Moonbug Kids: What We've Heard So Far About The Upcoming DStv Channel?

What is Moonbug Kids?

Moonbug Kids is a new preschool destination operated by UK and LA-based entertainment company, Moonbug Entertainment. The brand aims to entertain, educate and inspire children from across the globe.

When is it launching?

It was originally slated to launch on October 13th but was postponed to October 20th which is just a few hours away.

On which channel number and package will Moonbug Kids be allocated on?

As mentioned, Moonbug Kids will be allocated on channel 314 and not 360 as MultiChoice advised.  This supposed channel was meant to fill the gap of Da Vinci Kids but seeing as that's not the case consumers across Africa on the family package can dive into the fun with Access package in South Africa.

What content can viewers look forward to?

Viewers may have come across CoComelon and Supa Strikas on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. The channel will also feature content like Oddbods, Blippi, Gecko's Garage, Arpo and Mia's Playground.

Is it replacing any channel(s)?

Moonbug Kids was originally slated to replace Da Vinci Kids two days after the initial rollout of the channel but due to consumer feedback we are happy to confirm that viewers can enjoy both channels.

Will MultiChoice be closing off any more channels?

Yes, MTV Hits will go off air by the end of October but details to that will have to wait another time as neither MultiChoice or Paramount want to acknowledge it's existence.

 

'G4', The American Version Of Britain's Ginx Esports To Go Dark Effective Immediately

Comcast Spectacor, the cable and entertainment giant’s sports and esports division, told G4 TV employees Sunday that the gaming network was shutting down effective immediately. The decision has resulted in 45 staff members of G4 TV losing their jobs.

In a memo, obtained by the press, Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO Dave Scott cited low viewership and said the network had not achieved “sustainable financial results.”

“Over the past several months, we worked hard to generate that interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results,” Scott wrote. “This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately.”

Comcast Spectacor in July 2020 said it would reboot G4 TV, which NBCUniversal shut down in 2013 (after the network first launched in 2002). Russell Arons, the former Warner Bros., Machinima, EA and Mattel exec who joined G4 as president in September 2021, left the company two months ago.

The content studio and network officially returned to linear television on Nov. 16, 2021, after more than a year of the group releasing content online to test show new concepts. At launch, G4 TV was available Comcast’s Xfinity TV, Verizon Fios, Cox Communications and internet streaming service Philo. The network’s programming slate brought back fan-favorite legacy G4 shows like “Attack of the Show!” and “Xplay.”

In addition to Arons, Comcast Spectacor had hired two G4 alums: Brian Terwilliger, most recently at WWE and former producer for G4’s “Attack of the Show!”, joined as VP of programming and creative strategy. Blair Herter, who once worked on both “X-Play” and “Attack of the Show!”, had come on board as Comcast Spectacor’s VP of content partnerships and brand development.

G4 had established its own broadcast studio in Burbank, Calif., outfitted for professional esports gameplay. The roster of talent for the short-lived network include returning G4 hosts Kevin Pereira and Adam Sessler; esports personalities Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez (host of NBC’s “The Titan Games”), Ovilee May and Froskurinn; WWE Superstar Xavier Woods (aka Austin Creed); YouTube personalities Kassem G, Jirard “The Completionist” Khalil and Gina Darling; Twitch streamers Fiona Nova and Will Neff; livestreamer CodeMiko; and a “degenerate rat-puppet” named Ratty.

G4’s shutdown was first reported by Deadline.
Read Scott’s Sunday email to G4 staffers:
October 16, 2022

Team:
As you know, G4 was re-introduced last year to tap into the popularity of gaming. We invested to create the new G4 as an online and TV destination for fans to be entertained, be inspired, and connect with gaming content.

Over the past several months, we worked hard to generate that interest in G4, but viewership is low and the network has not achieved sustainable financial results. This is certainly not what we hoped for, and, as a result, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue G4’s operations, effective immediately.

I know this is disappointing news, and I’m disappointed, too. I want to thank you and everyone on the G4 team for the hard work and commitment to the network. Our human resources team is reaching out to you to provide you with support, discuss other opportunities that may be available, and answer any questions you may have.

Thank you again for all of your hard work for G4.
Sincerely,
Dave Scott
Chairman and CEO
Comcast Spectacor

 

Long Read: Lessons On Transition And Consistency From Turkey's George Clooney Aka Ozcan Deniz

Ozcan Deniz is born in Elmadag, which is a small province in the capital of Turkey - Ankara, has first showed up in screens and tabloids in early 90s as a teenager. Ankara is located at the heart of Anatolia and during the time the Arabesque (which is also a classical music genre) was massive in the region and had an influence in an entire generation and the country alike. The efforts from The Legendary Orhan Gencebay, The Emperor Ibrahim Tatlises and The Godfather Muslum Gurses has helped the music genre rise incredibly. There were people literally cutting their skin into pieces with razors during concerts, crying, screaming and all that good stuff. Not very much into dancing, except some funky gipsy-influenced songs of Ibrahim Tatlises.

