Could The Rumoured SuperSport Schools Channel Perhaps Be Added As A Replacement To Another DStv Channel?

During the week, MultiChoice had begun tests on a possible channel for SuperSport Schools making it South Africa's probably the world's first ever sports channel for the youth promoting a variety of sports from soccer, netball, swimming and probably basketball.

Not much details have been shared on a release date or a possible channel number or package but my hunch is that MultiChoice will probably unveil it in the coming weeks or later in March where schools out and it's addition alongside Cartoonito would prove favourable.

As seen with Cartoonito, it is set to replace Boomerang when the channel goes dark by the end of the month incorporating the best of Boomerang but that left me thinking about the position of SuperSport Schools on the DStv platform.

Last year, MultiChoice in legal battle with eMedia Investments had mentioned they were faced with transponder constraints and that they wouldn't be able to add a lot of channels in the coming future unless they remove some which led to the untimely demise of eMedia's 4 channels.

DStv:
- SuperSport might be rolling out a new channel
- Boomerang is the first channel to exit the DStv platform in 2023
- MultiChoice to hike DStv fees from April 2023
- CBS Reality is the only brand to retain its identity in the UK from Paramount and AMC International

Analysing some of the new channels in question notice how they only add a new channel to replace one from the same section on DStv. Take for instance, MTV Hits with Qwest TV both of which were music channels same goes for ITV Networks and Hilaal TV.

Taking that to account, is it SuperSport Schools will replace one of the sports channels and here are some of my picks:
- Ginx eSports TV: A gaming channel featuring news, highlights and other game themed content. It's not a bad channel for promoting what it loves but it's better off as a digital channel I mean only a selected view gaming through cable much less DStv.
- WWE Channel: SuperSport didn't credit it as much when renewing through partnership with WWE only referenced Raw, SmackDown, NXT and PPVs as those are the only things consumers watch on the channel.

Another logical theory is that another channel perhaps TNT, Discovery Family, eMedia's 4 channels or even one of the current SuperSport channels would be abandoning ship but there's always chances this may as well serve as another addition to consumers.

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Press Release: Boomerang Africa Rebrands To Cartoonito Africa From 25 March Includes More Details About Upcoming Series

Boomerang Africa becomes Cartoonito Africa in English-speaking African countries on 25 March – with the best of Boomerang alongside exciting new shows filled with more laughs, more adventures and more friends.

There’s still plenty of room for long-time Boomerang favourites like Zig & Sharko, Mr Bean, Masha and the Bear, Tom & Jerry, Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes Cartoons to shine alongside newer friends such as Dino Ranch, Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go and Lucas the Spider. Cartoonito brings them together – while adding brand-new shows like Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders and Interstellar Ella – just for starters - offering a wider variety of programmes filled with new friends, trusted fun and extraordinary adventures for the whole family to enjoy.

Cartoonito:
- Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run coming this April to Cartoonito
- March on Cartoonito
- Official promo and poster reveal shows remaining on Cartoonito
- Cartoonito might have a hinted a potential new channel for the DStv platform

“The rebrand of Boomerang Africa into Cartoonito Africa enriches our channel universe, bringing together the crème de la crème of Boomerang with more adventures and more friends to be part of ONE big Cartoonito family!” says Ana Gonzalez, Editorial Lead: Southern Europe and Africa, Kids Brands, Warner Bros. Discovery. “We know kids and families love our shows, and we’re looking forward to adding even more amazing content that brings the whole family together.”

Leading the rebranded channel is an exciting special – Secret Origins of the Batwheels – which kicks off at 08:40 CAT on 25 March. Batwheels is an action-adventure show that combines two of kids’ favourite things – superheroes and vehicles! The show revolves around a fun, dynamic team of super-powered vehicles and the obstacles these characters encounter as they battle the bad guys. This heroic and fresh gateway to Gotham City teaches that teamwork is an integral part of play that will help save the day. A 32-minute special, Secret Origins of the Batwheels, sees the Batcomputer forced to bring the Bat-Vehicles to life when Batman, Robin and Batgirl are all captured. The newly-minted Batwheels must defend the Batcave and face off with the Legion of Zoom – all without Batman’s help! The Batwheels series will then run every weekend at 08:40 CAT.

