Celebrate The Holidays With Disney Channels Festive Programming

As part of their biggest festive campaign to date, Disney is continuing to Spark Joy This Holiday, with a festive feast of programming for young and the young at heart this December and January, exclusively on Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303) and Disney Junior (DStv Channel 309).

 

Whether you're snuggling up for a holiday classic, enjoying brand-new episodes, or discovering exciting new shows, there's something for everyone. Gather your loved ones, relax, and let the holiday cheer come to life with a mix of heartwarming specials, exciting series, and plenty of holiday cheer.

 

Festive movies and specials galore on Disney Channel

 

Kick off the summer break with the stunning comedy adventures Frozen and Frozen 2 on Disney Channel. The films, telling of epic adventures and unforgettable characters like Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Sven, will premiere on Thursday 28 November at 17:50 CAT and Friday 29 November at 17:00 CAT, with a back-to-back marathon on Saturday, 30 November at 17:50 CAT

 

From 16 December, Disney Channel kicks off a movie marathon at 11:05 CAT, starting with ZOMBIES – a music- and dance-filled story set in the fictitious world of Seabrook, a cookie-cutter community brimming with perky conformity 50 years after a zombie apocalypse. Round off the full trilogy with ZOMBIES 2 on 17 December and ZOMBIES 3 on 18 December.

 

On 19 December, don’t miss Big City Greens: Spacecation, where the Green family’s cosmic vacation goes hilariously wrong when Cricket drags them on a space adventure. Then, on 20 December, join Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, and the gang in Lego Star Wars Holiday Special for a festive adventure full of laughs and holiday spirit on Life Day. Rey sets off on a new adventure with BB-8 to gain a deeper knowledge of the Force.

 

 

On 21 December at 10:15 CAT, Home Sweet Home Alone brings Max Mercer, the ultimate trickster, into action. Left home alone while his family is away, Max must outsmart burglars trying to steal a valuable heirloom.

 

The Naughty Nine airs on Christmas Eve, 24 December at 17:00 CAT, where Andy, feeling slighted after landing himself on Santa’s naughty list, teams up with a group of fellow “naughty listers” to execute an elaborate heist in Santa’s Village at the North Pole to get the presents they feel they deserve.

 

Miraculous World: London - At The Edge of Time brings Ladybug and Cat Noir fans an exciting new adventure on 27 December at 17:00 CAT. Marinette becomes Chronobug and teams up with Bunnyx to defeat a mysterious opponent who travels through time, to save the future from a terrible fate.

 

The gang’s all together this Holiday on Disney Junior

 

From 14-25 December, Disney Junior is spreading more holiday cheer with festive episodes of SuperKitties, Pupstruction, Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Ariel, Firebuds, and Alice's Wonderland Bakery - airing at 09:30 CAT.

 

Plus, get ready for fresh, new episodes of Firebuds and Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends! From 7-15 December, tune in for Firebuds weekends at 09:30 CAT, where the team faces a forest fire while attending a family summer camp. Then, from 9-23 December, Spidey and the gang transform into dinosaurs to chase down baddies, protect nature and defend their amazing new Dino-Web Tree House, with the help of Reptile and their special new Dino-Web Suits.

 

The new year kicks off with brand-new episodes of SuperKitties starting 1 January at 10:25 CAT. And then, be sure not to miss the cutest little shorts Me & Winnie the Pooh - based on A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories – that follow Winnie the Pooh and his friends as they play, paint, and explore the Hundred Acre Wood. Watch them in batches on 18 January at 11:15 CAT and again at 12:45 CAT.  

 

More to win!

 

Be sure to tune in to both Disney Channel and Disney Junior this festive season, not only for the holiday programming, but a chance to win too! Together with FNB, PEP and Lego, Disney are giving away 10 festive hampers worth R10 000 each until 14 December, and all you have to do is spot the tree on the channel, snap a picture and send it to 31120*. Follow the prompts to enter your picture into the lucky draw to win a hamper of including a Christmas tree with decorations, Lego® goodies, a PEP Voucher, as well as exclusive Moana, Mufasa and Encanto merchandise.

 

This holiday season, Disney Channel and Disney Junior invite families to relax, enjoy some quality time together, and create lasting memories with a festive lineup that’s full of fun and heart. So, gather around, share the joy, and let the magic of the season fill your home with laughter and love.

