CITV Channel To Close As ITV Makes Most Children’s Shows Online-Only, Could eMedia Investments Follow With The eToonz Channel On The Openview Platform?

ITV is shutting down its CITV channel for consumers in the UK and shifting most of its children’s programmes to streaming-only, arguing that young people have largely given up on watching scheduled television.

CITV will disappear as a standalone channel in the autumn, with all children’s content shifting to the streaming platform ITVX. The broadcaster said the channel was unprofitable and children’s TV audiences had collapsed in recent years because of a shift to YouTube and other streaming services.

eToonz is the South African version to the soon to be defunct CITV owned by eMedia Investments and currently viewed on the Openview platform is home to shows such as Peppa Pig, Pokémon, Barbie Dream Adventures, Thomas And Friends and Voltron.

Since it's debut in 2013, eToonz has struggled to gain a vast majority of Openview consumers much less DStv while as it's other sister channels eMovies and eMovies Extra rank as the top movie channels with eExtra top entertainment brand on the mentioned platform.

Compared to the e.tv channels currently sitting abroad the DStv platform as well the additional currently viewed on the Openview platform. eToonz carries the most rebroadcasts from the main channel and any channel that was performing well would do otherwise.

When eExtra was added in 2017, it was more of a catch-up or leftovers channel for e.tv same goes with eReality now both brands have managed to build their unique slate of programming with the likes of Elif, Doodsondes, Forensic Files and Ex On The Beach.

eToonz serving as one of the longest running brands amongst had been subdued to rebroadcasts. I get why the rebroadcasts as adults watch more linear television compared to children who'd have a high preference for YouTube and social media.

All the more reason to justify eToonz lack of new content but honestly whose to say this channel won't fold under e.tv and eVOD. eMedia Investments doesn't leave consumers much alternatives at this point on Openview giving it more purpose.

As for DStv, I can see why they'd opt not to renew their agreement with eMedia Investments for the channel. It's just a duplicate of the existing offering on their stable and brands like Cartoon Network and Disney Junior are luring consumers away from the channel.

As for Craze, I can see that being the future of eToonz on the Openview platform as it is with DStv consumers. It does look like something eMedia wants to retire but can't due to the laws in this country they have to put up with this content for the years to come.

Recap To Last Year: Here's What We Can Expect From eExtra's New Series Dayan, Destructive Beauty

For the last months, eExtra had become another Rewind channel outside of Kuiertyd with shows like Kurt En Shura, Dare To Love, Ice Adonis and Blue Venom Girl. Now the channel is set to rollout their second show of the year, Dayan, Destructive Beauty.

Daayan is a Hindi supernatural drama television series starring Tina Datta, Mohit Malhotra and Adaa Khan. The story revolves around a happy couple, Jhanvi and Akarsh, whose lives takes an unexpected turn when a Daayan enters their lives.

The series stars Tina Datta, Aakash Talwar, Mohit Malhotra, Anupama Solanki, Aashka Goradia, Aman Gandhi, Garima Goel, Priya Bathija, Yash Pandit and Nitanshi Goel.

The series debuted back in 2018 on Zee TV with a total of 66 episodes. It was available to stream on eVOD back in 2022 of course not all episodes were available at the time prior to its potential rollout on the eExtra channel.

It's debut on eExtra was part of a subject of speculation following it's failure to rollout on the channel back in 2022. Unlike most of the shows in question, Dayan is the only one to get out of this scenario unscathed.

Dayan, Destructive Beauty airs daily at 15:50 from 28 March on eExtra replacing Blue Venom Girl. Weaving A Tale Of Love will follow days prior with Roekeloos Dade, Die Put and Hart Van Goud expected for the channel's Afrikaans block in the coming months.

New Series Alert: Weaving A Tale Of Love Coming Soon To eExtra

During the reign of Emperor Taizong, a baby girl by the name of Kudi Liu Li (Gülnezer Bextiyar) was born. Liu Li was also born with an innate talent for embroidery, but her mother, known as “Number One Needle in the World,” knew the dangers that such skills would bring, and warned that she must never touch needle and thread. Alas, misfortune fell regardless when her mother was framed by Zhuo Jin Niang (Li Xin Yi). Imprisoned and faced with imminent death, she entrusts young Liu Li to an old friend in the palace.

Leaving Liu Li in the care of a kind eunuch, the little girl grew up well, her natural talent with needle and thread, becoming, over time, the talk of the palace. With jealous eyes now constantly on her, a brilliant young scholar by the name of Pei Xing Jian (Timmy Xu) sees the danger she’s in and takes it upon himself to protect her. Together the two safely evade numerous plots against them and in the process, uncover a secret from Liu Li’s past; a secret that sets her on a path of revenge.

As Liu Li seeks revenge, she soon finds herself caught up in an ugly battle between the nobles, witnessing dark secrets of the royal palace, as the power within shifts to the usurper, Wu Zhou. Precariously walking the line between life and death once again, Liu Li and Xing Jian will have to use all their wits to overcome the obstacles ahead.

