Insidus: Entertainment Inside Us

HBO Max And Discovery+: My Expectations For The Purposed Max Streaming Service

WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. merged to form Warner Bros. Discovery during the year which has been met with a lot of media scrutiny following the cutback on staff and programming and one of the topics already discussed the newly formed company was the merger of their two streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+.

HBO Max was more of a general entertainment type service as it offered drama series and movies from DC Comics, HBO, The CW and several others with animation coming from Cartoon Network and Crunchyroll. Basically, it made the HBO brand name more valuable.

Discovery+ was more factual and reality based supplying and expanding content from various Discovery brands including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, TLC, HGTV, Food Network and an endless list of brands.

YouTube Premium:
- VH1 is making a comeback to international shores through BET
- DStv Streama bundles Disney+
- The Walt Disney Company to expand the reach of Star Channel
- Acorn TV shutting down in South Africa
- TelkomOne rebrands into SABC+
- New Spider-Man series coming to MGM+ and Amazon Prime Video

I don't know why these two streaming services are merging soon but it kind of makes sense from a business perspective. HBO Max is lacking in terms of variety it's definitely something I'd recommend to anyone but let's be honest here compared to Discovery+ they have more of the same thing with alternatives.

That's probably why they were even relevant to consumers like me in the first place. The part that mostly turned me on was the anime, DC and Cartoon Network everything else was okay I got to watch certain shows like Euphoria and Flight Attendant.

Discovery+ isn't what I'd call a strong competitor in the market but Discovery Inc. before the merger wasn't putting all their hopes in killing off Netflix but keeping it sustainable in the near future. What can I say there's a lot to explore on the app but it depends on the consumer.

The thing about Discovery is that some of the content can come in the alley of HBO Max which is general entertainment particularly that of TLC and Discovery Channel. You could say Discovery+ offered more than HBO Max in terms of variety so the merger makes all the more sense.

Warner Bros Discovery:
- Boomerang might be rebranding in more parts of Europe to Cartoonito
- Inside Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA kids content strategy
- Warner Bros. Discovery to launch new free-to-air channel in some parts of Europe by 2023
- The history of Fine Living
- Warner Bros. Discovery cancels several animated shows
- Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education launch new channel

Warner part of the service has the audience while the Discovery part has the content all of which will soon be available under one streaming service with the working title, Max.

Max from what other outlets not gonna mention names speculated family and kids wouldn't be part of this new streamer which made absolutely no sense as those are one of the biggest consumers around particularly on Disney+ and the other having to do with the content as brands like Animal Planet are regarded as such.

Taking to all the cutbacks into account, I'm guessing that the proposed Max streaming service will HBO Max come out simply as HBO in one tile with another tile for movies infused with doccies from Discovery+ then you have Cartoon Network also coming as tile under it is content for Cartoonito and Adult Swim with Crunchyroll serving as a seperate tile.

In short, I'm expecting more Discovery to come out of this streaming service not that there won't be any Warner in it but Discovery produced a lot of original content (partially duplicated) while the other had a few brands picking up all the slack with the others getting scraps.

Review On The Potential Name To The Merged HBO Max And Discovery+ Streamer, Max And Also Some Weird Names You See Online

I don't know why these two streaming services are merging but it kind of makes sense from a business perspective. HBO Max is lacking in terms of variety while Discovery+ needs a boost in audiences and who better than Emmy Awarded brand like HBO.

Been keeping tabs online to the merged streaming service which is set to unveiled by mid 2023 with most parts of Europe which is where I reside only getting access to what's left of Discovery+ and HBO Max by 2025/6 due to pending deals on HBO's side with local broadcasters.

Anyways regarding the merged streamer, folks were awaiting on the brand name for several months and I'm more shocked that they haven't shared anything I mean I'm not expecting an official logo which is where Warner Bros. Discovery wants to get at when unveiling it but honestly I'm kind of disappointed.

The justification was already proven when the purposed name for the streamer surfaced the net, Max.

Insidus Games:
- Nicktoons: Freeze Frame Frenzy
- Garfield 2: Royal Adventure
- Legend Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
- Sonic Advance 3
- Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends: Cheese Phone's Home
- Wheres Waldo Now?

I mean there's nothing wrong with it but is this what everyone was awaiting several months for. The new name was right in front of our faces the entire time regardless it's not a bad name as HBO Max unlike Discovery+ had branded content as Max as to not collide with the current HBO brand.

But Max has been used one to many times so I can clearly see why it's regarded as a working title. I don't have a better option to Max but one way I'd find a suitable brand name is to look into old properties or existing franchises like a certain company did when rolling out Utsav in parts of Europe.

