From Lifetime To fliekNET: A Look At Various Channel Changes On MultiChoice's DStv + Possible Future Channel Closures

2022 has proven to be a dramatic year on cable as MultiChoice has seen a shed of various channels from Russia Today's blackout to the carriage feud with eMedia Investments over their 4 TV channels we look at the list of channels that went off air during the year.

Terminations

Tellytrack - February 2022

Supplemented with Racing240

Russia Today - March 2022

eAfrica - March 2022

Lifetime - May 2022

ITV Networks - June 2022

Supplemented with Hilaal TV

fliekNET - July 2022

Supplemented with kykNET

Zhejiang TV - July 2022

Supplemented with CCTV-4 and KIX

CMC TV - July 2022

Supplemented with CCTV-4 and KIX

New channels

Racing240 - January 2022

Replacement for Tellytrack

DreamWorks - March 2022

Replacement for eToonz supposedly

Hilaal TV - June 2022

Replacement for ITV Networks

NHK World-Japan - July 2022

INX Prime - August 2022

Movie Room - August 2022

Replacement for eMovies and eMovies Extra supposedly

Possible/rumoured terminations with estimations

CBS Reality - Fall 2022

CBS Justice - Fall 2022

JimJam - Fall 2022

Nicktoons - Fall 2022

eMovies - Early 2023

eMovies Extra - Early 2023

eExtra - Early 2023

eToonz - Early 2023

Discovery Family - TBC

Travel Channel - TBC

Possible new channels including scrapped batches

SABC Education

Two SABC channels

Untitled Via duplicate channel

The Racing Partnership (TRP)

CBS Justice May Not Be The Only Channel Out For The Count On DStv Even These Two Channels Are Likely To Get Chopped Across Africa

During the past week, I shared my suggestions on CBS Justice as AMC International review their offering across various regions which has led to the reduction or discontinuation of several channels. As seen in these regions, these changes include several other brands namely CBS Reality and JimJam.

CBS Reality is a factual entertainment channel home to various unscripted content like Judge Judy, Cheaters, Animal Hoarding, Hardcore Pawn and Women On The Force and as seen in other regions crime shows like Forensic Files, Killer Siblings and The Real Prime Suspect.

The longest I've watched this channel practically anything with the CBS brand you notice the repetitive nature and I know this is common in most markets but the channel is funneled with too much old programming which is often the reason a channel's lifespan is cut short.

JimJam seems to be lurking in the shadows of these two as the preschool brand has seen themselves get a variety of content which date back to 4-8 years. Some notable series include Thomas And Friends, Guess With Jess, Olivia and Noddy In Toyland.

All of which can be viewed on DreamWorks Channel and CBeebies.

Although there hasn't been much confirmation about CBS Reality's future. There is a lot of signs pointing toward the phasing out of the brand as seen in Poland and the UK in which the current offering tries to limit any mention of CBS.

JimJam's availability has seen declines on various cable providers across the world not that it isn't available in many homes but when various platforms similar to DStv internationally pull the rug from down under then you know something is up.

What To Expect On Da Vinci Kids Africa In October 2022?

Kids Programmes
Yoko — PREMIERE
52 x 11 mins
From October 8th – Saturdays & Sundays 09:00
Oto, Mai and Vik meet in the Park to play games with the magical Yoko.

Hogie the Globehopper — PREMIERE 
52 x 11 mins
From October 15th – Saturdays & Sundays 10:00
A curious tree frog named Hogie and his friends travel the world, meeting children of different cultures and exploring the lifestyle and the traditions of the countries they are visiting.

Continuing Kids Programmes
Detention Adventure — NEW EPISODES
Mondays & Tuesdays 16:35
Three brainy friends and the school bully set out to uncover the hidden lab of Alexander Graham Bell. To do so, they must get themselves thrown into detention and find the entrance to a labyrinth of trap-laden tunnels protecting the fabled hidden room.

Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) — NEW EPISODES
Wednesdays & Thursdays 16:05
Jesse, Julia and Ian have turned their love of video games into a popular web series. From Jesse's tricked-out gaming garage, the team creates hilarious and informative videos that will take you on an exciting journey inside the world of gaming!

