Eureka! Nickelodeon's Genius Is Looking For South Africa's Smartest Kids!

NICKELODEON & ABSA STRIKE ON WINNING FORMULA FOR KIDS 11-16

Johannesburg, 15 August 2016: Flex your mental muscles, outshine the brightest and show your smarts in the fun, educational TV quiz from Nickelodeon and ABSA, Nickelodeon’s Genius, powered by ABSA

Trios of brainiacs aged 11-16 (Grades 6-10) are clamouring to sign up for the brand new season of Nickelodeon’s Genius, testing their maths and science know-how to the limit – as they battle for the mind-blowing title of “Nickelodeon’s Genius” 2017.

Commented Tasania Parsadh, Channel Director, Nickelodeon Africa, “Nickelodeon’s Genius is on a mission to get kids inspired by maths and science at an early age, and to show that learning about these subjects can be both entertaining and rewarding. We look forward to encouraging the nation’s future mathematicians and scientists to achieve their calling.”
“We want to start educating the youth of South Africa and other young people about managing their finances, from an early age. This is a great initiative to involve the youth in a fun and interactive way that ultimately lays a positive foundation for understanding the way money works and making it work for them” says Yolande Steward General Marketing Manager for Retail Banking at ABSA.

Sign up now by completing the Nickelodeon’s Genius quiz at www.nickelodeonafrica.com – you have just 2 minutes (and three attempts, maximum) to complete 10 questions to get you through to the next stage! Regional workshops for the top 30 qualifying teams will take place in Gauteng South, Gauteng North (Tshwane), Bloemfontein, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape starting August 2016 before the top 2 teams from every region go through to the Grand Final in Johannesburg in 2017.

All adds up to an amazing prize – a 100,000 ZAR Mega-U account for each of the winning team members, plus an awe-inspiring trip to the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA, where the winners will lunch with a NASA astronaut, enjoy a simulated shuttle launch and participate in an astronaut training session. They will also be treated to a visit to the Universal Orlando Theme Park where they will be enjoy thrilling themed rides and experiences including Spiderman, Shrek, Jurassic Park, Minion Mayhem and a tour of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Initial highlights of Nickelodeon’s Genius regional heats and workshops will air on NickToons (DStv channel 308) from December 2016, while the quiz show will air on NickToons from March 2017.

For more information on the GENIUS quiz show, please log on to www.nickelodeonafrica.com, like Nickelodeon on Facebook or follow Nickelodeon on Twitter @NickAfrica using the hashtag #GENIUS.

About Nickelodeon’s Genius
Nickelodeon’s Genius is a fun science and maths quiz from kids and family experts Nickelodeon designed to engage school age kids in Maths and Science. The first season of Nickelodeon’s Genius took place on 2013 and was won by Rameez Chicktay (13), Amin Banderker (13) and Kayur Ranchod (13) from The Grove Primary School in Grove Park, Western Cape.

Terms & Conditions
Nickelodeon’s Genius is open to South African kids aged 11-16 (Grades 6-10). To sign up for the competition go to www.nickelodeonafrica.com. For full terms and conditions please go to http://www.nickelodeonafrica.com/news/nickelodeon-genius-powered-by-absa-terms/9dap02/.

Brand New Music Channel, TRACE Africa, And Two New Radio Stations Launch On DStv

MultiChoice is set to boost its music and audio offering this September with the launch of a brand new music channel and the addition of two new radio stations.

TRACE Africa is set to hit DStv screens on 1 September 2016, as a localised music channel that’ll offer DStv customers exclusive music videos and documentaries from established and emerging Southern African artists. The channel will serve as the premier destination for Southern African music lovers, featuring the best contemporary hits from Kwaito, House, Coupé-Décalé, Afro-pop, Rumba to Ndombolo.

TRACE Africa (DStv channel 326) will sit along TRACE Urban (DStv channel 325) and replace TRACE Sport Stars (currently on DStv channel 188), which will no longer air on DStv from 30 August 2016. TRACE Africa will be available to DStv Premium, Extra, Compact and Family customers in South Africa.

The new radio stations being added to the DStv audio package are Channel 7 FM (DStv channel 825), a Namibian-based non-denominational Christian community radio station which will launch on 1 September 2016 and Radio Islam (DStv channel 826), an Islamic cultural, award-winning community radio station which will launch on 15 September 2016. The two radio stations will be available to DStv Premium, Extra, Compact, Family, Access and EasyView customers in South Africa.

For more information, visit DStv.com.

