Recap To Last Year: "There Are Currently No Plans Of Rebranding Cartoon Network Africa"

Cartoon Network is an international brand operated by Warner Bros. Discovery that was constructed to distribute various TV based films and series. It garnered popularity globally with a dedicated TV channels and also contributed to brands like Adult Swim and Cartoonito.

In recent years, Warner Bros. Discovery had further distanced themselves from the trademark with Adult Swim taking front row seat with Unicorn Warriors Eternal and My Adventures With Superman. Other feeds continue to cater for a younger demographic outside their studios.

The linear counterparts had also seen a change in management before you'd have one feed calling the shots with others following procedures. Overtime, more feeds begun to operate more independently if it was not through content then it would be the technical specifics.

Through an enquiry on whether Cartoon Network in Africa and likely the rest of EMEA could look into adopt to their international counterpart this is what I got from a representative:

Cartoon Network USA and Cartoon Network Africa operate as distinct channels with their own unique designs, programming, and branding strategies. While there are similarities in design elements, these choices are made independently to cater to the specific preferences and tastes of their respective audiences.

As of now, there are no plans for a rebranding of Cartoon Network Africa. Both channels will continue to deliver content tailored to their specific markets, ensuring a diverse and engaging viewing experience for fans across different regions.

Although, no plans are set in stone for them to follow their international counterparts. Various channels had opted for a regionalized revamping and this included Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Cartoonito so it wouldn't seem far fetched if Cartoon Network joined the trio.

News Shorts: Warner Bros. Discovery Acquired Turkish Streaming Service BluTV, Bunk'd To End With A Season 7 On Disney Channel And Disney To Discontinue The FOX Sports Brand In Latin America For ESPN

Max and Discovery+ have a new home in Turkey

For the past three years, Warner Bros. Discovery and BluTV — Turkey’s first local SVOD service — have had a partnership that made WBD a 35% shareholder in BluTV. Since its 2016 launch, BluTV has shown rapid growth both in original content and its content library, leading to the launch of Discovery+ on the platform in 2021. In February, HBO content and kids channels were added to BluTV, giving viewers access to channels like Cartoon Network and Cartoonito, as well as award-winning shows like “The Last of Us,” “Game of Thrones” and “Sex and the City.”

“We are very excited for this new chapter,” Jamie Cooke, GM CEE of Middle East and Turkey at Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “Turkey has been an important investment territory for us for over 20 years and the acquisition of BluTV brings Turkey’s first local SVOD player into our portfolio. The combination of compelling Turkish content and a broad range of the best international series and shows from Warner Bros. Discovery is an unbeatable recipe to be locally relevant and successful. Together we bring Turkish audiences the most compelling viewing experience and expand the reach of Turkish content globally.”

Fan favourite show has been axed by Disney

Bunk’d, Disney Channel‘s longest-running live-action series, will end its run with the conclusion of its current seventh season. The final installment of 10 new episodes will air in 2024.

Production on Season 7 was suspended in early May due to the WGA strike. At that time, filming had been completed on 12 episodes of the 20-episode Season 7, with eight episodes remaining to be shot. The order has now been increased to 22 episodes, and production on the remaining 10 episodes is underway.

Throughout its run, Bunk’d has been a top performer on linear TV and streaming platforms. Part 1 of Season 7 was summer 2023’s second most-watched live-action series and Top 10 series overall for kids 6-11 in combined viewing across streaming and linear platforms, according to Nielsen data (Live+7 for linear, live for streaming).

Disney is adding more ESPN channels

The Walt Disney Company has confirmed that as from February 15, 2024 it will rebrand all its Fox Sports channels in Spanish-speaking Latin America and Brazil in order to discontinue the brand in the region. The new Pay TV sports channels will be ESPN 5, ESPN 6 and ESPN 7. 

According to the information given by Disney, the changes to be introduced are the following:

-Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 AS ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7.

-Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7.

-Chile: ESPN EXTRA will be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5, FOX SPORTS 2 as ESPN 6, FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 7 and FOX SPORTS 1 PREMIUM as ESPN PREMIUM.

-Central America: ESPN EXTRA is to be renamed as ESPN 4, ESPN 4 as ESPN 5 and FOX SPORTS 3 as ESPN 6.

-Brazil: ESPN EXTRA will change its name to ESPN 6 and FOX SPORTS 2 to ESPN 5. 

News Shorts: VH1 To Cease Transmission In Italy And Possibly Denmark, A Rebroadcast Of The Scent Of Passions Launches Across Africa On Telemundo And Warner Bros. Discovery To Rollout A Rebranded Max Streaming In Latin America By Early 2024

VH1 is closing down in more countries

VH1 was an international entertainment channel which was basically a mash up of MTV and BET. It is operated by Paramount Global and over the last decade the company had been dismantling the trademark with various channels closed in most parts of the world.

Through an electronic programme guide by a viewer in Denmark, VH1 schedule will run until the end of New Year's Day. Thereafter, the channel will no longer have a 24 hour schedule available for consumption leading some to believe the possible demise of the brand.

Considering that the channel will be shutting down in Italy a few days after Denmark's possible closure. It wouldn't seem far fetched if the same fate awaited these consumers as Paramount Global had been exploring a potential sale of the brand under the BET Group.

