Play Room Acquired Broadcasting Rights To The Thundermans From Nickelodeon

Play Room, a South African based children's channel offering a mixture of animated and live-action content will add Nickelodeon's The Thundermans from 1st September at 15:30. This will be the channel's third live-action series from Nickelodeon following Henry Danger and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky And Dawn.

Synopsis for The Thundermans 

The series revolves around the Thundermans, a family with superpowers who try to live normal lives in the fictional city of Hiddenville. Phoebe dreams of being a superhero and using her powers for good, while her twin brother Max wants to be the next big supervillain and use his powers for evil. Parents Hank and Barb attempt to live normal lives and not use their superpowers – albeit not very successfully – while Nora and Billy enjoy using theirs whenever possible. A former supervillain named Dr. Colosso has been transmogrified into a rabbit and lives in Max's lair in the basement, offering him advice on becoming a villain.

It stars Kira Kosarin, Jack Griffo, Addison Riecke, Diego Velazquez, Chris Tallman, Rosa Blasi, and Maya Le Clark, and features the voice of Dana Snyder as Dr. Colosso.

The Thundermans premiered on Nickelodeon in October 2013 and wrapped its four-season run in 2018, ranking as the number-one series across all TV among Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11. It was created and executive produced by three-time Emmy Award-winner Jed Spingarn. The show has seen a resurgence following its 4Q21 launch on streaming, where it quickly became the top title across all SVOD among Kids 6-11; and has continued to rank among the top titles with Kids 6-11.

The series is executive produced by Jed Spingarn (Big Time Rush, Jimmy Neutron) and Sean W. Cunningham & Marc Dworkin (The Thundermans, Julie and the Phantoms). Kira Kosarin and Jack Griffo are also executive producing. Production of the series for Nickelodeon Studios is overseen by Shauna Phelan, Head of Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Live-Action. Brian Banks serves as Nickelodeon’s Executive in Charge of Production.

MultiChoice Will Make Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. And DreamWorks Channel Permanently Available To DStv Family

From 25 August, DStv Family becomes the Home of Kids Entertainment, with all 14 DStv kids’ channels – including favourites like Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and DreamWorks – now part of the line-up.

• Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and DreamWorks join DStv Family permanently from 25 August 2025

Popular shows include The Loud House, Dora, Wylde Pak, Tim Rex in Space, PAW Patrol, and The Thundermans Undercover

• Channels join existing favourites like Cartoonito and Disney Channel

• Re-positioning DStv Family as “South Africa’s Home of Kids Entertainment”

• More value for households at the same price point

• Automatic access for existing DStv Family customers; easy sign-up for new customers

From 25 August 2025, DStv Family subscribers can look forward to even more fun-filled afternoons as Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and DreamWorks join the package permanently.

This update is part of DStv’s plan to position Family as South Africa’s home of kids’ entertainment – offering more for households at no extra cost. DStv Family will now include all 14 DStv kids’ channel on live TV, plus even more to download or stream on DStv Stream. Parents can count on trusted, quality programming, while kids enjoy endless adventures and stories to spark their imagination.

“Our research shows that Family customers value kids’ content as much as they do local shows and movies,” says Byron du Plessis, CEO at MultiChoice South Africa. “By adding Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and DreamWorks to the Family package alongside favourites like Cartoonito and Disney Channel, we are making DStv Family the undisputed Home of Kids Entertainment. It is now easier than ever for households to enjoy safe, entertaining, and educational shows that keep children engaged.”

Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and the DreamWorks aren’t just names, they are known in millions of households across South Africa and the globe.

Nickelodeon has broadcast across Sub‑Saharan Africa since 2008 and remains a mainstay of kids’ programming. Nick Jr. launched in 2014 as a dedicated preschool channel in South Africa, complementing Nickelodeon by catering specifically to younger children with carefully curated shows.

Meanwhile, the DreamWorks Channel, known internationally for its high-quality, award-winning animated storytelling like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, was added to DStv in March 2022.