The Deep — NEW EPISODES
Saturdays & Sundays 10:30 
The Deep follows the aquatic adventures of the Nekton family, a team of underwater explorers with state-of-the-art technology and an unquenchable thirst for discovery! Dive in as they explore unknown areas of the Earth's oceans to unravel the mysteries of its depths.

Bitz & Bob — NEW EPISODES
Saturdays & Sundays 09:15 
Eight-year-old Bitz and her younger brother Bob are budding young inventors who are bursting with ideas! With the help of their friends Purl, Bevel, Zip, and Pop, these siblings use their problem-solving skills and love of engineering to save the day in Craft City.

Monthly & Weekly Specials
Halloween Special
Monday, October 31st from 15:30 to 20:00
EWWWWW, GROSS ALERT!!! Things are about to get spooky at Da Vinci! Celebrate Halloween with some of your favorite shows, full of scary adventures, gross experiments, monster crafts and haunting mysteries!

15:30 Doki — Ghost Hunting
When Mundi is startled by Fico's prank, she insists she isn’t afraid of ghosts. They don’t even exist! Oto and Anabella definitely believe in ghosts. Mundi vows to prove they don’t, with a trip to a so-called ‘ghost town’ in Tombstone, Arizona, USA.

15:40 Darwin & Newts — Pumpkin Pulley - How a Pulley Works
The team experiment with ways to lift a giant Halloween pumpkin up to the treehouse, and they eventually succeed with a rope and pulley.

15:50 Yoko — The Monster of Lake Wawa
When Mai loses her racquet in the Lake, Ranger Loops tells the legend of the Monster of Lake Wawa, which has a surprising ending!

16:05 Addison — The Mystery of the Haunted Beauty Salon
Ms. Bell’s wedding is in peril when a ghost scares away the customers from the beauty salon where everyone is getting ready for the ceremony. But Addison thinks the rumbling and drafts might have natural causes.

16:15 Addison — The Mystery of the Blob Monster
When the drains at Pizzamat and Hang 20 start backing up, Alex knows exactly what’s caused it – a sewer-gator or maybe a blob monster from outer space. Addison has other ideas however, and is determined to solve the mystery.

16:30 Addison — The Mystery of the Ghostly Go Kart
When Kevin’s new radio-controlled model car starts acting like it has a bad-tempered mind of its own, he becomes convinced that it is haunted and asks Addison to help.

16:40 Addison — Mystery of the Halloween Haunting
Addison and Tess make a haunted maze for Halloween, but things take a perplexing turn when it seems that there really is a spooky presence on the loose within it – scaring away all their customers!

16:50 Marvellous Makes — Chunky Bat
Don’t hang about. Grab some modelling clay and we’ll show you how to make a batty buddy.

17:00 Siesta Z — The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
Siesta dreams of the ghost Sir Simon Canterville, who lives quietly in his castle. Everything changes when the Otis family buys the property and moves in. The Canterville Ghost and Siesta try everything to get rid of the new owners, but they're not afraid of ghosts!

17:10 Siesta Z — Dracula by Bram Stoker
Siesta dreams of Dracula, a vampire who lives in his castle and drinks blood. Dracula falls in love with Jonathan Harper's girlfriend Mina. Siesta helps Dracula to conquer her heart and get rid of Harper. But Dr. van Helsing, a vampire specialist, disrupts their plans.

17:30 Odd Squad — Invasion of the Body Switchers
When Ms. O and Oscar accidentally switch bodies, Olive and Otto must set things right before the Odd Squad team finds out what happened.

17:40 Odd Squad — Dawn of the Read
Odd Squad takes on a page-turner of a case at the local library, where books are mysteriously coming to life.

17:55 Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch — The Monster Party
Matilda and her family visit a special effects studio for some ghoulish makeup. Then Matilda prepares a monster menu with super scarey food – goblin heads and bloody cakes – and dad Gordon does some monster tricks.

18:10 Animal Anarchists — Bat Caves
Bat colonies in caves bring a whole world of creatures with them. Cockroaches and centipedes love their guano. Snakes and frogs are happy to have bats for dinner.

18:20 Xploration DIY SCI — Spooky Science
Steve Spangler shows how every day can be a spooky day, with scarey tricks and magic effects all based on science. He shows how to prepare a zombie party; with spine-chilling smoking beverages, supernatural bubbles and fake blood.

