Disney Jr., The Powerhouse Brand Behind Streaming’s Top Preschool Series, Unveils New Slate At ‘Disney Jr. Let’s Play!’ Event

After a record-breaking year, Disney Jr., which currently dominates preschool television with the top three shows on streaming for Kids 2-5 — Bluey, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse — unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news and premiere dates today. The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television, at the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” fan celebration.

Highlights included new series Cars: Lightning Racers, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Academy AwardⓇ-winning Cars films, with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their iconic roles; Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, the first-ever preschool Avengers series; and two new seasons of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, which debuted July 22 on Disney+ as the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date* and was also the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, per Nielsen.

Said Davis: “Disney Jr. is where preschool magic begins — and no one does it bigger or better. Our shows are often a child’s very first connection to the world of Disney, sparking the songs they sing, the characters they adore, and the adventures they want to live again and again.” She continued, “Today’s announcements build on that leadership, expanding the worlds kids already love and introducing new multiplatform stories that will capture the hearts of the next generation.”

NEW SERIES, SPECIALS AND SHORTS

CARS: LIGHTNING RACERS (New Series)

• Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation in association with Pixar

• Executive Producers: Travis Braun and Frank Montagna

• Story Editor: Dana Starfield

• Supervising Director: Nathan Chew

Building on Disney and Pixar’s beloved Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis (Elemental) and Yuri Lowenthal (Marvel Rivals video game) join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.

Evolving from the new Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends series (premiering Aug. 11 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+), Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends introduces kid versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Panther (T’Challa), Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Thor. Together, the young Avengers strive to be their best selves while facing off against classic Super Baddies.

MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND IRON MAN: AVENGERS TEAM UP! (New Specials)

• Two New 22-Minute Specials Debut: Special #1 premieres Oct. 16 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+; Special #2 premieres 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons

• Executive Producers: Bart Jennett, Chris Moreno and Harrison Wilcox

• Co-Producer: Becca Topol

The first special sees Iron Man and the Avengers joining Spidey to stop Ultron and Green Goblin from taking control of the city’s devices.

A second Halloween-themed special will premiere in 2026.

MICKEY & MINNIE’S HOLIDAY SONGS: HALLOWEEN (New Stop-Motion Shorts)

• Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.

• Director/Producer: David H. Brooks

• Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV

These sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Holiday spirit.

RETURNING SERIES

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE+ (New Season Orders — Seasons 2 and 3)

• Season 2 debuts 2027; Season 3 debuts 2028 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca

• Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kim Duran

A continuation of the beloved EmmyⓇ Award-winning original series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ welcomes the next generation of preschoolers and their families to the iconic Clubhouse for all-new, plussed-up adventures with Mickey, Minnie and their pals. The first 10 episodes of Season 1 are currently streaming on Disney+, with additional episodes set to debut this fall.

SUPERKITTIES (Season 3)

• Produced by Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Jr.

• Creator: Paula Rosenthal

• Executive Producers: Sarah Mullervy, Kirk Van Wormer and Audu Paden

SuperKitties — Top 10 most-watched streaming series for preschoolers — is an adorable and action-packed series about four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and “pawesome” place. Season 3 introduces the new “Su-Purr Wild” story arc in which the SuperKitties travel into the Kittydale Wild Jungle to adventure with their wildcat friend, Willa, and new jungle critters.

CASTING NEWS

SOFIA THE FIRST: ROYAL MAGIC

• New series set to debut 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

As previously announced, Ariel Winter (Modern Family) will return in the titular role as the voice of Sofia in this new series featuring the beloved Sofia the First, set to debut in 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+.

Announced today are additional returning cast members from the original series including Wayne Brady (Let’s Make A Deal) as Clover, Tim Gunn (Project Runway) as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) as Minimus, Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy) as Queen Miranda and Travis Willingham (The Legend of Vox Machina) as King Roland.

Sofia the First: Royal Magic follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.

HEY A.J.

