Disney's Linear TV Channels Return To Sky Italia

Disney's linear TV channels are coming back to Sky. In a few days, as ItaliaOggi can exclusively reveal, the partnership agreement between the Burbank giant and Comcast’s broadcaster will be officially announced. The deal will bring some of Disney’s rich content catalogue — including Disney, FX, Hulu, etc. — back to good old traditional linear television channels, which, contrary to what many analysts have claimed for years, never actually go out of fashion.

Soon, therefore, Sky Italia subscribers will enjoy a new Disney-branded channel, with potential future developments in the areas of animation, TV series, movies, and documentaries.

Sky’s strategy

All of this fits into a broader strategic redesign in which Sky is reshaping its partnership perimeter based on the value perceived by its subscribers. This same logic explains the recent acquisitions of TV rights for basketball and rugby, the renewal of the UEFA agreement for Champions League rights from 2027–2031, and the ongoing negotiations with Liberty Media-Dorna for the renewal of MotoGP rights (whose current deal expires at the end of 2025). MotoGP currently finds itself with TV ratings halved, a championship of little interest, and no standout personalities apart from Marc Márquez — yet it is unlikely to give up its relationship with Sky (the platform that still guarantees the greatest visibility for the two-wheeled circus) and may simply accept a lower fee for the rights.

The end of the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery

The agreement with Disney comes just as Sky Italia’s long relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery is officially coming to an end. As is already known, from 1 July 2025 all Eurosport, Discovery, and even the free-to-air channels of the WBD group disappeared from Sky. On 31 December 2025, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, all Warner films, and new HBO series will definitively leave the platform. HBO, controlled by WBD, was the home of flagship titles such as House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and The Pitt.

The future of HBO and Warner content on Sky

From 2026 onwards, Sky will still be able to broadcast new seasons of most of those existing franchises (with the exception of The Pitt), but no longer on an exclusive basis. However, it will no longer have direct access to new Warner or HBO films and brand-new series.

At least not directly. Because, thanks to the many new partnerships Sky is signing, Warner content that has “left through the door” may very well come back in “through the window” — possibly via Peacock, Netflix, or other platforms.

BBC Studios Africa Reveals New Format For BBC Lifestyle, Hidden Gems: South Africa

BBC Lifestyle is set to unveil Hidden Gems: South Africa, a fresh and immersive travel series that takes viewers off the beaten path to discover South Africa’s most luxurious and lesser-known escapes. Launching in 2026, the six-part series blends influencer-led storytelling with audience participation to celebrate the country’s rich natural beauty.

Hidden Gems: South Africa follows five South African travel influencers as they explore and showcase two of South Africa’s greatest hidden gems per episode, each accompanied by a guest. In each episode, the influencer receives an envelope revealing the surprise gems which they must visit, review, and showcase. BBC Lifestyle viewers will vote for their favourite hidden gem from the series and be in with the chance of winning exciting prizes. The most compelling review and favourite gem, voted for by the audience, will be revealed in the final episode (Episode Six) with the winning influencer receiving a special prize.

The series sees the influencers traveling across South Africa, offering a curated look at destinations that combine luxury with authenticity. Each episode is shaped by a distinct theme, celebrating the diverse beauty and character of South Africa’s landscapes.

The new series is produced by PD Production, the producers behind BBC Lifestyle’s popular shows – Listing Jozi, Listing Cape Town, Listing Mauritius and Listing Coastal South Africa which is currently airing on BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel 174) every Wednesday at 8pm with repeats Thursdays at 5pm.

Pierre Cloete, Vice President for Africa at BBC Studios, commented: “We’re thrilled to bring Hidden Gems: South Africa to BBC Lifestyle in 2026. This new format celebrates the diversity and richness of South Africa’s hidden destinations and showcases authentic local stories and personalities that will resonate with audiences across the continent. For the first time, BBC Lifestyle viewers will be invited to vote for their favourite gem, adding an exciting interactive element to the series.” 

Nico Nel and Trevor Kaplan producers from PD Production said: “With Hidden Gems: South Africa, we wanted to go beyond the usual travel show format. By empowering local influencers to spotlight South Africa’s hidden gems, we’re creating a series for BBC Lifestyle that’s both visually stunning and unique. We have just started filming and can’t wait for viewers to see the magic that’s been captured”

Hidden Gems: South Africa is proudly sponsored by LekkeSlaap, South Africa’s leading accommodation app.

