Roundups #75: Close Enough Cancelled After Three Seasons On HBO Max Banni Chow Home Delivery Airing On StarPlus International Just Not Africa, Part 2 Of WFO Titans National Extreme Euro Championship Coming Soon To Ignition

Another one bites the dust

HBO Max is not proceeding with a fourth season of adult animated comedy Close Enough, from Regular Show creator JG Quintel and Cartoon Network Studios. The decision comes a little over three months after the release of the second season on April 7.

“After three great seasons, Close Enough is coming to an end,” HBO Max said in a statement. “We are so proud of the series and grateful to creator JG Quintel and our partners at Cartoon Network Studios, who made this show an instant fan favorite on HBO Max.”

Close Enough, a surreal take on transitioning from twentysomething to thirtysomething, revolves around a married couple juggling such everyday challenges as parenthood, friendship, ham theft, stripper clowns and choosing the right day care.

 

Banni Chow on airing on StarPlus Africa

Banni Chow Home Delivery follows Delivery-girl Banni is a strong, young, good hearted soul, who delivers her delicious food around the neighbourhood. She soon crosses paths with Yuvan, a mentally disabled man, and thus forms a change in her simple life.

It is based on the Bengali drama series from Star Jalsha titled Khukumoni Home Delivery which aired later in 2021 with the Hindi adaptation to follow 6 months after its launch on StarPlus.

 

Unfortunately, Disney Star doesn't supply the show in Africa due to an issue with the title. If you read the title of the show it sounds exactly like Bunny Chow which could the cause for the delay so maybe the series will be shortened to Home Delivery makes sense at this point.

More adrenaline for Ignition

Enduro enthusiasts will have numerous opportunities to see the highlights from round 2 of WFO Titans National Extreme Euro Championship that was held at the home of Titans Racing in Broederstroom, South Africa on the 25th of June.

New Channel Alert: Celebrate Islamic Culture With MultiChoice's Latest Addition To The DStv Platform, INX Prime

Islam the religion of over 1 billion people hungry for content that resonates. Join Interactive Network Experience Prime (INX Prime) for the future in a rapidly changing world for the Islamic experience.

Africa was first to recieve Muslim historically and today 446 million people are adherent of the Islamic faith across the continent one of the highest in the world. The South African Muslim community forms part of the backbone of the country integral to its history and future contributing as artisans, business people and sensationals in all spheres of daily living and nation building.

Islam is a way of life, INX Prime reflects in the ethos with homegrown programming created in South Africa and carefully curated from across the globe with state of the art studios and houses in Johannesburg as well as links to studios in the major metropolitan areas and a commitment to sourcing stories from the lesser covered regions and communities we are the channel of choice for all face and cultures who seem to be inspired, appreciated and enlightened.

 

We will celebrate the modern Muslim while honouring and remembering the stories of those who brought us here. Our editorial direction is based on the Islamic values and commandments. As it is enshrined in the holy quran and prophetic teachings and examples of Prophet Mohammed.

INX Prime creates and showcases the Islamic identity of our diverse South African Muslim society while also benefitting from world-class international programming from other channels that share our vision. We are committed to empowering women throughout our programming and production department with emphasis on youth development and enabling indigenous African media and on-screen talent.

We are an Islamic lifestyle channel focused on creating an holistic approach to experience and living the Islam in the modern age.

 

Our programming schedule features a breakfast show with community news and happenings, trending items, health and mindfulness speeches, media reviews to entertainment.

Mid afternoon programming is dedicated to children's content with an array of popular animation series and a tailor made local magazine show which gives our young viewers their own platform to showcase their talent and happenings.

A range of women talk shows and magazine shows features late mornings on weekdays and caters for all hosts and guests across all African languages.

 

Evening primetime keeps the mind edutained with current affairs and local and international Islamic talk shows, reality and documentaries. Other key programming deliverable sent outside live broadcasts of community events, local dramas series and telenovelas with morals and values that they core while providing a platform for performers, young talent and media graduates to sharpen their skills.

Also in our programming is creative programming aimed at showcasing talent, feature films Friday which follows on the M-Net's Sunday Night aimed at getting families around the TV after ending the prayer of the day.

Format shows that feature weddings, cook offs, cars and reality TV concepts and live crossings 5 days a week to holy cities with our very own reporters on the ground. Journey with us as we realise an Islamic channel with something for everyone.

Bollywood Updates: Fan-Favourite Series Jodha & Akbar Returning To Zee World While Star Life And Glow TV Welcome Respective Series Pandya Store And The Power Of Love

Glow TV fans in South Africa with Zee World and Star Life fans across Africa have even more reasons to celebrate as a reruns of the historical fiction Jodha And Akbar surfaces on Zee World with two additions, the family drama Pandya Store and romcom The Power Of Love.

