Prediction: What To Expect In 2023 On TLNovelas Africa?

TLNovelas debuted in the market two years ago in Africa's pay-tv giant DStv managed entirely by MultiChoice and has since then (re)introduced audiences to shows Along Came Love, Head Over Heels, Secrets At The Hotel, Keeping My Family and several others.

Since then the channel has made some rather bizarre and unusual changes to their lineup by scrapping the double bill offering for a format that was once retained by their American rival, Telemundo.

Several shows were planned for the channel in which some were fortunate to rollout at a later stage while others supposedly scrapped. So we look at what the channel has in store for the coming future.

Please note part of this list came from the scrapped portion while others form part of their current lineup.

1. Overcoming The Past/Vencer El Pasado

Four women of different ages and backgrounds confront modern obstacles including social media, illness, romance, reproductive freedom, and the workforce.

Everyday Novelas:
- Prediction: What to expect on Telemundo by next year?
- Prediction: eBolly to rollout on the Openview platform
- Prediction: What to expect on TLNovelas by next year?
- Carmen And Razia Sultan coming soon to Zee One and Zee World
- Laxmi and more content awaiting launch on Star Life
- Daai Crazy Somer coming soon to e.tv

2. A Shelter For Love/Un Refugio Para El Amor

The love story of Luciana, a beautiful and joyful young girl who, after her father's death, escapes from the sexual harassment to find love.

3. Your Love Is My Fortune/Mi Fortuna Es Amarte

Natalia and Chente's lives are forever changed when Natalia's estranged husband Adrián scams Chente out of a large sum of money. As Natalia tries to make things right, she and Chente unexpectedly begin to fall in love.

4. You Are The One/Contiago Si

Ángela marries Álvaro after a whirlwind romance during his business trip. After Álvaro abandons her in favor of his other fiancée Samanta, Ángela tracks him down and meets Leonardo, a doctor who may offer real love.

5. SOS I'm Falling In Love/SOS Me Estoy Enamorando

Alberto needs to save his family's print shop. His plans are complicated when he falls in love with single mother Sofía, the daughter of a shady business magnate who could make or break Alberto's future.

6. If They Let Us/Si Nos Dejan

After dedicating a lifetime to her husband and family, Alicia's world changes completely when she discovers a betrayal. Determined to rebuild her life, Alicia begins to fall in love with a much younger man.

7. Thread Of Love/Diseñando Tu Amor

Despite their differences, Valentina and her sister Nora share the dream of becoming successful in the fashion world. As they try to reach their dreams, obstacles like family and romance complicate their journeys.

8. Burning Fire/Fuego Ardiente

Dante and Irene Ferrer own an important olive-oil production company in Mexico. When they reunite their extended family, a forbidden love blooms between Gabriel and Alexa, who are unhappily married to other people.

Everyday Novelas:
- Die Vertroueling coming soon to eExtra
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- Lord Of The Skies renewed for 8th season on Telemundo
- Chrysalis currently streaming on eVOD
- 3AM coming soon to KIX

9. To Want It All/Quererlo Todo

When wealthy Patricio Montes dies, the heirs to the fortune battle over the inheritance. Valeria helps her boyfriend Leonel, Patricio's son, sort out his affairs. When she meets Mateo, the inheritance executor, their lives change forever.

10. Empire Of Lies/Imperio De Mentiras

Elisa Cantú never imagined that, upon returning to Mexico from New York, where she resides, she would encounter an unexpected tragedy that changes her life. She meets Leonardo Velasco, a policeman to whom she'll have to partner up with to uncover what happened to their loved ones.

11. I Love You Güero/La Mexicana Y El Güero

Andrea, a con artist, sets her sights on idealistic millionaire Tyler after he returns to Mexico in search of his birth mother and the rest of his biological family. When they develop real feelings despite Andrea's deception, sparks fly.

Rumour

* Some of the content in question could be for the Portuguese feed

1. Dressed For Mourning/Mujeres De Negro

Three women tired of the abuse from their husbands decide to kill them.

2. In The Name Of Love/En Nombre Del Amor

The story of Macarena and Carlota, who are sisters and who went through a lot of pain, loneliness and shame, because they fell in love with the same man - Cristobal Gamboa.

TLNovelas:
- Meet the cast and learn more about Simply Maria
- Overcoming The Past coming soon to TLNovelas
- No One Like You's origin story
- Love To Death now on StarTimes
- Head Over Heels now on TLNovelas

3. Oath Of Love/Juro Que Te Amo

Violeta Madrigal is a beautiful girl who lives in a village with her parents, Amado and Antonia, and her brothers Julio and Daniel, and sister Lia. The family was the richest in town, but after losing their fortune they realized the hypocrisy of people who previously seemed to love and respect them.