• Debuts 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Surfing Giant Studios

• Executive Producers: Martellus Bennett, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Michael Hodges

Inspired by former Super Bowl champion and children’s book author Martellus Bennett, the upcoming new family comedy series Hey A.J.! is a whimsical and music-filled family comedy about an imaginative young girl who, along with her stuffed bunny sidekick, uses her big imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary.

As announced today, Amari McCoy (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends) will star as lead character A.J., Martellus Bennett will voice her father, Marty, and GRAMMYⓇAward-nominated Jhené Aiko voices her mom, Siggi. Rounding out the cast is Juliet Donenfeld (Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures) as A.J.’s best friend Jessie, Innocent Ekakitie (Bunk’d) as Jazz, and David Mitchell (Phineas and Ferb) as A.J.’s bunny sidekick Theo. Pop superstar and GRAMMY Award winner Meghan Trainor will recur as A.J.’ s best friend Jessie’s mom.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS 

DISNEY JR. ARIEL – THE LITTLE MERMAID (NEW SPECIAL)

• New 22-minute special debuts Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+

• Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr.

• Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland

The new 22-minute special Disney Jr. Ariel – The Little Mermaid: The Glow Crystals will debut Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+, and will air in rotation as part of Disney Jr.’s World Princess Week programming line-up (Aug. 24-30). It follows Ariel as she and her friends use their special gifts to rescue her family after a glitch in Ursula’s crystal ball sends her, Triton and Sebastian into a mystical cavern.

FIREBUDS (Season 3)

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

The series follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, living in the fantastical world of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis, where humans and their talking vehicle sidekicks work and play together. Season 3 introduces a new “Aquabuds” story arc and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in daring water rescues.

STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES — (Season 3)

• Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr.

• Executive Producers: Michael Olson, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes

The anticipated third season will debut this Fall. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Season 3 follows the young Jedi as they delve into the world of droid care, befriending a droid shop owner named Dotti and three new droids: Beepers, Dozer and Gigi.

Canal+'s MultiChoice Ghana Could Be Forced To Shut Down It's DStv Services In The Coming Weeks

Ghana’s communication regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA), has ordered the local shutdown of MultiChoice – Africa’s largest pay-TV operator — in 30 days from now, on Sept. 8, due to the streamer’s refusal to cut its subscription rate by 30%.

Like other countries in West Africa, Ghana has been up in arms about the steep increase in subscription charges for local pay-TV services which is partly caused by rampant inflation rates and weak currency across the continent.

Over the past two years, MultiChoice has drastically raised fees for its traditional satellite pay-TV business in several African countries, such as Nigeria and Kenya, as well as Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Namibia, among others.

In Ghana, the pay-TV group increased the subscription fees by 15% in April with little notice, prompting the communications minister, Samuel George, to give MultiChoice an ultimatum to lower its rate by 30% by Aug. 7.

MultiChoice didn’t oblige and instead offered to maintain rates at existing levels, which wasn’t a good enough resolution for the local regulator. The latter told MultiChoice in Ghana that it has 30 days to “present its views, or provide remedial action, and submit a written statement of its objections to the suspension of the authorization”.

If the pay-TV group loses its license in Ghana, there is a risk that more African governments and regulators could follow Ghana’s example and start to retaliate against MultiChoice. If so, Canal+’s African takeover, when it goes through in October, could be worth less than what it’s paying for.

MultiChoice told sources it fears “dire consequences” if its Ghana operations must suddenly shutter a month from now. It will cause the loss of jobs of staff, installers, agents and retailers, said MultiChoise Ghana’s managing director Alex Okyere. The executive said it was “regrettable that Ghana’s minister took the stance to demand a 30% price cut notwithstanding our ongoing endevours to engage with him candidly and in good faith on this important matter.”

Okyere argued that MultiChoice has tried to “keep subscription fees as low as possible, despite the extremely challenging competitive and macro-economic environment in which we operate.” As such, it’s “not tenable to reduce fees in the manner proposed by the minister,” he said.

Canal+, meanwhile, declined to comment on the issue since it’s not yet the owner of MultiChoice.

