Cartoon Network Celebrates The Winners Of The CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative

Cartoon Network has announced the winners of its CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative, a campaign that empowered children aged 6 to 12 across South Africa to combat climate change. The initiative saw enthusiastic participation from 250 schools spanning all nine provinces.

The campaign was inspired by a recent Cartoon Network survey revealing that:

• 94% of South African children are concerned about climate change

• 95% want to take action to address it

• 90% are eager to learn more about the issue

 

“At Cartoon Network, we are passionate about the power of small, everyday actions to create significant global impact,” said Monika Oomen, VP of Brand, Communications, and Digital Content Strategy for Kids EMEA at Warner Bros. Discovery. “The CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative has been instrumental in inspiring teachers and students to delve into, debate, and actively address climate change.”

 

The initiative provided schools with weekly themes on crucial environmental issues such as recycling, energy conservation, plant life, plastic pollution, and e-waste. Engaging content, including facts, videos, quizzes, and challenges, helped teachers integrate climate change topics into their classrooms.

 

Students actively participated in activities like rainwater harvesting, clothing recycling, and climate-focused presentations. Schools also submitted photos and videos of these activities for a chance to win weekly eco-friendly prizes.

 

A highlight of the initiative was the "creative upcycling" competition, challenging schools to create models or sculptures using recycled materials. The top ten schools received prizes, with the top three demonstrating exceptional innovation:

 

• Atholl Heights Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, took home first place with their charismatic recycling mascot, Penelope the Penguin. This student-built creation, crafted from recycled materials, embodies the school's dedication to recycling and climate change education. Penelope serves as a powerful visual reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and the impact of climate change on vulnerable species like penguins. The project showcased the students' creativity, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact on their school community.

• Rosehill Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, clinched second place with their multifaceted approach to sustainability. Already known for their environmental stewardship, the school created a vibrant garden oasis built entirely from recycled materials. Students crafted functional items like a water-saving irrigation system from recycled bottles and earbuds, demonstrating resourcefulness and ingenuity. The project extended beyond the garden, inspiring students to create practical items like pencil holders from recycled materials and fostering a school-wide culture of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

 

• Alipore Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, earned third place by tackling both food insecurity and sustainability with their innovative "Alipore Primary Big Build" project. Inspired by the Climate Champions Challenge, students constructed a vertical vegetable garden using recycled 5-litre bottles. This initiative not only provided a sustainable source of fresh produce for the school and community but also instilled a sense of environmental responsibility and community spirit among the students.

 

"We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and creativity displayed by students across South Africa," said Oomen. "The CN Climate Champions Schools Initiative proves the power of education and engagement in fostering environmental stewardship from a young age. Congratulations to all the winners and participants—your dedication to sustainability inspires us all."

 

The competition showcased the remarkable creativity and passion of young minds dedicated to eco-friendly innovations. Cartoon Network congratulates all participants for their commitment to protecting the planet for future generations.

Graham Norton On 30 Years Of Laughs, Behind The Sofa Magical Moments, And His Dream Guestlist On BBC Brit AFRICA

 

Graham Norton is back, ready to dazzle with his signature snazzy suits and infamous red sofa as The Graham Norton Show returns to screens.

 

 

 

 

For almost 30 years, Norton has been a fixture in British television, offering up the perfect blend of wit, charm, and cheeky humour that keeps his audience — and his star-studded guests — coming back for more.

 

With nearly two decades of hosting on the BBC alone, Norton has established himself as a maestro of celebrity banter. His ability to create a relaxed atmosphere on set is unmatched, effortlessly drawing out amusing anecdotes from the A-listers who sit elbow-to-elbow on his sofa.

 

As Norton puts it, the show is like a TV party that gets the weekend started with a swing — and it's one he’s still delighted to host after all these years.

“I’ve been doing this for so long, yet every time I sit in that chair, there’s still a buzz,” Norton shares. “It’s like riding a bike — familiar but exciting at the same time.”

 

Now celebrating the release of his fifth novel, Frankie, which he calls his "most ambitious yet," Norton continues to surprise audiences with his versatility. With four bestselling books already to his name, his success as a novelist shows he's just as talented behind the keyboard as he is on camera. But it’s his role as the host of one of the UK’s most beloved chat shows that keeps fans flocking to their screens.