Telemundo welcomes its third rebroadcast

During the month, it was reported that Telemundo will be increasing the timeslots for the on/off again series Case Closed and Decisions. Also within the new year will be the launch of a new series Game Of Lies starring Maria Elisa Camargo and Arap Bethke.

Prior to its debut, Telemundo will be adding a rebroadcast of The Scent Of Passions in Law Of The Heart's current timeslot from 8 January.

Sebastián Vallejo, a member of the rich family that owns the Casablanca coffee plantation, falls in love with the nice and honest coffee picker Teresa Suárez, known as La Gaviota; their romance is full of difficulties.

Max expands to Latin America

A statement presented by Costa Rican cable operator Tigo confirmed that HBO Max will be relaunched as Max in the next month of February, at a close yet to be defined. The rebranding plans were originally scheduled for the end of 2023 in our region, since the platform has made the change in the United States during the last month of May. 

The new identity of the streaming platform sets aside the characteristic color painted by a powerful new blue, and will bring with it the content of the Discovery+ platform, which was never launched in Latin America except Brazil, as a product of the merger between Warner Bros. Discovery. 

Latin America will be the first region at an international level in which HBO Max will make the switch to Max, as at the moment it was the first territory outside the United States to launch the service. Also in 2024, Max will reach Europe and Southeast Asia. This last region is especially relevant, as HBO Max never reached it.

More Cord Cutting Might Await Brands Like Nicktoons And MTV Base If Merger Between Paramount Global And Warner Bros. Discovery Moves Forward

During the week, it was reported that Paramount

Global and Warner Bros. Discovery were exploring a potential merger. For now, Warner Bros. Discovery can't look at merging with another entity until April 2024 and talks are said to be in the early stages so it's not known whether they'll go through with the plan.

For a while now, we had explored a variety of outcomes pertaining to the offering on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Not long ago, expanded into the general entertainment section with Smithsonian Channel alongside MTV and Comedy Central with this article pertaining to secondary brands.

Paramount Global operates brands like Comedy Central Extra, BET Gospel, BET Hip-Hop, MTV Base, MTV Hits, Nick@Nite, TeenNick and Nicktoons while Warner Bros. Discovery offers Discovery Family, Real Time, Discovery Max, Boing and Toonami.

With Paramount's possible downsizing to Warner Bros. Discovery, the latter might not have much content left for all these channels and might look into closing them down if not merging in some countries.

Take for instance Nick Jr., Paramount Global was able to operate the channel separately from Nickelodeon with its own slate of content and with this consolidation the latter similar to Nicktoons will most likely cease to exist if not merge under Nickelodeon.

Considering that a ton of archived projects would be available at hand, it's possible the Nicktoons concept could remain intact and looking at the size of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount maybe Boing/Boomerang could become a worthy successor to Nicktoons.

Nicktoons doesn't serve much purpose especially if they're not looking to produce animation under Nickelodeon. Warner's portfolio has more consumption than Paramount and shows like Paw Patrol and SpongeBob would get more exposure on Cartoon Network.

Despite not as big of an consumption, these channels do have plenty of exposure in other countries so much so that Paramount Global could explore a potential sale to these channels.

How The Possible Merger Of Warner Bros. Discovery And Paramount Global Could Dismantle MTV And Comedy Central?

MTV and Comedy Central are general entertainment brands operated by Paramount Global that distribute a variety of content ranging from reality shows, sitcoms, films and animation. They have garnered traction for productions like Ridiculousness and South Park.

As seen in the last decade, their linear counterparts had been reduced to waste. If you tune into MTV, the youth oriented brand airs Ridiculousness for most of the day which serves as the Teen Titans GO! of the network while Comedy Central is slumped over shows like The Big Bang Theory and Two And A Half Men.

During the week, it was reported that Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery were exploring a potential merger. For now, Warner Bros. Discovery can't look at merging with another entity until April 2024 and talks are said to be in the early stages so it's not known whether they'll go through with the plan.

Ideally, if a merger were to happen MTV could be dismantled or revert back to being a music oriented brand and take up the identities of the current MTV Base and MTV Hits channels across Europe. Award shows and live performances could remain intact on this restructured brand.

Warner Bros. Discovery doesn't offer a music brand or at least not on cable or streaming and MTV would be one way to sort of expand on that. They operate a number of TV channels most of which could be purged if not sold if this merger moves forward.

Then shows like Catfish: The TV Show and Ridiculousness could fold under HBO adult centred line-up while The Challenge could compliment Discovery's existing portfolio. TLC could inherit Ex On The Beach, Jersey Shore, Love And Hip-Hop and Teen Moms.

Comedy Central had become the Adult Swim of Paramount Global with South Park laying out most of the punches. All of this could as well be folded under Adult Swim and Cartoon Network with live-action residing on HBO leaving the linear component to serve only reruns to sitcoms.

HBO could even give the brand a dedicated block and use it as a trademark for sitcoms produced under their brand.

Smithsonian Channel Likely To Get Axed If The Possible Merger Between Paramount Global And Warner Bros. Discovery Moves Forward

The Smithsonian Channel is a factual based brand operated by Paramount Global through MTV Entertainment Group. It offers video content inspired by the Smithsonian Institution's museums, research facilities and magazines.

