April 2024 On History Channel Across Africa | New Series Alert: Secrets In The Sand | Returning Shows Including Forged In Fire | More

Brand New 

SECRETS IN THE SAND

2 April 

Tuesdays 19h25 

Deserts are often an afterthought when it comes to climate change, but as global temperatures increase, they are among the most vulnerable places on the planet. Violent sandstorms and erosion are increasingly reshaping the arid regions of the earth and as they do, astounding discoveries are being exposed. From lost ancient cities to mysterious geological formations, Secrets in the Sand examines extraordinary curiosities that were once concealed in the deserts of the planet, only to finally be revealed. Wednesday: 11h45

VIKING DEAD

14 April 

Sundays 20h15

Welcome to a world of secret graves, mysterious death ships, newly discovered skeletons, missing fortresses, and lost Long Ships. In this brand-new series, leading archaeologist Tim Sutherland travels to Scandinavia, Estonia, Britain and beyond to get new insights into the world of the Vikings. What can analysis of unearthed Viking skeletons reveal? What can we discover about the Viking way of life and death? What can we learn from recently discovered weapons, artefacts, and long-buried Long Ships? With the help of specially filmed reconstructions and new graphic illustrations, Tim’s travels see him meet a host of experts and historians, who guide him through the latest findings and theories and explain just how the Viking world continues to give up its secrets.

Repeat: Saturday 21h05

Brand New & Exclusive 

FORGED IN FIRE S10

22 April Mondays 20h15 

Forged in Fire is ‘On the Road’ in season 10, crisscrossing America looking for the best blade smiths in the country. The show heads to world-renowned blacksmith shops and blade smithing schools across the US from North Carolina to Texas and Montana. The contestants are slowly whit led down for the chance to compete against other smiths from across America, to determine who will win the ultimate grand prize. Which smith will come out on top, becoming the first ever ‘Forged in Fire: On the Road’ champion, winning $20,000 for themselves and $10,000 in forging equipment for their shop? Repeats: Tuesday 12h35

Brand New

ALIEN ABDUCTIONS: ANSWERS

27 April 

Saturday 19h25 

This documentary film explores the phenomenon of alien abduct on. Alien Abductions: Answers features Whitley Streiber, abductee and bestselling author, along with other compelling stories of recent documented alien abduct ons and worldwide government cover-ups. Using new techniques of quantum hypno-therapy, the 2-hour special uncovers riveting answers and conclusions. Repeats: Sunday 18h35

Brand New & Exclusive 

ROYAL AUTOPSY S2

28 April 

Sundays 21h05 

The series that brought royalty to the autopsy table is back to invest gate more tales of dead monarchs. Combining modern forensic analysis, pathology experts, CSI techniques, historical investigation and dramatic reconstruction, we’ll re-examine the deaths of these rulers, separating the gruesome facts from wild fiction and retelling history in a gripping, shocking and enthralling way. Through the royal bodies we bring to the autopsy table, we will reveal not only how the sovereigns died, but also the world and the country in which they lived.

Repeats: Saturday 21h55

Ratings Flop: Afrikaans News Loses Over 70% Of Its Viewers Following Its Move To SABC 3

Not long ago, it was reported that the public broadcaster had lost over 2 million viewers with Skeem Saam and Deal Or No Deal SA. Following the schedule changes across their 3 most viewed channels, the public broadcaster is now looking at the after effects.

Nuus becomes the latest victim in this massacre after debuting with 450,000 viewers in February is currently sitting with around 160,000 viewers. This due to strong competition coming from eExtra's Kuiertyd and KykNET with the other being the late timeslot.

With its dismal figures one has to wonder if Nuus will stick around for the foreseeable future or suffer the same fate as FOKUS and 7de Laan. Again, lots of speculation going around that the SABC had canned Afrikaans with the lack of new content.

Although, they've denied it time and time again it only comes to the amount of airtime this offering gets for which SABC 3 lacks. The only change on SABC 3 would be the addition of Nuus with everything else being normal viewing as if consumers got a peace prize. 

