Moja Launches New Digital News Site Zimoja Lezinto

On Thursday 1 September, Moja TV Channels has launched a new digital news website, Zimoja Lezinto Lezinto with Nonzwakazi Cekete as editor.

The digital news site is an extension of the existing Moja Love and the Moja 9.9 TV channels which are provided to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

The purpose of the Zimoja website is to "dig deep and report fairly on what is happening in our communities".

Aubrey Tau, CEO and founder, says "At Zimoja Lezinto we strive for credibility, authenticity and accountability. In a time where fake news continues to destroy the credibility of journalism, we, at Zimoja Lezinto, pride ourselves in delivering news that is balanced and fair and subscribes to the ethical guidelines of journalism and the legal frameworks of this country".

"We are going to mirror what is happening in our communities without fear or favour and at the forefront of what we do is delivering news that is truthful, facts that are verified and stories that are corroborated."

Nonzwakazi Cekete says the digital news site will "prioritise credibility in a time that fake news continues to be pandemic in our society".

"I am truly excited that after the hard work behind the scenes, Zimoja is launching and I am looking forward to experiencing the impact it will have in our society. At the heart of Zimoja is our communities - we are telling true stories that affect our people in the most honest, factual and truthful way, without fear or favour - this is the same spirit that Moja Love and Moja 9.9 carry."

The news site will aim to expose corruption, maladministration, and socio-economic inequalities in South Africa and how that affects South Africans.

BBC Kids To Launch In South Africa

BBC Studios is partnering with content management company Switch Media and telecom network MTN Group to launch the BBC Kids brand in its fourth market, South Africa.

The BBC Kids app will launch in the region at the beginning of September and feature more than 100 hours of content for kids ages 12 and under. The service is launching through MTN’s mobile network and includes daily, weekly and monthly subscription options for users.

Some of the pre-school series featured on BBC Kids’ South Africa include BBC original JoJo & Gran Gran (44 x 11 minutes) and Studio AKA’s Hey Duggee (142 x seven minutes), as well as older skewing shows such as 2D-animated comedy The Bagel and Becky Show and live-action sketch comedy Horrible Histories.

The launch in South Africa comes as the country’s TV industry is on the rise, with revenues expected to climb to US$2.17 billion by 2025, up from just over US$2 billion in 2020, according to industry researcher Research and Markets.

BBC Studios first launched its BBC Kids brand in April last year on the Australian SVOD Fetch TV. Post-launch, the channel branched out to the United States in January on the AVOD Pluto TV and most recently launched on Taiwan’s OTT platform MyVideo in July.

 

New Series Slate: Soete Wraak + The Sisterhood + #DisComplicated + Verdeelde Liefde + International Coming This Month

September is full of premieres for telenovela lovers specifically for those viewing on eExtra as the channel will be rolling out 4 new Turkish series with one likely to not be Afrikaans dubbed with Telemundo and TLNovelas rolling out just 1 series for audiences within the month.

New Series:
- Soete Wraak - Follows the story of two people who were together in college. Sinan has fallen in love with Pelin but he rejected his feelings and insulted her in front of all. They two meet each other again after many years and Pelin asks Sinan for help to change her fate and the situation brings them together. Pelin and Sinan both are in love, but faces many consequences. Currently streaming on eVOD.

- The Sisterhood - three sisters who grew up unaware of each other receive a mysterious letter one day and meet at the wedding of one of them. But on the wedding night they will find themselves in an unexpected situation. After that night, they cannot leave the beautiful town of the Aegean and are forced to live together. This imperative condition gradually leaves its place to the adventure of discovering brotherhood, friendship and solidarity. Premieres 3 September on eExtra.

- #DisComplicated - Follows Eda Yıldız longing to become a landscape architect. After losing her parents when she was young, this brilliant student pursued her studies with scholarships. However, she crosses paths with Serkan Bolat an obsessive workaholic who jeopardizes her plans. Premieres 13 September on eExtra.

- Head Over Heels - Natalia always surrounded by love; and she believed her future would get even better when she meets Diego seeing as love emerged instantly between them the moment they met. However, they never imagined that their lives would dramatically change because Rodrigo, Diego’s twin brother, was ready to do anything to get Natalia. Premieres 19 September on TLNovelas.

- Every Girl's Dream - Krisha a hospitality graduate, trying best to prove herself and help her family financially by working at her father's friends' royal hotel in Udaipur. It was there where she meets her Prince Charming, Devraj. Premieres 21 September on Zee World.

- Verdeelde Liefde - Caught between two families, Zeynep was born in the slums and raised by a rich family. Living in bad conditions, her family give her up for adoption in exchange for money. In the mist of her struggles she meets Mehdi. Premieres 20 September on eExtra.

- Hidden Passion - 20 years after the first instalment, the Reyes and Elizondo family will face new challenges that threaten their family. The death of a teacher shakes the family as evidence points to one of the sons of one of the couples as the possible culprit, triggering a series of heartbreaking events that will, once again, put their love and loyalty to the test. Premieres 26 September on Telemundo.

MultiChoice To Rollout Exclusive New Streaming Service, Universal+

NBCUniversal and DStv today have announced that the Universal+ video streaming service will be available to DStv subscribers in South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa next month.

From 14 October 2022, subscribers will be able to access Universal+ via Catch Up on the DStv app or on the Explora Ultra decoder.

The companies said the service offered a huge selection of full boxsets and new shows and movies from popular linear channels Universal TV, E!, DreamWorks, Studio Universal and Telemundo.

“We’re thrilled to launch Universal+ with our long-standing partners DStv, giving their customers a brand-new way to enjoy a vastly expanded catalogue of our best content,” said Lee Raftery, NBCUniversal International Networks and direct-to-consumer managing director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

“As Africa’s most-loved storyteller, we are always looking to offer top entertainment to our DStv customers, and the addition of Universal+ aims to do just that.”

MultiChoice South Africa chief operating officer Simon Camerer said the broadcaster was excited to bring the “best of international content and the widest possible choice of great shows” to satisfy its viewers.

The companies did not specify on which DStv packages Universal+ would be available.

New Series Alert: Gabby's Dollhouse Coming Soon To e.tv

e.tv, South Africa's free-to-air entertainment channel independently owned by eMedia Investments that is home to locally produced series is set to launch new preschool series from DreamWorks Animation on their kids block Craze titled Gabby's Dollhouse.

Gabby's Dollhouse follows the titular character and her host of feline friends play their way through her spectacular dollhouse, complete with mini worlds and never-ending surprises.

The series was created by Blue's Clues veterans Traci Paige Johnson and Jennifer Twomey. 

It's currently in its fifth season on Netflix with DreamWorks Animation likely to distribute it between 2 seasons as seen with various DreamWorks shows on e.tv such as Dawn Of The Croods, The Adventures Of Puss In Boots and All Hail King Julien.

Gabby's Dollhouse is set to air at every Monday at 14:55 from 12 September making it the second DreamWorks original to roll out this month with Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous rolling out this week on eToonz.