Prediction: Bollywood Continues On eExtra As A Catch-Up With Istanbul Getting An Additional Timeslot

Prediction: A statement of what you think will happen in future

Bollywood programming has been dominating the African circuit for several decades and well eMedia's journey began in 2018 and just like Kuiertyd it feels like an eternity I mean with the stack of content lined up it would be hard to keep tabs on every show that comes on.

In this case, eMedia Investments is taking on Disney Star's Star Life and in some way not sure if it's even an option Zee Entertainment Enterprises' Zee One with shows like Qubool Hai, Twist Of Fate and Kindred Hearts all of which will resurface on Zee One so again is it an option.

What started out as 2 hour slot now operates for at least 4 hours a day but as seen during the years Kuiertyd has been getting a lot of buzz lately. So much buzz that it got a Sunday Night Block so much buzz it's got a rewind channel.

Taking various timeslots to account, eMedia has shown several sides to Kuiertyd I mean the English feed is sort of dead I mean Fatmagul is still on every now and then but that's a repeat so my point still stands and the other is more aligned to Istanbul I mean the folks there don't use language known to Africa.

It kind of leads you to wonder how eMedia views eExtra. Is it a brand that does whatever possible to save SABC 2's dismal Afrikaans offering or is it more like e.tv and Mzansi Magic which is all about stories of characters who live life like everyone else.

Honestly, there's more Turkey than anything else on the channel so much so that I wouldn't be surprised if the Bollywood stuff got a channel with a part of eExtra serving as a catch-up.

eVOD has plenty of Turkish shows primarily 3 outside of Kuiertyd for which one weekly slot is meant to renovate the 3 on eExtra imagine how many years it would take to just catch-up so it would make all the more sense to open up another slot.

In theory, the one currently occupied by Orphan Of A Nation it's basically a timeslot for English dubbed soaps and such outside India has been going through a dry spell on eMedia so what better way to make it stable then to give Saturday Nights at 8pm a companion.

SABC 1-3, e.tv And DStv Ratings For October 2022

SABC 1:

Uzalo - 5 885 560
Generations the Legacy Soap - 4 643 191
Skeem Saam - 3 947 527
Skeem Saam Repeat - 2 450 962
Dstv Premiership Orlando Pirates vs Kaiz - 2 423 495
Uzalo Repeat - 2 414 381
Zulu News - 2 304 660
Xhosa News - 2 190 530
Muvhango Repeat - 1 990 752
Uzalo Omnibus - 1 906 091
Ingono Yomsamo - 1 874 283
Mtn 8 Amazulu vs Kaizer Chief - 1 755 035
Roxic - 1 715 652
Mtn 8: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Orlando Pirate - 1 678 476
Fooled by Love - 1 621 164
The Executives - 1 588 745
Stokvel - 1 558 673
Come Again - 1 535 831
Emasisweni - 1 518 662
Skeem Saam -O Dram 3.64 1 407 682

SABC 2:

Muvhango - 1 579 884
7De Laan - 908 895
Muvhango Omnibus - 869 911
Kgatelopele - 771 078
Phamokate - 670 229
Nuus - 611 606
Father's Matter - 583 652
Morning Live - 570 202
Live Lotto Draw Quiz - 567 248
Ses/Tsw/Sep News - 532 032 5.8
Noot Vir Noot - 492 398
The Estate Repeat - 490 481
Majakathata Repeat - 465 410
7De Laan Repeat - 465 624
Presidential Address News - 449 769
Black Tax Repeat - 444 711
Murder She Wrote - 443 929
7De Laan Omnibus - 439 429
Generations Repeat - 429 079
Venda/Tsonga News - 428 747

SABC 3:

Premier League Manchester City vs Southa - 608 491
Tropika Island of Treasure - 547 990
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Movie - 546 037
News - 509 394
Soccer Wrap - 507 618
Twilight Movie - 485 575
Die Hard with the Vengeance - 467 469
Animal Einsteins Documentary - 464 721
The Estate Repeat - 457 703
The Estate Omnibus - 445 046
Die Hard 4 Movie - 386 168
Burnt Movie - 356 986
7De Laan Repeat - 355 067
Top Docs Repeats - 350 636
Generations the Legacy Repeats - 334 666
The View - 296 121
Tropical Heat - 288 162
On Point - 286 416
Sport Arena - 285 035
Mapungubwe Echos in the Valley - 280 964

e.tv:

Scandal - 5 114 755
House of Zwide - 4 312 744
Durban Gen - 2 594 173
Imbewu - 2 257 070
The Black Door - 1 994 484
The Tuxedo Movie - 1 795 383
The Powerball Draw Quiz - 1 770 787
Xxx:State of the Union Movie - 1 743 742
Ride Along Movie - 1 704 180
Xxx: Return of Xander Cage Movie - 1 646 873
E.TV News - 1 602 816
Xxx Movie - 1 555 916
Imbewu Repeat - 1 531 748
Durban Gen Repeat - 1 458 695
Scandal Repeat - 1 432 933
John Wick Movie - 1 407 942
Ride Along 2 Movie - 1 383 217
Blood Father - 1 354 396
Durban Gen Omnibus - 1 314 768
Xxx Return of Xander Cage Movie - 1 300 856

DStv:

MZAN Gomora - 997 735 & 1 213 829
MOJA Uyajola 9/9 - 924 859 & 1 084 848
MZAN Uthando - 741 043 & 978 775
MZAN Idols SA - 686 199 & 840 965
MZAN The Queen Movie - 659 211 & 839 214
MOJA X-Repo - 647 213 & 757 135
MZAN Diep City Repeat - 625 098 & 785 910
MZAN Uthando Nesthembu - 585 731 & 713 062
MZAN The River Movie - 564 451 & 748 562
MZAN Diep City - 534 130 & 657 634
MZAN The Real Housewives of Cape Town - 531 981 & 653 260
MZAN Mnakwethu - 531 409 & 676 496
MZAN Our Perfect Wedding (Mag) - 495 598 & 601 290
MOJA Umakhelwane - 491 618 & 569 420
MWET The River (Drama) - 481 247 & 635 468
MOJA Mamazala - 476 919 & 565 774
MWET Ngi Shade Wrong - 456 047 & 552 361
MZAN Mngani Wam - 433 612 & 527 440
MWET The River (Drama) Repeat - 429 624 & 481 593
MWET The Queen Omnibus - 428 289 & 557 133
MWET Suxoka - 413 120 & 570 001
MZAN The Wife Movie - 407 994 & 520 578
MWET The Queen Repeat - 395 759 & 473 824
MWET Our Perfect Wedding - 392 210 & 508 408
MBIO Losing Lerato - 385 858 & 527 300
MOJA Khuzeka - 385 063 & 435 780
MWET Ebukhosini - 380 268 & 488 173
MOJA Zodwa Wabantu Uncensored - 379 640 & 474 622
MOJA Giants of the City - 377 237 & 474 618
MWET The Queen Repeat - 373 735 & 408 930

What To Expect On DStv And Openview's Newest Addition To The Platform, BBC UKTV?

Last month, eMedia Investments and BBC Studios were expected to launch BBC UKTV to the Openview platform none of which came to pass as they were finalising some details with the channel's launch date in very much of a limbo.

Thanks to our sources, we got confirmation that MultiChoice will also be adding BBC UKTV to the DStv platform but don't reveal at what capacity. As it is they've been shying away repeats from certain packages with the channel holding more value for those between the Family to Easyview bouquet.

Although we do have channels like Real Time and Me available on the Premium bouquet so I can see it go either way at this point. The only thing I'm more curious about is which channel is being discontinued as most new channels usually come when one door closes or is on the stage of closure.

My guess the WWE Channel as SuperSport doesn't give credit were due, Spice TV as that channel is hanging on eggshells or Travel Channel as it remains the last talked about channel on the planet.

As for the shows, BBC UKTV is said to air the following:

• Yakka Dee
• Africa With Adepitan
• Amazing Hotels
• Andy's Aquatic Adventures
• Andy's Safari Adventures
• Casualty
• Chronicles Of Nadiya
• Deadly 60
• Doctors
• Dog Loves Books
• Father Brown
• George Clarke's Old House
• Live At The Apollo
• Million Dollar Car Hunters

Mentioned in previous press release

• The Great British Bake Off
• Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook
• Mary Berry Cooks
• Top Gear
• Wild Africa
• Go Getters
• My World Kitchen
• My Pet & Me

Moonbug Expands Into New Demos And Content

Since being bought by Candle Media last year and igniting its own M&A strategy, the company is moving forward by focusing on digital-first IPs, acquiring the companies that own them, and investing in an original content pipeline, says managing director Andy Yeatman.

