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. 

Download Now

Recap To The Year: Showmax Is Now Producing Original Animated Series (And Movies), Might Launch It Elsewhere

During the year, Showmax launched its first ever original animated series, Jay Jay The Chosen One. Inspired by the football legend Jay-Jay Okocha, it follows Austin, an 11-year-old football-loving school boy, blessed by animals with their abilities, becomes

the superhero Jay Jay, who tackles poachers and guides his school football team to victory.

At the time, it was stated that the streamer was looking to do short term series and depending on how the content performs they would look into rolling out more animation projects. So there entered the South African comedy Twende as the streamer's second attempt at animation.

The show follows a pangolin — an endangered species which is the slowest on the savannah and the most-trafficked type of animal in the world — who makes up for his natural lack of speed by driving a motorcycle taxi. A pilot was screened at Annecy back in 2021 and MultiChoice Studios handles international sales.

“Our long-term goal is to build the animation industry on our continent and to give our children characters and stories that reflect, educate and inspire them, and content they can enjoy with their parents,” says Phahle. “Ultimately we believe that if we do this well enough, the stories will also find audiences outside of Africa.”

Last month, Indigenous Film Distribution unveiled Headspace, the exciting new animation sci-fi feature from Johannesburg’s Luma Animation. The film starts with a freak accident, where Max, Sophie and Gus of the Space Protection Force, and their microscopic spaceship The SPF50, take up residence inside 14-year-old Norman’s brain.