Development Alert: Teen Africa TV Added In The West And Eastern Parts Of Africa On DStv And GOtv, Could Play Room Follow In Southern Africa?

Last month, it was reported that Da Vinci Kids would be exiting the DStv platform in November. In place of the TV channel would be a new children's channel by Ngwato Nkosi Group, Play Room.

From what we've heard, the channel would be exclusive to consumers in South Africa similar to eToonz. But unlike free-to-air children's channel operated by eMedia Investments, MultiChoice seems to have added a test card for Play Room under VUZU in Southern Africa.

It's currently unknown whether Play Room could be seen in other parts of Africa particularly Southern Africa but it wouldn't be shocking if it did launch considering that MultiChoice's last addition Zee Zonke can also be viewed by these consumers in the region.

The question would have to be whether these consumers would get it at the same time as South Africa as there's been no mention of the channel on their website as seen in South Africa.

Teen Africa TV extends its reach

As mentioned earlier, Da Vinci Kids would exiting the DStv and GOtv platforms in various African markets in November. We were told by some consumers in the region that the channel went dark by 31 August 2023 in some regions which coincides with the expansion of Teen Africa TV.

Teen Africa TV is Africa's first television channel for

teenagers, running for 24 hours daily across African countries and targeting first line audiences of pre teens, teenagers aged 13 to 19 as well as young adults and family. The channel was founded by Nigerian filmmaker Charles Novia.

It was exclusive to Nigeria on StarTimes channel 361, DStv channel 394 (before moving to 315) and GOtv channel 91. Now Teen Africa TV is broadcasting in 43 African countries excluding Southern Africa as Play Room might fill up the void in those regions.

Warner Bros. Discovery Is To Launch HGTV In The Dutch Market Early Next Year

The interior and lifestyle channel, which is already available in 93 countries, will make its debut on 15 January 2024.

Well-known HGTV programmes include Celebrity IOU, in which brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott work with celebrities to give houses a complete makeover and then surprise donate them to people who have meant something special to them, My Lottery Dream Home with David Bromstad, who helps lottery winners use their winnings to finally buy that big dream home, and House Hunters – now 205 seasons on – in which homebuyers are closely followed in their search for the new perfect home, carefully weighing up the pros and cons.

“We are delighted to add the channel HGTV to the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio, bringing this beautiful brand to the Netherlands,” said Tatiana Lagewaard, Head of Content & Programming at Warner Bros. Discovery. “HGTV will also be a party that connects advertisers and commercial partners directly with a specific lifestyle target audience. Our goal with HGTV is to be a source of inspiration, but also a channel to relax with.”

Distribution has been secured with providers KPN, Ziggo and Odido, while most HGTV programming can also be seen on streaming service discovery+.

Play Room's Locally Curated Schedule Ahead Of It's Debut On DStv Access

A whole new world of learning and fun opens up for local kids on November 6 when new children’s channel Play Room launches on DStv Channel 300.

Play Room will combine education and entertainment in a uniquely local package carrying original South African and popular international content, including favourite animated titles dubbed into isiZulu.

"We are constantly looking to give our customers the best entertainment and by increasing our content offering we’re providing more viewing options to them. From a local content perspective, we’re excited to expand on local representation in the form of content being dubbed in local languages. The launch of Play Room is an enhancement that we believe parents and children will have a strong affinity to," says Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head of General Entertainment at MultiChoice Group.

Morning programming will focus on educational material for 4-6-year-olds. Afternoons will feature live action and a local live show with high entertainment value for tweens.

The afternoon live show will combine the world of television with social media to create an interactive and entertainment for teens and tweens. 

Learning and fun with a local flavour as Play Room launches on DStv Channel 300. It will be available to DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact, Family and Access customers.