The goal is to turn popular YouTube brands into 365-degree franchises. Moonbug successfully tested and fine-tuned this strategy with preschool brands like CoComelon and Blippi. And now, armed with investment and direction from Candle—which is owned by former Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs—it has marching orders to “think bigger.”

In this new phase of growth, Yeatman says the company will focus on three pillars: geography, new demos and gaming. It will also expand its international focus to include Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Moonbug has done very well dubbing its English-language nursery rhymes into other dialects. But it’s now moving towards creating original content featuring songs and rhymes from cultures around the world in order to increase its relevance with international audiences. To that end, Spanish- and English-language video Los Pollitos Dicen Dance launched in August on YouTube, and the company’s first international series is currently in production in Brazil using local talent. Moonbug also hired former Disney VP Francesca Romana Gianesin in May to lead licensing in EMEA, Australia and New Zealand.

On the content side of its business, Moonbug’s recent acquisition of Singapore-based studio One Animation gives it a greater foothold in Asia, Yeatman says. And that ties into another of the company’s goals—to expand its core target demo. Moonbug has had category-defining success in preschool, but now it’s on a mission to reach kids in the bridge demo of five to eight. And that’s where One Animation comes in.

The studio’s flagship series, OddBods (pictured), is a non-dialogue comedy for five to eights that has aired in more than 180 countries and has 32 million YouTube subscribers. The format travels easily across borders, languages and cultures—a good example of the type of content Moonbug will be focusing on moving forward.

The company also has its eye on gaming. While its previous focus on younger children had historically made it cautious of video games, Yeatman sees the rising popularity of Roblox as having high potential for Moonbug to discover new IPs and expand its own properties.

“The next frontier for us is seeing families interact with our shows as they come off the screen.”

The Search Is On For Africa's Next WWE Superstar, Entries Close By Mid December

WWE in conjunction with its Sub-Saharan Africa broadcast partner SuperSport, has announced a continent-wide talent search to find Africa’s next WWE Superstar. The campaign was announced today in Lagos, Nigeria, the host city for a multi-day tryout in February 2023.

“The Search for Africa’s Next WWE Superstar” will begin today and is open to citizens of any African country. Submissions will be accepted until December 18. Learn more about the application process at www.supersport.com/WWEAfricaSuperstar.

Interested candidates will be asked to submit a video highlighting their potential to become a WWE Superstar. Successful applicants will be invited to participate in the Lagos tryout in February 2023. A select number of tryout participants will then be awarded an all-expenses-paid experience to continue their tryout journey alongside current and prospective WWE Superstars ahead of WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles in April 2023. A fulltime WWE developmental contract may be offered to the top-performing participants who will then begin their new career at the world-class WWE Performance Centre in Orlando, Florida.

“Africa is a focal point of our renewed global talent recruitment strategy and this initiative in Lagos will launch what we envision becoming a year-round, multi-country effort to cultivate relationships and identify talent that will resonate with our passionate and loyal African fanbase,” said James Kimball, WWE Head of Talent Operations and Strategy. “The region has incredible potential to serve as a meaningful talent development hub for WWE and we look forward to working with our tremendous partners at SuperSport to uncover the next generation of Superstars through this program.”

“The continent abounds with athletes and Africa has had several WWE Superstars, so this is the perfect opportunity to showcase fresh new talent,” said Marc Jury, Chief Executive of SuperSport. “As there is a massive appetite among African audiences for WWE action and entertainment, we expect this initiative to be very popular with aspirants. SuperSport looks forward to telling this exciting story in the weeks and months to come.”

Last week, WWE and MultiChoice announced a major broadcast partnership that will see Showmax – the leading streaming service available in the region – become the new home of WWE Network in Africa. The partnership incorporates all WWE Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, as well as WWE Network’s vast library of original and archived programming available to stream on-demand by more people in Africa from early 2023 on Showmax, Africa’s most loved streaming service.

SuperSport, the sport broadcasting subsidiary of video entertainment platform MultiChoice, will continue to broadcast live weekly episodes of Raw®, SmackDown® and NXT® as well as all of WWE’s Premium Live Events in a multi-year extension.