4. Zacatillo, A New Beginning/Zacatillo, Un Lugar En Tu Corazón

Karla is an actress and singer, who decides to rest from show business after her concert at Zacatillo. Her agent ordered to have her killed. Everyone believes she is dead, but she takes refuge in Zacatillo, where she once found love and may find love again but with a different man. Her manager arranged for her to be dragged and thrown into the sea.

5. Love To Death/Amar A Muerte

The series is a complex story of destinies that intersect when they assassinate a media mogul on their wedding day, at the same time that an assassin in the United States is executed in the electric chair. The tycoon's soul is reincarnated in the body of the hit man and, in turn, the killer's soul ends up in the body of a professor of anthropology.

What To Expect On TNT, Cartoon Network And Boomerang Africa In January 2023?

TNT:

NEW YEAR, NEW MOVIES!
Kick the new year off with a bang – and a trio of first-time films – on TNT! Every Sunday in January, TNT delivers a prime-time smash hit – from Margot Robbie’s scene-stealing turn as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad to the world’s cuddliest creeps in Gremlins. Claim the couch, book the ‘box’ and settle in for a smashing start to 2023.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)
Sunday, 1 January
20:00   –   Suicide Squad (2016)
Sunday, 8 January
20:00   –   Gremlins (1982)
21:45   –   Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Sunday, 15 January
20:00   –   Madea’s Family Reunion (2006)
Sunday, 22 January
20:00   –   Demolition Man (1993)
Sunday, 29 January
20:00   –   Beverley Hills Ninja (1998)

JAMIE FOXX FAN DAY
He sings, acts, produces, and is excellent at all of them. 21 January is Jamie Foxx Fan Day on TNT – and we’ll be honouring his diverse career with the fast-talking ex-con in the Horrible Bosses franchise, his vengeful hunt for his enslaved wife in Django Unchained and the under-fire U.S. President in White House Down.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)
Saturday, 21 January
14:15   –   Horrible Bosses (2010)
16:00   –   Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)
17:50   –   White House Down (2014)
20:00   –   Django Unchained (2012)

DStv Flex:
- What to expect this January on Curiosity Channel?
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- What to expect this December on TNT?

WRESTLING ON WEEKENDS
If it’s a weekend on TNT, it’s All Elite Wrestling time! Every Saturday and Sunday, get the freshest in AEW action – and don’t miss Battle of the Belts V on 14 January @ 10:50 CAT for some truly epic action.

Catch up on what happened last season on 7 & 8 January to set you up for the big battle on January the 14th!

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)
Saturdays
10:00   –   Rampage (Episodes 74 to 78)
Sundays
10:00   –   Dynamite (Episodes 169 to 173)
Saturday, 14 January
10:50   –   Battle of the Belts V (Special Episode)

Cartoon Network:

Lego Monkie Kid - New Episodes
Inspired by the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, the series follows the adventures of a young teenager, MK, as he comes into terms of his mission to save the world.

Jade Armor - New Show
The series centers around the martial arts-loving Lan Jun, an unlikely teenage heroine who must learn the ancient secrets of her family and uncover the unexpected, all while navigating life as a teen.

CN To The Rescue
A live-action comedy peppered with animation, in which we follow Tapiwa's adventures into the magical world of his 'Imaginary Room' ! With crazy adventures and his hilarious family along for the ride, CN To The Rescue has the perfect ingredients for the whole family.

Regular Nick:
- Best & Bester coming soon to Nicktoons
- We Baby Bears currently the only original program on Cartoon Network
- January on Disney Channel
- January on Disney Junior
- January on Da Vinci Kids
- The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang (review)

Boomerang:

The Adventures Of Little Penguin - New Show
Follow the hectic and exciting adventures of Oscar the little penguin in unique environments! The young penguin is setting out to explore the world, meeting new characters who teach him about himself, but also about others. He quickly discovers that it's not the destination that matters, but rather the people you meet along the journey.

Moley - New Episodes
Revolving around an adventurous mole's quest with friends to broker peace between humans and moles. Following the underground adventures of the charmingly optimistic young mole, Moley.

Emmanuelle: A Look Into One Of The Wildest And Bizzare Shows From e.tv

Emmanuelle is a late night show that was beamed onto eMedia Investments' only TV channel at the time e.tv. For those who were familiar with the Emmanuelle, the series despite being a bit inappropriate for daytime audiences explored one's inner fantasies.

Before it was pulled from the channel, Emmanuelle managed to attract a million audiences which is huge considering the timeslot it was allocated being 10pm. I don't why I thought of doing this maybe because I was too a victim at some point which I honestly doubt.

Since Dark Side Of The Ring, I've been used to reading up on stuff and diving down into their early life which is the case for Emmanuelle but I'll try my best to not bore anyone and only include the important bits. I mean I did read through the whole thing and these parts made a lot more sense.

