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Canal+ Group Buys Stake In African TV Production Company Marodi TV
Canal+ Group has acquired a stake in Marodi TV, a Senegalese production company which is a leading purveyor of TV series across ...
Monday, October 9, 2023
Recap To Last Month: StarSat Turns To Poor Viewership And Consumer Feedback For The Cancellation Of All Elite Wrestling Across Their Platforms
Friday, September 22, 2023
Channel Shorts: Nick Jr. Global Expand To Latin America And Brazil, Star Channel Rolls Out In Netherlands And Flanders By November, And TNT Provides An Update On Their Status With StarSat
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Recap To The Week: The Mysterious Disappearance Of TNT, Could More Channels From StarSat Be On Their Way Out?
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Could Warner TV Be Heading To DStv As TNT Exits StarTimes And StarSat Platforms Across Africa?
Friday, September 8, 2023
Could Discovery Family And Real Time Also Be Going Dark Following The Termination Of Discovery Science And Discovery Turbo Xtra?
Warner Bros. Discovery To Close Discovery Science And Discovery Turbo Xtra Worldwide By The End Of 2023
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Adult Swim Announces Global Expansion Plans In Latin America With A Dedicated Channel
Thursday, August 3, 2023
Boomerang To Close Down In Thailand By The End Of August
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Warner Bros. Discovery Is Moving Away From Traditional Cable TV Channels As It Changes Strategy Internationally
Here is part of that memo:
Last year, we unveiled a new org structure for International, which we believed best positioned us for success at that time. But we also acknowledged that in an ever-changing industry and market, we would need to continue to evolve in a thoughtful and strategic way, along with the climate around us.
Seven months into 2023, although we remain confident about our trajectory as a business, we are at another inflection point, and one where the global economy has not rebounded as quickly as we had hoped.
As such, today I’m announcing that Robert Blair, President, WBD International TV Distribution, will be departing WBD.
The memo went on to say that Blair’s leaving was in no way a reflection on his performance but was instead “a shift we need to make to continue to refine our efficiency and cost structure.”
This move strongly suggests that Warner Bros. Discovery will keep more content in-house and likely streaming on Max instead of selling it to 3rd part cable TV networks around the world.
In the past, media companies have resold their content internationally to other cable networks to air in Europe and around the world. Now it seems that Warner Bros. Discovery is moving in a new direction, much like other media companies have.
Disney has even gone so far as to shut down many of its cable networks, including the Disney Channel in Europe, as it pushes fans to subscribe to Disney+. It is possible we will see something similar here with Max as Warner Bros. Discovery tries to cut out the middleman.
Source: Cord Cutter News
Warner Bros Discovery President Of International TV Distribution Robert Blair Is Leaving After 25 years With The Company
Friday, July 7, 2023
Could Boing Be Added To StarTimes Perhaps As A Replacement To Toonami?
Boing, a children's channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery which is home to Clarence, Adventure Time and Dexter's Laboratory basically older shows from Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. It has a boost in popularity despite not residing on MultiChoice's DStv.
Last month, it was confirmed by Warner Bros. Discovery that youth centred action skewed channel Toonami will fold under Warner TV which brought questions to the channel's potential future in the African market.
Toonami was added on Econets defunct Kwése TV alongside Cell C's defunct Black streaming service in 2017. In 2020, it was shortly revived as a pop-up channel on MultiChoice's DStv and was later picked up by StarSat in South Africa alongside StarTimes in the rest of Africa.
During that time, Toonami was one of the leading kids brands at the time for anime like Beyblade, DC heroes like Batman or and Cartoon Network IPs like Ben 10. Over the years, the quality had further diminished with DC building up most of their lineup and anime on limbo.
Despite transitioning to a much wider spectrum in 2021, not much content was added to the channel except for Firestarter and Dragonball Super. The reason I believe this channel could be on the chopping block for consumers in Africa is simple.
Firstly, Warner Bros. Discovery had been eliminating redundancy across their platforms. Before Toonami, there was TCM and the ever successful Boomerang who similar to the channel went through a dry spell with TCM not getting much hype on its performance as seen with Boomerang.
Unlike the latter, it wouldn't seem far fetched if Warner Bros. Discovery opted for existing brand e.g. Boing as opposed to a complete restructure of the channel.
Toonami is regarded as an adult channel but most of the content fit the demographic of Cartoon Network being 7-12 years and also StarTimes still regards Toonami as a kids brand despite the rebrand in 2021 and the only new offering on the channel at the time, Firestarter.
Boing would make a suitable replacement as both leverage on archived material and also Cartoon Network and Cartoonito aren't even seen on the platform. This would be one way to get the content to newer audiences and familiarise them with both brands.
