Paramount Global Has Applied For A New Trademark Based On SpongeBob SquarePants Called Bikini Bottom News

Paramount, under Viacom International Inc., has applied to register Bikini Bottom News under NICE Class "41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services", for "Entertainment services, namely, providing a multimedia video segment and online content in the nature of non-downloadable videos". The request was filed on June 25, 2024, and is currently pending approval.

Bikini Bottom News takes it name from the Bikini Bottom News news channel featured in the SpongeBob Universe, which reports events happening in and around Bikini Bottom, with the Realistic Fish Head and Perch Perkins serving as the network's main reporters.

As the name and description suggest, Bikini Bottom News is most likely a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed digital series. Although a launch date has yet to be announced, Bikini Bottom News will most likely form part of Nickelodeon's celebrations to commemorate the 25th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Source: NickALive

SuperSport Supposedly Goes Global As Canal+ Poland Revamps Sports Offering

As some readers are aware, Canal+ and MultiChoice are currently finalizing terms of the acquisition as they seek approval from local legislation. With lingering concerns surrounding the fate of SuperSport once Canal+ gains ownership of MultiChoice. 

In Poland, the French company trademarks its owns sports brand under the corporate name, Canal+ Sport. Similar to SuperSport, this offering comprises of several TV channels which offer a range of matches mainly UEFA Europa League and Conference League.

Later in the week, it was revealed that these channels had been trademarked under a new package called Super Sport. This offering as seen from not long ago would give consumers an enhanced viewing experience hence "Super Sport".

This offering is said to boast 7 channels with the last 3 available for online streaming as seen with MultiChoice's DStv Stream.

Although the content from the brand in Africa and Poland vary with one getting most major leagues. With MultiChoice soon being owned by Canal+, the name is likely derived from the acquired company although not by style as "Super Sport" is one word in Africa. 

Judging by this, it's possible SuperSport could retain its trademark once Canal+ completes its acquisition of MultiChoice. The capacity to its trademark has yet to be known but Poland is now tagged onto this so what fate could await the feeds in Africa. 

Could SuperSport become Canal+ Sport? or is a similar fate seen in Poland awaiting Africa where these brands are somewhat unified perhaps to form Canal+ Super(Sport) seeing as they both reside in Africa.

Translated press release 

The world's greatest footballers, the best European clubs and the most prestigious UEFA football competitions return to CANAL+. The football celebration on CANAL+ will begin with the broadcast of the UEFA Super Cup, which will be played on August 14. From August 20, CANAL+ customers will be able to watch broadcasts of all matches of the 4th qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Broadcasts of the league phase will start on September 14. 

All UEFA Champions League matches and matches of the fourth qualifying round will be broadcast on seven new CANAL+ EXTRA sports channels and one of the existing CANAL+ channels, which will soon be available in a new version under the name CANAL+ 360. The channels will be available via satellite and online on the website. streaming CANAL+ online.   

Only CANAL+ football experts will be present in the pre- and post-match studios and as commentators and guests.  The schedule will also include new programs dedicated to the UEFA Champions League and combined broadcasts as part of the Champions League Multiliga.

The new Super Sport additional package is available for sale, which guarantees access to all UEFA Champions League matches, selected UEFA Youth League matches, the UEFA Super Cup and VOD sports collections. 

The new model of the UEFA Champions League will guarantee CANAL+ viewers an even greater dose of football emotions from the first round. The number of competing teams will increase from 32 to 36, matches will be played every month from August to May, and the group phase will be replaced by a league phase. Each team will play eight matches - four at home and four away, instead of the previous six. Starting from the 1/8 finals, the competition will continue in the current cup format. This gives a total of 189 matches in each season, which will be broadcast live on CANAL+. CANAL+ customers will also be able to watch all 14 matches of the fourth qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN THE SUPER SPORT PACKAGE 

Super Sport is a new additional package consisting of seven CANAL+ EXTRA channels and a VOD collection. The package is offered as an additional option to the CANAL+ channel package and guarantees access to broadcasts of all UEFA Champions League matches in the 2024/25 - 2026/27 seasons, selected UEFA Youth League matches and the UEFA Super Cup. Channels from the Super Sport package will be available on satellite television and via the Internet in the CANAL+ online streaming service on almost any device. 

The Super Sport package will include: 

• CANAL+ EXTRA 1 channel broadcast 24/7 via satellite and via the Internet on the CANAL+ online service. 

• Event channels CANAL+ EXTRA 2, CANAL+ EXTRA 3, CANAL+ EXTRA 4 launched during matches and broadcast via satellite and via the Internet in CANAL+ online service 

• Additional event channels CANAL+ EXTRA 5, CANAL+ EXTRA 6, CANAL+ EXTRA 7 launched during matches. The channels will be available only on decoders connected to the Internet and on the CANAL+ online streaming service. 

• VOD SUPERSPORT collection available on a decoder connected to the Internet and on the CANAL+ online service. 

Selected UEFA Champions League matches will also be broadcast on one of the existing channels included in the CANAL+ option. The channel will soon be available in a new version under the name CANAL+ 360. Access to selected matches will be available to customers who already have CANAL+ channels, but are not interested in the full offer of broadcasts on CANAL+ EXTRA channels as part of the Super Sport additional package.

