief Operating Officer at MultiChoice Connected Video, added: “Adding WWE to the Showmax platform is an exciting development that we know our entertainment and sport-loving African subscribers are going to enjoy, making WWE even more accessible and affordable.”

Showmax is an African streaming service that combines the best of local content, first and exclusive international series, the best kids’ shows, and live sport from SuperSport. In addition to WWE, Showmax subscribers can stream the full entertainment catalogue, including original African fantasy series Blood Psalms; all episodes of Steinheist, the docuseries about South Africa’s biggest corporate scandal; Diiche, a Showmax Nigerian Original limited series; Journey of the Beats, a 10-part docuseries on the origin and evolution of Afrobeats; Kenyan political drama series, County49, and original thriller series, Igiza.

Subscribers can also watch brand-new episodes of the second season of the Emmy darling White Lotus plus other fan-favourite HBO and Emmy-winning shows such as Euphoria and the third season of the Showmax Original telenovela, The Wife.

Showmax is also the only place to stream all episodes of Reyka, the South African smash-hit show that was recently nominated for two International Emmy Awards – one for Best Drama Series, and one for lead star Kim Engelbrecht.

The service is available throughout sub-Saharan Africa and to selected diaspora markets worldwide. For a free trial, visit www.showmax.com.

Showmax can be streamed using apps for smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, computers, media players and gaming consoles with data consumption management available using the bandwidth capping feature.

SuperSport Unveils Exciting Sporting Line-Up For The Rest Of 2022 Through 2023

SuperSport continues to be a global leader in sporting content – and the undisputed World of Champions revealed a tantalising sports catalogue for 2023 at today’s MultiChoice Showcase. Boasting a catalogue of local and international sporting action headlined by extensive coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, MultiChoice has reaffirmed its commitment to bring its customers the best sports entertainment.

The very best football
The world’s biggest football tournament is around the corner and there is only one place in Africa where every fan can immerse themselves in everything 2022 FIFA World Cup. That place is SuperSport. Its World Cup production will be bigger than ever, with more matches, more digital support and more technology.

The tournament will run from 20 November to 18 December and SuperSport will broadcast all 64 matches live and in prime time, with highlights, historical footage and news updates adding value for our customers to enjoy. Customers can also stream all the live action on the DStv Now app and Showmax Pro, to watch wherever they are.

‘’Amidst the excitement and buzz of the World Cup, SuperSport will also be broadcasting the Premier League; La Liga; the DStv Premiership; the UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; Ethiopian Premier League; SkyBet Championship and the MultiChoice Diski Challenge. We will offer an unprecedented football experience that will reaffirm our right to call ourselves the World of Champions,” says Marc Jury, Chief Executive Officer at SuperSport.

The best of local sport

SuperSport remains a long-term supporter of local sport, both as an investor and a broadcaster. “Our coverage of local football, rugby and cricket has grown from strength to strength. We continue to widen our net to include a variety of other sport such as basketball; netball; boxing; golf; hockey and golf,” says Jury.

SuperSport also supports the growth and development of women’s sports. It will broadcast the Spar Proteas’ critical milestones and journey to the 2023 Netball World Cup, including all their fixtures. SuperSport also broadcasts the under-19 DStv Schools Netball Challenge.

The company will continue to broadcast key live sporting events which see South African teams competing with the best teams from around the world.

 

Roundups #17: DreamWorks Animation Preps Up Four New Series, Obi-Wan Streaming May 22nd On Disney+, WWE Replaces 205 Live With NXT: Level Up And New Documentary Film KungFu Stuntmen Coming Soon To KIX Africa

DreamWorks Junior expands with two animated series on Netflix

Based on the book of the same name, Not Quite Narwhal dives into the daily adventures of a narwhal named Kelp, who discovers he’s part-unicorn and must learn to navigate life in the sea and on land.

Dew Drop Diaries pulls back the curtain
on a group of pint-sized fairies who have been assigned to help city-dwelling human families with tasks such as organizing toys and placing lost teeth under pillows for the Tooth Fairy.

