New Channel Alert: FilmBox Action And Kartoon Channel Coming Soon To StarSat With Qwest TV On DStv

For several years, StarTimes has been losing a bouquet of premium international channels ranging from The Smithsonian Channel, Love Nature, DreamWorks, Real Time and Investigation Discovery with the much needed alternatives almost nowhere in site.

Now the pay-tv platform seems to be picking up the cracks as they unveiled two new channels for their consumers: FilmBox Action and Kartoon Channel.

FilmBox Action is a general entertainment channel basically SPI International's version of M-Net Movies 2 and KIX with a limited amount of series. Some of the stars include Steven Seagal, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Al Pacino and many others from U.S. and global.

StarSat:
- The Smithsonian Channel closing down in the UK
- Delayed SABC channel launch on StarSat explained
- Russia Today to launch South African hub
- StarSat trying to be DStv friendly

Kartoon Channel is an kids entertainment channel and not to be mistaken for Cartoon Network. It is owned by Genius Brands International with its core audience being 2-12 years with content like Angry Birds, Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten and Rainbow Light Brigade.

FilmBox Action is allocated on channel 140 on the Smart bouquet while Kartoon Channel on 307 and on the Basic package on channel 358. There's no confirmation on whether this includes the South African feed but it might as well launch.

As outlined, StarSat across Africa lost a bouquet of channels and FilmBox Action in a way helps the lossen the pain left by FOX which was scrapped by The Walt Disney Company internationally while Kartoon Channel might as well be a replacement for DreamWorks.

DStv:
- MultiChoice might lose yet another two channels
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform

In other developments, MultiChoice will be allocating their first channel later in the month titled Qwest TV which has been in development for several months owned by multi award winning artist Quincy Jones is Jazz infused channel.

It was unveiled alongside Moonbug Kids at the DStv Showcase, according to sources it was meant to launch last year but for some reason that never happened so it's gearing up for an early 2023 to replace MTV Hits in South Africa and serve as an additional channel everywhere else. Qwest TV is said to be accompanied alongside another channel sources won't share.

Disclosure: Kartoon Channel was also rumoured to launch on another platform alongside DStv.

Aşk-ı Memnu: Telemundo's Forbidden Passion From The Beginning

Forbidden Passion (Pasion Prohibida) is a 2012 soap opera produced by Telemundo Studios that told the story of a woman's scorn over her mother after discovering that her she cheated on her father prior to his death so she married the man she chased after there she falls for his nephew.

It starred Monica Spear and Jencarlos Canela alongside Roberto Vander, Mercedes Molto, Rebecca Jones, Henry Zakka, Jorge Consejo and Carmen Aub.

The original produced by Ay Yapım (Turkey) went a similar path with the likes of Beren Saat, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Selçuk Yöntem, Hazal Kaya & Nebahat Çehre which was set in the contemporary Istanbul instead of the 19th century setting as seen in Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil's 1899 novel of the same name.

Everyday Novelas:
- Forbidden Passion season 2 not moving forward on Telemundo
- Between You And Me now on Zee One
- Eternal Love coming soon to Star Life

Aside from Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love), Ay Yapım also worked on other productions part of which has already viewed in South Africa such as Fenix (Alev Alev), Impak (Çarpışma), Stiletto Vendetta (Ufak Tefek Cinayetler) and Die Put (Çukur).

Aşk-ı Memnu was broadcast between 2008 to 2010 with a total of 2 seasons and 79 episodes on Kanal D. It pulled 10 million viewers during its premiere with a further 20 million added within the second season proving to be a success for the network.

Telemundo:
- Nurses returns for a season 3
- Prediction: what to expect on Telemundo in 2023?
- Lord Of The Skies renewed for season 8

Sources on IDMB gave it a perfect score and Aşk-ı Memnu was considered one of a kind for the music, storyline and characters. It even walked away with 8 award winners most of which were for Beren Saat and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ alongside the series.

Aşk-ı Memnu has been viewed in various territories including America, Ethiopia, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, China and several others.

