Roundups #142: Barney The Dinosaur Reboot Is Giving People Nightmares, TLNovelas Dumps The Pink And Dye Their Hair Blue And eMedia Investments And BBC Studios Remain Silent On Any Developments Regarding BBC UKTV

Barney is set to make his comeback by 2024

Mattel announced that they would be relaunching the Barney the Dinosaur franchise and now we have a look at the titular dino’s redesign. And, unsurprisingly, people on social media sure hate it.

The most noticeable change is that they’re going from a live-action Barney the Dinosaur to an animated version. It also appears that his colors have brightened up a bit. Other than being animated, the most noticeable change is definitely Barney’s face.

As some pointed out, it sort of looks like Barney the Dinosaur went under the knife for some plastic surgery. Buccal fat removal is a procedure that thins out the cheeks. It definitely looks like the new Barney has had a little bit of work done.

In short, if this Barney redesign isn’t for you, you could simply not watch it. According to Mattel, the series is specifically being made to teach lessons to preschool-aged kids. Maybe in another three decades when they redesign Barney the Dinosaur again, the kids who watch this new series will be complaining about how their Barney is ruined.

Regular Nick:
- Wonder Pets revival might be in the works for Nickelodeon
- Peacock greenlights two new animated series
- Boomerang to go dark on the DStv platform next month

TLNovelas debuts a new look in Latin America and several countries

As part of this new image, for its 30th anniversary, the TLNovelas channel in the regions will re-release "ACAPULCO, CUERPO Y ALMA" and "TE SIGO AMANDO" two super successful soap operas back in the 90s. Both will be remastered and in high definition.

The channel has unique and exclusive content to enjoy as a family the successful melodramas that are part of more than 500 productions of the TelevisaUnivisión group. Ranging from classic and stellar to youth and children with a presence in Mexico, Latin America, the United States, Africa and Europe.

This change responds to the interests and expectations of the new pay television audiences, mainly the 04-44 segment, which makes up more than 50% of the total audience that follows the Tlnovelas signal. The channel's programming bar, which also broadcasts original programs and content focused on the world of melodrama, is aimed at an increasingly heterogeneous audience, to which young audiences from Mexico and Latin America have joined.

Everyday Novelas:
- Rubi coming soon to TLNovelas
- Until Money Do Us Part coming soon to Telemundo
- Second Chance and Hart Van Goud coming soon to Zee One and eExtra respectively

BBC UKTV still not available on the Openview platform

Last year, eMedia Investments and BBC Studios were gearing up for the rollout of BBC's sixth channel BBC UKTV to the market joining existing brands like BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Earth, BBC News and CBeebies currently seen on the DStv platform.

As of January 2023, BBC UKTV is currently available on the DStv platform offering rebroadcasts to several shows from above-mentioned channels to Access, Family and Easyview customers including Doctors, Top Gear and Come Dine With Me.

It has since then led to a clash amongst Openview consumers some even speculating that MultiChoice ripped the channel away from eMedia Investments in an exclusive deal with the BBC.

In a media enquiry with both BBC and eMedia Investments, they both remain very much silent regarding details about BBC UKTV. At the moment, eMedia Investments is gearing up for the rollout of Ultraview. What are the chances BBC UKTV will rollout thereafter?

eMedia Investments:
- SABC+ Vs. eVOD: The Consequence Of Free-To-View Television
- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments plan to combat load shedding get a lot of attention
- Could SABC be unveiling another two channels for Openview Ultra?

TelevisaUnivision Merger Is Complete

Grupo Televisa, S.A.B (“Televisa”; NYSE:TV; BMV:TLEVISA CPO) and Univision Holdings II, Inc. (together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Univision Communications Inc., “Univision”) today announced the completion of the transaction between Televisa’s media content and production assets and Univision. The new company, which is named TelevisaUnivision, Inc. (the “Company” or “TelevisaUnivision”), creates the world’s leading Spanish-language media and content company. TelevisaUnivision will produce and deliver premium content for its own platforms and for others, while also providing innovative solutions for advertisers and distributors globally.

“The close of our transaction marks a historic moment for our company and our industry,” said TelevisaUnivision CEO Wade Davis. “We are combining two iconic and market-leading companies that have a rich, shared history and an incredible portfolio of assets. This combination will create a business without comparison in the global media landscape. Over the past year both companies have transformed themselves, reaching levels of financial performance and audience resonance that has not been seen for years. The power and momentum of the transformed core business is truly unique and will be a springboard for the upcoming launch of the preeminent Spanish-language streaming service. The new trajectory of our company is supported by our new ownership group, which is well positioned to amplify the efforts of one of the best leadership teams in the world.”