Google:
- A look into the life of X-Rated Rocky star Sylvester Stallone
- Malverde: Legend or Myth, a look at other patron saints
- 7 things you didn't know about Tom's Diner
- Inside the enduring mysteries of Elvis Presley's tragic fate
- Michael Jackson's Moonwalker became a childhood horror
- How Scooby-Doo inspired a generation of drug junkies?

Character history

Emmanuelle appeared as the pen name of Marayat Rollet-Andriane, a French-Thai actress born in the 1930s in Bangkok . Her 1957 book The Joys of a Woman detailed the sexual exploits of Emmanuelle, the "bored housewife" of a French diplomat. Rollet-Andriane's book caused a sensation in France and was banned.

The producer of another Arsan/Rollet-Andriane film Laure, Ovidio Assonitis, claimed that all books published under the pen name Emmanuelle Arsan were written by her husband Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane, rather than by Marayat.

Films

The first Emmanuelle film was the 1974 French theatrical feature Emmanuelle starring Dutch actress Sylvia Kristel became a success with a viewing audience estimated at 300 million. It remains one of France's most successful films, and played in the Arc de Triomphe theatre for over eleven years.

Several sequels starring Kristel followed, beginning with Emmanuelle 2 known as Emmanuelle: The Joys of a Woman in its U.S. release, and also Emmanuelle l’antivierge in some European press materials, including the soundtrack LP and CD.

A number of unofficial productions in Italy, Japan and the United States cashed in on the Emmanuelle craze. Among the best known were Italian "Black Emanuelle" films starring Laura Gemser , who became the second most popular actress to play Emanuelle in the 1970s.

After the last official Emmanuelle theatrical feature film, Emmanuelle au 7ème ciel (the seventh film for which Kristel returns as the main character), ASP began to produce further films, all featuring the character of Emmanuelle, albeit played by a series of actresses. These included a science fiction series in the 1990s called Emmanuelle in Space starring American actress Krista Allen in one of her first roles.

Openview Plus:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- The Game Of My Destiny a brand new Turkish drama unveiled by Global Agency
- The Rebel Princess coming soon to eExtra
- A look at former NBC soap, Passions
- Die Vertroueling coming soon to eExtra
- Barbie: It Takes Two and Thomas And Friends: All Engines Go! coming soon to eToonz

Following spinoffs included TV series Emmanuelle 2000 starring Holly Sampson, TV and video series Emmanuelle's Private Collection starring Natasja Vermeer, and a one-off, Emmanuelle in Rio, starring Ludmilla Ferraz in her only acting credit.

As of 2011, over 60 Emmanuelle based content had been produced.

