Development Alert: Could France24 Be The Next Channel To Exit The Openview Platform?

France24 is a French based news station operated by the local government. Based in France, it would offer news and current affairs aimed at the French market while as catering to other languages such as Spanish, English and Arabic. 

Since 2017, France24 was currently functional on the Openview platform after eMedia Investments silently axed the British based brand BBC News. It garnered backlash from various consumers with some not viewing it in the same league as the former BBC channel.

This past week, a viewer had browsed the TV Guide for France24 and noticed that the channel's programme guide ends by 3 March while other channels still provide a full week line-up. It led to further speculation that eMedia Investments could be looking to axe France24.

In eMedia Investments last financial records, they promised to launch a few more channels before 31 March 2024. None of which materialized in 2023 with the company down to a few weeks before the start of a new cycle.

With the possible closure of France24, consumers would be expecting a replacement as it was the only liable source of news following the demise of e.tv News And Sport. Those wishing to view the channel would have to get Starsat and pay R150 monthly. 

Recap To Last Month: BBC Studios Buys ITV's Britbox International Share

BBC Studios is taking full ownership of BritBox International, acquiring ITV’s 50% share for a cash consideration of £255 million.

Launched by BBC Studios and ITV in 2017, British specialist streaming service, BritBox International delivers British scripted content to North America and select markets. The service now has over 3.75 million subscribers and has an enterprise value of around £500 million.

As part of the transaction, BBC Studios has extended its licensing agreements with ITV “ensuring that programming for BritBox International will continue to represent a wide range of British content.”

ITV-owned BritBox UK is unaffected by the deal and will still feature BBC content as part of separate long-term agreements.

Tom Fussell, BBC Studios CEO said: “This is an important acquisition for us. We are taking full ownership of a successful, growing service we know well and that fits with our stated ambition to double the size of our business. Britbox International has British content at its heart and it generates and satisfies demand for British shows outside the UK. We will continue to make significant investments in the future to deliver long term value to the BBC.”

Carolyn McCall, ITV CEO said: “The sale of 50% of BritBox International means ITV is focused on its core strategic goals of continuing to build on ITVX’s success and growing ITV Studios.”

BritBox International will become part of BBC Studios’ Global Media and Streaming division, complementing its portfolio of digital and direct-to-consumer services that includes BBC.com, BBC Select, the BBC’s premium ad-free documentary streaming service in North America and BBC Podcast Premium, an audio service available in more than 160 countries.

Rebecca Glashow, BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming CEO said: “I am thrilled to further our involvement in BritBox International – it’s a profitable business and a winning proposition. We see tremendous opportunity to grow this unique service and take it to even greater heights for its subscribers, with the full power of the BBC behind it.”

Following BritBox International’s move into BBC Studios’ Global Media & Streaming division, its global CEO Reemah Sakaan is stepping down. Sakaan has been with the outfit since the start and has been CEO for the past three years.

Tom Fussell BBC Studios CEO said: “I’d like to thank Reemah for her outstanding contribution to BritBox International, which under her stewardship has seen remarkable year-on-year growth. Her passion and dedication has helped create a great culture and build a business that is loved by audiences and that has real momentum.”

Carolyn McCall, ITV CEO said: “I would like to thank the BritBox International team for making the company such a success and particularly CEO Reemah Sakaan for her leadership, drive and vision.”

New leadership plans are “in place” and will be announced “imminently.”

BritBox International is available in the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Recent hits include Archie, Death in Paradise, Father Brown, Line of Duty, Sherwood and Shetland.

Could Netflix Become The Exclusive/Future Home Of Nickelodeon?

During the year, it was reported that WWE would be exiting linear television by 2025 with Raw, SmackDown and NXT alongside premium live events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam would be streaming exclusively on Netflix with more countries to be added soon.

This has boosted the media's interest on the streamer with some curious about what other projects the brand has in the pipeline. One of the brands I wouldn't really be shocked to see get purged soon would be Nickelodeon.

Nickelodeon is an international children's brand operated by Paramount Global. Since it's inception had brought animated shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House and Legend Of Korra alongside live-action shows like Drake & Josh, iCarly and The Thundermans.

As some readers are aware, Netflix and Nickelodeon have co-produced shows like Pinky Malinky, Glitch Techs and the upcoming live-action series for Avatar: The Last Airbender. On top of distributing films like Invader Zim: Enter The Flopus and Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling.

There was a point in time when Netflix was looking to acquire Paramount's studios before negotiations fell flat. Not long ago, Paramount announced that they'd be laying off 800 employees due to the effects of streamlining with fear lurking around their linear offering.

With WWE leaving linear television, the idea of more content being purged to streaming particularly Nickelodeon wouldn't seem far fetched a stretch. Disney had closed several channels across the world as most of their content gets integrated with Disney+.

Netflix has been doing a lot of quality control in recent months and looking to get decent content. They recently filmed a live-action series to popular anime One Piece and acquired exclusive rights to The Casagrandes Movie and The Fairly OddParents: Make A Wish.

Development Alert (Rumour): Rugrats (2021 Reboot) Likely Cancelled On Nickelodeon And Paramount+ As Further Episodes Are Burned Off To Nicktoons

Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain. Based on the series of the same name, it featured the voices of Nancy Cartwright, E.G. Daily, Kath Soucie, Cheryl Chase, Tony Hale and Cree Summers.

The series premiered on May 27, 2021, on Paramount+; it is the second Nickelodeon-based series created for the streaming service. As with previous incarnations of the franchise, the series is produced by Klasky Csupo.

Just like the original series, Rugrats focuses on the experiences of a courageous, adventurous one-year-old baby named Tommy Pickles and his group of playmates and other infants. It does come with some minor variations specifically for the character, Betty DeVille.

During the year, Disney made numerous headlines after axing several shows including Bunk'd and The Ghost And Molly McGee. With the future of Hailey's On It, The Villains Of Valley View and Raven's Home still in doubt as their current seasons wrap production. 

Nickelodeon serving as a rival brand to the company had allocated new episodes of That Girl Lay Lay on Nicktoons with reports going around that Rugrats would follow soon. Often, when shows are axed by the network they would fold under secondary networks.

Not long ago, Danger Force wrapped production on Nickelodeon after 3 seasons leaving The Really Loud House and Young Dylan as the only live-action. With a wider line-up of animated shows like Big Nate, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Patrick Star Show. 

The Great Waldo Search (NES)

Waldo is out on an adventure again and you must find him! Scroll along the long picture to survey the scape in The Great Waldo Search! Look for Waldo and his dog in this fun classic Super NES game!

The Great Waldo Search is a classic hidden-object puzzle game released back in 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The game is based off the third book of the same name and features 5 different areas and themes: The Carpet Flyers, The Underground Hunters, The Battling Monks, The Unfriendly Giants, and the most difficult one – The Land of Waldos. The objective of the game is to search for the titular Waldo as well as other objects and characters. Find Waldo’s dog named Woof and earn a little bonus point at the end of the level.

For NES emulators hop onto Spotlight and browse emulator cartoon extensions. 

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