Both slated to air in 2023.

Source: Kidscreen

Also read: 
- Paramount+ and Nickelodeon expand kids slate
- Possible channel closures from Warner Bros. Discovery
- ViacomCBS rebrands into Paramount
- Warner Bros. Discovery could terminate these channels
- NCIS: Los Angeles might get cancelled
- Cartoonito launches on Boomerang across Europe possibly as a trial run before scrapping the channel
- Could ESPN close alongside National Geographic and Disney Channel?
- February on ViacomCBS Africa channels
- February on TNT, Cartoon Network and Boomerang

Peacock greenlits Megamind and Abominable TV series

Megamind’s Guide To Defending Your City, follow-up to the 2010 film will see Megamind going from “being a supervillain and the scourge of Metro City to a superhero who’s learning on the job. He’ll be bringing the audience along for the ride, as Megamind’s trusty brainbots will be recording everything, making him the world’s first superhero influencer.”

Abominable and the Invisible City, a comedy adventure series that will continue the story of DreamWorks Animation’s film. “Through Everest, the yeti, Yi, Jin, and Peng know that there’s a whole magical world out there. “When they discover that their surroundings are teeming with magical creatures in need of their help, the kids will set out on extraordinary and heartfelt adventures throughout their city and beyond.

Source: Deadline

Disney+ Limited Series Obi-Wan Kenobi to Debut on May 25th

The series begins with Obi-Wan Kenobi watching over Luke Skywalker on Tatooine, ten years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), and takes the character on a "rollicking adventure".

The new Disney+ limited series from Lucasfilm, will debut exclusively on Disney+ May 25. The series stars Ewan McGregor, reprising his role as the iconic Jedi Master.

NXT is getting a spinoff, kills 205 Live

WWE has canceled 205 Live currently seen on SuperSport and the WWE Channel and will air a new series in its place called “NXT: Level Up.” According to reports, WWE will tape NXT: Level Up at the WWE Performance Center and the new show is expected to be 60 minutes long.

WWE 205 Live premiered on November 2016 on WWE Network and it primarily featured talent from the NXT and NXT UK brands and originally focused on the WWE Cruiserweight division. More recently, WWE began to phase out the weight limit originally in place for the show, and the Cruiserweight Championship was unified with the NXT North American Championship.

SuperSport's WWE Channel is available on DStv channel 128 and a ray of WWE content can be viewed on other SuperSport channels.

KIX continue their martial arts journey with a brand new documentary

The documentary features such martial arts legends as Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, filmmakers Tsui Hark and Andrew Lau, along with a number of other stuntmen in the industry.

“Many legendary stuntmen live hard lives and many are unknown. That’s why I decided to make a documentary film in tribute to their continued efforts and never-yielding spirit,” said director Wei.

KIX is available on DStv channel 114

Also read:
- Baby TV could be on the chopping block
- Curiosity Channel to launch St Patrick's Day special
- Disney closing multiple channels in Latin America
- Why VH1 Classic was terminated on DStv?
- In March, E! will also be hosting the Oscars live from the red carpet and launch the cover bands
- Could G4 launch on DStv perhaps to replace a channel like Ginx Esports TV?
- Paramount+ greenlit Knuckle TV series and Seal Team movie
- Coroner and Tell Me Your Secrets coming soon to Universal TV
- AEW: Battle Of The Belts launches on TNT

You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets and if you're struggling to share the article through certain platforms use this link (Lnk.Bio).

Reminder: MultiChoice To Go By 4K By November On DStv And Showmax Pro

Mawela, who was speaking in an interview following the publication of the broadcaster’s 2022 full-year financial results on Thursday, said the company has experienced “no challenges at all” in preparing for the 4K launch, and confirmed that the World Cup will be used as the launch event.

“We are ready for the World Cup to be available in 4K,” he said. The World Cup, which is being hosted by Qatar, kicks off on 21 November.

“The broadcaster sold more than 100 000 Explora Ultras in the 2022 financial year to 31 March
Mawela’s remarks come after TechCentral reported last November on MultiChoice’s 4K plans.