Serving as a competitor to Disney's National Geographic and a majority of factual based channels operated by Warner Bros Discovery. It was home to content like Ice Airport Alaska, The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist, Damian Lewis: Spy Wars and Aerial America.

It used to operate various linear channels internationally and since December 2022 is only viewable on Paramount+ in these regions. As it has been outlined by sources that it would garner traction and of course some content would resurface on MTV.

During the week, it was reported that Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery were exploring a potential merger. For now, Warner Bros. Discovery can't look at merging with another entity until April 2024 and talks are said to be in the early stages so it's not known whether they'll go through with the plan.

Most of Paramount's assets are likely to be consolidated if not sold at this point. Unlike Nickelodeon or MTV, The Smithsonian Channel doesn't seem to have much of a future as it had been overshadowed by existing competitors.

Logically, shows like Aerial America and Mayday will just fold under the factual part of Warner Bros. Discovery not that this is new or anything. But they had been licensing content to other broadcasters before and after expanding their linear offering to other countries.

As for the brand in general, The Smithsonian Channel could continue to offer content based on their "museums, research facilities and magazines". Of course, I'd expect quite less of that at this point and they'd probably need to look at partnerships for sustainability.

Warner Bros. Discovery In Talks To Merge With Paramount Global

• The duo discussed ways their companies could complement one another. For example, each company's main streaming service — Paramount+ and Max — could merge to better rival Netflix and Disney+.

• WBD could use its international distribution footprint to boost Paramount's franchises, while Paramount's children's programing assets could be essential to WBD's long-term streaming ambitions.

• CBS News could be combined with CNN to create a global news powerhouse. CBS' crime dramas, such as "NCIS" and "Criminal Minds," could be combined with Investigation Discovery and TruTV.

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish and WBD boss David Zaslav sat down on Tuesday at Paramount’s corporate headquarters in New York’s Times Square, a well-place source tells the media, “It was all rather preliminary,” the source said of the talks. Shari Redstone, CEO of Paramount’s controlling shareholder, National Amusements, “is on a bit of a listening tour to see what she might be able to get if she decides to sell the company or part of it,” he added.

Sources has reported in recent days that Redstone, after spending years holding her family’s empire together, had become open to offers for NAI and Paramount assets from suitors including Skydance and RedBird Capital.

Redstone was not in the room with Zaslav and Bakish for the actual meeting, a source noted. Redstone did have a separate conversation with Zaslav this week where the role of broadcast network CBS in any potential future deal was a major topic.

As a broadcast network coupled with 28 owned stations in many markets, CBS is a significant asset but also a legacy one. Given recent talk of Disney possibly parting with ABC and its stations (though the company recently said it has reconsidered) and other movement on the broadcast chess board, the notion of CBS and the stations not following the rest of the Paramount portfolio may be logical. Private equity funds have increasingly looked at local broadcasting as an area of interest.

Wall Street didn’t have any immediate reaction to the initial report of the negotiations by Axios. WBD stock slipped almost 6% during the regular trading day and was basically flat in after-hours trading. Paramount slid 2% and drifted down further after the session.

Warner Discovery would be prevented from entering into a transaction until the April expiration of a two-year lock-up period after the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. The lockup was agreed to as part of the Warner-Discovery deal, which was executed via a Reverse Morris Trust, which confers certain tax advantages. Many dealmakers had marked April 8 of next year given the likelihood of WBD wanting to make changes to its portfolio.

Word of the talks surfaced not long after Bloomberg reported that Paramount had also been discussing the potential sale of BET Media, which includes the BET and VH1 cable networks as well as studio and streaming operations. Potential buyers include Byron Allen and an investor group led by BET CEO Scott Mills and finance executive Shinh Chu of CC Capital Partners. Paramount had previously explored the sale of BET but had pulled it back after determining that the bids were too low.

Both WBD and Paramount face significant issues with debt as well as the hefty expenses required of anyone looking to compete in streaming. Since the April 2022 closing of WarnerMedia’s $43 billion merger with Discovery, investors had pointed to the company’s debt as a concern. It also combined a large swath of cable TV assets against a backdrop of accelerating rates of cord-cutting. Shares in the merged company have been trading well below the price as of the deal close. Similarly, Paramount’s reunion of CBS and Viacom has not gone over well on the Street, with the stock sinking to single digits earlier this year and remaining nearly two-thirds below its level at the close of the Viacom-CBS deal in 2019.

WBD and Paramount Global both declined to comment. A rep for National Amusements did not respond to a request for comment.

DLife Is Being Revived In Japan As A Replacement To FOX From March 2024

Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century FOX, they had been phasing out the FOX brand name across several of their properties. This has led the closure of numerous FOX channels across Europe, Africa and Asia with others being converted to Star or FX.

According to the FOX Network website in Japan, FOX is set to rebrand from 1st March 2024 to DLife. The new brand will continue to provide Japanese viewers with comprehensive global entertainment content, with a focus on high-quality foreign drama, including award-winning popular series. 

“Dlife” inherits the 25-year tradition of the “FOX” channel in Japan, and continues to enjoy shows such as “NCIS” and “Criminal Minds”, which continue to enjoy high ratings in the United States. Warner Bros. Discovery also trademarks a similar brand name in some countries.

From long-loved series such as ``Frontline'' and ``FBI: Special Investigations Unit,'' to works that have been broadcast for the first time in Japan, we have and will continue to provide high-quality works centered on the best dramas from around the world. 

