IT'S OFFICIAL: Boomerang Becomes The First Channel To Exit The DStv Platform In 2023, To Be Replaced By Cartoonito Later In March Across Africa

Boomerang (DStv 302), the family oriented kid friendly brand owned by Warner Bros. Discovery is set to rebrand into Cartoonito by March 25th marking the end to another one of the company's longest running channels in the market behind Cartoon Network.

Boomerang launched in the African market back in 2005 as TCM type channel featuring shows from Hanna-Barbera Studios, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation including Wacky Races, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, The Addams Family and Tiny Toons Adventures.

Over the years, this format was phased out as Warner Bros. Discovery was going for a more modern approach with shows like Zig & Sharko, Mr. Bean, Masha And The Bear, Grizzy And The Lemmings, The Garfield Show and My Little Pony: Pony Life.

In an interview with Warner Bros. Discovery it was confirmed that they'd be taking the Boomerang DNA and turning it into a full fledged Cartoonito family offering to include younger viewers and their families, giving them beautiful, meaningful, educational, and visually stunning music fare content.

Regular Nick:
- Cartoonito to get a dedicated channel in France
- Da Vinci Kids plans co-viewing future
- PBS Kids has yet to rollout the new logo in other countries
- Disney renews 3 adult animated series through 2025

Some of the content expected to rollout on this new version of the channel include Batwheels, Interstellar Ella, Bugs Bunny Builders and Spookies.

Warner Bros. Discovery is set to be phasing out several Boomerang channels across EMEA region within the same month as Africa marking the end of an era to a level of children's programming and also the beginning of something new being Cartoonito.

More details regarding the matter are expected to be unveiled soon and although Boomerang is being phased out a portion of content will be retained by Cartoonito while others like Looney Tunes Cartoons will likely be transmitted on Cartoon Network.

As of right now, Boomerang is adjusting their offering ahead of the rebrand to Cartoonito.

DStv:
- Boomerang might be first channel to exit the DStv platform in 2023
- MultiChoice shares crytpic message about eMedia's 4 channels
- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments gets roasted over load shedding plans
- BBC to close linear channels and move to an internet only digital future

Ultraview Vs. A Regular DStv Platform: A Better Understanding On How To Consume Your Money

For several weeks, eMedia Investments has been briefing audiences about their new pay-tv tier to the Openview platform, Ultraview. A multiverse platform where consumers are given the option of two packages Pride and Spice but both come at a hefty price with some comparing it to the likes of DStv.

Before we give our opinion on the matter let's first look at the basics.

DStv is a pay-tv outlet operated by MultiChoice where consumers get access to over 120 channels ranging from movies, sports, drama series, reality shows, kiddies, music, doccies and movies. It currently ranks as Africa's top player in the pay-tv business.

Ultraview is more of a diverse or cultural outlet by eMedia Investments as of this moment it only has Bollywood and LGBTQ based channels but that doesn't mean you can't find a variety of content if anything only a portion of DStv's lineup can be viewed on these channels.

MultiChoice has been in the market for decades with the DStv bouquet and have been criticized by several consumers for the load of repeats funneled onto their platform, the number of channels that have already been removed and the excessive costs in programming.

DStv:
- Boomerang might be first channel to exit the DStv platform in 2023
- MultiChoice shares crytpic message about eMedia's 4 channels
- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments gets roasted over load shedding plans
- BBC to close linear channels and move to an internet only digital future

During the week, eMedia Investments had gotten a taste of the MultiChoice criticism ahead of Ultraview's rollout and this mainly has to do with the quantity and pricing of the packages as well as the offering in general part of which is deemed offensive to Christians.

For several years, DStv consumers wondered when MultiChoice was planning on unbundling their channels and Ultraview gave a clear reflection when charging consumers either R75p/m or R120p/m for just two channels.

Same goes with the likes of Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, BritBox and HBO Max where you need about R700p/m or R800p/m to view the best of HBO, Adult Swim, NBC, BBC, ABC and Showtime altogether versus R450p/m with your Compact bouquet.

It goes show the best entertainment doesn't always come in cheap as seen with Ultraview's current offering. In general, it's not about who has more on the table but how productive you make a business.

eMedia Investments:
- SABC+ Vs. eVOD: The Consequence Of Free-To-View Television
- MultiChoice and eMedia Investments plan to combat load shedding get a lot of attention
- Ultraview Pride and Ultraview Indian coming soon to Openview
- Could SABC be unveiling another two channels for Openview Ultra?

To those viewing MultiChoice as a better contender take to account, only a fraction of the actual total of channels are watched by DStv consumers. Sure, it may be cheaper but most of the content in question will likely to date back to 90s/00s if not approachable.

As for Ultraview prior to when it was only Openview, eMedia Investments often sought out brands which gained traction which could be the case for this package the downside has to do with the quantity as that's distracting consumers from Ultraview's potential.

I mean I get it these are M-Net type channels but the moment another brand tags along with the something similar if not the same expect consumers to follow that brand if it means paying less to view that alternative or waiting longer to access a particular show.

In the end, I feel that Ultraview doesn't cater enough to eMedia's current audience as a lot of viewers aren't familiar with this concept they're putting forward as opposed to DStv which has a number of options like AddMovies, DStv Internet, Decoder Insurance etc.

New Series Alert: Zee World To Launch An Additional 3 Shows To The Line-Up, Staying True, Aparajita And Unfortunate Love Season 2

During the week, Zee World, a Bollywood based entertainment channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises has been sourcing more modern content like Radha Mohan now the channel is set to launch an additional two series, Aparajita and Staying True.