Bugs Bunny Builders follows Bugs and Lola as they manage a crew of builders at ACME Construction Company who really shouldn’t be anywhere near a construction site! However, by working together as a team, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety and others use their tools and wild vehicles to pull off some of the looniest construction jobs ever! Bugs Bunny Builders premieres on Monday, 10 April, at 16:45 CAT and will run Mondays to Fridays at the same time. 

Regular Nick:
- Wonder Pets revival might be in the works for Nickelodeon
- Peacock greenlights two new animated series
- Boomerang to go dark on the DStv platform next month
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May

In Interstellar Ella, the year is 3021. The place is the Milky Way, where eight-year-old Ella gleefully heads out with her friends on exciting adventures of discovery. At only eight, she already knows quite a bit about space ... but there is always more to explore! With her besties Slippy and Madhu, Ella navigates the challenges that come her way. Things may not always work out the way she plans, but Ella never lets that get in the way of interstellar fun. Interstellar Ella premieres in June 2023.

Cartoonito Africa – home to your favourite characters filled with more laughs, more adventure and more friends - will be distributed in linear on all the same channels -  DStv (channel 302), GOtv (channel 68) (channel 155 in Ghana and channel 357 in Uganda), AzamTV (channel 227) and Canal+ Ethiopia (Channel 127).

Could Boomerang's Programming Be Getting Less Airtime Once Its Rebrands Into Cartoonito Africa?

During the week, Warner Bros. Discovery held a virtual presentation for the highly anticipated Cartoonito Channel which is set to combine the Boomerang DNA and make it something even bigger offering fun, creative and engaging space for preschoolers and families.

As advised by sources, Cartoonito is just another Boomerang as several remaining shows like Looney Tunes Cartoons, Zig & Sharko, Mr. Bean, Tom And Jerry In New York, Masha And The Bear and Grizzy And The Lemmings will all reside on the new channel.

But it does come with an original pallet such as Batwheels, Bugs Bunny Builders, Jessica's Big Little World and Scooby-Doo And The Mystery Pups with other programs like Interstellar Ella and Spookies.

The change forms part of an international strategy for Cartoonito as several European countries are scheduled to phase out Boomerang within the period of Africa with a few other regions like France expected to rollout a linear version by April 2023.

Cartoonito:
- Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run coming this April to Cartoonito
- March on Cartoonito
- Official promo and poster reveal shows remaining on Cartoonito
- Cartoonito might have a hinted a potential new channel for the DStv platform

Boomerang has been successful brand name across Europe for almost a decade and the news of Cartoonito has been met with mostly mixed reviews some unlike us have programs getting scrapped or moving over to Cartoon Network.

Cartoonito Africa currently offers programs such as CoComelon, Thomas And Friends: All Engines Go!, Moley, Lucas The Spider, Dino Ranch and Kingdom Force. All of this had got me thinking couldn't this be what will likely make up most of the channel's primetime.

Warner Bros. Discovery hasn't commissioned or greenlit any exclusive programming for the channel. Boomerang's final offering is mostly repeats ranging from Mr. Bean, Zig & Sharko, Looney Tunes Cartoons and Tom And Jerry In New York.

Insidus Games:
- Transformers
- Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit
- Looney Tunes
- The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo A-Go-Go!

Considering this is a new brand what are chances that Mr. Bean will be aired as frequently. It would make sense if a show like CoComelon got more attention and if other Cartoonito programs occupied more timeslots used by Boomerang.

It would be weird seeing Boomerang become Cartoonito and leave nothing unscathed. It would make sense giving two programs Thomas And Friends and CoComelon more airtime as they're popular franchises with a mix of Boomerang and Cartoonito to go around.

Warner Bros. Discovery Remains With The Most Popular Kids Channels In The African Market Including Boing, But Where Does That Leave Toonami Exactly?

During the week, Warner Bros. Discovery held a showcase where they were able to clear up some fears consumers had of Cartoon Network shutting down as seen with the Disney Channels and the current offering of Boomerang once it becomes Cartoonito in March.

Cartoon Network ranks as the most popular kids destination in South Africa for a 7th year in a row pulling at least 15 million households which is ginormous for any channel in general with Boomerang (soon to be Cartoonito) coming in second place with 10 million.

Some of these popular shows include Regular Show, We Baby Bears, Craig Of The Creek, Teen Titans GO!, Grizzy And The Lemmings, Masha And The Bear, Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes.

Insidus Games:
- Transformers
- Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit
- Looney Tunes
- The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo A-Go-Go!

