Newsflash: Sibongile & The Dlaminis Returns For Season 2 Introducing Nsikelelo Mthiyane As The New Sibongile

If you thought season 1 of Sibongile & The Dlaminis was serving nothing but sgaxa after sgaxa, Season 2 will have you hooked even more because the story continues and introduces the new Sibongile on Mzansi Wethu (DStv Channel 163).

The story of Sibongile (formerly played by Luyanda Zwane), a vibrant small-town girl’s dream of studying to better her and her family's lives continues to unfold after her drama-filled and short-lived romance with Kwenzo ends. In season 1, viewers saw Sibongile’s heart being crushed by Nomalanga’s pregnancy with Kwenzo’s child, she had to go back home to the village in Ixopo and deal with her ‘not-so-motherly’ stepmom, Deliwe, and face her disappointed father until the truth about her circumstances came out.

In season 2, newcomer Nsikelelo Mthiyane takes over the role of Sibongile, and the story continues as viewers will see even more explosive secrets exposed, more confrontations and of course, more gossip from Nomfundo’s squad (the Dlamini helpers). Most exciting is the addition of new cast members to the story, who are sure to shake things up for both the Dlaminis and Sibongile’s family.

“Sibongile & The Dlaminis has been a gift that keeps on giving for our audiences, with season 1 surpassing one million viewership numbers and we can proudly say that it has been a resounding success,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director for Local Entertainment Channels. “We are excited to embark on this second chapter of Sibongile’s journey and we know that the new additions and changes will make this story even more exciting.”

So, does Phetheni find out about the love triangle she is unknowingly part of? Will Vuma ever forgive Deliwe and take her back? What of Nomalanga’s pregnancy and Gcina’s involvement? Most importantly, does Sibongile finally get to have her ‘Cinderella’ moment with Kwenzo?

Tune in for the premiere of Season 2 of Sibongile & The Dlaminis on Mzansi Wethu, DStv Channel 163, from 29 July Monday-Wednesday at 18:30.

New Series Alert: Mzansi Wethu Presents Vuka Mjita, A Show Dedicated To Men

Many have heard the saying ‘Indoda ayikhali’ (a man does not cry) as this may be taken as a sign of weakness. From July 14 July, Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163) will be introducing Vuka Mjita, a show where men will unashamedly, honestly, and vulnerably express their feelings.

Hosted by Mondli Makhoba (The Wife, Shaka Ilembe), also known as Bhut’Omdala, Vuka Mjita is all about taking men on a therapeutic journey that breaks their walls and helps them unlock the doors to the side of healing. This is with the hope that the process will assist them reflect on the men they are becoming and what role they are playing in their families and in society.

“This show is like being part of a journey to ‘empower‘ men and we are looking at it as giving a platform to help understand, nurturing and try to heal the mental state of our brothers and sons where it’s needed,” says Director of Local Entertainment Channels Shirley Adonisi.

“Our Mzansi brand is all about entertainment that resonates with our audience, and we hope that Vuka Mjita will be more than just that but will also be a show where men can be vulnerable and talk openly and honestly.”

Thanks to the therapy plan which was designed by Clinical Psychologist & Author, Thabang Tlaka, each week a therapist will sit with a different gentleman who needs a remedy or therapy to deal and change a predicament they are faced with. As an expert in the field, the process he takes them through helps each candidate to break down the walls, speak up, confront their fears.

As uBhut’Omdala says: ”Kuwumsebenzi wethu to find out why we exist, for there is a bigger purpose.”

Tune in to Mzansi Wethu DStv Channel 163 from Sunday 14 July at 8pm to see how men in our modern-day society try to find their purpose for existence through emotional healing.

Africa’s Dedicated Horse Racing Channel, Featuring The Best International And Local Horse Racing, Racing 240 (Channel 240 On DStv), Is Transitioning To High Definition

4Racing’s Head of Content, Stephen Watson said, “This is a huge step forward for the sport of horse racing and the culmination of all the work done since our inception to transition racing to higher broadcast standards. As reflected in our Nielsen Sports SA data, the Racing 240 channel has seen significant month-on-month viewership growth over the past 18 months, with no signs of plateauing and the channel performs well amongst its peers within SuperSport’s strong sports channel bouquet.”

“Additionally, we have effected an early contract renewal with MultiChoice, so will be upgrading Racing 240 to HD on a new year multi-year term,” he added.

