Recap To The Year: Moonbug Kids To Fold Under The Moonbug Brand, Dumps Kids From The Name

Moonbug Kids (DStv 314) is a preschool channel owned by Moonbug Entertainment (a subsidiary of Candle Media). It supplies shows such as CoComelon (also seen on Cartoonito), Oddbods, Blippi, Little Baby Bum and Supa Strikas (also seen on Cartoon Network).

During the year, Moonbug Entertainment had unveiled their first ever refresh of the brand in 5 years following the increased popularity of their content which they've managed to licence to various broadcasters (as mentioned) alongside the Moonbug Kids channels.

As stated by Moonbug prior to the rebrand:

Moonbug was created on the basis of acquiring IPs and growing them into fully established franchises. This rebrand marks a shift that will see everything move 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 which is says are 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 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,” said Harry Ead, creative director, DixonBaxi. “We feel that we have created a brand that will match Moonbug’s ambitious plans without losing what makes them so special.”

MultiChoice on top of providing various material acknowledging the rebrand they recently updated their EPG to commemorate the long-awaited rebrand of the Moonbug channel.

Moonbug Channel joins other existing brands Da Vinci, History, eNCA, Nickelodeon, Cartoonito (formerly Boomerang), Max and PBS Kids that have or are expected to rollout on air look later in the year.

Recap To Last Year: Glow TV Resurfaces On MultiChoice's DStv And Not Long Ago On Digital Media And StarTimes' StarSat

Last month, Nismedia filed a legal appeal against eMedia Investments regarding the termination of Glow TV on Openview platform similar to MultiChoice regarding eMedia's 4 channels which remain onboard DStv following pending investigation.

Amidst the demise, eMedia Investments unveiled the next phase of their pay-tv venture Openview Ultra, Spice TV. It consists of the highly anticipated, Zee Family and Star Select which celebrate Bollywood culture with made for TV films and series.

As seen by the end of February, Glow TV was terminated not only on Openview but StarSat as well meaning that just like OnseTV and MyTV the channel isn't viewable anywhere in South Africa or at least that's we all thought matter of a fact but it turns out the brand is still active.

Just like Gallop TV revived Tellytrack, Soweto TV distributes Glow TV in a 1 hour segment, Glow TV Plus. The block is currently reserved for former Glow TV soaps such as Complicated Love (Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka) and Love Or Poison (Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara).

To think, MultiChoice opted to discontinue carriage of Glow TV in 2018 and few months ago StarSat did something similar with their consumers and now fate led this channel to be reintroduced on both platforms despite the relationship between the brands.

Glow TV Plus represents the remains of Glow TV which comes with various limitations first it's part of a 1 hour segment meaning not much Glow TV to browse and another accessibility as Soweto TV can only be viewable in the surrounding area alongside DStv and StarSat.

Soweto TV is not available on Openview and consumers wishing to watch Glow TV would need to pay monthly through DStv (R29p/m, Easyview) or StarSat (R120, Special) and only a selected number can afford the monthly rate - the Ultraview effect.

Not much is known on whether Glow TV Plus will continue to be made available on Soweto TV following the termination of Glow TV. As much as the details regarding Glow TV's distribution agreement with Soweto TV for Complicated Love and Love Or Poison.

Complicated Love airs weekdays at 8:30 and 21:00 followed by omnibus every Saturday at 4:00 while as Love Or Poison airs weekdays at 8:00 and 21:30 followed by an omnibus every Saturday at 09:00 on Soweto TV (DStv 251/StarSat 488).

Recap To The Past Decade: True African Was Ripped Away From Openview Consumers, Could eMedia Investments Finally Source Out A Replacement?

True African was a general entertainment channel that came in place of the defunct eNolly+ channel on the Openview platform. The channel served a purpose of promoting content from West Africa particularly Ghana and Nigeria through the form of movies and series.

As mentioned, the channel was ripped away from Openview consumers in an attempt to offer fresher entertainment for which channel didn't reflect even when it was operating as eAfrica+ before the switch to eNolly+ it still had a repetitive nature.