18:45 Science Max — Pumpkin Drop
Phil demonstrates material science by smashing some eggs. Then he maxes out the experiment and tries to drop a pumpkin without breaking it by using polymers, foam and armour as protection.

19:10 Operation Ouch! — Making Blood and a Mind-Bending Trick
The doctors show where your blood comes from and Dr. Chris meets a patient going for brain surgery. They try out a mind-bending trick to test the powers of concentration. In the emergency room, someone has fallen off their horse.

19:40 Operation Ouch! — The Wrinkly Skin Bath
Dr. Chris and Dr. Xand try to find out why skin goes wrinkly in the bath. Dr. Chris meets a patient taking part in amazing heart research. The doctors do a mind-bending trick, and at the hospital, one patient has a sore head and another has dislocated her jaw.

Wild Nature Weekend! 
Saturdays & Sundays from 16:15
Escape into the wild with our brand-new block of animal and nature-themed programming that is fun for the whole family! Every weekend, we’ll explore the natural world with shows that inspire an appreciation for our incredible planet. 

The Deep — The Deep follows the aquatic adventures of the Nekton family, a team of underwater explorers with state-of-the-art technology and an unquenchable thirst for discovery! Dive in as they explore unknown areas of the Earth's oceans to unravel the mysteries of its depths.

Wild Kratts — Join zoologists Chris and Martin Kratt as they travel around the world to meet amazing wild animals! Wearing their Creature Power suits, the Kratt brothers embark on fun adventures, learning about different species and helping in their rescue.

Baby Animals — 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.

Dogs with Extraordinary Jobs — Dogs never cease to amaze us. From Philadelphia, where a blind woman gets a new running mate, to Kenya, where a team of dogs is on daily patrol protecting endangered rhinos from poachers, we travel the world to meet some of these dogs with extraordinary jobs.  

The Pet Rescuers — The Pet Rescuers follows the adventures and challenges of a devoted team on a mission to give abandoned pets another chance at a happy life. This heart-warming series will take you on an extraordinary journey and restore your faith in humanity.

Animal Embassy — Entertaining and informative, this series will take you behind the scenes of Loro Parque - one of the world’s best zoos. Packed with engaging characters - both animal and human, Animal Embassy reveals the unshakeable devotion to conservation and animal welfare. 

Amazing Animal Friends — Discover some of the most incredible and unusual animal friendships. From the duck obsessed with a dog in France to the elephant that thinks she is a buffalo in Zimbabwe, we explore what brings these species together and how they form their extraordinary bonds.

Morning Brainiacs
Every day from 06:00 to 09:00
Early risers unite! Start the day off on the right foot with this collection of fun and educational programmes that will engage your kid’s brain and get them ready to take on the school day. 
06:00 Do You Know?
06:30 Siesta Z
06:45 Darwin & Newts 
07:00 PinCode 
07:20 Mily Miss Questions 
07:30 Marvellous Makes
07:35 Addison
07:50 Doki
08:05 Kosmix 
08:15 The Fixies 
08:25 Superhero Sprinter Galore
08:35 Wild Kratts 

 

What To Expect On Curiosity Channel Africa In October 2022?

SUPER SCIENCE MONDAYS

Asteroid Rush
New 2-Part Special Premieres 03 October 2022
CAT: 21h00 and 22h00
Episodes: 2 x 60 mins
Every day, hundreds of asteroids fall towards Earth. Small asteroids cause no harm, but large asteroids can have major consequences. There is no doubt that a killer asteroid will one day cross paths with the Earth...and that we will need to be ready to act. Knowing this, the world’s space agencies have set up specialist departments for detecting and exploring asteroids. For the first time in history, they are even planning on changing an asteroid’s orbit to protect the planet. Will we be able to avoid global catastrophe? The countdown has begun.

Engineering the Future S2
New Series Premieres 10 October 2022
CAT: 21h00 and 22h00
Episodes: 6 x 60 – ends 07 November 2022
Narrated by David Oyelowo, this ground-breaking engineering series explores the spectacular technologies that could revolutionize life as we know it. From the metaverse to perpetual power, from the hyperloop to the race to space, a global technological revolution is underway. Passionate, dedicated individuals intent on shaping a better, greener world are pushing engineering to its limits to create extraordinary machines that will help the planet and humankind. This series features exclusive access to large-scale, cutting-edge projects around the globe that combine science, technology and engineering to chart a future that’s closer than we think.