A list of productions in no particular order

• Emmanuelle (1974)
• Emmanuelle 2, also known as Emmanuelle, The Joys of a Woman (1975)
• Goodbye Emmanuelle, also known as Emmanuelle 3 (1977)
• Emmanuelle 4 (1984)
• Emmanuelle 5 (1987)
• Emmanuelle 6 (1988)
• Emmanuelle 7 (1993)
• Emmanuelle Forever (1993)
• Emmanuelle's Love (1993)
• Emmanuelle's Magic (1993)
• Emmanuelle's Revenge (1993)
• Emmanuelle's Perfume (1993)
• Emmanuelle in Venice (1993)
• Emmanuelle's Secret (1993)
• Emmanuelle in Space series (USA)
• Emmanuelle: First Contact, also known as Queen of the Galaxy (1994)
• Emmanuelle 2: A World of Desire (1994)
• Emmanuelle 3: A Lesson in Love (1994)
• Emmanuelle 4: Concealed Fantasy (1994)
• Emmanuelle 5: A Time to Dream (1994)
• Emmanuelle 6: One Final Fling (1994)
• Emmanuelle 7: The Meaning of Love (1994)
• Emmanuelle 2000 series (USA)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Being Emmanuelle (2000)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Emmanuelle and the Art of Love (2000)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Emmanuelle in Paradise (2000)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Jewel of Emmanuelle (2000)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Intimate Encounters (2000)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Emmanuelle's Sensual Pleasure (2000)
• Emmanuelle 2000: Emmanuelle Pie (2002)
• Emmanuelle in Rio (2003)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection series (USA)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: Sex Goddess (2004)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: Emmanuelle vs. Dracula (2004)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: Sex Talk (2004)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: The Sex Lives of Ghosts (2004)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: Sexual Spells (2004)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: The Art of Ecstasy (2006)
• Emmanuelle Private Collection: Jesse's Secret Desires (2006)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Emmanuelle's Skin City (2011)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Emmanuelle's Sexy Bite (2011)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Sex, Chocolate & Emmanuelle (2011)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Rod Steele 0014 & Naked Agent 0069 (2011)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Sex Tales (2011)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Emmanuelle's Supernatural Sexual Activity (2011)
• Emmanuelle Through Time: Emmanuelle's Forbidden Pleasures (2011)
• Emmanuelle: A Hard Look , a documentary on the series (2000)
• Pretty Cool, a retitled, cut version of Emmanuelle Pie (2002)
• Emmanuelle Tango, a potential theatrical release, cancelled (2006)
• Emmanuelle in Wonderland, a retitled, cut version of Sex Tales (2012)
• Adventures Into The Woods: A Sexy Musical, a further edit of Emmanuelle in Wonderland (2015)
• Black Emanuelle (1975)
• Black Emanuelle 2 (1976)
• Emanuelle in Bangkok (1976)
• Emanuelle in America (1977)
• Emanuelle Around the World (1977)
• Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals (1977)
• Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade (1978)
• Violence in a Women's Prison (1982)
• Emanuelle Escapes from Hell (1983)
• Io, Emmanuelle (A Man for Emmanuelle) (1969), directed by Cesare Canevari.
• Amore libero - Free Love (The Real Emanuelle , 1974), directed by Pier Ludovico Pavoni.
• Emanuelle's Revenge (Emanuelle e Françoise le sorelline 1975), directed by Joe D'Amato .
• Tokyo Emmanuelle (1975), directed by Akira Katō.
• La Marge (1976) (also released as Emmanuelle 77), directed by Walerian Borowczyk.
• Laure (1976) (also released as Forever Emmanuelle), directed by Emmanuelle Arsan.
• Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle (Velluto nero, Emanuelle in Egypt 1976), directed by Brunello Rondi.
• Yellow Emanuelle (Il Mondo dei sensi di Emy Wong 1977), directed by Bitto Albertini.
• Sister Emanuelle (1977), directed by Giuseppe Vari.
• Vanessa (1977), directed by Hubert Frank.
• Felicity (1978), directed by John D. Lamond.
• Carry On Emmannuelle (1978) directed by Gerald Thomas.
• Emmanuelle in Soho (1981), directed by David Hughes

Former StarSat Channel Home To Inside The Factory And Air Warriors Is Closing Down In The UK

The Smithsonian Channel is an international channel operated by Paramount Global which is home to factual shows such as Inside the Factory, How Did They Build That?, WWII Battles in Color, Air Warriors, Ocean Super Predators and many more.

The channel was available in Africa alongside Love Nature a while back on StarSat as a replacement to National Geographic and National Geographic Wild as the pay-tv platform got into a bit of a disagreement with their suppliers, The Walt Disney Company.

Prior to that, The Smithsonian Channel was also allocated on the East African platform Zuku TV but I prefer to credit StarSat since consumers are more familiar with the platform.

Anyways, The Smithsonian Channel what can I say I'm not too familiar with the brand and I only knew of existence when it was introduced by StarSat but what was more shocking was that it's owned by Paramount that are home to various popular brands most of which are on DStv.

But considering how they screwed over VH1 I'm the least bit shocked that they'd be another channel lurking around the same corner.

StarSat:
- Delayed SABC channel launch on StarSat explained
- Russia Today to launch South African hub
- StarSat trying to be DStv friendly
- BYUtv should be added onto StarSat
- StarSat to offer more African dubbed telenovelas
- Could StarSat be losing two more channels?

From what I can establish no actual reason was given for The Smithsonian Channel's exit in the African market my guess on StarSat has to do with costs as they've scrapped over 40 channels most of which weren't even replaced to date.

But considering the times both Love Nature and The Smithsonian Channel both left the platform it's possible that may not be the case as Zuku TV fell prey to similar circumstance.

During the week, officials announced the exit of The Smithsonian Channel in the UK with consumers having to rely on Paramount+ for more factual entertainment which has just got me thinking. Is it possible that the termination in Africa may have something to do with what's already seen in the UK?

I mean I kind of suggested that theory a while back that The Smithsonian Channel's demise had to do with streamlining efforts.

I've got nothing to say about The Smithsonian Channel except for the fact that a lot of viewers depend on the channel but I think part of the reason it got scrapped had to do with the rivalry with National Geographic and Discovery both of which offer similar entertainment.

The Walt Disney Company:
- The Good Doctor getting a female led spinoff
- King Kong Series in development
- The Walt Disney Company to extend the reach of Star Channel
- DStv Streama now offers Disney+
- List of scrapped spinoffs for The Simpsons
- Disney Television Animation unveils Kiff!

National Geographic is about to undergo a similar fate leaving Discovery and from what I've seen Curiosity and BBC Earth to cater for these audiences or at least in Africa.

