What To Expect On History Across Africa In September 2023?

9/11: 22 YEARS ON

3 September – 24 September, Sundays from 20h15

On 11 September 2001, 19 militants linked to the extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide at acks against key targets in the United States. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist at acks that began a global war on terror. Every Sunday night in September we unpack the September 11 attacks, from the conspiracy theories that emerged, to the real-life stories of loss and the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Brand New

9/11 CONSPIRACIES: THE FACT OR FICTION

3 September, Sunday 20h15 

This documentary film examines the various conspiracy theories that at empt to explain the 9/11 attacks. It includes theories that the World Trade Center was brought down by a controlled demolition; that a missile, not a commercial airliner, hit the Pentagon; and that members of the U.S. government orchestrated the attacks in hopes of creating a war in the Middle East. Each conspiracy argument is countered by a variety of experts in the fields of engineering, intelligence and the military. The program also delves into the anatomy of such conspiracies and how they grow online.

9/11: FOUR FLIGHTS

10 September, Sunday 20h15 

Four flights - American 11, United 175, American 77, and United 93 - took off on the morning of September 11, 2001 unaware of the events that would follow and the fate that would forever intertwine them. Through the powerful and personal narratives from family and friends, this special tells the riveting and emot onal human stories of those aboard each doomed jetliner. Looking at all four flights, the two-hour documentary unveils a saga of surprising connections, strange coincidences and detrimental decisions. From one flight tracking another as it veered off course, barreling toward Manhattan, to the final heart-wrenching phone calls, to some incredibly harrowing yet heroic moments, viewers will hear about the bravery of passengers, crew, air traffic controllers and more who tried in vain to intercept the airliners.

RISE AND FALL: THE WORLD TRADE CENTER

17 September, Sunday 20h15 

Through a unique architectural and engineering lens, this special takes a chronological look at the conception, construction and destruction of the World Trade Center towers. It recounts the inspiring, true story behind the individuals who dreamed, planned and built a symbol of American strength and ambition. Step by step, viewers will witness the execution of this innovative and one-of-a-kind sky-high complex from early designs to overcoming technical challenges to its heart-wrenching collapse. The two-hour documentary covers the first terrorist attack on the WTC during the 1993 bombing and unpacks, in vivid detail, attmeline of how and why the building fell after terrorists flew commercial airliners into them on September 11. With the use of historical elements and graphics, expert interviews and courageous first-hand test monies of the two at acks, the documentary reveals the wonders and vulnerabilites of these unforgettable buildings.

REVEALED: THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN

24 September, Sunday 20h15 

This documentary showcases the ten-year effort to find Osama bin Laden, the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks and the leader of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. Based on the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s unprecedented access to American intelligence and military personnel, the film recounts how President Barack Obama ordered a small group of Navy SEALs to raid a mysterious building in Pakistan, without ever being sure that bin Laden was there. Featuring interviews with President Obama, CIA Director Leon Panet a, mission commander Admiral William McRaven, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and, clandestine military planners, intelligence analysts, members of the assault force, and more, the film reveals the risks and tensions of a mission whose purpose was clear, but whose outcome was never certain.

Brand New

INSTRUMENTS OF DEATH 4

14 September, Thursdays 20h15 

Instruments of Death is a gripping series that shows how some of history’s deadliest weapons have been used and how they have shaped major events. Through a series of modern experiments, viewers get a close look at the effects of blades and bullets on the human body. Presenters Karl Ude-Martinez and Kevin Hicks also look at how weapons and body armour were developed to inflict the most untreatable, bloody and mortal wounds possible.

Brand New & Exclusive 

ANCIENT ALIENS S15

16 September, Saturdays 19h25 

In this new installment of fan-favourite Ancient Aliens, Giorgio Tsoukalos explores numerous controversial theories and sites across the world. From uncovering relics from the alleged UFO crash in Roswell, to invest gat ng shocking new evidence that advanced civilizat ons might have existed tens of thousands of years ago. Season 15 of the show also looks at what important clues about other intelligent life in our galaxy we can glean from examining UFO sight ng shapes, sizes, and the way they maneuver.

Brand New & Exclusive 

SEX: A BONKERS HISTORY

23 September, Saturdays 20h15 

The HISTORY Channel investigates the history of sex with Sex: A Bonkers History. Many think of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ as the ultimate sexual revolution and everything before it as a prudish mix of strict religion and no sex before marriage. While that might have been the official story at times…history reveals a much raunchier reality beneath the sheets. The hosts run a curious and anthropological eye over the sexual mores of human societies from prehistoric times to today, including a look at icons like Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe.

How MultiChoice Could Save The Disney Channel From Possible Extinction?

