Netflix Reportedly Interested In Acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery

Back in June, reports emerged that Warner Bros. was planning a restructuring that would see the company split in two- one company would contain its studio and streaming assets (HBO, Max, Warner Bros. Television & Motion Pictures, and DC Studios) and the other company would house its linear/cable networks (CNN, TNT, Discovery, etc.).

The split is targeted for completion by mid-2026.

Shortly thereafter, the newly merged studio Paramount Skydance (backed by Oracle founder Larry Ellison) emerged as a likely candidate for the purchase of WB's studio and streaming assets. On the heels of that news breaking, stock prices for both companies surged. 

Now, it seems there's another contender joining the race, according to Puck- none other than Netflix!

However, fans are somewhat worried about the news, as Netflix is definitely a streaming-first, theatrical release-second kind of film studio, which could lead to DC Studios becoming a streaming-only brand.

The Streaming & Studios side of WBD is estimated to be worth about $65 billion, thanks to IP like the heroes and villains from DC Comics, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and a host of other smaller franchises.

Backed by Larry Ellison's wealth, Paramount Skydance is expected to put in a full-cash offer, something that reportedly greatly interests WBD CEO David Zaslav.

On the flipside, Netflix has been open about its strategic shift from just having a lot of content to building a library of powerful franchises. Said co-CEO Ted Sarandos previously, "...you need a lot more than just a big hit every once in a while. … It’s not about the single hit. It’s about a steady drumbeat of shows and films – and, soon enough, games – that our members really love and continue to expect from us.”

In a separate interview, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings described creating a "competitive moat" of powerful IP and franchises- one that prevents subscribers from leaving for other streaming competitors due to loyalty and infatuation with what Netflix has to offer.

In recent years, Netflix has been somewhat struggling to create such powerful IP with original content, making the theory plausible that the streamer might opt to just buy its major franchise instead of building it.

There's also the question of what happens to the current film and television slate at Warner Bros. after an acquisition, particularly with DC Studios. David Zaslav has given James Gunn and Peter Safran free rein to do as they see fit, but that might all change if Gunn and Safran suddenly find themselves answering to a new boss- especially one that prioritizes streaming over theatrical releases.

ICASA Approves Of The Structure To Be Taken By Canal+ And MultiChoice

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

Orbicom is MultiChoice’s signal distributor, and the approval is an essential step in progressing Canal+’s takeover of the company.

Orbicom submitted the applications to transfer control of its electronic communications service (I-ECS), individual electronic communications network services (I-ECNS), and Radio Frequency Spectrum licences in November 2024.

Icasa subsequently published its application, inviting stakeholders to submit their comments, in March 2025.

The I-ECNS licence authorises holders to roll out and operate electronic communications networks on a provincial or national scale.

In contrast, the I-ECS licence lets holders provide services to customers using their own or somebody else’s network infrastructure.

The Radio Frequency Spectrum licence enables an organisation to use a specific radio frequency band within a defined geographic area.

Icasa revealed that it had approved the transfer via a notice in the Government Gazette, published on Thursday, 18 September 2025. It granted the approval on 28 August 2025.

The regulator said it evaluated the licence control transfer application on the following criteria:

• Promotion of competition in the ICT sector;

• Interests of consumers; and,

• Equity ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs).

Interested parties had 14 working days to submit their written representations, with the submission date ending on Monday, 7 April.

The transfer of control of Orbicom’s licences to Canal+ forms part of its acquisition of MultiChoice.

The French media giant had gradually brought up Multichoice shares in the open market since October 2020 and hit the mandatory offer threshold of 35% ownership in early 2024.

Canal+ offered MultiChoice R125 per share after some back-and-forth with MultiChoice and a reprimand from the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP).

The offer valued MultiChoice at over R55 billion. The deal will cost Canal+ R30 billion in cash, and it has continued acquiring MultiChoice shares while the offer is under consideration until May 2024.

The RTP’s latest report on Canal+’s shareholding in MultiChoice was published in May 2024, revealing that Canal+’s ownership had climbed to 45.2%.

Although Canal+ was legally mandated to offer to acquire the DStv owner, the deal was subject to various regulatory hurdles — some of which have been cleared.

These hurdles include securing approvals from bodies like the Financial Surveillance Department, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the TRP, and Icasa.

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

MultiChoice and Canal+ had to find a way to limit the latter’s voting rights to 20% — a requirement for broadcasting licences under the Electronic Communications Act.

The deal also had to meet Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) rules set out by Icasa. The rules stipulate that licencees must be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups.

To achieve this, MultiChoice South Africa will be carved out as an independent entity referred to as LicenceCo. It will hold the company’s South African operating licences.