Arabesque was a rather depressive, problematic and troublesome expression of music that described a nation which suffered 3 coupes by that time, experiencing economic difficulties, still paying the dues of a delayed catch-up of the industrial revolution's innovation. In fact, one can state that the problematic nature of Turkey in infrastructure, industrial, education and economic domains is caused by this which is still problematic to date. I mean, it is 2019 and Turkey still does not have a proper tax regulation to support tech companies or SMEs or NGOs - despite some efforts - and Turkish Lira has lost value significantly during the course of last several years. One can also state that this will provide the momentum of late catch-up culture of Turkey with The Internet Revolution (or Smart Phone revolution which I like to name it more like that but whatever) will also has consequences in the next 20 to 40 years considering the country has no proper environmental policy on top of all that previous stuff but let's leave that to a different article.

Ozcan Deniz was a youngster when he first came up, and due to the depressive nature of Arabesque music, performers and artists of the genre mostly (erm.. more like always) positioned themselves coming from 'really difficult times as a kid' and 'experienced every kind of drama in life'. It's not like I am unsymphatetic to any of the so called difficulties those individuals experienced, but obviously there were scams, flops, hypocrites and all kinds of applications you can think of when someone tries to get on to the fad train to gain fame and money. Like the start-up environment on our age today, instead people are starting companies with fancy one pagers for ICOs etc. nowadays - rather xtech then a depressive music style like arabesque or a Rap or R&B song.

Ozcan Deniz at his early days

Ozcan Deniz in his earlier days was a boy with huge afroish hair, rather 'natural' on his 'looks' despite some shiny accessories (probably gifted by their producers as arabesque come from Arabic in nature and I guess everyone knows the influence of Gold and its colour in the culture - does that come from Egypt originally?) claiming yet another pain story from his past with a powerful voice singing songs of love, agony, loneliness, solidarity, homesickness and basically any topic one can relate to arabesque.

As soon as he made to the stage, his transition started. There was stiff competition and most of the performers were positioning themselves as - sorry - losers, poor people who experienced unbearable miseries during their life and still maintained their faith in their beloved ones and The God, waiting for an update while singing. Crying on the stage while having booze and kebabs off the stage. They were the Drama Kings. Everything was bad and everything was like 'Oh God, what did I do to you, I am such a naive person and I sin not, yet you punish me with these experiences. Oh God I believe you so much and praying in you will definitely make things better in the next 50 years and worst case scenario I'll die and join you in heaven and that's when things will definitely be better. In Islam some claim that 40 hot chicks will welcome you in Heaven - Aloha! - if you be a good boy. Like Smurfs, you get to see them if you be a good boy, but in a more adult way. Funny such application from The God is never mentioned for the ladies, but I guess the Islamic POV of woman is pretty obvious, so. Nothing to worry about that, right?

I love you so much you make me dizzy, my white butterfly - Album by a rather more evolved Ozcan Deniz in later years.

A later Ozcan Deniz, on the other hand, positioned himself as a powerful guy - modern, handsome, taking good care of himself. He basically let go of the fad and became a more up to date performer who repositioned somewhere between Pop and Arabesque (Pop was big at the time also which made peak in Late 90s and Early 00s in Turkey). That was the 'breakeven point' for Ozcan Deniz. He became an early influencer, yet I doubt he even himself knew it. That doesn't mean of course it was very witty and smart of him to spot such gap in the market. Just like the start-ups, in a sense, there is a condensed market and someone comes up doing something in a way not very thought of before and succeeded with strategy. One can easily spot the transformation he performed from his early times to later 90s, with a nice suit and piercing looks and more sexy title which translates "I am losing my head for you because I am so much in love with you, my white butterfly." - Eww for me but it was significantly different positioning when compared to another arabesque-something like 'I am not even a human being because you have no interest in me, baby'.

His new strategy and line captured interest of producers, when Ozcan Deniz started showing up in series and movies. He started showing up in series and TV movies in mid 90s but his rise to the scene definitely happened in Asmali Konak, in which Ozcan Deniz was a landlord in South-East part of Turkey (close to Syria border) which had very dense cultural implications - these individuals are called 'Aga' in Turkish and basically 'own' the people (villagers, employees, etc.) in the area they live in. So basically he was that rich, educated nice guy who still had ties to his heritage and past. He was experiencing difficulties and drama but he stood so solid and cool ultimately he solved all the problems and issues. He was the new Drama Lord with a Modern look and Positive attitude.

In later years, he played in more shows. Let's take a quick look at his characters:

- Asmali Konak - Seymen Karadag: Respected landlord of Asmali Konak.
- Kader - Ali Asyali: Wealthy businessman who runs construction business internationally.
- Haziran Gecesi - Baran Aydin: Wealthy businessman who gets education in Italy.
- Istanbullu Gelin - Faruk Boran: Wealthy businessman, CEO of a multinational company (so wealthy to buy an airlines company, I mean, that wealthy).