Prior to the rebrand, Disney is set to phase out the remaining FOX channels in Portugal (including Angola and Mozambique) for Star by early 2024. They are also looking to close their remaining linear offering across Asia.

MultiChoice Renews Several Studio Deals Including NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney And More

Every year, MultiChoice would usually host a content showcase where they'd display various attractions currently or yet to be seen across their platforms. 2023 was one of those years were for some reason none of this occurred so another option would be the interim results.

Interim results are usually the one way MultiChoice is able to engage with consumers about the performance on their platforms and also a downsized version to the content showcase which reflect mostly toward their assets than 3rd parties.

It is through this report hidden way in a page is the renewal agreement with NBCUniversal, MGM, Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and Disney for their content distributed to M-Net and linear channels. Of course, MultiChoice doesn't provide a duration or terms to these new agreements as seen with Disney back in 2021.

It was also highlighted that they had reduced 3rd parties cost which could mean a number of things: First with Showmax 2.0. set to rollout in the first quarter of 2024 MultiChoice would have to reduce their portfolio so that NBCUniversal can use their 30% stake in the platform.

M-Net had undergone a similar route following the rollout of Disney+ and had since then (co-)produced a number of shows like Devil's Peak, Reyka, Recipe For Love And Murder, and Blood Psalms.

Another would have to pertain to their linear offering, most companies highlighted provide a selection of factual, lifestyle, general entertainment and children's channels. It's likely that one of these channels are going dark soon if not building the lineup for another channel.

National Geographic possibly becoming a member of A+E Networks could mean the end of National Geographic Wild as A+E Networks sustains one channel. Nickelodeon possibly being sold to Warner Bros. Discovery would signal the end of Nicktoons and Nick Jr. as linear channels.

Could Nickelodeon Be Offloaded Onto Cartoon Network In The Next Two Years??? Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav Seem To Hint At That Possibility

Nickelodeon is a children's channel that is operated by Paramount Global which is home to some of the most iconic characters including Garfield, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Loud House alongside iCarly and Henry Danger.

During the week, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery was looking to become an acquirer in the next two years as the impact of strikes and write offs to fully developed productions saved them up a lot of money. They site NBCUniversal and also Paramount Global as possible candidates.

Both companies are heading for a loss before the end of this current financial period with their streaming endeavours. It is what led to delay of global rollouts to this streaming services as the latter are looking at potential partnerships with Peacock rolling out across Africa under the Showmax streaming service and likely Paramount+.

Although this sale isn't an official thing NBCUniversal was rumoured to have explored the possibility of merging with these brands but got rejected as the latter felt this merger would favour them. Paramount on the other was in negotiations a few years back with Netflix of a possible acquisition before talks got scrapped as the streamer was more invested in their studios than linear offering.

Warner Bros. Discovery from the looks of things doesn't expect these two companies to recover the lost income overtime and might look to declare bankruptcy if not sale I mean Paramount Global current CEO was open to the idea and had attempted that with BET before plans fell through.

How this affects Nickelodeon?

Not only does Nickelodeon provide content but they distribute a number of TV channels like NickMusic, TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and Nick@Nite. All of this will likely just shut down if a sale were to occur with content like Paw Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants folded under Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation.

Nickelodeon could continue to operate as a separate tier from Cartoon Network I mean it doesn't seem far fetched. Warner Bros. Discovery had made several attempts at building the live-action offering on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon had conceived a number of successful shows including iCarly, Big Time Rush and Drake And Josh.

In this current climate where cable TV is being rendered obsolete one of these companies would have to give in and look into offloading assets if it gives them any chance of sustainability. 

Warner Bros. Discovery Looking To Acquire Assets Of Companies Flirting With Or For Filing For Bankruptcy, Hints At The Demise Of Paramount Global And NBCUniversal

Chief Executive David Zaslav and board member John Malone both made comments this week suggesting the company is paying down debt and building up free cash flow to set up acquisitions in the next two years of media businesses suffering from diminished valuations.

The targets could be companies flirting with or filing for bankruptcy, Malone said in an exclusive interview with CNBC on Thursday. While U.S. regulators may frown at large media companies coming together because of overlaps with studio, cable or broadcasting assets, they'll be much more forgiving if the companies are struggling to survive, Malone told David Faber.

"I think we're going to see very serious distress in our industry," Malone said. "There is an exemption to the antitrust laws on a failing business. At some point of distress, right, then some of the restrictions, they look the other way."

Media company valuations have been plummeting amid streaming video losses, traditional TV subscriber defections, and a down advertising market. This has affected Warner Bros. Discovery as much as its peers. The company's market valuation recently fell below $23 billion, its lowest point since WarnerMedia and Discovery merged last year. The company ended the third quarter with about $43 billion in net debt.

Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to position itself to be an acquirer, rather than a distressed asset, itself, by paying down debt and increasing cash flow, Zaslav said during his company's earnings conference call this week. Warner Bros. Discovery has paid down $12 billion and expects to generate at least $5 billion in free cash flow this year, the company said.

