Could Content Cuts Lead To The Closure/Merger Of Disney Channel And Disney Junior In Europe And Africa Alongside Disney XD In The United States?

Following Disney+ inception, Disney has been consolidating their content thus leading to closures of several linear channels across the world. To date, most of the company's linear offering reside within Europe, Middle East and Africa as the streamer's trail goes dry.

From what was established, Disney's remaining linear offering will stick around for the foreseeable future. This was partially due to the absence of Disney+ in parts of the above-mentioned regions and another income as these brands help sustain Disney+.

As seen in the last few months, Disney Channel has been running low on content with shows like Bunk'd and The Ghost And Molly McGee axed. The channel has become a graveyard for Disney+ with programming like Cars On The Road and Chip'n Dale: Park Life.

Part of this may have to do with the actor's strike back in 2023 but honestly it wouldn't seem far fetched if more consolidation were underway. There's been a decline in linear consumption and also these affects have been underway across the world.

If anything, Disney XD could as well shut down in the United States with content being integrated between Disney Channel and Disney+. While Disney Junior's remaining linear offering in parts of the world could revert back to a mere programming block on Disney Channel.

News Shorts: Paramount Unveils First Look At Daria Spinoff Jodie, Wizards Of The Waverly Place Prequel In Development For Disney Channel And The Fairly OddParents To Get A Sequel Series On Netflix

Jodie: First Look at 'Daria' Spin-Off's Logo

Comedy Central announced back in August 2020 that it had commissioned Jodie, a spin-off film based on Daria starring Tracee Ellis Ross, as part of the network tapping into IP across Paramount Global to build an original animated slate of adult comedy around stalwart South Park. Although not much has been said about the new movie since the original announcement, it looks like that's all about to change!

Paramount Global, the parent company of Comedy Central, has started to apply for trademarks for the film with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including for "Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services" and "Clothing; footwear; headgear", the latter giving us a first look at the Jodie logo!.

"We are excited to reinvent this iconic franchise with a new creative team and our partners at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio," Chris McCarthy, President of ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group, shared in a statement back in 2020 when the news was first announced. "Ren & Stimpy joins our rapidly expanding roster of adult animation, including South Park, Beavis and Butt-Head, and Clone High, as we continue to reimagine our treasure chest of beloved IP for new generations."

Selena Gomez and David Henrie reunite for Wizards Of The Waverly Place

One of Disney’s signature comedies, Wizards of Waverly Place, is getting a sequel. Disney Branded Television has ordered a pilot for the follow-up, which is executive produced by original stars Selena Gomez and her small screen sibling David Henrie. Gomez will guest star in the pilot for Disney Channel as the character that helped launch her career, Alex Russo, with David Henrie reprising the role of Justin Russo as a series regular. He is joined by new cast members Janice LeAnn Brown (Disney’s Just Roll with It), Alkaio Thiele (Call Me Kat) and Mimi Gianopulos (American Princess).

The revival pilot comes from writers and executive producers Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas who are behind another Disney Channel comedy spinoff, Raven’s Home. It picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.

The Fairly OddParents is getting another reboot

It's been reported that a new series is in development at Netflix called The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish. Though the show has not been officially announced, the report claims that its existence was uncovered by way of a leaked video. The news also follows original Fairly OddParents voice actor Daran Norris mentioning in July 2023 that he was working on a new project for the franchise, though he didn't share any additional details at the time.

The fresh report also noted some plot details for The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish. It is said that the sequel series will introduce a 10-year-old girl named Hazel Wells as the new protagonist, the role Timmy Turner played in the original series. Despite the change in protagonists, however, it's reported that Norris and Susanne Blakeslee are reprising their roles as Cosmo and Wanda from the original series, as the characters are "coming out of retirement to grant Hazel her wishes." 

February 2024 On Discovery Family And Food Network Across Africa | New Series Alert: Undercover Billionaire And Big Sky Kitchen With Eduardo Garcia | Returning Shows Including Girl Meets Farm | More

Discovery Family

Undercover Billionaire S1

NEW TO CHANNEL

Self-made billionaire Glenn Stearns grew up poor in the sticks of Maryland and was only 14 years old when he became a father. A few years ago, however, he sold his company for $2.2 billion and is ready to put his money where his mouth is by making another million in only 90 days with just $100 in his pocket. If he succeeds, he'll give that money back to the people that helped him along the way.

First TX: 13 Feb

TX Day: Mon - Fri

TX Time: 20:35

Last TX: TBC

Food Network

Girl Meets Farm S13

NEW SEASON

Cookbook author, food blogger and Midwest

transplant Molly Yeh embraces her country life

and makes dishes inspired by her Jewish and

Chinese heritage -- with a taste of the Midwest,

too.

