Could kykNET Ramp Up Its Own ePlesier Channel?

In May, kykNET unveiled a programming block dedicated to Turkish dramas for their sister channel, kykNET & Kie which for over a decade has been the Mzansi Wethu to Mzansi Magic basically repeats with a few exceptions being reality and the kids block or some know it "Kie".

In a press release for the offering it was stated:

World-class TV has been dubbed into Afrikaans for decades. Over the past few years, South Africa's excellent reverberation skills have been used to bring Turkish telenovelas to local screens - in Afrikaans. The plot, action and romance in these telenovelas keep viewers glued.

Now fans of these world-class stories can look forward to two brand new dubbed Turkish telenovelas that will be broadcast on kykNET & kie from July 2022: In Die Ysterhand Se Greep and Kind Van Die Noodlot.

Although they won't give credit where due they're obviously referencing eExtra's Kuiertyd block but seeing as they're competing its justified why they wouldn't add them to the credit and also that plan to remove the channel alongside 3 other channels from eMedia Investments.

As mentioned in that small article, South Africans haven't stopped idolizing these shows. As seen with SABC's viewership for 7de Laan which manages to pull less than a views with e.tv's Droomvelore pull closing to 2 million.

In the success of this offering welcomed ePlesier, although e.tv and eExtra exist they aren't Turkish exclusive but questions amount to whether kykNET would be more than capable of ramping up a channel exclusively to Turkish dramas or remain as a mere block.

MultiChoice once offered a Turkish channel with content dubbed in English. Although, touched the hearts of several audiences didn't have much of an impact as seen with eExtra's Kuiertyd offering.

If I had to guess, the idea of kykNET launching such a brand doesn't seem far fetched. The content would obviously be duplicated on kykNET Lekker and this supposed channel but what if kykNET did better than ePlesier and gave this supposed channel first run series and 24 hour availability.

MultiChoice has lost out on several premium international channels like FOX, Disney XD, ITV Choice and Lifetime with more channels expected to close in the near future. This channel could fill that void and I mean MultiChoice has been duplicating content with the likes of kykNET Lekker and Moja 9.9.

This is only theory but seeing as MultiChoice tried to eliminate the competition. What if they kept i
eExtra onboard for sometime again theory and removed amidst the time this supposed channel came into existence. I mean I'd love to see competition amongst stations as it brings the best of both of them.

Big Nate, The Long-Awaited Animated Series On Nicktoons Africa Likely Scrapped As Paramount Continues Alienating The Channel

Nicktoons is an international kids channel owned by Paramount which is home to various animation from Nickelodeon archives and so far one of the few feeds to supply preschool content as part of nameless block (formerly Nick Jr) to viewers across Africa on the DStv platform.

Since 2022, Paramount has alienated themselves from Nicktoons with the channel providing outdated EPGs, borrowing Nickelodeon's current programming and even advertising shows like Kamp Koral despite not being made accessible to the channel.

Aside from that it seems Paramount puts more effort towards Nickelodeon and Nick Jr as both had a recent site of new content. On top of that, various exclusive Nicktoons series such as ALVINNN!!! And The Chipmunks and Peppa Pig have all been redirected to the two channels.

This year, the only memorable thing was that 30th anniversary for SpongeBob on which he learnt how to speak Zulu. Aside from that, there hasn't been much to boast unless you include MultiChoice's 2021 upfront on which Big Nate was unveiled as an upcoming series.

And also the same upfront which unveiled an upcoming attraction for the now defunct Lifetime channel from A+E Networks.

Based on the comic book strip, Big Nate follows the life of a rebellious sixth grader Nate Wright alongside his friends who get themselves in all kinds of situations one of which includes his arch enemy Mrs. Godfrey who he considers "the School's Godzilla".

The series aired earlier in the year and since then further additional episodes were ordered taking it to season 2 on Paramount+. On which viewers across Africa will be able to access by early 2023 but based on what's seen on Nicktoons is Big Nate still an option for them.

Paramount has been reviewing their entertainment offering across the region which led to further scaling back of channels. In Latin America, Nicktoons was replaced with NickMusic while BET became a digital brand with further content now streaming on Paramount+.

