Goodbye StarSat, Hello IWant TFC

StarSat has been going through somewhat of a phase since the pandemic which cost them several premium international channels such as FOX, Discovery Family, DreamWorks Channel, Smile, The Smithsonian Channel, Love Nature and that list will keep going on.

Just like every other pay-tv operator, they're trying to adapt and survive on top of all these hurdles. While some other brand opts to local dramas and sports, StarSat on the other hand helps promote smaller brands but the one thing that keeps viewers going is telenovelas primarily Phillipine.

If there's one thing that the platform doesn't disappoint on then its definitely Phillipine dramas. Some of the titles viewers would have come across include Love Thy Woman, Sharpshooter (Asintado), Bridges Of Love, The Heiress (Kadenang Ginto) and the popular cop drama, Brothers.

 

 

What the 6 mentioned series have in common is Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network (ABS-CBN).

A Philippine network (composed of television through free-to-air terrestrial, cable or satellite, radio and new media through "streaming media, internet or online") and syndication, program distributor, and production company (operating primarily under the name ABS-CBN Entertainment) that serves as the flagship property of ABS-CBN Corporation, a company under the Lopez Group.

It's basically the home of all their Phillipine catalogue but what's interesting about is the streaming alternative (as seen in previous paragraph under "streaming...online").

 

 

Pay-tv platforms have a tendency of sourcing out third party content some of which come with their very own streaming hub. There's several where you'd probably need VPN if you want but with IWantTFC that's where it all changes.

iWant TFC an over-the-top content platform and production company owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation. iWant TFC offers live video streamings from various sources including media made for the Kapamilya Channel, The Filipino Channel, ANC, and TeleRadyo and on-demand contents of ABS-CBN on various platform basically StarSat's entire Phillipine catalogue.

There's a lot to love about IWant TFC, firstly you can browse over 10000 hours of programming and you're not only getting dramas from this platform but getting to invest in their culture with a selection docu-series and reality shows and if that's not enough there's even sitcoms and movies.

 

Hate monthly fees no worries you can get a free package where you can browse a selected amount of shows but if you're feeling bored there's always a premium package for as little as R135p/m where you can get full access to the latest content.

You can access the content on their website or download the app on iOS, Google Play Store, Roku or selected brands of Smart TVs. Just signup with your email address and mobile number and let IWant TFC keep you on the edge of your seat.

Roundups #59: Preschool Scooby-Doo Coming Soon To Cartoonito, Michael K. Williams Launches A Documentary On eXposed And Doodsondes Returning For A Fourth Season On e.tv

Scooby is coming to Cartoonito

A Scooby-Doo series is in the works for the younger audience! HBO Max and Cartoon Network are developing the first-ever preschool series as part of the franchise – Scooby-Doo! And the Mystery Pups! It will also be a part of Cartoonito’s preschool block in 2024.

Scooby Doo and the gang have been entertaining children for years, but never a series for ones so young. So this is an exciting addition for parents and the network alike!

 

 

What can you expect from the series? It will follow Scooby and Shaggy as camp counselors who don’t know much about canoes and archery. But, they’re pros at solving a mystery! Their summer will be filled with nature hikes and fireside ghost stories, but the duo will also share their love for chasing clues with three young camper pups destined to become their own preschool version of Mystery Incorporated.

Black Market is coming to eXposed

During the month, Vice TV solidified their agreement with eMedia Investments which would see several shows such as Dark Side Of The Ring, Most Expensivest and F*** That's Delicious made available to the male centric, eXposed channel on Openview.

Also part of the agreement includes the new documentary series Black Marker which follows actor Michael K. Williams as he meets society's outcasts in an unflinching look into the lives of the people who work in underworld economies.

 

 

The first season of Black Market airs Thursdays at 8pm on eXposed from 2nd June. A day prior to the launch, eExtra will be rolling out a Turkish drama currently seen on eVOD through the Kuiertyd block, Die Binnekring.

Doodsondes S4 has a release date

As mentioned by several eMedia sources, the popular drama Doodsondes is making a comeback but from what's seen it won't be on eExtra as initially stated but on e.tv as a replacement to Droomvelore which ends in August.

 

In the new season, Halit's regaining his former power was welcomed with joy by everyone and the Argun family returned to their old order. Halit's goal is to regain Yildiz, who supported him a lot in his difficult days, and to remarry with her. However, Yildiz is confused because of Kerim and she doesn't know what to do. She has to make the right decision quickly.