Barry Dubovsky, chief operating officer at MultiChoice Connected Video, said at the time that the broadcaster was aiming to launch 4K on both DStv and Showmax Pro – the premium Showmax tier that includes live sports from sister company SuperSport – in time for the World Cup. He said then that he couldn’t make any promises about meeting the deadline. However, Mawela’s latest comments suggest everything is on track.

Moving to 4K for the World Cup will be a significant step-up in quality. MultiChoice’s streaming DStv product currently tops out at 1080p resolution, while Showmax tops out at 720p. Its satellite product broadcasts at up to 1080i resolution. 1080p and 1080i both offer 1 920×1 080-pixel resolution, or about 2.1 million pixels, while 4K content is 3 840×2 160 pixels, for a massive pixel count of 8.3 million.

Complexity
Moving to 4K adds to the complexity of the infrastructure required, Dubovsky said last year. “It’s complexity around infrastructure, it’s resourcing, it’s operational management – there’s a lot of support required. But it’s something the business is taking very seriously because we need to continually evolve the viewing experience.”

MultiChoice’s new set-top box decoder, the Explora Ultra, launched in 2020, is already 4K-ready and subscribers can access 4K content through bundled apps from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. The broadcaster sold more than 100 000 Explora Ultras in the 2022 financial year to 31 March, it revealed this week.

The Controversial History Of WWE's Most Prestigious Wrestlers, The Fabulous Moolah

The Fabulous Moolah was born Mary Ellison in 1923. Born and raised in the American south, by the 1930s Ellison was attending local wrestling shows with her fatherb seeing the polarizing women of the time; Mar Young, Mildred Burke, and Cecilia Blevins. From this point on Ellison was hooked on the sport and wanted to be a star. The story that follows is one of success and triumph, but also a tale of dark secrets, drugs, and deceit. Fabulous Moolah ran the women’s wrestling world for 30 plus years, and it wasn’t always a world of glitz and glam. The wrestler Moolah and the promoter, booker, and trainer Moolah have two very different, but equally dark histories.

Mary Ellison Becomes The Fabulous Moolah

During the early part of Moolah’s career, she was under the tutelage of Mildred Burke and her husband Billy Wolfe. Burke and Wolfe were, at the time, the premier bookers and promoters for almost all of women’s wrestling. The Burke/Wolfe playbook also asked for their contracted talent to engage in sexual favors with other promoters for preferential bookings, on top of an already huge booking percentage of all payouts. Ellison refused to participate in these practices, causing tension between her and Wolfe.

By the mid-50s Moolah and her husband Buddy Lee were using their own versions of Burke’s practices and had started booking and promoting their own women wrestlers, and booking them against their rivals. After Burke and Wolfe’s retirement, Moolah would have a stranglehold on the world of women’s professional wrestling. The same woman who broke barriers, like being the first woman to wrestle at the historic Madison Square Garden Arena, was now building walls to prevent the growth of the sport.

The Fabulous Moolah Becomes A Promoter And Booker

During this part of Moolah’s career, she would feed and house her trainees and wrestlers. Some women Moolah booked and trained told stories of the property being locked down by a certain point, and if you weren’t home in time, you would be left out until morning. These were not provided accommodations either. Moolah was collecting rent from the women who stayed there, living two and three people in a single room efficiency style cabin, charging upwards of $1,200 a month for their rooms in the 1970s. With inflation that equates to about $9,100 if charged today.

The financial strain didn’t end there. With Moolah and Lee handling all the women’s promoting and booking, women’s wrestling went through the Fabulous Moolah, so if a woman was booked to wrestle, she was also collecting a 25% booking fee of their payout whether they were “one of her girls” or not.

That means, “Moolah’s Girls” were also paying the 25% on top of their already outlandish rent. This, mixed with the allegations of forced sex, drug use, prostitution and theft, left the wrestling world buzzing when women started coming forward. The training schedules, the booking schedule, and the expectations Moolah had for the women wrestlers was also extreme. Princess Victoria was a superstar trained and booked by Moolah, who experienced a tragic career ending injury. Victoria aas quoted as saying that she was thrown out with almost nothing to her name, but would refute the allegations of Moolah being a pimp.