Since it's debut, a number of adaptations have already been filmed with Pasion Prohibida on Telemundo in America, followed by Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara on StarPlus with the latest version Fructul Oprit on Antenna 1 in Romania proven to be the most controversial of instalments.

New Series Alert: Ramo To Stream January 16th On eVOD

eVOD, a video streaming service that gives you access to local and international shows and movies, new original productions, documentaries, and much more will be uploading their first telenovela of 2023 which is none other than the rumoured crime drama Ramo.

The series tells the extraordinary story of Ramo, inspired by a real person, a man who goes against his superiors…It’s a story that encompasses the deep conflicts of family, justice, revenge, friendship and love.  The series stars Murat Yıldırım, Esra Bilgiç, İlker Aksum and Yiğit Özşener.

eExtra:
- Soete Wraak coming soon to eExtra
- 10 Turkish shows eMedia Investments, kykNET and Timeless Dizi Channel should acquire for 2023
- eExtra to undergo changes within the festive season
- The Girl Named Feriha remake might be in the works for Televisa (TLNovelas)

It has been voted one of the best series during its run scoring a perfect 10/10 on IDMB for the action, drama, romance and humour with some comparing it to the likes of Die Put currently seen on eExtra.

It premiered on Show TV during 2020 with a total of 40 episodes each consisting of 2 hours. Internationally, the series has been divided to 130 episodes each consisting of 45 minutes which is likely what everyone will be viewing on the streamer.

Ramo joins Soete Wraak and Camdaki Kiz as the only eVOD exclusives to not be made available for linear viewing in this case eExtra seeing as rebroadcasts from the platform surface on this channel.

The series is expected to rollout in batches weekly.

Openview Plus:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- The Game Of My Destiny a brand new Turkish drama unveiled by Global Agency
- A look at former NBC soap, Passions
- Die Vertroueling coming soon to eExtra

What To Expect In February 2023 On The Home Channel?

* Priority slots in bold

Making it Home with Kortney & Dave (1)
MAKING IT HOME with Kortney & Dave, Kortney and Dave Wilson help homeowners make strategic moves with their money by using their flipping expertise to turn a fixer-upper into the home of their dreams – all while making smart investments into the biggest asset these families own. With Kortney taking the lead on design and Dave on project management, they will gather inspiration and intel to make the right reno moves for homeowners, before taking the reins for the full renovation. With the keys and budget in hand, they’ll transform each unloved space into a show-stopper – making it beautiful, making it bright and making it home!
02 February - 10 April
Mon 08:00 Tue 12:00 Wed 16:00 Fri 20:00

Location Location Location (22)
No floorboard is left unturned as dynamic property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer help house hunters find the perfect home in the perfect location on Location, Location, Location, and this time the challenge ahead of them is tougher than ever Britain’s choosiest home hunters are looking for just the right spot and expert realtors Kirstie and Phil are up for the challenge. They will help these house hunters secure the right home in the desired location. On each episode they face new challenges in a lightning-quick property market. They’ll take on the unpredictable housing market; searching all over the country – from the rural countryside of Cheshire to the super speedy London market. No matter how small the budget or how big the expectations, Kirstie and Phil are on hand to match hopeful house hunters with their dream homes.
06 February - 03 April
Mon 09:00 Tue 13:00 Wed 17:00 Fri 21:00

Top Million Dollar Agent (6)
06 February 13 March
Mon 11:30 Tue 15:30 Thu 19:30 Fri 22:00 Sat 17:00 & 00:00 Sun 12:30 & 21:00

