New Channel Alert: Zee Zonke Coming This September To DStv

During the week, it was reported that MultiChoice had begun tests on another channel which was believed to be another duplicate to Moja Love. But in recent developments, we got to discover that the channel belongs to the makers of Zee TV, Zee World and Zee One.

Zee Zonke operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises is a South African adaptation to the current Zee TV importing content seen on Zee TV (mostly Zee Marathi) and dubbing them in local languages as seen with rival brand eExtra's Kuiertyd operated by eMedia Investments.

This will be the second region based channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises with Zee Alem currently situated in Ethiopia dubbing various content from Zee World.

As for the channel number, it will likely be allocated in the 160 section (likely 169) which is where Zee World resides and also it's the same area currently harvested by other Southern Africa brands including Mzansi Magic, Mzansi Wethu and Mzansi Bioskop

When it comes to the package, impressed guess would be Access and probably Easyview seeing as consumers on these packages don't have Zee World like the rest of Africa. It would also be added to consumers on Compact, Compact+ and Premium.

Zee Zonke might be applicable to only South Africa.

Considering that all of this will be locally dubbed, the channel will most likely take up the format used on TLNovelas when distributing content. It's currently unknown whether movies will reside on the soon to be launched channel but it wouldn't be shocking if it were only dramas.

The idea of Zee Zonke might have come out after Zee World debuted Jodha And Akbar with a Zulu soundtrack. It garnered popularity with consumers that it wasn't long till they got other programming got into the local mix in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

But it's kind of surprising how Jodha And Akbar isn't part of Zee Zonke's lineup as the only confirmed series at the time include Umakwapheni, Imfihlo, We Mamezala, and Onesipho.

CONFIRMED SERIES:

• Umakwapheni (Majhya Navaryachi Bayko): The drama revolves around Gurunath who is happily married to Radhika until he falls in love with Shanaya, a colleague. What would happen when Radhika learns about this affair and what will be her move to save the marriage?

• Imfihlo (Tula Pahate Re): Vikram Saranjame is a rich and lonely businessman. He gets attracted towards Esha one of his employee whose half his age. Esha two falls in love with him after he shows kindness towards her family as they are not doing financially well. Vikrant and Esha finally get married. But Vikrant has a secret to hide behind a closed door in his mansion.

• We Mamezala (Aggabai Sunbai): A strong bond develops as Asavari, a level-headed businesswoman, tries to help her daughter-in-law, Shubhra, navigate the harsh realities of motherhood and family life.

• Onesipho (Nayan - Jo Vekhe Unvekha): Nayan, a simple small town girl, experiences the boon and bane of her power of premonition. She goes on to marry Devansh under unusual circumstances and turns out to be his saviour. 

News Shorts: Nicktoons Becomes The Last Channel To Enter The Splat Zone, Lord Of The Skies Returns For An 8th Instalment On Telemundo Across Africa This September And MultiChoice Is Rumoured To Be Taking A Playout Test With A Dedicated Channel

Nicktoons gets the splat

During the year, Paramount unveiled a brand new retrofied on air look for Nickelodeon which reached international shores earlier in the month but of course questions amounted to when the rest of their channels like Nick Jr., Nicktoons and TeenNick would integrate with Splat.

So far only Nick Jr. got a new on air look which has yet to hit international shores while the others remain as quo. Not that the rest of their offering wouldn't integrate but it hasn't taken quite sometime for them to make the switch considering that Nickelodeon came in March.

We were only able to get the new Nick Jr. logo through several images shared on the web and a similar outcome awaited the other Nick brands or in this case Nicktoons.

As seen above the official logo, various areas have the "toons" green.

Aurelio also slated to make a comeback on Telemundo this fall

During the week, it was reported that Telemundo would be joining the likes of eExtra, kykNET, StarTimes and Timeless Dizi Channel in the distribution of Turkish dramas with their first series Cennet: The Power Of Destiny which had been scooped up by the channel internationally years prior.

Also confirmed for the channel in the coming months is the revival of Aurelio Casillas in the 8th instalment of Lord Of The Skies with the 9th currently in production and rumoured to debut by the fall of next year.

The 8th season centers on the return of Aurelio Casillas, who supposedly died at the beginning of the previous season after falling into a coma following an attempt on his life. It is only the DEA who knows that Aurelio is alive, having hidden him in the desert. In enacting his plan of revenge, Aurelio establishes connections with old allies, while also facing new romances and uncovering family mysteries. 

It starred Rafael Amaya as Aurelio Casillas, Rubén Cortada as Fernando Aguirre, Carmen Aub as Rutila Casillas, Iván Arana as Ismael Casillas, África Zavala as Mecha de la Cruz, Isabella Castillo as Diana Ahumada, Yuri Vargas as Tracy Lobo and Alejandro López as El Súper Javi.

Playout Test Channel reportedly loading on DStv

During the week, it was learnt that MultiChoice was working on a third TV channel for Siyaya TV, owners of Moja Love. Of course, details of the reported channel have yet to be confirmed as tests are still underway but it is believed to be at the moment a second duplicate of Moja Love also in high definition.

Now the pay-tv company seems to have begun work on a second TV channel titled Playout. Similar to the yet to be announced channel from Siyaya TV, there's not much details available about the channel and most of our search has redirected us to WildEarth so maybe these two are linked.

Interesting enough, WildEarth is also being experimented on but this one is a carbon copy of the current feed already viewable on DStv. It's likely a duplicate but it doesn't explain the name Playout so maybe this could be a seperate channel also under the same name and too in the early stages of development.

What To Expect On Comedy Central Across Africa In September 2023?

