Entertainment Inside Us (Insidus)

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Predictions: What To Expect In 2023 On Telemundo Africa?

2022 was a whirlwind of bonanza as Telemundo home to various Spanish language telenovelas by NBCUniversal in partnership with Colombian broadcaster RCN Telenovela welcomed two shows to the channel: Nurses (currently in season 2) and The Scent Of Passions which have proved to be trailblazers with audiences.

Everyday Novelas:
- The Rebel Princess coming soon to eExtra
- 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
- The history of Star Life
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas

Other content that rolled out on the platform during the year included Meet The Family, Hidden Passions and The Legend. With 2023 around the corner we look at what's known so far for the brand alongside rumoured developments:

New:

- Till Money Do Us Apart (Hasta Que La Plata Nos Separe)
Poor salesman Rafael and wealthy business executive Alejandra are two strangers who suffer a car accident that changes their lives and intertwines their futures.

- Queen Of The South S3
Season 3 of Queen Of The South opens four years after the second season with Teresa behind bars in the U.S. for the murders of three DEA agents. She's once again separated from her daughter Sofia. She's freed in a dramatic jailbreak, leading her back to a covert world powered by alliances and secret deals and taking her on another action-packed adventure as she seeks to end her life as a fugitive and reunite with her daughter.

- Lord Of The Skies S8
At the start of season eight, no one has reason to doubt Aurelio Casillas' spectacular death. But even some of the best-kept secrets come to light. And it turns out that the infamous drug lord is alive and kicking, hidden away in the desert by his enemies in the DEA. Striking a powerful union with allies from previous seasons, Casillas also faces new romantic entanglements, while uncovering more family mysteries. And he's willing to risk everything for revenge.

- Game Of Lies (Juego De Mentiras)
The story revolves around a mysterious and beautiful woman who keeps many secrets.

- The Woman Of My Life (La Mujer De Mi Vida)
The series revolves around Ricardo Oribe, a physically unattractive but successful businessman, dedicated to his family and in love with his beautiful wife Daniela, a young aspiring actress.

DStv Flex:
- 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?
- What to expect this December on The Home Channel?
- What to expect this December on Curiosity Channel?

- The Count: Love And Honor (El Conde: Amor Y Honor)
It is an adaption of the 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Telemundo.

- Nurses S3
A story of women in which María Clara, the main character in the first two seasons, is responsible for driving the main plot: a love story full of ups and downs.

Rebroadcasts:

- Fearless Heart
- Where Is Elisa?
- Almost Yours
- Prisoners Of Love
- Operation Pacific
- Queen Of Hearts
- False Identity
- Broken Angel
- Forbidden Passions
- Law Of The Heart

Rumoured:

- The Story (Te La Dedico)
Adriana and Wilson are a couple who live from music, their dream is to be recognized and soon they are given the opportunity when a production company, headed by Henry Bedoya, launches a competition in which they come out winners, the problem is that they only want Adriana's talent. The couple's conflicts begin here, as the misunderstandings and difficulties grow.

- For Love Or For Money (Por Amor O Por Dinero)
The reality shows follows 16 single contestants, eight women and eight men, living in an isolated tropical paradise. The contestants must pair up, whether it be for love or money, and compete in mental and physical challenges. Through the season the contestants must re-couple when they can choose either to remain in their current couple or swap partner. The participants who remain single are eliminated. The overall winning couple, chosen by viewers vote, will split the $200,000 cash price.

Telemundo:
- Lord Of The Skies returns for an eighth season on Telemundo
- The Chosen Granddaughter coming soon to Telemundo
- Could The End Of Paradise be renewed for second season?
- Queen Of The South cancelled after 3 seasons
- A biography of The Legend
- The tale of The Old Lady Killer

New Series Alert: The Unindentical Twins Coming Soon To Novelas E Plus

Novelas E Plus a general entertainment channel on StarSat that is home to telenovelas from the Phillipines, Mexico and Turkey is set to introduce a brand new romcom from Thailand titled The Unidentical Twins (Song Sanaeha).