"We're surrounded by a lot of companies that are – don't have the geographic diversity that we have, aren't generating real free cash flow, have debt that are presenting issues," Zaslav said Thursday. "We're de-levering at a time when our peers are levering up, at a time when our peers are unstable, and there is a lot of excess competitive – excess players in the market. So, this will give us a chance not only to fight to grow in the next year, but to have the kind of balance sheet and the kind of stability ... that we could be really opportunistic over the next 12 to 24 months."

Still, Warner Bros. Discovery also acknowledged it will miss its own year-end leverage target of 2.5 to 3 times adjusted earnings as the TV ad market struggles and linear TV subscription revenue declines.

Buying from distress

Malone has some experience with profiting from times of distress.

His Liberty Media acquired a 40% stake in Sirius XM over several years more than a decade ago, saving it from bankruptcy. Since then, the equity value of the satellite radio company has bounced back from nearly zero to about $5 per share. Sirius XM currently has a market capitalization of about $18 billion.

"It made us a lot of money with Sirius," Malone told Faber.

While Malone didn't name a specific company as a target for Warner Bros. Discovery, he discussed Paramount Global as an example of a company whose prospects seem shaky. Paramount Global's market valuation has slumped below $8 billion while carrying about $16 billion in debt.

Malone noted that Paramount's debt was recently downgraded. "I think that they're running probably negative free cash flow," he said.

Paramount Global's third-quarter cash flow was $377 million, and the company has forecast a return to positive free cash flow in 2024.

While Paramount Global shares have fallen precipitously since Viacom and CBS merged in 2019, there are signs the company is shoring up its balance sheet. CEO Bob Bakish said earlier this month Paramount Global's streaming losses will be lower in 2023 than 2022, and the company expects further improvement to losses in 2024. The company closed a sale for book publisher Simon & Schuster for $1.6 billion and will use the proceeds to pay down debt.

Paramount Global is one of the few assets that logically fits Malone's vision of a media asset that would have regulatory issues as an acquisition with potential distress concerns. Comcast's NBCUniversal, another potential merger partner, will lose more than $2 billion this year on its streaming service, Peacock, but the media giant is shielded by its parent company, the largest U.S. broadband provider.

"Warner Bros. [Discovery] now is making money. Not a lot, but they're making money," Malone said. "Peacock is losing a lot of money. Paramount is losing a ton of money that they can't afford. At least [Comcast CEO] Brian [Roberts] can afford to lose the money."

Paramount Global's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone is open to a transformative transaction, CNBC reported last month. Puck's Dylan Byers recently reported that industry insiders have speculated Warner Bros. Discovery might pursue an acquisition of Paramount Global after the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

A combination of NBCUniversal and Paramount Global also has strategic logic, but the combination of two national broadcast networks — Comcast's NBC and Paramount Global's CBS — would present a significant regulatory hurdle. Warner Bros. Discovery doesn't own a broadcast network, making an acquisition of CBS easier.

Spokespeople for Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment.

While Malone said all legacy media companies should be talking to each other about merger synergies, he acknowledged valuations may have to fall farther to get regulators on board with further consolidation. Malone predicted that could happen in the same timeline Zaslav gave — within the next two years.

"Eventually maybe there'll be regulatory relief," Malone said. "Out of distress usually comes the reduction in competition, increased pricing power, and the opportunity to buy assets at a deep discount."

Rumour: Warner Bros. Discovery Will No Longer Be Producing Original Programming For Preschoolers, International Cartoonito Remains Safe

Last year, WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. formalised their merger which lead to the creation of Warner Bros. Discovery which saw properties such as HBO, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Cartoonito, TLC, Discovery Channel, Investigation Discovery and HGTV fold under one hub.

Of course, this merger had also stirred up controversy as the current CEO of the brand David Zaslav had axed various productions from the Warner part of the brand including Mao Mao: Heroes Of Pure Heart and Batman: Caped Crusader on Cartoon Network and Cartoonito's entire catalogue of original shows.

Cartoonito was introduced in 2021 as rival to Disney Junior and Nick Jr. with Warner Bros. Discovery planning to conceive 50 preschool programs by 2023. So far only Batwheels and Bugs Bunny Builders were introduced alongside the recently launched Jessica's Big Little World.

According to sources on Reddit, Jessica's Big Little World will end after its current season as Warner Bros. Discovery will no longer be producing original preschool programs and this follows last year's move which saw them scrap further production of live-action kids and family shows.

This news doesn't come as a surprise considering the amount of exposure Cartoonito is given on Cartoon Network. Although Warner Bros. Discovery had never disclosed the ratings for the block, Cartoonito's airtime has declined from last year initially 6 hours dropped to 1.5 hours part of which may to do with the purge.

In Africa, Warner Bros. Discovery content from its kids multiplex dominates the Top 20 shows across all kids’ channels. More than 105 000 children watch CoComelon with almost 90 000 watching Interstellar Ella on average. Batwheels and Bugs Bunny Builders rank as the #5 and #6th most watched shows in thez a market.

All of which might not have any impact pertaining to the future of these shows. If it's any consolation, Cartoonito will most likely continue to broadcast in most parts of Europe seeing as it was structured as a family channel which is probably the most safest thing for the brand right now.

Prior to this development, Max acquired rights to Hop (from Marc Brown, creator of Arthur) and Barney's World based from the Barney And Friends franchise. It's likely that Cartoonito will continue (without original programming) or get scrapped before any of this is released.

