Telemundo To Debut New Series "The Count: Love And Honor" Across Africa In February 2025

After rolling out in other parts of the world last year, Telemundo has announced the addition of the period melodrama, El Conde: Amor y Honor (The Count: Love and Honor) from Monday 17 February at 10PM CAT. It stars Fernando Colunga (Amor Real) alongside Ana Brenda Contreras (Por Amar Sin Ley), who makes her debut on Telemundo.

The Count: Love and Honor is a period drama that begins in the 1930s with the powerful love story of Alejandro Gaitán , a humble young farmer, and Mariana , a beautiful and rebellious young woman. But Josefina de Zambrano , Mariana’s stepmother, and Gerardo Villarreal , will conspire to turn their relationship into a living hell. Alejandro will be charged with a double homicide and without anyone knowing his fate, he will be transferred to a dungeon on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. There he will meet Amador Guzmán , a Spanish nobleman serving a life sentence who will reveal to Alejandro that he has a hidden treasure, leaving him this fortune before his death.

Highlights 

Monday, 17 February, While everyone wonders who the Count of Montenegro is, he welcomes them. They don’t imagine that he’s back in San Jacinto.

Tuesday, 18 February, Mariana ingeniously manages to show Alejandro that she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She surprises him with a kiss and then flees, embarrassed.

Wednesday, 19 February, A direct declaration from Mariana ignites passion; she tells Alejandro she’s in love. They kiss, and he proposes marriage, which she accepts.

Thursday, 20 February, Alejandro, upon learning that Mariana is sick, is unafraid to break the rules and sneaks into her room; she is his priority.

Friday, 21 February, Mariana confides in her father, revealing that she is in love and that her suitor wants to ask for her hand in marriage.

Saturday, 22 February, The murder of Don Gonzalo and his wife, the day before the elections, unleashes chaos in the city, and an innocent man ends up facing justice.

Sunday, 23 February, Gerardo Villareal controls the legal process against Alejandro, assigning him a defence lawyer and presenting Vicente and Rubén as witnesses.

Monday, 24 February, When Gerardo learns that Gallardo has discovered Alejandro’s whereabouts, he takes drastic measures.

Tuesday, 25 February, Mariana, overwhelmed by despair after losing the love of her life and forced by family circumstances, has no choice but to yield.

Wednesday, 26 February, Benjamín discovers Josefina’s secret when he finds her with her lover in the stable, disgusted, he throws her out of his house.

Thursday, 27 February, Josefina seizes the opportunity to get her way; when Benjamín faints, she covers his mouth and nose to help him die. She knows how to play the victim.

Friday, 28 February, After hearing the words of his fellow suferer, who encourages him to keep going, Alejandro finds a reason to stay alive despite the mistreatment.

M-Net's Linear Offering Could Undergo Further Streamlining Once Canal+ Takeover Deal Is Completed

M-Net serves as a division of MultiChoice which comprise of shows like Carte Blanche, Summertide, Battleground and Umkhokha: The Curse. They also offer TV channels viewed across various markets such as Africa Magic, Mzansi Magic, KykNet, Maisha Magic and Pearl Magic.

As some may have heard, Canal+ is looking to complete it's transaction to acquire MultiChoice following its split from Vivendi in 2023. The deal is subjected to various regulatory approvals with both companies giving themselves until April 2025 to complete this transaction.

Should this deal move forward, we anticipate for MultiChoice to lose its license as broadcaster outside of South Africa it's likely that the remainder of MultiChoice could be focused on driving growth to Showmax. As for M-Net, SuperSport and DStv, those will all be under French control.

Despite being a French broadcaster, Canal+ has expanded its operations through Viaplay in Nordic countries, VIU in Asia and as already mentioned MultiChoice in Africa. With this transaction, there has been a lot of fear amongst the media that Canal+ will seek to scale back on content.

Vivendi already abandoned the broadcaster and left the window open for new investments meaning similar to Naspers abandonment of MultiChoice the money is limited. With MultiChoice already facing losses within DStv, cuts are inevitable and Canal+ had hinted on this.

With them already having operations in Francophone Africa, Canal+ could seek to reduce commissions coming to Africa Magic and replace them with imports from Zacu TV. Maybe even look to separate MultiChoice Studios from their cable networks and have cheaper programming filter their schedule.

Worst case scenario is folding Akwaaba Magic under Africa Magic as it minimises exposure and again reduces commissions. That's what happened when MultiChoice decided to axe ITV Choice it was only Coronation Street and Emmerdale that carried it on M-Net.

In the end, most sources are anticipating cuts to await this transaction cause from everyone's understanding Showmax is the main priority for MultiChoice and they can't be spending excessively. With DStv's current performance, it would make sense to shift the goalpost to Showmax and have DStv promote.