MultiChoice And SABC Settle Dispute With eMedia Investments Regarding Sports

As some have already read, eExtra alongside eMedia's other Openview channels such as eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz won't be exiting DStv anytime soon as MultiChoice and eMedia Investments have come to an agreement. Although, the finer details of this transaction have yet to be known by the media.

Another topic that was addressed within eMedia Investments annual results for 30 September 2024 was the matter of the Rugby World Cup. This was something eMedia Investments had been battling to get onto Openview after MultiChoice denied other platforms aside from that of SABC's DTT the right to view the content.

This led SABC to change transmission for these channels once these games come on through platforms outside SABC's DTT and DStv which is what prompted this battle. MultiChoice accused eMedia Investments of free riding and wanting to broadcast the content without paying a cent.

eMedia Investments had pitched a sum in which MultiChoice deemed too low and from what other sources mention SABC's bid was a lot higher. It took local legislation to pressure these broadcasters into reaching an agreement which saw these games getting reduced even further.

When MultiChoice blocked other platforms from getting rugby it was so that SABC could pay less and get the bulk of content associated with a free-to-air broadcaster. Then after eMedia Investments came into the picture it has been theorised that MultiChoice had to reduce the amount of games given to the SABC.

Now all three parties have settled the matter of course it's not really known how they managed to settle the matter but it isn't something that they can keep secretive forever. MultiChoice has been in such disputes with both parties several times and this isn't something you'd expect to go away that easily.

eMedia Investments And MultiChoice Silently Settle Dispute Over e.TV's 4 Channels On DStv

As some readers may have remembered from the last time we had posted eMedia Investments' 4 TV channels namely eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz were all slated to be removed from DStv by August 2024. Several months had already passed and these channels continue to distributed on DStv.

MultiChoice made the decision by March 2022 that they didn't want to include these channels on any of their platforms which led to the discontinuation of e.tv's African feed eAfrica. At the time, eMedia Investments had stated that they're changing their distribution strategy for these consumers while in South Africa they took the matter to court.

According to MultiChoice, eMedia Investments 4 TV channels had a lot of duplicate content and also the matter of transponder constraints led to the decision to terminate these services. The free-to-air broadcaster stated otherwise as they showed 2 out of the 4 channels had local content and that MultiChoice had plenty of space for more channels.

To top it off, MultiChoice forged ahead and allocated several placeholders on each DStv package: Movie Room (Access), DreamWorks (Compact), PBS KIDS (discontinued, Easyview) and KIX (Access). They even ramped up a rival offering to eExtra's Kuiertyd with the addition of Turkish dramas on KykNet & Kie.

In the financial year results ending 30 September of this year, eMedia Investments had confirmed that they've reached a settlement with MultiChoice after two and a half years. This means eExtra, eToonz, eMovies and eMovies Extra will remain on DStv but what's odd about this is the lack of engagement by both parties.

eMedia Investments didn't want these channels removed now they're getting what they asked for but still you'd think they'd be a celebratory mood. But questions amount to what prompted MultiChoice to suddenly join hands as eMedia Investments mentioned paying significant costs in legal fees.

In a couple of days, MultiChoice will be reinstating WildEarth to their platforms which served as one of the 12 TV channels to exit the company's platforms in the year. If one had to guess maybe the transaction to have Sanlam acquire majority stake in NMIS Insurance Services helped them build up their capital.

Another could as well be the onslaught of TV channels to have exited their platforms during the year with One Freestate Televisual, NWTV and People's Planet being based in South Africa. Maybe eMedia's 4 channels are being used as leverage for the fallen either that or the drastic takeover by Canal+ which is awaiting approval.

eToonz Acquires Broadcasting Rights To 3rd Korean Series Within The Month, Magic Adventures: The Crystal Of Dark

eToonz is a South African based children's channel operated by eMedia Investments that distributes a mixture of animated and to live-action content. The channel is also looking to bolster it's Asian lineup with Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark which joins other series such as Beyblade X and soon ChiChi PingPing and Pororo The Little Penguin.

The series are slated to air on the channel from Monday 2nd December at 13:15 while ChiChi PingPing airs at 06:00 with Pororo The Little Penguin at 14:00.