Paramount+ besides carrying content from The Smithsonian Channel will also leverage from MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, CBS and many more. Although I have yet see them streamline their linear offering I had noticed that they've been closing irrelevant or non-performing channels.

The Smithsonian Channel was neither but I do feel it's presence on Paramount+ will help the brand gain more acknowledgement.

Recap: We Baby Bears Is Currently The Only Original Program On Cartoon Network

During the year, WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. merged into Warner Bros. Discovery and since then stirred up a lot of scrutiny following the cutback in original programming part of which included current Cartoon Network shows like Summer Camp Island and upcoming shows like Batman: Caped Crusader.

Now the channel is just down with 1 original program We Baby Bears as Craig Of The Creek became the latest victim to get axed from this merger with the final season alongside movie to be made available in the coming year with questions amounting to their last remaining original.

Yes, I'm very much aware of Unicorn Warriors Eternal, Invincible Fight Girl and Adventure Time: Fiona And Cake and something the internet doesn't talk about The Adventures Of Ivanhoe but this is directed at We Baby Bears.

We Baby Bears serves as a spinoff to We Bare Bears as it follows Grizzly, Panda and Ice Bear in their childhood as they embark on a series of adventures as they struggle to find a place they can settle down and fit into.

Insidus Games:
- Nicktoons: Freeze Frame Frenzy
- Garfield 2: Royal Adventure
- Legend Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Sonic Advance 3
- Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends: Cheese Phone's Home
- Wheres Waldo Now?

Created by Daniel Chong, the series debuted on Cartoon Network earlier in the year which took a U-Turn from the original We Bare Bears as the crew use their imagination to escape the hardship of their reality and try to see the positivity in everything.

As much as I feel a sense of discomfort for the show and I'm referring to the Yabba Dabba Dinosaur kind the concept makes a whole lot sense. We Bare Bears was kind of depressing and often enjoyable especially with those Baby shorts.

All I'm saying is you know what when I watched We Bare Bears I often felt sad looking at the bear's early lives and We Baby Bears doesn't do as much of a good job covering it up to older audiences as myself as it does with their demographic.

If anything, it's good to know that within the bear's childhood they were able to find some form of happiness even if it wasn't real. While some would choose to let the world eat them up it's good that these bears were able to forge their own path in the midst of it all.

Regular Nick:
- Best & Bester coming soon to Nicktoons
- Moonbug Kids gets a dedicated cameo account
- January on Disney Channel
- January on Disney Junior
- January on Da Vinci Kids
- The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang (review)

What To Expect On Curiosity Channel Africa In January 2023?

SUPER SCIENCE MONDAYS

Breakthrough Artemis: First Launch
New Episode Premieres 02 January 2023
CAT: 18h00
Episodes: 1 x 30 mins
This is an inside look at NASA's groundbreaking Artemis Program, the spacecraft and the people who will bring humanity one step closer to the moon, Mars and beyond.

The Origami Code
New Documentary Special Premieres 02 January 2023 CAT: 19h00
Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
Everything that develops and changes in nature is folded: mountains, blossoms, the brain…Life is an unending series of folding and unfolding. Researchers in robotics, medicine and nanotechnologies, are embracing this “origami philosophy,” trying to understand and duplicate nature’s folding principles.

Great Moments in Evolution
New Two-Part Documentary Special Premieres 02 January 2023 CAT: 20h00 and 21h00
Episodes: 2 x 60 mins
Over the course of nearly four billion years, a single cell evolved into the diversity of life that surrounds us today.

Space Probes
New Series Premieres 09 January 2023 CAT: 20h00
Episodes: 6 x 30 mins –ends 23 January 2023
They’re out there, all alone in the vastness of space. Join the space probes, and their parents back on Earth, to explore our solar system.

Becoming Martian
New Series Premieres 09 January 2023 CAT: 21h00
Episodes: 3 x 30 mins – ends 23 January 2023
To survive Mars, our species will need to evolve how we eat, drink, and build our homes. Will we need our genes to evolve as well?

Mars: The Journey
New Documentary Special Premieres 09 January 2023 CAT: 21h30
Episodes: 1 x 30 mins
The faint red glow of Mars has intrigued those watching it from Earth for centuries. Now space exploration has begun to lift the veil on "The Red Planet," and upcoming missions to Mars are looking at Mars as a potential habitat for humans. Can we move to Mars in the next decade?

HISTORY LOVER TUESDAYS

Berlin 1945
New Series Premieres 03 January 2023 CAT: 21h00
Episodes: 3 x 60 mins – ends 17 January 2023
Berlin 1945 time-travels in cinematic style into the city’s most fateful year through the eyes of those who experienced it.

DStv Flex:
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- What to expect this December on TNT?