Aparajita (also known as Main Hoon Aparajita) follows the titular character who is deserted by her husband Akshay, leaving her alone to fend for her herself and her three daughters. But she rises to meet every challenge so that her daughters can be strong and independent.

It is based on the Telegu drama series Radhamma Kuthuru and stars Shweta Tiwari, Manav Gohil, Anushka Merchande, Dhwani Gori, Shruti Choudhary, Shweta Gulati, Garvita Sadhwani and Amita Khopkar.

Staying True (also known as Iss Mod Se Jaate Hain) follows Paragi an ambitious woman who harbours dreams of becoming an IAS officer. However, she must find a way to do so while her husband and his family are a constant thorn in her flesh.

Everyday Novelas:
- Ana's Revenge coming soon to Telemundo
- Second Chance and Hart Van Goud coming soon to Zee One and eExtra respectively
- Queen Of The Night and How Do I Say This? coming respectively to Timeless Dizi Channel and Zee World
- New Series Alert: eMedia Investments Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Turkish Romcom, Aşk Mantık İntikam

The series is led by Akshita Mudgal, Hitesh Bharadwaj, Richa Bhattacharya, Anindita Sinha, S Ashraf Karim, Himanshu Arora, Sachin Parikh and Jatin Suri.

Just like the already announced Radha Mohan, Aparajita is an ongoing program unless the channel plans to allocate a 30 minute timeslot it won't survive a full 4 months. The other possible ongoing show Aparajita wrapped production in 2022 due to poor viewership.

A date has yet to be confirmed for the following programs but considering the timeframe of these announcements it will likely rollout in the coming weeks or sometime in March.

Also expected to make a return to the channel is the second season of Unfortunate Love another ongoing show in the Zee TV saga.

New Series Alert: Swallow Storm Coming Soon To Timeless Dizi Channel And If Possible A Station Near You

Timeless Dizi Channel, SPI International's most popular general entertainment channel home to content from the land of Istanbul, Turkey and a rival to South Africa's eExtra and kykNET & Kie more baby mama drama with Shallow Storm (Kirlangiç Firtinasi).

Ulfet has become a baby owner out of marriage. The roads are desperately in the middle of leaving her alone. Meanwhile, Kudret's wife is pregnant. Kudret finds a solution to help his sister Nathalie. Kudret, who owns his sister's baby and puts it near his own child, announces that everyone is twin children.

Everyday Novelas:
- Radha Mohan coming soon to Zee World
- Ana's Revenge coming soon to Telemundo
- Queen Of The Night and How Do I Say This? coming respectively to Timeless Dizi Channel and Zee World
- New Series Alert: eMedia Investments Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Turkish Romcom, Aşk Mantık İntikam

It stars Fikret Kuskan, Emel Çölgeçen, Ekin Mert Daymaz, Damla Aslanalp, Ebru Aykaç, Inanç Konukçu, Gün Akinci, Deniz Bolisik, Ozan Osmanpasaoglu and Tülin Ece.

The series was broadcast in 2017 with a total of 7 episodes with a two hour runtime on the only international FOX feed to provide original programming and also home to elites like Wings Of Love, #DisComplicated, Om Elke Draai, Doodsondes and Dokter Ali.

The series is expected to rollout later in the month on various Timeless Dizi Channels internationally. In other developments, it's rival eExtra has picked up three shows Om Elke Draai (already mentioned), Hart Van Goud and Aşk Mantık İntikam.

What You Need To Know About The NFL Super Bowl 2023?

It’s finally here. The 2023 American National Football League’s Super Bowl, the 57th annual showdown between the best of the best, will broadcast live, exclusively across Africa on ESPN (Dstv 218, Starsat 248) in the early hours of the morning on Monday 13 February 2023. One of the most anticipated sporting events on the U.S. calendar, the annual championship game, which will see the league’s top franchises competing to hold the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy, will air live at 1:30 AM (CAT) with repeats at 8:00, 17:00 and 22:00 on ESPN2 and at 14:00 on ESPN.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Super Bowl LVII will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona between Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles, who’ll be competing in their fifth Super Bowl, will be sporting their home green jerseys, while the Chiefs, who’ll be playing in their fifth Super Bowl, will be in white.

In what some may call an awkward moment, Andy Reid who coaches the Chiefs, was the Eagles head coach from 1999-2012. He will essentially be doing his best to defeat a team he spent over a decade building.

Perhaps even more interesting is the situation mom Donna Kelce finds herself in as the first mother to have two sons play against each other at the Super Bowl. Her younger son Travis plays Chiefs tight end while her son Jason plays centre for the Eagles. She has been spotted wearing a “half-and-half” top ahead of Super Bowl LVII, incorporating the colours of her both of the teams.

DStv Flex:
- Virtual Reality offers a new opportunity for African filmmakers
- Ratings for DStv from December 2022
- Big Cat Sunday this February on National Geographic Wild
- CBS Reality acquired rights to Killer's Caught On Camera

Beyond sport, the Super Bowl is a truly global cultural event, as well-known as for the cutting-edge commercial spots and half time show as it is for the actual game. This year, the half time show will be performed by popular artist Rihanna. The halftime show typically lasts around 15 minutes and is expected to contain an impressive medley of anthems from the nine-time Grammy award-winning artist.

The national anthem will be sung by Chris Stapleton -  a country music singer that has 15 Country Music Association and 10-Academy of Country Music Awards in addition to being an Eight-time Grammy. Stapelton follows artists such as Mickey Guyton, Eric Church, Demi Lovato, Gladys Knight and others who have had this honour in the past.

How to tune in to ESPN:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
ESPN2: DStv 219, Starsat 249

All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change