Ben 10 Is Back In An All New Reboot Which Sets Sail In October 2016 On Cartoon Network Africa, Joining Him Is Gwen And His Grandpa Max

BRAND NEW SHOW
BEN 10
Cartoon Network’s newest take on Ben 10, the animated phenomenon that has kids all over the world wanting to transform into their favourite alien, begins its global premiere this October in Africa.

A new generation of fans can expect all the high-energy action and fantasy on DStv, channel 301, along with the heart and humour that made Ben 10 an international sensation when it originally premiered. Building on the highly successful franchise about kid hero, Ben Tennyson, Ben 10 will introduce a re-imagined Ben, his cousin Gwen, and Grandpa Max, as they travel the country during summer vacation.

Premiere date : Monday 10/10/2016 
Tune-In : Monday-Friday @ 17:05 CAT
Repeat : Monday - Friday @ 07:25 CAT
Sat & Sun @ 08:00 & 14:45 CAT

BRAND NEW EPISODES WE BARE BEARS
Your three favourite, furry brother bears are back and stacked on Cartoon Network, with an all new season of growling fun and adventure!

Watch as the three stacked bear siblings go to a local yard sale, have a forced sleepover with Chloe due to the weather and help Nom Nom understand the true meaning of friendship, whilst they awkwardly attempt to fit into an arbitrary world known as ‘human society’. Whether the brothers are looking for food, trying to make human friends, or scheming to become internet famous, it’s obvious that being a bear in a civilised, modern world is tough!

Premiere date : Saturday 22/10/2016
Tune-in : Weekends @ 11:50 CAT
Repeat : Monday - Friday @ 13:50 CAT

BRAND NEW EPISODES
ADVENTURE TIME
Have the time, with Adventure Time!
Finn is a human boy with an awesome hat, and Jake, a wise pet dog, is his best friend with magical powers.

Together the two partner together to expose the mystery of Ooo, with a series of strange misadventures, one quirky, off-beat encounter after another. Watch as they uncover, discover, battle, duel and overdo in an attempt to protect the land of Ooo as well as the strange creatures that inhabit the space. Tune-in as Finn attempts to decode the riddle of a cave with no exit in order to escape, whilst attempting to stop a catastrophic event from happening somewhere in the multiverse.

Premiere date : Monday 03/10/2016
Tune-in : Monday - Friday @ 13:00 CAT
Repeat: Monday - Friday @ 08:45 CAT

Everyone's Favourite Cat And Mouse Are Back In All New Adventures Of The Tom And Jerry Show On Boomerang Africa Plus Boomerang Club Has A Special Treat For You During The School Holidays In October 2016

BRAND NEW EPISODES
THE TOM & JERRY SHOW
Some more cat and mouse games!

According to the Generation Next Study 2016, Tom & Jerry was voted as South Africa’s number one kids show, with the iconic cat and mouse being two of the most favoured characters in cartoon history. Now, the iconic rivals are back in the all-new TOM AND JERRY SHOW, a fresh, new take on the classic series. Tune-in to Boomerang and watch as Tom and Jerry team up to help Spike remove a tooth and prepare themselves for picture day, only to find themselves dirty, covered in mud and ready for the dreaded bath that Spike and Tom were both trying to avoid.

Premiere date : Monday - Friday 17/10/16
Tune-In : Monday-Friday @ 06:25 CAT Repeat : Monday-Friday @ 17:05 CAT Sat & Sun @ 07:20 & 13:15 CAT

BRAND NEW EPISODES
BUNNICULA
Bring the carrots and…let the fun and games begin!

Bunnicula is based on a best-selling children’s book which follows the life of a friendly, super-cute, vegetarian vampire bunny rabbit who, instead of drinking blood, drains the juice of vegetables – especially carrots, to fuel his supernatural, paranormal abilities. Tune-in to Boomerang and watch closely as Bunnicula gets twisted up in a supernatural romance with an evil vegetable doll, saves Chester from a sinister Venus trap and assists Weredude and Chester, after both having fallen in-love with the same girl – Elvira.

Premiere date : Saturday 15/10/2016 Tune-in : Weekends @14:40 CAT Repeat : Monday-Friday @ 12:50 CAT

PROGRAMMING STUNT BOOMERANG CLUB HOLIDAYS
Its holiday time and Boomerang would like to celebrate with you!