All DStv customers with a decoder can enjoy DStv Stream at no extra cost. Kids can dive into their favourite shows on a phone, laptop or smart TV while the rest of the family watches on the big screen, giving everyone more ways to watch what they love at the same time.

What’s Coming to DStv Family

On Nickelodeon, weekdays bring the chaotic charm of The Loud House, where Lincoln Loud navigates life with ten sisters. From 29 September, the heartfelt laughs of Wylde Pak, following half-siblings Jack and Lily as navigate their new life together while helping out at their family's pet business.

They explore themes of culture, identity, and evolving family dynamics, supported by their parents and grandmother. The Thundermans Undercover serves up superhero sibling action with Phoebe, Max, and Chloe tackling threats in Secret Shores. Over on Nick Jr., Dora, a brave and quick-witted seven-year-old Latin American girl, embarks on magical rainforest adventures with her mischievous monkey friend, Boots. And join the beloved pups of PAW Patrol for high-energy rescue missions. On DreamWorks, kids can catch Baddies vs Goodies every Saturday and Sunday throughout August.

Here, your heroes are only as good as your villains. Watch as favourite scheming Baddies and heroic Goodies go head-to-head in the ultimate battle of the ages, packed with traps, cunning plans, and rivalries galore. Featuring The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, and Home: Adventures of Tip and Oh!. Saturdays from 6 September, it’s the Hall of Heroes.

A celebration of some of DreamWorks’ biggest theatrical stars, combining special movie shorts and feature-length stories from hit TV spin-offs. Includes specials from Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar, and How to Train Your Dragon.

How to Watch

Current DStv Family customers will automatically have access to DreamWorks, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. from 25 August – no action needed.

eMedia Investments Silently Discontinues Ultraview With Star Select And Zee Family Removed From Openview Platforms After 2 Years

In 2023, eMedia Investments' unveiled plans to rival with MultiChoice's DStv with the launch of Ultraview. It served as an add-on to the current Openview offering and comprised of two packages the first package EDGE offered youth based content with the other Spice TV offering Bollywood stories.

Spice TV comprised of just two channels Star Select and Zee Family served as the remainder of eMedia Investments' pay-tv venture. It managed to outlive EDGE which was discontinued last year with its offering folded under the Pride tile through eVOD.

During the week, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice added Star Khanya, a new Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel from Jiostar who also distribute Star Life in Africa. Unbeknownst to viewers was the sudden removal of Star Select and Zee Family on Openview.

As some viewers remember, Ultraview's initial reception was mostly negative from current Openview consumers with some comparing it to DStv. Ultraview flexed a pricing structure that MultiChoice was skeptical in offering it's consumers as the content would become more expensive.

eMedia Investments has killed that part of its business as it wasn't financially stable and the channels in question couldn't be probably monetised. Spice TV was the only popular addition to Ultraview and this stemmed from the fact that Openview already offered Star Life and Zee One. 

Fact of the matter is linear TV has been in decline in favour of streaming in South Africa compared to the rest of Africa and MultiChoice has been losing consumers from all areas of its DStv offering. Ultraview couldn't compete in an already competitive landscape.

Reminder: Ikhaya Lezimanga Premieres August 21st On Zee Zonke

Ikhaya Lezimanga (Anna) is an Indian Tamil-language television series produced by Rajammal Creations, starring Senthil Kumar and Nithya Ram in the lead roles. The serial is based on the bond between an elder brother and his 4 younger sisters.

Synopsis for Ikhaya Lezimanga

The plot revolves around Shanmugan, a loving brother who raises his four younger sisters with the utmost care, as well as his dad (as he is a drunkard). However, he is over-protective, and doesn't realise that the girls have their own dreams and aspirations in life and sees marriage as the end goal in life. On the other hand, you have Bharani who dislikes her house due to parental pressure and disapproval of her love with Shanmugan. How Shanmugan unites with Bharani, as well as how he takes care of the four sisters is the central plot.