My Opinion Regarding The Demise Of Boomerang And Rise Of Cartoonito

During the year, Boomerang was folded under Cartoonito after it rolled out on the channel as a programming block in 2022. It featured various shows like CoComelon, Thomas And Friends and Dino Ranch and expanded to include Batwheels, Interstellar Ella and Bugs Bunny Builders.

As seen through my research on the Latin American market, Boomerang retains a stake in Cartoonito particularly for figures such as Scooby-Doo, Tom And Jerry and Looney Tunes. Of course, the Boomerang DNA has slowly subsided on the channel.

So yeah, I kind of get why parents and children across Africa would be very fearful about the future of Boomerang. This was a channel that was home to classical figures outside of Warner Bros. such as Garfield and The Addams Family and overtime evolved to include shows like Grizzy And The Lemmings and Zig and Sharko.

But this is a rebrand and as such various measures should be implemented, to me them keeping a small fraction of Boomerang was probably a way to phase off the channel to its entirety and also another way to keep existing viewers while as welcome newer audiences to Cartoonito.

I could be angry about this rebrand but hey similar to how some viewers say Cartoon Network died over the years the same could have been said about Boomerang. At one point, it was almost like Boing thereafter it got another identity therefore tarnishing the name.

Cartoonito as a whole kind of makes sense right now as it keeps the original DNA Boomerang intact and it's one better way to kind of align the brands. I know some are angry about Looney Tunes Cartoons but hey I noticed better treatment on the channel than Cartoon Network international.

In short, I don't think Cartoonito is that bad of a channel especially if there's still viewers out there willing to watch CoComelon and Thomas And Friends. It's productive and imaginative unlike some other kids channels I know of but won't mention right now.

News Shorts: The Final Season Of Chrysalis Is Currently Streaming On eVOD, Boing To Be Added On StarSat Platforms Across South Africa Soon, Queen Of The South Rumoured To Return With A Third Season On Telemundo Across Africa By 2024

Chrysalis S3 is on eVOD

Learning that Cana is pregnant, Nalan brought her to the mansion to confront Sedat, but she still could not learn the truth. Determined to take her revenge on Rafet, Pervin told Rafet about Gülcihan and Cavit's past. Pera, on the other hand, left Muzo on the wedding day with a note she left.

It starred Burcu Biricik as Nalan, Selma Ergeç as Selen, Enis Arıkan as Muzo, Feyyaz Şerifoğlu as Sedat, Nur Sürer as Feride, Şerif Erol as Adil, Hande Ataizi as Cana and Tuğrul Tülek as Levent.

The first 7 episodes are currently streaming on eVOD with more episodes to rollout weekly. Season 2 is set to debut sometime in 2024 on eExtra likely after Roekeloos Dade.

Boing is coming to South Africa

During the week, Warner Bros. Discovery and StarTimes unveiled 4 new channels for consumers, Investigation Discovery, TLC and Discovery Channel, with Boing missing from the pay-tv company's line-up for consumers in Southern Africa.

In a response from PR, it was revealed that they are currently in the process of seeking approval from ICASA for the acquisition of broadcasting rights for Boing. Only then we'll they issue a formal announcement until the channel the channel will rollout in the rest of Africa.

Boing is a children's channel which takes up the DNA of Nicktoons by featuring various archived material and content viewed on Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. Some shows to have been seen on the channel include Ben 10 (2005), Dexter's Laboratory and Adventure Time.

Kate Del Castillo is back on Telemundo

After four years in prison in the United States for the deaths of three DEA agents, Teresa Mendoza escapes but will have to face a world full of conspiracy, risking her life in order to clear her name and reunite with her daughter Sofía.

It starred Kate del Castillo as Teresa Mendoza, Pêpê Rapazote as Pablo Landero, Antonio Gil as Oleg Yosikov, Isabella Sierra as Sofía Dantes and Alejandro Calva as César Güemes "Batman".

Queen Of The South S3 is rumoured to replace Lord Of The Skies daily at 22:00 from Monday 1st January.

New Channel Alert: BOING Extends Its Reach To StarTimes And Possible StarSat Platforms Across Africa

Yesterday, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery and StarTimes had reached a new agreement which would see Investigation Discovery and TLC relaunch on the platform with Discovery Channel set to rollout as a new addition to the platform.

Now it has been revealed by sources that StarTimes will be rolling out their 6th TV channel from the brand, Boing.

Boing is a children's channel which takes up the DNA of Nicktoons by featuring various archived material and content viewed on Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. Some shows to have been seen on the channel include Ben 10 (2005), Dexter's Laboratory and Adventure Time.

The channel formed part of a showcase which saw one of Warner's classic brands Boomerang get reimagined as Cartoonito. It was also outlined at the time that Boing had seen a rise in popularity despite not being added to DStv had fan favorites like Clarence and Uncle Grandpa.

It is set to go live alongside the other Warner channels later today on channels 301/354 and it's currently unknown if the channel would be added in South Africa as StarSat hadn't mentioned anything. But as seen in ROA, Boing might be replacing Nickelodeon in the regions.

Development Alert: StarTimes To Add Discovery Channel As A New Channel On The Platform, TLC And Investigation Discovery Relaunch On The Platform

After TNT was ripped away from StarTimes and StarSat customers across Africa in September, Warner Bros. Discovery and the pay-tv operator seem to a struck a new deal which would reinstate Investigation Discovery and also lead the additions of Discovery Channel and TLC.

