Were Mexican Imports On TLNovelas A Miss On DStv?

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As I've reported, TLNovelas will be going dark on DStv in the coming weeks likely as part of Canal+'s aggressive cost cuts at MultiChoice. The channel is on track to wrap up Love To Death and It Had To Be You as Fall Into Temptation concludes this week.

Fans of the shows feel like MultiChoice's response is vague because often when a channel is removed the same statements. All consumers want is some clarity and what led TLNovelas to become an afterthought as Telemundo lives another day.

Over the years, Telemundo had seen a major drop in primetime and TLNovelas was regarded to some of these viewers as their holy grace. It features content from Mexico's biggest broadcasters Las Estrellas with Rubi, Love Spell and A Woman Of Steel.

What went wrong?

Firstly, we live in a market which is dominant by African stories and this content takes up a 40% audience share in primetime. TLNovelas was most likely not pulling up those same numbers making it vulnerable to potential cuts.

As for Telemundo, this is basically the HBO of Spanish television with shows like Iron Rose and Queen Of The South commanding a wider audience. It wouldn't be something you'd just let go despite Canal+'s scrutiny.

TLNovelas entire existence was solely based on archived Mexican telenovelas and those can often lead to low viewership.

Another problem stems from TelevisaUnivison, they had existing agreements with other local broadcasters for these shows. TLNovelas was basically another Discovery Family or Nicktoons funneled with repeats for some viewers.

February 2026 On Studio Universal Across Africa | Super-Charged Week With Alita: Battle Angel | Valentine's Special With Channel Premiere: The Super Mario Movie | More

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Super-Charged Week
Mon 2nd – Sun 8th
Super-Charged Week returns to Studio, drifting into your February schedule for seven sensational days! A triple-billed, adrenaline-fueled takeover from 5pm

2 Fast 2 Furious
3rd February at 18:45
The second movie in the blockbusting action franchise hit cinemas two years after the original, with the pedal pressed all the way down. Former cop Brian O’Conner has moved to Miami, where he plans to turn over a new leaf. However, his love of street racing prompts him to fall foul of the law, and only a deal with the FBI to help take down a ruthless drug kingpin will keep him out of jail. Paul Walker reprises his role as O’Conner, while Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges and Tyrese Gibson co-star.

Bad Boys
3rd February at 20:35
Martin Lawrence and Will Smith play detectives Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowrey in this first outing in the action franchise. When millions of dollars’ worth of heroin recovered from a robbery is stolen from under their noses, they have three days to get it back before the narcotics division is shut down. But what should be an open-and-shut case hits closer to home than they imagined. Stay tuned during Super-Charged Week as Smith and Lawrence return in sequels Bad Boys II and Bad Boys for Life.

Alita: Battle Angel
7th February at 17:00
Robert Rodriguez directs this take on Yukito Kishiro’s blockbusting manga series, about a cyborg with no memory of who she once was. Named Alita by the scientist who revived her, she learns she has a human brain and, eager to know more, soon discovers there is also more to her creator than meets the eye. Determined to unravel the mystery of her past, Alita embarks on a violent journey of discovery. Rosa Salazar plays the eponymous lead, while Jennifer Connelly and Christoph Waltz co-star.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
8th February at 21:25
A stellar cast features in this spin-off tale, focusing on chalk-and-cheese duo Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). They are forced to put aside their many grievances and join forces to take down Brixton Lore (Idris Elba). He’s a psychopathic former MI6 agent with a brilliant intellect, pretty much indestructible, and in possession of a deadly pathogen he’s not afraid to use against humankind. Watch out for appearances by Ryan Reynolds and Helen Mirren.

Valentine’s Special + Action Weekend
Valentine’s Day Special: Sat 14th @ 6pm, Action Weekend: Sat 21st – 22nd Feb (Double-bills from 8pm)
Will Bowser woo Princess Peach with his awesomeness? Tune in to find out! and...No one should come between one man and his dog. Action Weekend? Try Action Wick-end!

The Super Mario Bros. Movie
14th February at 18:00
Look no further for Valentine’s Day romance than this channel premiere. Plumbing brothers Mario and Luigi’s business is on the brink of disaster, and they hope solving a city leak will put them back on top. Instead, a pipe whisks Mario to the Mushroom Kingdom, where Princess Peach rules, while Luigi ends up in the Dark Lands, where overlord Bowser aims to make Peach his bride. Mario and a host of characters set out to overcome all obstacles, save Luigi, protect Peach and preserve their business.

John Wick
21st February at 20:00
This beautifully choreographed action thriller not only revived Keanu Reeves’ flagging acting career, it spawned two sequels, a comic book and a spin-off. It all began here, with assassin John Wick, retired from his work and ready to embrace domestic bliss. However, the sudden death of his wife leaves him reeling, and when the puppy that was her last gift to him is killed by a mobster’s goons, Wick sets out to have his bloody revenge. Willem Dafoe, Alfie Allen and Michael Nyqvist also feature.

John Wick: Chapter 2
21st February at 21:50
Three years after the hit first film, Keanu Reeves is back as the stylish assassin in this sequel. After striking a peace deal with Abram Tarasov, Wick aims to go back to his quiet life. However, Camorra crime boss Santino D’Antonio has other plans, and calls in the debt that Wick owes him. Although he initially refuses (with violent consequences), Wick eventually agrees, only for the situation to spiral quickly out of control. Riccardo Scamarcio, Common and Ruby Rose are among the cast.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
22nd February at 22:05
The third film in the blockbusting franchise catches up with the legendary assassin as he tangles with Manhattan’s criminal underworld while having a price on his head thanks to a fatal mistake. Every hired gun in the city and beyond is eager to bring Wick down and claim the bounty. With almost every form of help denied him, the suited and booted ‘excommunicado’ Wick must use every ounce of his wits to stay alive. Keanu Reeves again heads the cast, with Halle Berry and Laurence Fishburne.