The French pay-TV company has just obtained anti-trust approval for its takeover of MultiChoice. Some regulatory approvals still await in South Africa and are all expected to be cleared by Oct. 8. The region has the most evolved legislation on the continent in limiting foreign ownership and shareholding of local media licenses and companies.

In his investors’ presentation call on its latest half-year results, CEO Maxime Saada said Canal+ will make swift changes to MultiChoice’s operations to bolster the pay-TV television business.

“We will not wait for the beginning of next year to change a number of things,” Saada said. “We intend to provide benefits to consumers across all African geographies as soon as the end of the year, if we close when we expect to close. And we will launch a synergy plan as soon as we take control,” he continued.

Saada noted that “by the beginning of next year if everything goes to plan, we will already have launched some plans to generate some synergy.”

A looming question will be the way forward and plans with the money-guzzling joint streamer venture Showmax of MultiChoice and NBCUniversal.

Canal+ already runs Viaplay and has its own streamer Canal+ and is the second largest shareholder at 37.2% of the VIU video streaming service already available in South Africa.

Disney Princess Let’s Party Launches This August

Disney princesses have inspired girls and fans of all ages to discover, dream and believe through characters who go on epic, fun adventures where they realise their true potential. The heroines and their beloved stories have created shared moments between generations and this August, the fun continues with Disney Princess Let’s Party.

 

Disney Princess Let’s Party invites families and fans to create their own magical world and adventures by holding their own magical princess party inspired by the Disney princesses - from Cinderella to Jasmine, Belle to Ariel, Mulan and Tiana, there is a story and adventure waiting for all to be shared and celebrated.

 

The Disney Princess Ultimate Party Digital Hub is now live at www.disney.co.za/Disney-Princess-Party, featuring party inspiration including downloadable activity books, recipes, craft tutorials and more – all on hand for families to use to help spark their imagination.

 

24 – 31 August will mark Disney Princess Week and to celebrate, for the month of August, grown up party goers and throwers will be encouraged to share their Disney Princess parties on social media using the hashtag #DisneyPrincessZA, Tagging @DisneyinAfrica on Facebook and @DisneyAfrica on Instagram, to stand a chance of winning an exclusive Disney Princess hamper worth over R5000.00*.

 

Comments Christine Service, General Manager of DTC & Networks and Country Manager Sub-Saharan Africa of The Walt Disney Company Africa: “Disney continues to entertain the world with beloved stories and characters and the Disney princesses create opportunities for shared connections across generations. We hope that fans and families will enjoy throwing their own Disney Princess-inspired celebrations this August, embracing the messages of uniqueness and positivity with a dose of imaginative play, adventure and fun.”

 

A vast selection of Disney Princess toys, games, fashion and accessories will be available at leading retailers across South Africa, including Disneystore.eu this August too, offering something for Disney Princess fans of all ages. Mattel has products for hours of play, including Disney Princess Spin and Reveal Fashion Dolls (with 11 surprises), the Disney Princess 2-in-1 Stories Fashion Dolls inspired by favourite moments, Disney Princess Castle Pet Palace Playset and the magnificent Magical Adventures Castle – the ultimate Disney Princess doll house. LEGO® brings the Disney Princess Castle & Royal Pets Toy Building Playset, Disney Moana’s hilarious side-kick Hei-Hei set and Disney Cinderella’s Castle, complete with horse carriage. Enchanted playtime awaits!

The celebrations continue with Disney+, the home of all Disney Princess animated feature adventures, Moana 2 (2024), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Moana (2016), Brave (2012), Tangled (2010), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Mulan (1998), Pocahontas (1995), Aladdin (1992), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Little Mermaid (1989), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Cinderella (1950) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Not to mention the live action reimagining’s and retellings of these stories (Maleficent (2014), Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Mulan (2020)) as well as hours of animated series, shorts and specials including Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World, LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, and much more.