Nielsen Sports SA Managing Director, Tumelo Selikane, confirmed, “At Nielsen Sports SA, we have diligently tracked Racing240 since April 2022. Previously, Telly Track broadcasted horse racing on DSTV, amassing a total unique audience of 1.9 million. However, Racing240, starting from ground zero, has impressively grown its total unique TV audience to 3.4 million to date.”

“We are proud to be their partner and to monitor their remarkable growth numbers. We eagerly anticipate the next three-year partnership with DSTV and what it holds for the future of Racing240.”

The new channel delivery path to MultiChoice’s HD uplink facilities in the United Kingdom will be fully configured and tested by the associated technical teams in the coming weeks and once signed off by both sides, a phased roll-out will commence across the continent, with a ‘go live’ date to be announced in due course.

Multichoice CEO Marc Jury commented: “Racing 240 has grown in popularity with our viewers across all subscription packages, so we are delighted to have reached agreement to upgrade the channel to High Definition on a new multi-year term. Having apremier horse racing channel within our existing dedicated sports channels bouquet aligns well with our strategy to continue bringing the very best international and local sporting action to our subscribers.”

In conclusion, 4Racing’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Fundi Sithebe said, “This is a significant milestone for the industry at large, with far reaching benefits for all racing stakeholders. Our broadcast is the shop window to our sport and we are deeply appreciative of both the working relationship and opportunity MultiChoice has given us to showcase racing in HD. We are very excited to offer this enhanced HD viewing experience to all racing patrons, punters and fans.”

TLC South Africa Brings Back the Beloved Busby Family - OUTDAUGHTERED

TLC South Africa is excited to announce the return of the heartwarming family series, OUTDAUGHTERED, premiering on Monday, 3 June, at 21:00. Viewers are invited to join the Busby family as they navigate the challenges of parenthood and the joys of raising six daughters, including the all-girl quintuplets that have captured the hearts of audiences worldwide.

 

As the new school year begins, Adam and Danielle grapple with the demands of their growing family and busy careers. With Ava, Olivia, Hazel, Riley, Parker, and oldest daughter Blayke, the Busbys embark on new adventures, from learning to read to taking on more household chores. However, amidst the chaos, Adam and Danielle are keenly aware of their daughters' individual needs, striving to provide each with the attention and support they require to thrive.

 

Blayke, facing the challenges of middle school and social pressures, takes on the nerve-wracking task of trying out for the school volleyball team. As she grapples with her fears of not making the cut, Adam and Danielle offer unwavering support, navigating the complexities of parenting a preteen with love and understanding.

 

Adam and Danielle share their insights into the season, with Adam remarking, "Ever since I started to get more photography gigs outside the house, it’s been a big adjustment for Danielle and me. Me working, Danielle working, plus all the kids..."

 

Reflecting on the possibility of hiring additional help, Adam humorously adds, "If you put on a job description, ‘quintuplets …’" to which Danielle chimes in, "They’re like HECK no."

 

Despite the challenges they face, the Busbys make sure to carve out time for family bonding, embarking on adventures to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, meeting up with other families of multiples, and even cheering on their favourite football team, the Texans.

 

Tune in to TLC South Africa (DStv channel 135) on Monday, 3 June, at 21:00 for the premiere of OUTDAUGHTERED. Viewers will be treated to an intimate glimpse into the beautiful chaos of family life with the Busbys. 

Breaking Barriers: Telkom Demonstrates Education With The Rollout Of TelkomLEARN

It is now almost universally agreed that good education is the foundation to personal growth, stability and success. However, accessing that education is one of the fundamental challenges keeping young people from achieving success and fulfilment.

 

Preventing this access are material barriers such as cost, connectivity and the availability of quality educational resources.

 

It is also one of life’s great injustices that precisely the people who need education most – the poor and underprivileged, those living in remote rural areas, and those without strong social support networks – find it hardest to access quality education. This is in spite of education being a democratic birthright, promised to South Africa’s people in terms of our Constitution.

 

Digital connectivity offers a unique opportunity to overcome this injustice, and to give families and communities access to the educational resources they need to improve their lives. Integrated communications provider Telkom, already a leader in the education space, has taken this opportunity to heart.

 

The organisation has launched TelkomLearn, a digital learning platform for parents seeking high-quality educational resources for their children, as well as young people looking to further their careers. The platform offers a comprehensive solution in partnership with a diverse range of credible digital education providers.

