ESPN Africa Will Begin Airing The NBA Finals In June 2026

NBA - CONFERENCE FINALS AND FINALS

The NBA conference finals are the Eastern and Western Conference championship series of the National Basketball Association.

The finals will begin 3 June 2026:

3 June: NBA Finals 2026 Game 1 

5 June: NBA Finals 2026 Game 2

8 June: NBA Finals 2026 Game 3 

10 June: NBA Finals 2026 Game 4

THE JAPANESE RUGBY LEAGUE – FINALS

Japan Rugby League One, formerly known as the Top League, is a rugby union competition in Japan. It is the highest level of professional rugby competition in the country. 

The teams participating in the final are TBC.

3rd place match will take place 6 June.

The final will take place on 7 June.

THE AFL (AUSSIE RULES)

The Australian Football League is the pre-eminent professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition from the Victorian Football Association, with its inaugural season in 1897.

Key fixtures:

4 June: Hawthorn vs Bulldogs 

13 June: North Melbourne vs West Coast 

18 June: Fremantle vs Geelong 

20 June: GWS Giants vs Carlton 

Please note: 

All fixtures and schedules are subject to change. 

Broadcast times are provided in CAT (Central African Time) 

How to tune in to ESPN:

ESPN: DStv 218, StarTimes 248 

ESPN2: DStv 219, StarTimes 249

Nickelodeon Could Be Up For Sale As Paramount And Warner Bros. Discovery Await Approval From European Regulators

Paramount is looking to finalize it's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery before the end of 2026. This deal doesn't face as much regulatory scrutiny as Warner Bros. Discovery's failed acquisition attempt by Netflix which would have concluded by mid 2027.

Both companies are expected to get early approval from the European Union in regards to this merger as Paramount's acquisition is seen as pro-competitive with the market share below 20%.

In a statement, it was revealed that Paramount was open to selling some of its channels as it's understood that there's an overlap between these two companies. Paramount owns Nickelodeon while Warner Bros. Discovery operates Cartoon Network.

In a scenario like this, Nickelodeon will most definitely take the fall alongside Nick Jr. and Nicktoons as Paramount would own Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. A licensing agreement will likely be placed to ensure a smooth transition.

Even though Nickelodeon's operations in Europe and Africa wouldn't be managed by Paramount as they own Warner Bros. Discovery. It should be noted that the company still owns the trademark and also the content to go along with it.

The buyer in question would own the linear operations and get all the revenue. They would be in contract with Paramount for shows like SpongeBob Squarepants and Wylde Pak while investing in their own content for the brand in these regions.

June 2026 On TNT Across Africa | Channel Premiere: The Matrix: Resurrections | Frightfully Young Stunt With Something In The Water | More

Channel premieres in bold

Frightfully Young

Stunt

TNT celebrates bold, fearless youth energy with a horror marathon where high-stakes create unmissable, edge-of-your-seat moments.

Tuesday, 16 June

17:00 Vicious Fun (2020)

18:40 Eight Legged Freaks (2002) TBC

20:30 Something in the Water (2024)

22:05 Final Destination (2000)

23:45 Spree (2020)

Under Fire, Under Pressure

Stunt

This June on TNT, Saturdays mean double the danger. Two back-to-back action hits where tension is nonstop, stakes are sky-high, and every fight pushes heroes to the edge.

Saturday, 6 June

20:00 Passenger 57 (1992) TBC

21:30 Escape from New York (1981)

Saturday, 13 June

20:00 Romeo Must Die (2000) TBC

22:00 The Survivalist (2021)

Saturday, 20 June

20:00 Training Day (2001) TBC

22:05 Ambulance (2022)

Saturday, 27 June

20:00 Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)

21:55 Deadlock (2021)

Protectors

Stunt

Anchored in the Father’s Day spirit, TNT delivers a powerful action event saluting protector figures fathers, leaders and unlikely heroes—in a thrilling, feel-good celebration.

Sunday, 21 June

13:55 Apocalypto (2006)

16:10 Skyscraper (2018)

17:55 U-571 (2000)

20:00 Hostage (2005)

21:55 We Were Soldiers (2002)

TNT Hit

Stunt

When Keanu Reeves steps back in, reality shifts. TNT Hits delivers a bold, mind-bending channel premiere on 5 June.