Also read:
- Indian horror Dayan, Destructive Beauty coming soon to eExtra
- The last FOX Life available in the United States closes down in March
- Three new series coming to Zee World: Can You See Me, Luck In My Fate and Beauty And The Beast
- Upcoming programming for Telemundo Africa
- The Law Of Revenge coming soon to St Novelas
- Zee World becoming a Sony Channel could lead to a name change
- Upcoming programming for Star Life and Zee World
- tvN pushing to become a permanent linear channel in Africa
- Upcoming programming for Star Life

“The combination of content assets from Televisa and Univision, the two leading media companies from the two largest Spanish-speaking markets in the world, has created a company with tremendous potential,” said Alfonso de Angoitia, Executive Chairman of the TelevisaUnivision Board of Directors. “With our attractive financial profile and history of innovation, TelevisaUnivision is ready to revolutionize the industry by delivering the most comprehensive Spanish-language content offering to audiences around the world.”

The transaction brings together the most compelling content and intellectual property with the most comprehensive media platforms in the two largest Spanish speaking markets in the world. Televisa’s four broadcast channels, 27 pay-TV channels, Videocine movie studio, Blim TV subscription video-on-demand service, and the Televisa trademark, will be combined with Univision’s assets in the U.S., which include the Univision and UniMás broadcast networks, nine Spanish-language cable networks, 59 television stations and 57 radio stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets, and the PrendeTV AVOD platform.

Together, TelevisaUnivision owns the largest library of Spanish-language content and intellectual property in the world, and the most prolific long-form Spanish-language content engine in the industry. As a result of the combination, TelevisaUnivision reaches over 60% of the respective TV audiences in both the U.S. and Mexico. Across television, digital, streaming, and audio, the Company reaches over 100 million Spanish speakers every day, holding leading positions in both markets.

Also read:
- TelkomOne adds 6 new channels from SPI International
- Doodsondes S4 coming soon to eExtra
- The Blood Sisters coming in Zulu likely on ST Novelas
- Kurt En Shura coming in February to eExtra
- tvN unveils upcoming music shows
- Nurses coming in February to Telemundo
- Prima Donnas coming soon to KTN Home
- Lockdown Ki Love Story coming soon to Star Life
- Why VH1 Classic was terminated on DStv?
- Studio Dragon unveil a set of Korean dramas launching on tvN
- Telemundo and Televisa 2022 part of which will take time to arrive in Africa

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Prediction: TLNovelas Gets A Name Change Amidst The Merger Between Univision And The Parent Company Televisa + Batch Of Programming Coming To Telemundo Africa And More Zee World Channels

Is the TLNovelas brand name done for?

Last year, it was reported Televisa and Univision would merge to form a new company Televisa-Univision. This merger would see their properties consolidate under one hub.

Televisa-Univision offer linear channels with some markets housing both brands separately while others package one of two. The question dives down to the fate to the linear offering globally.

Before the merger, Univision offered a customised station for Televisa soaps known as Univision TLNovelas. Now that they'll be a single entity perhaps this brand could become a reruns channel with further content moving to Univision while others house the branding.

Univision TLNovelas or vice versa makes a suitable name as the company couldn't think of a much better name than TLNovelas Univision. To be honest, I'd much rather have them use Prende TV as the name for their linear channels.

Keep feeling the passion with Telemundo

Telemundo continues its tough journey ahead following the switch to 7 days a week. The brand has been sourcing out content that not only entertains viewers but keeps their schedule occupied.

In 2022, the channel might welcome originals like Buscando A Frida (The Search For Frida), Parientes A La Fuerza (Family By Force), Pasión de Gavilanes (Hidden Passions) and Preso No. 1 (Prisoner No. 1) alongside new seasons of Operation Pacific and Queen Of The South.

Acquired series include Café Con Aroma De Mujer (Coffee With A Woman's Fragrance/Scent Of Passion) and Enfermeras (Nurses).

REPEEEEEEEATS!!!

As seen last year, we got more repeats than new shows but Telemundo doesn't let that dominate their schedule. Possible returns for the channel include Broken Angel, Almost Yours, The Son I Never Knew, Elena's Ghost, On The Other Side Of The Wall and Price Of Fame.

Super series likely to make a comeback include Prisoners Of Love, Lord Of The Skies and El Baron.

365 days a year and 7 days a week

Since its inception, Zee World has grown to be a trailblazer with their Bollywood offering. It's success further boasted the portfolio with the launches of Zee Alem and the knockoff Zee One.

Several years back, the parent company of these channels expressed ideas of launching regional channels as seen with Zee Alem and not long ago they expanded their offering in Africa.

Zee Alem caters for Ethiopians and seeing that Africa is a diverse market perhaps we could see more of this in Portuguese, French, Zulu and Swahili speaking markets.

While MultiChoice Portuguese section remains as an Iceland. Indian subscribers got WION and Zee Cinema perhaps we could even see channels like Zing or Zee One make their way to the platform.