Impossible Builds (1)
Impossible Builds follows the exploits of pioneering families building extraordinary ‘kit homes’ in situations where conventional construction techniques prove impossible. This novel approach is helping determined homebuilders to overcome a wide range of challenges in order to realise their bespoke dream homes – from severe weather to tight budgets. Architectural designer Charlie Luxton and commercial designer Aidan Keane join the tenacious families going against the odds as they struggle to turn their ambitious plans into a reality. This show uses the latest augmented reality (AR) technology to bring the house designs to life, and spectacular drone photography reveals the stunning landscapes surrounding the diverse plots. The drama unfolds as the build teams battle to deliver entire homes to the isolated plots and assemble them in a matter of days, or sometimes just hours. As extreme weather and unforeseen challenges hinder progress, budgets are blown and deadlines are missed. The house builders’ resolve is tested to its limits as they fight to conquer their impossible builds.
06 February - 30 March
Mon 15:00 Wed 19:00 Thu 22:00 Fri 11:00

The Property Game (2)
The Property Game is hosted by celebrity TV host ProVerb. In each episode he is joined by Sylvia Milosevic, the multi-millionaire property investor and mentor. In this documentary series, new investors tell their stories of how they got started in the property game. They share their journeys on their first deals, we find out what led to each investor’s success, and we get first-hand insight into the highs, the lows, the challenges – and, most importantly, how each deal brought the investor closer to financial freedom. We also find out that success in property investment is not just strategy and skill. The right mindset is equally important. Over and above the property investment insights and information shared in the show, Sylvia and ProVerb present valuable personal development and mindset lessons needed to achieve success. The Property Game is aimed not just at the aspiring property investor but also at anyone who is looking for the skills and insights to be successful in life.

DStv Flex:
- What to expect this February on HONEY?
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?

06 February - 01 May
Mon 16:30 Wed 20:30 Thu 08:30 Fri 12:30 Sat 17:30 & 00:30 Sun 13:00 & 21:30

Room to Improve (12)
Room to Improve sets out to create a diverse range of beautifully designed and cleverly built homes. Dermot Bannon is ready to take on an array of properties, some with quirkier challenges than others - from pebble-dash to plywood and steep embankments to faux Georgian pillars. His clients are more informed, more opinionated, and more demanding than ever before, but as always seems to be the case, there is only one person who they feel can make their household dreams come true. Dermot is passionate about design and will go to any lengths to persuade these homeowners to take on his ideas. He has three quantity surveyors to work with on this season, all determined to keep his designs on budget. The role of the architect is sometimes designer, sometimes mediator and always perfectionist. Dermot Bannon shows no signs of slowing down as he pushes his creativity and his passion to the limit, and always, with stunning results!

06 February - 13 March
Mon 22:00 Tue 11:00 Wed 15:00 Fri 19:00

How to Garden with Carol Klein (1)
Are you clueless about gardening? Or green fingered, but in need of inspiration? Then let Carol Klein show you how on How to Garden with carol Klein. With more than 40 years’ experience, Carol is the ideal person to show you ‘How To Garden’. Filmed at her own plot in Devon, this master class will be your guide - from how to put the right plant in the right place, to how to grow all your own plants from scratch. Whether you want to grow delicious edibles, or beautiful ornamentals, ‘How To Garden’ is here to show you the way.
07 February - 28 February
Tue 21:30 Wed 09:30 Thu 13:30 Fri 17:30

Grand Designs New Zealand (6)
Grand Designs New Zealand takes us into the heart of life’s great unfolding human stories, where ordinary Kiwi families risk all to experiment with architecture, technology, and their own lifestyle, in the most geographically challenging locations. This show features a particularly diverse range of homes, from discovering how to build a perfect Feng Shui home, to an architecturally designed masterpiece in Cass Bay that takes its inspiration from a rare white whale. In Marlborough Sound, a family tackle this season’s most challenging and isolated site. Accessible only by water or air, its high stakes jeopardy as the homeowners bring in huge steel frames, massive spans of glass and one grand piano by helicopter. And in Piha, a couple pit their wits against raging storms and inclement weather to build a lifestyle home on the side of a steep, vertiginous slope overlooking the beach.

