Could eToonz, eExtra, eMovies And eMovies Extra Be The Next Channels To Exit MultiChoice's DStv?

Last year, MultiChoice renewed their partnership with eMedia Investments for eNCA which meant eNuus on kykNET could live on a couple of years. Unfortunately, this new agreement didn't include eToonz, eExtra, eMovies and eMovies Extra therefore ending it's run on DStv.

At the time, it was learnt that MultiChoice would adding more channels during that financial period including Movie Room and DreamWorks and also extending the reach of existing channels KIX and PBS Kids. They even got kykNET to rollout it's international telenovela slate.

But that's where things get interesting because around the time all this happened. The courts made their ruling and it was advised that MultiChoice retain these channels following pending investigation which created an overflow of content amongst their portfolio.

It was stated by eMedia Investments that they'd love to see their channels remain on DStv despite the tensions the pay-tv company have with Openview. MultiChoice at the opted to move further and refresh their lineup which led to the cancellation of Tellytrack, ITV Networks, Novela Magic and MTV Hits.

Over to the cancellations, it was stated that the channels would remain on DStv for another 6 months but when 6 months had passed. eMedia Investments only responded to say that eToonz, eExtra, eMovies and eMovies Extra would remain on DStv until further notice.

In an recent enquiry by fans, eMedia Investments' team responded to say that these channels would only be on Openview. Although a date hasn't been provided I presume these channels would be going dark by from August as it would mark 1 year since it was reinstated.

And also eExtra is undergoing timeslot changes around same time, if my hunch is correct it means that consumers would be missing out on the final episodes of Hart Van Goud, Om Elke Draai and Die Put as the latter conclude next month on eExtra with only 2/3 available on e.tv.

As for the other three, the content is spread across DStv for eMovies and eMovies Extra there's Movie Room and TNT, and eToonz with DreamWorks or better yet Nickelodeon. Not that this content isn't on value but taking the platform to account you kind of see these three wouldn't make the cut.

eExtra at some point was guilty as charged but now you can view some fragments of these brands through e.tv and across several DStv channels.

Alongside e.tv channels, other brands whose futures are in question include factual and wildlife brands National Geographic and National Geographic Wild and children's brands Disney Channel and Disney Junior as The Walt Disney Company transitions to a streaming only module moving further content to Disney+.

Pending Development: Trinayani + Between You And Me + Second Chances + More Coming Soon To Zee World

Zee World, a Bollywood entertainment channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises which is currently in talks with Culver Max Entertainment on a potential merger are set to rollout the following programs in the coming future.

This is a list of shows that have already been seen on Zee One but haven't aired on Zee World:

- Trinayani: Trinayani's ability to foresee the future and the past often lands her in trouble. Despite the setbacks, she strives to use her gift to protect the people around her from harm. The series stars Ashika Padukone, Chandu B Gowda and Pavitra Jayaram in lead roles.

- Second Chances (Mazhi Tuzhi Reshimgath): Yash, a wealthy and esteemed business tycoon, yearns for true love. But, when he falls in love with Neha, he finds the journey ahead is a challenging one. Will he be able to stand the test of time and fight for the love he has craved for, or will he throw in the towel?

- Untangled (Rishton Ka Manjha): Based on the Zee Bangla drama Deep Jwele Jai, the series follows Diya, a gully badminton player, meets Arjun, a former badminton champ from an affluent family, who resents his own kin. It stars Aanchal Goswami and Krushal Ahuja in the lead-roles.

- Carmen: An Egyptian drama which follows the titular character whose in search for fame and relocates to Cairo where she finds no alternative but to lie. Then she falls in love with Tawfik which puts her in comedic situations. The series stars Reham Haggag, Mohamed Al Kilan, Walaa Elshrif, Mohammad Mahran, Omar El Shenawy and Mohamed Marzaban.

- Between You And Me (Meri Hanikarak Biwi): This show revolves around the life of two completely different individuals, Akilesh Pandey and Iravati aka Ira Desai. Aksilesh is a village simpleton and an ardent follower of Bajrang Bali while Ira is an aspiring medical student. Destiny had meant these two individuals to meet and unite. Karan Suchak and Jiya Shankar take on the lead roles.

Returning shows include Meet In Love, It's Not Easy To Love, Guddan, Twist Of Fate and This Is Fate.

Boomerang Turkey To Become Cartoonito

Warner Bros Discovery-owned children’s channel Boomerang is rebranding as Cartoonito in Turkey later in the year with South-east Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong from July 28.

The rebranded channel is focused on being more inclusive to preschool viewers, according to the recently merged US studio, and comes after a Cartoonito-branded block launched on Boomerang and sister channel Cartoon Network in the region in 2022.

Preschool shows that will air on the Cartoonito channel will include Batwheels and Bugs Bunny Builders, while Boomerang favourites like Tom & Jerry, Baby Looney Tunes, Masha And The Bear, Pat the Dog and Grizzy & the Lemmings will remain on the network. 

All Cartoonito shows follow a curriculum, designed by an early childhood education expert, to form the four pillars of creativity, caring, curiosity and courage, according to the company. The brand aims to inspire kids aged two to six to use their imagination, to learn from their mistakes and to treat others with empathy and respect.

