April 2024 On Curiosity Channel Across Africa | New Series Alert Including Epic Exploring | Specials Like Vikings: The Lost Kingdom | More

SUPER SCIENCE MONDAYS

The New Frontier

New Series Premieres 01 April 2024

CAT: Mondays at 20:00 and 20:30

Episodes: 10 x 30 mins – ends 29 April 2024

Space: What does the future hold? A return to the moon? Manned flights to Mars? Embark on a galactic journey of exploration and discovery

What Went Wrong S2

New Season Premieres 01 April 2024

CAT: Mondays at 21:00

Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 06 May 2024

Human and technical failures can lead to catastrophes that change the lives of thousands of people forever.

HISTORY LOVER TUESDAYS

Scary Tales of New York

New Series Premieres 02 April 2024

CAT: Tuesdays at 21:00

Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 07 May 2024

The Naked City’s most notorious crimes of the 20th century, told in the hardboiled voice of the classic noir stories of the era.

The Greats

New Series Premieres 16 April 2024

CAT: Tuesdays at 18:00 and 18:30

Episodes: 26 x 30 mins – ends 09 July 2024

Celebrating the world's most notable people, including: explorers, leaders, and legends in art and entertainment.

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAYS

Wildlife Diaries: Australia

New Series Premieres 03 April 2024

CAT: Wednesdays at 21:00

Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 08 May 2024

A world without animals is hardly conceivable, but the natural habitats are shrinking fast, especially in Australia.

Legendary Paddle Steamers

New Episode Premieres from 17 April 2024

CAT: Wednesdays at 18:00

Episodes: 5 x 60 mins – ends 24 April 2024

A documentary series about five of the most beautiful and oldest paddle steamers of the world.

HISTORY LOVER THURSDAYS

Vikings: The Lost Kingdom

New Special Premieres 04 April 2024

CAT: Thursday at 20:00

Episodes: 1 x 60 mins

Gjellestad, Norway. Archaeologists made the discovery of a lifetime: a 20-meter-long, 1200-year-old Viking funeral ship. Who is hiding in the grave? Is Gjellestad one of the oldest Viking settlements? What can this coffin tell us about the daily lives, beliefs, and traditions of the Vikings?

Unearthed: Ancient Murder Mysteries

New Series Premieres 04 April 2024

CAT: Thursdays at 21:00

Episodes: 6 x 60 mins – ends 09 May 2024

Homicide detective Rod Demery and scientist Professor Turi King investigate history’s most intriguing murders to find long-lost killers.

Druids - The Mystery of Celtic Priests

New Special Premieres 18 April 2024

CAT: Thursday at 19:00

Episodes: 1 x 60 mins

Druids, the mysterious wizards of the Celts, have always fascinated the world. They are an integral part of ancient literature, as heroes of Irish legends and stars of modern fantasy worlds. But who were they really?

HUMAN STORIES SATURDAYS

Epic Exploring

New Series Premieres 06 April 2024

CAT: Saturdays at 21:00

Episodes: 11 x 60 mins – ends 15 June 2024

YouTube stars Josh and Cody are on a mission—traveling around the world in search of the most spectacular abandoned locations on the planet.

Reminder: Survival in the Wild: Naked and Afraid Ventures into South Africa for Riveting Season Premiere on Discovery Channel Africa on 27 March @ 20:55 CAT

Discovery Channel is set to captivate South African audiences as the highly anticipated Season 17 of Naked and Afraid makes its debut on Wednesday, 27 March @ 20:55 CAT. This thrilling season kicks off in the picturesque landscapes of South Africa before challenging contestants in the wild terrains of Colombia.

In the premiere episode, viewers will witness the gripping tale of a hunter and a farmer as they join forces to tackle the unforgiving wilderness of South Africa. Battling against elusive wildlife and harsh conditions, these brave survivalists must push themselves to the limit as they strive to endure 21 gruelling days without the comforts of modern civilisation.

A significant portion of the adventure unfolds in South Africa, showcasing the region's rugged beauty and formidable challenges. From traversing the Black Hills of the Northern Cape to facing off against deadly predators like man-eating crocodiles, lions, and poisonous snakes, the contestants must confront South Africa’s nature's raw brutality with every step they take.

The season also features captivating storylines, including the return of veteran survivalists mentoring newcomers in an all-women tribe's challenge in Colombia, armchair survivalists attempting a 14-day fan challenge, and a survivalist coping with menstruation in the heart of the African bush.

The gripping new season of Naked and Afraid will premiere on Discovery Channel Africa on 27 March at 20:55 CAT. New episodes air every Wednesday.