Currently available in selected parts of Africa, Boing was apparently part of this event and to my surprise it's actually managing to get some attention. Not much had been shared in terms of performance but viewers are digging classics like Johnny Bravo and Clarence.

Of course, one brand that Warner Bros. Discovery failed to mention amidst all of this is Toonami.

Since 2021, Toonami is no longer regarded as kids entertainment which was the whole point of this virtual event. But the brand features a ton of kid centric programming and films from the likes of Batman, Superman, Justice League and Teen Titans.

It still repetitive compared to most channels seen under Warner Bros. Discovery that it wouldn't be shocking if they scrapped the channel. Cartoon Network has been airing a variety of content from the DC Universe and Toonami's offering would help compliment that section.

Regular Nick:
- Wonder Pets revival might be in the works for Nickelodeon
- Peacock greenlights two new animated series
- Boomerang to go dark on the DStv platform next month
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May

As opposed to the future of Toonami, it might as well be Boing which incorporates all aspects of kids and family in terms of animation including the DC Universe. Besides, both are very much underrated and the one Boing gained popularity after nearly a decade.

Sentech To Launch Streaming Platform To Rival SABC+

The SABC is Sentech’s biggest client — by far. But that’s not stopping the state-owned broadcast signal distributor from formulating plans to rival the public broadcaster in streaming services.

While the SABC has been without a board for several months, Sentech has been making plans to launch what appears will be a competitor to SABC+, the streaming service launched by the public broadcaster late last year when it took over management and operation of Telkom One, a joint venture it had with Telkom.

News of Sentech’s plans to offer a so-called OTT service (over the top — industry jargon for streaming) emerged in parliament on Wednesday when communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the company will “soon launch a homegrown OTT platform that will be anchored by Nemisa but which will be available to other content producers”. Nemisa is a state-owned non-profit in Ntshavheni’s portfolio that focuses on technology education, including in multimedia production.

The launch plans come amid growing tension between the SABC and Sentech over signal carriage fees.

“Our goal is to eventually make this platform the home for quality films, documentaries and children’s stories, in addition to SABC+,” the minister told MPs.

Sentech plans to launch the OTT platform in the first quarter of the 2024 financial year – that’s sometime between March and May this calendar year. A Sentech spokeswoman was on leave and not immediately available to comment further on the platform and its planned content offerings.

The launch plans come amid growing tension between the SABC and Sentech over the signal carriage fees the latter charges the former to distribute its terrestrial channels to South African audiences.

The SABC and its commercial free-to-air rival e.tv last year accused the broadcasting signal distributor of excessive pricing and anticompetitive behaviour.

Formal submissions
Their broadsides against the state-owned enterprise were included in formal submissions to communications regulator Icasa, in which they called for urgent regulatory interventions in the signal distribution market to deal with alleged monopolistic abuses by Sentech.

The submissions form part of a market inquiry by Icasa into the signal distribution services market. Sentech has asked that the regulator’s discussion document be withdrawn because, among other reasons, updated legislation to govern audiovisual services is in development and Icasa’s investigations shouldn’t pre-empt these potential policy changes.

E.tv parent eMedia Investments said in its submission to Icasa that it is “deeply concerned at the fact that the issues relating to significant market power in relation to signal distribution services have been ignored for decades”.

Video Entertainment:
- Rumour: SuperSport Schools to get a dedicated channel on the DStv platform
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May
- Paramount+ set to merge with Showtime
- eVOD has yet to offer linear channels as promised in 2021

“This is despite pleas by the broadcasters that the market needed urgent regulation. Indeed, Icasa recognised as far back as 2010 that there was an urgent need to regulate the market due to Sentech’s undisputed dominance,” eMedia said. “Yet Icasa has taken no steps in this regard… All this has been to the detriment of broadcasters and caused them financial harm.”

The SABC also strongly criticised Sentech’s tariffs and behaviour, describing them as “not appropriate or correct”. It said its concerns led to the creation of a “chart of accounts project” at the public broadcaster to determine the fairness or otherwise of Sentech’s fees.

“The details of the various costs per service and per transmission site have been requested from Sentech with the objective of understanding how the structure of the cost for each service was derived. Sentech has not been cooperative in this regard for the past two years,” the public broadcaster alleged in its submission.

The SABC also filed a complaint against Sentech at the Competition Commission in 2021, in which it accused the signal distributor of “unfair and anticompetitive pricing”.