Based on the novel of the same name by Lan Yunshu, “Weaving A Tale of Love” is a 2021 historical romance drama directed by Chan Ka Lam and He Zhen Hua. It stars Gulnezer Bextiyar as Kudi Liu Li / Xiao Dou Zi, Timmy Xu as Pei Xing Jian, Zhao Shun Ran as Li Zhi / Emperor Gaozong, Kira Shi as Wu Mei Niang,

Weaving A Tale Of Love is expected to replace The Rebel Princess weekdays at 17:30 from March 23rd. Other shows expected to rollout on the channel in the coming months includes new series Hart Van Goud and Roekeloos Dade with Die Put currently streaming on eVOD returning for a third season.

The SWiTCH Effect: How Me Could Take Up Channel 116 On The DStv Platform?

In 2021, MultiChoice and M-Net ripped away M-Net City and VUZU for the retarded, M-Net Essentials (Me). It caters to DStv Compact and Family consumers with a mix of content ranging from reality shows, dramas series, movies and local content.

It's currently on the channel 115 spot which was formerly occupied by the Compact exclusive channel, M-Net City. While as Family consumers only got the channel as MultiChoice took pity on them for the loss of VUZU and the fact that content from the channel would be there.

As seen these past years, MultiChoice has been launching various duplicate channels such as BBC UKTV, Moja 9.9., kykNET Lekker, Real Time, Pearl Magic Prime and several others as questions amount to when or if M-Net plans to launch a duplicate Me channel.

MultiChoice likes to divide the offering on their packages and often consumers would miss out on selected content and over the years that format was quickly dumb down as the pay-tv company loses more Premium consumers for streaming while others just downgrade.

A duplicate Me channel (Me Too) is probably the final piece of puzzle MultiChoice needs as consumers particularly on the Access and Easyview package rely on free-to-air channels for their international selection of content.

This potential copycat doesn't have to offer all the content seen on Me a year later or doesn't have to offer every show that comes to mind. This outtake of the channel would sit on channel 116 and operate 14-16 hours a day like CineMagic and Magic Showcase.

Some of the content that could fold under this brand would be NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Seal Team and all three trilogies of Chicago alongside other content such as The Flight Attendant, Yellowstone and Lionness. Just like Me, it would have a movie in the very same time.

Recap To The Past Month: Boing Remains As A Essential Member Of Warner Bros. Discovery

Boing is a children's channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery that is being used to leverage content from Cartoon Network or Cartoonito with shows like Dexter's Laboratory, Ben 10, The Jungle Bunch, Johnny Bravo, Adventure Time and Wacky Races.

Last month, Warner Bros. Discovery held a briefing for Cartoonito where they took the time to address the future of Boomerang and also their other children's brands. Cartoon Network is the most popular offering amongst the trio particularly with boys aged 7-12 years.

Boing which serves as a third wheel or side kick to Cartoon Network and Cartoonito has garnered a lot of popularity for children aged 4-14 years since it's rollout in 2015 particularly for Cartoon Network originals such as Dexter's Laboratory, Uncle Grandpa and Clarence.

In France, the channel is expected to exit the market after 13 years for Cartoonito which is slated to rollout in the African market by the end of March. Boing will remain available in Italy, Spain and Africa.

Boomerang will be repositioned as the new Boing within France while in Africa it will rebrand to Cartoonito featuring various shows from the mentioned channel and join other existing animation brands including Cartoon Network, Boing and as forgotten Toonami.

News Shorts: CBeebies Set To Debut Brand New On-Air Look, M-Net Movies Action HQ To Rollout On DStv And Zee World Undergoes Various Schedule Changes

CBeebies is set to align themselves with the rest of the BBC channels

In the UK, BBC Studios has begun phasing out the playful and enthusiastic CBeebies logo for a more bold and plan design. The new logo looks identical to the current BBC Kids and most of their linear channels the change is likely part of another alignment or streamlining strategy from the BBC.

BBC Studios is looking to boost their streamlining endeavours similar to the The Walt Disney Company with more details set to be unveiled later in the year.

M-Net Movies Action is being revived for a limited time

In September 2020, M-Net Movies restructured their movie offering by reducing their 6 movie channels at the time to just 4 each of them numbered with the second being a fusion of Action and Action+ channel. After 2 years, the M-Net Movies Action concept is being revived as a pop-up channel.

The Big Bosses Of Action will air on channel 111 from March 17 to April 2 with catch-up till May 1. Feature films include Die Hard, Unchartered, Tom Gun Maverick, John Wick: Chapter 2 and Taken.

Zee World is bringing more extraordinary to the tele

As seen this past week, Zee World in Southern African markets had their schedules adjusted with Twist Of Fate at 2pm-4pm (double bill), Can You See Me at 4pm, It's Not Easy To Love at 8pm, Broken Bonds at 8.50pm, Razia Sultan at 9.40pm and Age Is Just A Number at 10.30pm. All times are allocated in CAT.

The channel has several upcoming attractions such as Radha Mohan alongside 3 other shows and judging by these changes it's safe to put them in the coming soon tile.