You can spot the pattern, I guess. After his transition, Ozcan Deniz consistently positioned himself helping his cause in TV, eventually giving up the music business and becoming a phenomenal TV character. His series are mostly in top 5 of the rating list, became one of the highest earning movie stars and a publicly acclaimed individual who is widely respected - nothing to do with Arabesque only folks now. He has a reach on multiple domains.

Looking good, eh?

Ozcan Deniz became a self-made George Clooney of Turkey and deserves credit for his consistency, strategic execution and how he managed his transition so glamourously. Most of the Arabesque performers of his generation, old ones, young ones, mid level ones no longer exist in the scene or reach a minor audience nowadays, while Ozcan Deniz shows up on TV in every couple of years with a new series where he makes tons of money.

In a nutshell, what he has done to achieve this is:

1. Enter the market with a widely accepted business plan in potential.
2. Spot a gap in the market.
3. Reposition and rebrand in accordance to the gap.
4. Set a north pole of his own.
5. Strategically execute each move consistently - small like a paparazzi stand up chit chat after leaving a restaurant or big like positioning his character in an entire TV production - based on the direction of his north pole - a cultural transition.

Ozcan Deniz and his achievements can give a great depth of insight - a refined lesson - on what you or your company is today, and what it can become over time. If the gap you are looking for has a strategic potential, go for it, plan for it and execute it relentlessly - regardless of what others say. I am pretty certain when Ozcan Deniz first started rebranding his more sophisticated outlook by giving up on his gold accessories, many people criticized and did not support him. These people are long gone, retired or bankrupted while Ozcan Deniz is adding up to his bank account with ads, shows, live concerts and productions.

On the other hand, this also means that if you have followed a fad and keep the same business strategy and culture, you will also become non-existent over time.

Ozcan Deniz on the other hand has been influencing generations of Turkey since 2002.

Ozcan Deniz's success shows us what it takes to rebrand and transition your culture, and what it can take from you not to rebrand and evolve your culture and application over time can result into - loss and misery - and a few days later you find yourself with a big bottle of Raki, listening to 'that' arabesque song.

What To Expect On Da Vinci Kids Africa In November 2022?

PREMIERES AND SPECIALS
Kids Programmes
Zoe & Milo — PREMIERE 
26 x 10 mins
From November 12th – Saturdays & Sundays 10:15
Zoe and Milo, two ten-year-old best friends, travel the world in a plane built and piloted by Alim, a hamster. Get ready for a series of thrilling adventures, enriching discoveries, and extraordinary encounters with children from around the globe.

MeteoHeroes — PREMIERE 
52 x 10 mins
From November 12th – Saturdays & Sundays 10:55
Looking for a solution to the climate issues, six kids are travelling around the world, using their superpowers to prevent environmental catastrophes while learning the importance of respecting nature.

The Deep — NEW SEASON 
13 x 30 mins
From November 12th – Saturdays 10:30
The Deep follows the adventures of the Nekton family, a brilliant team of underwater explorers, who live aboard a state-of-the-art submarine, the Aronnax, and explore unknown areas of the Earth's oceans to unravel the mysteries of the depths.

How to Do Stuff Good — NEW SEASON 
15 x 20 mins
From November 18th – Fridays 16:05
Hosted by a zany bunch of school-aged kids, each with their own story to tell and lesson to share, this hilarious series demonstrates how to do all manner of amazing things, from arts & crafts to cooking and pranks.

Continuing Kids Programmes
Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) — NEW EPISODES
Wednesdays & Thursdays 16:05
Jesse, Julia, and Ian have turned their love for gaming into a popular gaming channel. Reviews, competitions, celebrity visits, along with a lot of fun, will show you that games aren’t just for kids.

The Deep — NEW EPISODES
Saturdays 10:30 
The Deep follows the adventures of the Nekton family, a brilliant team of underwater explorers, who live aboard a state-of-the-art submarine, the Aronnax, and explore unknown areas of the Earth's oceans to unravel the mysteries of the depths.

Bitz & Bob — PREMIERE
Saturdays & Sundays 09:15
Meet eight-year-old Bitz and her younger brother Bob as they go on imaginative adventures with their toy friends. Using creative thinking and engineering ideas, they always find a way to save the day!

Yoko — NEW EPISODES
Saturdays & Sundays 11:00
Oto, Mai and Vik meet in the Park to play games with the magical Yoko. His unpredictable nature turns the kids’ everyday games into a high-stakes adventure where playgrounds become spaceships, or the sun switches off because camping is just more fun in the dark.

Hogie the Globehopper — NEW EPISODES
Saturdays & Sundays 10:00
A curious tree frog named Hogie and his friends travel the world, meeting children of different cultures and exploring the lifestyle and the traditions of the countries they are visiting.