 

Disney Channel (DStv 303) and Disney Junior (DStv 309) will be celebrating Disney Princess Week too, with the premiere of Disney’s Moana on Friday 29 August at (17:00 CAT on Disney Channel) and new episodes of much-loved Disney Junior Ariel (weekdays on Disney Junior). As a special treat also on Disney Junior, Sofia the First will air with episodes featuring the Disney princesses themselves inspiring Sofia in her journey to be a better leader and friend.

 

There are a number of ways to celebrate and create your own magical world, with Disney Princess Let’s Party this August.

Boxing Champion Laila Ali Jumps into the Ring as Host of Food Network’s Chef Grudge Match Where Culinary Rivals Battle to Settle Old Scores

Boxing legend Laila Ali is trading her boxing gloves for a chef's apron as she takes on hosting duties for Food Network's explosive new series, Chef Grudge Match. This high-stakes culinary competition sees top chefs from around the world battle it out to settle long-standing feuds and bitter rivalries. From sous chefs who've been wronged by their bosses to restaurateurs defending their businesses from copycats, these culinary professionals put their prized knives and reputations on the line for a chance to win $10,000 cash, their rival's most treasured knife, and ultimate bragging rights.

 

The series premieres on Tuesday, 19 August 2025 at 17:00 CAT on Food Network (DStv channel 175) and will be available for streaming on DStv's Catch Up service. "I'm thrilled to be joining the Food Network family," said Ali. "As someone who's always been passionate about both competition and delicious food, Chef Grudge Match is the perfect fit. From the ring to the kitchen, I've never shied away from a challenge and now I get to have fun while bringing that same intensity to a show where culinary rivalries are settled once and for all!"

 

The premiere episode features Gabe Bertaccini, a Food Network favourite who has harboured a 15-year grudge against his protégé, Tyler Romine, who left Gabe's catering business with only three days' notice. The second match showcases Taylor Frankel from Vail, Colorado, who has a bone to pick with her former Sous chef, Maria Busato, after she opened a rival catering company in the same small town.

 

Throughout the eight-episode season, viewers can expect heated battles over business disputes, recipe rivalries, student-teacher conflicts, and even husband versus wife showdowns, all taking place in front of a live studio audience with the electric atmosphere of a boxing match.

Resident judge Jet Tila is joined by an impressive lineup of guest judges throughout the season, including Eric Adjepong, Maneet Chauhan, Adrienne Cheatham, Tiffani Faison, Stephanie Izard, Eddie Jackson, Chris Oh, and Claudette Zepeda.

 

"With reputations and livelihoods on the line, competition in the food world has heightened stakes which have produced legendary grudges and rivalries," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "Chef Grudge Match brings these grievances to a head in front of a studio audience, with all the energy of a live boxing match, and Laila Ali is the perfect ringmaster to oversee these battles for ultimate bragging rights."

 

Chef Grudge Match premieres on Food Network Africa on Tuesday, 19 August @ 17:00 CAT on DStv channel 175 and GOtv channel 104 (Kenya, Malawi) and 404 (Uganda).

Heads Up! E! Unveils Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery On 17 August

Things are going all natural in new series Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind. From 17 August, viewers can tune into new episodes airing on E! (DStv 124) every Sunday at 7.05pm, until the season finale on 5 October 2025. 

Hosted by international radio and television personality Michelle Visage (RuPaul’s Drag Race) with plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow (Botched) and body image expert Dr. Spirit, PhD, Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind follows nine celebrities and social influencers through a transformative journey of self-discovery at the “Rewind Retreat,” as they decide whether to reverse previous plastic surgeries and return to a more natural look. Through eye-opening challenges, unexpected emotional connections and laugh-out-loud moments, the participants are asked to look within while reassessing their concept of beauty.  

Meet the participants:

• Aubrey O’Day is a platinum singer and reality TV personality known for the girl group Danity Kane, which launched her successful solo career in pop music and several TV shows. She wants to reconsider her facial filler at the Rewind Retreat while connecting with the other participants on their shared experiences.   

• Reality star Kim Zolciak was an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and a star of the spin-off series Don’t Be Tardy, which followed her family life and documented several of her cosmetic surgeries. Following her recent divorce and some weight loss, Kim joins the retreat with her daughter Brielle, where she reevaluates one of her procedures.

