Canal+ Is Shutting Down In Ethiopia By The End Of December, Could DStv Follow?

During the week, it was revealed that both Canal+ and Bruh Entertainment PLC that launched a rival platform to StarTimes in Ethiopia back in 2021 will be closing down by 31 December 2024. This is due to the dominance of free-to-air operators in the region with the French broadcaster putting more focus on existing agreements with BeMedia.

This means channels like Canal+ Gebeta and Canal+ Jumbo will cease to exist unless another company was looking to revive these endeavors for consumers in the region. Other channels like Star Life, KIX, Cartoon Network and Trace Urban can be viewed on DStv with Canal+ also looking to acquire it's parent company MultiChoice which is awaiting approval from local legislation.

If this takeover succeeds, what happens to MultiChoice's operations within Ethiopia do those suffer the same fate or is Canal+ departure from Ethiopia having to do with the acquisition in general. This happened to be the only part of French broadcaster's operations that wasn't actually based in Francophone Africa and Canal+ is looking to merge their operations with MultiChoice Africa.

MultiChoice Africa hasn't been profitable in a long time which is likely the area Canal+ will manage and what could as well happen is the possible demise of DStv within the region and maybe MultiChoice through Canal+ will only seek to partner up with local broadcasters or license select content from MultiChoice Studios I mean it wouldn't seem far fetched.

Disney+ launched back in 2019 and there's still various markets within Europe and Africa that had been excluded from it's offering despite Disney cutting back on content. Even Netflix despite being a giant in it's current field doesn't have any local presence in Japan, Russia, Syria and North Korea.

Instead of having a DStv, there could be instances where the only reminisce of MultiChoice would be some of the local offering seen on M-Net another could as well be Showmax. Then there's that stake with African pay-tv operator MC Vision they could explore more partnerships/mergers in an attempt to stabilize MultiChoice's operations outside South Africa.

Statement from Canal+ regarding it's closure in Ethiopia

CANAL+ and Bruh Entertainment PLC have been partnering since 2021 to develop a satellite Pay TV distribution business in Ethiopia. Both companies have jointly decided to close the satellite pay-TV distribution business in Ethiopia this year, in a dynamic market led by a strong penetration of free-to-air channels. Broadcast for CANAL+ offers existing subscribers will continue until December 2024.

CANAL+ has decided to set new strategic directions for its activities in Ethiopia and will keep on investing in content production activity through various partnerships with BeMedia.

CANAL+ wishes to continue supporting Ethiopian artists, producers, and media professionals as a purchaser of content and services from Ethiopian companies, and other future opportunities in the country.

CANAL+ appreciates the contributions of its institutional and commercial partners over the last four years, and is committed to an orderly winding up process which respects all stakeholders. We warmly thank the staff of Bruh Entertainment for their remarkable work over the last three years.

Play Room Adds Three New Shows "The Jungle Book" In Isizulu Alongside "Super Sema" And "Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn"

Play Room is a South African based children's channel operated by Movie Room and Newzroom Afrika makers Ngwato Nkosi Group. The channel offers a mix of locally produced content with Play Room Live and Cocomelon dubbed in Isizulu alongside other content like Henry Danger and Barbie: Dreamhouse Adventures.

The channel is slated to rollout three series in the coming weeks such as "The Jungle Book" and "Super Sema" both of which will form the local portion of Play Room while "Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn" joins the international slate.

Details on The Jungle Book

"The Jungle Book" is about the adventures of Mowgli, a human foundling raised by Akela's wolf pack, and his best friends, fatherly bear Baloo and playful panther Bagheera. They live in the Indian jungle where many dangers lurk, such as the mighty Bengal tiger Shere Khan. The inquisitive Mowgli often gets himself into trouble and can't resist helping animals in danger or solving other problems.

Based in France, "The Jungle Book" will be made available in Isizulu alongside existing shows such as "Akili And Me", "Supa Strikas" and "Cocomelon". New episodes will be broadcast daily at 08:15 from 23 September.

Details on Super Sema

“Super Sema” follows the world-changing, STEAM-fueled adventures of a brave and heroic 10-year-old girl, Sema, and her twin brother, MB, as they protect their African village from the villainous Tobor and his bungling robot army. A heartless, artificially intelligent ruler, Tobor meets his match in Sema, who learns that with determination, creativity and a helping hand from the amazing worlds of science and technology, anything is possible. 