 

Back to the Studio Magic

 

After a six-month break, Norton is set to return to the studio, and while it’s business as usual, there’s still a spark of excitement for the seasoned host. “On that first day back, it’s strange but exhilarating. There’s something about being on that set — it’s so familiar, yet the energy is always fresh. The audience arrives, the guests sit down, and you never quite know where the night will take you.”

 

Norton’s ritual before the show is refreshingly low-key: a simple routine of seeing familiar faces, donning his suit, and enjoying a pre-show glass of wine. “I used to have superstitions back when I was doing stand-up — same shoes, same routine — but then I forgot one day, and it turned out fine,” he says with a laugh. “Now, I just focus on the people around me and getting into the zone.”

 

Star Power and Dream Guests

 

Over the years, The Graham Norton Show has been known for attracting some of the biggest names in the industry, but even for a veteran like Norton, there are moments of awe. One such moment came last season when Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts finally graced the red sofa after being on Norton’s dream guest list for years.

 

“Booking Julia was a huge moment for everyone on the show,” Norton reveals. “It was like we finally caught the legendary catfish we’d been chasing. And she didn’t disappoint — she was lovely, down-to-earth, and the audience couldn’t have loved her more. She brought the whole group together, even with giants like Cher, Tom Hanks, and Timothée Chalamet on the same sofa.”

 

While The Graham Norton Show has long been a hotspot for established stars, Norton and his team also take pride in spotlighting rising talent. “Sometimes, I’ll see a name on the guest list and think, ‘Who’s that?’ But then I’ll chat with the team and realise I’ve seen them in the latest buzzworthy show. The beauty of the format is that even if the audience isn’t familiar with someone at first, the energy of the sofa brings everyone into the fold.”

 

The unique vibe of the show is something that even Hollywood heavyweights appreciate. Timothée Chalamet, when seated next to icons like Cher and Julia Roberts, described the experience as “such a trip.” Norton agrees: “That sofa just turbocharges everything. After bringing it back post-Covid, I’ve realised how much of a difference it makes.”

 

A Taste for Risqué Humour

 

Norton’s show is also known for its boundary-pushing moments, with guests often venturing into cheeky or even risqué territory. Last season, for example, Alan Cumming riffed on scrotal ageing, and Michael Fassbender discussed a sex aid.

 

Though Norton admits that at times he finds himself thinking, “Do we really have to go there?” the BBC has rarely cut anything for being too bold.

 

“If the audience finds it funny, it stays,” he says with a smile. “And honestly, that’s the essence of the show — it’s a reflection of the fun we’re having in the studio.”

 

Looking Ahead: More Laughs, More Stories

 

As Norton celebrates three decades of success, he’s not slowing down. His fifth novel Frankie — which spans from 1950s West Cork to 1960s New York — represents his most ambitious literary work to date. “I had to do research this time,” Norton says of the book, which blends real and fictional characters. “It’s different, but I really enjoyed the process.”

 

On the show front, Norton is still hoping to land Brad Pitt — another name that’s been on his dream guest list for years. “Brad doesn’t really do talk shows, especially in the UK, but you never know. Maybe if I say it out loud, like I did with Julia, it’ll happen!”

 

As for the future of The Graham Norton Show, Norton has no immediate plans to step away from the swivel chair. “I feel lucky to still be enjoying it and to have an audience who wants to watch. I don’t see why I’d stop while it’s still so much fun.”

 

The Graham Norton Show airs Tuesdays at 20:00 on BBC Brit, Channel 120 on DStv.

Comedy Central Will Stop Airing In Ukraine By 1st January 2025 Due To Low Ratings

After shutting down in Russia in 2022, Comedy Central was made available through the Ukrainian media group 1+1 replacing Paramount Comedy. The channel is aimed at viewers aged 18-49 and reaches around 300 million households in more than 150 countries with shows like Two And Half Men, Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory.

Commenting on its launch in Ukraine, Oksana Petryshyn, general producer of the TET TV channel and Comedy Central, said: “The content of the Comedy Central TV channel has been proven over the years and has made Ukrainians fall in love with it. Therefore, the launch of the TV channel is a response to the request of viewers who, more than ever, need positive and life-affirming content”.

Now the channel is said to be going dark in the region by January 1st 2025 with sources siting poor reception which has led to its downfall. This was one of the few services to have been offered by Paramount Global following Russia's invasion into the Ukrainian market by 2022.

Although Comedy Central would cease to exist in the Ukraine, the channel is still available in Latin America, United Kingdom, Southeast Asia, India, Middle East and Africa.