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

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

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

“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.”

It added that these relate to providing content, technology, subscriber management and support, among other functions.

Reminder: Krypto Saves The Day! With A Brand New Show On Cartoon Network Across Africa

Cartoon Network will air a four-part series of animated shorts starring Krypto with Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Shuffle — debuts September 26. The short is written and directed by Ryan Kramer (Looney Tunes Cartoons, Uncle Grandpa, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie).

The breakout canine star from DC Studios’ Superman (whose performance was inspired by director James Gunn’s rescue pup, Ozu), the Superman Family’s four-legged companion will stars in his very own original 2D animated shorts, which will debut through the month:

Part 1 – Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Scuffle

Part 2 – Krypto Saves the Day!: Halloween Havoc

Part 3 – Krypto Saves the Day!: Package Pandemonium

Part 4 – Krypto Saves the Day!: Coastal Catastrophe

Krypto Saves the Day!:

Synopsis: Look Pup! Fresh off his star-making performance in Superman, Krypto returns in a series of original comedic animated shorts. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios, Krypto Saves the Day! brings the caped canine’s brand of heroic hijinks to everyday life in Metropolis. From school bus rescues to Spring Break cruise ship saves — and even Halloween candy crises — no adventure is too small as Krypto delivers super-powered action, laughs and plenty of mischief for fans of all ages.

After 23 Years, Cartoon Network Will Start Broadcasting The First Season To Teen Titans (2003) Across Africa

For children who grew up watching Cartoon Network in the 90s to early 00s are set to be in for a treat in the coming months. As Cartoon Network is scheduled to bring back a batch of classic shows on top of the existing Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Batman: The Brave And The Bold.

These include shows already viewed on Boing like Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Courage The Cowardly Dog and The Powerpuff Girls. And also set to join the channel's lineup in the coming weeks or by September 29th is Teen Titans.

Most consumers are probably not aware of this but Cartoon Network never aired the show for some apparent reason for consumers in Africa. To some technicality this would actually be considered a premiere rather than a rebroadcast which is what the channel will likely consider it.

But for South African audiences, Teen Titans was broadcast on SABC 1 following the years it went off air internationally. In other African countries, Toonami was the only other broadcaster to broadcast the show and it's inclusion on Cartoon Network raises eyebrows.

For several months, various content distributed exclusively to Toonami have suddenly been added to Cartoon Network and TNT. This would include Batman: The Brave And Bold and Teen Titans as Toonami was viewed as flagship network for this content.

Now the focus has shifted to Cartoon Network and TNT with Toonami that has seen a reduction in content with its movie block axed. For sometime, it had been long speculated that the channel could die out soon with Africa being the remaining market offer the brand as a 24 hour channel.

Synopsis for Teen Titans 

Leading the Teen Titans to protect Earth is Robin, formerly Batman's sidekick. He has no special powers, just a utility belt and his mind to help solve problems. His team members, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy, live together in Titans Tower, situated in the West Coast haven Jump City. Each of them possesses unique abilities to help fight a new generation of villains ranging from super-powered hooligans to would-be world conquerors.

It broadcasts daily at 14:55 CAT 

Could Adventure Time: Side Quests, Go-Go Mystery Machine, Foster's Funtime For Imaginary Friends And Hey BMO Be Shipped To Other Broadcasters?

Warner Bros. Discovery is planning to split into two separate companies with the studios forming part of Warner Bros. and the cable networks being Discovery Global by April 2026. This deal is expected to alter the structure of Cartoon Network and Cartoonito as it folds under Discovery Global.

A few months ago, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe unveiled a new animated show, The Wonderfully Weird World Of Gumball which is a spin-off to The Amazing World Of Gumball. The show is slated to air on Cartoon Network in the coming months but prior to that the first 20 episodes were made available on Hulu.

If anyone understands what this restructure between Warner Bros. and Discovery suggests Cartoon Network will be that channel for Warner Bros. sloppy seconds. With Discovery Global being bloated with debt, they obviously don't have the financial capacity to fund shows like The Wonderfully Weird Of Gumball.

This means upcoming shows like Adventure Time: Side Quests, Go-Go Mystery Machine, Foster's Funtime For Imaginary Friends And Hey BMO will likely be shipped off to Netflix, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

Warner Bros. being an independent entity means it can also do business with the likes of Paramount and Disney who offer rivalled stations Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. Cartoon Network in essence wouldn't even be considered competition.

Cartoon Network alongside Nickelodeon and Disney Channel formed part of the big 3 for its stellar lineup of kids content. With Disney Channel and Nickelodeon picking Cartoon Network apart through a Hulu distribution agreement and a potential buyout it lessens competition.