Taking to account only Discovery Channel is the new addition while the latter Investigation Discovery and TLC had already been on the platform.

Discovery Channel is considered the male counterpart of TLC which pivots towards motors, speculative investigation and even wildlife. It features shows like Deadliest Catch, Shark Week, Naked And Afraid, Gold Rush, Mythbusters and Wheeler Dealers.

This is not only the male counterpart of TLC but the premium outtake of Discovery Family. Consumers are getting back the shows that were ripped away from them in 2021.

Investigation Discovery (ID) is a factual entertainment channel comprises of Hollywood crimes, murder and forensic investigation. It features shows like Evil Lives Here, Til Death Do Us Part, Homicide Hunters and People's Magazine Investigation.

This channel was ripped away in 2021 after Warner Bros. Discovery and StarTimes couldn't come to an agreement. Since then, the channel was supplemented with CBS Justice in a joint venture with Paramount Global and AMC International.

TLC is a female skewed channel which pivots their content to reality television focusing on lifestyle and personal stories. Some of the content to have aired include Sister Wives, 90 Day Fiance, 1000-lb Sisters, Doubling Down with the Derricos and My Big Fat Fabulous Life.

Interesting enough, the channel is being reinstated on the platform after the pay-tv platform lost rights to DStv due to Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Similar to Discovery Channel, consumers would be getting to see select shows from Real Time with the help of Investigation Discovery.

Which begs the question, how long will these channels stick around cause every year it's the same runaround with StarTimes one minute it's there next minute is gone, whose to say that CBS Reality and CBS Justice won't just get booted from these platforms.

These 3 channels are said to reside on the Smart package from 3 November and onwards: TLC Ch:165, ID Ch:223 and Discovery channel Ch: 224.

Warner Bros. Discovery Is To Launch HGTV In The Dutch Market Early Next Year

The interior and lifestyle channel, which is already available in 93 countries, will make its debut on 15 January 2024.

Well-known HGTV programmes include Celebrity IOU, in which brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott work with celebrities to give houses a complete makeover and then surprise donate them to people who have meant something special to them, My Lottery Dream Home with David Bromstad, who helps lottery winners use their winnings to finally buy that big dream home, and House Hunters – now 205 seasons on – in which homebuyers are closely followed in their search for the new perfect home, carefully weighing up the pros and cons.

“We are delighted to add the channel HGTV to the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio, bringing this beautiful brand to the Netherlands,” said Tatiana Lagewaard, Head of Content & Programming at Warner Bros. Discovery. “HGTV will also be a party that connects advertisers and commercial partners directly with a specific lifestyle target audience. Our goal with HGTV is to be a source of inspiration, but also a channel to relax with.”

Distribution has been secured with providers KPN, Ziggo and Odido, while most HGTV programming can also be seen on streaming service discovery+.

'Friends' Star Matthew Perry Dead At 54...After Apparent Drowning

More details are surfacing about the circumstances surrounding Matthew Perry's death...as sources tell us he actually died at his own house after some physical activity this morning.

We're told Matthew came home sometime in the AM after a 2-hour round of pickleball, and that he sent his assistant out on errand shortly thereafter. We're told when the assistant returned about 2 hours later, he discovered Matthew unresponsive...and called 911.

Unclear if what Matthew was doing before his passing played any role in his death at this point -- the investigation into his death is underway.

Law enforcement sources tell us the actor was found Saturday at an L.A.-area home ... where we're told he appears to have drowned. Our sources say first-responders rushed over on a call for cardiac arrest. It's unclear where exactly on the grounds this happened.

Our sources say he was found in a jacuzzi at the home ... and we're told there were no drugs found at the scene. We're also told there is no foul play involved.

Perry is most famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit '90s sitcom, which ran for 10 seasons ... and with him in all 234 episodes. His character was a fan fave, as was performance -- mannerisms and lines of which have gone on to be recreated and spoofed by fans all over the world. One comes to mind, in particular ... "Could (blank) BE more .."

While 'Friends' was his biggest claim to fame ... MP had starred/guest starred in countless other TV shows over the years -- such as 'Boys Will Be Boys,' 'Growing Pains,' 'Silver Spoons,' 'Charles in Charge,' 'Sydney,' 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' 'Home Free,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'The West Wing,' 'Scrubs,' 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,' 'Go On,' 'The Odd Couple' and more.

He had also acted in a handful of memorable films (mostly comedy) ... like 'Fools Rush In,' 'The Whole Nine Yards,' 'Three to Tango,' 'The Kid,' '17 Again,' 'Getting In,' and many others. He's been off the scene more recently ... not having acted since a TV mini series in 2017.

While his onscreen persona was affable and upbeat, Matthew suffered mightily behind the scenes -- notably, from his addiction to drugs and alcohol ... pain killers, specifically. He was hooked on Vicodin for years -- even while on 'Friends' -- and had been in and out of rehab.

Matthew opened up about this painful chapter of his life in a memoir he put out last year -- where he detailed the struggles he had ... including his clear weight-loss/gain on the show.

During his press run for his book ... Matthew did a number of interviews where he got incredibly emotional -- including one with Diane Sawyer, where he detailed his story.

