BabyTV Unveils A Batch Of Programming To Commemorate 20 Years

BabyTV, the world’s first global dedicated television channel for babies and toddlers, marks its 20th anniversary this year. Over the past two decades, BabyTV has redefined early childhood entertainment with safe, high-quality and engaging content for children aged five and under, and has been a trusted partner for parents.

Founded in 2005, BabyTV was acquired by Fox International Channels in 2007, expanding its reach and solidifying its position as a trusted brand for parents worldwide. In 2019, The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox, making BabyTV part of Disney’s global family of networks. This transition has further strengthened BabyTV’s ability to innovate and deliver premium content to families worldwide.

To celebrate this milestone, BabyTV is kicking off a special anniversary celebration starting April 1. Viewers can look forward to a festive programming lineup featuring birthday-themed episodes of beloved shows; a social media tribute to iconic moments, characters and series from the past 20 years; and exclusive collections on the BabyTV app and YouTube channels. Plus, plenty of surprises along the way to thank families for making BabyTV a part of their journey.

Co-founder Ron Isaak and the BabyTV team have also taken the milestone as an opportunity to introduce its latest productions:

• The Jungle Book – BabyTV’s unique take on The Jungle Book, featuring “Baloo’s Forest School,” followed by “Welcome to the Jungle,” a new song series exploring Mowgli’s first experiences in the jungle.

• Travelers – Join the level-headed Perry and the mischievous Harley as they discover that there’s more than one way to solve a problem.

• Olly – Meet Olly, a playful three-year-old monkey who loves dressing up with his toy friends — whether as a bus driver, doctor, or dancer!

• My Robot & I – Follow Kim and her robot friend Kit as they explore the world together.

• The Lollipops – A toddler pop trio whose upbeat songs and performances will get everyone singing and dancing along.

• Billy and Bam Bam DIY Song Series – Sibling duo Billy and Bam Bam turn everyday objects into imaginative play.

• Family Song Series – With Mom and Dad leading the way, Taylor (seven years old), Robbie (four) and Eddie (two) turn everyday moments into fun adventures.

• Charlie & Friends – A lively song series where Charlie builds friendships through music and play.

• Tulip’s Daycare – Ms. Tulip and her students care for their vegetable garden while finding creative ways to befriend hungry animal visitors.

ICASA Currently Reviewing Proposed Structure Of Canal+'s MultiChoice

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has published an application to transfer the control of Orbicom’s electronic communication and radio frequency spectrum licences to Canal+.

Orbicom is DStv owner MultiChoice’s signal distributor, and the move is a crucial step to progressing French media giant Canal+’s takeover of the company.

According to the regulator, Orbicom submitted applications on 28 November 2024 to transfer control of its Electronic Communications Service (I-ECS), Individual Electronic Communications Network Services (I-ECNS), and Radio Frequency Spectrum licences to Canal+.

Icasa will evaluate the licence control transfer based on the following criteria:

promotion of competition in the ICT sector;

interests of consumers; and,

equity ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs).

However, it noted Orbicom’s submission that HDPs hold 40% of Groupe Canal+’s shareholding.

“Any interested party is invited to lodge written representations to the application within fourteen (14) working days from the publication of this notice in the Government Gazette,” said Icasa.

For reference, the watchdog published the notice on Tuesday, 18 March 2025, giving interested persons until Monday, 7 April, to submit their written representations.

This latest move comes after Canal+ offered to acquire MultiChoice when it triggered South Africa’s mandatory offer threshold of 35% ownership.

The French media had gradually but steadily bought up MultiChoice shares on the open market since October 2020 before it hit the threshold in early 2024.

Canal+ offered R125 per share following a reprimand from the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP) and some back-and-forth with MultiChoice. The offer valued the company at more than R55 billion.

The deal will cost Canal+ over R30 billion in cash, and it has continued buying MultiChoice shares while its offer is under consideration.

The TRP’s latest report on Canal+’s shareholding was in May 2024, revealing a 45.2% shareholding.

While the French media giant was legally mandated to offer to acquire Multichoice, the deal must still overcome several regulatory hurdles.

This includes securing approvals from the Financial Surveillance Department, the JSE, TRP, and Icasa.

ICT policy legal expert Lisa Thornton mentioned that the deal’s success will depend on its structure.

The companies must find a way to continue limiting Canal+’s voting rights to 20% — a requirement for broadcasting licences under the Electronic Communications Act.

It will also have to meet Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) rules set out by Icasa, which stipulate that licensees must be 30% owned by HDPs.

To comply, MultiChoice will be carved out as an independent entity, dubbed LicenceCo, to hold South African operating licences.

LicenceCo will also contract with MultiChoice’s South African subscribers, and the remainder of the group’s video entertainment assets will remain with the MultiChoice Group.

MultiChoice Group’s shareholding in LicenceCo will ultimately give it a 49% economic interest and 20% share of voting rights.

“MultiChoice Group will retain its existing 75% direct interest in MultiChoice South Africa, which will exclude LicenceCo. Phuthuma Nathi will similarly retain its existing 25% interest in MultiChoice South Africa,” the companies explained.

“LicenceCo will enter into various commercial agreements with MultiChoice Group subsidiaries in relation to the services currently provided to LicenceCo by other MultiChoice Group entities.”

“These relate to, among other things, the provision of content, technology, subscriber management and support and other functions,” they said.