“Moolah was not a pimp and she hated drugs. She did steal from all of her girls including me, but she was the only way to keep wrestling back then, so it was Moolah or almost nothing. […] I think [The WrestleMania Battle Royal] should have stayed named after Moolah, no matter how crooked she was, she is and was a very important part of women’s wrestling and if they are going to do her like this, then Snickers better reevaluate their sponsorship on all sports after the many arrests made for multiple different things in sports.”

“My neck was broken in the ring and I was basically thrown out with no medical attention and very little to my name. I am now fully disabled sometimes having to use a wheelchair due to the lack of medical attention. I have had multiple concussions and have donated my brain for a future lawsuit to prove that we wrestlers have been misused by the WWE for many many years. […] I want nothing to do with the WWE and will not, even if invited to allow my name to be in their so-called Hall of Fame.”

The Fabulous Moolah Was Part Of The Original "Screwjob"

Moolah’s wrestling career inside the ring was just as cloudy as her booking and training reputation. During the early parts of her career, Moolah had a reign with the Women’s Wrestling World Championship that would rival Sammartino. Her initial reign lasting 10 years was ended, but she quickly and suspiciously picked the title back up almost a month later.

Then in the 1980s came the Rock and Wrestling connection. Along with that came a new and electric following for professional wrestling. With this following came a new star named Wendi Richter. Richter would go on to dethrone the reigning queen of wrestling. After 28 years of dominating the sport, with two generations coming and going, Richter was now the world champion.

After the match, during house shows, there were more rumors surfacing of Moolah intentionally trying to hurt Wendi in matches. Then, one night on the card, there was no Moolah, but instead Wendi was wrestling the “Spider Lady.” Through politics and the inner workings of WWE, Moolah would participate in the match under a masked disguise. This was the original WWE screwjob. After a small package rollup, the referee counted three despite a clear kick out by Richter. Richter left wrestling that night, and ultimately never returned, after giving her everything.

Whether or not fans believe the accusations, one thing is for sure. If it were not for the Fabulous Moolah, women’s wrestling would not be where it is. Changing the names of battle royals or memorials won’t answer the bigger question, however. What cost did it take to get us here?

Credits: The Sportster

More Details On The Rumoured New SuperSport Channels On DStv

As reported earlier today, SuperSport has begun work two more sports channels and there's not much new going onto the channels which has lately been a habit for consumers on the Access and Easyview packages seeing how affordable the offering has been lately.

Affordable led to consumers missing out on several premium content most of which resided in the sports section but as seen in their annual results MultiChoice has been losing consumers on the Premium and Compact bouquet and gaining on the Family to Easyview packages.

Taking that to account, is it shocking that SuperSport would further downsize their offering to consumers on the Access and if possible Easyview package.

SuperSport has seen a rise in competition with the addition of SABC Sport on the Openview platform which has led several consumers to opt for free entertainment and if anything these channels could be on that platform for that particular reason.

Again this is just speculation as MultiChoice might as well make these Compact tiered but what makes it feel more geared to consumers on Access is the amount of Tennis, Athletics, Hockey, Swimming and various here are there's like WWE Jumbo, Track And Field, SuperSport School etc.

Soccer is not a top priority for these channels at the moment but if you look at it not everyone wants another SuperSport Football much less SABC Sport.

But if you want to clear vision of these channels, imagine the first as SuperSport Premier League but with less soccer and the other as a merger between SuperSport Blitz and SuperSport Variety 4.

New Channel Alert (Rumour): More SuperSport Action Coming To DStv

SuperSport has been the pioneer in both local and internationally acclaimed sports whether you're viewing PSL, WWE, Moto GP or LaLiga. The brand offers the very best in sports and if you're DStv Premium subscriber there's no denying in its excellence.

For nearly a decade, SuperSport had been a premium tiered brand and over the years opened their doors to more consumers. In some neighbouring countries, Access consumers can enjoy the best of Football with SuperSport Football and DStv Easyview consumers get Variety 4.