13 February - 08 April
Mon 13:00 Tue 17:00 Thu 21:00 Fri 09:00 Sat 11:00 & 18:00 Sun 15:00 & 22:00

Luxury Homes Revealed (4)
Luxury Homes Revealed embodies everything luxurious in the housing business. Follow our hosts Gary, Nadia, Cindy and Anita on their journey around Australia and the USA walking through the most exquisite houses. From an apartment to a 7,000 square foot estate, viewers of Luxury Homes Revealed get to see the in’s and out’s of some of the countries’ most extravagant homes. Getting to meet real estate agents, builders and designers along the way. This show has it all and is guaranteed to make your jaw drop.

14 February - 18 April
Tue 19:00 Wed 22:30 Thu 11:00 Fri 15:00

DStv:
- MultiChoice might be adding a second SABC News channel
- kykNET Lekker has made available to more DStv customers
- Could DMAX expand to Africa?
- Qwest TV coming soon to DStv

Design Twins (1)
On Design Twins, twin sisters Heidi and Heather team up on a new interior design business, Joyful Living. Their aim is to transform people’s homes with creative ideas, inventive solutions and beautiful design meant for families to actually live in. And they should know, given that in order to get their business off the ground, they and their husbands have moved both their families into Heather’s home. With seven kids under the age of six living under one roof, it’s all hands on deck as the sisters and their husbands take the “it takes a village” concept to a whole new level. They’re juggling life at home and working closely to nurture their growing business all while delivering jaw-dropping designs that prove that functional family spaces can also be beautiful.

20 February - 24 April
Mon 10:30 Tue 14:30 Thu 18:30 Fri 23:30

Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence (1)
For over 30 years, actress and author Carol Drinkwater has been living the Mediterranean life in Provence. In this series, Carol invites us into her home, an olive farm overlooking the bay of Cannes, and shares her local secrets.

20 February - 27 March
Mon 23:00 Tue 10:00 Wed 14:00 Fri 18:00

CNBC Lists Potential Buyers For WWE Should It Be Sold

Vince McMahon has returned to the World Wrestling Entertainment board of directors to facilitate potential sale talks ahead of the company's media rights renewal.

The notion of WWE selling isn't new. CNBC reported it looked like a sale target in April and that it appeared only more attractive in July after a sexual misconduct scandal. The rationale is fairly straightforward: WWE is valuable intellectual property.

Owning IP allows streaming services to exclusively offer content without the annoyance of winning licensing rights in an auction every few years. WWE also has value to offer in merchandising and theme park businesses.

WWE has hired JPMorgan to help the company advise on a potential sale, according to people familiar with the matter. JPMorgan declined to comment. A WWE spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

If a deal occurs, it would likely occur in the next three to six months, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. WWE plans to talk to potential buyers before it makes a decision on TV rights renewal agreements.

Facilitating a sale

McMahon's return should help a sale process go smoothly, though there could still be hiccups.

The former CEO and chair is 77 years old and the controlling shareholder of WWE. He stepped down after an investigation found that he had paid nearly $15 million to four women over 16 years to quell claims of alleged sexual misconduct and infidelity. Returning to the board will give potential buyers confidence he's supportive of the details of any transaction.

"My return will allow WWE, as well as any transaction counterparties, to engage in these processes knowing they will have the support of the controlling shareholder," McMahon said in a statement Thursday.

McMahon's return doesn't affect current leadership. McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, and former CAA agent Nick Khan are co-CEOs. But it remains unclear what type of role, if any, McMahon would want at WWE if he sold the company. WWE has told investors that McMahon's role at the company is essential in "our ability to create popular characters and creative storylines." Currently, McMahon doesn't have a formal say in the company's creative direction.

Whether a buyer would be comfortable with McMahon taking a more hands-on role at the company is unknown. But WWE is McMahon's life work. It's possible a sale may only happen with at least some strings attached.

WWE has a market capitalization of more than $6 billion after rising nearly 17% percent on Friday, buoyed by heightened sale speculation.

There are three categories of likely buyers for WWE — the legacy media companies, the streamers and the entertainment holding companies. Here's who might be interested.