As part of a global effort to prioritise Disney+, the Mouse company had been shuttering several Disney Channels across the world with most notable territories residing in the UK, Australia and Asia. More channel closures are currently underway in Asia with more territories expected to follow.

MultiChoice has kept their remaining linear offering under warps for another two years while Disney continued to close about 18 channels in Asia as the goal was to close 100 international channels over the 30 channels in the previous year with more closures expected in the remaining regions.

Disney Channel is kind of put in that spot as it was basically M-Net in kids entertainment featuring animation like The Owl House, Gravity Falls and Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil to live-action like That's So Raven, High School Musical, Teen Beach and Camp Rock.

To see that all fold under a tile on Disney+ doesn't sit well with some viewers. As some struggle to cover most of their monthly expenses and those using the app often run into some technical difficulties. Also taking to the fact that South Africa is the only known region aside from Northern parts of Africa to have the streamer.

It is not available in other parts of Southern Africa much less the rest of Western and Eastern parts of the region.

The best way for MultiChoice to potentially phase out the Disney Channel would be to undergo a possible rebrand similar to Boomerang's transition to the preschool market with Cartoonito or as mentioned sometime ago by Disney's CEO, a potential sell/spinoff of the linear channel.

Sure most Disney Channels never resulted in a rebrand/spinoff but the outcome to their demise was proven unfavourable for cable providers particularly in Asia where they had their alternatives cutoff due to poor reception.

Disney Channel has become repetitive I mean Lab Rats has taken over their remaining live-action slate while their only primetime offering residing within animation is dominated by Miraculous with a bit of hiccups from The Ghost And Molly McGee and Hamster & Gretel.

And I feel that this revamped channel would try to give these remaining shows much exposure not only Miraculous. Considering that a majority of the channel is reruns as seen in the past months perhaps some minor exceptions like Lab Rats would fall under the new brand.

Disney Channel is something you can't duplicate and having a random channel like Nickelodeon would only make matters worse. Sure viewers may explore a similar lineup but the only reason would tune into the channel is for the actual. If this follow-up has any shot in survival it's through the content that made Disney Channel.

Disney Junior Remains As The Only Disney Branded Television Channel In Turkey, Could This Be The Future For The Disney Channels In Africa?

Disney is set to close their remaining linear offering in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Korea before the current financial year ends with more channels seen in Europe set to join with rumours swirling about the potential demise of the Disney Junior channel seen in Turkey.

As mentioned sometime ago, the preschool brand home to shows like Alice's Wonderland Bakery, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, Sofia The First and PJ Masks remains as the only Disney branded channel in the region likely due to the ongoing demand for preschool content.

Disney Channel and Disney XD were sacrificed years prior with further content folded under Disney+. Although, there's not much confirmation on if Disney Junior would join the other Disney branded channels, several feeds for the brand had been closed down in other countries.

This is part of a global effort which has taken sometime for Disney to transition into particularly in parts of Europe where most of their linear offering reside at the moment.

Should Disney Junior remain on for another year what fate should await the feed in Africa as both are managed in the EMEA should Disney Channel get the boot as seen in most parts of the world including Turkey.

Similar to Turkey, Disney Junior has garnered a lot of popularity in Africa so much so that it happens to be the leading preschool brand with such content also in demand. Compared to Disney Channel, it covers more households in Africa as opposed to being catered to a premium audience.

Unlike the Disney Channel, the channel's lineup isn't bombarded with reruns or being used a hub to promote further content from Disney+. Much less had their shows and films taken away from them amidst a season finale as seen with another former channel, FOX.

But I can't say it's in the best position to live on for another couple of years as Bluey took over the channel kind of like how a group of superheroes took over a children's channel. I mean these are popular brands but with Warner streamlining some would think this is the end.  

New Channel Alert: Zee Zonke Coming This September To DStv

During the week, it was reported that MultiChoice had begun tests on another channel which was believed to be another duplicate to Moja Love. But in recent developments, we got to discover that the channel belongs to the makers of Zee TV, Zee World and Zee One.

Zee Zonke operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises is a South African adaptation to the current Zee TV importing content seen on Zee TV (mostly Zee Marathi) and dubbing them in local languages as seen with rival brand eExtra's Kuiertyd operated by eMedia Investments.

This will be the second region based channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises with Zee Alem currently situated in Ethiopia dubbing various content from Zee World.

As for the channel number, it will likely be allocated in the 160 section (likely 169) which is where Zee World resides and also it's the same area currently harvested by other Southern Africa brands including Mzansi Magic, Mzansi Wethu and Mzansi Bioskop

When it comes to the package, impressed guess would be Access and probably Easyview seeing as consumers on these packages don't have Zee World like the rest of Africa. It would also be added to consumers on Compact, Compact+ and Premium.