Hitler’s People
New Documentary Special Premieres 03 January 2023 CAT: 22h00
Episodes: 2 x 60 mins – ends 10 January 2023
This two-part documentary is an intimate and revealing portrait of the German people under Hitler.

War Gamers
New Series Premieres 24 January 2023 CAT: 21h00
Episodes: 6 x 60 mins –ends 28 February 2023
World War II. The British Royal Navy turn to a retired wargamer and an unlikely group of young women to develop tactics and sink the German U-boats.

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAYS

Ocean Heroines
New Documentary Special Premieres 04 January 2023 CAT: 21h00
Episodes: 2 x 60 mins –ends 11 January 2023
Six daring women are on a mission. They want to save our planet’s life support system: The Ocean.

The Tracker’s Diary: Bears of Katmai New Series Premieres 18 January 2023 CAT: 20h00 and 20h30
Episodes: 6 x 30 mins – ends 01 February 2023
Join filmmaker Casey Anderson as he embeds in the Alaskan wilderness to follow the largest terrestrial carnivores in the world.

Animal Arms Race
New Series Premieres 18 January 2023 CAT: 22h00
Episodes: 3 x 60 mins –ends 01 February 2023
Every animal on the planet is armed with a weapon of some kind.

HISTORY LOVER THURSDAYS

Ancient Engineering S2
New Season Premieres 05 January 2023 CAT: 20h00
Episodes: 10 x 60 mins – ends 26 January 2023
A fascinating look at how modern-day structures and engineering technologies have been inspired by ancient discoveries.

Peru: Sacrifices In the Kingdom of Chimor
New Documentary Special Premieres 05 January 2023 CAT: 21h00
Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
An unprecedented archaeological discovery of hundreds of sacrificed children in Peru unlocks the secrets of one of the most powerful and mysterious civilizations in South American history.

DStv:
- DMAX expands to Africa
- MultiChoice pinning SABC and e.tv
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform
- VH1 making a comeback on DStv

Lost Kingdoms of Africa -S1
New Series Premieres 12 January 2023 CAT: 21h00
Episodes: 4 x 60 mins – ends 26 January 2023
A four-part series reveals the pre-colonial history of some of Africa’s most important kingdoms.

HUMAN STORIES SATURDAYS

Birdmen Chronicles
New Documentary Special Premieres 07 January 2023 CAT: 20h00
Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
Wingsuitingis an activity that probably comes the closest to realizing man’s age-old desire to fly. Participants don a specially designed jumpsuit that adds surface area to their bodies, enabling a significant increase in lift and controlled flight. They literally fly like birds.

Dangerous Waters S1
New Series Premieres 07 January 2023 CAT: 21h00 and 22h00
Episodes: 10 x 60 mins – ends 04 February 2023
Follow the Dangerous Waters crew members as they embark upon an epic adventure riding their JetSki personal watercraft around the world.

Roundups #120: Lioness Returns For A New Season On M-Net, The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder Gets Season 2 Renewal And BritBox To Add Two New Doccies To Their Lineup

Another local drama gets a season 2 renewal

Shannon Esra returns to TV screens as Samantha Hugo when M-Net's (DStv 101) edgy thriller drama, Lioness, returns for its second season next year.

Lioness returns for season 2 on 16 January. It follows the story of a woman fresh out of jail for fraud and returning to a life even more fractured than when she left.

"After the cliffhanger finale of season 1, season 2 picks up with Adrian Hugo's (played by Jacques Bessenger) second wife (played by Carla Classen) in desperate search for her missing husband," a press statement reads. "The fiercely protective mother (as the titular "lioness") that she is, Samantha must shield her son Liam (played by Joshua Eady), no matter the cost."

DStv Flex:
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- What to expect this December on TNT?

The Proud Family is back on Disney+

The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder fans rejoice as the Proud Family revival gets renewed for season 2!

But, before we delve deeper into what we know about the upcoming new season on Disney+, we have to mention that the series is unquestionably making its mark as it recently won the Outstanding Casting for An Animated Program award at the first Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.

Season 2 of The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder will hit the airwaves in February and is expected to feature a stellar list of new guest stars. According to JustJaredJr.com, here are some of the voices that we can expect to hear in upcoming new episodes and the names of the characters that they will portray.

- Gabrielle Union as Talia Rouge
- Chance the Rapper as Darrius St. Vil
- Normani as Giselle
- Leslie Odom Jr. as Kwame
- Anthony Anderson as Ray Ray
- Gymnasts Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas and - Laurie Hernandez as themselves
- Holly Robinson Peete as Dr. Lord
- Maury Povich as himself
- Storm Reid as Emily
- Courtney B. Vance as Merlin Kelly
- Liana Mendoza as Singing Judge

Regular Nick:
- Best & Bester coming soon to Nicktoons
- Moonbug Kids gets a dedicated cameo account
- January on Disney Channel
- January on Disney Junior
- January on Da Vinci Kids
- The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang (review)

BritBox picks up two British actor documentaries

The Ghost of Richard Harris debuted in September 2022 at the Venice Film Festival. The actor is known to modern viewers best as the Original Dumbledore, but he had a long career before Harry Potter, including starring in the Oscar-nominated This Sporting Life and Camelot. However, he was even better known for his hard-partying ways, with a reputation for drinking and riotous behavior.