In South Africa, the closest Access has gotten to the big leagues was on Variety 4 with Easyview reliant on Blitz as costs built a barrier with SuperSport and also let the door open for rivals like SABC Sport to distribute some of this content at a lower price.

But as seen during the week, SuperSport has begun experimenting on two channels both of which supply lot of existing like 7 Colour Fitness, Track And Field Weekly, UEFA Women's Euro, FIBA and Soccer Champions Tour deeming it useless to top and mid tier consumers and of value to the masses.

The possible addition of the supposed channels could bring ease to consumers leaning toward the SABC and also puts the platform in a better position to compete with the SABC Sport brand on the Openview and TelkomOne platform.

New Series Alert: Jambo WWE Coming Soon To SuperSport

Starting this Thursday (28 July at 7pm), SuperSport will launch a brand new series that is made just for the WWE Universe in Africa. JAMBO WWE, a high-energy 30-minute weekly show, will be the fans’ all-access pass to all things WWE.

WWE JAMBO will deliver a unique twist to the breaking news, exclusive interviews and hottest stories in WWE that have all of Africa talking, as well as previews and recaps of Raw, SmackDown, NXT and Premium Live Events, including SummerSlam and Clash at the Castle.

The show is designed to showcase the goings-on in WWE from an African perspective, hence the name itself, the Swahili word for “hello”.

JAMBO WWE will take a fresh approach with regards to presenters. These include Lwazi Volsak, Rosa-Lena Mabunda Mondlane, plus Emeilio Michaels and Vasilis Argyrides. As WWE experts themselves, the presenters will carry the show with their banter and lively debate in short, sharp bursts, ensuring a show of pace and power.

The show will also showcase WWE outside of regular programming. This will include interviews with superfans and members of the WWE Universe across the continent, guest celebrities, classic archive content, community activities and giveaways of WWE merchandise.

The graphics on JAMBO WWE will be boldly African, reflecting the African continent while also including the colours of WWE’s three flagship brands.

The weekly show will be broadcast every Thursday to supplement the weekly live broadcasts of Raw, SmackDown and NXT, which continue to be hugely popular with SuperSport viewers.

BROADCAST DETAILS
WWE JAMBO launches this Thursday at 7pm on WWE Channel 128 and SuperSport Grandstand. It will also be broadcast on SS Variety 3 and 3A.

New WWE Network Series Premiering Amidst SummerSlam Weekend

WWE took to YouTube earlier today to release the trailer for their new upcoming show on the WWE Network and Peacock TV. The show is called “This is Awesome” and will focus on moments in WWE’s past that made fans shocked, totally speechless, and even brought to tears.

This is Awesome will be hosted by Greg Miller and different WWE superstars as they go back and check out moments throughout WWE history that made the WWE fans chant, “This is awesome!” Some potentially awesome moments were referenced in the trailer as we saw glimpses of Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, and Ms. Elizabeth’s wedding, TLC 2, and The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan.

 

This is Awesome will join shows already on the WWE Network and Peacock TV, such as WWE Evil, Ruthless Aggression, Table for 3, and Stone Cold’s Broken Skull Sessions. How many episodes we will see, how long each episode will be, etc., is unknown, as not much is known about the series beyond the premise.

For those who don’t know Greg Miller, he is an internet celebrity and voice actor, best known for his time in IGN, where he hosted some of their podcasts, most notably, Up At Noon. Miller also started his own YouTube channel, GamesOverGreggy, which he and a couple of his former IGN coworkers rebranded to Kinda Funny. Kinda Funny is also the name used for the company that Miller and his coworkers started in 2015. Miller also has voice-acted in many video games, namely the Lego games. He appeared in Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 as Howard the Duck, Lego DC Super-Villians as Polka-Dot Man, and Lego Marvel’s Avengers as the voice of Aldrich Killian. Miller has also provided voice work for Oddworld: Soulstorm and The Solitaire Conspiracy.

