Could MultiChoice And Possible M-Net's Local Offering Be Under Siege?

As some readers are aware, Canal+ intends to merge their operations alongside MultiChoice which would create an African powerhouse. This would need approval from local legislation including the Competition Commission and ICASA.

Since then, there's been a lot of concern of the implications awaiting this deal should it move forward. Canal+ serving as the new owners of MultiChoice would likely decrease the workforce on top of minimizing production and licensing agreements. 

One of the endeavors that are said to be a subject on this matter is in regards to local IPs from M-Net this includes Mzansi Magic, SuperSport and Africa Magic. Even third party offering curated exclusively by the pay-tv company like Moja Love and ROK.

From what we've outlined through previous stories wherever there is a clash one of the two are likely to go. In Lago's case, the ROK Studios and TV channels could merge into M-Net's Africa Magic while Maisha Magic and ZACU TV could as well remain unaffected by this situation. 

But in SA's case, this is said to be somewhat worrisome as Canal+ broadcasting license is limited to 20%. What this means is that financially the French broadcaster's expenses for brands like Moja Love can't exceed that percentage which is where BEE comes in.

Whoever is going to join Canal+ on this bid will have to burden themselves to the responsibilities of these brands which is where the fear lies. Usually in cases of mergers and acquisitions of big corporations a lot of cost cutting measures are implemented. 

In this case, it can't be guaranteed that this anonymous partner will keep the local aspects of DStv intact for the years to come. This includes brands like eNCA, Moja Love and Newzroom Afrika that could get scrapped or budget reduced.

Taking a page of the StarSat handbook, there's been questions as to whether M-Net and SuperSport could fold under the entities of Canal+ Premiere and Canal+ Sport. Or if similar to Maisha Magic and ZACU TV these entities will mostly likely just co-exist. 

It's not really known what Canal+ and this local partner would manage but if we had guess. Canal+ would manage whatever is left of MultiChoice Africa like Zambezi Magic and Africa Magic while the other manages 80% of Mzansi Magic and SABC News - MultiChoice SA.  

TA-DAA. eExtra Loads Up On New Action Series In Net 20 Minute This August

More eVOD content is set to rollout in the coming months with Net 20 Minute from 28 August replacing Die Put once it ends. 

Net 20 Minutes follows Ali thrown into a world of action and intrigue when his beloved wife Melek is arrested for attempted murder. Ali must abandon his books, find inner strength and courage in order to free his wife and reclaim his family life. 

Set in Turkey, 20 Minutes was inspired by the 2010 American film The Next Three Days and starred Tuba Büyüküstün and İlker Aksum in leading roles. Star TV served as broadcaster when the series was broadcast in 2013. 

Since it's debut, the Emmy nominated series had been sold to 55 countries including Bahrain, Algeria, Djibouti, Morocco, Greece, Romania, Poland, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Mauritania, Somali, Sudan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Ramo was originally set to replace Die Put once it ends but similar to Doodsondes their final seasons will be air in 2025. Aside from Net 20 Minute, eExtra will be offloading another series from eVOD, Pad Na Die Hart. 

The PFL Partners With CANAL+ To Broadcast Live MMA Action In French-Speaking Sub-Saharan Africa, Myanmar, And Haiti

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, has announced a multi-year media rights agreement with CANAL+, the longest standing and market share leader in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa, for French language rights. The partnership also includes Myanmar and Haiti where CANAL+ broadcasts several top sports competitions. 

CANAL+ will provide live localized programming, continuing across all PFL Global, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, Bellator Champions Series, PFL Super Fights, selected PFL and Bellator archives, and also PFL Africa which will launch in 2025 and will benefit from the prime exposure offered by Canal+ Sport channels in Sub-Saharan Africa, where CANAL+ will carry PFL action live with French commentary on linear channels to nearly 8 million homes.