Paramount Global which serves as the parent company for Comedy Central is in the process of being acquired by Skydance Media which is awaiting approval with the deal set to be finalised in the first half of 2025. The company is looking to form "New Paramount" which ventures into revenue streams while winding down on costs.

"A Channel First": ePlesier Launches Die Agentskap In December

In the coming weeks, primetime will be further reduced on eExtra plans to offer a rebroadcast of Vierspel Vuurspel in place of Net 20 Minute. In surprising developments, Die Agentskap which is currently streaming on eVOD will be heading to ePlesier basically a repeats channel in December.

Now the issue with ePlesier's current structure is that with it being revolved solely on repeats a majority of consumers are likely avoiding the channel. The ones that choose to view the channel are either catching up on primetime repeats with another portion that may be interested in the content.

The final season of Die Put is currently airing on the channel and later this same season will likely surface on e.tv which begs the question why does ePlesier even exist. It is understandable on MultiChoice's part as they cater for different products but with eMedia Investments it's basically the same consumers.

Even with ePlesier's presence, e.tv still accomodates for eExtra as opposed to winding down on those affairs to cater for let's say uMbali and Housewives as those shows have yet to be made available on their platform. They had attempted it on Sunday movie nights and it was an absolute mess leading them to reinstate movies at 8PM.

Honestly this whole structure between e.tv, eExtra and ePlesier is just a mess I mean with MultiChoice pivoting for Showmax maybe eMedia Investments could do the same with eVOD in this scenario. Perhaps merge ePlesier and eExtra into one channel and get all the Bollywood and Asian dramas on eSeries if not a separate channel.

As for Die Agentskap it will be allocated at 12PM from 12 December which begs the question how many people will be tuning in or even notice it when it comes on. eMedia Investments was been trying to minimise rivalry amongst their stations and if I had to guess when they'll repeat this by 4PM/11PM.

eExtra is also available on DStv meaning more exposure and advertising income so why leave consumers with a 4 year old repeat. Some consumers have asked if eMedia Investments is planning to accommodate these consumers and I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

eExtra is already airing simultaneous broadcasts of Annekan Die Swa Kry and Kelders Van Gehieme from e.tv so why not Die Agentskap from ePlesier. By that time in which Die Agentskap is seen consumers are being fed with Deur Dik En Dun and Net 20 Minute (more repeats) and with the channel's 24 hour lineup they could try squeezing it in.

Some info regarding Die Agentskap 

Four managers of talent agency Ego, namely Kıraç, Feris, Çınar and Peride, deal with difficult situations every day and defend their business visions. They skillfully combine art and business, but their private and professional lives sometimes come into conflict. Based on the French series Dix Pour Cent, it starred Kıraç Özdal as Barış Falay, Çınar Bilgin as Fatih Artman, Dicle Ertem as Ahsen Eroğlu, Barış Havas as Deniz Can Aktaş, Peride Şener as Ayşenil Şamlıoğlu and Feris Dikmen as Canan Ergüder.

Could Canal+'s Potential Listing On JSE Have Any Implications On MultiChoice?

As some readers are aware, Canal+ is currently finalizing their transaction with MultiChoice after the independent board within the company accepted their transaction to acquire remaining shares of the company. Vivendi, which serves as the parent company to the French broadcaster is looking to divest from the brand by the end of 2024.

Canal+ had promised MultiChoice shareholders an opportunity to invest in the combined entity if their transaction is approved by local legislation before the split occurs. Basically shareholders will be given an opportunity to make more money outside of the Randburg based company which does bring up another agenda - MultiChoice.

If shareholders are able to invest this combined entity with a secondary listing how is one sure that the current structure of MultiChoice will be preserved. Aside from DStv, there's also gambling (BetKing), insurance (NMIS Insurance), streaming (Showmax) and cybersecurity (Namola) and as we all know they're technically insolvent.

Let's say they do end up getting their money's worth through this secondary listing and similar to what Naspers did with MultiChoice by given them an independent listing on the JSE. Whose to say that these investors won't want to reduce their losses.

Canal+ is acquiring MultiChoice and this secondary listing could as well be one way to align M-Net, SuperSport and DStv to the services of its pay-tv operations in other countries as well as StudioCanal. They made it evident since this transaction came forward that they're putting their focus towards content.

Shareholders being investors in the combined entity I doubt they'd object to a merger as Canal+ is putting 45% of their investment towards MultiChoice and also shareholders are making money which is the whole point to all this. 

Die Agentskap 2nd December 12PM