Monday, July 3, 2023
Development Alert: Boomerang In The Middle East, North Africa And Asia To Become Cartoonito
Cartoonito is the leading destination owned by Warner Bros. Discovery which distributes a variety of preschool content in the form of programming blocks across various Cartoon Network and Boomerang channels alongside standalone services.
During the year, Warner Bros. Discovery had been phasing out several Boomerang feeds across the world. Of course, there was various feeds which have yet to switchover to Cartoonito with the latter continuing to supply select content such as Batwheels and Interstellar Ella.
In the recent weeks, it had confirmed by Warner Bros. Discovery within the regions particularly MENA and Asia particularly Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, the introduction of Cartoonito from September 4th and July 28th respectively.
According to WBD Asia, the move is “part of a big regional and global commitment by WBD to preschool content.” It follows Cartoonito rebrands and launches in other international territories including EMEA and LatAm.
Boomerang favourites including “Tom & Jerry,” “Baby Looney Tunes,” “Alice & Lewis,” “Pat the Dog” and “Grizzy and the Lemmings” will remain on the channel alongside other series like "Dino Ranch and recent additions Batwheels and Bugs Bunny Builders.
It's currently unknown if MENA will offer a similar lineup as seen in Asia but it's been speculated by various consumers that similar to EMEA. Cartoonito will likely keep Boomerang's remaining programming as WBD EMEA beside managing the brand in Africa also manage these regions.
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Toonami To Be Replaced By Warner TV Next In France, Channel Might Go Dark In Africa Alongside TNT
Warner Bros. Discovery announces the September 4 launch of Warner TV Next, Toonami's new brand identity. Intended primarily for a target audience of 25/49 year olds, Warner TV Next relies on the successful formula of Toonami, the first of the “new generation” channels.
Warner TV Next builds on the legacy of iconic studio Warner Bros., a studio celebrating its centenary throughout 2023. The Warner brand, synonymous with quality, boldness and innovation comes as a landmark for viewers since it is known by 4 out of 5 French people.
Visually, Warner TV Next affirms its affiliation with a Warner TV, the group's series and cinema channel through a new logo developed in-house.
The brand also deploys modern communication codes with very pop culture packaging and graphic codes, based on the emblematic Warner Bros. logo. Warner TV Next, like Warner TV, is marketed by FranceTV Publicité.
Warner TV Next is strong in programming that brings together all DC Comics fans thanks to the best animated series and films from the DC universe (Batman, Superman, Harley Quinn, Young Justice), Japanese animation (DragonBall Super, My Hero Academia) as well as wrestling with, exclusively, the AEW league.
Warner TV Next also offers Adult Swim programs, the mark of all audacity, with animated series and fiction for millennials such as Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken, Royal Crackers, The Eric André Show or Primal.
In other developments, Boomerang in the Middle East and North Africa will rebrand to Cartoonito on the same day Warner TV Next is launched. Similar to Cartoonito Africa, both brands will be offering the same content and only recieve a new coat of paint.
Interesting to note, Warner Bros. Discovery pulled the same scenario with TNT when it replaced TCM in 2018 in Africa. Now the channel airs a lot of modern age films some of which haven't been viewed on low tiered film channels and is home to wrestling promotion, AEW.
It currently ranks as the most watched movie channel in the South African market pulling at least 10 million households. As for Toonami, Warner Bros. Discovery has been very discreet in regards to performance and new content which puts it in precarious position.
Unlike France, Toonami was a 24 DC animation channel rehashing anime like Dragonball Super from Cartoon Network alongside other content like Justice League, Green Lantern, Teen Titans and Batman I mean not even Harley Quinn despite its rebrand in 2021.
It wouldn't seem far fetched if some changes awaited the channel and part of this had to with Warner TV. Our theory is that Toonami is dissolved with further content being divided between Cartoon Network, Boing and TNT.
The French team of Toonami also handled the channel in Africa so it's demise is inevitable.
Another brand whose future comes into question is TNT, Warner TV has been phasing out the brand across European territories in the general entertainment aspect. Warner TV could be something Warner Bros. Discovery explores for the market at some point.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
News Shorts: Shocker (NOT REALLY) Mindset Network Ends It's Run As A Linear Channel After 18 Years For Liberty Learn, Telemundo Africa To Hit A New Low With Another Rebroadcast Of Decisions And TCM Closes Down In The UK By The End Of The Month
Thursday, June 22, 2023
AEW And Warner Bros. Discovery Announce New AEW: Figure Fighters Mobile Game
AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announced a new mobile game, AEW: Figure Fighters, on Tuesday. The press release for the free-to-play game explains it, "will feature 3D animated versions of AEW wrestlers battling it out in the ring, allowing fans to expand their fandom and love for the show. Fans will be able to collect and level up their favorite wrestlers, play in various game modes, and complete numerous challenges." The game is set for a 2024 release. Stay tuned for further updates.
