The Eclipse Of Traditional TV: eMedia And MultiChoice Navigate The Streaming Tide

With Comcast looking to offload its cable networks we turn our sites to both MultiChoice and eMedia Investments whose 2024 was somewhat dismal or dramatic at least for one of the two. MultiChoice ousted 11 channels while undergoing a takeover by Canal+ which is awaiting approval from South African regulators.

eMedia Investments has rounded another year with no additions despite promises to add a few more channels as Ultraview's future is being questioned after OUTtv and FUSE reverted to eVOD.

Let's face it, consumers don't prioritise TV as much in recent years as Netflix has become the hangout spot for shows like Squid Games and Wednesday. MultiChoice has been focused on everything from streaming, insurance and cybersecurity but saving the once dominant DStv platform.

Even the financially challenged SABC's top rated soaps are grasping through straws as their viewership continues to plummet. Uzalo that serves as the dominant player amongst the foe stood at 4.8 million in October 2024 which is a 21% drop from 6.1 million in October 2023.

This is the reason MultiChoice has been selective when it comes to sourcing content take for instance Zee Zonke. The only reason this channel was able to stay afloat is due to Zee TV's existing footprint in the market same goes for SuperSport Schools that established it's presence on YouTube as School Sports Live.

If anything things haven't been greener for eMedia's Ultraview offering as part of its offering had been merged with eVOD, consumers are curious on what's next for the brand. Since it's rollout, it was met with heavy criticism for its pricing and content offering while being compared to DStv so a majority are expecting for it to be dismantled.

When it was introduced, Eskom was going full force with power cuts although that withered DStv hasn't recovered and as for Ultraview it never had a fighting chance. Remember eMedia Investments hadn't disclosed consumer numbers for Ultraview but it's assumed to have under 500 subscribers.

In general, adding new channels has been more riskier in recent years MultiChoice had done that with One Freestate Televisual and NWTV which lasted for about 3 months. Even if the plan were to restructure, SABC has done that numerous times with SABC 3 and it still hasn't saved its fallen viewership.

Rumour: Universal Kids, The American Counterpart Of DreamWorks Channel Is Shutting Down

A major shakeup is happening to one of NBCUniversal’s linear channels. Universal Kids, a channel focused on children’s programming is shutting down later this year.

Cord Cutters News first learned that it will reportedly shut down on March 6, 2025, which is the day it’s also being removed from Spectrum TV.

Launched in 2005 as PBS Kids Sprout, the network changed its name to Sprout in 2009. In 2013, Comcast, the parent company of NBCU, acquired a full ownership stake in the network and fully rebranded it to Universal Kids in 2017.

Over the years, the network was home to popular children’s shows including Sesame Street, The Berenstain Bears, Where’s Waldo, American Ninja Warrior Junior, The Wiggles, and other NBCUniversal programming.

The network was aiming to compete with Disney Junior and the Nick Jr. Channel in the children’s programming space. However, Universal Kids struggled to maintain viewership in an increasingly competitive market with the rise of streaming services like Netflix, and Disney+.

This news comes months after it was announced that Comcast has officially spun off its linear TV networks, including USA Network and MSNBC into SpinCo. The Universal Kids shutdown and the spinoff are part of a larger strategy by NBCUniversal to streamline its operations and focus on more profitable ventures. The spinoff will take around one year to complete as NBCU tries to navigate through the ongoing transformation within the media industry.

NBCU hasn’t officially announced if the channel is going dark however, Cord Cutters News has independently confirmed that the network is shutting down on March 6, 2025.

This was originally published by Cord Cutter News.

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!