PROGRAMMING & SCHEDULE

Bold for local/African

* for preschool

# for live-action

Weekdays

00:00 Oddbods*

00:30 CoComelon (isiZulu)*

00:45 Akili And Me*

01:15 Bino And Fino*

01:30 Animal Time*

01:45 Enchantimals Tales From Everwilde

02:00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures

02:30 Barbie: Magic Touch

03:00 Play Room Live#

04:00 Game Shakers#

04:30 Game Shakers#

04:55 Henry Danger#

05:25 Sanjay And Craig

06:00 Oddbods*

06:30 Cocoland*

06:40 Thomas & Friends*

06:55 Paw Patrol*

07:25 Jabu's Jungle*

08:00 CoComelon (isiZulu)*

08:15 Akili And Me*

08:45 Bino And Fino*

09:00 Animal Time*

09:15 Enchantimals Tales From Everwilde

09:30 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures

10:00 Barbie: Magic Touch

10:30 Oddbods*

11:00 Thomas & Friends*

11:15 Animal Time*

11:30 Jabu's Jungle*

12:00 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

12:15 Akili And Me*

12:45 Bino And Fino*

13:00 Game Shakers#

13:30 Game Shakers#

14:00 Henry Danger#

14:30 Sanjay And Craig

15:00 Play Room Live#

16:00 Game Shakers#

16:30 Game Shakers#

17:00 Henry Danger#

17:30 Sanjay And Craig

18:00 Oddbods*

18:30 Cocoland*

18:40 Thomas & Friends*

18:55 Paw Patrol*

19:25 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

19:40 Akili And Me*

20:10 Jabu's Jungle*

20:35 Bino And Fino*

20:50 Cocoland*

21:00 Play Room Live#

22:00 Game Shakers#

22:30 Game Shakers#

23:00 Henry Danger#

23:30 Sanjay And Craig

Notes

• Game Shakers is the most aired show on the channel.

• Paw Patrol is the least aired preschool show on the channel.

• 32,73% of the schedule consists of locally or African produced shows.

• 72,73% of the schedule consists of animated shows.

• 45,45% of the schedule is dedicated to older children with Oddbods it takes it to 52,73% seeing as it also caters to "families".

Saturday

00:00 Oddbods*

00:30 Jabu's Jungle*

00:45 Akili And Me*

01:15 Bino And Fino*

01:30 Animal Time*

01:45 Enchantimals Tales From Everwilde

02:00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures

02:30 Barbie: Magic Touch

03:00 Play Room Live#

04:00 Game Shakers#

04:25 Game Shakers#

04:55 Henry Danger#

05:25 Sanjay And Craig

06:00 Akili And Me*

06:30 Akili And Me*

07:00 Akili And Me*

07:30 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

08:00 Cocoland*

08:05 Bino And Fino*

08:35 Jabu's Jungle*

09:00 Animal Time*

09:15 Thomas & Friends*

09:45 Thomas & Friends*

10:00 Enchantimals Tales From Everwilde

10:30 Enchantimals Tales From Everwilde

10:45 Oddbods*

11:15 Oddbods*

11:45 Oddbods*

12:00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures

12:30 Barbie: Magic Touch

13:00 Game Shakers#

13:30 Game Shakers#

14:00 Henry Danger#

14:30 Sanjay And Craig

15:00 Play Room Live

16:00 Max Steel: The Dawn Of Morphos

17:00 Sanjay And Craig

17:30 Animal Time*

17:45 Jabu's Jungle*

18:15 Jabu's Jungle*

18:45 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

19:15 CoComelon (isiZulu)*

19:30 Akili And Me*

20:00 Akili And Me*

20:30 Akili And Me*

21:00 Play Room Live#

22:00 Game Shakers#

22:30 Game Shakers#

23:00 Sanjay And Craig

23:30 Sanjay And Craig

Notes

• Max Steel: The Dawn Of Morphos and Cocoland get the least amount of airtime on Saturday while Paw Patrol is not viewable on this day.

• Akili And Me gets the most amount of time overall and Game Shakers follows by in the second spot with first spot for older content.

• 62% of the schedule consists of internationally produced shows (excluding CoComelon).

• 52% of the schedule caters to older children (excluding Oddbods).

• 80% of the schedule consists of animated shows.

