Entertainment Inside Us (Insidus)

Friday, January 29, 2021

USA: The WWE Network Finds A New Home

According to the Wall Street Journal, WWE’s deal to have Peacock on the Network is a big one financially as well as in terms of impact. The outlet reports that a person familiar with the deal is a five-year one and is valued at over $1 billion.

The report confirms that the WWE Network will officially shut down as an independent streaming service, and Peacock will license WWE’s programming, including WrestleMania and PPVs. Peacock has a current estimated subscriber base of 26 million. By comparison, WWE reported in Q3 of 2020 that the Network averaged 1.6 million monthly paid subscribers.

ORIGINAL: In a major deal, WWE has signed a multi-year agreement that brings the service to the Peacock streaming service in the US. Peacock and WWE announced on Monday that they have signed an agreement that gives the NBCUniversal service exclusive streaming rights in the United States.

The Network will launch on Peacock on March 18th.

The news comes just days after it was reported that NBC was shuttering the NBC Sports Network by the end of 2021 and moving live sports telecasts to USA Network and, to a lesser extent, Peacock. It was speculated at the time whether WWE would be affected by live sports broadcasts moving to USA Network. While nothing about that is mentioned in the announcement, the deal to break the Network to Peacock could potentially give WWE and NBCUniversal several options in terms of how to deal with the crunch of available timeslots.

As far as international markets are concerned this move won't have any affect on them as Peacock is exclusive to the United States. Even if Peacock were to be accessible "legally" outside of the United States chances are you'll get a watered down version of the platform.

NBCSN Shutting Down By The End Of 2021 And How It Affects SuperSport, WWE Channel And Perhaps ESPN

A memo sent to NBC Sports staff was leaked today (Fri, Jan. 22) confirming the company is shutting down operations of cable network NBCSN at the end of the 2021 calendar year. With this, NBC Sports coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and select NASCAR races will be carried and/or simulcasted by the USA Network during the 2020 season.

The company’s plan on shutting down NBCSN at the conclusion of 2021 is to shift sports focus to NBC’s new streaming service, Peacock, for 2022 and beyond. Elements of NBCSN’s current programming will shift to USA Network or Peacock, if sports renew contracts past the 2021 season.

The news has been rumored for a month now and hasn’t officially been announced yet, but as mentioned before, the leaked memo was sent by NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua to his staff.

NBC Sports was also home to some matches seen on SuperSport and ESPN such as the Premier League and NFL's Sunday Night Football. The USA Network handles majority of WWE (excluding SmackDown and reality shows).

These changes do affect SuperSport, WWE Channel and ESPN but it's not something to stress over as no one will be losing out on anything.

As stated earlier some of NBC Sports' content (Premier League and NFL's Sunday Night Football) will move to USA Network (home of WWE) so all they'll be doing is adjusting the timeslots perhaps even changing the day some of those programs come on.

This change comes in after NBC cancelled E! News and Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Friday, January 22, 2021

SABC 2 Reduces Muvhango And 7de Laan To 3 Days A Week

The channel has revealed plans to add to more local content to bolster their line-up…but it means trimming both 7de Laan and Muvhango to three days a week.

From 5 April 2021, 7de Laan will air Monday to Wednesday at 18:00, with its Thursday and Friday timeslot taken up by new telenovela Die Sentrum.

From August, Muvhango will air Monday to Wednesday at 21:00, with its Thursday and Friday timeslot filled by season 2 of drama series Giyani.

Merlin Naicker (Group Executive: Television) says that “the acquisition of this new local production is part of our long-term plan to invest in quality local content. Serving a diverse South African audience, it is imperative that we come with innovative and exciting content, which will not only draw the viewership, but bring in the revenue required to keep the public service broadcaster financially sustainable”.

February 2021 On Disney Junior Africa | New & Returning Seasons | Specials

PUPPY DOG PALS

Season premiere episodes
Those playful pups Bingo and Rolly bounce back onto Disney Junior this month, as season three of their adventures launches with premiere episodes of Puppy Dog Pals on weekdays from Monday 8th to Friday 19th February at 12:00.

Bingo and Rolly embark on daring and fun-filled missions at the brand new Puppy Playcare, a daycare for dogs and all kinds of pets. With their neighbour Keia, and new pal Lollie, the pups explore new places, make even more friends and prove they will do anything, be it silly or brave to help their humans... and each other!

In the first premiere episode, Welcome to Puppy Playcare (Monday 8th February at 12:00), when Bob's finishing touch for Puppy Playcare breaks, Bingo and Rolly make it their mission to find a replacement before Playcare opens!

