Thema Rebrands As Canal+ Distribution

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Thema, the Canal+ Group company specialising in channel and content distribution, is adopting a new name: Canal+ Distribution.

The rebrand aligns the unit more closely with its parent and, according to the company, won’t change its mission to curate international programming and connect audiences across borders. It follows more than two decades of activity building agile distribution partnerships worldwide.

In a statement, Patrick Rivet, CEO, Canal+ Distribution said viewing tastes are shifting toward distinctive formats and “surprising narratives” from around the globe. Backed by the wider CANAL+ footprint — 40 million subscribers in 70+ countries— the unit will continue to source and package content both from its own portfolio and through long-standing alliances.

The company also thanked partners for their support, stressing that existing relationships and services remain in place following the name change.

Canal first agreed to buy a majority stake in Thema on October 28, 2014 (via Canal+ Overseas). It then completed the takeover to 100% ownership on June 27, 2016.

Canal+ Distribution will be involved in streamlining the delivery of content across various platforms, including traditional satellite (DStv, GOtv) and modern streaming services (Showmax, DStv Stream, MyCanal app), potentially leading to a unified "super app" in the future.

Why Canal+ Wants To Acquire Comcast's Stake In Showmax?

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Canal+ plans to roll out a “super app” as MultiChoice becomes wholly owned by the company which would combine DStv and Showmax's operations. Even offer content from third party platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

Although, Canal+ had stated they had no intention of closing Showmax this super app might be their way of gradually phasing out the brand. They aren't pleased with the notion that MultiChoice would launch a platform that would rival with DStv.

Aside from Showmax, the combined company would also be operating DStv Stream, Canal+ app and VIU. They are assessing whether to keep these services separated or merge them hence the super app.

The biggest roadblock to its integration plans would be Comcast's 30% stake in the streamer. Disney had to go back and forth with the company in order to merge with Hulu and Disney+ this is what could await Canal+ in its pursuit for Showmax.

Some outlets had even talked about how Canal+ could potentially sell their stake and I can only assume similar to DStv, the company is optimising for growth. Showmax is the third most used streaming service behind Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, Fabric reports.

As for content, there's a very high possibility that Canal+ will axe and merge Showmax's content slate with that of DStv. They had produced about 4000 hours of African content while MultiChoice had 6000 hours combined they'd have 10,000 hours in a year.

Would Canal+ really need Showmax if they can curate 10,000 hours of content in 20 to 35 languages for DStv alone?

Will Cartoon Network Get A Name Change Under Discovery Global?

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Cartoon Network's parent company as some people recall will be undergoing a split within the first quarter of 2026. Discovery Global will serve as the new parent company for the cable network while Teen Titans GO! and Batwheels forms part of Warner Bros.

Similar to Disney/FOX, a licensing agreement could be on the cards for Cartoon Network when it comes to use on the cable network. Warner Bros. which owns the trademark and IPs is being auctioned off to potential buyers including Netflix, Paramount, Apple and Comcast.

In the event of sale/split, Cartoon Network would continue to offer shows like Teen Titans GO! and Regular Show similar to how FOX still airs The Simpsons as it's part of the whole licensing.

In Cartoon Network's case, these may not be first run shows and might be prioritised on third party platforms like Showmax and Netflix. The channel may lean more toward shows like LEGO DREAMZzz and Dragonball Super as they reside from third party studios.  

Of course, Discovery Global won't be able to commission content under the trademark and the division The Cartoon Network Inc. which is used for animation brands like Cartoonito and Boing would have to be renamed in such an event.

Paramount Is Working To “Reimagine” MTV, Leading To The Cancellations Of Ridiculousness And Possible MTV Base Africa

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According to "unverified sources", MTV Base is expected to close on DStv by 31 December 2025 as it forms part of Paramount's Pan-European feeds which would see various music channels close. As Paramount wants to shift it's focus on growing the main MTV brand.

MTV Base was launched on DStv by February 2005 offering a mixture of locally produced content and international hits. Overtime, it was expanded to include reality shows like MTV Shuga even award shows from Paramount's other cable networks.

It was ranked as the #1 music destination in West Africa ahead of rivals such as TRACE Urban and SoundCity. Now Paramount is looking to shutter the brand in Africa for several reasons.

A few months ago, Paramount finalised it's acquisition by Skydance and plans are underway to shed $2 billion costs. This includes closing various MTV channels across the world and cancellations to Ridiculousness and Catfish: The TV Show.

Similar to what M-Net did with Me and 1Magic or what Disney did with Disney Junior and Disney XD in some parts of the world. Paramount wants to put all its effort improving the situation regarding MTV.

For several years, Ridiculousness was the channel's Teen Titans GO! which took at one point took over 80% of the channel's schedule. To top it off, secondary networks such as MTV Base had been causing division if not stealing potential viewers.

Paramount wants to revamp MTV's content slate in order for it to better compete with NBCUniversal's Bravo with more doccies, reality shows and music. They want to move away from heavy reliance on viral video reactions and marathon reruns. 

November 2025 On Studio Universal Across Africa | Legends Unleashed With Bruce Willis | Comedy After Dark With The Film What Men Want | More

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Action Weekend–Legends Unleashed
8th – 23rd Nov, Sat & Sun double-bills from 8pm (X3 weekends)
From Chan’s acrobatics and Stallone's grit, to Smith’s charm and Bruce Willis’ wit, Studio brings you three weekends of the Legends of Action.