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

Comcast

Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, is a potential fit as a buyer for WWE. McMahon's company already has an exclusive streaming deal with Comcast's streaming service, Peacock, and a cable TV deal with NBCUniversal's USA Network. Comcast has a market capitalization of more than $160 billion and can easily afford the company — especially with a $9 billion (or more) check coming as soon as January 2024 from Disney for a 33% stake in Hulu.

Comcast can lock up WWE in perpetuity without having to pay upcoming rights renewal increases and can use the company's IP for theme parks, movies and other spinoff series.

Still, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said in October "the bar is the highest it's been in terms of M&A" and has repeatedly said the company isn't in a rush to pursue an acquisition.

Fox

Fox seems less likely than Comcast to pull off a deal for WWE given its significantly smaller balance sheet (and its $17 billion market valuation), its ongoing dalliance with recombining with News Corp., and its lack of presence in the global streaming wars.

Still, Fox also has an existing linear TV deal with WWE for Friday Night Smackdown, and the company may feel the time is right to increase scale given its News Corp. merger ambitions. Fox sold off most of its entertainment assets in its $71 billion sale to Disney in 2019, but WWE fits with the smaller company's sports and live events focus.

Disney

Returning CEO Bob Iger may want to make a splashy acquisition as he retakes the throne at Disney. WWE fits Disney in the same ways that it fits Comcast. It would bolster Disney's streaming ambitions (perhaps ESPN+), it would support the linear network business, and it would add some heft to merchandizing and theme park businesses.

Comcast didn't want Disney walking away with Fox in 2019 and drove up the price by tens of billions by topping Iger's initial bid. Could Iger see WWE as the next IP battle between Disney and his rival Comcast?

Whether a buyer would be comfortable with McMahon taking a more hands-on role at the company is unknown. But WWE is McMahon's life work. It's possible a sale may only happen with at least some strings attached.

WWE has a market capitalization of more than $6 billion after rising nearly 17% percent on Friday, buoyed by heightened sale speculation.

There are three categories of likely buyers for WWE — the legacy media companies, the streamers and the entertainment holding companies. Here's who might be interested.

Insidus Games:
- Tom And Jerry: Infurnal Escape
- Tom And Jerry: The Magic Ring
- The Wild Thornberrys Movie

Warner Bros. Discovery

CEO David Zaslav has spent the beginning of his tenure over the merged WarnerMedia and Discovery cutting costs to better position his company for the future. Spending billions on an acquisition at this stage may run counter to his strategy — especially when it's unclear where live sports fits in the company's broader portfolio of assets.

Still, Zaslav has said both publicly and privately that while he's not interested in renting sports rights, he would be interested in deals that give the company ownership over IP. WWE is one of only a small handful of assets that fit this premise. Rival wrestling league AEW currently has a traditional carriage rights deal with Warner Bros. that expires this year.

Netflix

Netflix has long shied away from sports and other live events, but it's recently become open to the idea of owning a league outright or taking an ownership stake. Owning a sports league would give Netflix the ability to create video games and spinoff series without friction. Netflix found success in its Formula 1 "Drive to Survive" documentary series, giving co-CEO Reed Hastings faith that certain sports properties will resonate with Netflix's huge global audience. But Netflix doesn't own Formula 1, limiting its future options.

Acquiring WWE or another sports league would be a path toward offering live entertainment without renting content — similar to Zaslav's thinking.

"We've not seen a profit path to renting big sports," said co-CEO Ted Sarandos last month at the UBS Global TMT Conference. "We're not anti-sports; we're just pro-profit."

Amazon

Amazon is perennially around the hoop when it comes to acquiring sports content, from spending $1 billion per year on Thursday Night Football to streaming Major League Baseball games to exclusively broadcasting a bunch of Premiere League soccer games.

Amazon could bolster Prime Video with live matches and WWE's library content while easily boosting merchandizing opportunities through its gigantic e-commerce business.

