May 2024 On Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. And Nicktoons Across The Rest Of Africa | New Series Alert: Zokie Of Planet Ruby And Sharkdog | Returning Shows Including SpongeBob SquarePants And Baby Shark’s Big Show | More

Nickelodeon 

SpongeBob SquarePants 

Premier : 29/04/24 – 09/05/2024

Slot : Monday - Thursday

Time: 14:00

New episodes: 294, 295, 298, 299

The misadventures of a talking sea sponge who

works at a fast-food restaurant, attends a boating

school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.

Zokie Of Planet Ruby

New show

• Episodes: 101-109, 111-114, 116-126

• Premier: 06/05 –06/06

• Slot : Monday-Friday

• Time: 14:15

The series follows creative vlogger Ruby and her alien best friend Zokieas

they film their daily mishaps and adventures around their city.

Monster High 2

Movie

Premier : 19/05

Slot: Sunday

Time: 11:00

As they enter sophomore year at Monster High, Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura and Frankie Stein face new students, new powers, and an even bigger threat that could not only tear their friendship apart, but could change the world forever.

Nicktoons 

AfterToons Stunt 

Premiere: 13/05/2024 – 21/06/2024

Slot: Monday – Friday

Time: 16:00

*including new episodes of Patrick Star Show #201-205

Featuring Nickelodeon’s most beloved animated series; The Casagrandes, SpongeBob SquarePants, Rock Paper Scissors, Patrick Star Show and Sharkdog

Sharkdog

New Show

Premiere: 13/05/2024 - 24/5/2024

Slot: Monday-Friday

Time: 16:30

Nick Jr. 

Baby Shark’s Big Movie

Premier: 04/05/2024

Slot : Saturday

Time : 11:00am/pm, 03:15am/pm

Baby Shark moves, leaving his best friend behind. An evil popstarfish is planning to use magic to steal the power of his song and eliminate all music but her own. It's up to Baby Shark to restore balance to the ocean and save his

friend.

Baby Shark's Big Show 

• New Episodes: #220-226

• Premier : 06/05/2024 - 17/05/2024

• Slot : Monday-Friday

• Time : 08:50am/pm, 12:30am/pm, 03:15am/pm

Baby Shark dive into the salty silliness of Baby Shark, his family, and friends.

Development Alert: Razia Sultan To Make It's Freemium Debut On eExtra

After making its debut on Zee World in 2022, eMedia Investments has picked up rights to Bollywood periodical drama series, Razia Sultan. The &TV drama is set to debut on eExtra from weekdays at 15:25 on 19 April replacing Naagin.

Based on the real life figure of the same name, Razia Sultan is a historical drama that charts the rise of a remarkable real-life figure, the first woman to ever rule the Delhi Sultanate. It has the typical court intrigue you can expect from "Game of Thrones" type series.

It starred Pankhuri Awasthy Rode as Razia Sultan, Rohit Purohit as Ikhtiyar ud-din Malik Altunia, Saurabh Pandey as Jamal-ud-Din Yaqut, Khalida Turi as Qutub Begum and Mohit Abrol as Nasiruddin Mahmud.

During its run on &TV, the series was met with positive reception for its storyline with Awasthy Rode gaining the most praise for her craftsmanship in the role. The broadcaster &TV is known for shows like Begusarai, Gangaa and Jodha & Akbar.

In other developments, eExtra will be rolling out a brand new show from Denmark titled, Sommerdahl Moorde. 

Paramount Could Soon See Billions Spent To Rebuild The Company Under New Leadership

Over the last week, 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, Appollo 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.

A few days ago Bloomberg reported 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.

Now Bloomberg says that if the deal happens, David Ellison will become the new head of the combined Paramount. He also reportedly plans to spend billions to rebuild Paramount. Before this could happen though Paramoutn and Skydance media would need to merge.

This comes after last week 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.

News Shorts: Monster High Reportedly Cancelled On Nickelodeon, WildEarth Rolls Out A Pay Service Under YouTube Premium And eSeries Launches Classic Sitcom 30 Rock

Lights go out on another program on Nickelodeon 

Last month, Paramount Global removed several original shows from Nickelodeon as part of a tax write off these included shows like Rugrats and Blue's Clues And You. Prior to their inevitable demise some of these shows were canned on Nicktoons for new episodes. 

Now there's reports going around that Monster High might be getting the two seasons treatment. Not due to these write offs or viewership consumption but the controversy surrounding the live-action department following ID's youth oriented doccie Quiet On Set.

Although there's no official confirmation from the network usually third party shows when axed remain on Nickelodeon. Similar scenario occured with Transformers: Earthspark and Regal Academy probably due to them licensing these shows.

WildEarth launches a pay subscription 

Last month, it was reported that the cash strapped WildEarth would be exiting DStv by the end of April. After the channel tried to obtain carriages fees with MultiChoice settling on a sum of R6 million a year only to get sidelined at the last minute. 

Since then, WildEarth has made several changes to their current offering with the halting of live shows. As they're eyeing potential partners who are looking to invest funds to the business provided that they make some changes to the structure of the channel. 

With WildEarth set to exit DStv soon, they'll be looking to make content cuts as they try to stick around for the foreseeable future. 

During the townhall, it was revealed that they'll be rolling out YouTube memberships basically a subscription service. This will be under YouTube Premium which is priced at R72p/m although consumers will still be access the free service.

New show on eSeries

Liz Lemon is head writer and showrunner of the NBC sketch comedy series TGS with Tracy Jordan (originally called The Girlie Show), produced in Studio 6H in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. She supervises cast and crew, including star Jenna Maroney, her best friend, while working with network executive Jack Donaghy and page Kenneth Parcell. In the first episode, Jack forces Liz to hire the unpredictable Tracy Jordan as co-star.

It starred Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander, Alec Baldwin, Katrina Bowden, Keith Powell, Lonny Ross, Kevin Brown and Grizz Chapman.

The series starts 8 April at 21:40.

SuperSport Vs. Canal+ Sport: Who Is Likely To Survive Canal+ Potential Takeover Of MultiChoice?

Canal+ Sport is a French based sports broadcaster owned by Canal+ that offers services in parts of Europe and Africa. Similar to the likes of SuperSport, Canal+ Sport also comprises of various linear channels featuring football, rugby motorsport and basketball. 

Last month, it was reported that Canal+ had increased its offer to takeover DStv by 19% with a sum of R35,9 billion. This comes after their initial offering of R32 billion was rejected with the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP) ordering them to propose a new deal.

As some readers are aware, South African laws limit the ownership of businesses to foreign entities with Canal+ voting rights reduced to 20%. Although, they'd have majority stake of the company they wouldn't be able to exercise that level of ownership.

Since news of Canal+ possible takeover of MultiChoice came about, several consumers have been very skeptical about this ordeal. With some very keen on the fate awaiting several brands such as SuperSport for instance.

SuperSport is the biggest player in the world of sports across the African market. It is home to major sporting events such as Premier League, PSL, La Liga, MotoGP, Formula E and WWE most of which aren't accessible on Canal+ Sport.

Even if Canal+ was successful in obtaining MultiChoice most of the company's assets could remain intact this includes SuperSport. It has more reach in the market Canal+ also resides and offers sporting events Canal+ Sport was unable to retain due to exclusivity. 

Regions with Canal+ Sport will most likely see content from SuperSport surface on their channels and overtime fold under the trademark.