Drafted: What To Expect On Warner Bros. Discovery's Channels Across Africa In October 2023?

Discovery Channel:

• Wheeler Dealers

• Expedition Bigfoot

• Gold Rush

TLC:

• Match Me Abroad

• Dr. Pimple Popper

• Kim Vs. Kanye: The Divorce

• Dr. Down Below

Discovery Family:

• Expedition Unknown

TNT:

• Margot Robbie Fan Day

• Horror Fest

• Happy 5th Anniversary TNT

Real Time:

• Crikey! It's The Irwins 

Investigation Discovery:

• High Speed Chase

• HELP! My House Is Haunted

• Does Murder Sleep?

Food Network:

• What Am I With

• Recipe: Lost Or Found

• Outrageous Pumpkins

• Beachside Brawl

• Ciao House

• Magnolia Table With Joanna Gaines

• La Pitchhouse: Cooking In France

• Everyday Cooking

• Guy's Ranch Kitchen

HGTV:

• Tough Love With Hilary Farr

• Fix My Frankenhouse

• Bargain Block

• Flip The Strip

Travel Channel:

• The Haunted Museum: 5 King Iferno

• Demon In The White House

• Ghost Of Flight 401

• Alien Encounters: Declassified

• Alien Abduction: Travis Walton

• Beyond The Unknown

Cartoon Network And Cartoonito: click here

Paramount Unveils Upcoming Projects Ahead Of Brand Licensing Europe 2023

As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, Paramount remains at the forefront with its commitment to innovation, creativity and engaging content that appeals to all ages and demographics. Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences has an abundance of best-in-class IP, both new and existing, as well as strategic opportunities that will excite any partner.

Off the back of a triumphant return to the silver screen, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have reignited the fandom among both nostalgic adults and curious youngsters. The new look Turtles will continue to expand in 2024, as Paramount is set to kick off an electrifying 40th-anniversary celebration of the beloved franchise. This milestone year will witness the launch of a new animated series that promises to reinvigorate the ninja heroes, as well as a whole host of in-person and digital experiences. A slate of gaming releases will keep drawing in both seasoned enthusiasts and a new generation of fans. That's not all; the slate of content planned for this franchise is truly impressive, with another blockbuster movie already announced for 2025. While the heroes in a half shell have a special place in the hearts of those who grew up with them, this year will showcase their enduring appeal - and their ability to resonate across age groups - by uniting old and new fans in a 'shell-tastic' celebration.

Building on from the Paw Patrol franchise's 10th anniversary year, Paramount and Spin Master have introduced Rubble & Crew, which invites viewers to dive deeper into Rubble's family. The year ahead will also be filled with heroic excitement, as the Heroes in Training brand campaign takes centre stage in 2024. This initiative is not just about entertainment, it's about instilling values of bravery, teamwork and compassion in young minds. Moreover, Paramount recognises the increasing demand for diverse representation, and in response is actively fostering the growth of girls' licensing across multiple categories.

SpongeBob has already come to life across 13 seasons of the original series, two spinoff series and three major theatricals, not to mention his first musical which is touring the UK this year. In 2024, Paramount is celebrating 25 years of this beloved, optimistic sea sponge with a host of surprising and delightful activity and partnerships that are sure to put a smile on everyone's faces.

The sweeping success of Yellowstone has not only captured audiences' hearts but also opened doors to a vast and immersive universe. Paramount has announced a thrilling spinoff that will delve even deeper into the gripping narrative that fans have come to adore. The momentum in the UK is bolstered by the airing of Series 1 on Channel 5, with new products available at retail as the studio continues to build out this now iconic franchise.

Kids can get ready to join Dora on another series of exciting escapades as Paramount introduces the adventurous character to a new generation of pre-schoolers. Dora is back with her vibrant animation and engaging storytelling, rendered in immersive CG animation. Paramount will debut a specially created Dora theatrical short ahead of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie this October, before the consumer products launch rolls out in 2025.

The Avatar franchise will be serving the fandom with a live action Netflix adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender and new content from Avatar Studios coming in 2025.

While Paramount's small-screen triumphs are remarkable, the big screen still holds its enchantment. Paramount is rich in cinematic content for 2024. If is an imaginative original family title from John Krasinski. The movie tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who moves to New York and discovers that the city is home to an entire world of adorable imaginary friends.

Everyone's favourite lazy and sarcastic cat, Garfield, hits the big screen next year in a brand-new animated movie, with Chris Pratt voicing the lasagne-loving feline. For the first time in the history of the franchise, audiences will also meet Garfield's father, played by Samuel L. Jackson.