The series also revolves around how his sisters manage their paternal and in laws relations. And the focus on how Issaki and Muthupandi's relationship evolve and thus help him rectify and establish himself in the righteous path while finding love with Issaki.

It premiered on Zee Tamil on May 22, 2023 with over 700+ episodes starring Senthil Kumar in a dual role as Shanmugam and Nithya Ram as Dr. Bharani Shanmugam. Other members include STP Rosary as Vaikundam, Sunitha as Ratna and Preetha Suresh as Isakki Ammal.

Since it's inception, Zee TV has produced several adaptations including Telugu as Maa Annayya, Marathi as Lakhat Ek Aamcha Dada, Kannada as Annayya and Bengali as Amader Dadamoni.

Ikhaya Lezimanga airs daily at 23:00 from 18 August on Zee Zonke.

September 2025 On History Channel Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Secrets In The Dark | Returning Shows Including Swamp Mysteries | More

THE HISTORY CHANNEL BRINGS YOU ALL THE BIG NAMES 

September to December

This summer HISTORY brings you an all-star lineup. Among the famous faces on the channel are David Duchovny (from X files fame) in Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny on Fridays at 19h25 and William Shatner in season five of The UnXplained with William Shatner on Saturdays at 20h15. In the coming months other big names like Dennis Quaid and Kevin Costner form part of the star-studded lineup – as does local celeb Mandy Wiener with Season 2 of Great African Crimes.

Brand New & Exclusive

SWAMP MYSTERIES S3

4 September

Thursdays 19:25

‘King of the Swamp’ Troy Landry is back for season 3. Troy and his crew return to the Louisiana swamplands to solve mysteries, investigate reports of treasure and help anthropologists unearth buried secrets. Landry and his team once again field calls to confront aggressive and mysterious creatures ranging from behemoth gators on the attack, to man-size garfish. Repeat: Friday 11:45

Brand New & Exclusive

THE UNXPLAINED WITH WILLIAM SHATNER S5

6 September

Saturdays 20:15

The UnXplained with William Shatner continues to explore the truth behind the most bizarre and mysterious events ever reported. Award-winning William Shatner hosts the series and with the help of scientists, historians, witnesses and experiencers, he sheds light on how the seemingly impossible can happen. Season five explores UFO hotspots, holy relics, mysterious monsters and extraordinary structures – amongst others.

Repeat: Sunday 19:25

Brand New & Exclusive

SECRETS IN THE DARK

7 September

Sundays 20:15

Secrets In The Dark is an enthralling documentary series that explores the boundary between science and the supernatural. The series sheds light on unusual discoveries made in the darkest places on Earth and investigates the realm of the supernatural, where eerie and unsettling findings turn up unexplained phenomena that challenge our understanding of the world. From the eerie depths of ancient tombs to the chilling mysteries of cursed arti facts, Secrets In The Dark offers an exploration of the uncharted territories of human knowledge, inviting viewers to witness the intersection of science, history, and the paranormal. Repeat: Saturday from 21:05

Brand New & Exclusive

ANCIENT ALIENS S17

27 September

Saturdays 19:25

Ancient Aliens season 17 once again uncovers

alien-related topics with historic detail, first-hand

accounts and interviews with top experts. From

the most astonishing discoveries that challenge

traditi onal beliefs about human history, to the most

covert projects that study the UFO phenomenon,

this season is in search of the truth. Repeat: Sunday 18:40

Brand New 

UFOS: THE LOST EVIDENCE S2

29 September

Mondays 20:15

Chilling accounts of current and former government officials, pilots, astronauts and astrophysicists that reveal new evidence of UFO contact ranging from deep space to deep seas. UFOs: The Lost Evidence will shed light on an unsettling possibility…that man’s contact with UFOs is deeper and more far reaching than ever imagined. Why are they here? Is there a master plan? Repeat: Tuesday 12:35