Now some of the names I've seen online for the purposed streamer includes HBO Discovery, Discovery Max (DMAX), WBMax, The WB, The WD and several others.

Some of these names seem idealistic such as HBO Discovery but DMAX is a definite no some people are still woke by this merger blaming Discovery Inc. when the truth is WarnerMedia was always hovered with problems.

Max is not a bad idea as it doesn't cause much conflict within the Warner or Discovery better yet it's more of a crossover I mean Max exists as a linear channel in parts of Europe and HBO couldn't have thought of a better time to bring Max up proving my point earlier - crossover.

If Max happens to be what everyone is going for I'll just have to accept it. I mean they are two Discovery one for insurance and another for entertainment the difference is in the logo and the fact one had ended the company name with Inc. so I'm saying only a certain amount of people will know these companies ain't linked.

GBA: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie

The plot of the video game is largely based on the film, albeit liberties are taken occasionally. King Neptune's crown has been stolen by Plankton, and SpongeBob and Patrick must retrieve it from Shell City and save Bikini Bottom.

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3M Represented At “World Science Forum” South Africa By Chief Science Advocate

3M was proudly represented at the 2022 World Science Forum in Cape Town, South Africa by Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist & Chief Science Advocate at 3M. The 2022 theme for the Forum was ‘Science for Social Justice’ and was held over four days at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with a wide-ranging program which attracted hundreds of attendees from across a multi-disciplinary range of science backgrounds.

Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate at 3M and leads Applied Technology Development for Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division. She joined 3M in 1993 after an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York, and she currently holds 76 patents for a variety of innovations with several additional pending.

The World Science Forum 2022 was hosted by the Department of Science and Innovation, Republic of South Africa and has taken place biennially since its establishment in 1999 in Budapest, Hungary. The World Science Forum’s purpose is to foster and maintain a dialogue between the scientific community, society, policymakers, and industry.

3M’s participation in the panel session, titled, ‘Global scientific research as a tool to unlock talent and expand the geographical confines of knowledge creation’ explored the key theme of the 2022 World Science Forum, ‘Science for Social Justice’ and how that can be achieved. The panel was moderated by Kimberly Montgomery, Director, International Affairs and Science Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Kyle Cordova, Executive Director, Scientific Research / Senior Assistant to HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan for Scientific Affairs, Royal Scientific Society. Jayshree Seth represented 3M on the panel, other panelists included, Her Royal Highness Sumaya bint El Hassan, President, Royal Scientific Society of Jordan (RSS) and Sudip Parikh, CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), among others.

Google:
- A look into the life of X-Rated Rocky star Sylvester Stallone
- Malverde : Legend or Myth, a look at other patron saints
- 7 things you didn't know about Tom's Diner
- Inside the enduring mysteries of Elvis Presley's tragic fate
- Michael Jackson's Moonwalker became a childhood horror
- How Scooby-Doo inspired a generation of drug junkies?

In the session Jayshree spoke about the role industry can play by advocating for science with a societal perspective, driving innovation with an inclusion perspective, promoting representation with a global perspective and committing to social justice with a long-term perspective. Jayshree gave examples of the various initiatives 3M has including State of Science Index and our commitment to promote STEM encouragement, exposure and education in the communities we operate in.

The core values of 3M are to support communities and improve lives and the 3Mgives International Grants program works to create a meaningful difference through social investment, K-12 STEM grants, donation matching, and many other community-building programs.

3M’s footprint in Africa started in 1963, when we first established our office in South Africa. Seventy years down the line, the company has expanded its operations ever since and has offices in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria. For over 120 years, we have been dedicated to science and exploration, taking on global challenges and developing solutions for our customers. As a company, we are guided by our Purpose, Promise, and Principles in the pursuit of creating unique and differentiated value and impact for the greater good in the countries in which we thrive.

3Mgives International Grants were awarded to OLICO, United Way South Africa, and World Wildlife Fund in South Africa. These recipients were chosen to help support the development of STEM and community support programs within South Africa, with a focus on making a sustainable impact and enduring change.

Over 27,700 people in South Africa have been positively impacted by the 2021/2 3Mgives International Grants, with funding aimed at programs improving numeracy, meeting basic needs and environmental protection. The grant recipients are:

OLICO grant – ‘A Maths Tutor in Your Pocket’

‘A Maths Tutor in Your Pocket’ program run by OLICO aims to improve maths performance and to use this success in maths to access quality post-school opportunities. Those who are in need of maths tutoring support can send a simple message on WhatsApp and they can be connected to a maths tutor in real-time.