Could Discovery Global Look To Overhaul Cartoon Network?

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Continuing onto last year, Warner Bros. Discovery is exploring a potential sale where Netflix bags IPs such as Harry Potter and Looney Tunes. Then there's Paramount that wants the whole enchilada including CNN, Cartoon Network and TLC.

For the part that Netflix excluded from the deal, the plan is to get that spun off into a separate entity, Discovery Global. It will be loaded in debt which amounts to $20 billion as Netflix takes up $10-$15 billion from its buyout of Warner Bros.

Discovery Global is expected to generate a lot of cash flow but with immense cord cutting as seen with that of Canal+'s DStv. The revenue will continue to plummet and channels like Cartoon Network and Cartoonito (or. Boomerang) aren't immune.

Netflix had stated that if it's buyout of Warner Bros. succeeded that the company would continue to operate independently. Licensing agreements with Canal+, Sky and even Discovery Global would be retained.

These means shows like Tiny Toons Looniversity and Teen Titans GO! would continue to be seen on Cartoon Network. But then there's lingering fears from various consumers about the viability of the brand under Discovery Global.

Bloomberg did it's piece on Cartoon Network last year where it was reported that the network makes between 15% to 20% of what it had in 2014. And also that Warner Bros. Discovery only relies on the brand for its older catalogue.

The fear for some here again is that Discovery Global will slash the tires of Cartoon Network or possible keep only the international variant. Think of Universal Kids, it's predecessors are Sky Kids in the UK and DreamWorks Channel everywhere else.

Discovery Global could lean more toward existing partnerships with Hasbro for Discovery Family and WeTV for MeTV Toons.

Trace Ngoma, Trace Gospel And WWE Channel Now On DStv Access???

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MultiChoice had been running an Upsize promotion on the DStv platform since November 2025 as part of a 30 year celebration. This meant lower packages would get access to premium content at no additional charge.

Unbeknownst to some viewers was the sudden inclusion of Trace Ngoma, Trace Gospel and the 24 hour WWE channel on DStv Access.

WWE Channel (Channel 128) is a dedicated 24-hour channel for all things World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It offers flagship shows like Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, as well as pay-per-views documentaries, and archival content.

Trace Gospel (Channel 332) is a 24-hour music channel dedicated to showcasing the diversity and richness of local and international gospel music.

Trace Ngoma (Channel 326) is the new home for South African music and culture, with a strong focus on local genres and artists. "Ngoma" reflects themes of drumbeat, celebration, and heritage.

Last year, Paramount had shuttered MTV Base, BET, CBS Reality and CBS Justice due to a restructuring following it's buyout by Skydance. It was stated by MultiChoice that consumers could browse similar content on Mzansi Magic and Channel O.

This was their way of saying no plans are underway to retain Judge Judy much less rollout replacements. Consumers would be starting the new year with 4 less channels.

Since late 2025, Trace Africa, Trace Gospel and WWE brands which had been exclusive to DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact and Family are now listed on Access.
In an enquiry to MultiChoice, they were only able to confirm the inclusion of Trace Urban's other TV channels. We can only assume that maybe MultiChoice wants to make Access the premier destination for Gqom and Amapiano.

As for WWE, MultiChoice had been very mim about whether it's a permanent addition but if you do browse the company's services in other parts of Africa. WWE does serve as a permanent fixture to these consumers and oddly it wasn't the case in SA.


February 2026 On Universal TV And Bravo Across Africa | Channel Premiere: In Flight | Returning Shows Including The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills | More

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Universal TV

IN FLIGHT
Season 1 – Territory Premiere
Premieres Thursday 19th February @8pm
Katherine Kelly stars as Jo Conran, a London-based flight attendant whose 19-year-old son is imprisoned in Bulgaria for a murder he insists he didn’t commit.

LAW & ORDER:
SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Season 27 – Territory Premiere
Premieres Wednesday 4th February @8pm
Led by Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson and Ice-T as Fin. Our flagship procedural returns bigger and better than ever with modern twists and emotional depth.

Continuing shows Include LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION Season 3 on Tuesdays @8pm and NCIS Season 21 on Mondays @8pm.

Bravo

The Braxtons
Premieres Sunday 1st February at 19:00
(with each subsequent episode premiering Sundays at 19:00) 
A brand-new series spin-off from the fan-favourite Braxton Family Values, comes Season 1 of The Braxtons, which marks an emotionally raw and intimate reunion of the Braxton family - Toni, Tamar, Towanda, Trina, and Ms. Evelyn - as they come together two years after the passing of their sister Traci to honour her final wish: that the sisters stay close.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Season 9 Premieres Monday 3rd February at 17:15
Double Bills Monday-Friday
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills continues in February on Bravo Africa. Season 9 centers around the explosive “Puppygate” scandal involving Lisa Vanderpump, Dorit Kemsley, and a rehomed dog, the fallout leading to a dramatic exit from the show. Hollywood star Denise Richards joins the cast, bringing fresh energy and candidness.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
Season 10 Premieres Monday 19th February at 17:15
Double Bills Monday-Friday
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills continues in February on Bravo Africa. Season 10 introduces Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke, while Denise Richards becomes the focal point of controversy. The season features fashion launches, Broadway debuts, and a wild cast trip to Rome.

Continuing shows include Below Deck Down Under Season 3 on Sundays at 18:10 and Watch What Happens Live on Monday-Friday at 22:00.