Exec produced by Oscar-winning actor, Lupita Nyong’o, (“12 Years a Slave,” “Black Panther,” “Us”), “Super Sema” is written by four-time BAFTA winner, Claudia Lloyd (“Charlie & Lola,” “Mr. Bean,” “Tinga Tinga Tales”). CAKE comes on board as international distributor. 

The series will broadcast daily at 09:15 from 16 September.

Details on Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn

"Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn" follows the adventures of the 12-year-old Harper quadruplets Nicky (Aidan Gallagher), Ricky (Casey Simpson), Dicky (Coronel) and Dawn (Lizzy Greene) who don’t have much in common, except their birthday, but know they can do anything when they stick together. Rounding out the cast are Allison Munn (That '70s Show) who plays the Harpers' mother Anne, Brian Stepanek (The Loud House) as their father Tom, Kyla-Drew Simmons as Dawn's best friend Mae.

It ran for 84 episodes over four seasons between September 13, 2014 and August 4, 2018, and was a consistently strong ratings performer during its broadcast on Nickelodeon. The first season will be broadcast daily at 17:30 from 23 September.

Weekly Roundups #1: Canal+ Announces 'Joan' And 'Max & Rabbit", Showmax Greenlits Local Adaptation Of The Office, Paramount Looking To Sell 12 Channels And More

• Canal+, CBC, Prime Video and NBCU join early buyers of 'Snowed-In' jewel thief drama 'Joan'

Produced by Snowed-In Productions for ITV in the UK and co-produced by The CW in the US, “Joan” is a six-part drama starring Sophie Turner (“Game of Thrones”) in the role of the notorious real-life jewel thief Joan Harrington in 1980s London.

• CosmoBlue acquired full ownership of Azoomee and Da Vinci parent company Macademia

• Paramount Global looking to sell 12 TV channels

According to reports, brands being eyed out for possible disposal include BET, VH1 and Pluto TV then there were reports years prior that they were looking to sell the batch of channels from Showtime.

• e.tv dumps Scandal from weekend viewing following ratings slump while weekday's viewership could pull around 3 million households this was further reduced to a million household within the weekends.

• A rebroadcast of Forbidden Passions launches on Telemundo once Until Money Do Us Part ends.

• Showmax to rollout local adaptation of BBC's The Office possibly titled Die Kantoor with Superstore SA also said to be in development for the streamer.

The Office created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant made its debut over two decades ago as a British series and was successfully adapted in other territories like the United States and recently Australia. Showmax will produce the 14th adaptation after garnering popularity in the United States with the series slated for 2025.

Superstore created by Justin Spitzer and starred America Ferrera and Ben Feldman (who also serve as executive producers), made it's debut a decade ago and spawned 6 series. Since then, there had only been one adaptation based in Mexico titled Supertitlan with Showmax said to be developing one in South Africa which is set in Pick 'n Pay or ShopRite.

• Cocomelon is expanding its universe with a live-action series

The series invites children to interact with a real-life Ms Appleberry, the cherished teacher from CoComelon, who comes to life in the series with a performance by educator and 2021 National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey. CoComelon viewers were introduced to Ms Appleberry in 2019, when JJ met her on his first day of preschool at Melon Patch Academy.

• James Earl Jones, voice actor in Star Wars and The Lion King dies

• Karate Kid actor Chad McQueen who is the son of Steve McQueen dies

New Disney Channel Original Premieres Across Africa Alongside Marathon Of Fan-Favourites This Month

• Brand-new instalment of the Descendants franchise as “Descendants: The Rise of Red” premieres on channel

• Popular Z-O-M-B-I-E-S franchise welcomes an animated series

• Celebrate Miraculous Day with back-to-back episodes and the Miraculous World DCOMs

 

Disney Channel fans are in for a right royal treat this September as the channel welcomes brand new content, marathon events of fan-favourite series’ and a whole day dedicated to everyone’s favourite superheroes, Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir.

The mega-hit “Descendants” franchise which features the teenage progeny of iconic Disney heroes and villains, sees a triumphant return to our screens with Descendants: The Rise of Red on Friday, 27 September at 17:00 CAT on Disney Channel, DStv channel 303. “Descendants: The Rise of Red” follows Red (Kylie Cantrall), the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe (Malia Baker), Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter. When the tyrannical Queen of Hearts incites a coup against Auradon, polar opposites Red and Chloe must join forces and travel back in time to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path.