Although, eMedia is being hush hush on a date Doodsondes will likely air from 23rd August. Good news for DStv customers, it's on the main channel and not eExtra which is set to go off air until further notice.

New Channel Alert (Rumour): Could Islam Channel Be The Supposed Replacement For ITV Networks When It Goes Off Air On DStv?

Following the termination of Lifetime and quite possibly the 4 e.tv channels, MultiChoice announced after nearly a decade that the Islamic community channel, ITV Networks currently seen on channel 347 would go off air on the DStv platform from June 17.

In those string of developments it was mentioned that the pay-tv platform will seek another Islamic channel.

Here's the thing ITV Networks was added on DStv from June 2012 but as a replacement to the UK based Islam Channel which is still available on the platform in other African countries.

 

The signs of ITV's demise was clear as day I mean the channel stopped providing an EPG and just like Lesotho TV all you got was the channel's name. Prior to that, they were some technical setbacks again the signs were visible.

Now on to the replacement channel, MultiChoice said they'll announce the supposed channel in due course but it wouldn't pose as a shocker if it happened to be Islam Channel.

MultiChoice operated Islam Channel in 2009 before getting snubbed for ITV Networks. The channel offered news and current affairs programmes, children and women"s programmes, as well as Quaran recitals in Arabic with English subtitles, Islamic values and doctrine.

 

 

MultiChoice’s General Manager Content Aletta Alberts said: The channel is another example of MultiChoice’s commitment to meet the diverse viewing and cultural requirements of our customers.

Then again why add ITV Networks to replace I mean there's a lot of gaps in that area that MultiChoice could have made it a complimentary to Islam Channel as the Christian market seems a bit overcrowded.

 

As mentioned, the channel is currently occupying the space of ITV Networks. Would it be a shocker if MultiChoice were to just relaunch the channel or perhaps just cancel it for everyone else in the rest of Africa for another Islamic channel like Sunnah TV.

As of this moment, although MultiChoice says although it's taking iTV away that DStv subscribers will still have access to Radio Islam (DStv 826) and Channel Islam Internationale (DStv 865).

Here Are The 3 Shows Returning To Universal Africa For A Fourth Season - June 2022 Highlights

HUDSON & REX
Season 4 - Territory Premiere Tuesdays at 8pm from June 14th
Everyone’s favourite detective duo return in June, as season four of Hudson & Rex arrives on Universal TV. John Reardon stars as Detective Charlie Hudson, who’s partnered with Rex, a German Shepherd whose keen nose and ears are invaluable when it comes to cracking cases for the St John’s Police Department. In the season premiere, two hikers are found dead near a remote trail, leading to a hunt for a fugitive duo wanted for a series of campsite murders.

PRIVATE EYES
Season 4 - Territory Premiere Fridays at 8pm from June 17th
Season three of Private Eyes concludes on June 10th, but don’t be alarmed, season four follows hot on its heels! Jason Priestley returns as ex-hockey star Matt Shade, with Cindy Sampson as his PI partner Angie Everett. In the season opener, Shade and Angie investigate the seemingly paranoid claims of a wealthy patriarch who is convinced that a series of accidents are attempts on his life. Plus, Don becomes the new owner of a food truck, but soon finds himself the prime suspect in a robbery at a grocery store.

 

 

THE OUTPOST
Season 4 - Territory Premiere Saturdays at 11am from June 18th
Talon (Jessica Green) is back, and Garret (Jake Stormoen) hopes to see her take the throne. Meanwhile, a mysterious assassin seeks revenge, before making a startling discovery, and Falista (Georgia May Foote) is mourning the loss of Tobin, but she soon goes on to hatch a new plot. All of which means that the fourth season of the sword and sorcery saga gets off to an intrigue-packed start. Future episodes promise an unprecedented threat to the Realm, in addition to further revelations about Talon’s own origins.

TRANSPLANT
Season 2 - Territory Premiere Mondays at 8pm
Hamza Haq is back as Dr ‘Bash’ Hamed as season two of the Canadian medical drama continues. This month, Bash must draw on all his war zone experience to help both staff and patients when extreme weather causes power at the hospital to go out. With shake-ups causing turmoil at the hospital, Bash and Amira venture out of town to get away from it all. On his return, Bash manages to save a man's life during his commute to work, before receiving some shock news about his future.

LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION
Season 1 - Territory Premiere Tuesdays at 8pm
Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Noah Wyle star as Leverage: Redemption comes to an electrifying conclusion on Universal TV this month. After a thrilling season of helping ordinary people fight back against corporate injustice, the season finale sees Alex Hardison (guest star Aldis Hodge) return as the Leverage squad face their biggest test yet as they aim to use Harry to infiltrate the shadowy R.I.Z. in order to thwart an attack that could bring down the entire electricity grid.

 

 

LAW & ORDER: SVU
Season 23 - Territory Premiere Wednesdays at 8pm
Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish and the SVU team are back to crack more cases as the award-winning crime drama continues in June. The first case this month sees a popular radio host accused of rape and murder. Carisi's niece helps a friend to report a sexual assault, while Benson looks into a college's sinister secret society. Plus, the creator of a dating app is accused of using it to assault women, and Velasco asks for help tracking down three girls trafficked from his hometown to New York.

Superhero Sprinter Galore Is Back For More Adventures Alongside Some New Animal Buddies On Da Vinci Kids Africa - June 2022 Highlights

Kids Programmes
Baby Animals — PREMIERE 
7 x 30 mins
From June 18th – Saturdays & Sundays 16:40
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.

Superhero Sprinter Galore — NEW SEASON
26 x 5 mins
From June 23rd – Every day 08:05
Welcome to the planet of Bhilka, where Superhero Sprinter Galore uses the newfound knowledge from his life on Earth to solve daily problems and help his fellow citizens. And just like all superheroes, Sprinter also has a rival who hates all his innovations.

Continuing kids programmes include Briko — Fridays 15:45, Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) — Wednesdays & Thursdays 16:05 and The Deep — Saturdays & Sundays 10:30.

 

 

Monthly Special
Level Up Your Learning
Sunday, June 12th from 13:00 to 15:45
13:00When I Grow Up — Robotics Engineer
Mikaela meets Allison, a robotics engineer who shows her the future of robots. In the engineering shop she discovers all the things you need to design a robot. Together they create a robot to help Mikaela with her filming.

13:10When I Grow Up — Motion Capture Manager
Mikaela visits a video game company to meet Michelle and learn about motion capture. She creates a storyboard about a dancing robot named Judge. Then they use motion capture to turn Mikaela's movements into dance moves for Judge.

13:20When I Grow Up — Ice Cream Maker
Mikaela visits a giant ice-cream factory and meets Keith, a food technician. He shows her how ice cream is made and helps her create her very own Ooey Gooey Marshmallow flavour.

13:35Search it Up! — Help! I’m Lost Online!
A lot like the world outside, not everywhere on the Internet is “nice and just right for you.” If you find yourself in an upsetting situation, it’s important to stop and ask a trusted adult for help.

13:40Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Mexican Party
Matilda and her family plan a Mexican party. They build a piñata with a difference to surprise their father. Matilda prepares tacos, spiked corn with cheese coriander and lime, and chocolatey churros.

13:55Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Sea Lion Rescue
Matilda and her family go to the Californian Wildlife Centre to learn about rescuing sick sea lions and how to make them better. Matilda bakes and sells delicious cakes and biscuits to raise money for the centre.

 

 

14:15Animal Embassy — Limp Penguin
Annabelle, the king penguin, is displaying some worrying symptoms. She’s waving her head about skywards and Jorge is concerned she may have some neurological problems. Will Annabelle rejoin her friends on the great, icy mound at Loro Parque ever again?

14:35Animal Embassy — Frederica the Turtle
Federica, the turtle, has arrived from Italy after a run-in with a container ship. Loro Parque has offered to be her ‘forever home’, but how will she go sharing her new digs with others? Esmeralda, the iguana, has a lumpy belly and Jorge, the vet, is worried.

15:00The Dream Job — Hello
Six children from a broad range of backgrounds work at ‘Hello!’, one of Britain’s most popular celebrity magazines. They’ll run a VIP event, stage a photoshoot and cover a royal engagement. They must turn these assignments into feature articles ready for publication.

Sunday, June 19th from 13:00 to 15:45
13:00When I Grow Up — Google Software Engineer
Mikaela goes to the Google headquarters and meets Melissa, a computer scientist. She discovers what software engineers do and finds out that at Google they work in teams. She learns how to write her first piece of code and creates an app to help clean her room.