The action-packed Mission Impossible saga returns to the big screen with the highly anticipated Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 2, for what is being heralded as the cornerstone of cinematic excellence. The movie will be supported with a consumer products programme.

New Series Alert: Dlozi Love Connections With Thokoza Munt’wam Coming This October To Mzansi Magic

Have you ever wondered how ancestral callings and matters of the heart coexist? Well, Mzansi Magic is about to answer that for you in the most entertaining and dramatic way possible.

Stay glued to your screens, because come Wednesday 11 October at 8pm, we're serving you 13 episodes of Thokoza Munt’wam, a reality dating show that we are certain will be your new obsession.

Thokoza Munt’wam is not your usual reality show. We've got three couples here, each unique in their dynamics, challenges, and love languages. These couples are on the ultimate quest: to balance the spiritual and physical worlds. They are driven by love, but their unique spiritual journeys shape their relationships in ways most of us might never understand. The burning question is: can their love survive their ancestral callings?

Meet Our Couples:

1. Zukiswa Vutela and Macdonald Mailula known as Ndlovulati & Mcool Chuene: Think age is just a number? These two will give you a whole new perspective. From dealing with age differences and societal pressures to confronting personal and collective pasts – their story is nothing short of extraordinary.

2. Khanyisile Mnguni and Zanele Mnguni also known as Slay & Zee: Two women, both from Christian backgrounds, battling issues of identity, spirituality, and legacy. What does it mean to stand by your partner when their beliefs are in complete contrast to yours? Tune in to find out!

3. Kamogelo Sello and Sinoyolo Mbotshwa also known as Mercedes & Yolo: Ever been inboxed by your soulmate? Gogo Mercedes saw Yolo in a dream and reached out via Facebook. Their young love is loaded with unique challenges, but they're determined to navigate it all.

Why should you watch?

Because Thokoza Munt’wam is rewriting the narrative. While many shows might focus on the practice of ancestral calling, this one puts love centre stage. It’s the sweet, sometimes sour, love stories of the couples, with the twist of ancestral influences that make this a must-watch.

Here's what our couples have to say about their journey:

Slay and Zee: "I joined the show to break the binary thinking society has about spirituality. Especially in this generation," says Slay. While Zee cheekily adds, "I joined to support Slay in her rise to fame."

Ndlovulati & Mcool: "We joined to express ourselves as genuine healers. To show the true definition of healing and love."

Masedi & Yolo: "We chose to be a part of the show to grow and learn from challenges we face as a young influential couple. In this season, we show support over any other thing."

Don’t miss, Thokoza Munt’wam starting Wednesday 11 October, 8pm, only on DStv channel 161. And if you’re always on-the-go, catch it on DStv Stream and Catch Up.

Development Alert: A Rebroadcast Of 100 Days To Fall In Love And Prisoners Of Life Rollout On Telemundo Across Africa Ahead Of The Season 8 Premiere To Lord Of The Skies

Last month, it was reported that Lord Of The Skies would return for an eight season on Telemundo and this comes after primetime was temporarily halted due to a change in legislation. With Nurses reinstated on the channel and a brand new series Cennet: The Power Of Destiny slated for October.

Prior to their entry on Telemundo, the channel will be adding a rebroadcast of Prisoners Of Love and 100 Days To Fall In Love.

Prisoners Of Love tells the story of Inmate Yolanda who agrees to become the mistress of a famous drug dealer and lure him out of hiding in exchange for house arrest so she can protect her daughter. It starred Humberto Zurita, Ludwika Paleta and Michel Brown.

100 Days To Fall In Love follows two couples in struggling relationships decide to give each other another chance: 100 days for them to fall back in love. It starred Ilse Salas, Mariana Treviño, Erick Elías, and David Chocarro.

Prisoners Of Love airs daily at 23:00 from 2 October immediately after the premiere to Lord Of The Skies at 22:00 replacing the double bill of False Identity. 100 Days To Fall In Love will follow from 8 October at 20:00 replacing Operation Pacific.

New Series Alert: Nirvana In Fire Coming Soon To eExtra

eExtra, a South African based free-to-air network operated by eMedia Investments that is home to international dramas from Turkey, Asia and India has acquired broadcasting rights to the 2015 Chinese historic drama Nirvana In Fire starring Hu Ge and Liu Tao in lead roles.