*Weekly premieres air during this timeslot

HISTORY LOVER TUESDAYS

Impossible Escapes: Civil War
New Series Premieres 4 October 2022
CAT: 20h00 and 21h00
Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 08 November 2022
The American Civil War provided a setting for some of the most desperate, most daring stories of escape and survival that the country has ever witnessed. Impossible Escapes: The Civil War mixes tension with triumph and action with rare, firsthand accounts to immerse viewers inside the conflict in ways they have never been before.

*Weekly premieres air during this timeslot

Nazi Secret Weapons
New Documentary Special Premieres 25 October 2022
CAT: 22h00
Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
This program travels into the past to discover the fascinating details of Hitler’s wonder weapons –colossal tanks, suicide bombers, and the first guided missiles. Do the original blueprints have clues to revolutionary potential or fatal structural flaws?

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAYS

Evolve
New Series Premieres 5 October 2022
CAT: 20h00 and 21h00
Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 02 November 2022
Exploring nature, science, and tech like never before, biologist Patrick Aryee sets out on a high-octane global adventure to bring humanity’s future into focus. Jam-packed with wildlife, stunning locations, and mind-bending futuristic science, Evolve dives deep into the emerging world of biomimicry, exploring how the genius of evolution could hold the key to some of the world’s biggest problems. From revolutionizing healthcare to transforming transportation, Patrick joins forces with explorers, inventors, and scientists for exclusive access to the groundbreaking, wild-inspired technologies on the cusp of innovation. Follow along to the forefront of human ingenuity as some of the world’s leading innovators harness nature’s hidden genius to revolutionize our future.
*Weekly premieres air during this timeslot

Last Stand of the Javan Rhino
New Documentary Special Premieres 19 October 2022
CAT: 22h00
Episodes: 1 x 60 mins
Deep within the Javan jungle, an expedition has set out in search of the last stand of the world’s rarest rhino. Once prolific across Asia, the Javan Rhino now exists only in Java, where photographer Toby Nowlanis on a mission to photograph the species in hopes of protecting it from extinction.

FORENSICS THURSDAYS

Inside the Mind of a Con Artist
New Episodes Premiere 6 October 2022
CAT: 22h00
Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 20 October 2022
Have you ever been lied to? Been offered something too good to be true? We’ve all been the victim of a con, but how much of the con artist lies within us? Inside the Mind of a Con Artistreveals the human truths behind some of the most extraordinary cons. From financial crimes and identity theft to art forgery and marriage fraud, go behind the scenes as infamous, real-life con artists are confronted with their crimes. With the help of experts in forensic psychology and neuroscience, discover stunning insights into human behavior, what makes a great con, and why we can be so willing to believe. It just might reveal some uncomfortable truths about us all. In the end, who do you trust?

Innocent Behind Bars
New Series Premieres 27 October 2022
CAT: 21h00 and 22h00
Episodes: 8 x 60 mins – ends 08 December 2022
Cases of wrongful conviction plague the justice system, leading to many decades –and even lives –lost behind bars.

*Weekly premieres air during this timeslot

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE FRIDAYS

Extraordinary Humans
New Episodes Premiere 7 October 2022
CAT: 21h00 and 22h00
Episodes: 10 x 60 mins – ends 04 November 2022
Biologist Thom Hunt goes in search of people with genuine, real-life super- powers that push the known limits of the human mind and body.

*Weekly premieres air during this timeslot

TNets Strategy Comes Into Focus With Lower-Cost, Mass-Appeal Shows As New Chief Kathleen Finch Meets With Creative Community

There probably has been no other division of WarnerMedia more impacted by the Discovery merger than the TNets, which consist of TNT, TBS and TruTV. In the span of a couple of months after the transaction was completed, they got new leadership, with Discovery’s Kathleen Finch adding them to her portfolio, while the previous toppers exited: General Manager Brett Weitz, SVP Original Programming Adrienne O’Riain, and unscripted chief Corie Henson.

The new owners quickly scrapped or ended scripted series such as Chad, Snowpiercer and Kill the Orange Bear, cut a number of unscripted series such as the already completed The Big D, and let go a number of big-ticket development.

As the dust has started to settle, Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, recently made an outreach to talent agencies and producers, laying out her plans for what original programming on the TNets will look like going forward.