Twin sisters, similar in appearance differing in disposition, go about life in different ways. Duen, a capricious model and actress, is inconsiderate of anybody else’s interests or feelings. Pit has taken care of Duen since the death of their parents and is still looking out for her. While Duen was in a scandalous relationship with a rock musician, Pit had met Warit, a worthy young man.

At first, he confused the twins but soon recognized their differences. By strange coincidence, Warit turns out to be the nephew of Duen's new lover. Duen suddenly tires of the elderly uncle, switching her attention to the nephew. The more Warit resists Duen's advances, the nastier her tricks become to ensure Pit and Warit.

The Unidentical Twins stars James Ma, Kimberley Anne Woltemabg and Patchrapa Chaichua.

Since the series debut last year, The Unidentical Twins managed to score a 7.3/10 from IDMB.

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?

The Unidentical Twins airs daily at 20:40 from 8 December. In other related developments, eMedia Investments acquired rights to costume based drama The Rebel Princess which is also scheduled to be released later in the month.

What To Expect On The Home Channel In January 2023?

* priority slots in bold

Finest Homes (3)
South African home design and architecture has truly come into its own. Bland imitations have made way for modern masterpieces and character-filled design. On Finest Homes we explore these creations, talking to the visionaries who are bringing them to life, as well as the people who live in them.

Journey with us as we are taken through the spaces, showcasing architecture, interior design and landscape design. Discover valuable tips and ideas offered up by local experts, and recreate some of these looks in your own home.

02 January - 27 February

Mon           16:00
Wed           20:00
Thu            08:00
Fri              12:00
Sat             15:00 & 22:00
Sun            10:30 & 19:00

Country House Hunters (1)
There is something blissful about the Australian countryside. Just visiting the space transports us to a more relaxing place and lifts us out of the hustle and bustle of our busy cities. Country House Hunters captures the essence and quality of living in the beautiful Australian bush.

This series helps couples find their perfect country house. They are looking to relocate from the city to an Australian region location. Some in the mountains others to a farm and some have a passion for the beach. They will choose one at the end of the show.

Their perfect home can be as individual as the buyers themselves, they may love tiny homes, architectural works of art, a mountain hideaway or even be on the hunt for their very first home. On this season we see it all as we follow our buyer’s personal property journey.

02 January - 15 May

Mon        19:30
Tue          22:30
Wed        11:30
Thu          15:30
Sat           10:30
Sun          09:00

How to cook well with Rory O'Connell (4)
Rory O’Connell is back for a new season of How To Cook Well with Rory O’Connell. As always, Ireland’s most experienced cookery teacher cooks imaginative and stylish dishes with wit and erudition, but always with the aim of making the recipes simple to follow and accessible.

Rory’s particular skill is in taking quite humble ingredients, such as fish, beetroot or gooseberries and creating a dish which transforms them into something surprising and delicious.

Ingredients such as Middle Eastern spices zaatar and sumac, once, only available in specialist grocers, can now be found in most supermarkets and this is due in part to Rory using previously unfamiliar ingredients in his programmes. Influences from Asia, the middle East and the Americas can be found in this selection of recipes, as of course are the traditions, and superb ingredients, to be found in Ireland.

03 January - 21 February

Tue           18:00
Wed          23:00
Thu          10:00
Fri             14:00
Sat            07:30
Sun           14:00

DStv:
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- fliekNET to make a comeback this festive season
- Why DStv Premium customers might lose out on a certain new channel?
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform
- VH1 making a comeback on DStv

Cheap Irish Homes (1)
Join host Maggie Molloy on her mission to find Ireland’s Cheapest Homes and shine a light on the secret side of the Irish property market on Cheap Irish Homes. Maggie helps house hunters find properties all over the country.

Maggie is looking for buyers with an open mind who are not afraid of a bit of work. In return she will reveal the kind of properties people would never have thought were within their reach.

Properties oozing with charm, in picturesque locations, with plenty of outdoor space – all at jaw dropping prices! She is joined on location by Kieran McCarthy a building engineer who will advise the house hunters about the condition of the houses they are looking at and the various levels of renovation that could be undertaken.