Sunday

00:00 Oddbods*

00:30 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

00:45 Akili And Me*

01:15 Bino And Fino*

01:30 Animal Time*

01:45 Enchantimals Tales From Everwilde

02:00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures

02:30 Barbie: Magic Touch

03:00 Play Room Live#

04:00 Game Shakers#

04:30 Game Shakers#

05:00 Henry Danger#

05:30 Henry Danger#

06:00 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

06:30 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

06:45 Akili And Me*

07:15 Akili And Me*

07:45 Jabu's Jungle*

08:15 Cocoland*

08:35 Cocoland*

08:55 Cocoland*

09:00 Oddbods*

09:30 Oddbods*

10:00 Oddbods*

10:15 Animal Time*

10:45 Thomas & Friends*

11:15 Thomas & Friends*

11:30 Animal Time*

12:00 Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures

12:30 Barbie: Magic Touch

13:00 Henry Danger#

13:30 Sanjay And Craig

14:00 Game Shakers#

14:30 Game Shakers#

15:00 Play Room Live#

16:00 The Lion And The Mouse*

16:30 Sanjay And Craig

17:00 Sanjay And Craig

17:30 Animal Time*

17:45 Jabu's Jungle*

18:15 Jabu's Jungle*

18:45 Thomas & Friends*

19:15 Akili And Me*

19:45 Akili And Me*

20:15 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

20:45 Cocomelon (IsiZulu)*

21:00 Play Room Live#

22:00 Game Shakers#

22:30 Game Shakers#

23:00 Sanjay And Craig

23:30 Sanjay And Craig

Notes

• Game Shakers is the most aired show on the channel with Sanjay And Craig being the most aired animated show for older children.

• Akili And Me and CoComelon are the most aired preschool shows on this day with Paw Patrol also not seen on this day.

• 33,33% of the schedule consists of locally produced shows.

• 74,51 of the schedule is dedicated to preschoolers (including Oddbods).

• 23,53% of the schedule consists of live-action shows.

'Friends' Star Matthew Perry Dead At 54...After Apparent Drowning

More details are surfacing about the circumstances surrounding Matthew Perry's death...as sources tell us he actually died at his own house after some physical activity this morning.

We're told Matthew came home sometime in the AM after a 2-hour round of pickleball, and that he sent his assistant out on errand shortly thereafter. We're told when the assistant returned about 2 hours later, he discovered Matthew unresponsive...and called 911.

Unclear if what Matthew was doing before his passing played any role in his death at this point -- the investigation into his death is underway.

Law enforcement sources tell us the actor was found Saturday at an L.A.-area home ... where we're told he appears to have drowned. Our sources say first-responders rushed over on a call for cardiac arrest. It's unclear where exactly on the grounds this happened.

Our sources say he was found in a jacuzzi at the home ... and we're told there were no drugs found at the scene. We're also told there is no foul play involved.

Perry is most famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit '90s sitcom, which ran for 10 seasons ... and with him in all 234 episodes. His character was a fan fave, as was performance -- mannerisms and lines of which have gone on to be recreated and spoofed by fans all over the world. One comes to mind, in particular ... "Could (blank) BE more .."

While 'Friends' was his biggest claim to fame ... MP had starred/guest starred in countless other TV shows over the years -- such as 'Boys Will Be Boys,' 'Growing Pains,' 'Silver Spoons,' 'Charles in Charge,' 'Sydney,' 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' 'Home Free,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'The West Wing,' 'Scrubs,' 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,' 'Go On,' 'The Odd Couple' and more.

He had also acted in a handful of memorable films (mostly comedy) ... like 'Fools Rush In,' 'The Whole Nine Yards,' 'Three to Tango,' 'The Kid,' '17 Again,' 'Getting In,' and many others. He's been off the scene more recently ... not having acted since a TV mini series in 2017.

While his onscreen persona was affable and upbeat, Matthew suffered mightily behind the scenes -- notably, from his addiction to drugs and alcohol ... pain killers, specifically. He was hooked on Vicodin for years -- even while on 'Friends' -- and had been in and out of rehab.

Matthew opened up about this painful chapter of his life in a memoir he put out last year -- where he detailed the struggles he had ... including his clear weight-loss/gain on the show.

During his press run for his book ... Matthew did a number of interviews where he got incredibly emotional -- including one with Diane Sawyer, where he detailed his story.

While Perry appeared to be clean and sober a year ago, the year prior -- when he and the other cast members were plugging the 'Friends' reunion show -- drew concern from fans ... as they felt he appeared unwell, at times slurring his words and looking a bit out of it.

On top of his substance use ... Matthew also dealt with health issues, some of which were serious and required hospitalizations. One such incident stemmed from a gastrointestinal perforation -- which forced him to undergo emergency surgery ... but he luckily recovered.

Matthew never married, but he was briefly engaged to Molly Hurwitz a couple years ago...which came to an end after only 6 months. Before that, he'd been linked to Lizzy Caplan.

The Woman In Me By Britney Spears (PDF)

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

 

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. 

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