The documentary will feature his children, who followed in his footsteps to Hollywood, including Jared Harris (The Crown), Jamie Harris (Carnival Row), and director Damian Harris (Brave The Dark), as well as co-stars Vanessa Redgrave and Dick Cavett, and his late wife, Elizabeth Harris.

Peter O’Toole – Along the Sky Road to Aqaba only just debuted recently at the end of November 2022 in Spain. Directed by Jim Sheridan, who ironically also appears in The Ghost of Richard Harris, the documentary is structured into four acts, each introduced by a quote from or about the Lawrence of Arabia star to encapsulate that period of his life.

Nominated seven times for Best Actor, the new documentary covers everything about O'Toole from his self-belief to his alcoholism, using his own words, gleaned from 100s of hours of footage, allowing him to act as a narrator for his own life. It also includes interviews with O’Toole’s family, artists, actors, and directors, including Sir Kenneth Branagh, Brian Cox, Stephen Fry, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Sir Derek Jacobi.

YouTube Premium:
- VH1 is making a comeback to international shores through BET
- DStv Streama bundles Disney+
- The Walt Disney Company to expand the reach of Star Channel
- Acorn TV shutting down in South Africa
- TelkomOne rebrands into SABC+
- New Spider-Man series coming to MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video

What To Expect On DreamWorks Africa In January 2023?

NEW EPISODES: POSTMAN PAT
Each story features Postman Pat and his black and white cat Jess and their adventures in the village of Greendale. Pat is more than just a friendly postman delivering the mail. He is always ready to lend a willing hand to all the people he meets on his rounds. Everyone looks out for his bright red post van and he is warmly welcomed with a smile and the odd cup of tea!
From Monday 2nd January 2023
Weekdays at 9:30am, 11:30am

NEW EPISODES: DRAGONS RESCUE RIDERS
In a faraway corner of the vast and exciting Viking world, live ten-year-old Dak and his twin sister Leyla and five young dragons named Winger, Summer, Cutter, Burpleand Aggro. Raised among these dragon friends, Dak and Leyla have also developed the unique ability to understand and speak with dragons. Together the twins and their dragons go on exciting adventures, rescuing, defending and protecting other dragons while also helping out around their adopted home of Huttsgalor!
From Monday 2nd January 2023
Weekdays at 9am, 11am

NEW EPISODES: CLEOPATRA IN SPACE
Cleopatra in Space is the untold story of Cleopatra's teenage years when she is transported to a future galaxy that is ruled by talking cats and discovers that she is the prophesied savior. In order to prepare her to be the savior, she is sent to an elite academy where she has to train to take on the bad guys, figure out how to eventually get herself back home to Egypt, and tackle the highs and lows of being a teenager in high school.
From Monday 2nd January 2023
Weekdays at 7pm, 11pm
Weekends 2pm, 7pm

Regular Nick:
- Best & Bester coming soon to Nicktoons
- Moonbug Kids gets a dedicated cameo account
- January on Disney Channel
- January on Disney Junior
- January on Da Vinci Kids
- The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang (review)

MOVIES
Fridays at 5.15pm
Saturdays at 9am
Sundays and 9.30am

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3
Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th, Friday 13th January
Join your favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation adventure on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can finally take a break from handling everyone else's vacation at the hotel. It's smooth sailing for Drac's Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But they hit rocky waters when Mavis realizes that Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could sink their plans for a dream vacation.

THE SMURFS
Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th, Friday 20th January
After the evil wizard Gargamel has chased the little blue Smurfs out of their village, they stumble from their magical world into the human world - and end up in the middle of Central Park. Now the Smurfs must quickly find a way back to their village before Gargamel can track them down.

SMURFS 2
Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd, Friday 27th January
Evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties hoping they will let him harness the magical Smurf-essence. However, he soon discovers that he needs the help of Smurfette, who knows the secret to turning the Naughties into real Smurfs. When Gargamel and his Naughties kidnap Smurfette from Smurf Village and bring her to Paris, it’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchyand Vanity to reunite with their human friends, Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her!

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE
Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th January
In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!

Insidus Games:
- Nicktoons: Freeze Frame Frenzy
- Garfield 2: Royal Adventure
- Legend Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Sonic Advance 3
- Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends: Cheese Phone's Home
- Wheres Waldo Now?