03 January - 07 February

Tue            19:00
Wed          22:30
Thu            11:00
Fri              15:00

Jamie's 30 minute meals (1)
Jamie’s 30 minute meals is an energetic food series that sees Jamie Oliver giving solid instruction to the culinary uninspired. Jamie cooks up substantial mains, delicious sides and salads, gorgeous puddings and refreshing drinks – adding his own unique twist to each element.

The series supports Jamie’s continuing mission to improve people’s lives through food by tackling the issues of kitchen confidence and lack of time, head on. The result is food programming that is as relevant and helpful as it is beautiful and seductive.

Each episode walks you through the steps needed to create an entire meal from scratch in just 30 minutes. The recipes are played out in real time, offering a blow-by-blow account of each instruction so the viewer can then recreate that same meal in their own kitchen.

16 January - 16 October

Mon          14:00
Wed          18:00
Thu            23:00
Fri              10:00
Sat             08:00
Sun            14:30

Styled (1)

16 January - 06 March

Mon          20:00
Tue            08:00
Wed          12:00
Thu            16:00
Sat             08:30
Sun            07:00

Open Homes (3)
Join expert home and garden designer hosts Michael & Carlene Duffy on Open Homes, as they take a tour through some of the most awe-inspiring properties you'll ever see.

From the renowned architectural masterpiece known as The Floating House' to the 100 year old cottage that's transported to a stunning location at the top of a hill where it is extended into a breath-taking mansion.

See on-trend interior design and even a house that floats on the side of a hill.

17 January - 21 March

Tue            18:30
Wed           23:30
Thu            10:30
Fri              14:30
Sat             15:30 & 22:30
Sun            11:00 & 19:30

The Great Australian Cookbook (1)
The Great Australian Cookbook is a celebration of food, travel, family and love. The nation's top chefs and food producers invite viewers into their homes and favourite spaces to learn what they cook, and how, for the people they love.

Right across the nation, from the city to the sea, from the tropics to the bush, the dramatic Australian landscape plays host to deliciously simple dishes and seriously complex creations.

Jam-packed full of tips The Great Australian Cookbook is the story of Australia, and the food we love to eat.

23 January - 03 April

Mon          10:00
Tue            14:00
Thu            18:00
Fri              23:00
Sat             07:00
Sun            13:30

Gardening 101: Food Garden (1)
Melanie Walker, one of South Africa’s most passionate landscape enthusiasts, once again joins forces with food gardener extraordinaire, Linda Galvad on Gardening 101.

Melanie takes us through more of the country’s most impressive gardens, from private homes to public spaces and botanical wonders, digging deeper into the world of horticulture and sharing ideas and tips that you can use in your own garden.

Linda brings us more of the advice we need to create bountiful vegetable gardens which will be the envy of the neighbourhood. From preparing and planting right through the care and harvesting your fruitful crop!

24 January - 14 February

Tue            21:00
Wed           09:00
Thu            13:00
Fri              17:00
Sat             12:00 & 19:00
Sun            16:00 & 23:00

BBC UKTV:
- MultiChoice to add 3 new channels to the DStv platform
- Conspiracy Theory regarding BBC UKTV on DStv
- BBC UKTV vs. BBC Brit: Recommendations and Improvements
- What to expect on BBC UKTV?
- Premium customers to lose out on purposed new channel
- Another attempt at promoting the BBC on DStv

Living By Design (1)
Brother and sister duo Jake and Jazz Smollett team up to transform the living, work, and play spaces of millennial families in Living by Design. They know how to hold it down in fashion, food and design!

In this series, Jake and Jazz create simple solutions to everyday design dilemmas for aspiring millennial families. Whether it’s a new mom redecorating a nursery on a tight budget, a fierce young woman who’s landed her dream job and now has to spruce up her home office or a young couple moving into their first home, Living by Design will help transition their houses into homes.

30 January - 15 May

Mon           19:00
Tue            22:00
Wed           11:00
Thu            15:00

I Escaped to the Country (3)
“I Escaped to the Country” celebrates the house buying success stories of people who went on to purchase a rural property they were introduced to on their original “Escape to the Country” journey.

Each episode highlights what they love about their new home and how the move has transformed their everyday lives.