In addition to Cantrall and Baker, the film stars a new ensemble of VKs (Villain Kids) and legacy characters, including singer Brandy as Cinderella, Rita Ora as the Queen of Hearts, Dara Reneé as Uliana, Ruby Rose Turner as Bridget/Young Queen of Hearts, Morgan Dudley as Ella/Young Cinderella, Joshua Colley as Young Hook, Peder Lindell as Morgie, Grace Narducci as Fay/Young Fairy Godmother, Jeremy Swift as Principal Merlin, Paolo Montalban as King Charming, and Leonardo Nam as Maddox Hatter. China Anne McClain is back as fan-favorite Uma and the new principal at Auradon Prep. Melanie Paxson also reprises her role as Fairy Godmother.

True to the “Descendants” tradition of music-driven stories, this fourth instalment features seven new original songs, two reprises and a cover of “So This Is Love” from the classic animated “Cinderella” film that will engage viewers and bring them along on the emotional journey with our bold new characters.

Fans will also be delighted to find a Descendants Movie Special from Tuesday, 24 September to Thursday, 26 September from 15:00 CAT, leading up to the premiere of The Rise of Red.

Disney’s “ZOMBIES” is a music- and dance-filled story set in the fictitious world of Seabrook, a cookie-cutter community brimming with perky conformity 50 years after a zombie apocalypse. The popular franchise follows Zombie Zed and human Addison who meet at school and become friends.

ZOMBIES: The Re-animated Series sees Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim reprise their roles as Seabrook’s star-crossed zombie/cheerleader couple, Zed and Addison, in Disney Branded Television’s next iteration of the hit “ZOMBIES” franchise. Fans can catch the Seabrook crew in animated form ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series premiering on Monday, 16 September at 16:30 CAT on Disney Channel. Previous offerings Zombies 2 will screen on Saturday, 21 September and Zombies 3 on Sunday, both at 10:40 CAT.

Mark your calendars for 30 September – it’s Miraculous Day! Fans of Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir can look forward to a day filled with their favourite crime-fighting teens. From 06:00  - 16:00 CAT on Monday, 30 September, you can expect back-to-back episodes of Season 5 of the series as well as all three Miraculous World movies. Catch Miraculous World: New York United Heroez at 11:05 CAT, Miraculous World: Shanghai, The Legend of LadyDragon at 12:05 CAT and Miraculous World Paris, Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir at 13:10 CAT. 

Reminder: Telemundo To Debut New Series "Ana's New Life" In Africa

Ana Ocampo is a 50-year-old woman who will have to face a divorce, after she discovers that her husband, Horacio, is unfaithful with a much younger woman, Adelaida Gómez. In the midst of her loneliness, Ana discovers that the end of her marriage will become a second chance for her as she enjoys her new life and becomes a stronger woman. She ends up meeting Joaquín Cortés, who, after meeting Ana, assures her that she is the woman of his life. Meanwhile, Horacio realizes that ending his relationship with Ana was a mistake.

It starred Paola Turbay as Ana Ocampo, Sebastián Carvajal as Joaquín Cortés, Jorge Enrique Abello as Horacio Valenzuela, Laura Archbold as Adelaida Gómez, Judy Henríquez as Dolores Viuda de Ocampo, Ramistelly Herrera as Emma Valenzuela, Carlos Báez as Pedro Valenzuela, Ilenia Antonini as Florencia Valenzuela and Adriana Romero as Genoveva Serrano.

With Queen Of The South set to return on the channel for a third and final season on Telemundo. The channel had opted to sought out the assistance of Colombia's RCN Television for Ana's New Life (also known as Ana De Nadie) in an attempt to retain daytime audiences as Teresa Mendoza's entry will be restricted to late nights at 22:00 with Ana's New Life airing an hour earlier at 21:00.

RCN Television is no stranger to the Hispanic based channel as they've worked together on shows like Until Money Do Us Part and The Scent Of Passion. The channel had even sought to license other content like The Chosen Granddaughter, Nurses and Law Of The Heart with some of this currently seen on their lineup.

What's mind boggling about these premieres is that The People's Doctor instead of falling off the lineup follows Decisions and a select number of shows and serves as a filler to the daytime as Queen Of The South commences 9th September. Ana's New Life will only air 21 days after Queen Of The South on September 30th giving consumers free time to check the load of repeats on E! Entertainment.