Research has shown that school mathematics in South Africa does not meet international standards, with only 16% of Grade 3 learners performing at a grade-appropriate level.

Lost school time in low-income communities is an ongoing issue as learners attend school on a rotational basis. The WhatsApp hotline is an opportunity for learners to work directly with skilled tutors even on the days they are not in school.
From September 2021 to March 2022, over 200 learners per day contacted ‘A Maths Tutor in Your Pocket’ on WhatsApp for maths tutoring support and over 2000 learners per month were connected to 29 part-time maths tutors.

United Way South Africa grant – Food and Hygiene Packs

Through the 3Mgives grant, United Way South Africa was able to provide and distribute food and hygiene Packs that support a family of 6 for one month and there were 300 families that were directly helped through this grant.
United Way South Africa focuses on helping South Africa's underserved, displaced, and stateless people who are affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and recent unrest and their level of need.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) grant – African Reclaimers Organization (ARO)

Google:
- A list of unfinished projects by Chris Farley
- Dwelling into the Poltergeist curse
- The truth about Michael Jackson's Stranger In Moscow
- From Elvis Presley to Hugh Hefner: a look at cancelled biopics
- Razia Sultana: The first woman Sultanate of India
- Charlize Theron's opinion over the Afrikaans language

WWF South Africa is working with the African Reclaimers Organization (ARO) to identify, support and scale-up initiatives and activities which will aid in the implementation of the South African government’s waste picker integration guideline and to support waste pickers in Cape Town (Western Cape Province) to organise into strong identifiable structures.

WWF South Africa is working to improve the livelihoods of Cape Town waste pickers and provide them with recognition within the waste and recycling economy, as well as improve recyclable material collection throughout the city and reduce potential leakage of such materials into the environment.

SABC Vs. e.tv: MultiChoice's Attempt In Reducing The Competition

Earlier in the year, MultiChoice attempted to scrap eMedia's 4 channels eExtra, eToonz, eMovies and eMovies Extra currently packaged on the DStv platform which has proven to be unsuccessful as court rulings led to keep the channels for the remainder of 2022.

As some are already aware, MultiChoice had sort out several alternatives such as Movie Room and DreamWorks on top of building their offering through some of the existing brands residing on their platforms.

It's too soon to tell how consumers would react the moment these 4 channels eventually exit the pay-tv regime or in this case for MultiChoice as we got Openview+ rolling out in the coming year and as mentioned the necessary alternatives have been made available to DStv consumers.

eMedia Investments:
- Prediction: eToonz to get an additional channel
- Could Openview+ lead to 24 hour capability of these channels?
- eToonz schedule explained
- Housewives has been scrapped from e.tv's lineup
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on DStv
- Charlize Theron opinion over the Afrikaans language

But what I like to point out is the SABC, there was no media scrutiny around the public broadcaster as they do play a part in all this. An associate of MultiChoice had mentioned that 3 yet to be announced channels would make up for these channels.

Take into account, ICASA had put up a new ruling granting the public broadcaster rights to fund their 3 most watched and accessible channels in South Africa to pay-tv platforms for which they couldn't come to an agreement as yet following pending issues for which they plan to address publicly.

I don't want to give actual figures but what I can add is that the SABC and eMedia Investments had their part of the pie on DStv for which MultiChoice cutback for one party in order to compensate for the other for which the remaining party demands more despite already having a huge chunk of the pie.

SABC:
- SABC Movies: another scrapped channel by the public broadcaster
- Why Openview has been excluded from supposed SABC channel?
- Prediction: Mindset TV to be taken over by the SABC
- Prediction: Parliament TV to be taken over by the SABC
- TelkomOne transitions into SABC+ (review)
- SABC Children seemingly enters post production

Unlike eMedia Investments, the public broadcaster has a lot of original productions in the pipeline I'm not saying it's great as there's plenty of crap that isn't worth exploring but when you look at from a pay-tv perspective you can clearly see why SABC is a viable option.

eMedia can have Hawaii Five-O, Bob The Builder and Godzilla on for the 100th time all of which can be seen on various channels already residing on DStv while the SABC compliments that with Uzalo, Takalani Sesame and One Day Leader.

I'm not saying eMedia does a terrible job in selecting their content but it's something that is of no value to a operator like MultiChoice perhaps on a platform like Openview as there's not much alternatives to the above-mentioned content.

DStv:
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- fliekNET to make a comeback this festive season
- Why DStv Premium customers might lose out on a certain new channel?
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform
- VH1 making a comeback on DStv

MultiChoice turns to the SABC in the hopes that they'll be able diversify their offering and limit the amount of repetition already viewable on the platform. When most already know that the channels will do exactly that with their own offering