Afrikaans Shorts: KykNET NOU Gets A Brand New Look, SABC 3 Unveil Character Details For Turkish Drama "Innocence" (Masumiyet) And A Rebroadcast Of Om Elke Draai And Hart Van Goud Launches On e.tv

KykNET NOU gets a makeover 

On Monday 1 April, your favourite music channel – kykNET NOU! (DStv channel 146) – gets a brand-new look. So, sit back, tune in, enjoy the public holiday and let us know what you think of the new look and feel.

kykNET NOU! also has a new music block starting on 1 April: Klankbaan will play iconic music videos from movie and TV series. Everything from “Ballade vir ’n enkeling” to “Binnelanders” is on the menu. Come and watch and hum or sing along.

Time slots:

Monday: 20:00 – 20:30

Wednesday: 15:00 – 15:30

Thursday: 22:00 – 22:30

Friday: 12:00 – 12:30

Saturday: 17:00 – 17:30

First look at the characters of SABC 3's new Turkish drama 

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e.tv is loading up on eExtra scraps

In the coming weeks, eExtra will be rolling out a new weeknight series Sommerdahl Moorde alongside local sitcom, Die Fakulteit. This comes after Doodsondes returned to eExtra after being burned off to e.tv and eVOD for two separate seasons.

With e.tv serving as eExtra's sloppy seconds will be adding Om Elke Draai to its lineup alongside Hart Van Goud after broadcasting on Kuiertyd's catchup block on e.tv will be back for a second time. 

Om Elke Draai is a modern love story series between Demir and Selin, who become housemates after each bought half of the same house. Demir is a successful architect who buys his childhood home, while Selin is a hardworking young woman who sees the house as her first property.

The series airs Mondays to Fridays at 08:30 from 12 April.

Hart van Goud's storyline focuses on Nehir, who uses her beauty to trick men into falling in love with her. Zehir is her accomplice. She pretends to be her mother, helps conceal her tracks, and ensures her victims are non-suspicious. Will their heinous plan get exposed?

The series airs Mondays to Thursdays at 23:00 from 17 April.

Understanding 1Max: Why M-Net's Me And 1Magic Were Scrapped For More DStv Repeats?

During the week, M-Net's Me and 1Magic had merged to form yet another TV channel, 1Max. It serves as a promotional channel for Showmax featuring various original shows alongside third party content in partnership with NBCUniversal.

Since it's launch, 1Max has been getting a lot of mixed mostly negative reviews from consumers. Firstly from its exclusion to Family packages where Me once reside and another for the chunk of old content viewed across M-Net channels and Showmax. 

MultiChoice hasn't done much marketing for the channel and with the way feedback is being handled. It wouldn't seem far fetched if it was added onto more DStv packages eventually. 

The probable reason as to why M-Net would do away with 1Magic may not be entirely based on consumption numbers but trends as well. Initially content from M-Net would pull a vast household to DStv but with the likes of Netflix that audience had deteriorated. 

Me's cancellation was probably similar to Disney's endeavors with the likes of Disney XD and FOX Life as the focus shifts onto core brands. With Disney continuing operations with Disney Channel and Junior with MultiChoice its M-Net and their movie offering. 

Inclusion of content from Me and 1Magic on Showmax was probably MultiChoice's mean of strengthening the lineup. As Netflix has been branded off as the leading streaming service in Africa with 1Max is another attempt to lure potential DStv customers. 

Now the issue as mentioned with 1Max is accessibility if MultiChoice was looking to get more consumers. It would have made a lot more sense to include 1Max in more countries and DStv packages for which Netflix also reside within as well.

Although Netflix is the most recommended streaming platform at the moment. MultiChoice has over 20 million DStv subscribers and thought of excluding over 10 million DStv subscribers from the likes of 1Max further limits the amount of potential new subscribers. 

Paramount Global Might Be Acquired By Skydance As Merger Talks Are Reportedly Underway

Over the last 24 hours, news has been flying that Paramount is getting closer to a deal to be sold to or merge with Skydance. This comes as, for months now, Paramount has been in talks with multiple companies for a potential sale or merger. This includes talks with Warner Bros. Discovery, Apollo Global Management, and others. Some of these talks have gone well others like Warner Bros. Discovery have walked away from a possible merger with Paramount.

Now Bloomberg is reporting that a tentative deal has been reached between Paramount and Skydance for a deal that would see the companies merge and Skydance would take a stake in Paramount.

This comes after yesterday Variety reported that Paramount Global has turned down an offer to sell itself to Apollo Global Management for $27 billion. This offer was reportedly made over the weekend as a cash deal, but Shari Redstone, the majority owner of Paramount, declined to entertain the bid.

Exact details of the offer have not been disclosed but it is reported that the Redstone family who owns a majority of Paramount are perfering this Skydance deal over other offers.

This comes as The New York Times reportedly this week Paramount and Skydance Media are getting closer to a deal that would see the two companies merge. According to the report, Paramount and Skydance Media are working on a deal to give Skydance a 30-day window for exclusive talks as the two sides try to finalize a deal.

Exclusive windows like this are common in talks like this. Well, it does not guarantee that a deal will happen typically, windows like this happen when both sides think a deal is very possible.

Currently, Paramount Global is controlled by media executive Shari Redstone. Redstone also controls National Amusements, which owns 77% of Paramount’s voting shares. Reportedly, the Redstone family is also looking to sell their 77% ownership of Paramount. With that ownership, the Redstone family needs to be on board with any deal, and it has been reported that they are more interested in a deal like this than other deals, like the offer from Appollo Global Management to buy just the studios.