Monthly & Weekly Specials
International Day of Tolerance Marathon!
Wednesday, November 16th from 08:00 to 16:05
08:05 Yoko — Camp Out!
The kids learn that sometimes too many rules can ruin the fun when a spirited game gets a bit overly complicated.

08:17 Yoko — Don’t Touch
When Vik doesn’t want to share his brand-new ball, his friends use inventive “super-spy skills” to change his mind.
08:35 Yoko — Vik Plays with Others
When Mai and Oto get jealous of Vik’s other friends, they finally realise it’s possible to make new friends and keep the old ones too!
08:47 Yoko — All Together Now
When Vik and Mai want to start a band, Oto is reluctant to join. But with a little Yoko magic, Oto finds out that music is all around him!
08:59 Yoko — A Perfect Picnic
When the kids can’t agree on a perfect picnic location, they learn that compromise is important so everyone can have fun.
09:11 Yoko — Doppelgangers
The kids see themselves in a new light and discover the errors of their ways when Yoko creates magical doppelgangers of them!
09:25 Zoe & Milo — Trip to India
For hamsters' day, Zoe and Milo want to surprise Alim by making confetti to throw on their little friend. But Alim knows a place on earth where people celebrate by throwing something more interesting than confetti up in the air. Our heroes land in Rajasthan, India.
09:32 Zoe & Milo — Trip to South Korea
Zoe's mum doesn't like cakes, so Zoe isn't sure what to make for her birthday. Alim suggests visiting their penfriend Kachiko, who lives in South Korea. They meet up with her on the beach.
09:39 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Ecuador
Zoe's avocado tree is not in good shape, and she doesn't know how to revive it. Our friends travel to Ecuador, where they meet Idzi. He has a fabulous garden and a particular way to tend it.
09:46 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Japan - Part I
Zoe and Milo do not seem to know that there is a place on Earth where it is not at all polite to open a present in front of the person that gave it to you. Alim suggests bringing his friends to Japan, where they meet Kimiko.
09:55 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Morocco
Zoe is disgusted when she sees that Alim starts eating the chocolate mousse she prepared without a spoon. Soon after, they travel to Morocco and learn more about the eating customs there.
10:02 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Niger
Alim thinks that the criteria for being beautiful are not the same from country to country. To prove that beauty standards vary across cultures, he takes his friends to Nigeria, where, as they speak, a beauty contest is taking place.
10:09 Zoe & Milo — Trip to China
Zoe is writing a card to a friend but is afraid of making spelling mistakes. Is there a country in this world with no spelling rules at all? To find out, our friends travel to China, where people don't use letters but ideograms.
10:16 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Mexico
Alim knows a few countries where it is common to have insects as part of your menu. Our heroes are a bit taken aback. They decide to go to Taxco in Mexico, where Felipe is waiting for them to hunt some bugs! Grilled, they are a local delicacy.
10:25 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Senegal
Milo doesn't know what to do with his old broken skateboard. Zoe thinks it is useless, so it just needs to be thrown away, but Alim thinks otherwise. He knows that his friend Baidi can recycle anything and everything. Off they go to Senegal to meet Baidi!
10:32 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Papua New Guinea
Milo battles with mosquitoes using an insecticide spray but realises he can't win. Our heroes decide to pay a visit to their penfriend in Papua New Guinea and learn how to co-exist alongside mosquitoes.
10:39 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Netherlands
On which day in December should people receive their presents? Zoe and Milo are sure that it should be on Christmas, but Alim explains that in some countries, this happens on December 6th. They travel to the Netherlands and learn the story of St. Nicholas.
10:46 Zoe & Milo — Trip to Tibet
Zoe has started to make a mandala and she needs Milo's beautiful colouring pencils to finish it. That is not a problem for Milo, except that his pencil box is empty! How can Zoe finish her mandala without colouring pencils? A trip to Tibet soon appears to be necessary.
10:55 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Kelantan
Hogie is on his way to Kuala Lumpur, but Floaty has a problem with his balloon, and the quick landing seems inevitable. Hogie meets Rosa, who takes them around her village and helps them find a way to fix Floaty’s balloon.
11:06 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Machu Picchu
Hogie and his pals head to Machu Picchu with their new friend Tika and her mum. Hogie explores Incan food, and arts, and discovers that even though the Incas are an ancient civilisation, their customs and heritage are still very much alive.
11:25 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Zermatt
Hogie and his friends travel to Zermatt, Switzerland. Their new friend Anna guides them down the mountain, and her brother - a ski instructor - teaches them all to ski.
11:36 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Anchorage
The gang arrives in Anchorage, Alaska, on a very important day - the start of the big dogsled race! They meet Inny and her father who have had problems with their sled, but Hogie might just have an idea that means they can all take part in the snowy journey after all.
11:55 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to the Serengeti
Hogie and his friends travel to Serengeti. Hogie is excited to take some amazing photographs of the wildlife in the park, and their new friend Aliki tells them about the great migration.
12:06 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Loch Ness
Floaty lands on the banks of Loch Ness, where Hogie and his friends meet Duncan, who is training to take part in the Highland Games. Can Hogie help Duncan prepare for the upcoming tournament, and will Lorna find that elusive Nessie?
12:25 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Barcelona
It's a windy day in Barcelona and the gang’s new friend Andreu has to catch a windswept sash before his team of castellers attempts to break their own record later that day during the festival.
12:36 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Amsterdam
Hogie and his pals enjoy National Tulip Day in Amsterdam, where they meet Anika, a little girl who is hoping to find some very special tulips for her grandma. But Bernie has a cold, and the tulips are all gone!
12:55 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to Istanbul
Hogie is on a mission to find some Turkish delight in Istanbul and discovers that they have landed on the best day for sweets and treats - it's the day of Sugar Feast! With their new friend Tarik, they try to get everything done in time for the upcoming party.
13:06 Hogie the Globehopper — Hogie Goes to London
The gang gets set for a Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery after landing at the Tower of London. With their new friend Ruby, they search high and low for some missing keys and use their detective skills to solve the case.
13:25 A Week to Beat the World — Mongolia Day 1
The girls’ team and presenter Camille Ucan are in Mongolia, being introduced to the nomadic way of life and seeing their legendary horseback skills for themselves.
13:39 A Week to Beat the World — Mongolia Day 2
The girls’ team and presenter Camille Ucan are in Mongolia learning the skills of the legendary Nomads.  Today, the girls face their first long horse ride and Camille gets a shock.
13:55 A Week to Beat the World — Mongolia Day 3
The girls’ team and presenter Camille Ucan are in Mongolia learning the skills of the legendary Nomads. Today they watch an amazing horse race and learn to use a bow and arrow.
14:10 A Week to Beat the World — Mongolia Day 4
The girls’ team and presenter Camille Ucan are in Mongolia learning the sports of the legendary Nomads. Today is all about animal skills - catching goats and learning to lasso.
14:25 A Week to Beat the World — Mongolia Day 5
It’s the final day of the girls’ team’s adventure in Mongolia where they’ve been learning the skills of Nomads. Today they take part in an epic relay race against the locals.
14:45 A Week to Beat the World — Malaysia Day 1
The girls’ team and presenter Camille Ucan are in Malaysia, being introduced to the sport of Lion Dancing and experiencing their first taste of local life.
15:00 A Week to Beat the World — Malaysia Day 2
It’s day 2 of the girls’ team adventure in Malaysia, learning to Lion Dance. Today is about leg strength, so presenter Camille Ucan challenges them to climb an epic set of stairs.
15:15 A Week to Beat the World — Malaysia Day 3
It’s day 3 of the girls’ team adventure in Malaysia, learning to Lion Dance. Today is about arm strength, and presenter Camille sets a challenge involving trays of full drinks.
15:30 A Week to Beat the World — Malaysia Day 4
It’s day 4 of the girls’ team adventure in Malaysia, learning to Lion Dance. Today is about teamwork, and presenter Camille brings out their competitiveness in a traditional game.
15:46 A Week to Beat the World — Malaysia Day 5
It’s competition day for the girls’ team in Malaysia, who have been learning how to Lion Dance. Can they put everything they have been taught into practice in front of the judges?