13:10When I Grow Up — Forensics Investigator
Mikaela goes to the police forensics unit on her search for a sandwich thief and gets tips from investigators Rhonda and Lawrence. She discovers that fingerprints can be analysed using magnetic powder, chemicals and laser.

13:20When I Grow Up — Meteorologist
Mikaela meets meteorologist Ross to discover the science behind weather predictions and how to deliver the forecast on TV. She learns that meteorologists use lots of different equipment, including satellites, thermometers and anemometers.

13:35Search it Up! — Hey! Time’s Up Gran!
Respect and kindness are a big part of screentime and finding the right balance with technology is something adults need to be aware of just as much as kids.

13:40Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Birthday
Matilda and her siblings prepare a surprise birthday breakfast for their mother – smiley faced pancakes with blueberries, bacon and maple syrup. Later, Matilda cooks a noodle dish and a very special birthday cake. 

 

13:55Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Last Days of Summer
Matilda and her family throw a party at their home in London. Matilda is in charge of the party food – sausage sandwiches and popcorn cakes. When their friends arrive, they play a game with a watermelon.

14:15Animal Embassy — A Day in the Life of Rafa
Meet the Loro Parque Foundation Scientific Director - Rafa, also known as the ‘Birdman of Loro Parque’. He wears the badge with pride and every day he surrounds himself with all things ornithological - from parrots and puffins to penguins.

14:35Animal Embassy — Gorilla Foot
Ubongo, the gorilla, has a massive cut on his foot. But how do you treat a 400-pound gorilla with a sore foot? And have you ever seen a sloth take a shower? Hugo, the sloth, will draw back the shower curtain and reveal all.

15:00The Dream Job — Montezuma
Six children work for a week at Montezuma’s - an artisan chocolate business. The kids must design a brand-new box of truffles for Father’s Day and try to sell them to a major retailer.  It’s a challenge they can only accomplish by working as a team.

Sunday, June 26th from 13:00 to 15:45
13:00When I Grow Up — Chocolate Maker
Mikaela meets chocolate-maker Samantha. She discovers that delicious chocolate starts with great cocoa beans. She learns about how the bean grows, how you can tell it’s a good bean, and why it is roasted before being turned into a chocolate bar.

13:10When I Grow Up — Veterinarian
Mikaela finds out what it's like to be a vet when she brings her dog Patty to an animal hospital and meets Dr Andrea. She learns that cats and dogs have different health problems, and she practises suturing on a banana.

13:20When I Grow Up — YouTube Studio
Mikaela travels to the YouTube headquarters to meet studio manager Mark. He shows her how to help YouTubers make better videos. He gives tips on lighting, writing, performing and editing, and his top tip is to be yourself when making videos.

13:30Search it Up! — My Pop Star Disaster
What you think is shared privately may not always be under your control - information can spread extremely quickly online, so take care if you share.

 

13:40Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Sunday Lunch
Matilda cooks Britain’s favourite Sunday meal for her family – a classic Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and gravy. But not everyone is in agreement about the best vegetables to serve.

13:55Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Hospital Challenge
Matilda and her family visit a hospital and help the patients find ways to beat boredom. She makes popcorn and an edible message board. They all play a silly cheesy puff challenge, and she plays a trick on the nurses with ice cream.

14:15Animal Embassy — Panda and Macaw
Posse, the red panda, and Santiago, the saki, have been having issues with their teeth and the dentist brought his big pliers! Ever heard the tale of how the blue-throated macaw parrot was saved from extinction and started a new fashion trend in the process?

 

14:35Animal Embassy — Orca Baby
Morgan, the deaf orca, is about to give birth to her very first calf. The stakes are high, and the staff at Loro Parque are holding their collective breath as the scene is set for the greatest natural phenomenon in the zoo’s history.

15:00The Dream Job — Hunters
Six kids work for a week at the head office of Hunters Estate agents in York.  The kids’ responsibilities include running the Harrogate branch for an afternoon, marketing two new properties, running an open house and negotiating a six-figure property deal.

Early Morning with Da Vinci
Every day from 06:00
06:00The Treehouse Stories
06:10Do You Know?
06:30Siesta Z
06:45 Mily Miss Questions
06:55Marvellous Makes
07:00PinCode
07:20Darwin & Newts
07:35Addison
07:50 Doki
08:05Wild Kratts
08:30Kosmix
08:40The Fixies
08:50Superhero Sprinter Galore