Unlike Apple, which is also interested in sports rights but has almost no history of doing multibillion acquisitions, Amazon spent $8.45 billion on MGM and $13.7 billion for Whole Foods. That suggests the company has the DNA to buy big.

Endeavor Group Holdings

Endeavor, run by superagent Ari Emanuel, could add WWE to its stable of assets after agreeing to buy 100% of UFC in 2021.

Emanuel bought UFC to increase the scope of the talent agency's business to live events. WME-IMG, now just a part of Endeavor, represents many UFC athletes — as well as WWE superstars. The UFC deal has been a success for Endeavor, which paid about seven times 2016's $600 million revenue in 2016. UFC generated more than $1 billion in revenue in 2022.

Endeavor's enterprise value of just about $11 billion makes WWE a huge swing for the company. The company's relatively small balance sheet would likely prevent Endeavor from winning a bidding war against media giants. But McMahon's outsized personality may fit with the brash Emanuel and UFC President Dana White.

Selling to a third party would also allow WWE to increase rights renewals every few years. That may or may not be a positive for the long-term future of the company as the media distribution ecosystem changes.

WWE:
- Could the WWE channel be exiting the DStv platform?
- NXT Europe to rollout later in the year
- The controversial history of The Fabulous Moolah

Liberty Media

While Endeavor owns UFC, Liberty's Formula One Group owns Formula 1. John Malone, Liberty's controlling shareholder, and CEO Greg Maffei, along with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, have figured out how to globally market the car racing league, including cracking American culture after decades of obscurity.

Malone and Maffei have extensive track records at maximizing media valuations and acquiring media assets for less than $10 billion, including Formula 1, Sirius XM and Pandora. The global success of Formula 1 could provide a roadmap for a future WWE strategy.

Disclosure: Comcast owns NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC.

Recap: SABC To Launch 24/7 Indigenous News Platform In Your Language SABC eKhaya

The public broadcaster announced the launch of their 24 hour news platform, Ekaya which will be made available on SABC+ and SABC's DTT.

Millions of South Africans depend on different SABC channels for news in their home language. Some of the languages are aired on the free-to-air platform for a limited time and in an effort to satisfy these consumers the SABC is launching a 24 hour news channel for African languages.

Unfortunately at the moment, we only offer news bulletins for a limited time on the free-to-air entertainment channels. So what this channel is going to do every single day is that it's going to give South Africans who are lacking an appointment to watch news everyday - Moshoeshoe Monare, SABC's Group Executive For News And Current Affairs.

SABC:
- SABC Parliament rebrands into Ekaya
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

As a public broadcaster, we got this responsibility both constitutionally and morally to reflect the diversity throughout the South African society and give that content in all our 11 languages and this is the excitement of that channel - Moshoeshoe Monare, SABC's Group Executive For News And Current Affairs

Ekaya, which is Tsonga for at home is a news channel which will offer local, international, economic, politics, business, lifestyle and sports news in their languages. It will offer fresh bulletins alongside content currently viewed on SABC 1-3.

Ekaya serves as a spinoff to the current SABC News channel on DStv channel 404, SABC+ and SABC's DTT. While SABC News offers plenty of English content, Ekaya will focus more on other languages while as offering English content and is expected to launch later in the year.

SABC:
- Could SABC Encore revival be scrapped?
- A former SABC channel was added onto Openview
- SABC Movies' dream journal
- SABC Education not launching on Openview

The channel is currently viewable on SABC's DTT but from what's already stated it hasn't launched so it's kind of experimental. Although, a lot of repeats exist on the channel it had been mentioned that it won't try to be an SABC News duplicate.

SABC Parliament Scrapped For New Indigenous News Channel In Your Language SABC eKhaya With SABC Children Likely Canned With No Clue On SABC Encore

Two years ago, the public broadcaster introduced SABC Education a free-to-air channel currently available on SABC's streaming service SABC+ and DTT platforms. Thereafter came the official launch of eMedia's top 10 channels on Openview, SABC Sport.

eMedia Investments and the SABC promised their consumers three yet to be launched channels of which one currently resides on the Openview platform which is the already mentioned SABC Sport but further details of the other two channels remain a mystery.