31 January - 04 April

Tue            20:00
Wed           08:00
Thu            12:00
Fri              16:00

Turkish Couple Edits Presents #DisComplicated Eda & Serkan Lose You To Love Me

Turkish Couple Edits a YouTube channel which distributes a variety of music videos based on couples within a number of telenovelas. Part of which can be viewed on eExtra: #DisComplicated and Verdeelde Liefde.

Here's another music video for the show #DisComplicated:

For those wondering what song is used in the video it's Lose You To Love Me performed by none other than Selena Gomez.

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

New Channel Alert: M-Net Movies Blk All Stars And Qwest TV Coming Soon To DStv Alongside BBC UKTV Which Will Likely Rollout On Openview As Well

In September, MultiChoice held a showcase where they unveiled Qwest TV a jazz infused entertainment channel by Grammy Awarded Quincy Jones then a few months later an BBC UKTV from BBC Studios a channel which had since then been delayed on the Openview platform.

Now we have recieved updates from both brands, according to a press release shared by the pay-tv company, BBC UKTV will be made available from 15 December targeting Family, Access and Easyview customers on channel 134 - as predicted.

Easyview is finally getting some attention probably due to the success of Openview and it's upcoming pay-tv tier Openview+. Don't be surprised if they added an additional R10 to their monthly subscription.pp

BBC UKTV:
- Conspiracy Theory regarding BBC UKTV on DStv
- BBC UKTV to launch on the Openview platform
- BBC UKTV vs. BBC Brit: Recommendations and Improvements
- What to expect on BBC UKTV?
- Premium customers to lose out on purposed new channel
- Another attempt at promoting the BBC on DStv

Compact, Compact+ and Premium customers already have BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News. Of course, BBC Earth is a premium channel and while BBC UKTV will offer repeats to them other consumers have to rely on the retarded BBC Brit.

Programs confirmed for the channel include Strictly Come Dancing, Frozen Planet, My Family, Andy's Wild Adventures, Come Dine With Me South Africa basically repeats from the above-mentioned brands.

Qwest TV is also gearing up for a December release on channel 330 and if I had to guess the channel will be added to Premium, Compact+ and Compact customers but we all know how well that section performs within those packages but this is their way of evening out the odds.

Openview:
- 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
- The history of Star Life

Even better, Qwest TV will launch in HD while as the low tiered BBC UKTV will be available in standard definition and I know some consumers on Openview are probably wondering if it will be available at the same time as DStv and I have not doubts about that.

Qwest TV doesn't really some that exciting at all as the music section on DStv has lacked variety outside of DMX that I'm sure several consumers had already moved on. It could explain as to why M-Net Movies launched yet another repeat channel for a limited time.

M-Net Movies Blk All-Stars is basically M-Net Movies 2 which skewed toward black audiences with films like After Earth, Rush Hour and Lethal Weapon. It will be added on channel 111 to DStv Premium and AddMovies customers and judging by the lineup Compact and Compact+ customers as well.

If there's something I'm curious about more than anything is about some of the current offerings which just like BBC UKTV and Magic Showcase are already viewable on the premium and compact bouquet.

MultiChoice has been doing a lot of quality control during the year part of which included eliminating non-performing or channels which offer too much repeats I mean they even went for Novela Magic which just leaves all the more curious as to what's to become of Real Time and Discovery Family.

Roundups #116: Craig Of The Creek Cancelled On Cartoon Network After 5 Seasons, Reyka Renewed For Season 2 On M-Net And Televisa In Talks To Adapt The Turkish Drama The Girl Named Feriha

Craig Of The Creek is ending here's what you need to know

If you had any hope for the show defying the odds think again, in a series of tweets from the creator Ben Levin talked about the situation while confirming this is really the end.

We wrote the final episode of Craig Of The Creek today. That's 181 episodes in total - not including the movie. Technically, we wrote 188 episodes, but unfortunately 7 of those will not be seen because of our order being cut short (I'll share more about the episodes someday). I'm going to miss this very much. The Creek was a giant sandbox and we tried to make room for everyone to play. We collectively channeled our childhood dreams and adventures into each episode, hoping to inspire the kids watching at home or at least make them laugh. The infinite talents of the entire crew and cast made the Creek into a living, breathing world. The characters and space were rich and nuanced and it felt like we could explore them forever. And we certainly had more stories to tell, but unfortunately because of this merger. This is the end. Still 5 seasons and a movie (and spinoff) ain't nothing. Thanks to everyone who has been part of this writer's room for over six years.