Reminder: Cartoon Network Africa’s New Local Sitcom, The Lembwas, Premieres on Saturday, 18 January!

The wildest family in Mzansi is crashing onto your screens in The Lembwas, a Cartoon Network Africa Original created and filmed right here in South Africa! Premiering Saturday, 18 January 2025, at 09h30 CAT, this fresh new live-action comedy is here to tickle your funny bone and have you rolling on the floor laughing. We’re talking 13 explosive episodes packed with crazy adventures, unexpected twists, and enough humour to leave you in stitches. Forget your chill Saturday plans — this show is going to be lekker jol!

 

Meet the Lembwas — They’re Like No Family You’ve Ever Seen!

Taps and Garcia, the dynamic duo of teenage brothers, are at the heart of this chaotic family. Taps is all about diving headfirst into adventure, while Garcia is a brainy genius whose science experiments have a way of going … um, very wrong. Their shenanigans range from accidental teleportation to some weird run-ins with interdimensional cockroaches (yes, there’s a talking roach living in their dustbin, but more on that later).

 

Joining them is Mama, the fierce queen of style and order, who juggles raising her boys and managing their madness with a “hold on to your hats!” mentality. Uncle Zeke, the ‘dodgy but lovable’ uncle, who claims to have been a rap star in Korea (still debatable), and Gogo, the silent mischief-maker with more tricks up her sleeve than we can count, complete the squad.

 

Oh, and let’s not forget Roach — a fast-talking, wise-cracking cockroach who hitched a ride to the Lembwas’ bin thanks to Garcia’s latest invention gone wrong. You’ll never look at trash the same way again!

This Ain’t Your Everyday Family Sitcom!

The Lembwas isn’t just another family sitcom — it’s a whole vibe! “We’ve created something entirely fresh with The Lembwas,” says Andr? Lembwa, the comedic genius who stars as every single character in the Lembwa family. “Imagine taking the chaos of live-action and mixing it with the unpredictability of animation — that’s the magic here. Plus, it’s proudly South African, with plenty of local flavour to boot!”

Born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), before moving to South Africa, Lembwa has a knack for impersonations that span diverse nationalities — from Congolese to Nigerian to South African and beyond. His ability to embody different accents and personas brings a unique authenticity to The Lembwas, reflecting the multicultural fabric of South Africa.

 

Andr? adds, “As a performer, it’s been an incredible journey to bring these characters to life. From Taps’ wild energy to Garcia’s nerdy brilliance, each character represents a part of my experience growing up in South Africa. I can’t wait for audiences to join us on this hilarious ride!”

“We’re beyond excited to bring The Lembwas to our African audiences,” says Ana Gonzalez, VP, Kids Content for Southern Europe, APAC, and Africa. “It’s a celebration of family, hilarity, and everything unexpected. With its local cast, local crew, and loads of humour, it’s an absolute must-watch.”

 

Shot in the Vibrant Heart of Cape Town

The Lembwas was filmed on location in the buzzing neighbourhood of Brooklyn, Cape Town — adding a fresh local flavour to the show. Created by Howard Fyvie and produced by High Fyvie, a creative production company founded by Fyvie, who brings two decades of experience in crafting compelling content, The Lembwas is brought to life by this production team known for crafting stories filled with heart and humour.

“With The Lembwas, we’ve created a show that totally has a specific South African flavour, but with universal themes at its heart - so hopefully, it impacts people across the continent and beyond,” says producer Howard Fyvie. “As I and my team have been working on this show, we've often stopped and reflected on how crazy, zany, and unique this show is. I honestly don't know anything else with the same sensibilities and comedic instincts as The Lembwas. We hope you guys fall in love with this family like we have!”

Why You Can’t Miss This

If you think The Lembwas is just another sitcom, think again! This show delivers laugh-out-loud moments in every episode, taking everyday situations and turning them completely on their head. Think flying kicks that last for minutes, supercharged go-karts, and a cockroach with a serious attitude. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s wildly entertaining!

 

So, grab the whole family, set your alarms for 09h30 CAT on Saturday, 18 January, and make sure you tune into Cartoon Network Africa for the premiere of The Lembwas — the show that promises to be anything but everyday. Bring on the laughter, the chaos, and the talking cockroach!

Reminder: Season 3 Of Harry Wild To Premiere On Universal TV On 10 January 2025

Universal TV (DStv 117) has today announced the return of the popular Irish comedy crime-drama, Harry Wild, with Season 3 airing on 10 January 2025. The six-part series will air every Friday at 20:00 (CAT) until the season finale on 14 February. 

 

With the agency as busy as ever, Harry (Jane Seymour) and Fergus (Rohan Nedd) must find a way to balance work and life as they make plans to contest the custody claim of his long-absent mother for his little sister.