In 6th-century China, there was a war between feudal Northern Wei and Southern Liang dynasties. The Liang commander general, Lin Xie, his son, Lin Shu, and the Chiyan Army defeated hostile Wei forces. However, when the Chiyan were weakened from the battle, they were massacred under the Emperor's orders.

The drama was a commercial and critical success, surpassing 100 million streaming views by its second day, and receiving a total number of views on iQiyi of over 3.3 billion by the end of the series. Nirvana in Fire was considered a social media phenomenon, generating 3.55 billion posts on Sina Weibo that praised its characters and story-line.

The drama was also one of the recipients of the Outstanding Television Drama Award at the Flying Apsaras Awards, the highest government honor given for outstanding achievement in the television industry. Kong Sheng also won the Outstanding Director Award for his work in Nirvana in Fire. 

Following its popularity, a sequel titled Nirvana In Fire II: The Wind Blows In Chang Lin was aired in 2017 with a third installment still in development. eExtra set to air the first instalment from Thursday 5 October replacing Goodbye My Princess every weekday at 16:15. 

In other developments, Roekeloos Dade returns to the channel from Wednesday 4 October for new episodes and a brand new series Wie Laaste Lag joins the lineup from Wednesday 18 October in place of Winter Son and Chrysalis respectively.

Recap To Last Year: MultiChoice And Ngwato Nkosi Group Are Slowly Replacing SABC And eMedia Investments On DStv

Since last year, MultiChoice had been having an on/off relationship with eMedia Investments regarding the carriage of their 4 Openview channels. Prior to that, negotiations for carriage fees to SABC 1-3 had reached a dead end with the brands also retained on DStv. 

Honestly speaking, MultiChoice seems to have built a contingency plan which sort of revolves around SABC and eMedia Investments. Take for instance, Zee Zonke which is basically eExtra in Zulu then there's lesser known films on both Movie Room and eMovies.

Hailing from Easyview, Magic Showcase which is somewhat similar to the SABC 1 is flooded with local programming if not old content. Now we have a multilingual eToonz channel from Ngwato Nkosi Group joining the circuit in the coming months, Play Room.

Ngwato Nkosi Group manage Newzroom Afrika and Movie Room and from what's already seen here they are basically building themselves up as the eMedia/SABC of DStv as each of their brands are tailored to their audience.

With the launch of Play Room consumers remain curious on the number of channels Ngwato Nkosi Group plan to rollout on the pay-tv platform. Considering the feedback of Newzroom Afrika and Movie Room, it wouldn't seem far fetched if more channels were underway.

Some concepts I've seen by the media include a telenovela channel dubbing content in local languages (Story Room), an M-Net/eSeries inspired channel (TV Room or Entertainment Room), sports channel (Sports Room) and a music channel (Music Room).

Other names that were also brought up which revolve on the above-mentioned include Action Room, Fight Room, Series Room, Lounge Room and Novela Room.

Although the timing of some channels don't correspond with each other, MultiChoice has been doing a lot of quality control in the past year e.g. Hilaal TV (ITV Networks), Qwest TV (MTV Hits) and Racing240 (Tellytrack).

Could SABC Education Alongside Further New Channels No Longer Be Moving Forward On DStv And StarSat?

For three years, consumers on pay-tv platforms have wondered if plans were still underway to get SABC Education alongside other channels from the public broadcaster such as SABC Sport and SABC Lehae to DStv and StarSat as these brands are currently exclusive to free-to-view platforms.

Prior to the pandemic, SABC had unveiled an educational channel and as mentioned they were looking to get it on more platforms. Now the question is whether that's still on the cards or similar to the duration of SABC News on DTT those plans had been halted.

In recent years, MultiChoice had limited the broadcast rights to select sporting content to their consumers while as SABC removed their local content from DStv's catch-up service leaving consumers to rely on SABC 1-3 or to stream further repeats on SABC+.

It wouldn't really some far fetched to some if SABC Education alongside other channels by the public broadcaster never got the time of day on DStv (and it possible StarSat). The public broadcaster had been looking to charge pay-tv platforms if not collect TV licence for their channels.

Although, SABC Sport and SABC Education aren't under must carry regulations as seen with SABC 1-3. They are operated by the same company which kind of jeopardize their position on the platforms.

Another issue a viewer had brought up was the trust deficit for these channels. As seen with SABC Encore and e.tv's 4 Openview channels each had a 5 year duration on DStv and if SABC Education or SABC Sport lasted much longer then you'd know it's a success with MultiChoice.

