CCTV-4 Is Set To Be The First Official Channel To Exit The DStv Platform By The End Of March

Last month it was reported by Warner Bros. Discovery that the children's channel Boomerang would not only be exiting the DStv platform but the whole of Africa for a new channel known as Cartoonito catering to preschoolers and their families.

Now consumers will be bidding farewell to yet another channel, CCTV-4. It's a free-to-air TV channel from China Central Television, which broadcasts documentaries, music, news, dramas, sports, and children’s shows from the Greater China area.

It is currently available on all DStv packages —from the broadcaster’s cheapest EasyView plan to the top-end Premium bouquet.

According to MultiChoice, the decision for removing the channel had to do with low viewership and the reviewing of channels. There hasn't been any mentions of a replacement but fans of Asian programming can tune into NHK World Japan, KIX and CGTN.

Ahead of CCTV-4 termination on the DStv platform at the end of March, the pay-tv operator recently launched SuperSport Schools with Qwest TV being added back in January and M-Net Movies Action returning out for a limited time only.

Moonbug Entertainment Enters A New Era With A Vibrant And Dynamic Rebrand

Moonbug Entertainment, a subsidiary of Candle Media, unveiled a fresh new look, featuring a new corporate style and logo that will be recognized by families around the world. Moonbug worked with brand agency DixonBaxi to refresh its corporate identity to convey the same energy and fun as its colourful shows and characters, including hits CoComelon and Blippi.

Since Moonbug’s launch nearly five years ago, the company has become a trusted brand for families around the world, known for delivering great entertainment for young kids that is rich in learning benefits and healthy values. While its shows have always had high brand recognition, Moonbug itself is now increasingly growing more audience-facing, such as through its hugely successful and global “Moonbug KIDS” channels. There are 20 SVOD or linear “Moonbug KIDS” channels in different parts of the world and a number of global YouTube channels, which combined have over 79 million subscribers.

“As consumer interaction with the Moonbug brand grows, this is the ideal time for a refresh,” said René Rechtman, CEO and founder of Moonbug. “Our aesthetic will now be as bold and vibrant as our shows and characters, instantly recognizable for children and parents around the globe.”

“We created the Moonbug identity to be bursting with energy, and synonymous with dynamism, excitement, and fun,” said Ditte Marie Lucas, Vice President of Brand and Communications at Moonbug. “This rebrand perfectly captures the spirit and energy of childhood while still maintaining the authority to live naturally amongst the leaders in the entertainment industry.”

Moonbug was created on the basis of acquiring IPs and growing them into fully established franchises. This rebrand marks a shift to move everything under a cohesive Moonbug umbrella, elevating its brand positioning and encouraging industry recognition as the company behind the most beloved shows in kids’ entertainment.

DixonBaxi created a new strategy and creative platform inspired by Moonbug’s bold attitude.

At the heart of the new identity sits a bespoke animated logotype that fizzes and pops with a playful personality, hinting at the all-out entertainment that makes Moonbug content unmissable. A flexible brand system with a fresh colour palette, super-sized art direction and activity-focused icons fill every space with the same bright playful personality.

"It has been a unique challenge to create a new brand that captures the magic of the shows that billions of kids tune in to over and over again, but still feeling distinctly Moonbug.

We feel that we have created a brand that will match Moonbug's ambitious plans without losing what makes them so special," said Harry Ead, Creative Director, DixonBaxi.

Viacom 18's Voot Streaming Service Is Said To Be The New Home Of Glow TV

By the end of today, Glow TV currently owned by Nismedia is expected to not only exit StarSat and Openview but it will also be exiting linear television with its future lurking around the corner we recieved word that Voot will be the new home for the channel.

Voot is an Indian based streaming service owned by Viacom18 which is a joint venture between Paramount Global and Network18 Group. It launched back in 2016 and serves a multilingual platform for both original and third party entertainment.

Some of the content available on the platform include Chinese Bhasad, Soadies, Sinskaari, Badman, It's Not That Simple, Badman and Marzi.

As mentioned already, Glow TV will be folded under Voot and I can't say I was expecting this but the owners in question Viacom18 are also in charge of several linear channels including one which Glow TV supplies most of its soaps, Colors TV.

In a way, this is sort of a good thing for the brand, Glow TV has produced a number of original content and this offering will probably help VOOT connect more with the African market.

The sad part about the whole thing is that Voot doesn't work as a freemium service as seen with Showmax, SABC+ and eVOD or at least from what several consumers had mentioned as they're being asked to cough up R49 per week or R7 everyday.

Despite the outcome to all this, Voot actually makes as a more suitable platform for the channel considering its available in other parts of the world perhaps we'll see some of the channel's content reach more audiences even further than Openview.

It's good to see that my suggestion about finding the right platform although this one too is overcrowded actually panned out as Glow TV is a local channel on top of everything else.