Regulators Might Impose Harsh Conditions On Canal+'s MultiChoice If Takeover Deal Is Approved

Canal+ is currently awaiting feedback from the Competition Commission regarding its proposed transaction to acquire full ownership of MultiChoice. This deal was scheduled to conclude in April 2025 but was pushed to October 2025 as it undergoes scrutiny by local legislation.

There is a reason why regulators are concerned about the deal cause although Canal+ had proposed launching a separate company LicenceCo. Several competitors including eMedia Investments had suggested a potential loophole in Canal+'s shareholding of MultiChoice despite the 20% cap.

Although LicenceCo would be majority owned by local parties that doesn't mean Canal+ would be helpless they could handle the content viewed on DStv and various other agreements. The other parties could as well give Canal+ creative control and try to be minimal on the basis of costs.

One of the reasons analysts feel that this transaction could be prolonged before reaching the finish line. With Canal+ being a foreigner, they could prioritize their own endeavours seen in France and Europe and leave very little to be desired in Africa one of the reasons regulators might come at them swiftly.

If the deal is approved, regulators could impose several conditions on Canal+ as seen with Walmart-Massmart deal in 2011.

They may ask LicenceCo to submit reports to local regulators to ensure that Canal+ or it's holding company MultiChoice is compliant with the 20% cap. With Canal+ walking away with a 100% stake in MultiChoice, they want to ensure that they'll some local input and not only foreign investment.

Getting onto investment, the purposed DStv spin-off means that MultiChoice wouldn't be a broadcaster but a content distributor. MultiChoice would make it's revenue through carriage agreements and regulators might require that a percentage of revenue goes toward funding the local landscape.

Especially with the proposed launch of LicenceCo, they ask that MultiChoice increase its local output for DStv and Showmax from the current 47%.

With it being deemed as a large merger, regulators could require Canal+ almost double it's investment toward the local landscape as seen with the Walmart-Massmart deal - one of the tricks to scare away some foreign investors.

Canal+ is looking to streamline MultiChoice once the deal moves ahead and regulators might put a lock on these endeavours for a stipulated period (3 to 5 years). They won't be able to reduce staff and likely sell non-core assets like NMIS Insurance Services and Namola.

Channel Premieres: Doodloopstraat Makes A Quick Debut On eExtra In April Followed By Een Wit Leuen In May On e.TV

eMedia Investments continues its repetitive slope in 2025 with more scraps from eVOD set to make a rollout on eExtra and e.tv in the coming months with Een Wit Leuen and Doodloopstraat. As it stands, the only premiere is Annekan Die Swa Kry and now that is set become a burial ground for these scraps.

As advised, Doodloopstraat will be airing on eExtra from 25 April replacing rebroadcasts of Vierspel Vuurspel while Een Wit Leuen replaces Annekan Die Swa Kry on both e.tv and eExtra from 5 May.

Synopsis for Doodloopstraat 

Cennet marries Yılmaz, whom she fell in love with, and comes to Istanbul from her village as a bride and as a result of their marriage, they have three children. Division ensues amongst the children as their dad is blamed for her death in a letter she had written prior to her passing which leds to a search for the truth and self discovery.

It starred Ayça Bingöl as Cennet Tekin, Alp Navruz as Halil Tekin, İrem Helvacıoğlu as Av. Zeynep Önder, Mesut Akusta as Yılmaz Tekin, Bihter Dinçel as Birsen Karataş, Dilara Aksüyek as Feride Büyükdere.

Synopsis for Een Wit Leuen 

Abandoned by his wife, Nejat is lying to his daughter not to be upset. But as Kayra grows, these lies become unbearable and as he is trapped in the corner meets Suna. With Suna's entry into their lives, both Nejat and Kayra's world is completely changed.

It starred Furkan Palali as Nejat Yilmaz, Asli Bekiroglu as Suna Dogan, Lavinya Ünlüer as Kayra Yilmaz, Gonca Sariyildiz as Hande Eymen, Asli Inandik as Saniye Dogan and Cem Zeynel Kiliç as Hayri Hicdurmaz.

Why DStv's Channel Expansions Have Lost Appeal?

During the week, MultiChoice unveiled the new DStv price adjustments which will take into effect from 1st April with a second increase scheduled for Worker's Day being May 1st. To ease the blow and retain more consumers, MultiChoice will be making more channels accessible to lower bouquets.

These include SuperSport Schools on DStv Easyview, Zee World and Nicktoons on DStv Access, Comedy Central and Disney Channel on DStv Family and lastly CBS Justice and Curiosity Channel on DStv Compact. 

At first glance, these channels open up a new world of entertainment and give these consumers content beyond their wildest imagination. Overtime this spark fades away not because E! still offers Keeping Up With Kardashians but rather they don't expand from what made them magical in the first place therefore the channel loses appeal.

Look at Comedy Central, when it was broadcast on Compact+ it offered Two And A Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. At first, this was a safe haven and if you were a kid (now adult) when it aired therefore it kind of helped you get through the hardships of life.

But the moment Comedy Central is stuck in an endless loop consumers get infuriated. This is what happened when E! made it to Access, Nickelodeon on Compact and will most definitely be what awaits Comedy Central on Family.

The sad reality is that MultiChoice remains powerless on the matter as they only serve as a distributor of content - nothing else. They could opt to remove these channels if they want to and risk losing consumers I mean look at happened when they removed eMedia's 4 channels and WildEarth.