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Read Also:
- Blue Venom Girl and High Society Scandal coming soon to eExtra
- Happy Hearts coming soon to Star Life
- As Die Skoen Pas and Vierspel Vuurspel coming soon to e.tv
- Kuiertyd Premium coming soon to eExtra with Impak
- Maningue Magic and Kwenda Magic possibly killing off a channel on DStv
- Droomvelore and Die Put makes its linear debut on e.tv and eExtra
- TLNovelas is a permanent channel on DStv
- TBN Inspire launching in 2022, will DStv or StarSat perhaps get it?
- Boomerang likely the first channel to stop airing on DStv
- Openview becomes Bollyview
- FX returns to South Africa in 2022
- Upcoming programming for Zee World and Star Life
- Kuiertyd doesn't care about repeats
- More Zee World repeats for Zee One and eExtra
- Could SABC Children be an exact replica of SABC Education?
- National Geographic Kids launches next year
- tvN expand their offering without DStv
- BVN returns to Africa
- Cape Town TV to air local drama series
- African Animation Network rolling out a programming block 

New Series Alert: My Sweet Curse Coming Soon To TLNovelas Africa + Televisa And Univision Merge

MY SWEET CURSE COMING SOON TO TLNOVELAS

It looks like TLNovelas might stick around on DStv for the remainder of September as the channel is set to introduce another telenovela, My Sweet Curse.

My Sweet Curse (Mi Adorable Maldición) follows the rumors persist that young Aurora is cursed because of her dark, difficult past. When she meets dashing Rodrigo, the two fall in love and join forces to prove that their relationship can survive all obstacles - including the supposed curse. Renata Notni and Pablo Lyle star as the leads.

It is an adaptation of the 2013 Colombian story written by Julio Jiménez titled Lola Calamidades, which most recent version, Bella Calamidades, starred Danna García.

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TELEVISA AND UNIVISION SET TO MERGE

Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. (“Televisa”), and Univision Holdings, Inc. (together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Univision Communications Inc., (“Univision”), announced a definitive transaction agreement in which Televisa’s content and media assets will be combined with Univision to create the largest Spanish-language media company in the world: Televisa-Univision.

The combination brings together the two leading media businesses in the two largest Spanish-speaking markets in the world: Univision in the United States, the largest Spanish-language media market by value, and Televisa in Mexico, which is the most populous Spanish-language market in the world. The resulting business will hold the largest long-form library of content in the world, a powerful portfolio of IP and global sports rights, fueled by the most prolific Spanish-language production infrastructure. The power and scope of these content assets are unmatched. In 2020, Televisa produced more than 86,000 hours of content across every genre and category, including sports and special events, dramas, newscasts, situation comedies, game shows, reality shows, children’s programs, comedy and variety programs, musical and cultural events, movies and educational programming.

Televisa will also contribute its four free-to-air channels, 27 pay-TV networks channels and stations, its Videocine movie studio and Blim TV subscription video on demand (SVOD) service; and the Televisa trademark. These media assets comprise the definitive market leader in Mexico.

The Company will further benefit from Univision’s market-leading assets in the United States which includes the Univision and UniMás broadcast networks, nine Spanish-language cable networks, 61 television stations and 58 radio stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico, and prominent digital assets including its recently launched AVOD streaming service, PrendeTV.

“This strategic combination generates significant value for shareholders of both companies and will allow us to more efficiently reach all Spanish-language audiences with more of our programming,” said Emilio Azcárraga, Executive Chairman of the Televisa Board of Directors. “Together, Televisa-Univision can more aggressively pursue innovation and growth through digital platforms as the industry continues to evolve. Our new investors at the SoftBank Latin America Fund, Google and The Raine Group are just as excited about the opportunities presented by this combination.”

“This transformative combination brings together the leading network serving U.S. Spanish-language audiences with the leading media platform in Mexico powered by the most powerful Spanish-language content engine in the world,” said Univision CEO Wade Davis.

“Televisa-Univision will emerge as the leading global Spanish-language multi-media company, uniquely positioned to capture the significant market opportunity for Spanish speakers worldwide.” Davis continued, “The composition of our new investor group reflects confidence in our strategy, the progress of our digital transformation and the magnitude of the opportunity ahead of us. I would like to thank Chairman Emilio Azcárraga for his confidence in us, to continue as partners growing the incredible company he and his family have built.

“We have been deeply involved with Univision for more than two decades, and we have never enjoyed a better relationship with our partners,” said Bernardo Gómez and Alfonso de Angoitia, Televisa’s Co-Chief Executive Officers. “We are creating a company which is a leader across multi-media categories, unified over the largest territories and with the scale and focus to deliver the most compelling content experience to Spanish-language consumers around the world. We are confident that this strategic transaction will maximize the potential of our Content segment, while allowing us to strengthen our balance sheet and focus on growth opportunities at our Telecom business.”

Read Also:
- BVN stops airing on DStv from October
- Loli's Luck coming soon to Telemundo
- Upcoming shows on Star Life
- September on The Home Channel
- September on History
- Star India channels rebranding into Utsav?
- Disney+ launching in South Africa
- September on Ignition
- Peacock and Paramount+ merge into one hub
- Discovery and WarnerMedia could launch a joint streaming service
- tvN working on becoming permanent in Africa
- New Portuguese entertainment channel on DStv
- Upcoming programming for FOX and National Geographic