SABC 2 Will No Longer Broadcast The Springbok Inbound Test Matches Due To eMedia's Failure To Obtain Rights For Openview

Last month, SuperSport and the SABC came into agreement to televise the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup final live as well as two Springbok Test matches on a delayed basis. The final two Springbok matches are scheduled for broadcast on Saturday 6th and 13th July. 

These matches had been restricted from Openview consumers and due to that eMedia Investments had filed a court application with the Competition Tribunal after failing to acquire the necessary funds for the matches.

Now SABC will no longer be able to air these matches on SABC 2 but updates will be available on their radio stations. As mentioned, the outcome to eMedia Investments' appeal would lead to millions of households without DStv access to Springbok matches. 

SABC was paying for these matches at a discounted rate provided that Openview and even StarSat don't air it. Now that this barrier appears to be broken SuperSport could as well refuse to license further games to the SABC unless they pay full amount for the rights. 

This comes after the public broadcaster had to cancel Muvhango at the last minute with some sources eyeing Generations: The Legacy as the next soap to be on the chopping block.

Statement from the SABC

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) regrets that it will no longer be able to broadcast the Springbok Inbound Test matches against Ireland on Saturday, the 6th and Saturday the 13th of July 2024, as previously communicated.

This decision follows the recent urgent litigation at the Competition Appeal Court over the broadcast rights to the Test matches which necessitated the SABC to review its decision to continue with the sub-license Agreement concluded with Multichoice.

The SABC remains committed to broadcasting sports of national interest and to this end, the following SABC’s African Language Stations (Motsweding FM, Lesedi FM, Thobela FM, Ukhozi FM, Umhlobo Wenene FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Munghana Lonene FM, Phalaphala FM, RSG) and Radio 2000 will be broadcasting all the six Inbound Springbok matches. The kick off time for the match tomorrow is 17h00.

The SABC will always strive to achieve its sports broadcast mandate without compromising its commercial objectives.

New Series Alert: Op Dun Ys Coming Soon To eVOD With Between You And Me On Zee World ROA

During the year, it was reported that several shows from the land of Istanbul would heading to African shores and this included Sadakatsiz. Now the series will be streaming in Afrikaans on eVOD under the title Op Dun Ys from July 12th.

Based on the series Doctor Foster, Asya lives a peaceful and happy life in Tekirdağ with her husband Volkan and their son Ali. This situation changes when she learns that her husband has been having an affair with a young woman named Derin for two years.

It starred Cansu Dere as Asya Yılmaz, Caner Cindoruk as Volkan Arslan, Melis Sezen as Derin Güçlü, Özge Özder as Derya Samanlı, Gözde Seda Altuner as Gönül Güçlü, Nazlı Bulum as Nil Tetik, Taro Emir Tekin as Selçuk Dağci and Yeliz Kuvancı as Bahar Gelik.

After airing on Zee One in 2023, Between You And Me is anticipated to land on Zee World across Africa (excluding South Africa) from July 11th.

This show revolves around Akilesh Pandey and Iravati. Aksilesh is a village simpleton and an ardent follower of Bajrang Bali. He is illiterate, but a great wrestler, while Ira is an aspiring medical student. Destiny had meant these two individuals to meet and unite.

It starred Karan Suchak as Akhilesh Pandey and Jiya Shankar as Dr. Iravati "Ira" Desai Pandey.

How FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Family And FilmBox Action Could Surface On MultiChoice's DStv?

For those who aren't familiar with Canal+ offering within Africa, FilmBox Family and FilmBox Action form part of this lineup alongside FilmBox Africa. Part of which can already be viewed on On Digital Media and StarTimes' StarSat through a separate agreement. 

FilmBox Africa is a basic tier film channel dedicated to a wide audience of movie fans. It offers more than 300 premiere titles every year, and features the best directors’ films, television series and miniseries, as well as high-budget television productions.

FilmBox Action is an adrenaline pumping channel which offers a range of premium movies and series. It is home to the leading stars of action cinema including Bruce Willis, Jean- Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Jet Li and Jackie Chan.

Lastly FilmBox Family offers fun for the whole family with content appealing to both children and adult viewers which include family movies, comedies, fantasy, adventure and more. All the content from the channel is rated G for the general audiences. 

If you take into account the current structure for these channels getting these brands onboard wouldn't be a simple walk in the park. This could lead to some restructuring with the existing DStv offering or in particular brands like M-Net Movies.

Seeing as Canal+ would own MultiChoice basically M-Net Movies would therefore be the English counterpart to the current Canal+ Cinema in the region. This offering comprises of two channels while M-Net Movies consists of 4 channels.

M-Net is basically streamlining its portfolio and recently this lead to the closures of Me and 1Magic. Taking those matters to account would it seem that far fetched if similar endeavors were to await M-Net Movies with Movie Room and TNT this lineup is already bloated.

M-Net is going similar endeavors as SABC 3 where it's viewership has experienced immense losses. This is due to the likes of streamers like Netflix and Disney+ so if whatever happened to Audience in America awaited M-Net there wouldn't be an M-Net Movies. 

A restructure to the current M-Net Movies wouldn't be shocking to say the least. Maybe the offering will merge into one channel seeing as Movie Room exists both of which reside in SA maybe without black owned channel this offering would have doubled. 

It's even possible that this offering would cease to exist to its entirety as seen with Me and 1Magic as the latter integrates with M-Net.