GoQuest Media Will Now Handle Distribution Of Disney Star Across Africa

Indian broadcaster Disney Star, which operates the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Mumbai-based distributor GoQuest Media.

The pact sees GoQuest becoming the sole distributor for Disney Star’s content portfolio across Africa, including content dubbed in both English and Hindi and encompassing TV and OTT rights to Disney Star’s linear programming catalogue.

Across a TV network that the company claims reaches more than 700 million viewers in nine languages every month and its successful streaming platform, Disney Star generates more than 20,000 hours of original content every year, including general entertainment, sports, films, infotainment, kids and lifestyle content.

The catalogue GoQuest will be shopping in Africa includes Anupamaa, Imlie, Kasauti Zindagii Kay, Yeh Jaadu Hai Jinn Ka and Chandra Nandini, under an agreement that “represents a strategic move to bring popular Indian content to a wider African audience,” according to the two parties.

The move comes after GoQuest has introduced foreign-language titles to Africa over the past 10 years. GoQuest MD Vivek Lath said: “Our track record, strong partnerships and knowledge of the region and local audiences have positioned us as the ideal team to introduce Disney Star’s Indian collection to this market.”

Sudhir Nagpal, head of international business at Disney Star, added: “Africa has a strong viewer base for our content, especially for our series across languages. We continuously seek opportunities to connect with our audience and this collaboration with GoQuest Media is another step in that direction.”

Sneak Peek: What To Expect On DStv's Newest Addition Play Room?

Play Room is a children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group which will combine education and entertainment through a mix of South African and international content, together with popular animated shows dubbed in Zulu. The channel is set to go live on November 6 to all DStv packages.

Below is a list of confirmed shows for the channel

Preschool

• Akili And Me: Currently seen on Akili Kids in East Africa, Akili is a four-year-old who lives in the Savannah highlands in Kilimanjaro. Every time she goes to sleep, she finds herself in a magic world called Lala Land where she goes on adventures and learns new things. 

• Jabu's Jungle: It follows a young and intrepid nine-year-old from Masiphumelele: Cape Town, and his Magic Talking Drum, explore the jungle and help animals in need, set to Afro-pop music.

• Noah's Park: After leaving Noah's Ark, some of the animals found the perfect place to start life again in Noah's Park! But starting over in a brand new world also means there are a lot of lessons to be learned. 

• Animal Time: JJ's best animal pals are back and sillier than ever! Sing along with JJ and his friends on their wild and hilarious adventures featuring fairy tales, fables, nursery rhymes, and so much more.

• Cocoland: This educational series teaches little ones values like empathy, solidarity and respect, as well as the importance of cooperation to build community.

Kids

• Play Room Live: It brings back a tried and trusted format that audiences love which combine the world of television with social media to create an interactive, always-on world of fun and entertainment for teens and tweens".

• Game Shakers: Formerly seen on Nickelodeon, Babe and Kenzie create a popular application named Sky Whale. However, rapper Double G threatens to ruin their business because he finds out they have been using his song without permission.

• Enchantimals: Meet the Enchantimals! A group of lovable girls who are somewhere between human and animal. With their animal besties, they share an unbreakable bond of friendship.

• Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures: Barbie embarks on adventures with friends and family -- including next-door neighbor Ken -- in this animated vlog of adventures filmed inside her family's new dreamhouse.

• Henry Danger: Henry Hart, a thirteen-year-old boy, works secretly as Kid Danger, a sidekick to superhero Captain Man. He must protect his own exploits from being discovered by his family and friends.

New Channel Alert (Rumour): Zambezi Magic To Rollout A Second TV Channel On The DStv And Possible GOtv Platform

Zambezi Magic is a general entertainment channel based in Southern Africa which is operated by M-Net and MultiChoice. It caters for audiences in Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe (excluding South Africa) with shows like Mpali and Zuba.

During the week, the pay-tv operator had begun work on a duplicate channel to Zambezi Magic what caught our eyes was how they opted to add the drama Kopala to the lineup considering it dates back to a few months while a show like Mpali can go as far as 6 years. 

If we had to guess, this new channel similar to Mzansi Wethu, Maisha Magic POA, Magic Showcase and kykNET Lekker will cater toward consumers who haven't been able to view the above-mentioned shows seen Zambezi Magic's inception to these markets in 2015.

While Zambezi Magic is sitting on channel 162, it wouldn't come as a surprise if this duplicate occupied channel 165 seeing as it is the secondary channel and also the fact that other channel numbers have been filled.

The only question at this point would be whether M-Net and MultiChoice would look into possibly adding Zambezi Magic+ to South Africa. Seeing as they ripped Zuba away from Access customers on Novela Magic and also the fact that they blocked Zambezi Magic from the region.

Development Alert (Rumour): MultiChoice Might Be Switching Nickelodeon In Southern Africa And Possible The Rest Of Africa To High Definition (HD)

Last month, it was reported that MultiChoice and Disney might be looking to switch Disney Channel to high definition therefore alienating Disney Junior from the bulk of HD channels by Disney including National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, ESPN 1 & 2.

Now it looks like the pay-tv company will enhancing the graphic quality on more kids channels likely for consumers in Southern Africa if not ROA with Nickelodeon. The channel was already upgraded to high definition in South Africa back in 2019 but surprised it took this long.

During the year, Nickelodeon rolled out a new on air look which brought one of their iconic logos The Splat back to our screens. It was launched on numerous Nickelodeon feeds internationally by August 2023 with Nicktoons likely to follow before the year ends.

In other developments, MultiChoice is set to add a new kids channel in the coming months, Play Room. If you guessed right, it will be getting the HD treatment while distributing a mixture of fun and educational programming with animation dubbed in local languages.

Recap To Last Month: StarSat Turns To Poor Viewership And Consumer Feedback For The Cancellation Of All Elite Wrestling Across Their Platforms

Last month, it was reported that TNT went dark on StarSat and StarTimes platforms across Africa due to ongoing negotiations. Prior to that, the pay-tv platform blamed rivals such as MultiChoice for retaining the channel on an exclusive basis through DStv.

TNT doesn't have much "premium" value as most content can be transmitted or replicated on other brands like M-Net Movies and Studio Universal which led several consumers to seek answers from Warner Bros. Discovery regarding the sudden disappearance of the channel.

It was through them that it was learnt that StarTimes fabricated details regarding the removal of TNT. But this isn't the first time StarTimes lied particularly with Warner Bros. Discovery as other channels to have exited their platform include Real Time and Investigation Discovery.

As mentioned from last month, StarSat blamed the likes of MultiChoice's DStv for the removal of TNT as it was believed to be part of a exclusive deal. But through a StarSat subscriber, we've recieved a completely different statement which directs it's attention at viewers.

After blaming MultiChoice for TNT, StarSat ought to take it's frustration out on viewers saying that repeats and consumers complaints was what led to its sudden removal. They also take note of viewership which hasn't been performing to their expectation.

They promise to improve the offering on St Movies Plus as a replacement for TNT is currently under evaluation.

If repeats were to truly have been the reason, StarSat would need to have to sought out a channel very opposite to TNT and their current movie offering. FilmBox Family was spotted on the StarTimes app and if this is the supposed replacement it too would further boost the repeats.

And also prove that StarTimes is just spouting more nonsense.