On Zee World, Jodha & Akbar follows a fiery Rajput princess who is obliged to marry a Mughal emperor, Akbar, for political reasons. Eventually, mutual respect and admiration lead to true love between the two. Rajat Tokas and Paridhi Sharma take on the lead roles.

 

On Glow TV, The Power Of Love (Barrister Babu) follows Bondita, a former child bride, becomes a barrister with the support of her progressive husband. Educated and empowered, she takes on social evils while also tackling obstacles in her personal life. Anchal Sahu takes on the lead.

On Star Life, Pandya Store follows married couple Gautam and Dhara Pandya that manage the Pandya Store. Apart from their business, Dhara also looks after Gautam's three younger siblings. The leads are Kinshuk Mahajan, Shiny Doshi, Kanwar Dhillon, Alice Kaushik, Akshay Kharodia, Simran Budharup and Mohit Parmar.

Jodha And Akbar will take up the repeat telecast of I'm On The Edge at 4pm CAT from 18 July on Zee World. Two days later, Glow TV airs The Power Of Love at 7pm and Pandya Store makes its way to Star Life by August.

Update: BBC World News To Close Later In 2023, To Be Replaced By BBC News

BBC News has set out further details of the new TV news channel which will launch next year, replacing its two existing separate news channels for UK and global audiences. The channel, which will be called BBC News, is expected to launch in April 2023.

This forms part of the plan announced earlier this year to create a modern, digital-led and streamlined organisation that drives the most value from the licence fee and delivers more for audiences.

BBC News Digital Director Naja Nielsen says: “Our aim is to create the best live and breaking video news service in the world - on our web pages, our apps, on BBC iPlayer and on our new TV news channel.

“The way audiences consume news is changing. In recent years we’ve seen a huge surge in audiences coming to our live coverage, with tens of millions following live pages when big stories and events unfold.

 

“As the world’s most trusted source of news, with a huge depth and breadth of expertise, the BBC is uniquely placed to offer audiences the best analysis and explanation as these stories are unfolding. So we are investing in new capability to cover breaking news stories, and our news channel and digital teams will work hand in hand to bring the best journalism to audiences both at home and abroad.”

The channel will be broadcast around the world, bringing the BBC’s trusted journalism to international audiences and providing licence fee payers in the UK with ad-free access to a huge range and breadth of international coverage which hasn’t previously been available to them. It will feature new flagship programmes built around high-profile journalists, and programmes commissioned for multiple platforms.

UK viewers will receive specific content at certain times of the day, and during certain news stories. A new live and breaking news team will provide universally available coverage of global breaking news, and – when relevant - a domestic-only stream for UK-specific news events, ensuring that audiences get the best live video coverage of the news that matters most to them.

Further details of the plans include:
- The channel will be broadcast from London during UK daytime hours, and then Singapore and Washington DC. The BBC will invest in new on and off-screen journalism roles in Washington DC.
- Sports programming will be a mixture of the UK-facing Sportsday and new global-facing sports programmes.

 

The BBC will invest in visualising programmes based on popular radio shows, with new technology and studio capacity to do so. This will begin with the BBC Radio 5 Live Nicky Campbell programme, which will be broadcast on BBC Two on weekday mornings as well as on the UK stream of the new channel.

BBC Studios will continue to have responsibility for securing commercial revenues from the channel outside the UK, primarily through advertising, returning funding to the BBC that can be reinvested in public service journalism. The channel will remain ad-free in the UK.

These plans are now subject to consultation with staff and trade unions.

JimJam Went Off Air In Parts Of Europe, Why Africa Will Be A Likely Target?

JimJam is an international preschool channel wholly owned by AMC International on MultiChoice's DStv and StarTimes' and On Digital Media's StarSat across Africa following the acquisition of Chellozone in 2013 which included MGM (now AMC), CBS Reality and CBS Justice.

The channel once served shows like Thomas And Friends, Bob The Builder, Fireman Sam and Barney And Friends from the former HiT Entertainment (now Mattel Creations) now the current lineup consists of Ricky Zoom, Conni, Noddy In Toyland and Curious George.

 

By June 2013, JimJam was available in 17 million households in over 60 territories including Romania, Poland and Hungary. By the following year, there had been several termination notices in Asia, Australia and New Zealand with notable ones in MENA and Portugal.

In Africa, the channel had started on Top TV (now StarSat) in 2010 and it took 4 years to be made available on more platforms. At the time, MultiChoice had welcomed 3 general entertainment channels from AMC International and JimJam probably came by chance just like The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Baby TV.

 

Just like most channels from AMC International, JimJam had been funneled with old programming some of which have moved or can be seen on various DStv channels like Postman Pat, Make Way For Noddy, Pingu, Olivia, Bob The Builder and Thomas And Friends.

Would it be shocking if the channel went off air as JimJam was managed by the regions it ceased to exist.