Premiere episodes of season three of Puppy Dog Pals air on weekdays from Monday 8th to Friday 19th February at 12:00, on Disney Junior.

BLUEY

Season premiere episodes
Adorable Blue Heeler puppy Bluey also returns to Disney Junior this month, for a second season of canine capers. Premiere episodes air on weekdays from Monday 22nd February at 07:30.

Bluey is back with her sister, Bingo, turning everyday life into endless fun! When Bluey is invited to a birthday party, Bingo uses her featherwand to make getting out of the house difficult. And on Dad's day to drop the girls off at school, you can bet the Blue Heeler pups won't make it easy for him. With her boundless imagination and her sister at her side, Bluey continues to call the shots when it comes to playtime - and pretty much everything else!

In the first of this month’s episodes, Hammerbarn (Monday 22nd February at 07:30) Chilli and Bandit are keen to get a new pizza oven like their neighbours’ so they all go on a trip to Hammerbarn.
Premiere episodes of Bluey season two air on weekdays from Monday 22nd February at 07:30, on Disney Junior.

FANCY NANCY CLANCY

Premiere episodes
Fancy Nancy Clancy flounces back on to Disney Junior this month, with premiere episodes featuring her exploits as she continues to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. All it takes is a fantastique attitude to transform the plain into the exquisite! Premiere episodes of Fancy Nancy Clancy air on weekdays from 22nd February at 09:00.

In this month’s first premiere episode, Nancy Takes the Case (Monday 22nd February at 10:00) Nancy must solve a crime where the suspects are all her best friends!

Premiere episodes of Fancy Nancy Clancy air on weekdays from 22nd February at 10:00.

MICKEY MOUSE MIXED-UP ADVENTURES
Premiere episodes
Mickey Mouse and his mates are back this month, as further premiere episodes of Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures air at weekends from Saturday 27th February at 09:00.

Get mixed-up with Mickey and his pals in his new house in Hot Dog Hills! Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto and Chip 'n Dale have surprises in store. In the episode entitled Mickey’s Roommate (Saturday 27th February at 09:00) when Pete needs a place to crash, Mickey lets him stay with him. But Pete is the worst roommate ever!

Premiere episodes of Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures air at weekends from Saturday 27th February at 09:00, on Disney Junior.

Disney Junior is available on DStv

February 2021 On Disney Channel Africa | Amphibia S2 | DCOM

AMPHIBIA SEASON 2
Entertaining animated series Amphibia returns to Disney Channel this month, as season two premieres on weekdays from Monday 1st February at 15:15.

Amphibia chronicles the comedic adventures of 13-year-old Anne Boonchuy, who is magically transported to the world of Amphibia, a wild marshland full of talking frog-people called Plantars. In this second season Anne and the Plantars decide to leave the cosy confines of Wartwood for the distant city of Newtopia, to unlock the mysteries of the music box. On the way they’ll visit exotic new locations, uncover hidden secrets, and experience unexpected reunions as they continue to search for a way to get Anne home. In this month’s first premiere episodes, Handy Anne/Fort in the Road (Monday 1st February at 15:15) the Plantars are ready to hit the road when Anne decides to secure the farm. On the road Sprig longs for adventure but Hop Pop’s road rules threaten to spoil his fun.

Premiere episodes of Amphibia season two air from Monday 1st February at 15:15.

DISNEY CHANNEL FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES

Disney Channel’s Friday treat for film fans continues throughout February with some great entertainment to celebrate the start of each weekend. There’s a marvellous movie every Friday at 17:00, repeated on Saturday at 10:40.

The fun starts with Princess Protection Program on Friday 5th February, followed by Camp Rock (Friday 12th February), Let It Shine (Friday 19th February), and Zapped (Friday 26th February), all at 17:00.

In Princess Protection Program on (Friday 5th February at 17:00) Carter is a small-town girl and couldn't be more different from Rosalinda, a South American princess from the country of Costa Luna. The girls are thrown together after Carter's father, an agent in the covert Princess Protection Program, rescues Rosalinda from a military takeover. It's now up to the two to devise a plan to take down Costa Luna's dictator and return Rosalinda to her rule.

Viewers can see these great Disney movies on Fridays throughout February 2021 at 17:00, repeated on the following Saturday at 10:40, on Disney Channel.

Disney Channel is available on DStv

TNT Africa Muscles Up With Exciting Channel Refresh For 2021

As of 1 February, TNT Africa, home of the best contemporary and Hollywood blockbusters, will be revealing its 2021 channel refresh packed with an exciting slate of tailor-made shows and content that will keep African audiences glued to their screens. With this move, the channel aims to emphasise its commitment to delivering relevant and exciting programming to African fans!