 

SHOCKER!!! (NOT REALLY), Glow TV Will Also Be Going Dark On StarSat By The End Of February

In the past week, StarSat had to bid farewell to Russia Today at the last minute similar to MultiChoice's DStv in 2022 as European Union (EU) in charge of distributing the channel within the African market opted to cut transmission for the channel.

After the removal of Russia Today, it was shortly announced by the pay-tv platform that their contract with Nismedia for the Glow TV channel would be coming to an end in the same period as eMedia Investments current contract with the brand - 28 February.

Meaning just like OnseTV, there's no way of viewing further content on your current platform but Nismedia had mentioned wanting to find other means for the channel and might address it by tomorrow or at later stage who knows.

But the news of Glow TV's demise on the platform doesn't surprise me the least bit. Last year, StarSat launched a dubbing studio where various international content is being dubbed in local languages similar to eExtra's Kuiertyd and kykNET.

MultiChoice had opted not to keep eExtra on their platforms but instead to supplement a similar selection on kykNET & Kie and the idea of StarSat going down a similar route with the channel alongside Glow TV didn't seem like a far fetched idea at this point.

Glow TV was repetitive and a bit outdated but it wasn't telenovela centric but an entertainment channel featuring reality, news and other programming. Unfortunately the likes of Zee TV and Star Life on top of the current situation with the offering edged them out.

Honestly, StarSat presents itself with alternatives for Glow TV such as Star Life, Zee Bollymovies, Colors TV, Zee Cinema and Vijay TV. Kind of lost as to why they're looking for a replacement with this existing offering the only other channel I can think of is Zee One.

As for Glow TV, I do think it has potential to do even greater things but neither DStv, Openview or StarSat are the right platforms for the job perhaps SABC's DTT could do the job hopefully they don't undergo a similar route another would be PremiumFree.

The last option although not savvy like Openview would be switching to OTT. As of this moment, the channel is in hot water a lot of cutbacks to staff and programming will likely be applied in order for them to remain afloat or face possible extinction in the market.

Update: Glow TV will be available on VOOT which looks like an entertainment website but it will cost you R7 per day or R49 per week from what I read.

What To Expect On TNT Africa In March 2023?

NEVER GIVE UP
To celebrate South Africa’s world-leading establishment of Human Rights Day on 21 March, TNT presents a curated marathon of films championing freedom and justice. Even if Leonardo Di Caprio’s South African accent in Blood Diamond is a topic of debate, it’s a worthy hit to lead a lineup including Battle in Seattle, Captain Phillips, and Tears of the Sun.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premieres)
Tuesday, 21 March
12:30   –   Hurricane Season (2009)
14:10   –   Captain Phillips (2013)
16:25   –   Blood Diamond (2006)
18:50   –   Battle in Seattle (2007)
20:30   –   Tears of the Sun (2003)
22:30   –   The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

TNT HIT
One of Marvel’s most epic characters, Venom, is coming to TNT on Sunday, 4 March at 20:00. Starring Academy Award® Nominated actor Tom Hardy as reporter Eddie Brock, who gains superpowers after becoming the host of an alien symbiote named Venom.  Despite being designed to invade Earth – he embraces the role of lethal protector.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premiere)
Sunday, 4 March
20:00   –   Venom (2018)

AND THE WINNER IS...
Everyone in Hollywood goes crazy for the gold-plated statuette officially known as the ‘Academy Award of Merit’, but you might know him better as ‘Oscar’. TNT celebrates the 95th Academy Awards with a list of films that have won at least one of the iconic awards. All hits, no misses, every prime time from Monday, 6 March – with an Oscar-tastic binge of all films on Sunday, 12 March.

TUNE IN DETAILS (channel premiere)
Monday, 6 March
20:30   –   The Hurt Locker (2008)
Tuesday, 7 March
20:30   –   Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Wednesday, 8 March
20:30   –   The Fugitive (1993)
Thursday, 9 March
20:30   –   Django Unchained (2012)
Friday, 10 March
20:30   –   Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Saturday, 11 March
20:30   –   Suicide Squad (2016)
Sunday, 12 March
11:35   –   The Fugitive (1993)
13:45   –   Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
15:45   –   Suicide Squad (2016)
17:50   –   Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
20:05   –   The Hurt Locker (2008)
22:15   –   Django Unchained (2012)

MAD MAX WEEKEND
One of the original post-apocalyptic action film series, the Mad Max franchise takes audiences on a rollercoaster through dystopian Australia. From launching Mel Gibson’s career to having Charlize Theron shave her head – the Mad Max effect is no joke. Spend the weekend in this fictional wasteland with the first four instalments on TNT.

TUNE IN DETAILS
Friday, 17 March
20:30   –   Mad Max (1979)
Saturday, 18 March
20:00   –   Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)
Sunday, 19 March
20:00   –   Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
21:50   –   Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)