In response to a request for comment on that outreach and her message to the creative community, Finch issued a statement to Deadline.

“I’ve had some great meetings with agents and production partners to let them know that yes, we’re definitely open for business at TNT, TBS, and at all the brands that make up the WBD US Networks portfolio,” she said. “We’ve spent the past few months evaluating content, our audience make up, which audience groups we want to grow and what kinds of series we need to do that. The content teams are looking at both scripted and unscripted, and have already put some exciting projects into development. Once the deals are signed we’ll be able to share more, but for now the message we want to send to the production community is that we’re bullish on delivering great slates to the fans of these Top 10 networks.”

Finch would not comment further. But according to sources, on the scripted side the focus is on TNT, whose sole current series, Snowpiercer, recently wrapped production on its fourth and final season. On the unscripted side, TBS is believed to be more of the focus, with sibling network truTV leaning in to its Impractical Jokers franchise and spinoffs.***

Scripted Strategy

Snowpiercer, TNT’s post-apocalyptic drama starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs, may be the last of the kind of high-end, prestige dramas with big stars and budgets (in the $7 million-$8 million an episode range) that the network has been doing since The Alienist in 2018. TNT is now looking for more cost-effective series that don’t go after A-list movie talent and would complement the tentpole sports/unscripted programming on TNT — as well as the rest of Warner Bros. Discovery’s suite of linear networks under Finch. That could include wrestling-themed shows, as AEW is a major draw on TNT, and scripted series that have the feel of some of the signature Discovery docu reality series like The Deadliest Catch. IP-based/genre series also are being explored, we hear.

Before taking the turn to big-budget, premium dramas under previous programming chief Kevin Reilly, TNT had success with original crime procedurals that complemented its roster of off-network crime dramas, most notably The Closer and its spinoff Major Crimes.

To keep costs low, we hear producers are being asked to find a studio that would handle international distribution, somewhat emulating the traditional indie financing model where international pre-sales bring in the funding needed to make a movie feasible and lower financial risk for its backers. TNets’ sister studio, Warner Bros. Television, which most recently produced TNT’s recently departed drama Animal Kingdom, is expected to continue to be a supplier with the right projects that fit the new business paradigm. As Finch noted, there are a handful of projects currently under consideration.

We hear that TNT was presented to the creative community as the sole scripted brand among the TNets, though Warner Bros. Discovery sources dispute that. TBS, which relies heavily on off-network sitcoms, mainly The Big Bang Theory, currently has two ongoing scripted series in hits Miracle Workers and the animated American Dad!

Unscripted Strategy

As for the unscripted side, TBS has a history of attracting big talent to unscripted such as John Cena co-hosting its reboot of Wipeout and NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade fronting its adaptation of British format The Cube.

In a stronger way than the scripted side, we hear agents and producers have been encouraged to remember that Warner Bros Discovery owns a movie studio, and to figure out if there can be any crossover, be it on talent or IP. For instance, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses, the Warner Bros-produced, Helen Mirren-fronted competition series, performed well for TBS and Cartoon Network.

It was also pointed out that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson acted as master of ceremonies for this summer’s Shark Week on the Discovery side.

However, one of the challenges remains budgets. The TNets have long had higher budgets for its slate of unscripted shows than the Discovery networks, partly down to bringing in higher carriage fees.

Similar to how the scripted side is looking at deficit financing via international distribution, their reality counterparts are looking for “Discovery-style dealmaking” on the unscripted side. In the past, this has meant selling full global and format rights to projects, with producers essentially operating on a work-for-hire basis.

There remains some confusion among unscripted agents and producers as to TNets’ messaging, with one source saying Finch’s comments have been “inconsistent” with remarks from some of its other network executives.

Industry insiders argue that the TNets will need to keep offering desirable originals rather than a slate of repeats of Discovery shows such as 90 Day Fiancé, for Warner Bros. Discovery to justify the significantly higher affiliate fees cable and satellite operators pay for them compared with the Discovery cable networks.

However, the TNets’ main attraction is sports. TNT and TBS boast NBA and Major League Baseball coverage, wrestling, and last year they closed a big, seven-year NHL deal. Additionally, TNT, TBS and TruTV share NCAA men’s basketball games. In today’s environment and proliferation of streaming, live sports is what drives premiums for linear networks, with entertainment considered an additive.