While Perry appeared to be clean and sober a year ago, the year prior -- when he and the other cast members were plugging the 'Friends' reunion show -- drew concern from fans ... as they felt he appeared unwell, at times slurring his words and looking a bit out of it.

On top of his substance use ... Matthew also dealt with health issues, some of which were serious and required hospitalizations. One such incident stemmed from a gastrointestinal perforation -- which forced him to undergo emergency surgery ... but he luckily recovered.

Matthew never married, but he was briefly engaged to Molly Hurwitz a couple years ago...which came to an end after only 6 months. Before that, he'd been linked to Lizzy Caplan.

WBD Unveils European Launch Details For Max Streamer Including In France As International Boss Gerhard Zeiler Talks Up Synergies: “We Are On The Way To $5B And Who Knows Where We Will End Up?” – Mipcom Cannes

The Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Max streamer will launch in 22 European countries in spring 2024 and France and Belgium later next year, the media outfit revealed today.

Opening Mipcom Cannes with a keynote, interntional boss Gerhard Zeiler and EMEA Head of Streaming Leah Hooper Rosa brought highly-anticipated news of the rollout of the new streamer in the continent, which is rebranding from HBO Max with a bigger offering.

The Nordics, the Netherlands, Iberia and CEE, which already have HBO Max, will gain access to the rebranded streamer in the spring.

There will then be a “second wave” of launches later next year including in France and Belgium, which currently don’t have HBO Max, although WBD has an output deal with Amazon locally in France.

The service launched earlier this year in the U.S. and other territories. It will launch later in the UK due to the pre-existing content deal between Sky and WBD.

“The content breadth is so huge and we are enabling customers to find this content,” added Hooper Rosa. “And then they are increasing their time watching this breadth of genre, so streaming provides another avenue that compliments our distribution.”

“We promised the market $3B synergies, now we are on the way to $5B and who knows where we will end up?,” Zeiler went on to say.

He talked up the success that WBD has had with its goal to “execute as efficiently as possible” its “defining mission and vision.”

Following the Warner Bros merger with Discovery, new boss David Zaslav said he was targeting $3B synergies, which has seen the merger of teams and thousands of layoffs, but that synergy figure has crept up and up, confirmed by Zeiler today to be approaching $5B by next year.

He reiterated a “culture eats strategy for breakfast” mantra and said “we are one company not six or seven diluted units.”

Zeiler has seen something off an exodus in his international team of late but this wasn’t addressed at Mipcom. He set a new team earlier this month following a spate of exits including the likes Priya Dogra, Pierre Branco and Hannes Heyelmann alongside Robert Blair, who had worked in Warner Bros sales for 25 years.

WBD May Favor Local Partnerships Over Worldwide Max Rollout, Says JB Perette: ‘We Have The IP To Be A Survivor’

Warner Bros Discovery’s JB Perrette warns that the global streaming market faces pain and consolidation over the next three to five years, but he says that the merged group has what it takes to be among the big five groups that pull through.

And, to win the war of attrition and consolidation, WBD may choose not to fight every battle.

Perrette, WBD’s CEO and president of global streaming and games, said that the company’s Max streaming product is to be rolled out in a largely pre-determined sequence, one that arrives in Latin America and Europe before arriving in parts of Asia. But, speaking on Wednesday at the APOS conference in Indonesia, Perrette said that in some markets Max may never happen, and that WBD may favor local partnerships instead.

“If we think we’re going to have success and profitability, if our market differentiation is viable enough to make a go of it and have a profitable business over a three-to-five year timeline [then we will launch Max.] If the answer is ‘no’ because the market has ARPUs that are just too low or it is way over-served by a ton of other players, who are spending on a ton of content and losing a ton of money, we may say this is not the right time,” said Perrette.

“If we think we can be successful based on the three metrics that we have [profitability, market share and scale] then, yes, great, we’ll go and figure out how best to tackle it. But if the answer is no, we don’t see a path, then we’ll find partnerships and other ways to go to market.”

Perrette dropped a heavy hint that India, already the battleground for a seething cluster of local and international streaming players, may be prime example of a market where Max would be a player too many.

Perrette’s tactical approach flows from a macro assessment that the streaming market has gone too far too fast and that WBD, in particular, needs to return to rationality and profitability.

“We went through a decade of great oversupply and great under-pricing and we are in a period of rationalization and embracing the aggregation [process] There’s structural aggregation and there’s rebundling,” said Perrette. “I think you’re working towards a world where, over the next five to 10 years, you’re going to end up with three to five feasible players, in addition local champions in individual markets.”

Despite the chastening outlook, Perrette declared himself “very optimistic” that WBD has the strategy and content to be among the players that make it through the current tightening phase. “We lost $2 billion last year. We are now profitable in the first half of this year,” he said.

“I have high confidence. The IP we that have – between HBO, the Warner studio, all the factual content from Discovery side, to the DC Universe, “Harry Potter” — that, at the end of the day, great stories and great IP is what wins the day. Our portfolio gives us an absolute entitlement to be in that last group.”

Local product partnerships may be on the horizon too. “One of the areas we’re very focused on is we have great IP, things like DC franchises, which historically has been very English-language dominant, but where we can open and bring characters from that universe and originate local IP with a partner in that market. We think it’s not just investment entirely ourselves, but there may be creative ways to partner with existing local players,” said Perrette.