Wild Nature Weekend! 
Saturdays & Sundays from 16:15
Escape into the wild with our brand-new block of animal and nature-themed programming that is fun for the whole family! Every weekend, we’ll explore the natural world with shows that inspire an appreciation for our incredible planet. 
Baby Animals — Meet the world’s tiniest, cutest baby animals and see how they travel the road from birth to adolescence and adulthood. From building strong family ties to learning how to escape predators, these little creatures explore the world around them all day long.

Dogs with Extraordinary Jobs — Dogs never cease to amaze us. From Philadelphia, where a blind woman gets a new running mate, to Kenya, where a team of dogs is on daily patrol protecting endangered rhinos from poachers, we travel the world to meet some of these dogs with extraordinary jobs.  

The Pet Rescuers — The Pet Rescuers follows the adventures and challenges of a devoted team on a mission to give abandoned pets another chance at a happy life. This heart-warming series will take you on an extraordinary journey and restore your faith in humanity.

Animal Embassy — Entertaining and informative, this series will take you behind the scenes of Loro Parque - one of the world’s best zoos. Packed with engaging characters - both animal and human, Animal Embassy reveals the unshakeable devotion to conservation and animal welfare. 

Amazing Animal Friends — Discover some of the most incredible and unusual animal friendships. From the duck obsessed with a dog in France to the elephant that thinks she is a buffalo in Zimbabwe, we explore what brings these species together and how they form their extraordinary bonds.