Synopsis on Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark

The main character of the story is Olivia. She is from a fantasy world called Magic Land. Her hometown is under threat by an evil wizard Dark. Olivia is sent to Earth to collect magic crystals. The crystals can save Magic Land from Dark. While on earth, Olivia makes two new friends, Jack and his sister Bella. Together they go on a magic adventure both on earth and in magic land to save Olivia's hometown from destruction.

Magic Adventures: The Crystal of Dark serves as a coproduction between Hongdangmoo (Korea) and Cartoon Tendering. It was the most screened series at the MIPJunior event in 2017 alongside 44 Cats which had also been picked up for eToonz and Nickelodeon in Africa.

WildEarth Relaunches On MultiChoice's DStv From Sunday, 1st December

WildEarth, often referred to as the biggest safari vehicle in the world brings viewers closer to nature on an African safari like no other. Following constructive discussions since the channel left the DStv platform earlier this year, WildEarth will resume broadcasting on 1 December 2024 on DStv channel 183.

Andre Crawford-Brunt, chair of WildEarth, acknowledges, "We are thrilled to be back on DStv. Our transition from MultiChoice was deeply emotional for everyone involved, reflecting the genuine passion and dedication we all feel toward bringing wildlife into people’s homes. In the heat of this change, there were moments when things were said that, in hindsight, would have been better handled privately. In this regard I express regret and thank MultiChoice for the willingness to re-engage and find a way forward. Our shared vision for connecting people with nature remains, and we look forward to exploring new ways to bring this vision to life.”

Calvo Mawela, CEO of MultiChoice Group, stated, "We’re pleased to have WildEarth back. Local, African-centred content has always been a focus of MultiChoice, and the unique programming on WildEarth is one of the ways we’re fulfilling our priority of delivering the best and most inspiring local entertainment to our customers.”

Just in time for the December holidays, the channel’s return is a win for DStv subscribers – especially nature lovers and their families, who can go on a never-ending safari, exploring the beauty and mercilessness of the African wilderness, without leaving their home. For new and longtime DStv customers alike, this channel offers an authentic, unscripted experience where nature never disappoints. It’s the world’s best unscripted drama – not a documentary, but a true “what you see is what you get” journey into the wild.

WildEarth will be available on DStv Channel 183 from 01 December 2024 on all DStv packages.

MultiChoice Heading To Court Over Controversial SABC Deal

 MultiChoice is currently appealing a ruling from South Africa’s Competition Commission, which stated that its 2013 agreement with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) constituted an unreported merger. The deal, which centered around the distribution of television content between the two companies, has sparked controversy due to its involvement in the ongoing digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration and its clauses that allegedly influenced SABC’s stance on encryption.

The Competition Commission found that the agreement, particularly its encryption clause, effectively restricted competition by protecting MultiChoice’s dominant position in the pay-TV market. The SABC had previously alternated its position on encryption, but in the agreement, it committed to not encrypt its free-to-air channels on the DTT platform, thus preventing new competitors from entering the market. This influence over the SABC’s policy constituted a merger, according to the Competition Act, which requires such mergers to be notified and approved by the competition authorities before implementation.

MultiChoice insists that the 2013 agreement was a typical business arrangement and that it should not be categorised as a merger. They argue that no anti-competitive intent was involved, and that the deal was in line with standard content-sharing practices. However, the Competition Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal treat the agreement as a merger and seek regulatory approval, further proposing potential proceedings against both MultiChoice and the SABC for failing to adhere to the notification requirements.

The ongoing appeal highlights tensions between corporate interests and regulatory oversight in the South African broadcasting sector. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of digital migration, competition laws, and the relationship between public broadcasters and private media giants.

This case has been under scrutiny for several years, with earlier efforts to challenge the deal dismissed due to insufficient evidence. However, new investigations have provided fresh insights that suggest the agreement warranted closer examination under competition law. As the case develops, it will continue to be a focal point for both industry watchers and regulators.

Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday (SNES)

Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday is a side-scrolling platform game. The main character, Porky Pig, can move left and right, jump, swing on chains, climb, enter doorways and ride bubbles underwater. Standing on some platforms causes a vampire-costumed Daffy Duck to appear, scaring Porky and propelling him up into the air to reach high places. Enemies in a level can be defeated either by jumping on them or hitting them with fruit after collecting a fruit bowl power-up.

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