First TX: 1 Feb

TX Day: Thursday

TX Time: 17:00

Last TX: 14 Mar

Big Sky Kitchen With Eduardo Garcia S1 & S2

BRAND NEW

Montana-based chef, outdoorsman and wild food

forager Eduardo Garcia hosts this cooking series

inspired by his love for nature. His fun and

delicious meals become food celebrations for

family and friends under the big sky.

First TX: 4 Feb

TX Day: Saturday & Sundays

TX Time: 16:05

Last TX: 25 Feb

BBQ Brawl: Flay V. Burrell V. Tila S3

NEW SEASON

Undefeated champion Bobby Flay is joined by

Anne Burrell and Jet Tila, who both want a crack

at leading Food Network's next Master of 'Cue to

victory and a featured role on Food Network

Digital.

First TX: 26 Feb

TX Day: Monday

TX Time: 18:00

Last TX: 15 Apr

BBQ USA S1

BRAND NEW

It's the most competitive game in food -- BBQ!

Chef and restaurateur Michael Symon heads to

the biggest BBQ competitions across America to

showcase the talented pitmasters, die-hard

devotees and, of course, the most

mouthwatering 'que around.

First TX: 18 Feb

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 18:00

Last TX: 24 Mar

Apollo Global Management Is Looking To Set It's Bid For A Possible Acquisition Of Paramount Global

National Amusements, Inc., the Shari Redstone-led company that owns the majority of voting shares in Paramount Global, is reportedly fielding interest from another entity mulling an acquisition offer. Apollo Global Management is among the wealthy individuals and companies that have contacted the investment bank advising NAI, BDT & MSD Partners, according to Bloomberg.

NAI owns a portfolio of movie theaters as well as nearly 80% of voting shares. As with recently discussed scenarios involving Skydance Media and RedBird Capital, the Apollo deal would be a route to gain control of Paramount, though the voting shares owned by NAI do not represent a majority of the economic value of the company, only most of its voting class of shares.

Redstone, who spent years gaining control of Viacom and CBS, withstanding legal challenges and objections from critics including her own father, the late Sumner Redstone, has been more willing than ever to entertain offers. Paramount, which was formed when Viacom and CBS reunited in 2019, has struggled due to pay-TV cord-cutting, a soft ad market, a loss-producing streaming operation and volatility in the movie business. While its namesake film studio has had its share of hits, including last weekend’s Mean Girls, the broader company does not have the scale of many media rivals. With its stock worth less than half of what it was when the merger closed, Redstone reportedly is open to turning the page if the right offer comes along.

Paramount shares perked up late in the trading day Friday on the report of Apollo’s interest, rising 2% to close at $13.40.

Apollo is one of the more active private equity players in media, with stakes in companies like Dune producer Legendary Entertainment, Peter Chernin’s North Road, Cox Media Group and Yahoo. It has also been a player in the TV station sector, taking part in the proposed takeover of Tegna by Standard General, which was ultimately quashed by regulators.

M-Net On DStv Compact: Could This Be The Possible Outcome To The Cancellation Of Me And 1Magic?

With M-Net Essentials (ME) and 1Magic serving as M-Net's last secondary channels set to exit the DStv platform by early February. Some have led to wonder if a possible restructure to DStv packages could be in development as MultiChoice remains silent on how they'll retain their Compact+ consumers.

For several years now, MultiChoice's premium market has been declining rapidly similar to HBO and even Discovery Channel in the United States has seen a fall in consumption. These consumers have all integrated to Netflix and various other affordable plans.

Although MultiChoice has seen a decline in premium consumption their lower markets continues to rise. In the last annual results dated 30 September 2023, their mass market had increased from 54% to 57% while their premium and mid market decreased from 46% to 43%.

It kind of leads one to wonder what fate awaits their remaining premium offering particularly M-Net. As mentioned, there's been less consumption so much that MultiChoice remains discrete on its viewership numbers with House Of Dragons being the only notable show pulled around 8000 views.

Again with M-Net's Me and 1Magic exiting, could it be possible that Me's content will remain exclusive to M-Net as 1Magic's offering migrates to Mzansi Magic. When you kind of look at DStv, it offers Universal TV and Comedy Central brands seen airing selected content from M-Net.

Demise in Me would reduce the repetition seen amongst channels and could help elevate the viewership numbers on Universal TV and Comedy Central. Of course, if M-Net were to be added as compensation for Me where does that leave premium consumers.

Theoretically, a possible restructure to packages wouldn't seem far fetched a stretch if all bets were on M-Net becoming accessible. Compact+ has been losing value as the latter ESPN 2 and E! Entertainment all migrated to lower bouquets and a similar outcome arose when it launched snatching Premium channels.

If Premium and Compact+ merged, consumers on top tier bouquet would get exclusivity to brands like Discovery Channel, CBS Justice, History, Curiosity Channel, SuperSport Action, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Qwest TV.