Cartoonito already exists as a standalone channel in various countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where it also rebranded from Boomerang. It also runs as a programme block on Cartoon Network in the UK, Middle East, US and some Asia Pacific countries, and as a block on Boomerang in the Nordics countries.

New Series Alert: The Heartless And Chrysalis Coming Soon To TLNovelas Africa And eExtra Respectively

Jose Ron makes a comeback on TLNovelas

During the year, TLNovelas rolled out their first telenovela of the year The Heartless (La Desalmada). Of course, it only lasted a few weeks as further episodes were available between 2am to 4am timeslot before getting cancelled to its entirety.

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Now the series is scheduled to launch on August 7.

Based on the Colombian telenovela La Dama De Troya, the series follows Fernanda out for revenge after her husband is murdered and she is violated on her wedding night. With a poor memory of that traumatic night, Fernanda mistakes her true love Rafael for the man who ruined her life - Rafael's father.

Livia Brito stars as titular character, alongside José Ron, Eduardo Santamarina, Marjorie de Sousa and Marlene Favela.

The highly anticipated eVOD series finally has a release date on eExtra

Last year, eMedia Investments scooped up rights to the psychological Turkish drama, Chrysalis (Camdaki Kiz) for their eVOD streaming service. It's currently on the third season in Turkey with eExtra slatted to rollout the entire season from August 23.

Chrysalis follows Nalan a beautiful young woman who earns everyone's love at first sight with her warmth. As the only child of the family enlarged hand baby, baby roses, lived in the existence of life and Nalan graduated with honors the best schools, Turkey finds's largest hotel chain, which Koroglu company as an architect at running than himself Sedat Koroglu' with marriage Eve.

The series stars Burcu Biricik, Selma Ergeç, Feyyaz Serifoglu, Nur Sürer, Hande Ataizi, Tugrul Tulek, Nihal Menzil, Hamza Yazici and Feri Baycu Güler.

What's Happening To The Disney Channel On DStv?

During the year, The Walt Disney Company had been strengthening the reach of Disney+ by using their a vast majority of Disney Channel and Disney Junior to promote a variety of content and this includes Chip'n'Dale: Park Life, Lady And The Tramp and Phineas And Ferb: Candice Against The Universe.

As seen in June, Chip'n'Dale: Park Life had been phased out from Disney Channel for more Miraculous Ladybug. If that doesn't get any worse apparently new episodes were slatted to be broadcast this month alongside The Owl House but due to some restructuring within the Disney stable those were delayed.

Similar to Disney XD, The House Of Mouse merged several feeds of The Disney Channel alongside the preschool component, Disney Junior. It's possible that Chip'n'Dale: Park Life was only removed as consumers hadn't viewed the content as yet similar to Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur in Africa.

As to whether these channels are on the verge of closing down, MultiChoice will carry them through (presumably early) 2024 for consumers in Africa but it's unknown whether all the upcoming content such as Zombies: The Re-Animated Series, Primo and even The Little Mermaid will be accessible before that happens.

Another theory is that these channels could live on for a couple more years presumably to just create hype about this content. But I don't think these brands have much of a future as the company hasn't tried distributing their brand to new territories and have other companies manage their content.

I mean if the goal was to keep the linear business alive why not get this content out there, why burden remaining consumers with this offering if you're only intention is to rip it away and divide linear consumers from streaming.

Disney Channel has shaped a lot of childhoods when it launched in 2008 with shows like That's So Raven, Hannah Montana and Phineas And Ferb alongside Disney Channel Original Films like Camp Rock, High School Musical, Cheetah Girls and Teen Beach.

Since it's rollout in 2011, Disney Junior had become the leading destination in preschool entertainment with shows like Doc McStuffins, Sofia The First, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake And The Neverland Pirates.

MultiChoice being the distributor of these channels would have to look at possible replacements some brands that come to mind include Kartoon Channel, WildBrain, ZooMoo and hopefully not repeat tainted channels like Nicktoons as seen in some parts of the world.

Another thing that some readers addressed was the backlash on replacements. My idea would be that the Disney Channels discontinuation would be treated as a rebrand sort of get another brand to occupy the space or have some of their content added to the lineup before the swap.

But I'm not expecting that although it would make sense consumer wise. The best option when looking at replacements is to take these brands to account Disney Channel was too mature for their current demographic while as Disney Junior was more entertaining something MultiChoice should look into when deciding replacements.

Sky launched a dedicated kids channel in the UK licencing content from NBCUniversal and featuring original productions. It wouldn't be far fetched if MultiChoice did something similar for consumers in Africa.

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery aren't really looking to consolidate the content to streaming services but the moment your DStv becomes a VCR or a typewriter they're likely to pull the plug on their channels and get consumers onboard their own platforms.

MultiChoice aligning themselves closer to the kids market wouldn't seem far fetched as the last was with K-TV and Koowee both were handled by M-Net. This channel doesn't necessarily have to be M-Net based but come from another local provider like Ngwato Nkosi Group (Movie Room).