News Shorts: Epic Mickey Getting Remade For The Nintendo Switch Later In The Year, Arch Nemesis Coke And Pepsi To Face Off In Standalone Film And Harry Potter TV Series To Stream On Max In 2026

Disney is doing another remake

Developer Purple Lamp and publisher THQ Nordic announced that their 3D platformer remake dubbed ‘Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed’ will be coming to PC via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox consoles, and the Nintendo Switch later this year. Previously a Nintendo Wii exclusive by Warren Spector many moons ago, this beautiful remake sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey through Wasteland, a realm of forgotten Disney characters. As Mickey, you will dive into a fantastical world and, armed with paint and thinner, shape your adventure and the fate of this alternate world.

Cola Wars greenlit by Sony

Sony has stepped up with a seven figure bid to uncap Cola Wars, a movie pitch that tells the true story of Pepsi’s attempt to challenge Coca-Cola’s century-long reign as the world’s top cola, sparking the unforgettable “Cola Wars” of the mid-1980s. This behind-the-scenes account, from Michael Jackson’s fiery mishap to the New Coke debacle, tells the ultimate underdog tale of history’s most iconic second-place contender vying for the No. 1 spot. Sources said it was around $1.5 million while Sony said it was $1 million, still a whopping deal for a pitch.

It falls into place alongside films about products like the Ben Affleck-directed Air, about the battle by Nike to win Michael Jordan for a shoe line that transformed the company. There were rival bids massing with elements attached, but Sony stepped up. Maia Eyre, the exec who oversaw the hit Anyone But You, will shepherd this one.

Harry Potter remake coming in 2026

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed Friday that a long-planned Harry Potter series is aiming to debut on Max in 2026.

This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content about the project, which he also assured fans would be “a faithful adaptation.

DStv Shorts: Death Reckoning Launches On Real Time Alongside More Beat Bobby Flay, Comedy Central Celebrates April Fools With More South Park And Trinayani To Make Her Pay-TV Debut On Zee World Across Africa

Real Time starts the next month with premieres

Beat Bobby Flay S18

NEW TO CHANNEL

Talented chefs battle for the chance to take down Chef Bobby Flay. One is picked to compete against Bobby in his own arena and challenge him with a surprise signature dish.

First TX: 1 March 

TX Day: Weekdays 

TX Time: 11:15

Dead Reckoning

NEW TO CHANNEL

Some of America's most puzzling murder investigations are recounted as police methodically and meticulously reconstruct events. After studying all the clues the victims left behind, investigators put the pieces together to crack the case and get justice.

First TX: 25 March 

TX Day: Weekdays 

TX Time: 22:30

South Park continues its antics on Comedy Central

In April, Comedy Central will be continuing the South Park antics with an April Fools stunt tiled South Park: Joysticks and Jokes at 22:00. This will be followed by another stunt which comes in celebration of Weeds Day with the film Pretty Stoned alongside a South Park marathon from the 22nd in the same timeslot.

More Zee One shows load on DStv

After launching on Zee One back in 2023, it has revealed on several social platforms that Trinayani will be making her premium debut on Zee World in April. It would join another upcoming show Sister Wives that is also set to rollout in the month.

Trinayani follows the titular character's ability to foresee the future and the past often lands her in trouble. Despite the setbacks, she strives to use her gift to protect the people around her from harm. It stars Sri Satya Sumana and Aashika Gopal Padukone in leading roles.

Openview Shorts: uBettina Wethu Cancelled On e.tv After 4 Seasons With New Episodes On eSeries, SABC 3 Adds Afrikaans News And Other Content To Its Line-up This March And Chrysalis To Return With A Season 2 This April On eExtra

uBettina Wethu moving to eSeries, Isiphethu and untitled drama in development

Last year, the public broadcaster decided to make budget cuts by cancelling 7de Laan after 23 years on air with uBettina Wethu that was revived on e.tv. Since its debut on e.tv, the fashion drama had to captivate audiences in both 18:30 and 20:30 timeslots.

Unlike Nikiwe, the show wasn't present in the channel's top 20 offering as seen with Scandal, House Of Zwide and Isitha: The Enemy. It wouldn't be shocking if season 4 were to be its last as repeats broadcast at 16:10.

As reported on social platforms, new episodes of uBettina Wethu season 4 will air on eSeries at 18:25 with repeats of eKasi: Our Stories on e.tv in that timeslot. The channel is said to be working on two local dramas one titled Isiphethu and the second is in Afrikaans.