The crew was going to keep this show going but it was cut short with that said what's more concerning is the state of Cartoon Network as the only original program left happens to be We Baby Bears with Teen Titans GO! in another department.

Cartoon Network has a bunch of content coming up such as Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, Invincible Fight Girl and Adventure Time: Fiona And Cake. The only problem is that the channel hasn't shared much details on any of this content of course there is the new Ivandoe series produced in Europe.

Regular Nick:
- The Simpsons: A look at various spinoffs that never got greenlit
- Garbage Boy And Trash Can still in development on Cartoon Network
- Team Sayari coming soon to Disney Channel
- Boomerang being swapped for Cartoonito in these region
- Review: The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang
- What to expect this December on Da Vinci Kids?

Fremantle picks up this local drama for another season

South African crime drama “Reyka,” a co-production between global producer-distributor Fremantle and South African broadcaster M-Net, has been greenlit for a second season.

South African-born Kim Engelbrecht and Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”) will reprise their roles in the series from writer and creator Rohan Dickson, with production set to kick off in January 2023. Season 2 will premiere on M-Net in late 2023.

The second season centers around a series of violent attacks in the port city of Durban and will see Reyka work with a new team to find mysterious connections between the Lover’s Lane Killer, teenage sex workers and the deadly assault of a cobbler.

DStv Flex:
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- What to expect this December on TNT?
- What to expect this December on The Home Channel?
- What to expect this December on Curiosity Channel?

Beloved Turkish drama is heading to Mexico

The Girl Named Feriha follows housekeeper Feriha Yilmaz, a young woman from a poor background who is awarded a scholarship to an elite university, where wealthy playboy Emir Sarrafoğlu studies as well. Emir eventually falls in love with Feriha, believing she is also wealthy.

eExtra has been airing all 3 seasons on repeat for as long as it has been viewable on the DStv platform and as several sources mentioned. The Mexican based broadcaster Televisa is looking to adapt the popular Turkish drama - nothing is official as of yet.

But if they do get a shot in remaking The Girl Named Feriha take some facts into account. The whole setting of the show will change some with the character's name. Take into account that this is not the only Turkish drama to be remade by them even Black Money Love was adapted as Imperio De Mentiras.

Everyday Novelas:
- Queen Of The South to end with third season on Telemundo
- The Game Of My Destiny a brand new Turkish drama unveiled by Global Agency
- The Rebel Princess coming soon to eExtra
- The history of Zee TV's Razia Sultana
- A look at former NBC soap, Passions
- Die Vertroueling coming soon to eExtra

Prediction: Glow TV Stops Airing On The Openview Platform, To Be Replaced By eBolly

Prediction: A statement of what you think will happen in the future.

Glow TV is a South African based entertainment channel owned by Nismedia that is home to a variety of content that promotes the Indian community including a range of series, movies and variety shows.

Over the years, the likes of Zee World and Zee One from Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Star Life from Disney Star have been edging out Glow TV resulting in them losing out on content like Forbidden Love and also funneling primetime with rebroadcasts.

It could have been what resulted in the brand's demise on the DStv platform with the brand clinging onto its remaining audiences on both Openview and StarSat.

Sources close to Glow TV had mentioned most of the brand's audience reside on the Openview platform meaning that they don't have much impact on StarSat with the pay platform being viewed as less of an alternative and more of a trainwreck.

With the channel remaining onboard for a few more months one has to wonder what awaits for them in the years to come. But if I had to view it's future on Openview it seems very dark from the looks of it.

Nismedia, the owners of the channel had to go through court to get Glow TV reinstated I mean would eMedia have realised their error without involving the legal system. Didn't MultiChoice replace the channel with Star Life a few years prior to when Zee One did the same on Openview.