With the streamer scheduled to rollout in Africa by early 2023 questions amount to the fate of their linear offering. I mean no one is expecting for them to pull a House Of House but the recent sightings internationally has lead us to believe the same is awaiting African consumers.

Nicktoons could be a result of those remifications I mean would anyone be that outraged if the channel were to be discontinued and fold under Paramount+. As it is the channel is more of a Nickelodeon Extra than a complimentary brand like preschool oriented Nick Jr.

The channel's lineup features mainly content that recently ended on Nickelodeon such as It's Pony, Lego City Adventures, The Casagrandes with a few exemptions like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House (M.I.A.) and if it's still ongoing Middlemost Post.

 

New Series Alert: The Invasion In Belgium Coming Soon To History Africa - October 2022 Highlights

Brand New and Exclusive
KINGS OF PAIN S2
6 October
Thursdays at 19h25
Kings of Pain returns for a second season with wildlife biologist Adam Thorn and professional animal handler “Caveman” Rob Alleva. The duo contnues their scientfc journey to get biten and stung by some of the most dangerous animals and vicious stnging insects in the world - from an Arizona bark scorpion to a Mexican beaded lizard - to create history’s complete and comprehensive guide to pain that will ultmately help save lives.

Brand New and Exclusive
THE UNXPLAINED WITH WILLIAM SHATNER S3
7 October
Fridays at 19h25
From the producers of Ancient Aliens® and The Curse of Oak Island® comes The UnXplained with William Shatner. Season 3 of the docuseries will again explore the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. From sunken ships flled with priceless cargo, to the ‘Mysteries of Mars’ and predictng a possible apocalypse, viewers will gain a sometmes- shocking look into history’s most unexplained events and mysteries. The world’s top scientsts, frst-hand “experiencer” accounts, and dramatc re- enactments provide the basis for these new insights.

WAR STORY SUNDAYS
Sundays from 20h15
From aircrafs to tanks, some of the world’s biggest batles in history were won by the warcraf used. War Story Sundays tells of History’s Greatest Aircrafs, The History of the Tank and Great Britsh Aircraf. Every Sunday evening from 20h15 the HISTORY Channel Africa will uncover the stories of these powerful war tanks and aircrafs. It will also ofer a glimpse into the lesser-known story of The Invasion of Belgium in WWI.

Brand New
HISTORY’S GREATEST
AIRCRAFTS S1
2 October Sundays at 20h15 We explore the “return to fight” stories of classic military aircraf, iconic racers and quirky pioneers. The team documents the resurrecton and preservaton of the world’s greatest warbirds, with unique co-operaton with the world leading Shutleworth collecton in the UK, the Commemoratve Air Force in the US and the award-winning Cavanaugh Museum in the USA. This series captures and celebrates some of the biggest icons in warcraf history, across up to 21 high- quality, cinematc and ofen dramatc 45-minute episodes.

Brand New
THE HISTORY OF THE TANK
2 October
Sunday at 21h05
The frst tanks were produced from late 1914 by Great Britain and France, to break the deadlock of trench warfare on the western front. Their frst use was during the Batle of the Somme in 1916. Britain and France built thousands of tanks, while Germany only developed and brought into service twenty vehicles of a single design.

Brand New
GREAT BRITISH AIRCRAFT
9 October
Sunday at 21h05
Many consider the prolifc Britsh engineer Sir George Cayley to be one of the most important people in the history of aeronautcs, as he designed the frst actual model of an aeroplane. It was a Britsh man too, Sir Frank Whitle, who is credited with single-handedly inventng the turbo-jet engine.

Brand New
THE INVASION OF BELGIUM
16 October
Sunday at 21h05
On the 2nd of August 1914 Belgium did not expect to be at war, but by the following day, that was exactly its situaton. That this small country could stop a German army ten tmes larger than its own was unthinkable. What followed in the frst few days of the frst world war was remarkable, bringing the frst deaths, the frst air raid, the frst mass gas atack and the frst batles of the frst gallantry awards, all of which has been largely ignored by the enormity of the fve million deaths that followed.

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.