SABC undergoing schedule changes

During the week, it was reported that SABC had cancelled FOKUS one of the few Afrikaans programs on SABC 2. As plans are underway to move further Afrikaans content like Voetspore and 50/50 to SABC 3 exclusively but the problem with that is the lack of viewers.

Vetkoekpaleis was only able to pull around 800,000 viewers on SABC 2 in December while SABC 3 is currently sitting with 400,000. Other than that, SABC hasn't been producing much content for this audience and such move could lead to surge in viewers for eExtra's Kuiertyd and kykNET.

From what we can confirm Nuus will be airing on SABC 3 at 20:30 from March 4th serving as the only weekday Afrikaans offering. 50/50 and Voetspore will serve as weekly offerings therefore maxing out the offering - details of a date and time have yet to be mentioned.

Chrysalis returns to eExtra

Ahead of the second and possible third and final season debut, eExtra's Kuiertyd will be adding its first drama series from the Czech Republic titled Soos Nag En Dag by March 4th. The series consists of 26 episodes giving Chrysalis an open window by April 9th in the same timeslot.

The drama followed Nalan who seems perfect from the outside, was being severely abused by her mother. Sedat, one of the richest men in Turkey, proposes to her. But her husband and family, who seem perfect from the outside, are not normal either.

Could Boomerang Also Be Shutting Down Soon In The UK?

Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery launched Cartoonito as a 24 hour service across Europe, Asia and Africa after launching as a programming block years prior. It was met with positive reception from consumers for the likes of Lucas The Spider and Thomas And Friends.

As some readers are aware, Boomerang still resides in the UK and Italy as a 24 hour channel outside of Cartoonito which is a channel of its own. One of which, the UK come with a separate offering as Boomerang revolves most of its content on Looney Tunes, Tom And Jerry and Scooby-Doo. 

During the month, it was reported that Bugs Bunny Builders and various other preschool content had been removed from Cartoonito in the Nordic market. Now there's word that Mr. Bean: The Animated Series and Grizzy And The Lemmings had been added to the channel's line-up in the UK.

Although this isn't a clear indicator of possible terminaton, Warner Bros. Discovery had been going through various restructuring in recent months. Discovery Science and Discovery Turbo Xtra exited various parts of Europe with Cartoonito leaving parts of Asia.

With the likes of streaming these days, it makes Boomerang feels obsolete I mean the channel lost purpose in other countries when Warner Bros. Discovery put more emphasis on Cartoonito. But the biggest downfall for the UK and remaining feeds was the failure to add new content.

After the UK feed of Cartoonito rebranded, Warner Bros. Discovery had attempted to sort of bolster Boomerang's line-up with Ninjago. Unlike most parts of Europe and Africa, linear consumption has experienced the most falls in the UK so the idea of closure wouldn't be surprising.

Prior to this, TCM resided in the market weirdly as TCM Movies and as seen in other parts of the world got the boot and Boomerang has been hovering around this circle for sometime now.

WarnerMount Discovery: Could This Be What Awaits Warner Bros. Discovery And Paramount Global In The Coming Months?

Since last year, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global held talks of a potential merger. The news led to media outrage with #blockthemerger trending on X as a merger would lead to more layoffs and reduction in content output.

Not long ago, Paramount Global announced that they'd be laying off 800 employees due to the effects of streaming as the company is looking to transform. Prior to this, the parent company Amusement Park was looking to sell their shares in the company.

Aside from Warner Bros. Discovery, they also garnered interest from Skydance Media, Apollo Management and Byron Allen Group.

As some readers are aware, the formation of WarnerMedia and Discovery Inc. prevented the company from making any transaction call (merger) for at least another 2 years and with that stipulation set to expire soon it has brought a lot of fear amongst readers.

One of which was the possible merger of these two companies and also the exit of Discovery Inc. with the company likely to be sold to Amazon etc. Although the deadline for the merger is approaching the chances of a merger seem unlikely.

Aside from growing interest for Paramount Global, the company is in talks with NBCUniversal to merge their streaming services. On top of that, Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney are planning to launch a joint streaming service based of TNT Sports and ESPN.

If anything, it's likely that Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery will probably explore other ways of working together. Merger talks with NBCUniversal are still in early discussion and so it kind of gives Warner Bros. Discovery a chance to make a better offer.