Development Alert: Zee One, Star Life, Discovery Science, MSNBC And More TV Channels Exit Zuku TV

During the week, it was reported that Zuku TV had reinstated National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV and only 1 ESPN channel. As the latter are currently packaged by MultiChoice's DStv and StarTimes' and On Digital Media's StarSat platforms.

After being replaced by Animal Planet, TLC and Discovery, Zuku TV had opted to remove these channels and worse kill of a few more channels like Star Life, Zee One, Travel Channel, MSNBC, Discovery Science, Real Time, Planet Fun, 360 TuneBox, Zuku Action and Zuku Max.

There had been channels which had suffering signal loss but the above mentioned are just the few channels in which Zuku TV had been reviewing and opted to no longer distribute. Consumers are flooding the socials threatening to cut ties or opt to rival platforms if the latter isn't reinstated.

Three years ago, Zuku TV was left without a decent sports offering and history as you have it took the Bollywood offering. It's not only Zee One and Star Life that are affected but also sister channels like StarPlus and Zee Bollymovies.

In other developments, MultiChoice and StarSat had both lost carriage of Emmanuel TV and Deutsche Welle with one set to go dark by mid-January. This is due to the company's recent review of their portfolio which had seen them do a lot of cost cutting in order to remain afloat.

New Series Alert: Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum Coming Soon To Zee Family

Zee Family, a general entertainment channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises features various Bollywood films and TV series exclusively on eMedia's Ultraview service is set to rollout it's first show in the new year titled Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum.

The show revolves around the unusual love stories of two contrasting opposite persons. Things do not remain the same when Rahul, a Rock-star and the scion of the biggest musical empire runs into Maanvi, a humble aspiring singer from small town. 

It starred Karan Kundra as Rahul Sabharwal, Saanvi Talwar as Manvi Rahul Sabharwal, Naveen Saini as Raj Sabharwal, Papiya Sengupta as Sonali Raj Sabharwa and Ashish Mehrotra as Shaleen Sabharwal.

A total of 217 episodes were broadcast on &TV each with a 22 minute duration. Ekta Kapoor serves as the producer and is responsible for successors such as Kumkum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya all of which resides within Zee TV as seen with Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum.

Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum is slated for an early 2024 debut on Zee Family.

More Channel Closures As The Disney Channel Exits OSN In The Middle East And North Africa, Could More Regions Likely Follow?

Since Disney+ inception back in 2019, Disney has closed various linear channels globally to prioritise their direct to consumer business. With the latter currently situated within Europe and Africa, Disney has slowly but surely further distance themselves from their linear business.

Last year, Disney axed their remaining linear offering seen in parts of Asia by New Year's Eve. They had also managed several linear channels within the Middle East and North Africa through pay-tv operator OSN who had substituted these brands with Cartoon Network and Animal Planet.

These channels are still available in the regions but on smaller platforms which will make it a lot more easier to close.

If there's one thing that's certain here, Disney Channel's days in South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa are numbered and although a timeframe has yet to be reached. We presume that Disney will look into closing feeds in the surrounding areas ahead of time.

Similar to MTV and Nick Jr, Disney had been cutting back on localised feeds with the remaining aligning themselves with Southern Africa. It has been somewhat chaotic with shows like Hailey's On It and Disney's Saturdays airing as quadruple on weekdays.

Despite only having less than 13 episodes on air, it has been bumpy ride particularly with their programme guide mislabeling shows and movies. It's clear that all their efforts will be put on Disney+ if the plan would be making an original available monthly on linear platforms.

They had ripped away various originals such as The Owl House and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure before their final seasons. Disney+ acquired exclusive rights to Marvel's Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur despite being viewed on Disney Channel overseas.

MultiChoice and various other pay-tv operators will have a hard time trying to replace these channels. Speaking as a long time fan, the best option would be having Disney Channel spun off like Sky Kids/Universal Kids have with DreamWorks but for consumers in Africa.

News Shorts: German Based Broadcaster Deutsche Welle Shutters It's Linear Operations Across Europe And Africa, National Geographic And ESPN Have Been Added To Zuku TV And A Rebroadcast Of Dayan, Destructive Beauty Launches On eExtra

DW goes dark across Europe

The move is part of a package of measures presented by DW director Peter Limbourg to the DW broadcasting council in Berlin on March 17, 2023.

“We will no longer broadcast linear programming in German after the changeover, but we will offer singular content on digital platforms,” the DW spokesman said. The date for the closure of the German TV channel has not yet been set. “I’m not able to provide a specific date at this time,” he added.

With the package of measures as part of the 2024 budget planning, Limbourg wants to drive the digital transformation of the German international service. Included are savings, budget shifts from linear to digital offerings and to regional languages, as well as investments in digital working environments.

Zee TV dying down on eExtra

After cutting down on primetime for more Annekan Die Swa Kry and axing Naagin much earlier than anticipated. A rebroadcast of Dayan, Destructive Beauty is expected to join the channel's line-up in the coming weeks replacing the timeslot of Naagin supposedly.

Dayan, Destructive Beauty was the first and probably last Bollywood drama to have been made exclusive to eVOD before being added to linear platforms. Now eVOD's international drama lineup outside of Kuiertyd is revolved on content viewed on eSeries and eExtra.

It follows Janvi Maurya, a well-educated and family oriented girl hailing from Ujjain, stumbles upon a dangerous ploy by an evil force as many unusual and mysterious happenings occur in her hometown. With a threat to her life, she must unmask the identity of a Daayan.

Sports makes a comeback on Zuku TV

Last year, it was revealed through several social outlets that Zuku TV will be relaunching National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV and ESPN 1 after removing them back in 2021. The only difference FOX and ESPN 2 aren't part of this offering.

These channels were replaced with Animal Planet, Discovery and TLC from Warner Bros. Discovery, Filmbox from SPI International and Planet Fun years prior. But the pay-tv platform failed to substitute the sporting line-up with any chances of a replacement likely dead at this point.

Channel Termination Notice: Emmanuel TV Will Exit MultiChoice's DStv And GOtv From January 17 And Subsequently All Other Pay-TV Platforms

Just a few hours before the new year, DStv consumers were very alarmed to see a termination notice put up on Emmanuel TV. A christian television channel founded by the former TB Joshua is set to go dark various DStv and GOtv platforms across the country from January 17.

Emmanuel TV is currently one of the most subscribed christian channels on YouTube with over 250 000 active subscribers and nearly two million followers on Facebook. Emmanuel TV’s numerous videos online have amassed well over 200 million views.

Since its beginning in 1993, Scoan has grown to become one of the most sought after christian ministries across the world. The church’s television network, Emmanuel TV, was established in 2006 and has been broadcasting worldwide with a viewership of over 100 million.

In recent years or at least from what several outlets had uncovered, the channel went on a downward spiral telecasting old services. Basically, Emmanuel TV's entire existence revolved on TB Joshua and with his passing there's not much left of an Emmanuel TV.

Management had opted to rather leverage of his legacy instead of trying to restructure Emmanuel TV and look at other means for survival. Aside from MultiChoice, it had also been confirmed that Emmanuel TV will exit StarSat and other pay-tv platforms.

As to whether MultiChoice or affected pay-tv platforms will look into replacing Emmanuel TV. That has yet to be seen but if we had to guess both providers will likely focus on the existing bouquet of religious channels.

Although, Emmanuel TV will cease to exist on most major platforms across the world. The channel will remain on free-to-air HD decoders and put more emphasis toward its online presence through Apple TV or App Store, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Google TV and soon Google Play Store.