Would Paramount Be A Good Suitor For Warner Bros. Discovery Global?

Paramount is planning to several linear channels across the world by the end of 2025. This includes Nickelodeon's channels in New Zealand and Brazil, BET in France and MTV's music channels across Europe.

Amidst this, Paramount is currently in pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery which distributes brands like Discovery Channel, HGTV, Cartoon Network and CNN. Prior to this bid, Warner Bros. Discovery was exploring potential split with most of their cable networks forming part of Discovery Global.

If we analyze most of the channels Paramount is looking to shutter across the world such as BET in France and Nickelodeon in Brazil. You would discover that most of the hits target regional or localised brands which does lead us to wonder what is to become of Discovery Global.

Discovery Global offers a lot of cable networks compared to Paramount the ones which have seen success internationally include Cartoonito, Boing and DMAX. These would expand to include regional networks like Discovery Family, Real Time and TNT.

In the event where Paramount bid is probably deemed successful whose to guarantee that these networks won't walk out the door. Paramount is pivoting toward streaming and wanting to offer content with global appeal.

If you look at the state of Paramount's cable networks their operations would be reduced to just MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons by next year. As BET, MTV Base and various other channels get their affairs in order and bid farewell.

There's a chance Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon could be placed under the same umbrella although Paramount intends to keep certain aspects of Warner Bros. Discovery. Reductions is the one thing that usually comes out of a merger or acquisition.

Paramount intends to merge HBO Max with Paramount+ and that wouldn't necessarily equal more content. HBO Max in such a transaction could become what Hulu is on Disney+ globally as opposed to a juggernaut like Netflix.

Paramount very much like Warner can see the writing on the wall when it comes to dominance and the reality is that not everyone can be a shark under water. Some companies to resort to partnerships or even mergers to become a bigger fish in the ocean.

Usually in merger and acquisitions, the acquiring company puts their needs above all else. In the first round, it would be Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., from Paramount going up against Cartoon Network and Cartoonito from Warner Bros. Discovery.

Warner Bros. Discovery had been reliant on third party content for these cable networks and Paramount may not like that strategy. Aside from that, Cartoon Network makes 15%-20% of its revenue from 2014 which has affected the channel's overall performance.

Teen Titans GO! is currently the only primetime show on the network while other productions like Tiny Toons Looniversity and We Baby Bears wrap productions. Then there's Batwheels on Cartoonito which has been on limbo following its third season renewal.

Paramount in its attempts at scaling back on costs could opt to merge Cartoon Network's operations with that of Nickelodeon or Nicktoons while Cartoonito is phased out in favour of Nick Jr.

The second round would comprise of Travel Channel, Discovery Family, Real Time and TNT.

As seen already, Paramount is scaling back on its international operations with the closures of CBS Reality, CBS Justice, MTV Base and BET. Whose to say that the same fate won't await these brands.

Discovery Channel and TLC have more reruns and part of their primetime shows are likely reruns from HGTV and Food Network. It kind of makes Discovery Family and Real Time obsolete if the company doesn't have much content for their core brands.

Travel Channel is very similar to BET and CBS Reality when it comes to scale with the channel that had also seen a slow decline in carriage. Under Paramount, this endeavours would be accelerated even further.

MultiChoice Is Ready To Launch More Channels Amidst It's Offset With Warner Bros. Discovery

MultiChoice has sent notice to various informing them that Warner Bros. Discovery's slate of channels would be exiting DStv by the of December. This comes after Paramount announced plans to shutter CBS Justice, CBS Reality, BET and MTV Base on the platform. 

Canal+, MultiChoice's new owners appears to have a different strategy when negotiating carriage deals. Previous carriage deals were often extended quietly and it lead to fee hikes it appears that Canal+ wants to minimise costs amidst MultiChoice's financial woes.

One could say MultiChoice's reasoning for issuing a termination notice through email is their way of pressuring Warner Bros. Discovery. They're amidst a potential buyout or split by Netflix, Comcast and Paramount.

MultiChoice's previous owners wouldn't have done the runaround with Warner Bros. Discovery as opposed to Canal+. They are open to replacing these channels (or at least some of them) but the reality is there really is no alternatives.

For consumers hoping that MultiChoice would replace them with something that can go on par with TLC or Cartoon Network this may never be the case. Linear television had been in rapid decline in the US and its led some companies to scale back on original content.

With Canal+ also having pay-tv operations held in Europe, France and Asia it's likely replacement would be sought there.

Canal+ Distribution which serves as both production and distribution company offers diverse content and channels from markets in which it's pay-tv services reside. This can range from France24 in which eMedia Investments distribute in a separate agreement alongside FilmBox channels.

In the event these channels were to go dark, I'd imagine they'd look through that outlet for this "fresh content" they've promised to introduce to subscribers.

Canal+ Distribution's catalogue ranges from news through AfricaNews and France24, music through Trace Urban and Trace Gospel and cartoons with Duck TV and ZooMoo. Following its acquisition of MultiChoice, it's portfolio would also include M-Net and Mzansi Magic.

Baby Shark's Big Show Launches Soon On Play Room

Play Room, a South African based children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group offering a mixture animated and live action will be rolling out a new preschool series, Baby Shark's Big Show!. This comes after the channel acquired rights to Tyler Perry's Young Dylan from Nickelodeon.

Synopsis for Baby Shark's Big Show 

Co-produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and SmartStudy, the global entertainment company behind the beloved children’s brand Pinkfong, the series (26 half-hour episodes) follows Baby Shark and his best friend William as they journey on fun-filled comedic adventures in their community of Carnivore Cove, make new friends and sing original catchy tunes along the way.