Gerriline Fouché, LekkeSlaap's Chief Marketing Officer said “Hidden Gems: South Africa beautifully captures what we love most about local travel: discovering special places and the passionate people behind them. It’s a privilege for LekkeSlaap to help shine a light on these unique stays across the country.”

Paramount Likely To Be The Frontrunner In Bid For Warner Bros. Discovery

Paramount is the frontrunner in the race to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a new report from the NY Post. What’s giving Paramount the advantage? A source for the NY Post says that Paramount is the only company to make an offer that includes CNN as part of the deal.

Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix all submitted bids by the deadline on November 20, with Comcast and Netflix showing interest in the studio and streaming side of the business, while Paramount made an offer to buy it all.

While any sale would have to go through regulatory approval, the NY Post says that Paramount will have a much easier time moving through that process. The company got FCC approval for its merger with Skydance after settling a a $16 million lawsuit with President Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election, and making a promise to commit to to “unbiased journalism” by airing news and entertainment programming across the political spectrum. Post-sale, Paramount put Bari Weiss of The Free Press in charge of news.

Now, CNN could be getting the CBS News treatment. If Paramount succeeds in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN would likely also be put under Weiss’ management and made more Trump administration-friendly. Knowing that, Paramount owners are likely to quickly be given the greenlight in the regulatory approval process while Netflix and Comcast, the NY Post points out, would not.

Comcast owns left-leaning news network MSNBC, which CEO Brian Roberts is spinning off, along with other networks including CNBC and USA, into a new entity called Versant. Netflix leaders Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos have been known to support left-leaning causes. Those ties might work against both companies with this administration, on top of Comcast and Netflix only showing interest in half of the Warner Bros. Discovery business.

Noyontara: The Hidden Truth Coming Soon To Star Life

Star Life, an English dubbed Bollywood channel operated by JioStar that offers a variety of series and movies has announced the addition of a new series Noyontara: The Hidden Truth from 3 December at 22:00 CAT.

Synopsis for Noyontara: The Hidden Truth

The story revolves around Noyontara, a 23-year-old who has been ridiculed her whole life for her ability to see and talk to ghosts. Her life changes when she marries Dr. Surjo Sengupta, a man of science and logic who is grieving a tragic past and does not believe in the supernatural. 

Upon moving into the grand yet eerie ancestral home, "Pari Mahal," Noyontara is pulled into a web of dark family secrets. She finds an unlikely ally in Hasiram, a mischievous child ghost, who helps her uncover the history of greed and forgotten truths within the mansion. 

The central conflict arises when Noyontara encounters two women, both claiming to be her mother-in-law, Lalita. 

Based on the Bengali series Trinayani, Noyontara: The Hidden Truth premiered on Colors TV from 9 June and has since garnered over 160 half episodes. It starred Shruti Bhist as Noyontara "Noyon" Sengupta, Arjun Chakrabarty as Dr. Surjo Sengupta and Narayani Shastri as Lolita Sengupta.

Noyontara: The Hidden Truth replaces The Evil Eye Returns once it concludes in the timeslot of 22:00 CAT from 3 December. Later in the month, Star Life will be adding the female centered drama Ishani in place of Jhanak.

Ishani Coming Soon To Star Life

Star Life, an English dubbed Bollywood channel operated by JioStar that offers a variety of series and movies has announced the addition of a new series Ishani from 28 December at 18:30 CAT.

Synopsis for Ishani

Ishani is now married to a man, named Shashwat, who already has children, named Pihu and Pihu. But even in her new home, happiness remains elusive. Ishani's in-laws and her husband, Shashwat mistreat her for no clear reason at all, and she continues to live under the weight of judgment and isolation. Despite everything, Ishani finds support in an unexpected place, her step-daughter, Pihu.

Encouraged, by Pihu's belief in Ishani, she decides to reclaim her life. She takes a bold step and resumes her education, hoping to finally realize the dreams of becoming an IPS officer that, she had once buried. But life throws another twist her way, when she enrolls in a college and comes face to face, with her past, her ex-boyfriend, Anurag, who is now a college professor at the same institution that, Ishani has enrolled in.

Ishani premiered on StarPlus from 3 July and concluded on 28 October after 114 half hour episodes. It starred Megha Chakraborty as Ishani Sengupta, Karam Rajpal as Anurag Banarjee, Richa Rathore as Pihu Sengupta and Pankaj Bijlani as Advocate Siddharth.

Ishani will be taking Jhanak's 18:30 timeslot with both shows to run for half an hour from 28 December. Prior to its rollout, Noyontara: The Hidden Truth commences on 3 December at 21:00 CAT.