Development Alert: Roekeloos Dade Moves To eExtra For Season 2, Replaces Winter Son This October

During the month, e.tv unveiled the family drama Annekan Die Swa Kry in place of the first season of Roekeloos Dade. With questions amounting to the when e.tv will continue with a season 2 and this comes after Burcu Biricik (the lead actress) hoped onto eExtra's Chrysalis.

As doing some digging around, it has been revealed that e.tv decided to part ways with the show (for unknown reasons) with questions amounting to the future of Annekan Die Swa Kry. Following eMedia's streamlining of the brand, e.tv hasn't completed most of their programs.

The final seasons of Doodsondes are currently streaming on eVOD and earlier in the year the final episodes of Durban Gen were added on eExtra. Several international shows like Magnum Pi and The Goldbergs are being transmitted on eXposed which leads us to question the show.

MultiChoice plans to axe eExtra alongside eMedia's 3 other channels currently viewed on the Openview platform after their current extension expires. It had already been evident that consumers struggle to keep up with this offering and why this would affect DStv is simple.

40% of eMedia Investments' revenue and most likely viewers reside within the DStv platform. eMedia Investments not viewing any of these shows on e.tv as a priority does put them in a precarious position as consumers will likely just flee or in their hopes get Openview. 

As for the second season of Roekeloos Dade, it will return to eExtra this October replacing Winter Son. As for Annekan Die Swa Kry, like I said that's probably a goner as well it would fit the 18:00 timeslot once Elif ends in 2025 seeing as it is a family drama.

Development Alert: uBettina Wethu Cancelled After 3 Seasons On SABC 1, Revived For A Season 4 On e.tv And VIU

A few months ago, it was learnt by the public broadcaster that 7de Laan would end their 26 year run on SABC 2 with the last episode slated for 26 December 2023. Despite being one of the few shows reel in a million viewers SABC can't afford to keep it on the air.

It was also learnt that the public broadcaster that more shows (including ones as popular as 7de Laan) would get the boot. As seen this various media outlets, uBettina Wethu will be ending it's run on SABC 1 with a fourth season slated for e.tv in the coming week.

Based on the Colombian drama Betty Y Soy, uBettina Wethu followed a naïve rural girl who gets a job working for one of Johannesburg's most eligible bachelors. Determined to take charge of her life, she embraces strategic decision-making, self-discovery, and personal growth.

The series became a rating success on SABC 1 but amidst its debut on e.tv, the viewership began to plunge and following e.tv's induction the show is nowhere to be seen on TAMS top 20 likely due to its telecast on SABC 1 which kind of puts the show in a precarious position.

Seeing as the show would depart on SABC 1 and e.tv had spent most of the year rehashing past episodes. Could the fourth season be its last as not a lot of marketing being poured into this show and most consumers would probably think that e.tv is rehashing it for the rest of 2023.

Now that we know that uBettina Wethu was the next program by the public broadcaster to get the boot. Could Takalani Sesame be next as eMedia Investments had scooped it up for their linear platforms during the year and the public broadcaster is reviewing each asset.

New Channel Alert (NOT REALLY): CBeebies Coming This September To Zuku TV

Zuku, an East African brand operated by Wananchi Group established with the aim of making quality home entertainment and communication services in partnership with BBC Studios had announced the addition of CBeebies.

CBeebies is a British based preschool channel featuring animation like Bluey, Thomas And Friends, Shaun The Sheep and Noddy alongside other shows like Yakka Dee, Mister Maker and Andy's Wild Adventure.

Alongside the as mentioned brand, BBC Studios is also home to BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle and BBC UKTV all of which are packaged by MultiChoice's DStv.

In other developments, MultiChoice had extended their content agreement with BBC Studios increasing the duration of select shows on the DStv app and also making BBC Lifestyle and BBC UKTV accessible to more DStv households.

Press Release: Hit Series Lord Of The Skies Returns To Telemundo Africa In October For Season 8

NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-To-Consumer today announced the return of Lord of the Skies, with Season 8 premiering on Monday 2 October 22:00 (CAT) on Telemundo Africa, with episode available immediately after on Universal+. Each 50-minute episode of season 8 will air daily on Telemundo Africa with the Season finale airing on the 31 December 2023.

The fictional drama based on a true story – tells how Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya) became one of the most powerful drug lords who is notorious for transferring drug substances to Mexico, Colombia, and the United States in the 1990s. Casillas builds his path to the top of the narco business, infiltrates the government and spends time in a high security jail, all while maintaining his power and controlling his enemies – including new adversaries in the underground business and his own family members. In season 8, Aurelio Casillas who supposedly died in S7 gets taken by mysterious forces from his last resting place. The DEA has him and they are the only ones who know that Aurelio is alive, hiding him in the desert. In enacting his plan of revenge, Aurelio establishes connections with old allies, faces new romances and uncovers family mysteries.

The ensemble cast includes Carmen Aub, Iván Arana, Isabella Castillo, Alejandro López, Rubén Cortada, África Zavala and Yuri Vargas, with the special appearances of, Robinson Diaz and Salvador Pineda.

Lord of the Skies, created by Luis Zelkowicz, was produced in April 2013 by US Telemundo Studios.

Lord of the Skies returns to Telemundo Africa for Season 8. Episodes to air daily from Monday 2 October at 22:00 CAT premiering on Telemundo Africa, with episodes available Immediately after on Universal+

Will Zee Zonke Be Available Outside Of South Africa?

During the week, it was reported that Zee Entertainment Enterprises would be rolling out a localised version of Zee Marathi titled Zee Zonke. Targeted toward Southern Africa, it would supply various Bollywood dramas in Zulu audio and English subtitles. 

The channel would start out with four dramas, Umakwapheni (Majhya Navaryachi Bayko), Imfihlo (Tula Pahate Re), We Mamezala (Aggabai Sunbai) and Onesipho (Nayan - Jo Vekhe Unvekha) with more content currently in the pipeline.

Since news of the potential new channel came out, Zee Zonke has garnered a lot of mixed signals mostly for the choice in audio with some even skeptical to explore the offering. But news of such channel doesn't come as a surprise seeing as they dubbed various shows on Zee World.

And also, Zee TV was rumoured to be developing such channel back in 2022 alongside various other channels one in Hausa and another Swahili.

Taking account the language illustrated on the channel, Zee Zonke might not be viewable in certain if not most parts of Africa including Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya. Unlike Zee One, none of the content can be viewed on Zee World with select shows on Zee TV.

If I had to guess why this channel can't be seen in these regions, it may be as mentioned the language and another could be that the channel is rolling out in phases maybe Zee TV is experimenting in South Africa and the outcome there will determine its fate elsewhere.

I mean the idea doesn't seem far fetched considering Zee World had dubbed various shows across Africa in local languages. It's only a matter of time, perhaps on top of reception they're looking to first but build the slate on one brand before doing anything elsewhere.