During that fast for new SABC channels, the public broadcaster had been experimenting on two channels SABC Encore and SABC Children with SABC Parliament going through development hell as further testing had reportedly been 80% to 95% finished.

SABC Parliament and SABC Children were part of the public broadcaster's failed DTT plans while one was stuck on development hell the other alongside SABC Education had been streaming on the Tuluntulu app for sometime.

SABC Encore had a controversial time on the DStv platform in which talks of a revival were still underway as a space has still been reserved for the brand on DTT.

SABC:
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- TelkomOne's transition into SABC+
- SABC 1 title card registered for Openview
- SABC Children appears to have wrapped production

The public broadcaster seeking to reinvent themselves scrapped SABC Parliament for a multilingual news channel which carries current affairs. The same content they want to burden off on SABC 2 to not make it look like an S3 duplicate.

To top it off, they still have schedule disruptions with the current 3 SABC channels when live matches are on despite the existence of SABC Sport which was meant to rectify that and will continue to do so unless possibly analogue kicks the can.

With the launch of this upcoming news channel, one has to wonder what has or what will become of the tested SABC Encore and SABC Children. Several tests have been done for a possible new channel and it's uncertain if these are the channels they opt to have onboard.

eMedia Investments is waiting on 2 more channels with MultiChoice waiting on 3 to replace the red brand's channels which are bundled on their platforms for 6 months due to court proceedings.

If this new channel happens to be one of the new channels for both brands it means both consumers are awaiting for just 1 channel.

SABC:
- Could SABC Encore revival be scrapped?
- A former SABC channel was added onto Openview
- SABC Movies' dream journal
- SABC Education not launching on Openview

As mentioned, SABC Education had been active for 2 years and talks for the channel have been under wraps as both MultiChoice and StarSat have finalised the necessary details about the channel and even reserved space for the brand on their platforms.

I doubt the channel is coming to Openview as the deal was for SABC Sport and two other channels. I mean I don't see any reason why they couldn't have added SABC Education much earlier if it was the second channel consumers were awaiting for.

As for MultiChoice, they don't seem at all interested in acquiring SABC Sport as they already have SABC Education running through the test channel section and why would they want a channel like SABC Sport that might as well force more consumers to downgrade.

Taking that to account, it means both eMedia Investments and MultiChoice are waiting for one more channel which could be SABC Encore, SABC Children or whatever remains of either channel but the likelihood is that SABC Children had been scrapped.

An SABC 1 test card had been registered and often consumers on Openview and the former TelkomOne streaming service had spotted the SABC Encore banner on the most watched channel in South Africa which is all the more reason to believe SABC Children is dead.

The public broadcaster was more hyped about reviving SABC Encore as opposed to launching a preschool addition to SABC Education. SABC Encore even had a dedicated kids block so either way SABC Children would still be a thing even if not through a channel.

Adult and families dominate television households and even kids latch onto that lifestyle but change the roles you find only a portion of adults would watch something like JimJam. It's not that kids entertainment is performing poorly its just that some audiences prefer more mature content.

Graham Wallington, Co-Founder Of WildEarth Has Resigned

It is with great sadness that I announce my resignation as CEO of WildEarth.

Emily and I co-founded WildEarth 15 years ago at Djuma with the mission to connect people with nature. In spite of many ups and downs we remained true to that mission and I believe we achieved this goal.

The time has come for me to focus on my family and the next chapter of my story while creating space for new ideas at WildEarth. I remain as convinced today, as I was on the first day, of WildEarth’s worth and wish this incredible company, and all who work for her, nothing but the very best.

DStv Flex:
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?

I specifically want to thank Jurie and Pippa Moolman for their unfailing support over the many years. Without them there never could have been a WildEarth and I would not have been able to steer WE through some very dark nights were it not for the foundational friendship given Emily and I by this formidable couple. Thank you.