New Development Alert: Ultraview Coming Soon To Openview And Here's What We've Seen So Far

BBC UKTV made its free-to-air on MultiChoice's DStv during the week and was initially slated for the Openview platform in October unfortunately that never came to fruition with BBC Studios refusing to comment any further on the matter.

I have no doubt that BBC UKTV will launch on the Openview platform as stated by both parties at the time they were still finalising some details not sure what that means exactly.

But as of this moment, consumers will behind on several shows such as My Family, Casualty and Top Gear from BBC Brit, Come Dine With Me from BBC Lifestyle, Wild Africa and Planet Earth from BBC Earth and Yakka Dee and Andy's Wild Adventures from CBeebies.

To add onto that note, eMedia Investments has begun doing a test run on Openview+ which serves as a pay version to the current Openview platform that won't be made available for viewing until the fall of 2023.

eMedia Investments:
- Prediction: eToonz to get an additional channel
- Could Openview+ lead to 24 hour capability of these channels?
- eToonz schedule explained
- Housewives has been scrapped from e.tv's lineup
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on DStv
- Charlize Theron opinion over the Afrikaans language

eMedia Investments 4 channels currently supplied to the DStv platform were scrapped during the year and their future on the pay-tv giant remains uncertain. So this is probably their way of not trying not to rely so much on the pay-tv giant for their survival.

And the fact that analogue is being wiped out by March 2023 which puts a dent in their money bin so at this point it's all about survival.

eVOD has seen plenty of success since it's rollout and it could have been what led them to revisit the pay-tv endeavours.

Openview+ was in the pipeline decades ago just without name and had several eMedia produced channels in the works and just like SABC's initial DTT plans that too was killed off or restructured and with its launch more imminent they're likely to revisit those options.

eMedia at the time felt the market was big enough for only two pay-tv platforms to which one had already sank while the other is trying to save the remaining passengers and hopefully lure more people into the Titanic.

Now the only thing that we knew so far about Openview+ was it's starter up of R150 which to me seems a bit much for a newbie I mean DStv Access costs far less and has over 40 channels and the current Openview platform has less than 25 channels.

Openview:
- MultiChoice to rollout delayed Openview channel
- Openview to come with monthly fees by next year
- Could Openview be losing more channels in future?
- SABC 1 title card has been registered for customers
- MultiChoice attempting to replicate eExtra's Kuiertyd with kykNET
- eMovies and eMovies Extra receive their first competitors on DStv Easyview

But eMedia has been dishing out some very interesting channels such as eXposed, The Home Channel+ and soon BBC UKTV so I'm just saying is it possible that Openview+ just like DStv Premium is quality over quantity.

To be frank, DStv Premium has over 120 channels of which less than 20 channels probably even less than that are available on an exclusive basis and most of the money goes onto M-Net and the existing lineup of content on SuperSport which is less than half of that number.

Honestly, a service like Openview+ will need some time prepping up but from what was seen later in the week I wouldn't be surprised if my theory came to fruition or at least initially.

As mentioned above, eMedia Investments had begun doing some test runs on Openview+ under the banner Ultraview which by my guess is a more advanced version of the latest model of the Openview platform.

They did announce another new decoder would be rolling out soon probably with more features. MultiChoice did something similar already where you had the DStv Explora and few years later you got more premium version, DStv Explora Ultra.

Openview:
- Alternatives to News And Sport Channel
- BYUTV - another alternative to eToonz
- Why Openview competitor is a free-to-view Netflix?
- Openview to come with monthly fees
- Glow TV to be replaced by eBolly (prediction)
- DMAX rolls out in the African market (prediction)

This Ultraview service has begun testing out two channels not really giving details as to what they're about but there is the matter of SABC's two yet to be launched channels and now BBC UKTV. I mean is it possible perhaps one of them will become an Openview+ exclusive.

Depending on when these channels actually launch, I'm not expecting them to place it on a paywall or at least not SABC for that matter. My hunch is that these two will probably be a premium version to the current e.tv and eExtra channels.

While as most of the content on eVOD will usually take up a year or so to be made available on eMedia's set of channels with the first channel I'm expecting it to take the M-Net approach and wait a few weeks or even do simultaneous airings. Even offer series like Seal Team and NCIS.

The second channel would be a telenovela channel sort of a spinoff to eExtra as eMedia has grown quite attached to this type of content. Of course, it would explore Latin America, Europe and parts of Asia and even crossover with the current eExtra channel.

Honestly, I'm not that much of a fan of the format seen on e.tv and the guilty pleasure lineup on eExtra. These channels kind of like what Zee World and Zee One may be rivals to some extent but these two are able to balance each other which is what I'm expecting for these two.