Morning Brainiacs
Every day from 06:00 to 09:00
Early risers unite! Start the day off on the right foot with this collection of fun and educational programmes that will engage your kid’s brain and get them ready to take on the school day. 
06:00 Do You Know?
06:30 Siesta Z
06:45 Darwin & Newts 
07:00 PinCode 
07:20 Mily Miss Questions 
07:30 Marvellous Makes
07:35 Addison
07:50 Doki
08:05 Kosmix 
08:15 The Fixies 
08:25 Superhero Sprinter Galore
08:35 Wild Kratts 

 

Inside Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA’s Kids Content Strategy

As the industry descends upon Cannes once again for MIPJR & MIPCOM, TBI talks to leading kids commissioners to find out what they’re looking for in terms of originals and acquisitions and what they’ve already got coming up.

Here, Sean Henry, VP of content strategy & acquisitions, kids, Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA, shares the media giant’s interest in preschool content and diverse stories and picks out some of its key titles.

What’s on your kids & family commissioning wishlist at the moment? Are you open to pitches?

We believe that a strong kids & family business is essential for building a leading entertainment company – 75% of the world’s households have kids and we know that they spend across all touchpoints, whether it be in movie theatres, on consumer products or TV subscriptions.

Our own research tells us that households with kids provide great value to streaming services – not only do they watch more, but they are also less likely to churn than households without kids. That’s why we continue to be so committed to investing in kids and family content for our networks and our streaming services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Our networks were watched in over 160 million households in EMEA last year, whilst HBO Max, HBO and Discovery+ have over 92 million subscribers worldwide. These brands provide an incredible platform for our world-famous IP to continue to delight our existing fans whilst engaging a brand new audience.

We’re open to pitches throughout the year, either in-person or remotely. We’re looking for preschool series to be part of our growing global Cartoonito brand, and animated series targeting boys and girls aged 6+ for Cartoon Network. Both brands are distributed via our network channels and HBO Max.

What upcoming shows are you most looking forward to? What is it about those projects that excites you?

We have an incredibly exciting upcoming slate of new content. We’ve increased our investment in preschool content and have been rolling out our preschool brand, Cartoonito, on our networks and on HBO Max this year.

Cartoonito offers a modern approach to preschool programming and is built to support each child’s unique potential with its educational framework, Humancentric Learning. It aims to inspire kids to use their imagination, to learn from their mistakes and to treat others with empathy and respect. Our best known and most loved IP are central to Cartoonito’s programming slate with brand new preschool series, Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders and Scooby Doo And The Mystery Pups all set to premiere in the future.

Meanwhile, Cartoon Network continues to go from strength to strength and this year, alongside returning seasons of fan favourites, Teen Titans Go and Craig Of The Creek, we’re excited to premiere a number of brand new series targeting 6 to 12 year old kids.

We Baby Bears, which follows Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear as they travel in a magical box to fantastic new worlds searching for a place to call home, premiered earlier this year and has already seen a tremendous response from our audience with impressive viewing figured to match.

The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe is the second series from Hannah-Barbera Studios Europe, the team behind the global phenomenon The Amazing World Of Gumball, and Cartoon Network’s first series to come out of Denmark. It tells the tale of Ivandoe, a delusional young prince who has embarked on an epically silly quest to Eagle Mountain in search of the legendary Golden Feather. It will be produced in partnership with Copenhagen-based Sun Creature Studio, who also produced the successful shorts. The series is set to launch on Cartoon Network in early 2023 and we are convinced our viewers are going to absolutely love it!

What is your acquisitions strategy? What are you looking for from acquired kids content?

We’re looking for stories and characters that will complement our owned original IP on Cartoonito and Cartoon Network. It’s essential that our audience sees stories, characters and settings that are relatable, recognisable and aspirational, and that reflect the diversity of our region and that’s why we’re committed to investing in content from Europe, Middle East and Africa.

We have slots to fill from 2025 onwards and are looking to build new, local IP over a number of seasons and years. If you have something you think we’d like then we’d love you to get in touch!

 

What To Expect On CBS Reality Africa And WildEarth In November 2022?

CBS Reality

MY WORST NIGHTMARE
Season 1.
Channel Premiere
Saturday and Sunday at 08:40, 19:45 and 01:50 from 19th November to 18th December.
We all dream every night for about 2 hours and nearly 6 years of our lives are spent dreaming. But for some people, drifting off to sleep transports them into a dark and nefarious world, where they come face to face with unimaginable horrors. Nightmares are not just figments of our imagination - they transport us to an unknown paranormal realm, where interaction with sinister spirits and demonic entities becomes very real, and very dangerous.
My Worst Nightmare is a documentary series that brings these harrowing nightmares to life in vivid detail, with cinematic dramatizations, captivating true accounts and skilled analysis from paranormal experts.

