Possible Channel Termination: Could 1Magic And M-Net Essentials (ME) Be The Next Channels To Exit The DStv (And GOtv) Platform, Here's Why?

Update: the channels will close 31 March 2024 and for an updated statement: click here 

During the week, it was reported that MultiChoice will be losing another TV channel, Emmanuel TV. The controversial TV channel founded by T.B Joshua will exiting all pay-tv platforms subsequently by January 17th with further telecasts broadcast through online platforms.

Now there's reports surfacing from a viewer that both 1Magic and Me will be going dark on the DStv platform by the end of January - February 2nd. We are still awaiting confirmation from M-Net but from both channels EPG in the coming weeks it wouldn't seem that far fetched.

1Magic was launched back in 2019 as a replacement to VUZU AMP combining the Mzansi Magic formula would feature curated local productions like The River, Unmarried And The Real Housewives Of Johannesburg alongside international content like Moesha and Grownish.

Me (also known as M-Net Essentials) followed two years later in 2021 as a replacement to both VUZU and M-Net City. The channel was catered for Family and Compact consumers while being made available to Premium and Compact+ featuring content from M-Net and 1Magic.

Both channels had their turnoff for 1Magic, there was Moesha, Hits and The Talk which had been bombarding the channel's line-up the only keeping viewers onboard was The River. But the drama only managed to garner even much traction once it was allocated onto Mzansi Magic.

Me suffered from the rippling effects of M-Net City, a brand which M-Net and several viewers held high on a pedestal serving as the more edgier and robust version to both M-Net and 1Magic with The Blacklist, Black Lightning and Power. 

Although Me was able to retain this offering, the channel was still a big turnoff to viewers of M-Net City as opposed to those of VUZU particularly Family consumers who got more programming.

It wasn't mentioned by the viewer if MultiChoice plans to substitute 1Magic and Me with another channel. But if we had to guess, 1Magic's content will probably fold under M-Net's linear offering and Showmax as part of another streamlining attempt.

It would mean that Compact+ might lose of the few valuable channels on the platform. But again, termination hasn't been confirmed as various new content is slated for February on 1Magic unless this affects consumers outside South Africa which is where the news surfaced.

Me will most likely get replaced with another channel unlike 1Magic there's not much alternatives to the offering. Another would be a possible restructure to M-Net's offering where the channel adopts selected shows like Power Book 4: Force while other content fold under Mzansi Magic.

Update: Both channels will be terminated on DStv from February 2nd and we are currently working on an updated version to this report and hope to share it soon. Here is the link: click here

Development Alert: FOX Turkey Will Also Be Rebranding This February Most Probably To FX As Seen In Parts Of Europe

During the week, it was reported that the FOX channels residing in Portugal, Mozambique and Angola would fold under Star. Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Studios, they had to retract the FOX trademark which is set to expire soon.

This brought on various questions regarding the future of the FOX brand in Turkey. Unlike other FOX feeds, it established itself as one of the leading brands in Turkey having produced various content seen on eExtra including Doodsondes (Yasak Elma) and Dokter Ali (Mucize Doctor).

According to a story on Birsenal Tuntas, the FOX brand will be retracted in Turkey by February. Of course, a name or a date has yet to be announced for the channel but we can only assume that Disney will most likely fold the channel under the FX trademark.

There's already a local broadcaster referred to Star unless Disney wants to infringe on another broadcaster's trademark. FX will most likely replace FOX as Disney's remaining linear offering in the region are headed by the offices in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Disney EMEA manage brands like Disney Channel, Disney Junior, National Geographic and National Geographic Wild alongside FX. I don't see Disney trying to create new trademark after the performance of Star on Disney+ and decline in linear consumption.

It would make more sense to expand the footprint of FX to Turkey giving it a more broader range of content. Unlike Star, FX has longevity establishing itself as Disney's HBO with shows like American Horror Story, Fargo and Legion. 

Another issue pertaining to that would be the current existence of FX in the region. Maybe, Disney could look into merging both channels and another would be expanding of the FX trademark perhaps the current FX could rebrand to FX Premium while FOX becomes simply FX.

News Shorts: Bookie Renewed On Max For Season 2, Gerald Butler Reprises Role Of Hiccup's Father In Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon And Jack Black Boards The Live-Action Minecraft Feature

Bookie returns for season 2

The sports book is reopening after Max renewed Bookie, starring Sebastian Maniscalco, for a second season.

The series, which premiered on November 30, follows bookie Danny (Maniscalco) as he and his partner, former NFL star Ray (Omar Dorsey), romp around Los Angeles trying to keep their illegal sports betting operation in play.