Bad Boys II
15th November at 20:00
Detectives Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) and Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) are back for their second outing in the franchise, called in to stem the flow of drugs that is coming into Miami. Tracking down the smuggler, Burnett and Lowrey also learn that Haitian and Russian criminal gangs are locked in a bitter fight for turf supremacy. Meanwhile, there’s tension between the detectives when Burnett finds out that his sister is dating Lowrey. Jordi Molla and Gabrielle Union also feature.

Escape Plan 2
20th November at 20:00
Five years after the original movie, in which Ray Breslin proved an inescapable prison was anything but, he’s back with a fresh crew. However, when one of his team goes missing only to surface in a jail known as ‘The Zoo’ or ‘Hades’, Breslin refuses to abandon his man. He assembles an elite team and gets himself inside the notorious jail, before launching an audacious and violent escape bid. Sylvester Stallone heads the cast, with Dave Bautista and Curtis Jackson – better known as 50 Cent.

Live Free or Die Hard
23rd November at 20:00
When the FBI’s Cyber Crime Division is targeted on Independence Day, all hands are on deck to find those behind the attack. That leaves wise-cracking cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) to bring in hacker Matthew Farrell, only to discover someone else is keen to get their hands on him too. It transpires that Farrell is part of a plan hatched by Thomas Gabriel to crush America’s computer infrastructure – and he won’t give Farrell up without a fight. Justin Long and Timothy Olyphant also star.

The Legend of Drunken Master
23rd November at 22:15
Jackie Chan shows off his incredible physical skills in this popular knockabout comedy, in which a man’s attempt to save his father some money by putting a package of ginseng into a local politician’s luggage, leads him to stumble across a criminal smuggling operation. When he inadvertently picks up the wrong package, the official sets out to get it back, sending in thugs to do his dirty work. However, they reckon without Chan’s abilities in a peculiar martial art: drunken fighting.

Comedy After Dark
24th – 28th Nov @ 9:45pm
Sometimes a man meets a woman and it’s just meant to be. They finish each other’s sentences, as if they could read each other’s minds…And sometimes, somethings go without saying, like don’t invite your best friend on our honeymoon!

What Women Want
26th November at 21:45
Mel Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a chauvinistic, arrogant advertising executive who is used to getting his own way. But when a promotion he thinks is in the bag is snatched by a female rival, he decides to get even, and is helped in his plan by an accident that lets him hear what women around him are thinking. Unfortunately, Nick doesn’t count on falling in love with the colleague he’s trying to sabotage. Helen Hunt is the unwitting object of his affection and Alan Alda is among the co-stars.

What Men Want
27th November at 21:45
Almost twenty years after What Women Want came
this variation, starring Taraji P. Henson. She plays
sports agent Ali Davis, who goes above and beyond
to keep her clients happy and stay one step ahead
of her mostly male colleagues. A run of bad luck, including losing a promotion, sends Ali into a tailspin, but a meeting with a psychic and a bump on the head leave her with the ability to hear men’s thoughts. Sure enough, she uses it to sort out her professional and love lives – but at what cost?

What Happens in Vegas
28th November at 21:45
A drunken night in Sin City ends in an unexpected
wedding for newly fired Jack (Ashton Kutcher) and
freshly dumped Joy (Cameron Diaz), but that’s just
the start of their problems in this romantic comedy.
Not only does he use her coin to win millions on
the slot machines – a judge orders them to stay
married for six months. Things get nasty as the pair
pull out all the stops to get each other to break their
vows and get their hands on the cash. Queen Latifah and Zach Galifianakis also feature.

The Honeymoon
25th November at 21:45
Adam’s best friend Ed doesn’t just spoil his wedding
to Sarah by losing the ring, he ends up tagging along
on their Venice honeymoon too, in this entertaining
comedy caper. However, when the newlyweds think
things can’t get any worse, thanks to walking disaster area Ed breaking a criminally suave drug lord’s priceless art – they do. Cue lots of laughs as Adam (Pico Alexander) and Ed (Asim Chaudhry) try to pay off a debt to the kingpin, while hoping Sarah doesn’t fall for his charms.

Action Weekend:Getaway
29th and 30th @ 8pm
Old
29thNovemberat20:00
M. Night Shyamalan co-writes and directs this
absorbing psychological thriller, which follows a
couple on the brink of divorce as they take one last
family holiday with their children. At their resort, along with several other guests they are given access to a secluded beach. However, shortly after their arrival, everyone in the group starts to age at a breakneck speed. Can any of them discover why before their time runs out? With Gael GarcĂ­a Bernal, Vicky Krieps and Rufus Sewell

Knock at the Cabin
30th November at 20:00
A young girl’s idyllic holiday in the woods with her
adoptive parents is shattered when four strangers
show up at their door with an incredible claim: the
apocalypse is on its way, and the only way to prevent it is for one member of the family to sacrifice themselves. Thus begins a tense battle of wits in M. Night Shyamalan’s adaptation of Paul G. Tremblay’s book The Cabin at the End of the World. Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint and Jonathan Groff star  along with Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ben Aldridge.