 

The new platform is the latest expression of Telkom’s long-standing commitment to education, in line with its stated mission to seamlessly connect South Africans to a better life, says Telkom Group Executive for Innovation and Transformation, Dr Mmaki Jantjies.

 

“Telkom has lived our belief in the value of education through years of fostering digital learning opportunities through connectivity,” says Jantjies. “Through our long-established Telkom Foundation school development programme, our higher education bursaries, as well as the Telkom Centres of Excellence supporting Masters and PhD students, we consistently support the transformative power of education. TelkomLearn is an exciting new way to live out this commitment.”

 

Telkom Learn looks to redefine education, by providing seamless access to online learning and skills development, and is made possible through Telkom’s nationwide digital connectivity. The primary objective of Telkom Learn is to democratise access to quality digital learning resources for parents across the country.

 

The platform offers two main streams: Basic Education and Higher Education. Under the basic education path, parents can access the extremely popular Lightbulb Edtech platform established in 2015, which is powered by Telkom. Lightbulb gives Grade 8 ­– 12 learners access to supplementary materials, practice exercises and curriculum-aligned educational content, empowering them to excel in their studies.

 

For parents looking to support their children's higher-education goals, TelkomLearn offers a diverse array of courses through its partners, covering specific career skills like entrepreneurship, Cloud computing, web design, customer service, social-media marketing and financial literacy. There are more than 100 courses available, mostly free of charge, allowing parents to help their children explore different learning programmes and career opportunities.

 

The power of the Telkom Learn higher-education platform comes through way it aggregates several credible digital education providers on one channel, giving parents a comprehensive solution and an easily accessible way to enrich their children's educational journey. The TelkomLearn partners are all global leaders in the digital, and online education fields – IBM, Microsoft, HP, Duke, and Alibaba Cloud.

 

“Because these organisations are at the very forefront of the digital economy, the courses that they provide are absolutely relevant to the needs of modern business,” says Dr Jantjies. “This means that children and young people who take these courses will not only do better at school, they will be able to build successful careers in later life.”

 

Digital education is fast establishing itself as a tool of empowerment, giving parents a way to ensure their children can access the training and the opportunities they need to succeed in today's digital age.

 

Dr Jantjies said the comprehensive new offering brought quality educational resources within reach for all of South Africa’s people – something he said was a democratic imperative, but also an economic necessity for the country.

 

“We firmly believe that education is not only the key to personal development but also the cornerstone of innovation and national development,” she says. “By nurturing talent and fostering a culture of innovation, we aim to contribute to the long-term prosperity and development of our people – and our nation at large.”

New Series Alert: Cartoon Network To Premiere New Series "Tiny Toons Looniversity" On June 3 Across Africa

It’s the first day of school at Acme Looniversity and laughs are in session! From Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation, the brand-new series “Tiny Toons Looniversity” premieres Monday, June 3 at 16:35 CAT on Cartoon Network with new episodes airing daily. 

“Tiny Toons Looniversity” follows Babs, Buster, and their new friends Hamton, Plucky, and Sweetie to Acme Looniversity, the premier institution of higher hijinx learning. While enrolled, they form long-lasting friendships with one another and perfect their cartoony craft while studying under the greatest cartoon characters in history, the Looney Tunes. 

The voice cast includes Emmy Award-winner Eric Bauza as Buster, Daffy, and Gossamer, Ashleigh Hairston as Babs, David Errigo Jr. as Hamton J. Pig and Plucky, and Tessa Netting as Sweety. The series also welcomes back “Tiny Toon Adventures” alumni Jeff Bergman,

Bob Bergen, Candi Milo, and Cree Summer, who reprise their roles as Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Dean Granny, and Elmyra, respectively. Bergman also voices Sylvester and Foghorn Leghorn, and Milo also voices Witch Hazel. Looney Tunes veteran actor Fred Tatasciore voices Taz and Yosemite Sam.

“Tiny Toons Looniversity” is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Steven Spielberg returns as executive producer, with Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, and Amblin Television Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers. Erin Gibson (“Attitudes!”) and Nate Cash (“Adventure Time”) serve as showrunners and co-executive producers.

New Series Alert: Winx Club Reboot Is Reportedly Set To Premiere On Netflix In 2025

Rainbow Studios has announced its new, CGI-animated “Winx Club” series is scheduled to premiere on Netflix globally in 2025. The news is accompanied by the appointment of Playmates Toys and Giochi Preziosi as master toy partners for an extensive new Winx Club toyline. This strategic collaboration ushers in an era for a new generation of kids and the global fandom that has followed the franchise since the premiere of its first animated season in 2004.