The Professional Fighters League could not be more excited to partner with Canal+ bringing our brand to French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa. The PFL believes strongly in connecting with MMA fans in areas that have been traditionally underserved in the sport and doing so in their native languages. Canal+ is the sports media brand that lives in the hearts and minds of the French speaking population in Sub-Saharan Africa and is synonymous with premium sport.

James Frewin, Managing Director International, PFL

We are proud to bring PFL to our African subscribers. Fighting competitions, and MMA leagues in particular, attract ever larger audiences of fans among African audience. And we are all the more thrilled to partner with a dedicated PFL franchise in Africa and broadcast top fights with stars such as Francis Ngannou or Cedric Doumbe. This perfectly fits our strategy of promoting African sport on the continent and beyond.

Jacques du Puy, CEO, CANAL+ International

The 2024 PFL Global Season and Global Season Playoffs are available live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally.

PFL is the only organization in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight-class. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is available on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S., DAZN in Canada and Europe and broadcast and streamed in 160 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

The PFL Partners With SuperSport To Broadcast Live MMA Action In English Speaking Countries Across Sub-Saharan Africa

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league, on Wednesday announced a media rights deal with SuperSport, for all PFL and Bellator programming to air across SuperSport channels.

The partnership kicked off in thrilling fashion as fans in the region were able tune into the opening event of the 2024 PFL Europe Season on March 7 when global superstar Cedric ‘The Best’ Doumbe took on Baissangour ‘Baki’ Chamsoudinov at the Accor Arena in Paris.

Through the partnership, all PFL programming - including live coverage of PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Europe and newly announced PFL MENA - will be available on SuperSport, Africa's premier sports broadcaster.

The promotion is set to launch its third international league - PFL Africa - in 2025.

Through its exclusive global strategic partnership with Francis Ngannou, the world’s greatest combat sports athlete today and the baddest man on the planet, the linear heavyweight champion will be an equity owner in and Chairman of PFL Africa, the region’s premier MMA league.

Events will be staged in key countries across the continent live in primetime to meet the major demand for premium and consistent MMA content. More details will be announced later this year.

“Sub-Saharan Africa represents a priority market for the Professional Fighters League as we continue our rapid global expansion,” said PFL SVP, International James Frewin. “We’re thrilled to partner with SuperSport so viewers across the region can watch premium PFL and Bellator MMA content all year-round on SuperSport.”

PFL is the only organisation in MMA with the sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year.

The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30 per cent of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same per centage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development.

PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience.

PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the US and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.

Development Alert. Pad Na Die Hart To Be Allocated On eExtra In August, Wie Laaste Lag Rebroadcasts Launch On e.tv

After rolling out on eVOD earlier in the year, Pad Na Die Hart will be making its debut on eExtra daily at 19:00 from 13 August. This means for those without eVOD will have to wait until next year to view the final season of Doodsondes for some reason.

Firat works as a Kebab Master with his aunt and friends in their shop in a modest neighborhood of Istanbul. Blind, his fiancee left on their wedding day and filled with anger wants to know why until a name comes up Taylan Günebakan aka Doctor Love, the famous life coach.

Produced by NTC Medya in 2021, Pad Na Die Hart (Aşkın Tarifi) starred Kadir Dogulu as Fırat Karasu, Serra Arıtürk as Naz Soyluer, Cem Davran as Hazım Soyluer, Alper Saldıran as Taylan slot and Yasemin Baştan as Sultan Yılmaz.

Aside from Doodsondes early dismal, eMedia Investments seems to have backtracked on the eExtra binges as Wie Laaste Lag replaces Om Elke daily at 08:30 from 26 July.

Now why backtracking is simple, the weekday morning Turkish slots on e.tv was structured as a catch-up slot to eExtra's weeknight offering. While some like Elif will repeat 15 hours later others like Doodsondes would take months on end for e.tv to schedule a broadcast. 

If one had to guess, eMedia Investments is probably minimizing the amount of eExtra content that is being splashed onto the main channel. For once, they're trying to make eExtra an independent channel as opposed to making e.tv leverage of its success. 

This would further encourage viewers to get an Openview or stream the latter on eVOD.