News Shorts: Cbeebies Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Big Lizards, Dumisa TV To Debut A Gender Based Talk Show And Supernatural Comedy Love In 40 Days Makes A Landing On Novela E Plus

CBeebies is set to go on a comedic adventure

CBeebies and France Télévisions have teamed up to co-commission Big Lizard, a CG-animated co-pro for preschoolers from Beakus in the UK and France’s Watch Next Media and Je Suis Bien Content.

The 52 x seven-minute toon will premiere on both public broadcasters’ linear channels in fall 2024, and Aardman is handling global distribution.

The comedy-adventure sees Big Lizard and his best friend Cosima (a young female astronaut) exploring an alien planet while teaching kids about science and prehistoric Earth.

Beakus founder Steve Smith co-created Big Lizard with French animation designer and illustrator Amaël Isnard. Smith will produce the preschool show with Je Suis Bien Content’s Franck Ekinci (April and the Extraordinary World), and Isnard is on board to direct.

Dumisa to debut a gender neutral program

Set your reminders. Gender Space is the Commission for Gender Equality’s own TV talk show that will focus on thorny societal gender issues affecting men and women in South Africa. The talk show will divide the gender topics in twelve episodes wherein our CGE’s Commissioners, Legal Officers and other officials will share information on the Commission’s impactful gender-related programmes and interventions. Hosted by well-known TV and radio personality, Seipati “Twasa” Seoke, and CGE’s own officials, the talk show will tackle topics such as challenges faced by widows; the changing laws that govern marriage; gender-based violence and femicide; human trafficking; the compensation of domestic workers; teenage pregnancy challenges faced the LGBTQI community and women with disabilities. Watch the first episode on 05 October at 18:00 on DUMISA TV, channel 340 on DSTV. The show will air every Thursday at the same time from 05 October – 21 December 2023.

StarTimes to debut a new supernatural romcom

After getting involved in a fatal car crash, a competitive career woman arrives in an uncanny purgatory. While settling her unfinished businesses as a lingering spirit, she meets and finds her soulmate in a rebellious scion with a third eye.

The series starred Loisa Andalio as Jane Marasigan, Ronnie Alonte as Edward B. Montemayor / Nathaniel Rosal, Leo Martinez as Patricio Guzman and Janice de Belen as Ofelia Abanilla / Jocelyn "Josie" Rosal.

Since the series debut, a total of 110 episodes had been produced each with a duration of 18 - 30 minute duration. The Filipino drama also conceived a soundtrack featuring the talents of Jeremy G and Sam Milby.

Be sure to tune in 25 September on Novelas E Plus at 20:40.

Development Alert: SABC News Has Reportedly Been Blocked From DTT Platforms And Possible SABC+, Replaced With SABC Lehae

During the week, it was reported that the public broadcaster had renewed their agreement with MultiChoice for SABC News. It was also revealed that they officially launched their second news channel SABC Lehae although not much marketing was put to welcome the new channel.

Following the arrival of SABC Lehae, several viewers on SABC's DTT had reported that SABC News is no longer available on the platform cause as viewers browse to view the channel all they get is a coloured screen. So we assume that this new agreement with MultiChoice prevents consumers from accessing SABC News.

SABC Lehae has been added as collateral and likely a backup to SABC News but unlike the pay-tv counterpart it is very much riddled with old programming as well as telecasts of SABC 1-3. We assume the public broadcaster couldn't retain SABC News on their DTT platform for an extended period.

As my hunch suggested previously, SABC Lehae is basically what Zee One is to Zee World but with SABC News - competition. As one brand is confined to a paywall while the other is filtered to its likeness with some variation added every and now then which kind of removes any possibility I had of it being included on MultiChoice's DStv.

If anything, it wouldn't surprise me if the channel were to surface on eMedia Investments' Openview platform to replace the news part of e.tv's News And Sport. As that too was also riddled with repeats and licenced content from various other broadcasters so to speak.

If there's one thing that these recent SABC and MultiChoice developments had suggested there's a lot of beef brewing between the two. Initially, it was reflected on sports but now it's reflecting on other areas of the business with SABC's content removed from catch-up.

Just curious to wonder what's next for these two, my guess would be the carriage of SABC 1-3 as the two had been negotiating for fees but it reached a dead end. Honestly speaking, would it be surprising if SABC 3 were to exit the platform and program changes awaited SABC 1 and 2.

For a while now, SABC had managed to divide the content between platforms and honestly the chances of their channels particularly SABC 3 undergoing a similar scenario wouldn't seem far fetched as the channel hasn't been sustainable and is the least watched amongst the three channels.