Openview:
- BBC Studios to launch new channel on the Openview platform
- 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

eMedia Investments received plenty of backlash and if the channel weren't fortunate to remain a couple more months viewers would have probably adjusted to its absence as seen with MultiChoice.

eBella was added onto Openview and DStv ahead of the rollout of Star Life and honestly the idea of eMedia launching something similar to the defunct brand to make amends for the removal of Glow TV wouldn't be far fetched.

I mean Kuiertyd has a dedicated channel so why can't the bulk of Zee World content get a channel of its own as if eExtra and Zee One don't already exist. It's as if Nismedia's suggestion over Zee TV's dominance becomes more transparent as years pass by.

My idea is for this channel is that it takes a similar form to most eMedia channels. Resumes at a particular timeslot, leverage various content from eExtra on top of distributing their own lineup of content and hopefully reduce the amount of Zee TV from the other station.

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

Monday, December 5, 2022

"Max" Is Being Eyed As Potential Name To Merged Discovery+ And HBO Max Streaming Which Is Set To Rollout In Europe By 2025

Warner Bros. Discovery executives are close to formalizing a new name and platform for its soon-to-be-launched streaming service that will combine the preexisting HBO Max and Discovery+ services.

The merged platform’s expected name, “Max,” is being vetted by the company’s lawyers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Executives haven’t finalized a decision and the name could still be changed, but Max is the likely choice, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Some senior executives are still debating a final name, said two of the people. Internally, Warner Bros. Discovery has given the new service a code name of “BEAM” while a final name is being debated, said the people. Lawyers are vetting other names, as well.

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

The app itself will share similarities with Disney+’s platform, with Warner Bros. Discovery’s brands as individual tiles, the people said. HBO, Discovery, DC Comics and Warner Bros. will be among the landing hubs on the platform, the people added.

A Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said a name was still being discussed.

CNBC reported last year that WarnerMedia executives wanted a new name for the combined streaming service. While branding HBO Max with HBO crystalized the prestige image of the product, several executives felt the name may eventually dilute the HBO brand as consumers conflated it with everything on the streaming service.

Chief Executive David Zaslav has cut back on HBO Max original series spending, which has helped reform HBO’s branding. Still, HBO has a limited audience that’s largely U.S. based, and the streaming service will offer much more than HBO — including reality TV from Discovery, news documentaries from CNN, movies from Warner Bros., kids programming, and possibly, eventually, live sports. Zaslav and his team see the value in making HBO a sub-brand within the larger streaming offering, said people familiar with their thinking.

Warner Bros. Discovery management pushed up the launch date for the combined service to spring 2023, the company announced in its most recent earnings call in November. Zaslav said during a earnings conference call that a team has been preparing for the launch of the combined offering, and also experimenting with changes “in large part to address some of the deficiencies of the existing platform.”

Zaslav noted recent changes already being rolled out on HBO Max that reflects that work, including the addition of Discovery content.

“These early green shoots bolster our strategic thesis that the two content offerings work well together and when combined, should drive greater engagement, lower churn and higher customer lifetime value,” Zaslav said on the call.

Warner Bros Discovery:
- Boomerang might be rebranding in more parts of Europe to Cartoonito
- Inside Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA kids content strategy
- Warner Bros. Discovery to launch new free-to-air channel in some parts of Europe by 2023
- The history of Fine Living
- Warner Bros. Discovery cancels several animated shows
- Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education launch new channel

The pricing of the combined streaming service is still being discussed, the people said.

HBO’s confusing branding
There has been debate at Warner Bros. Discovery about keeping HBO in the name of the new streaming service given its prestige. But removing it from the name will also end a run of HBO-branded streaming services that have confused consumers. HBO Go and HBO Now preceded HBO Max.

Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to reform through a series of changes and cost cuts. The company is contending with a heavy debt load, and, like the rest of the industry, it is figuring out how to make the streaming business profitable, rather than chasing subscribers while spending heavily on content. Zaslav told investors in November that the focus for the business, and its streaming strategy, would be reaching profitability, and not necessarily subscriber numbers. The company’s goal is to notch $1 billion in earnings in streaming by 2025.

“While we’ve got lots more work to do and some difficult decisions still ahead, we have total conviction in the opportunity before us,” Zaslav said.