M-Net's Abandonment Of Me On DStv Explained

M-Net Essentials (Me) was a pay-tv channel that was operated by M-Net that would distributed a variety of South African produced and international content. Curated for Compact and Family, Me would serve as an open window to programs from M-Net and 1Magic. 

Following its decent from M-Net Series Zone, the 24 hour open window will conclude after 11 years by the end of March. With consumers stripped off third party shows like Survivor and House Of Dragons alongside originals like Reyka and Lioness.

Consumers will not longer be paying more for less channels but M-Net would be losing an audience. Although, Me was just another Mzansi Wethu it was the the only reason any of M-Net's shows gained any relevance.

News of 1Magic's demise doesn't surprise a majority of viewers as the channel was struggling to outgrow Mzansi Magic. Although, it offered originals like The River and Unmarried all of this went unnoticed during their run on the channel. 

With M-Net doing away with Me one of several factors could have come to play:

• Competition - after the axing of M-Net City, it was reported by NBCUniversal that Universal TV had seen a surge in viewers. Despite Me getting with the times, it's likely Universal TV and other TV channels edged them out.

• Decline in premium consumption - following the global impact of streaming, M-Net had been stripped off content like Shogun and Only Murders In The Building. As more consumers opt for Disney+ or Netflix it makes M-Net redundant. 

If anything, it does lead one to wonder how long it would be till content from BBC Brit, Universal TV and Comedy Central integrate into Showmax and other streamers.

New Series Alert: Showmax's Twende To Make Its Linear Debut On Play Room, SABC 2's Magic Cellar Also Added To The Lineup

Play Room, a South African based children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group that offers fun and learning through live-action and animated shows dubbed in Zulu will be expanding the local lineup during the school holidays with Twende and Magic Cellar.

After launching on Showmax in 2023, Twende will be making their linear debut on Play Room. It's not shocking cause after M-Net axed K-TV this content needed a platform and despite M-Net having no management of Play Room do provide funding through MultiChoice. 

SABC's influence on the channel is expanding with the inclusion of Magic Cellar. It would join other shows to have been offered by the public broadcaster including Akili And Me, Bino And Fino and Jabu's Jungle.

Twende follows a pangolin of the same name, the slowest moving animal in the savannah. He believes life is about the journey, not the destination’ and is constantly at odds with his job as a boda boda driver in the bustling, fictional East African city of Milima.

Produced by MultiChoice Studios, Twende is voiced by Junior Nyong’o, while June Gachui plays his best friend and navigator, Nuru – a smart bird who always looks out for Twende, even if his chilled-out vibe drives her crazy sometimes. 

Magic Cellar is a long-form 3D animated series based on African culture which focuses on folktales, partially collected via interviews with elders in villages. It featured a multicultural cast of characters, with the principal character being an African girl.

Since its inception, Magic Cellar won 42 international awards, including Gold and Silver World Medals at the New York Festivals, a Platinum REMI Award and First Prize at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF).

Twende will air on weekdays at 17:00 replacing Total Dramarama from 25 March and Magic Cellar likely dubbed in Zulu will replace Akili And Me on weekdays at 08:15 on Play Room. 

New Series Alert: Isiphetho: Destiny And Kelders Van Geheime Coming Soon To e.tv

During the month, it was reported that e.tv had begun work on a rival offering for the cancelled Afrikaans soap, 7de Laan. At the time, eMedia Investments unveiled another new Afrikaans program Die Fakulteit which is set to rollout on eExtra by April.

Kelders Van Geheime is the name of the next Afrikaans project eMedia Investments had unveiled to consumers this week. It was produced by Kfilms and Penguin Films who have done several writing jobs for 7de Laan, Arendsvlei and Binnelanders.

According to Penguin Films, this Cape Town based telenovela is a story for everyone. The focus of the show is on the farming community and the nature of wine farming. The first season will consist of 260 episodes which airs Monday to Fridays.

Kelders Van Geheime is gearing up for an early May debut likely 6 May replacing Ouma Sarie. This is what we were told from other sources and as for the cast eMedia Investments remains silent but promises a several familiar faces known to audiences. 

Prior to this, e.tv will debut a new telenovela on the channel next month titled Isiphetho: Destiny. It was produced by The Black Door and Isitha: The Enemy's very own Black Brain Pictures. It will star Mbalenhle Mavimbela, Kope “Tswyza” Makgae and Tsholofelo Maseko.

It follows a group of four friends return to the community of Mzimhlophe in Soweto where they reunite to start an innovative restaurant. They're bound by a life changing secret from their teenage years and want to rewrite their futures and start afresh.

Isiphetho: Destiny will debut on e.tv from Monday 15 April at 18:30 replacing eKasi: Our Stories/uBettina Wethu. Prior to the rollout, e.tv will compliment this offering with a new miniseries titled Re-Imagine Destiny.