With the lack of Afrikaans content also seen on SABC 2, this might have some after effects for Vetkoekpaleis. It's currently sitting with 400,000 viewers after debuting in January with 500,000 viewers meaning at least half of 7de Laan viewers watch the repeat.

Recap To Last Month: SABC 3 Reaches 2 Million Households Becoming The Second Most Watched Channel By The Public Broadcaster By February 2024 Behind SABC 1

SABC 3 is a free-to-air channel operated by the public broadcaster catering to audiences with content in English and Afrikaans. It was also the least watched channel behind SABC 1 and SABC 2 this was before TAMS ratings from the last month had been revealed.

Thanks to AFCON, SABC 3 has managed to lure 2 million households after a decade on air surpassing SABC 2 where their most watched title Muvhango only lured just half of AFCON's figure.

Amidst reports of ratings decline for Deal Or No Deal SA and Skeem Saam, this is something should have been branding a "historical figure" from last month which it didn't. SABC 3 was only able to obtain 1.5 million viewers by 2014 versus 600,000 by 2024.

This goes to show the lack of attention the public broadcaster has for their brands. As seen below are the ratings figures and if you look carefully AFCON has more viewers on SABC 3 than any of the sports viewed on their most watched channel, SABC 1.

SABC 3 is operating on a loss and this figure would have helped lure in revenue. As to whether, the public broadcaster has caught on to this "historical figure" it has yet to be seen as this type of figures would have helped build the viewership for their other titles.

Adult Swim Games Titles Are Being Pulled From Stores By Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Discovery has begun the process of delisting video games from digital stores that have been published under the Adult Swim Games label, as reported by Game Developer. Adult Swim Games has been inactive for a few years now, but the publisher’s games are still available on platforms like Steam and the PS Store under the label.

However, solo developer Fire Face Corporation, who made the puzzle game Small Radios Big Televisions published by Adult Swim Games, has now been informed that the publisher’s owner, Warner Bros. Discovery, would be “retiring” the game and it would be delisted in 60 days. Fire Face reacted by making the game available for free on their own website.

Speaking to Games Developer, Owen Deery – the man behind Fire Face – called the decision by WBD “depressing,” but said he “can see why they did it.” As reported by the site, which saw the notice sent to Deery, WBD explained the delisting with “internal business changes” without going into much detail.

Since then, another indie developer who had worked with Adult Swim Games in the past got the same notice about their title, Fist Puncher. Matt Kain Lewandowski, one half of the brother duo making up Team2Bit, wrote in a forum post that WBD declined to transfer ownership of the title’s Steam page to their own publisher account so the game could stay visible on the store.

“This is incredibly disappointing,” he stated. “It seems like more and more the videogame industry is filled with people that don't like and don't care about videogames. All that to say, buy physical games, make back-ups, help preserve our awesome industry and art form.”

It seems likely that other Adult Swim Games-published titles will suffer the same fate, although no additional developers have come forward with similar announcements yet.

Warner Bros. Discovery published the best-selling game of 2023 with Hogwarts Legacy as well as one of 2024’s biggest flops so far in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. This setback had one executive describe the video game industry as “volatile” and call for a strategy change.

Ratings Flop: Deal Or No Deal Loses 1.5 Million Viewers Following Move To SABC 2

During the week, it was reported that Skeem Saam had lost 1.3 million viewers following its move from 18:30 to 19:30 on SABC 1. The public broadcaster regards it as "a massive historical ratings figure" after its viewership went from 4.3 million to 3.2 million.

This comes after repeats of Vetkoekpaleis caused SABC 2 to lose 300,000 viewers following the cancellation of 7de Laan. With eMedia Investments ramping up a rival offering with 90 Minutes Of Afrikaans that has lured almost 2 million viewers. 

According to sources, the newly relaunched game show Deal Or No Deal SA had lost 1.5 million viewers following its move to SABC 2. After pulling close to 2 million viewers on SABC 1 last month had dropped to just 400,000 viewers in March.

The SABC was warned prior to the move of Afrikaans programs from SABC 2 to SABC 3. That further changes to the lineup would lead to a decline in consumption for their channels as sources await details of the ratings of Nuus on SABC 3.