But unlike e.tv's News And Sport channel much less OpenNews, the channel was revived on PremiumFree TV which serves as freemium platform's first ever competitor offering a range of movies, drama series, reality shows, music and kiddies entertainment.

Fact of the matter is eMedia Investments hasn't replaced True African sure we have channels like Zee One, Star Life, The Home Channel+ and People's Weather but none of this can make up for the closure of the brand's last attempt in Nollywood entertainment.

As of 2023, eMedia Investments launched their pay-tv venture on the Openview platform which comes with 4 channels and plans to grow the lineup. But what was also outlined about this new pay-tv service was the focus on diversity and inclusion resulting in OUTtv.

The idea of eMedia Investments exploring something similar to True African TV possibly for Openview Ultra wouldn't be far fetched. It's not like consumers were familiar with the offering seen on OUTtv and yet there's plenty of households willingly to pay monthly.

The current offering (excluding OUTtv) kind of resembles the existing lineup seen on StarSat and DStv as well as the pricing for those wishing to view the offering.

New Series Alert: The Brilliant World Of Tom Gates Renewed Through 2024 On Showmax

UK broadcaster Sky has ordered a third season of mixed-media laugher The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (20 x 11 minutes).

The series is slated to return with the new season in early 2024 in the UK and Ireland. It will launch on the Sky Kids linear channel, as well as on demand and via Sky’s streaming service NOW. TG Entertainment produces Tom Gates, a Sky Original, and WildBrain manages worldwide distribution rights.

With two seasons and two holiday specials completed and delivered, Tom Gates was greenlit by Sky in 2020 and premiered in 2021. It has since been sold internationally to platforms including Da Vinci (the US), RTP (Portugal), E-Vision and ejunior (MENA and Pakistan) and Now TV (Hong Kong).

Featuring a mix of 2D and stop-motion animation and live action, the series follows its namesake lead character through his daily life—from avoiding homework and facing frenemies, to rocking out with his band.

Aimed at kids ages seven to 12, Tom Gates is based on a same-name book series by Liz Pichon under publisher Scholastic. According to a release, the books have sold more than 16 million copies in 47 languages worldwide.

In a more recent round of deals, WildBrain has also sold both seasons of the series to TV3-Televisió de Catalunya’s children’s channel SX3 (Spain) and Showmax (Africa), as well as placing the Halloween special with Knowledge Network in Canada.

New Series Alert: Mar De Amor And Teresa Coming Soon To Telenovela Channel Phillipines

Telenovela Channel, a telenovela based channel in the Phillipines operated in a joint venture with Twenty Plus and TelevisaUnivision in a joint is home to various English dubbed novelas viewed on TLNovelas including Italian Bride, Wild Heart and The Power Of Destiny.

As seen through various advertisements, Telenovela Channel will be taking a trip to the 2000s era with the melodrama Mal De Amor (Sea Of Love) and already viewed on TLNovelas Africa, Teresa.

Based on the 1978 Mexican drama Maria Del Amor, Mar De Amor follows the story of Estrella, a dreamy, restless girl from a small fishing village who falls in love with Victor, the wayward son with a dark past who has just returned to town.

Zuria Vega stars as Estrella Marina Briceño de Galíndez, Mario Cimarro stars as Víctor Manuel Galíndez Garabán, Ninel Conde stars as Catalina "Coral" Mijares, Mariana Seoane stars as Oriana Parra-Ibáñez Briceño and Manuel Landeta as León Parra-Ibáñez.

Based on the 1959 Mexican drama of the same name, Teresa narrates the story of a very beautiful woman who hates her life and being poor. She abandons her boyfriend and starts looking for a rich man who will achieve her goals of becoming rich.

Angelique Boyer stars as Teresa Chávez Aguirre, Cynthia Klitbo stars as Juana Godoy, Aarón Díaz stars as Mariano Sánchez Suárez, Sebastián Rulli stars as Arturo de la Barrera, Silvia Mariscal stars as Refugio Aguirre de Chávez and Manuel Landeta stars as Rubén Muro.

Both series are anticipated are anticipated to rollout in June which coincides with the launch of Contagi Sí (You Are The One) on TLNovelas Africa.