In the series premiere, “Baby Tooth/Slobber Slug,” Baby Shark gets his first loose tooth and enlists William’s help to lose it so he can trade it in for a sand dollar. When their antics get the tooth lost for real, they must team up with the Toothfish Fairy to track it down. Then, while Baby Shark and his friends are playing Barnacle Ball, Hank’s pet rock, Rocky, is accidentally sent soaring into the lair of the vicious Slobber Slug and they must stage an elaborate rescue mission.

Baby Shark’s Big Show! is executive produced by Gary “Doodles” DiRaffaele (Breadwinners) and Tommy Sica (Breadwinners), with Whitney Ralls (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls) serving as co-executive producer. 

Baby Shark's Big Show will air daily on the channel at 07:37 from Monday 8 December with repeats at 11:15.

Is The Cat Really Out Of The Bag For MultiChoice And Warner Bros. Discovery??? As The Channels Remain On Canal+ Afrique In A Separate Agreement

MultiChoice has sent notice to various informing them that Warner Bros. Discovery's slate of channels would be exiting DStv by the of December. This comes after Paramount announced plans to shutter CBS Justice, CBS Reality, BET and MTV Base on the platform. 

Warner Bros. Discovery currently has the largest linear portfolio with MultiChoice being 12 channels as opposed to Disney and Paramount who offer 5 to 6 channels. These includes brands Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Cartoon Network and CNN.

There's a strong possibility that Canal+ following its takeover of MultiChoice will likely to reduce the offering. As it understood, MultiChoice is bleeding subscribers or in general losing money and Canal+ is trying to put out these flames.

MultiChoice's previous owners were more likely to retain these 12 channels compared to the French broadcaster. When they mentioned potentially replacing these channels it could imply doing away with Bobby Flay and Fixer Home Fabulous.

MultiChoice's French African equivalent Canal+ Afrique distribute Warner Bros. Discovery's cable networks in a separate agreement. Large number of premium channels are excluded from their offering including TLC, HGTV and Food Network.

Through M7 Group, it's European equivalent offers HBO, Discovery Historia, Discovery Life, Cartoon Network and Cartoonito through Canal+ Polska. Channels to be excluded can also range from Discovery Channel and Investigation Discovery.

In the event that both parties come to an agreement it's likely that Discovery Channel, TLC, Cartoon Network and CNN will continue on the platform. But to save up on costs, Canal+ may look to remove channels which are deemed non viable or repetitive.

Check our previous story: this could as well range from HGTV, Food Network or Real Time. Another could as well be that Discovery Family, Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel get the axe while Real Time is all that's left of the flock.

MultiChoice may notify consumers of channel terminations but this isn't their first rodeo as a similar situation occured with Lifetime, History and C+I before the company opted to remove only C+I. Even Bloomberg had its feed cut off before getting reinstated.

DStv Without Discovery Family And Possibly Real Time??? It Wouldn't Seem Far Fetched A Stretch

As some consumers have heard, MultiChoice might be removing 12 additional channels following the news of CBS Justice, CBS Reality, BET and MTV Base's purge from DStv. It should be noted that MultiChoice is still negotiating with Warner Bros. Discovery over these 12 so nothing is final.

My esteemed guess is that MultiChoice will likely look to reduce the number of channels targeting premium brands like HGTV and even redundant ones like Discovery Family. 

Due to the rise in streaming, various companies such as Disney and Paramount have been scaling back on their international operations. As mentioned, the upcoming axing of MTV Base and BET which would the likes of FOX and Disney XD.

Warner Bros. Discovery has the largest linear portfolio with MultiChoice compared to Disney which had only 6 with Paramount that will be reduced to just 5 channels. Amongst the offering are crown jewels Discovery Channel, TLC, CNN and Cartoon Network.

Over the years, some of these cable networks have seen a rise in reruns or in this case TLC which had its airtime split for shows on Food Network, HGTV and Investigation Discovery.

MultiChoice had already been distributing content from these channels through Real Time which had me wondering why Warner Bros. Discovery would diminish the value of TLC. Even Investigation Discovery and Discovery Channel had gone through a similar ordeal.

Food Network and HGTV are the only brands that haven't been affected.

A few years ago, Warner Bros. Discovery opted to discontinue distribution of Discovery Science and Discovery Turbo across Europe. Very similar to Discovery Family and Real Time no marketing was done for any new content from these brands.

It would only seem logical if plans were underway to do away with these channels especially amidst Warner Bros. Discovery's potential acquisition by either Comcast, Netflix and Paramount.

With the main networks struggling to scavenge new content it makes Discovery Family and Real Time the weakest links.

Canal+ following its acquisition of MultiChoice has been trying to put out the fire as the company has seen a loss in subscribers and a drop in revenue. This had led Canal+ to shed certain operational expenses at the company by 20%.

In this carriage deal MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery are embroiled in there's a strong chance that both parties will settle this with lesser channels.

Discovery Family very much like TLC and Real Time have been airing older programming it's not only Discovery Channel's yesteryear stock but also My Cats From Hell. The same show would eventually resurface on Real Time making it a stronger candidate to get the axe.

Real Time could as well be repositioned to include shows from Discovery Channel as seen with Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV and Investigation Discovery. Perhaps take up a higher position within DStv instead of 155 it sits alongside TLC on 136.

Amidst this whole dispute, Warner Bros. Discovery had unveiled several upcoming titles for Discovery Family that could as well migrate to Real Time in the event Discovery Family would be removed.