The announcement comes just nine days before the release of AEW's first console title, AEW Fight Forever. The game will be released on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows.
"Since our initial announcement, fans worldwide have shown unbridled passion around the launch of Fight Forever, and AEW has proven through our exciting storylines and hard-hitting wrestling action that good things come to those who wait," AEW's Tony Khan said in the Fight Forever press release when the release date was finally confirmed for June 29. "With Fight Forever, Kenny and our world-class team have delivered an authentic, nostalgic feel of wrestling games past, along with the unmatched creativity that AEW brings to the table. It's going to be cool to see our fans finally getting a fresh and much-needed alternative next-gen console wrestling game on June 29. AEW has the greatest fans on the planet, and I'm excited for them to experience this new way to engage with our stars."
AEW returns to pay-per-view this Sunday with its annual crossover with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Forbidden Door. Emanating from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the show will be headlined by Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship and a dream match between "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson and "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada.
AEW Dynamite Card (June 21, 2023)
Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Daniel Garcia & Zack Sabre Jr.
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki vs. Action Andretti, Darius Martin & AR Fox
The Hardys vs. The Gunnts
Jeff Jarrett vs. Mark Briscoe (Concession Stand Brawl)
TBS Championship: Kris Statlander vs. Taya Valkyrie
Adam Cole Promo
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 Card (As of Now)
IWGP United States Championship: Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
AEW World Championship: MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Sanada vs. "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Development Alert: The Fairly OddParents And My Little Pony: Pony Life Coming Respectively To eToonz And Possible New Channel On DStv Boing Africa
During the year, eMedia Investments had (re)acquired various content from Nickelodeon including Kung Fu Panda: Legends Of Awesomeness, Dora The Explorer and The Loud House. Now the brand is set to rollout their fourth series from the brand, The Fairly OddParents.
Synopsis for the show:
The Fairly OddParents follows Timmy Turner, a 10 year old kid who was given his own fairy godparents Cosmo and Wanda who grant his every wish which at times comes with disastrous consequences. Butch Hartman known for Danny Phantom serves as content creator.
Since the series inception, The Fairly OddParents serves as Nickelodeon's second longest running series behind SpongeBob SquarePants. It has also spawned several live-action films and one series alongside various video games, theme park attractions, figurines and toys.
Recently, Nickelodeon had filed a trademark for The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish for entertainment, sporting and cultural services. Not much info is available about it on whether it will be a TV series or film for the brand or through Paramount+.
This comes after the removal of The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder on Paramount+.
Boing, a children's channel operated by Warner Bros. Discovery funneling shows from Cartoon Network and Cartoonito (formerly Boomerang) is set to broadcast the first season to one of the brand's forgotten shows, My Little Pony: Pony's Life.
Synopsis for the show:
Based on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, the series explores comedic, slice of life stories that Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy experience, primarily while hanging out at Sugarcube Corner.
The series was picked by Cartoonito (formerly as Boomerang) in 2021 and ran for two seasons. Unlike Friendship Is Magic, the series uses a different art style and each episode is 11 minutes long, consisting of two five-minute segments.
During the year, various content from Boing had been registered under DStv Catch-Up (including My Little Pony: Pony Life). According to reps, there are no plans to add Boing to DStv but that doesn't explain its appearance on Catch-Up maybe it will be added later on.
My guess a replacement for Disney Channel or Nicktoons if not a new channel on the platform.
The Fairly OddParents airs Fridays at 16:30 from 30 June on eToonz while My Little Pony: Pony Life is slated to launch later in July on Boing.
Monday, May 29, 2023
TNT Novelas Expands To More Parts Of Latin America, Kills Off TBS
During the year, Turner Network Television, Inc. a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery had trademarked a new brand, TNT Novelas. The channel rolled out in place of TNT Series which had since then inherited a number of soap operas from Turkey and Colombia.
As seen through various pay-tv outlets, the general entertainment channel TBS similar to family brand Boomerang earlier in the year in parts of Europe is being phased out for a more productive brand, TNT Novelas.
Sources site the cutback of original programming on TNT, Cartoon Network and TBS in the United States as one of the contributing factors of TNT Novelas which is expected to takeover the TBS brand name across Latin America (including Brazil) from June 26.
Another being the newly launched Max streaming service in which Warner Bros. Discovery is prioritising the original programming and leaving brands like Cartoon Network to promote the existing batch of content from the streaming service.
In other developments, Warner Bros. Discovery has been phasing out TNT across Europe for Warner TV. Of course, the TNT brand name was revived as a sports channel in the UK on top of that these changes have yet to take affect in the African market.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Could Toonami Be On The Chopping Block Perhaps For Adult Swim?
