New Series Alert: Justice League Action And Jessica's Big Little World To Rollout In May On Cartoon Network And Cartoonito Across Africa

After debuting on Cartoon Network in most parts of the world by 2016, Warner Bros. Discovery suddenly decides to license the show for the network in Africa 8 years later. It was made available on Toonami 4 years after it debuted in other countries. 

It follows Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other superheroes join forces to form the Justice League that aims to fight villains. The series will air daily at 17:50 CAT from 6 May on Cartoon Network and similar to other countries no daily reruns. 

Unlike Teen Titans and Beware The Batman that were heavily ignored by Cartoon Network. Justice League Action is getting some exposure now the issue here most of the channel's audience at the time had grown up and probably aren't tuning into the network.

Not that Justice League Action is doomed to fail or anything as Cartoon Network has a huge fanbase in the market but some consistency would have helped now those who use it to view the network by 2016 are probably missing out.

Warner Bros. Discovery in some markets opted to further distance themselves from the preschool content. This was revealed by the one of the crew members of Craig Of The Creek, as Jessica's Big Little World will not be moving forward with a second season. 

The series follows the titular character as she navigates her way through a world where everything seems much bigger than she is; inspired by the grown-ups around her, she persists in conquering monumental children's tasks.

Jessica's Big Little World will air daily at 17:00 CAT on Cartoonito from 6 May will daily reruns at 07:35 CAT and 13:55 CAT.

MultiChoice Has Announced Imtiaz Patel’s Exit As Chairman, Just Weeks After Saying He Would Stay On In The Role

Just weeks after announcing that its chairman, Imtiaz Patel, would stay on to oversee a possible deal with Groupe Canal+, MultiChoice Group on Tuesday announced Patel’s exit from the role with immediate effect.

The move comes amid concerns about corporate governance at the broadcaster, which is the subject of a takeover bid by France’s Canal+.

In a surprise move, MultiChoice said on 2 April — following a board meeting before the Easter weekend — that it had rescinded a previous announcement that Patel would step down, with board member Elias Masilela due to take up the chairmanship from 1 April.

“In view of the recent ruling by the Takeover Regulation Panel that required Canal+ to make an immediate mandatory offer to all MultiChoice shareholders … the MultiChoice board has reached an agreement with Imtiaz Patel to remain on as chair,” the company said at the time.

“The board believes there is significant benefit in continuity at this time, and Mr Patel has agreed to extend his tenure until the conclusion of the Canal+ transaction or such sooner date as may be determined in light of progress on the transaction,” it said then.

Now, just three weeks later, Patel is stepping down – this time apparently for good.

Explaining why Patel is leaving, just three weeks after the board decided he should stay on, MultiChoice told investors that at the time of the announcement on 2 April, discussions were in their final stages on key terms of the proposed transaction with Canal+.

‘Next phase’

“These culminated in MultiChoice and Canal+ entering into a co-operation agreement on 7 April and issuing a firm intention announcement on 8 April, with the material terms of the proposed transaction recorded in these documents,” it said.

“Given these developments, the progress that has been achieved thus far and the fact the independent board has been constituted and will fulfil its obligations under the takeover regulations, the proposed transaction has now shifted to the next phase.

“The board and Mr Patel have therefore agreed that now would be an appropriate time for Mr Masilela, the current deputy chair, to be appointed as chair as planned and for Mr Patel to step down from the board with effect from the date of this announcement.”

Patel will remain as an adviser to the group on a consultancy basis as originally planned, it said. 

Interesting Fact: Nickelodeon Was Also Late Entry In Germany As It Relaunched In 2005, Followed By Africa Three Years Later Now Its Winding Down

Not long ago, it was reported that Nickelodeon will be exiting Germany as RTL looks to acquire the channel awaiting regulatory approval. Several shows from the channel such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Paw Patrol are set to rollout under Toggo.

Nicktoons and Nick Jr. serve as sister channels to Nickelodeon are anticipated to remain in the market for now.

Based on a programming block on Super RTL, Toggo will be rolling out as 24 hour channel in the region which is set to continue the Nickelodeon legacy while also supplying other content. As Paramount opts to build its children's offering through streaming. 

Interesting to note, Nickelodeon had a troublesome launch in the market initially rolling out in 1995 went through bankruptcy and several of its shows had been licensed to Super RTL. Coincidence, went it relaunched in 2005 it only came in Africa by 2008.

Prior to this, M-Net had operated K-TV as a children's channel to consumers in select countries. The channel shuttered as M-Net was looking to further distance themselves from the kids market due to the rise in competition from other stations.

It wasn't long till Play Room was rolled out taking a page of Sky Kids and Akili Kids offering fun and educational content part of which is locally produced. Although, it is owned/branded as an M-Net channel it is funded by them through MultiChoice - technically K-TV.

The parent company for Nickelodeon had been auctioned off to potential buyers including Skydance, Apollo Global Management and Sony Pictures Television. Skydance is said to be in advanced talks as Sony looks to partner up with Apollo.