Longtime business partners Playmates and Giochi Preziosi will split global distribution of a new collection of fashion dolls, accessories, role-play toys and playsets inspired by the new “Winx Club” series. Playmates will manage sales, marketing and distribution in North, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and South Africa; Giochi Preziosi will manage Europe and the U.K.

“Winx Club,” produced and distributed by the Rainbow Group, headquartered in Italy, celebrates its 20th year anniversary in 2024. When “Winx Club” debuted in 2024, it introduced a world of magic, friendship and courage. Created by Iginio Straffi, the series follows the journey of Bloom, a teenage girl from Earth who discovers that she is a fairy with extraordinary powers. As she enrolls in the Alfea College for Fairies, Bloom forms the Winx Club with her new friends, embarking on countless adventures across magical dimensions.

 “Winx Club” now spans eight animated seasons, three theatrical movies, four made-for-television movies, two “World of Winx” animated series coproduced with Netflix, two seasons of a Netflix Original live-action series “Fate—The Winx Saga” and a robust merchandising program. The “Winx Club” community has generated over 20 billion views of “Winx Club” content on YouTube and more than 35 billion views of “Winx Club”related videos on TikTok.

“We are honored to be at the forefront of this exciting new chapter,” says Georgia Manolas Walker, vice president, marketing, Playmates Toys. “The enduring legacy of ‘Winx Club’ is a testament to the timeless appeal of its stories and characters. We look forward to unveiling a spellbinding range of products that captures the adventure, friendship, and magic that ‘Winx Club’ represents.”

“We are very excited about this new chapter of the ‘Winx’ saga," says Jay Visconti, chief strategic officer, Giochi Preziosi Group. “Having worked hand in hand with Rainbow since the very first launch in 2004, we are fully aware of the appeal such an amazing brand/franchise has on consumers. We are sure that also this time ‘Winx’ will be a global success.”

“The Winx are returning stronger than ever, and I am grateful to once again collaborate with Netflix, the ideal partner to bring any IP to global audiences,” says Iginio Straffi, creator, “Winx Club” and president, Rainbow. “It’s a thrill to work with our long-time friends and partners Giochi Preziosi and Playmates, and to create the best Winx toys ever for all our fans. I am also very excited that the collaboration with these esteemed partners will ensure a bright future for a powerful ‘Winx’ comeback both on screen and at retail.”

Important Notice Dated 22 May

As reported a few days ago, we are currently reviewing our offering across platforms removing whatever redundancy lurks to enhance reader's experience. This included the removal of recent posts as the latter is viewed on related posts and labels.

Pictured above is what some knew as Insidus Plus, this had rebranded to DStv Flex the idea of creating two additional platforms was to give them some form of an identity which is what you can expect on DStv Flex.

For the record, this isn't associated with DStv in anyway and the names to some of our offerings are derived from IPs as a firm of tribute. DStv Flex is adult oriented, don't expect much changes to the offerings. 

Development Alert: Primos Delayed On Disney Channel Again Due To Controversy, Might Launch Before The Fall

Disney Channel has become home to multiple wonderful storytelling however in June 13, 2023, the network never faced a blackash to this level (“Thundercats Roar”, “High Guardian Spice”, “Velma”).

Primos has been delayed indefinitely according to EIDR, Disney+ and Disney Channel Schedule, additionaly the series theme song has been privatized on Youtube but it can still be viewed at Disney.com

Since the controversy happen several crew members mentioned that the series went on a retooling with some changes, one of the most notable ones was changing the name of Cookita to Lucita according to the VAs.

Disney instead of putting a statement or giving more information on what the actual show is about they prefered to stay silent and delaying the show until further notice or simply pretending it dosn’t exist, It’s very disrespectful to the crew an the critics as opposed to other Latino projects within the company like Coco and Encanto, since it seems that they only care to calm people when it’s a project from their feature film division who makes their projects while the TV division needs to face the harassment of millon of people for months.

Elizabeth Grullón (“The Owl House”) has confirmed that PRIMOS is indeed set to debut this summer.

Likely to debut on July/August probably the latter due the premiere of Descendants The Rise Of Red, a preview will be screened at Annecy Film Festival alongside exclusive looks to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0, StuGo, Zombies The Re-Animated Series, Robogobo and the Phineas And Ferb revival.

Credits: Disney Television Animation News, Disney Channel Schedule