We have gathered all your favourite Boomerang characters together for one massive block of all your favourite shows, back-to-back such as Wabbit, Zig & Sharko, Tom & Jerry, Bunnicula, Mr Bean and Oggy and the  Cockroaches. To add to the excitement of things, Boomerang will be introducing a new family to the Boomerang team – Meet The Happos Family, a mischievous family of hippo’s that live in a safari park. By day, The Happos are just your regular lazy hippo’s oating in water, but best believe, at night, when all the visitors have left, The Happos burst out of the water and embark on a series of adventures across the park.

Premiere date : Monday 03/10/2016
Tune-in : Monday - Friday @ 08:10 CAT

Will Multichoice's DStv Launch The Long Awaited Channel Toonami

Turner, a family entertainment channel provider, has launched a new animation channel to boost its current children’s entertainment offering. The introduction of Toonami reinforces the organisation’s portfolio of successful kids’ channels which includes Cartoon Network and Boomerang which are carried on Multichoice's DStv and Boing across various African markets.

Toonami has been described as the ‘ultimate home of the superhero’ and is targeted at kids between the ages of eight and 12.

The 24-hour programming line-up, jam-packed with top-rated adventure series, is the go to destination for action and animation enthusiasts of all ages,” comments Branco.

Programmes include such popular franchises as DC Comics
Batman

Superman

Green Lantern

Justice League

Teen Titans - Theory

Other animated superheroes loved by viewers

Ben 10 - Upcoming

Thundercats - Upcoming

The branded Toonami Movies block will screen a host of animated feature films that showcase even more of the popular superheroes’ heroic acts and deeds.

Toonami was launched successfully in France in February, and is currently being rolled-out to other select European markets and French-speaking African countries.

During March, the channel launched on the following pay-TV platforms:

Maroc Telecom in Morocco

Blueline in Madagascar

Parabole on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, Comores and Madagascar

The channel is also expected on Gabon Telecom once this new operator launches in the country.

Turner is currently in discussions with various pay-TV operators across the continent to bring the new channel to all English-speaking territories in Africa too.

Pierre Branco, vice president and general manager of Turner Southern Europe and Africa, says: “We are pleased with the addition of Toonami to the bouquet of channels aimed at our younger audiences, as it further diversifies our robust entertainment experience and programme offering across age groups. The channel promises to meet the growing demand for premium quality action-adventure and superhero content.“The channel’s launch reflects the value of pay-TV and its evolution. With its clear positioning and strong franchising connections, it is our job to select the best shows, to editorialise them and to share them with audiences of all ages across our markets.

Turner has achieved success with Cartoon Network and Boomerang, which ranked first and second respectively among kids’ TV brands across Africa. In addition the company was the recipient of the ‘coolest brand among kids’ accolade from the Generation Next 2015 survey.

The list of channels from Turners Broadcasting (it various with regions):

TCM (Turners Classic Movies) known for its classic films favourites which inspired viewers between the ages of 16-46. It been replaced with TNT (Its not on DStv) across various African regions. Rebranded last year and offered stellar line-up from The Mummy, Back To The Future, Carrie, The Shining and many more.

Boing launched in May 2015 across Africa and expanded to Nigeria later in the same year. Boing has a similar resemblance to Cartoon Network TOO, and Hoole (DStv 197 and unexpectedly 312 with no reason from DStv exactly) for the holidays which lasted until 31 January this year. The 24 hour programming line-up include DreamWorks Dragons, The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy, Angelo Rules, Codename: Kids Next Door, Johnny Bravo, My Gym Partners A Monkey and many more.

Adult Swim is the perfect destination for viewers 18+ (not a kids channel) with jam packed premium programming from American Dad, Futurama (Available on FOX), Aqua Teen Hunger Force, American Dad, Mission Hill, Home Movies, Robot Chicken (popular long running series), Family Guy (Available on FOX) and many more. This channel is currently not available in Africa yet.

Cartoonito, starting out as a preschool programming block on Boomerang (DStv 302) and Cartoon Network outside of Africa became a tv channel and discontinued as a programming block on various countries. With much anticipated and loved programming such as Jelly Jam, Ha Ha Hairies, Lazytown, Banana In Pyjamas, Baby Looney Tunes, Gerald McBoing Boing, Krypto The Superdog and much more.

BONUS
ToonCast the ultimate home for most loved cartoon superstars like Dexter Laboratory, The Flintstones, Ed Edd'n Eddy, Garfield, Top Cat, The Jetsons and many more. Not available in Africa.

"As the uptake for the channel grows in the targeted markets, a slate of exciting new programmes will be added to the line-up as acquisition deals are confirmed and signed,” concludes Branco.