Sony was said to be looking to distance themselves from the streaming and linear regime only handling the studios. Apollo on the other would have minimal control of Paramount so if anything could we be looking at the future of their linear lineup through Germany.

Most channels by Paramount Global nowadays had been operating under one feed either commercial or ad free. Then several productions such as The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish and The Casagrandes Movie are being burnt off to Netflix. 

If anything, it wouldn't seem far fetched if Nickelodeon were to halt their linear operations at some point and some countries looked into following RTL's footsteps and kept some content on the air.

Development Alert: Super RTL Looking To Acquire Nickelodeon In Germany And Rebrand It To Toggo, As Paramount Looks To Streamline Its Portfolio In The Region

German family channel Super RTL wants to take over children’s channel Nickelodeon in Germany and rebrand it into its children’s brand Toggo.

The companies confirmed a corresponding agreement to German industry publication DWDL.

According to the agreement, Super RTL will take over Nickelodeon’s established satellite frequency on Astra (19.2° East) and operate the channel under its own Toggo brand after a transitional period, while continuing to show popular Nickelodeon series such as Paw Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants. The Nickelodeon channel brand will disappear from German free-TV. Paramount intends to focus entirely on its streaming services Paramount+ and Pluto TV in the children’s sector in Germany in future.

“By expanding the partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount, Super RTL is offering its young audience an even richer wealth of high-quality children’s programmes. The takeover of the satellite frequency creates a new valuable Toggo touchpoint for the target group of 3 to 13-year-olds. This fits perfectly into the strategy of making the Toggo brand present and tangible for children across as many channels and platforms as possible,” said Thorsten Braun, Head of Marketing, Brand & Consumer Products Officer at RTL Deutschland.

Michael Keidel, Vice President Ad Sales, Affiliate & Streaming Partnerships in Northern, Central & Eastern Europe at Paramount, added: “Thanks to the strategic partnership with Super RTL, the popular Nickelodeon characters and stories for children in Germany continue to have a firm place on free-TV. This fits perfectly into our strategy of entertaining fans via numerous high-reach touchpoints. These include our premium streaming service Paramount+, our free, ad-finGerman family channel Super RTL wants to take over children’s channel Nickelodeon in Germany and rebrand it into its children’s brand Toggo.

The companies confirmed a corresponding agreement to German industry publication DWDL.

According to the agreement, Super RTL will take over Nickelodeon’s established satellite frequency on Astra (19.2° East) and operate the channel under its own Toggo brand after a transitional period, while continuing to show popular Nickelodeon series such as Paw Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants. The Nickelodeon channel brand will disappear from German free-TV. Paramount intends to focus entirely on its streaming services Paramount+ and Pluto TV in the children’s sector in Germany in future.

“By expanding the partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount, Super RTL is offering its young audience an even richer wealth of high-quality children’s programmes. The takeover of the satellite frequency creates a new valuable Toggo touchpoint for the target group of 3 to 13-year-olds. This fits perfectly into the strategy of making the Toggo brand present and tangible for children across as many channels and platforms as possible,” said Thorsten Braun, Head of Marketing, Brand & Consumer Products Officer at RTL Deutschland.

Michael Keidel, Vice President Ad Sales, Affiliate & Streaming Partnerships in Northern, Central & Eastern Europe at Paramount, added: “Thanks to the strategic partnership with Super RTL, the popular Nickelodeon characters and stories for children in Germany continue to have a firm place on free-TV. This fits perfectly into our strategy of entertaining fans via numerous high-reach touchpoints. These include our premium streaming service Paramount+, our free, ad-financed streaming service Pluto TV and our pay-TV channels.”

The transaction is subject to approval by the German Federal Cartel Office.anced streaming service Pluto TV and our pay-TV channels.”

The transaction is subject to approval by the German Federal Cartel Office.

Recap To The Decade: Canal+ Afrique Also Offer Pornographic Material With Hustlers TV And Private TV, What Could Await This Lineup Should It Rollout On DStv?

As some readers aware, StarSat once offered a pornographic content on their platforms for consumers in South Africa. This had garnered a lot of media coverage and even led to numerous legal disputes with the channels alienated within the region.

Despite StarTimes playing it safe by having those channel's offering reduced to weeknights and making consumers who opted to bundle the entertainment pay extra. Their attempts had proven to be unsuccessful and led consumers to flee the platform. 

Now Canal+ is seeking to acquire MultiChoice and should these attempts prove favorable. DStv's entertainment would have to be merge/aligned with Canal+'s current offering of course this may prove to be another hurdle.

Similar to StarTimes in select countries, Canal+ offers also offers pornographic material known as MultiMan TV with Hustlers and Private TV. It might form part of MultiChoice's current offering as part of an alignment of content and TV channels.

We're not saying that packages will be axed but seeing as Canal+ already offers English stations those will likely be the first to resurface on DStv. With MultiChoice residing in 22 million households they would give this entertainment further exposure.