PRETTY STONED

MONDAY 25 SEPTEMBER @ 21:30

A stoner with no commitments and a type-A over-achiever join forces when they find themselves in trouble after one of them disposes of $20,000 worth of pot from a drug queen pin and her henchwomen.

CHAPELLE’S SHOW

SEASON 1 & 2

WEEKDAYS 4 SEPTEMBER @ 22:30

Renowned comedian Dave Chappelle hosts a comedy sketch which parodies various topics like race, entertainment industry, violence and culture.

KEY & PEELE

SEASON 1 & 2

WEEKENDS 9 SEPTEMBER @ 23:45

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, two comics, use sketches and live segments to perform jokes and entertain the audience.

EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS

SEASON 1 - 3

WEEKDAYS 4 SEPTEMBER @ 16:00

The show is a family sitcom, patterned on Chris Rock's recollection of his teenage years growing up in the 1980s with a wholesome, tight-knit, African-American family, while living in drug-and-gang infested neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York , also attending a cross-town, racist-dominated, public high school.

THE DAILY SHOW

SEASON 28

TUESDAYS – FRIDAY @ MIDNIGHT

The Daily Show (TDS) is an American late-night talk and satirical news television program.

What Happened To The Hallmark Channel On DStv?

Hallmark Channel was a family based entertainment channel featuring a set of miniseries such as McBride and Mystery Woman, movies alongside reality and acquired series like Walker Texas Ranger, Home Improvement and The Brady Bunch.

The channel hadn't been profitable during the time it was managed by Crown Media Holdings as they made several losses during 1998 to 1999. They recorded a $35.5 million in 1998 on revenue of $23.7 million, and in 1999 it lost $56.7 million on revenue of $31.9 million.

After several years of struggle, the channel made a breakthrough in 2005 recording their highest peak in viewership. It was also the year Hallmark's international operations was put up for sale receiving so many weak offerings they were fortunate to find a buyer.

Out of all the weak offers, Sparrowhawk Media purchased the brand for a total of $242 million which too was weak but the most they've gotten amongst bids. Around that time, NBCUniversal assisted in channel distribution.

In 2007, Sparrowhawk Media was later purchased by NBCUniversal had plans to launch a further set of channels including Universal TV, KidsCo, Diva, Syfy, Studio Universal and 13th Street Universal while as operating 18 Hallmark channels.

In 2011, Universal Networks International's rights to the Hallmark Channel brand ended; the networks were either shut down, or rebranded as one of the channels mentioned above.

Hallmark Channel can only be found in the United States and despite not having much power over the brand. They do own the space once reserved for the brand so Hallmark Channel can't do much globally without NBCUniversal's authorisation.

Source: Insidus Plus

New Series Alert: Telemundo To Debut First Turkish Drama Cennet: The Power Of Destiny Across Africa This October

eExtra's Kuiertyd launched in 2018 featuring shows like Elif, Dokter Ali and Gebroke Harte. Since then, the brand had garnered so much popularity that MultiChoice rolled out its first competitor to the brand on kykNET & Kie. It was only a matter of time till more broadcasters would follow.

Apparently, NBCUniversal had acquired rights to the 2017 Turkish drama Cennet for the Telemundo channel in Africa. Handled by Eccho Rights, this news doesn't come as a surprise as Telemundo has an original series based within Istanbul in development.

And also the main feed of the channel had been licencing numerous Turkish dramas so it was only a matter of time till Africa would adapt to what's seen in America. As mentioned during the year, the channel doesn't have much original content in the pipeline and this is due to the actors strike and much implemented streamlining attempts.

NBCUniversal has been cutting costs across their brands that E! has to rely on content from Bravo to go by their day and Universal had always commissioned first run shows and now similar to Comedy Central would just look at what's already available in the market.

At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if Days Of Our Lives were to resurface on the Spanish channel seeing as both Telemundo and Days are managed by NBCUniversal and with the channel's constant repeat slumber it would help build up primetime and give them an edge with existing rivals.

Synopsis for Cennet:

Cennet was abandoned as a baby, and has struggled bravely through life, desperate for the motherly love she has missed out on. Brought up by her grandmother, Cennet has little in her life apart from her best friend. However, an accident breaks them apart and he vanishes from her life.

Based on the Korean drama series Tears Of Heaven, it stars Almila Ada, Berk Atan, Esra Ronabar and Yusuf Akgün.

What Happened To The Hallmark Channel On DStv?

Hallmark Channel was a family based entertainment channel featuring a set of miniseries such as McBride and Mystery Woman, movies alongside reality and acquired series like Walker Texas Ranger, Home Improvement and The Brady Bunch.

The channel hadn't been profitable during the time it was managed by Crown Media Holdings as they made several losses during 1998 to 1999. They recorded a $35.5 million in 1998 on revenue of $23.7 million, and in 1999 it lost $56.7 million on revenue of $31.9 million.

After several years of struggle, the channel made a breakthrough in 2005 recording their highest peak in viewership. It was also the year Hallmark's international operations was put up for sale receiving so many weak offerings they were fortunate to find a buyer.

Out of all the weak offers, Sparrowhawk Media purchased the brand for a total of $242 million which too was weak but the most they've gotten amongst bids. Around that time, NBCUniversal assisted in channel distribution.

In 2007, Sparrowhawk Media was later purchased by NBCUniversal had plans to launch a further set of channels including Universal TV, KidsCo, Diva, Syfy, Studio Universal and 13th Street Universal while as operating 18 Hallmark channels.

In 2011, Universal Networks International's rights to the Hallmark Channel brand ended; the networks were either shut down, or rebranded as one of the channels mentioned above.

Hallmark Channel can only be found in the United States and despite not having much power over the brand. They do own the space once reserved for the brand so Hallmark Channel can't do much globally without NBCUniversal's authorisation.