EXTREME SALVAGE SQUAD
Season 3.
Channel Premiere
Weekdays at 09.30 and 13:35, from 7th to 18th November.
Any job, any time... Enter the high-stakes world of marine recovery and rescue with Extreme Salvage Squad. Based in the Whitsunday region of North Queensland in Australia, the team tackle time-critical, dangerous salvage missions where one mistake could mean serious injury or financial disaster. They are faced with a region devastated by a recent category 4 cyclone that caused massive damage and left the area littered with broken vessels and vehicles. But filled with true Aussie grit and a determination to see the job done, the team meet every challenge head-on - and know how to have a little fun along the way. Stuffed with tension, excitement and camaraderie, this series is all about overcoming adversity to help keep one of the world's most beautiful coastlines in the best possible condition.

WildEarth

WILD Babies
10-13th November

WildEarth CAT GMT CET (ET)
Wild Babies 3.30pm - 7.30pm 1.30pm - 5.30pm 2.30pm -6.30pm (8.30am - 12.30pm)
Like humans, baby animals must all learn to thrive on this planet. Watching them develop their own characters as they face their first days, weeks and months in the wild is fascinating.
For four days WildEarth will be celebrating wild babies and finding as many as we can on SafariLIVE. November is the time when many of the herbivore babies are born at the same time so as to have safety in numbers form the predators. Also a plethora of baby chicks will hatch in our birds' nests. Prepare for many hours of cuteness overload.

On The Hunt
26-27th October 2022
WildEarth CAT GMT CET (ET) On the Hunt 5.30am - 7.30pm 3.30am - 5.30pm 4.30am - 6.30pm (10.30am - 12.30pm)

On the Hunt is a detailed look at the remarkable strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey and the hunted to escape. Rather than simply concentrating on 'the blood and guts' of predatory behaviours we will focus more upon the diverse strategies predators use to catch their food, and also the various evasive techniques prospective prey use to escape death by predator.

How Scooby-Doo Created A Generation Of Drug Junkies? By NTMA Production

Scooby-Doo are a gang of characters that was introduced to audiences in 1969 at a time drug culture was booming. When Hanna Barbera created the brand it was already well known for creating several family shows about animals like The Huckleberry Hound Show, Yogi Bear, The Ruff And Reddy Show and Cattanooga Cats.

They also produced several superhero shows like Space Ghost and Dino Boy, The Space Kidettes and Birdman and the Galaxy Trio. Even produced riveting shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones.

Perhaps one of Hanna Barbera's most greatest animal shows is about a gang who travel with their dog to solve mysteries. But unlike most kids shows this one inspired a generation to use drugs some of them wind up passing away.

Scooby-Doo has been onboard in one form or another for nearly 53 years with 15 series, 45 films and 46 short films including LEGO. While each of these projects have their own variation being a different cast or celebrity cameo from John Cena to Batman and Robin.

One thing these shows have in common is their whimsical view of drug use and abuse. As well as subliminal messaging peer pressuring people into taking these drugs.

Here's why Scooby-Doo leads people to do drugs?

1. Listening to peer pressure

Scooby and Shaggy haven't been fond of following the rest of the gang into abandoned places to apprehend various dangerous criminals. Listening to harassment from your friend can't do you wrong.

2. Bribery

There are special snacks your friends feed you that let you throw your sensibility out the window and live in a world where fear, pain and death doesn't exist or at least in your mind.

3. Addiction Is Not A Problem

The problem isn't addiction but people are being groomed to that lifestyle by various figures and special snacks wouldn't have that much affect on people.

Here's why Scooby-Doo leads people to do drugs?: Part 2

Those who've watched Scooby-Doo would recognise of the members Shaggy who comes across as someone who would use and here's why:

1. Paranoia

Shaggy gets terrified whenever the gang is going to shape up people and is often scared to help alongside Scoob.

2. Munchies

One of the traits about Shaggy is his habit of eating big quantities like sandwiches and is often a side effect to Marijuana.

3. Anorexia

For each quantity he eats he usually remains skinny meaning he's likely taking ecstasy or adarool. Both of which can contribute to one's weight when abused.

4. Addictive personality

Shaggy would do anything for a Scooby snack even overcome his paranoia.

5. Overcome peer pressure

It's no surprise that he would resort to this he was probably friendless till a guy like Fred came into the picture.

Other stuff

1. No job

The gang have no jobs and it is believed that they aren't being paid to solve mysteries so they sell Scooby snacks to kids in order to repair the mystery machine on top of other necessities. It's common for gangs to use this as a form of income.

2. Scooby Snacks: An Addiction

Shaggy can't stop getting his hands on them even throwing caution into the wind.

3. Talking Dog

Scooby is not Krypto or Airbud as the gang consider him a miracle dog despite his fear of danger. He wouldn't be able to talk or get least understand the English language fluently if the gang were using drugs. The only way anyone would be convinced he can talk is through a psychedelic.

To name a dog after a possible drug remains as a mystery perhaps they had another dog they too believed could talk. But how these get people into drugs is simple peer pressure.