Adult Swim is a general entertainment brand owned by Warner Bros. Discovery that is home to various adult animation including Rick And Morty, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Robot Chicken. It is currently operating as a programming block on Cartoon Network in the U.S.
During the year, Cartoon Network's president Michael Ouweleen unveiled two series My Adventures With Superman and Unicorn Warriors Eternal shows initially meant to be released by Cartoon Network was folded under Adult Swim.
Later in the week, it was heard from sources that Ouweleen would be investing more airtime in Adult Swim therefore reducing the airtime seen on Cartoon Network in the affected region. Although, these changes don't seem to have an affect on the channel in other countries.
It does however bring out a lot of curiosity for the brands that do such as Toonami cause the last brand to have gotten this much attention was Cartoonito and by the end of March 2023 a lot of Boomerang feeds were phased out for this offering.
Similar to Boomerang, Toonami has a come off as repetitive and less productive or at least the feed situated in Africa as France was able to do a proper rebrand which saw the channel supply wrestling promotion AEW, anime and content from Adult Swim.
Kind of like how most of Cartoonito's existence was based off Boomerang, the same could be said about Adult Swim with Toonami. Content from the brand could help boost the offering in Africa and get more viewers invested on the channel currently it's a DC wasteland.
Another problem probably establishing a dedicated Adult Swim channel off the ground would be contractual issues as MultiChoice a platform that doesn't offer Toonami have rights to a portion of their content or in this case Adult Swim.
Considering Warner Bros. Discovery plans to rollout the Max streaming service in new destinations by 2024 that might as well change.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
New Channel Alert (Rumour): Could MultiChoice Be Adding Boing As A New Channel To The DStv Platform?
Boing is a children's channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery that is home to various shows formerly seen on Cartoon Network and Boomerang (now Cartoonito). Some of the shows include Total Drama Island, Adventure Time, Wacky Races and The Jungle Bunch.
During the year, Warner Bros. Discovery held a virtual conference for Cartoonito where it was mentioned that the channel had been garnering popularity within the market particularly for shows such as Dexter's Laboratory, Uncle Grandpa and Clarence.
It's kind of clear that the channel is in high demand particularly for consumers who grew up viewing these shows on Cartoon Network and at the time Boomerang. Another being the crowded lineup of preschool channels onboard the platform.
Over the years, MultiChoice has been restructuring repeats seen across the platforms and Boing does come off as a channel that would likely join existing brands such as kykNET Lekker and BBC UKTV.
Similar to Nicktoons and in some capacity Discovery Family, Warner Bros. Discovery has been licencing content that you wouldn't come across on Cartoon Network much less Cartoonito. On top of that, Boing has often been used to continue shows these brands axe.
Over to DStv, rumours of the brand's possible entry to the platform first started when Warner Bros. Discovery supposedly promoted Puffy AmiYumi as Cartoonito and now The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy joins the list now with including Cartoon Network.
Next month, schools will be closing so maybe Boing will be announced by then as The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy is listed under Warner Bros. Discovery's upcoming attractions for June 2023.
Again nothing is official considering MultiChoice already supply a large selection of channels from Warner Bros. Discovery the idea of Boing joining that list doesn't seem far fetched. As the brand in some form or manner can fill the void left by Boomerang.
Friday, April 21, 2023
Could Cartoonito Channel Rollout In The United States Before 2025 Perhaps As A Replacement To Discovery Family?
In 2022, WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. formalised their formation into Warner Bros. Discovery which led to a lot of outrage from consumers following the cutback of staff and content and 2023 is where they look to start a new chapter.
We have shows like Tiny Toons Looniversity and Gremlins: The Secret Of Mowgai on Cartoon Network with My Adventures With Superman and Unicorn Warriors Eternal on Adult Swim all of which will be available to the revamped Max streaming service.
With questions surrounding the future of Cartoonito USA after garnering popularity internationally and on HBO Max. It was reported that some of Warner Bros. content such as Baby Looney Tunes and Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries would be made available to Discovery Family.
Although, this doesn't mean much at this point there's a lot of speculation amongst consumers that Discovery Family would unfold on Cartoonito as Hasbro is looking to sell their stake on the channel with the latter expected to continue until March 2025.
Now the idea of Cartoonito replacing Discovery Family doesn't seem like a completely bad idea as seen with Boomerang in the affected region as the content kind of aligns itself to the current demographic being preschoolers or as seen in the EMEA region, family.
Following this merger, I presume Discovery would want to work on factual and lifestyle oriented programming which is what Discovery Family lacks in the United States leaving the door open for a potential takeover for Cartoonito as Warner handles the kids offering.