New Series Alert: Kids News Room Makes A Return On SABC 2

New revamped children’s show Kids News Room (KNR) not to mistaken with Kagiso Media Group's Newzroom Afrika on DStv will be making its return on SABC 2.

The news show for children and is a fusion between education and entertainment, targeted at children between the ages of 7-16 with the aim of reflecting their diversity.

It aims to provide children with a platform to express themselves on how they see the world around them whilst encouraging learning, participation, and an inquiring mind.

It was first broadcast in English on SABC 2 in 2004 under the name Kids News and then migrated to SABC 1 in 2006. The show has now found its way back onto SABC 2 and promises to convey news in an exciting way that will garner the interest of children around South Africa as the show will be delivered in a variety of languages ranging from Sesotho to isiZulu.

The show will be anchored by four presenters who the children will relate to. Bonolo Moahludi (13), Leavante Sheba (16), Ruvarashe Marumo (16), Ayanda Masango (16), Thabelo Makhode (13), Kago Mavunda (15) and Mhlontlo Geleba (22).

Brand and PR Manager, Melba Thompson said: “SABC 2 prides itself on fulfilling its license mandate of informal knowledge building through crafting content that is relevant and relatable to its multigenerational audience. KNR is a prime example of how the channel continuously delivers on providing an immersive family viewing experience.”

The revival of Kids News Room coincides with the public broadcaster plan to rollout a second news channel during the year. The channel would cater to all South African languages including English and would run on SABC's DTT and streaming service, SABC+.

Recap To The Decade: M-Net Movies Gets A Dedicated Children's Channel

In September 2020, M-Net in an attempt to continue to be forefront of entertainment restructured M-Net Movies offering which saw the movie offering be divided amongst 4 channels previously 6 with each using a numbering system as seen at launch decades ago.

M-Net Movies Premiere was divided between M-Net Movies 1 and 2 which supplemented M-Net Movies Smile and Action+ while M-Net Movies Action was divided between M-Net Movies 3 and 4 to supplement M-Net Movies All-Stars and Zone.

Since then the channels were met with mixed to negative feedback following the cutback of Action from the Compact and All-Stars on Family alongside the restructure of content across the brands with Zone's successor M-Net Movies 4 serving as a kids channel.

Tailor made for lower tiered consumers particularly Access and Family consumers, M-Net Movies Zone was added in May 2013 as a BET inspired channel featuring films from the likes of Queen Latifah, Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, and many more.

At the time, the channel wasn't getting much buzz especially with brands like TNT and eMedia's e.tv, eMovies and eMovies Extra reeling in most consumers. With that in mind, the channel was restructured into a thematic and film festival oriented channel.

As seen since September 2020, M-Net Movies 4 doesn't bare much resemblance to the former M-Net Movies Zone as its stellar lineup targets families and kids. If I had to hypothesis what led to the current setting maybe this is was M-Net's way of differentiating channels.

The previous setup didn't cater that much to kids or at least not for those on lower tiered packages so M-Net Movies 4 is probably one way for M-Net and MultiChoice to reach out to more audiences while other consumers could enjoy other content on TNT and Movie Room.

Recap To The Year: OUTtv Relaunches On eMedia Investments' Openview Platform And Also Streaming On Showmax

OUTtv is a gay oriented entertainment channel based in Canada which specialises in made for TV films and series including Finding Prince Charming, RuPaul Drag Race, The Villberg Chronicles, Dr. Jackie: Unlicensed Psychotherapist and Haus Haus.

During the year, it formed part of eMedia Investments' initial offering alongside FUSE to their unbundled pay-tv service Ultraview which is similar to MultiChoice's DStv AddMovies which too comes with a limited number of alternatives at a high price.

As mentioned, OUTtv is a member of the LGBTQ something not supported by some religious groups. On top of that, such acts are prohibited in various African territories. So when you look at it you can kind of see why MultiChoice went against the channel.

Prior to its rollout on Openview, MultiChoice added OUTtv as a pop-up channel back in 2018 and were involved in a nudity scandal but that's not what stopped it from becoming permanent. Perhaps the issue at the time had to deal with preferences.