WWE’s “This is Awesome” debuts on Peacock TV in the US and the WWE Network everywhere else this Friday.

Olympic Channel To Close By The End Of September

The decision, which comes a year after the Comcast-owned broadcaster folded its domestic NBCSN sports network, is seen as reflection of the decline in interest for some linear channels in favour of the streamers.

 

It has yet to be decided where NBC will place the Olympic Channel content – the games themselves remained with the broadcast network – though a candidate could be NBC’s own streaming service Peacock. Earlier this year, Peacock streamed all live events from the Beijing games.

Olympic Channel offers original programming, live sports events, news and highlights including the various world championships for Olympic sports which was distributed internationally through the likes of SuperSport.

10 WWE Superstars That Hated Each Other In Real Life

When you are WWE Superstar you don't expect to get along with everyone in the locker room. Sometimes the locker room is filled with different personalities and these personalities will clash. Sometimes these feuds are kept private and sometimes made public.

Here is a countdown to the 10 WWE feuds:

10. Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins

In 2019, Riddle's wife posted a negative video about Becky Lynch. This didn't sit well with Rollins so he vowed to never work with him.

During an interview, Riddle made the following statement:

I'll be honest, I've met Seth multiple times and he's met me and I don't think we'll ever be best friends, I don't think we'll like one another, we're just two different people. Although we love wrestling, I love my significant other said something about Becky that they didn't like and I did not like or agree with it. Seth didn't like me after that and I don't think Becky liked me or my wife either, which is understandable it is what it is.

The two ended up working together in 2020 so its unclear about the status between the two.

9. Becky Lynch and Nia Jax

Although it hasn't been confirmed, it's rumoured that these two never got along after Nia Jax broke Becky's nose in 2018 on Raw. Following that incident, the two have hardly been seen working together and what's strange is WWE never booked a march considering how publicized her injury was.

 

Following Nia's release from WWE, she took to social media to address things from politics to covid. She even compared mask wearing to the horrors of the Ukraine war - controversial. Becky unfollowed her building up to that feud.

8. Paul Heyman and AJ Styles

The two had a great relationship when Paul Heyman managed Raw between 2019 and 2020. Paul Heyman considered him one of the best wrestlers to be put in WWE. However this relationship turned sour when Luke and Carls Andersen were released from WWE.

Paul Heyman doesn't make the decisions but AJ Styles exaggerated a bit about the whole situation. The two ended up working in different brands never to be put on anything together.

7. Ronda Rousey and Alexa Bliss

When Ronda Rousey joined WWE in 2018, one of the wrestlers she worked with the most was Alexa Bliss. The two never worked well together as Alexa Bliss made it clear after several months that Ronda Rousey was over stooping her in the ring and was almost out of action for a year due to her recklessness.

 

Nia even give hints to the rumours and Bliss supported it then when Ronda returned and won The Royal Rumble. Alexa made a sarcastic meme written what a surprise.

6. Matt Riddle and Goldberg

Riddle never moves away from voicing his own opinion. Throughout his career, he's never shown any interest to Goldberg. Mocking his wrestling style declares Goldberg a danger to wrestling.

In an interview Goldberg had this to say about the wrestler:

Yeah, the cocky kid, Riddle spouting off his mouth in the beginning and I didn't appreciate it very much by any stretch of the imagination. But the guy has put in a lot of frickin hard work and a lot of frickin hard work and he's dedicated his life to the business.
Whether I like him as a human being or not, I have to understand and appreciate his passion for the business and work ethic.
Because he works hard and that's what I appreciate as an athlete and as a human
Is he a prick sometimes? Absolutely, But that's him, That's his character and so am I.

5. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair used to be the best of friends but in 2021 fans found out that wasn't the case. The two used to be inseparable and as both their careers progressed things have changed.

They used to travel to many places together on a tour bus but that's not the case and they hardly speak to each other. No reason was given to the confrontation but it's believed to be Becky's rise in popularity with both women finding men in their lives mean less time spent together.