As part of the refresh, TNT Africa will debut AEW DYNAMITE, the weekly flagship show from All Elite Wresting, the new professional wrestling league that is taking the world by storm. The launch kicks off on Friday, 5 February, at 13h20 (CAT) with the first five episodes of the new season. Then, every Friday night, during prime time at 20h00 (CAT), the channel will premiere the recent high-octane matches, two days after the US premiere, and after that repeated twice throughout the week. AEW offers an alternative to mainstream wrestling with a roster of world-class talent offering TNT Africa viewers a spectacular weekly wrestling programme jam-packed with action and the unexpected.

TNT Africa’s exciting content line up and brand-new, refreshed look are a perfect fit for the channel’s move towards being more powerful and modern. This is aligned with the global look of the channel - that people from all over the globe can recognise.

TNT Africa will continue to launch their exclusive, brand-new, TNT Original Movies on the channel on the first Thursday of every month. These include a wide range of mainstream entertainment genres, featuring renowned, and rising international stars! The month of February will kick off with, Straight Up, a romantic movie from writer, director and star James Sweeney.

As part of the fresh, entertainment-filled offering, TNT has an exciting line-up of the very best action-driven, pulse-raising slate, mixed with romantic gems and hilarious comedies including titles like Splash and the Best Man Holiday to experience the accidental side of love on Valentine’s Day; great channel premiers such as Crank High Voltage and Point Break in February’s Adrenaline Rush stunt; Malcolm X and Just Cause will help us fight for our rights on Human Rights Day; and in April you can celebrate the Oscars with Academy Award-winning titles such as E.T and Gladiator.

“TNT is excited to usher in a new era in entertainment that is attuned to our audience needs and appetite. Despite how far we’ve come, we remain steadfastly dedicated to giving our African audience premium content, and the launch of AEW DYNAMITE and the channel refresh bear testament of this,” says Guillermo Farré, Head of the WarnerMedia General Entertainment channels across France, Iberia and Africa.

Update: Catch repeats of weekly matches Sunday at 10am CAT and Wednesday at 3pm CAT

What To Expect On Media24's New Pan-African Lifestyle Channel For DStv (UPDATED)

In November 2020, MultiChoice unveiled a new lifestyle channel for DStv customers called Honey. The channel is owned by Media24 the brains behind the Afrikaans lifestyle channel, VIA.

Honey is set to launch February 12 for DStv Compact, Compact+ and Premium customers.

It looks like the channel with only start with 5 programs however there's more content in the pipeline from various companies including Zambia's Media 365 Productions, South Africa's Media Club Productions and Nigeria's Rucksack Productionz.

The following shows will be available on the channel at launch:

African Farming (South Africa)
Genre: Lifestyle
A show that highlights successful black farmers in South Africa, and educates new entrants to agriculture.

Hoot, Cook, Go (Nigeria)
Genre: Cooking
Three teams have an hour to prepare a meal that shows who they are, When they hear the hooter, it's time to go off the next setting. A ton of exploration of Africa's diverse food culture and relationships.

Love Swap Africa (Nigeria)
Genre: Romance
Two couples who don't know each other meet up: While making a healthy meal, they swap partners for an intimate view of each other's relationships. The kitchen gets hot - and we aren't talking about the oven.

Pastor's Wives
Genre: Reality
We meet the women who keep it together in well-known religious households. This reality show reveals all the opulence, difficulties and drama that you are wondering about.

Yes! Ndio! Beeni!: Kenya
Genre: Reality
A top team of event planners help a man propose to the love of his life.

Other programs which have yet to be confirmed, please note this is note the complete list:

MEDIA CLUB PRODUCTIONS
Untitled wedding show
The show will uncover the story behind the love story through the eyes of the couple as well as their family and friends.

MEDIA 365 PRODUCTIONS (ZAMBIA)
The Perfect Plate (title is subjected to change)
Mother and Daughter-In-Law have to prepare a meal for man of the household.

Ehe! It's A Match: Zambia

One person gets a chance to introduce their two single friends to each other. While the host plays chef and Cupid.

Matchmaking (title is subjected to change)
In this one, random people go on a blind date to find their perfect match.

Untitled home show
In this show, people will be giving your house or flat a makeover.

Untitled food program
Make a meal in 1 hour and also judge your contestants food.

Untitled wedding show
In this show, someone is trying to purpose marriage on someone else.

Husband Vs. Father (title is subjected to change)
Men put their cooking skills to use.

Email regarding content: honey@mediaclubproductions.co.za (South Africa), production@media365.co.zm (Zambia), info@rucksackproductionz.com (Nigeria), info@nusu-nusu.com (Kenya) and info@burntonion.co.za (South Africa)