MultiChoice comes with a range of channels and consumers pay for selected while opting to tolerate the least necessary. OUTtv would have probably been that brand to drive away consumers or had smear campaigns launched against them and DStv as seen in Uganda.

Hence the reason for Showmax and Ultraview, as one comes with less restrictions while the other gives consumers particularly religious households the option of not viewing content from this particular brand.

eReality On DStv: Here's Everything Briefly Wants You To Know About The eFamily Member Channel

Briefly News is a South African digital media and news platform that was founded in 2014. It is one of South Africa’s largest news and entertainment websites and one of the top-earning brands on Facebook in Africa. It is also partner to Genesis Media Emerging Markets.

Genesis Media Emerging Markets, a digital media holding operating in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and worldwide. Other GMEM news projects include Legit.ng (Nigeria), TUKO.co.ke (Kenya), YEN.com.gh (Ghana) and Sportsbrief.com (Worldwide).

In 2018, eMedia Investments launched a free-to-air reality channel on the Openview platform, eReality. It currently ranks as the most popular reality channel in the market featuring local and international series from e.tv, NBC, M-Net, Oxygen, BBC and MTV.

Prior to its rollout on Openview, rumours swirled around that eMedia Investments would be adding eReality as the 6th channel to MultiChoice's DStv joining the now defunct eBella alongside eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz.

Of course, not much was known about its potential rollout it was believed to be replacing eBella as news of a possible rollout of the reality channel coincided with the termination of the channel which introduced viewers to shows like Qubool Hai and Fatmagul.

Last year, an author of Briefly published a story about eReality but this time as a channel for DStv. Of course, not much is known about what led to the mix up or which channel the author was referring as they listed it under the Compact bouquet but not Openview.

eMedia Investments gave away broadcasting rights to eNCA to MultiChoice for another 5 years preventing Openview consumers from ever viewing the channel with SABC News currently viewable on SABC's DTT and streaming service, SABC+.

Briefly now viewing eReality as a DStv channel, would it be a bad idea to rip the channel away from Openview consumers as the switch to DStv could help give brands like TLC and MTV a ran for their money with their 90 Day Fiance and Teen Moms.

Honestly, it's better off on Openview as there's not much alternatives to the content and as seen with eMedia's 4 other channels on DStv. It would have likely joined the group of channels awaiting their departure from the pay-tv operator for carrying "DStv Repeats".

Source: Briefly

Universal TV Vs. BBC Brit: The Home Of Premium Entertainment

Universal and BBC Brit are international general entertainment channel respectively owned by US based company NBCUniversal and UK based company BBC Studios. These happen to be one of the few premium entertainment channels left globally as streaming has taken a toll with how content is viewed.

Universal is an action, adventure and crime based channel which is home to cop dramas such as Chicago PD and NCIS: Los Angeles, medical shows like Transplant and Chicago Med and finally mystery and supernatural dramas like Departure and Fantasy Island.

BBC Brit adapts to a similar form as Universal as they too offer dramas such as EastEnders and William Shakespeare. But the channel doesn't consider itself Universal exclusive as there's other content like The Graham Norton Show, Total Wipeout and Top Gear.

One of the things I think most people won't like about Universal is the amount of rehashed content that various local providers air first-hand. I mean I don't mind a little nostalgia every now and then I mean they got Bones and Rizzoli And Isles but these rebroadcasts get a bit annoying.

When it comes to BBC Brit, I'd say a lot of channels need to be done. I mean it's more like Universal on the repetitive side but imagine watching the same season of Top Gear repeatedly on top of that having 3 shows take up most of the schedule.

Not long ago, BBC First was shelved with BBC Brit having to pull the muscle I mean come on 2 hours of primetime with 2 hours of repeats during the day but Top Gear gets more than that on a daily basis.

If you're looking for top notch entertainment head on down to Universal sure you won't get Graham Norton or Planet Earth but you sure won't have a lineup that is as repetitive as a certain kids brand I prefer leaving unnamed.

BBC Brit is a waste but the channel has its own perks that some have to grasp for the time being I mean there's BritBox or BBC iPlayer but to those without these services have to view the bulk of content on this channel which appears as an absolute disaster.