 

4. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville

This issue was highlighted following the infamous exchange in championship belts in 2021 when Charlotte Flair was suppose switch belts with Becky Lynch but went off script to make her look bad. Not only did it affect Becky but destroyed the authority figure in Sonya Deville.

Sonya was so angry that she wanted to fight Charlotte of course no details were given if she wanted to do anything physical.

3. Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar

Riddle believes that he should be the one to end Brock Lesnar's career and although he didn't say anything derogatory to him. Lesnar loathe Riddle that he made it clear in the 2021 Royal Rumble that he would never work with him in any capacity.

The two wind up clashing when Riddle continues with his comments but never in single man matches.

2. Booker T. and Corey Graves

In 2018, Booker T. made it clear in a podcast that Graves was the reason he wasn't commentator for Raw and people believed he was going to attack him.

He made somewhat of a bizarre statement:

 

Corey Graves, right now, I wouldn't necessarily say he's on my bad side but he's the reason I'm not on Monday Night Raw right now.
Because you know what a lot of people in the company thought I was going to jump him, I was going to do something bad to him, I was gonna drag him, I was gonna take him out of the woodshed, I was gonna beat that men so bad, I was gonna beat him until this man say "Please, please, please just don't beat me anymore".

There have been reports that WWE had tried to resolve their issues but no details have been given in regard to their relationship.

1. Matt Riddle and Roman Reigns

In 2021, Matt claimed he could beat him in a fight and had this to say:

No disrespect to Roman, he seems like a swell fella but at the same time, it's like when people say they're a great parent.
You know what? if you were a great parent
When he's saying 'acknowledge me' or 'move the needle', no you don't
You're related to Rock, Shut up
Like I'm not impressed I can beat you up in a real fight
So shut your mouth.

A few months later, it was revealed that he had to write an apology letter which he outright rejected.

Xtreme Football League Makes A Comeback On ESPN In 2023

The XFL announced a new, global multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company (“TWDC”) and ESPN, which includes exclusive broadcast rights for all gameday content, tentpole events and more, for its upcoming 2023 season through 2027. Each season, all 43 games (40 regular season games, two playoffs, one championship) will be featured on a combination of ABC, ESPN networks and FX. Additionally, the agreement includes exclusive content rights across TWDC and ESPN’s digital, social and direct-to-consumer outlets such as ESPN+. The XFL is excited to officially announce its 2023 season will kick off on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

The announcement was revealed at the Disney Upfront, where XFL owners Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson were in attendance and presented the news.

“Without question, we have long admired Disney’s distinct ability to engage an expansive consumer fanbase across verticals, while also maintaining a deeply authentic, nuanced and heartfelt approach to storytelling much like our own,” said Dany Garcia, Chairwoman of the XFL. “To find a partner that honors our foundation and to be able to root our vision of unwavering passion, accessibility and the future of football with Disney as our home, is a dream come true. We are extraordinarily excited to explore the endless possibilities of this partnership – today is surely just the beginning.”

 

“The XFL will tap into sports fans’ deep love of football by emphasizing competitive action while dedicating itself to innovation and entertainment,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content. “You can see a great path to success when you combine the reach and influence of ESPN and Disney with the collective vision of XFL leadership led by Dany, Dwayne and Gerry.”

Dwayne Johnson added, “This is a definitive moment for the XFL and the beginning of an incredible, long-term partnership for the league, building on my longstanding, very successful legacy relationship I’ve had with Disney throughout my career. We’re excited to be working with global visionaries that are aligned with the XFL’s values, are true team players and share our ambitious goals to grow the XFL as a global sports and entertainment business. Through the combined power of Disney, ESPN and the XFL, together we will create a new powerhouse on the sports calendar and bring a dynamic game of football to fans everywhere. Time to ball out.”

 

Gerry Cardinale said, “With today’s announcement, the XFL has launched a truly innovative partnership with The Walt Disney Company and its world-class platforms across media, culture, sports and entertainment.  It is a privilege to join forces with the incredibly talented team at Disney and ESPN and bring Dany and Dwayne’s vision for world-class football and live event entertainment to our fans and players.”