 

Season 3 of Harry Wild features the following episodes:

• 10 January, 20:00 – Killing Me Softly With His Bad Pop Song. Shortly after greeting his fans, a popular singer falls off a roof in an apparent suicide.
• 17 January, 20:00 – Too Many Harrys Spoil The Murder. A business meeting in a restaurant takes a bad turn when the chef's entrée has been replaced and the guests make a gruesome discovery.
• 24 January, 20:00 – Lights, Camera, Murder. On an Irish soap opera set, the tyrannical director is murdered mid-scene. The frantic producer seeks help from detectives Harry and Fergus to swiftly nab the culprit and resume filming.
• 31 January, 20:00 – The Man Who Murdered Himself. Mystery novelist found dead in locked panic room with no gun. Private eyes Fergus and Harry investigate the peculiar case while fending off the meddlesome Harry Benedict.
• 7 February, 20:00 – Cleanliness Is Next To Deadliness. The Vibrant Villages competition is fierce, with dirty tricks and sabotage galore. So when Harry's friend Evelyn Summers finds dead fish in her pond, she assumes it's more of the same-until she finds the corpse of her estranged husband.
• 14 February, 20:00 – Dead Man's Trigger. On Glenn and Petra's wedding day, Harry and Fergus head to the Garda station to collect Charlie, Orla, and Lola; an ex-soldier with a bomb walks in and demands that they solve the murder of his daughter, on the anniversary of her death.
 

Jane Seymour stars as title character Harry Wild, with Kevin Ryan as Charlie Wild and Rohan Nedd as Fergus Reid. Other cast members include Ciara O’Callaghan, Stuart Graham, Anthony Delaney, Morgan C. Jones, Paul Tylak, and Amy Huberman.

Harry Wild is a Dynamic Television production, in co-production with AMC Networks Productions and ZDF. The show is directed by Emery Conroy, and created and written by David Logan, with Jo Spain as a co-writer. Harry Wild is produced by Michael Queen, with Dan March, Klaus Zimmermann, James Gibb, James Flynn, Morgan O’Sullivan, David McLoughlin, Jane Seymour, David Logan, Jo Spain, Bea Tammer, Catherine Mackin, Claus Wunn, and Frank Seyberth serving as executive producers.

 

Season 3 of Harry Wild premieres on Universal TV on January 10 at 20.00 CAT, with new episodes airing every Friday until February 14.

Turkish Drama Series Rolling Out In Africa Soon: "Annem Ankara" + "Kızılcık Şerbeti" + "Kan Çiçekleri" + "Toprak Ile Fidan"

Below is a list of confirmed shows set to debut in Africa soon as advised we can't disclose which broadcaster picked up the mentioned programs on the list.

Annem Ankara

Annem Ankara, the 90s-set series is produced by BKM and will follow the struggles of a single mother in Ankara, evoking familiar feelings from recent times along the way. The story of ‘Zuhal,’ a mother of three children and the wife of a man who could never truly be a son to anyone, promises to tug at the heartstrings.

Based on a true story, Annem Ankara will portray the journey of a solitary but resilient woman within her home. The series is penned by Başak Angigün and directed by the veteran director Faruk Teber.

Kızılcık Şerbeti

“Kızılcık Şerbeti” tells the captivating story of the idealistic Doga falling hopelessly in love with a charming man from a devout family whose values clash with those of her mother, creating a powerful drama as they seek to overcome their differences and find harmony.

“Kızılcık Şerbeti” explores the powerful evolution in the idealistic Doga when she finds love at the start of university with a man whose beliefs conflict with those of her mother, Kivilcim. An unexpected pregnancy is set to turn Doga’s life plans upside down, shaking to the core two families from different worlds.

Kan Çiçekleri 

“Kan Çiçekleri” tells the story of Dilan and Baran, and the marriage into which they are forced to end a blood feud between their families. Baran must put aside hatred of his enemies to save his brother and overcome guilt he feels over an attack that killed his mother, as he seeks to bring peace to a family baying for a revenge.

Toprak Ile Fidan

In "Toprak ile Fidan," Toprak wakes up after five years in a coma and comes home to a family he can’t remember. Ayden, his fiancée, has loved him since they were kids but Toprak cannot remember anything. The little boy Burak doesn’t know at all. Toprak’s mother, Keriman, encourages him to finally marry Ayden and get on with his life.

Fidan lost her husband and baby in a terrible car accident five years ago. Now she lives in Şile with her sick father and stepmother, working to pay off the enormous debt they owe to the loan shark who yearns to marry her.

Other shows also eyeing rollouts as previously reported include No. 309, Hercai and Kaderimin Oyunu.