Zee Zonke might be applicable to only South Africa.

Considering that all of this will be locally dubbed, the channel will most likely take up the format used on TLNovelas when distributing content. It's currently unknown whether movies will reside on the soon to be launched channel but it wouldn't be shocking if it were only dramas.

The idea of Zee Zonke might have come out after Zee World debuted Jodha And Akbar with a Zulu soundtrack. It garnered popularity with consumers that it wasn't long till they got other programming got into the local mix in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

But it's kind of surprising how Jodha And Akbar isn't part of Zee Zonke's lineup as the only confirmed series at the time include Umakwapheni, Imfihlo, We Mamezala, and Onesipho.

CONFIRMED SERIES:

• Umakwapheni (Majhya Navaryachi Bayko): The drama revolves around Gurunath who is happily married to Radhika until he falls in love with Shanaya, a colleague. What would happen when Radhika learns about this affair and what will be her move to save the marriage?

• Imfihlo (Tula Pahate Re): Vikram Saranjame is a rich and lonely businessman. He gets attracted towards Esha one of his employee whose half his age. Esha two falls in love with him after he shows kindness towards her family as they are not doing financially well. Vikrant and Esha finally get married. But Vikrant has a secret to hide behind a closed door in his mansion.

• We Mamezala (Aggabai Sunbai): A strong bond develops as Asavari, a level-headed businesswoman, tries to help her daughter-in-law, Shubhra, navigate the harsh realities of motherhood and family life.

• Onesipho (Nayan - Jo Vekhe Unvekha): Nayan, a simple small town girl, experiences the boon and bane of her power of premonition. She goes on to marry Devansh under unusual circumstances and turns out to be his saviour. 

News Shorts: Nicktoons Becomes The Last Channel To Enter The Splat Zone, Lord Of The Skies Returns For An 8th Instalment On Telemundo Across Africa This September And MultiChoice Is Rumoured To Be Taking A Playout Test With A Dedicated Channel

Nicktoons gets the splat

During the year, Paramount unveiled a brand new retrofied on air look for Nickelodeon which reached international shores earlier in the month but of course questions amounted to when the rest of their channels like Nick Jr., Nicktoons and TeenNick would integrate with Splat.

So far only Nick Jr. got a new on air look which has yet to hit international shores while the others remain as quo. Not that the rest of their offering wouldn't integrate but it hasn't taken quite sometime for them to make the switch considering that Nickelodeon came in March.

We were only able to get the new Nick Jr. logo through several images shared on the web and a similar outcome awaited the other Nick brands or in this case Nicktoons.

As seen above the official logo, various areas have the "toons" green.

Aurelio also slated to make a comeback on Telemundo this fall

During the week, it was reported that Telemundo would be joining the likes of eExtra, kykNET, StarTimes and Timeless Dizi Channel in the distribution of Turkish dramas with their first series Cennet: The Power Of Destiny which had been scooped up by the channel internationally years prior.

Also confirmed for the channel in the coming months is the revival of Aurelio Casillas in the 8th instalment of Lord Of The Skies with the 9th currently in production and rumoured to debut by the fall of next year.

The 8th season centers on the return of Aurelio Casillas, who supposedly died at the beginning of the previous season after falling into a coma following an attempt on his life. It is only the DEA who knows that Aurelio is alive, having hidden him in the desert. In enacting his plan of revenge, Aurelio establishes connections with old allies, while also facing new romances and uncovering family mysteries. 

It starred Rafael Amaya as Aurelio Casillas, Rubén Cortada as Fernando Aguirre, Carmen Aub as Rutila Casillas, Iván Arana as Ismael Casillas, África Zavala as Mecha de la Cruz, Isabella Castillo as Diana Ahumada, Yuri Vargas as Tracy Lobo and Alejandro López as El Súper Javi.

Playout Test Channel reportedly loading on DStv

During the week, it was learnt that MultiChoice was working on a third TV channel for Siyaya TV, owners of Moja Love. Of course, details of the reported channel have yet to be confirmed as tests are still underway but it is believed to be at the moment a second duplicate of Moja Love also in high definition.

Now the pay-tv company seems to have begun work on a second TV channel titled Playout. Similar to the yet to be announced channel from Siyaya TV, there's not much details available about the channel and most of our search has redirected us to WildEarth so maybe these two are linked.

Interesting enough, WildEarth is also being experimented on but this one is a carbon copy of the current feed already viewable on DStv. It's likely a duplicate but it doesn't explain the name Playout so maybe this could be a seperate channel also under the same name and too in the early stages of development.