The Splat Is Back On DStv! As Nickelodeon Across Southern Africa Is Now In HD, Rebranding To The Nick Jr. And Nicktoons Channel To Follow Soon

DStv’s kids channel Nickelodeon has uncovered a new brand identity that calls back to its irreverent history. It includes a reimagined Splat logo, but with a modern feel for today’s kids & families. The rebrand is live on Nickelodeon and will be launching on Nick Jnr from November and on NickToons in 2024.

The new identity positions the brand Nickelodeon and its re-imagined splat as the ultimate “Portal to Fun” - a gateway to surprising experiences Nick kids of all ages will love. This new take on the brand’s classic look and feel demonstrates for kids just what can happen when you enter the splat world of Nickelodeon!

What’s more, this playful brand identity can be enjoyed in full High Definition by children and families across Africa from 1 November!

“For us at Nickelodeon, the reimagined splat logo brings our mission of making the world a more playful place come to life. We hope that kids and their families across the continent will enter the portal of fun and enjoy the new and exciting content we have in store” said Dillon Khan, Vice President for Nickelodeon in Africa. 

The new brand identity will work to demonstrate Nick’s energy and sensibility through the lens of our iconic characters (SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, PAW Patrol, Blue’s Clues, Baby Shark, Dora the Explorer, The Loud House and Monster High), punctuated with moments of quintessential Nickelodeon Slime. Now all in HD for African audiences.

Development Alert: AMC Networks To Rebrand UK Channels, What Fate Awaits The CBS Channels Across Africa?

AMC Networks International has announced a rebrand of its portfolio of UK channels and streaming services owned by the CBS AMC Networks UK Channels Partnership with Paramount Global.

The rebrand, taking place on 22 November will retain the familiar colouring of the channel brands, which will be brought together by a ‘signature open box branding’.

CBS Reality, which has been the UK’s number 1 factual entertainment channel amongst adult women since 2016 and has been airing popular original, expert-led true crime programming, will be renamed to True Crime, and streaming brand True Crime from CBS Reality will change from to True Crime UK. The FAST channel is available through multiple platforms including Amazon Freevee, Rakuten TV and Samsung TV + services initially, with more major platforms rolling out shortly.

Entertainment channel Legend, which features action, sci-fi, adventure and western series and movies, and which was renamed from Horror Channel in 2022, will also go through a brand transformation.

On-demand content from both the True Crime and Legend channel brands are available currently on free on-demand player CBS Catch Up Channels UK which will become Watch UK. Watch Free UK is accessible directly via Freeview, Freesat and Youview, and downloadable via IOS, Android, and all major device and manufacturer stores.

Other channels in the portfolio to rebrand include Legend Xtra and True Crime Xtra, and time-shift versions Legend XTRA +1 and True Crime +1.

Sam Rowden, VP, Content Group said, “With such a vast array of content available across so many platforms, we wanted to elevate our UK portfolio to be more easily recognisable and accessible, and to clearly reflect our content offering. This rebrand closely aligns with our aim to provide carefully curated services catering to both existing and new audiences, wherever they choose to watch our programmes.”

The new look was developed with Second Home Studios alongside AMCNI UK’s in-house creative team led by Creative, Marketing and Communications Director Matt Stott, and the updated identity is supported by a marketing campaign including on air and digital media elements.

CBS Reality's demise in the UK means that the CBS brand name on linear TV has come to an end and similar to CBS Justice these would continue to function in Africa and other parts of Europe which begs the question as to what fate awaits these channels.

CBS Reality has been a crime filtered channel in the UK so the switch to True Crime makes sense. These channels had felt more AMC than Paramount so the names kind of makes sense which begs the question on the fate of its international counterparts.

Considering True Crime seems more permanent my guess is that CBS Justice in Africa will likely fold under that brand name and CBS Reality considering there's been not much put out there in terms of branding my guess would be, True Entertainment or True Television or weirdly enough True Reality.

Seeing as AMC International UK also manage the feeds seen across EMEA this rebrand is likely to be duplicated elsewhere.

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.