 

MTV Hits Vs. Qwest TV: MultiChoice's Transition From Pop To Jazz

During the week, it was reported that MTV Hits will be the next channel to exit the DStv platform this comes after the close demise of Da Vinci Kids. On top of that, another channel Qwest TV is set to take its place within the following month.

MTV Hits was an international music brand operated by Paramount Global which also supplies channels like BET, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Qwest TV another foreigner was founded by American producer, musician and multi Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones.

MTV Hits dwells in the world of pop featuring hits from the likes of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Drake. Qwest TV very much like the defunct Soul Music channel on the Openview platform is a jazz infused channel home to the likes of Herbie Hancock, Andersen Paak and Aretha Franklin.

MTV Hits seperated themselves from the rest of the pack's overrepetitive lifestyle but it too came with a lot of repetition. Just like it's predecessor, MTV Music24 all its content played in a particular order and would often restart within the day.

Basically, the channel was less productive which could have been the result to its demise.

Qwest TV seeks to undo the wrong which was set by MTV Hits as the brand on top of being a multimedia platform offers concerts, live performances, countdowns and documentaries. The only setback comes from it being a jazz channel.

MTV Hits was more of a youth based brand as the offering resonates with audiences between the ages of 13-18 or 18-34 years while Qwest TV is for a whole new audience or in this case 25-49+ years. The only thing these two have very much in common at this point is their focus on international shores.

Most people between the age range for MTV Hits are using Spotify or iTunes to stream their favourite tunes but to those who are unable to afford such luxury will now have to direct themselves to the audio section of DStv for a similar offering.

Qwest TV is gearing up for a November debut as MTV Hits gets wiped off the airwaves. MultiChoice hasn't launched Moonbug Kids as promised on the 13th of October.

What To Expect On DreamWorks Channel Africa In November 2022?

NEW EPISODES:
THE EPIC TALES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS

Based on the epic novels by Dav Pilkey, DreamWorks "The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants" follows the adventures of George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two best friends who’ve bonded through their love of pranking, comic books and being the thorns in Principal Krupp's side. Their fun gets them mixed up in adventures crazier than their comic books, which is when they call on their greatest creation: Captain Underpants!

From Monday 7th of November
Weekdays at 7.50am, 6.30pm, 9.50pm
Weekends at 10am, 6.30pm

NEW EPISODES:
TROLLS: THE BEAT GOES ON

The Beat Goes On is the next 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.

From Monday 7th of November
Weekdays at 8.40am, 5.15pm, 8.35pm
Weekends at 7.50am, 5.15pm, 10.40pm

NEW EPISODES:
VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER

From days long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe comes the original series, DreamWorks "Voltron: Legendary Defender." DreamWorks Animation reimagines one of the most popular fan-favoriteshows of all time in this all-new comedic action-packed show. Five unsuspecting teenagers, transported from Earth into the middle of a sprawling intergalactic war, become pilots for five robotic lions in the battle to protect the universe from evil. Only through the true power of teamwork can they unite to form the mighty warrior known as Voltron Legendary Defender.

From Monday 7th of November
Weekends at 12pm, 8.10pm

FILM HIGHLIGHT:
DESPICABLE ME

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences and flowering rose bushes sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout belonging to Gru, a dastardly villain who, along with the help of his many little minions, is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world: he's going to steal the moon! But his plans are foiled the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. This smash hit, animated 3D adventure boasts a stellar all-star vocal cast that includes Steve Carell, Julie Andrews, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Danny McBride and more! He's despicable. He's deplorable. He's delightful!

Sunday November 6th 9.30am
Friday November 11th 5.15pm

FILM HIGHLIGHT:
DESPICABLE ME 2

Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team at Illumination Entertainment create an all-new animated adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions...and a host of new and outrageously funny characters. Once Gru leaves behind a life of super crime to raise Margo, Edith and Agnes, he and the Minions have some free time on their hands. But just as he starts to adjust to his role as a suburban family man, an ultra- secret organization dedicated to fighting evil on a global scale comes knocking. Now, it's up to Gru and his new partner, Lucy (Kristen Wiig), to find out who is responsible for a series of spectacular crimes. After all, it takes the world's greatest ex-villain to catch the one vying to take his place."

Sunday November 13th 9:30am
Friday November 18th 5:15pm

FILM HIGHLIGHT:
DESPICABLE ME 3

Illumination, who brought moviegoers "Despicable Me" and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, "Despicable Me 2" and "Minions," continues the story of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions in "Despicable Me 3." After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down the latest bad guy to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother—a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin's despicable footsteps—one former super-villain will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad.

Sunday November 20th 9:30am
Friday November 25th 5:15pm

NEW STUNT:
FOOTBALL FEVER

There’s Football Fever on the DreamWorks channel!

To celebrate the 2022 World Cup, tune in all month to see how far your favorite characters go, as their shows compete against each other!

Weekends from 26th November - 18th December at 7.25am and 5.40pm