Friday, 5 June

20:30 The Matrix: Resurrections (2021) TBC

StudioCanal Acquires Minority Stake In Babylone Studio

Morgan Lewis advised STUDIOCANAL on its minority investment in Babylone Studio, a production group founded by Sébastien Borivent and Emmanuel Daucé, two renowned French fiction producers known for series including Paris Police 1910, Un Village Français, and L’Affaire Laura Stern.

Based between Paris and Abidjan, Babylone Studio aims to develop international content centered on contemporary, sophisticated stories deeply rooted in the diversity of the regions where it operates. The investment forms part of STUDIOCANAL’s international development strategy and marks a new step in its engagement with African creative ecosystems.

Babylone Studio will hold a majority stake in On Est Ensemble Productions, an Abidjan-based company led by Samantha Biffot and Pierre Ceccaldi, which has established itself as a leading player in audiovisual production in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 300 hours of programming produced each year, notably for CANAL+ Afrique. Babylone Studio is also supporting the launch of Hisia Films, a new French production company led by producer Sabine Barthélémy, in which Babylone Studio will hold a minority stake.

The Morgan Lewis team consisted of partner Sébastien Pontillo and associates Thomas Maincent and Romain Nowak.

June 2026 On Universal TV And Bravo Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent | Continuing Shows: Below Deck Mediterranean | More

Universal TV

LAW & ORDER TORONTO: CRIMINAL INTENT

Season 1 - Channel Premiere

Premieres Tuesday 9th June @8pm

Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent brings the iconic franchise north, following Toronto’s Specialised Criminal Investigations Unit as they unravel high profile murders.

Continuing shows include NCIS: SYDNEY Season 3 -  Mondays at 8pm, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL

VICTIMS UNIT Season 27 - Wednesdays at 8pm and THE EQUALIZER Season 5 - Fridays at 8pm.

Bravo

Kandi & The Gang

Premieres Saturday 27th June at 19:00 (Saturdays at 19:00)

Kandi & The Gang pulls back the curtain on the high pressure, highdrama world of Atlanta’s Old Lady Gang restaurant as Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker juggle family dynamics, demanding staff, and the realities of running a successful hospitality business. A spirited spin-off of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the series blends workplace chaos with personal ambition, offering a uniquely authentic look at Blackowned entrepreneurship where business, family, and friendships collide.

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

MTV Staying Alive Foundation Rebrands As Shuga Global Following Paramount Split

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation has rebranded as Shuga Global, marking the end of its 27-year association with Paramount and signalling a broader expansion of its partnerships and content strategy.

According to the organisation, the rebrand follows the conclusion of its partnership with Paramount at the end of March 2026. Shuga Global said the transition was made through a mutual agreement based on a shared vision for the organisation’s future direction.

As part of the relaunch, Shuga Global introduced its first project under the new identity, the Mashariki Offscript Podcast. The podcast is hosted by Makena Kahuha and media personality Muchina Maloba. Episodes are available on Spotify, YouTube and other digital platforms.

“Rebranding as Shuga Global signals an exciting new era for our organisation as we continue to evolve,” Shuga Global executive director Wame Jallow said. “Building on the legacy of our ground-breaking Shuga series, our immersive storytelling and engagement with young people is needed now more than ever.

“Young people increasingly face complex interconnected issues, and we will continue to innovate and look forward to working with new partners and supporters to grow our impact on young people’s lives and their communities.”

Shuga Global said its flagship MTV Shuga series has continued to expand its audience across Africa. The Kenyan edition, MTV Shuga Mashariki, returned in 2025 after an absence of more than a decade. The organisation said the first season recorded about 5.3 million views, while the second season, which premiered on Citizen TV in February 2026, has surpassed 8.3 million views on YouTube.

The organisation also announced the development of Shuga Mashariki Shorts, an anthology film series scheduled for release in June 2026.

Shuga Global, formerly known as the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, produces educational entertainment content focused on health and social issues affecting young people. Its MTV Shuga franchise is broadcast in 40 African countries.