With the decline in consumption, it is evident here that consumers were accustomed to the previous setup of these programs. If the public broadcaster were hoping for that "historical figure" they could tried marketing these changes in between shows.

Could Paramount Plus Have Halted Production Of Original Kids Programming As Further Content Move To Nickelodeon Channels?

During the year, it was reported that Danger Force would end with a season 3 on Nickelodeon leaving only two live-action shows on the network. On top of that, several content from Paramount+ such as Rugrats and Big Nate have new episodes on Nicktoons.

Nicktoons serves as a secondary network filtered on reruns meaning less consumption. In a turn of events, Paramount Global had opted to divert these shows away from Nickelodeon where the latter would get more exposure and burn it off to Nicktoons.

This comes prior to the time when Monsters At Work being a Disney+ exclusive following its rollout in 2021 moved to Disney Channel for a second season. Unlike Disney Channel, this could be worrisome as most shows to have entered Nicktoons are usually axed.

On top of a possible sale, Paramount Global has undergone a restructure laying off 800 employees as part of streamlining attempts. The idea of original kids programming from Paramount+ being purged in this possible shake-up wouldn't seem far fetched. 

Paramount+ hasn't been profitable in the United States due to high level of competition from Netflix and Disney+. It had led them to change their distribution strategy internationally with most markets in Europe and Africa opting on a third party for the content. 

Netflix has been building up Nickelodeon's content slate with the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender based on the animated series of the same name. They even acquired exclusive rights to The Fairly OddParents: Make A Wish and The Casagrandes Movie.

With the lack of new kids content coming as Paramount+ exclusive it wouldn't seem far fetched if Paramount Global had opted to move this to Netflix while other content is accessible on linear platforms.

Recap To The Week: Akira Toriyama Creator Of DragonBall Z Alongside The Backyardigans Creator Janice Burgess Has Passed Away

DragonBall creator has died 

When it comes to the world of anime and Japanese pop culture, many will know and love the Dragon Ball franchise. The manga, which was first created by Toriyama in September 1985, won over the hearts of fans instantly. 

However, news has hit the Dragon Ball community as well as the manga and anime industries at large on March 7, 2024. Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama is confirmed to have died at age 68.

Statement from the official DBZ account:

“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma. It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve.”

Backyardians creator had died

Janice Burgess, a longtime executive of the Nickelodeon channel who sought to promote children’s curiosity and sense of play for decades, overseeing popular television shows like “Blue’s Clues” and “Little Bill” and creating her own musical children’s show, “The Backyardigans,” died on Saturday in hospice care in Manhattan. She was 72.

Brown Johnson, a longtime friend and the creator of Nick Jr., the Nickelodeon channel for younger viewers, said the cause was breast cancer.

Could TNT Sports Replace TruTV In The United States?

During the week, it was reported that TNT Sports would be expanding to the United States. This comes a few months after Warner Bros. Discovery had launched it in the UK in place of BT Sport offering a variety of sports ranging from MMA, Bundesliga and UEFA.

Unlike the UK, TNT Sports would be rolling out in the United States as a dedicated nightly block on TruTV. Aside from live events, Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to get more sports themed content with a range of films and documentaries. 

Confirmed titles for the block include a betting show known as The Line, an interactive show known as The Bill and an NBA themed show known as The Inside Story.

News of the blocks arrival traces back to 2022 where Warner Bros. Discovery was looking to increase their investment toward the sector. After halting original productions for TNT and TBS, a turnaround plan was purposed with one of the two emphasizing sports.

With the standalone TNT channel remaining intact for the time being. Consumers are led to believe that Warner Bros. Discovery could be looking to replace TruTV with TNT Sports as it was reported that one of their flagship shows Impractical Jokers would move to TBS.

TruTV has been going through identity crisis for several years after converting to a court based brand would divulge into crime and variety. Since its inception, the brand has garnered traction for Hardcore Pawn, Carbonaro Effect, Top Funniest and Impractical Jokers.