Update on upcoming feature for How To Train Your Dragon

Universal Pictures‘ live-action adaptation of the DreamWorks Animation franchise How to Train Your Dragon is bringing back a familiar face, as sources tell Deadline that Gerard Butler, who voiced Hiccup’s father Stoick in the original movies, will reprise the role. Mason Thames and Nico Parker are set to star as Hiccup and Astrid, with Dean DeBlois directing, writing and producing.

The film is set to bow on June 13, 2025.

Jack Black joins another gaming adaptation

Production is about to get underway on Warner Bros/Vertigo/Legendary’s feature take on Mojang/Microsoft’s Minecraft, and sources are telling us that Jack Black is joining the cast of the Jason Momoa-led movie.

Also starring in Minecraft are Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. The Mojang sandbox title is the bestselling video game of all time, with 300 million copies sold and nearly 140M monthly active players.

The Minecraft film hails from Vertigo, co-financier Legendary, Mojang/Microsoft and Momoa’s On the Roam. Jared Hess is directing. Producers include Roy Lee, Jon Berg, Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Momoa, Torfi Frans Olafsson, Vu Bui and the late Jill Messick. EPs are Todd Hallowell, Kayleen Walters, Brian Mendoza and Jonathan Spaihts.

SuperSportBET: MultiChoice Launches New Sports Betting Platform

MultiChoice Group has announced the launch of SuperSportBet, a new betting platform aimed at sports fans.

The sport and casino betting platform, developed in conjunction with Nigeria’s KingMakers, is “aimed at being the ultimate destination for sports fans, the betting fraternity and sports lifestyle enthusiasts”, MultiChoice said in a statement on Friday.

MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela emphasised that the platform is designed for “responsible betting experiences”, with “responsible gambling at its core, offering robust tools for gambling control”.

These features include Reality Check, Loss Limit, Timeout, self-exclusion and account closure options.

The platform offers a range of global sporting events, including key sports such as the leading international and domestic football and rugby competitions.

“Sports betting is quickly growing to be a game-changer in the country and on the continent,” said SuperSportBet GM Barrie Swart in the statement. “SuperSportBet will, with its exciting features and its association to a rich brand like SuperSport, set itself apart in a competitive and saturated market.”

MultiChoice acquired a 20% stake in KingMakers, then known as BetKing, in 2020. It later increased its stake to 49%. 

Development Alert: Mr. Bean: The Animated Returns For Fourth Season Season To Various Cartoonito And Boomerang Channels Worldwide

Banijay’s Tiger Aspect Kids & Family has commissioned the series in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and ITVX, via deals agreed by Banijay Rights.

Executive produced and voiced by Rowan Atkinson, Season 4 will comprise 52 x 11’ episodes, bringing the total number of episodes across all series to 182 x 11-minutes. It will air on Cartoonito and HBO Max across Europe, the Middle East and Africa on Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids channels and streaming services across Southeast Asia and South Asia, and on ITVX Kids in the U.K. and Ireland from 2025, which marks the 35th anniversary of the first live-action episode.

The animation follows the antics of Mr. Bean and Teddy, as they embark on a series of adventures, making plenty of mischief along the way. Produced by Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, managing director Tom Beattie is also an executive producer. Dave Osborne will direct the series, Arnold Widdowson is producer and the head writers are Ciaran Murtagh and Andrew Barnett Jones.

A British icon, the original live-action “Mr Bean,” co-created by Atkinson and Richard Curtis, bowed in 1990. Atkinson voices the animated series, which was launched in 2002. It has been broadcast in 195 territories, with the series in continual distribution for over 30 years. The brand has some 140 million followers on Meta, 72 million subscribers and 19 billion lifetime views across official YouTube channels; 10 million followers on Instagram; and 14.2 million likes on TikTok.

Atkinson said: “I have always enjoyed this iteration of the Mr. Bean character and the particular freedoms he has in animated form. We can take him into space or down a tin mine, without me personally having to suffer the consequences. The animation process creatively is always fascinating and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the new series very much.”

Beattie added: “It’s a real pleasure to have the opportunity to go back to such a special series. ‘Mr. Bean’ is an iconic comedy legend and it’s an honor to work with Rowan to create this physically funny series.”

Cathy Payne, CEO Banijay Rights, said: “One of the most loved characters in television comedy history, Mr. Bean’s amusing escapades are cherished by children and families across the world. So we’re thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Warner Bros Discovery and ITV on this wonderful animated series which captures Bean’s world so brilliantly.”

Zia Sands, lead content acquisitions, partnerships and co-productions, kids, EMEA, Warner Bros Discovery, said: “Mr. Bean’s comedy antics continue to resonate universally, and we are excited to bring our audiences more of what they love.”