Another person that has been crucial to the survival of WildEarth over the past many years is Peter Braat. Without his unwavering loyalty, commitment and Vulcan like logic WE would certainly have floundered on the rocks many years ago.

Emily, my wife, life partner, co-founder and mother to my daughters is a true force of nature. Those that know her and us know that anything I have achieved I have only achieved because she supported me. Because she made it possible for me to achieve. Emily is my hero and I, and all of us, owe WildEarth to her.

Emily continues on at WE as I step aside and she is now going to need all the support in the world as she finds herself on this old journey in a new and scary way. I love you my darling. I’m sorry I had to make this decision, but you know that I had to do this. It was time. I will help and support you as much as I can but I know you will be fine. You are a truly amazing woman.

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

Of course none of what has been achieved at WildEarth could have been achieved without you. The WE viewer community. It’s been your passion for the animals that has driven WE and me forward. Your willingness to try new things, always trusting that our mission to connect people to nature would not change.

WildEarth will carry on and grow from strength to strength. I will be watching from the sidelines like a proud father.

I will see you all again.

With love,

Graham Wallington

Recap: Forbidden Passion Season 2 Was Scrapped Due To Monica Spear's Passing

Forbidden Passion is a 2012 drama series produced by Telemundo Studios that followed the long road love story of Bianca and Bruno. I don't want to spoil it or give too much basically the female lead got involved with her lover's uncle.

Based on the 2008 Turkish drama Aşk-ı Memnu which derives from the novel of the same name. It starred Monica Spear and Jencarlos Canela alongside Roberto Vander, Mercedes Molto, Rebecca Jones, Henry Zakka, Jorge Consejo and Carmen Aub.

From what a certain deleted article mentioned before passing, the series was renewed for a second season and some of the cast were to set to reprise their roles including Monica Spear and the part in bold shouldn't be read if you haven't watched the show.

Everyday Novelas:
- Between You And Me now on Zee One
- Eternal Love coming soon to Star Life
- Fearless Heart coming soon to Telemundo

The second season would have seen the revival of Bianca after she committed suicide on her ex lover's wedding which never happened following her passing. Basically, the network loves to revive characters that were reported dead but who cares we got Lord Of The Skies S8.

Now the reason a second season ended up being scrapped with no chance of it in the coming future I mean I wouldn't be shocked if it was rebooted had to do with the unfortunate passing of Monica Spear with Forbidden Passion being her last project.

For those who weren't aware of the whole matter it goes as follows:

Monica Spear, 29, a soap opera actress, and Thomas Berry, 39, died after being attacked when their car broke down at night on a highway in central Venezuela in January.

Their daughter, Maya Berry Spear, suffered a leg injury but was in a stable condition after the attack that put a spotlight on the country's soaring murder rate.

The three men confessed to their involvement in the murder, the public prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Jean Carlos Colina, 19, got a 26-year sentence, while Jose Ferreira Herrera, 18, and Nelfrend Jimenez Alvarez, 21, were jailed for 24 years, the statement said.

Telemundo:
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- Lord Of The Skies renewed for season 8

What happened to little Maya?

14-year-old Maya Berry Spear, daughter of Monica Spear, was legally adopted by the brother of the remembered former beauty queen Ricardo Spear and his partner, actress Daniela Bueno, who signed the papers in August this year.

Let us remember that since Monica's tragic death, those who were in charge of little Maya were her maternal grandparents, Rafael Spear and Inge Mootz, but she always grew up surrounded by the love of all her family, especially her uncles.

"I witnessed how he was busy, at the time from his role as an uncle, to give her values and fill her with love." Ricardo has a generous heart and has always been very protective and loving with her. We knew it came with a huge responsibility, however, we took on it and today we are happy about the decisions we made. "Our family is built from will and this bond is forever," Daniela told People in Spanish.

How do you think Forbidden Passions season 2 would have turned out had it finished production?