New Series Alert: Irreplaceable Coming Soon To Novelas E Plus

Emerging from a terrible event that changes the course of his life, Emman finds a stable job and lives a simple life in the province of Alcala with his father and brother. Blessings continue to come Emman's way when he reunites with his son, Robbie, for the child's birthday celebration and finally buries the hatchet with his ex-wife Celine.

However, Celine's fiancé Anton cannot help but burn with jealousy despite her continued reassurance. As their reunion nears its end, things take a turn for the worse when an unidentified man takes Robbie captive in broad daylight. The story of Emman's and Celine's loss is every parent's nightmare. To lose one's child is devastating, and to lose them to an organ trafficking syndicate preying on defenseless and innocent children is an abomination.

 

The couple, once estranged, come together to search for their son, and discover their love for one another is still there. In the process, they discover the betrayal of people they trust, and the evil permeating within their community.

Irreplaceable (Walang Hanggang Paalam) comes from The Filipino Channel in charge of other series seen on St Novelas like When Love Burns, A Soldier's Heart, Brothers and Blood Sisters. The series stars Paulo Avelino, Zanjoe Marudo, Arci Muñoz, Angelica Panganiban and JC Santos.

Irreplaceable airs weeknights at 20:40 from July 20th on St Novelas.

August 2022 On WBD Africa: Third Instalment Of Battle Of The Belts On TNT, Two New Family Friendly Movies On Cartoon Network Movies And Legend Of Spark Is Back For More Adventures On Boomerang (Drafted)

TNT:

Battle Of The Belts 3

Battle of the Belts featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds

Nicolas Cage Fan Day and Pumped Up

Cartoon Network:

Jellystone S2

The residents of the town Jellystone accidentally create trouble for each other as they follow their seemingly mundane routines.

Hotel Transylvania 1 & 2

Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula's lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up and no humans are allowed.

 

The Angry Birds Movie

Red, Chuck and Bomb have always been the outcasts within a community of flightless birds on an island. But when mysterious green pigs intrude the island, it is up to them to figure out the reason.

Boomerang:

Dino Ranch

Two young cowboys and a young cowgirl travel lands where modern-day dinosaurs roam around.

 

Legend Of Spark

Spark works as a repaircar, but his dream is to become a racer. One day, he discovers a launcher and his dream becomes within reach.

Zig & Sharko Marathon

Zig the brown hyena lives on a desert island and constantly schemes to eat Marina the mermaid, who is loved and protected by Sharko the great white shark.

New Series Alert: The Prequel To Popular Franchises Trolls And Boss Baby As Well As A Duplicate Mega Movies Stunt On DreamWorks Africa - August 2022 Highlights

NEW SHOW
BOSS BABY: BACK IN BUSINESS

With the help of his big brother and partner-in-crime, Tim, Boss Baby continues to navigate the cutthroat corporate jungle gym of Baby Corps, while angling to achieve the near- impossible: a work-life balance.

HERO SLOT: FROM MONDAY 1ST AUGUST
WEEKDAYS AT 8.15 AM, 6.05 PM, 9.25 PM
WEEKENDS AT 8.40 AM, 3 PM, 9 PM

NEW SHOW
TROLLS: THE BEAT GOES ON

Trolls: The Beat Goes On is another chapter in the hair-raising adventures of DreamWorks' Trolls, as Poppy, Branch and all of Troll Village keep the dance party raving in their fantastical forest home. Picking up where the blockbuster film left off, the Trolls are settling into a new era with Poppy as Queen. Bursting with their signature positivity, irreverence and a whole lotta original music, Trolls: The Beat Goes On opens up the colourful world of Trolls for new adventures and a dance party around every corner.

HERO SLOT: FROM MONDAY 1ST AUGUST
WEEKDAYS AT 8.40 AM, 5.15 PM, 8.35 PM
WEEKENDS AT 7.50 PM, 5.15 PM

 

NEW EPISODES
DINOTRUX

Welcome to a world of giant creatures that are half dinosaur, half construction vehicle and all awesome in DREAMWORKS DINOTRUX! Meet Ty Rux, a massive Tyrannosaurus Trux, and his best friend Revvit, a razor-sharp Reptool. Together, the Dinotrux and Reptools join forces for the first time ever to build a bigger, better world and battle back against the biggest and baddest of them all: D- Structs, who threatens to wreck everything they’ve built.

HERO SLOT: FROM MONDAY 1ST AUGUST
WEEKDAYS AT 6.30 AM, 1.30 PM AND WEEKENDS AT 7 AM

NEW SHOW
3-2-1 PENGUINS

Get ready to meet four of the wackiest space cowboys ever to leave our solar system! Blast off with "3-2-1 Penguins" from the creators of "VeggieTales." "3-2-1 Penguins" tells the story of two young kids (Jason and Michelle) and four out-of-this-world penguins, as they explore the galaxy -- and learn important, Bible-based lessons and values along the way.