Any merger seems to need to be for the full Paramount company to include its cable TV networks, which include Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, and multiple movie theaters.

Talks between Paramount and Skydance have reportedly been happening since November 2023.

The news comes as the entertainment industry faces difficult times with cable TV viewership is declining and a majority of streamers struggling to achieve profitability. Paramount’s streaming service, Paramount+, is among the companies fighting to stay afloat.

May 2024 On Via | New Series Alert: Klanke Van My Hart | Returning Shows Including Klankbank And Sterkbek | More

My plek of joune?

Season 11

2 May – 25 July 2024

Thursdays 17:30

23 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Home and garden

Two people who live under the same roof and are caught in a style dispute over a room in their home, are given the opportunity to broker peace at last. A coin toss determines which one of them will have the chance to makeover the problematic room (in the space of one day) with the help of interior decorator Isabel Barends and handyman Melt van der Spuy.

Klankbank

Season 4

3 May – 26 July 2024

Fridays 20:00

23 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Music / Game show

In each episode of this game show, three contestants go head-to-head to test their knowledge of popular music. How much money can they collectively bank for the ultimate winner to take home in the end? Hosted by Arno Greeff.

Klanke van my hart

Season 1

3 May – 26 July 2024

Fridays 20:30

46 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Music / Docuseries

Klanke van my hart is a show that connects people through music, featuring the new voices in our vibrant Afrikaans music scene – from indie rock to hip-hop, from sokkie to jazz, from rieldans to rap, ghoema to gospel, this music show has got you covered. In each episode, three artist from vastly genres come together to share their love for their artform and to make some music.

Slim vang sy baas

Season 10

10 May – 2 August 2024

Fridays 17:00

46 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Game show

In each episode of this fun-filled game show, two teams go head-to-head and battle it out through a series of rounds that will put their general knowledge to the ultimate test. Hosted by Beer Adriaanse.

Kom ons braai: celebs

Season 3

11 May – 3 August 2024

Saturdays 20:00

46 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Food / Competition

Two households braai against one another for points and prizes. Each household has a chance to throw a braai party at their own home and the duos score one another efforts in terms of braai technique, taste and entertainment. But they won’t be scoring each other alone: They are joined by two local celebrities who also score their braai efforts.

Huisgenoot: Ware Lewensdramas

Season 13

13 May – 5 August 2024

Mondays 20:30

46 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: True crime / Docuseries

VIA and Huisgenoot magazine’s popular true-crime series returns. Each week focuses on the story behind the high-profile stories that shock South Africans and grabbed headlines – from brutal murders to nefarious scams.

Sterkbek

Season 2

14 May – 6 August 2024

Tuesdays 20:00

23 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Food / Talk show

In each episode, Nic Mac – AKA The Godly Giemba – invites a local celebrity to join him in tasting the hottest, spiciest food in the Western Cape. They visit a cheap and cheerful eatery where they taste a few increasingly spicy dishes that have been lathered in hot sauce. With each dish, the questions for the celeb get more personal and prying. Will they be able to take the heat?

Tietie en Nanna

Season 1

16 May – 8 August 2024

Thursdays 17:00

23 minutes x 13 episodes

Genre: Cooking show

In each episode of this cooking show, the sisters Tietie and Nanna will cook two dishes in their own kitchen. They will either just cook what inspires them on that day or for a special guest or family member. Woven through the cook will be stories of their lives, loves and hardships. Come share in their love of halaal cooking.

FilmBox Vs. M-Net Movies: Who Is Likely To Survive Canal+ Acquisition Of MultiChoice?

During the year, Canal+ expressed interest in acquiring pay-tv giant MultiChoice after gaining small stakes in the company and working closely on several shows. They're currently in talks with Patrice MotsepeIs in an attempt to increase their bid in MultiChoice. 

If Canal+ had succeeded in their first attempt at acquiring MultiChoice they'd have to grow through legal procedures who could have prevented this from moving forward. Now that talks of an SA player enters the equation they're likely to succeed. 

Canal seeks to merge their assets with MultiChoice making their portfolio accessible to over 50 million subscribers in Africa. Since talks of a possible takeover has taken place there's been various questions as to how this may affect the current offering. 

Canal+ owns various properties in Europe and one of which SPI International has garnered an international presence. This consists of various FilmBox entertainment channels alongside Gametoon, FashionBox, FightBox and DocuBox. 

As some readers are aware, these channels particularly FilmBox are already viewable in Africa and were basically a rival offering to M-Net Movies. Should the acquisition move forward these brands are likely to get merged if not restructured.

It's not only the content that bares various similarities but also the formatting of these brands. M-Net Movies 2 is basically FilmBox Action while M-Net Movies 3 and 4 have FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Family and FilmBox Stars.

Ideally, M-Net Movies could fold under the FilmBox trademark considering its presence in Europe but there's also chances that they may have a future. M-Net Movies 3 & 4 alongside various DStv channels are seen on Canal+ platforms in Africa.

If M-Net Movies wasn't that much of a priority they could have opted for FilmBox. It's likely that FilmBox could be phased out in favor of M-Net Movies but questions amount to whether Starsat and various other platforms would/are willing to include them.

MultiChoice is StarTimes biggest rival as it offers a diverse lineup of local content and premium sports. Of course, the mere thought of M-Net Movies possibly being added to these consumers would lure exiting DStv consumers to StarTimes for its affordable rates.

In Nederlands, Film1's offering compensate for FilmBox films movie channels with the main channel being what's left of the trademark.