HERO SLOT: FROM MONDAY 1ST AUGUST, EVERYDAY AT 5.30 AM

STUNT
MEGA MOVIE STARS

This month on DreamWorks join your favourite ‘Super Specials', Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, and the Dragons gang starring in these special shorts!

• Kung Fu Panda: 6th-7th August
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll
Tigress, Viper, Monkey, Crane and Mantis transform from complete strangers into the legendary Furious Five Warriors of Kung Fu.

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five
Po and the Furious Five face Shifu's biggest challenge yet as they discover it takes a lot more than fast feet and fists to become a kung fu master.

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters
Po and the Furious Five go back in time to uncover the origin stories of Gongmen City's greatest heroes: Master Thundering Rhino, Master Storming Ox and Master Croc.

Kung Fu Panda: Holiday Special
Po prepares for his favourite holiday, the Winter Feast and learns the true meaning of tradition, community and family.

 

• Shrek 13th-14th August
Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos
Babysitting has never been more dangerous. Will our hero Puss in Boots tame the Three Diablos?

Far Far Away Idol
Join Shrek and the rest of the Far Far Away characters in this hilarious spoof as they battle it out in a singers’ showdown.

Shrek the Halls
Shrek's plans for a cosy family celebration spirals into one truly unforgettable Christmas.

Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular
Deck the halls with Donkey's laughter in this all-new crazy and colourful collection of animated Christmas goodies and hilarious holiday surprises.

The Pig Who Cried Werewolf
A conspiracy minded Heimlich has cried wolf before, so Horst and Dieter ignore his warnings when a wolf moves in next door to The Three Pigs.

The Ghost of Lord Farquaad
Princess Fiona is ambushed by Lord Farquaad’s henchman, Thelonius. A crazy and hilarious chase ensues with Shrekand Donkey hot on the trail!

Hammy’s Boomerang Adventure
Welcome to RJ's Wild World of Nature, a nature show brought to you by RJ and the young porcupines Bucky, Quillo and Spike. There are loads of laughs as the gang films Hammy playing with a boomerang that simply won't go away. In the end, Hammy discovers that the nature show was just an excuse for RJ and the porcupine kids to play some pranks on him.

• Madagascar: 20th-21st August
Madly Madagascar
Romance is in the air for Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman after King Julien discovers a magical perfume and takes on the role as “King of Love.”

Merry Madagascar
When Santa unexpectedly crash lands on the island,giving the jolly gentleman a case of amnesia - it's up to those zany zoosters to save Christmas!

All Hail King Julien – King Me (S1, Ep.1)
When King Julien learns that Clover may marry Sage, he sets out to prepare the kingdom for post‐Clover attacks!

All Hail King Julien – Poll Position (S1, Ep. 2)
When King Julien and the gang bury Sage for his bachelor party, things don't go according to plan, and they must deal with Franken‐Sage!

 

• Dragons: 27th-28th August
Legend Of The Boneknapper Dragon
Hiccup and the gang join Gobber on a quest to finda legendary boneknapper dragon.

Gift Of The Night Fury
As the village of Berk prepares for its winter holiday,the resident dragons all inexplicably flyaway.

Book Of Dragons
Join Hiccup and his friends as they explore and add to their primary reference about dragons.

Dawn Of The Dragon Racers
The ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ adventure continues when a hunt for lost sheep turns into a fierce, fun-filled competition.

SATURDAYS AT 6:05PM
SUNDAYS AT 10AM AND 4PM

e.tv Consumers Bid Farewell To More International Series On Weeknights

There 10pm weekday slot on e.tv has been around for a couple of years competing or better yet giving consumers access to a world of premium dramas from various DStv channels including The Fixer, Kingdom, Zoo, Queen Sugar, Claws, Empire, Ray Donovan and Power.

Over the years, e.tv had been reshuffling the offering to a point where various 8:30pm series like Castle and The Blacklist would move an hour and 30 minutes timeslot with the later halved for either Checkpoint, The Devi Show or Forsenic Files.

 

April proved to be the biggest blow as consumers lost out on more content like the soap opera Days Of Our Lives and various dramas like S.W.A.T., Hawaii Five-O, New Amsterdam, 9-1-1 and Chicago PD which led to speculation about the discontinuation of 10pm international series.

Let's face it, 10pm was just an extension to the current 8:30pm slot but for "edgier" shows and when eMedia mentioned cutting out the earlier slot who said that the 10pm slot wouldn't be unscathed from these changes as the slot had a shortage of stock for a while now.

The Blacklist will be the last international series as the 10pm slot becomes more of a waste with forgettable local content. For those on Openview, you can still tune into the defunct offering on eXposed while those using DStv in the mid to lower mass packages have Me, Universal or S3.