• Reality star and influencer Brielle Biermann joins her mum, Kim, at the retreat where she weighs the pros and cons of facial filler. Recently engaged, Brielle wants a softer, more natural look as she heads into her wedding.

• Rapper and TV personality Jessica Dime gained prominence as a cast member on four seasons of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta. Now a mum and wife, she continues to make music and build her fanbase. At the retreat, she is hoping to “tone down” certain procedures but worries that it could impact her career.   

• Brazilian-born Larissa Santos Lima is a TV personality and content creator that rose to fame after appearing on 90 Day Fiancé. After undergoing extensive cosmetic surgeries on her face and body, Larissa worries her enhancements are limiting her ability to have an active lifestyle.

• Sebastian Bails is a social media and YouTube star known for his comedic characters, as well as his candid videos about his journey with cosmetic injections at a young age. Sebastian is vocal about the pressures of maintaining appearances in the influencer industry but his reasons for seeking out surgery catches everyone by surprise.  

• Sophia Elgerabli is a content creator and model whose career took off after two BBL procedures. In this phase of life, she is shifting to new business ventures and wants to be taken more seriously with an updated look.

• Irish content creator Alan McGarry is known for their bold presence in the reality TV world and LGBTQ+ media. Alan used filler procedures to help boost their self-confidence but they came to the retreat with regrets over a BBL.

• Kathy Brown ended up in the glamorous yet high-pressure world of Playboy modeling, where she eventually had a breast augmentation that caused extreme physical discomfort and emotional strain. She hopes to reverse the surgery so she can resume an active lifestyle centered around her grandchildren.  

Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind is produced by Fulwell Entertainment with Matt Cox, Rebecca Hertz, Emma Conway, Charlie Van Vleet, Ben Turner and Dr. Terry Dubrow as executive producers.    

Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind premieres on E! on 17 August at 7.05pm, with new episodes airing every Sunday until 5 October 2025.

ENDS

Hulu Is Set To Launch On Disney+ Globally By The End Of The Year

A new “unified” Disney+ and Hulu streaming app will be available in 2026, the company said. According to a Disney rep, customers will still be able to buy a stand-alone Hulu subscription (as well as a stand-alone Disney+ plan).

“Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+,” CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston said in prepared commentary on the media giant’s quarterly earnings. “This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.”

The single Disney+ app with Hulu will deliver an “improved consumer experience,” which will lower churn, Iger said on the earnings call. Both services will be “on one tech platform,” which will result in cost synergies, according to Iger. In addition, Disney — which already sells ads for Disney+ and Hulu together — sees new opportunities for bundling ad sales by fully combining them, he said.

In their prepared remarks, the Disney execs said, “By creating a truly differentiated streaming offering, we will be providing subscribers tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization. This will enhance our ability to continue to grow profitability and margins in our entertainment streaming business through expected higher engagement, lower churn, and advertising revenue potential, as well as operational efficiencies that over time may result in savings that we can reinvest back into the business.”

In addition, Hulu will become a global general entertainment brand: Starting in the fall of 2025, it will replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally.

“Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalized homepage,” Iger and Johnston said.

The move to fully sew Hulu together with Disney+ comes after Disney — following two years of negotiating — closed its deal with Comcast to buy out NBCUniversal‘s one-third stake in Hulu in June 2025. Disney paid Comcast in total about $9 billion, including $8.61 billion in November 2023 and $438.7 million this past June. Comcast had been seeking more than $13 billion for the 33% Hulu stake; the final price tag was determined through arbitration by a third-party banker.

Disney has already taken steps to integrate Hulu and Disney+. In the spring of 2024, the Disney+ app launched “full” integration of Hulu content, which the company has used as a way to convert stand-alone Disney+ customers into bundled Disney+/Hulu subs.

Also Wednesday, Disney announced that it will no longer report streaming subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, following the lead of Netflix and others.

MTV Entertainment Studios, Home To Ridiculousness And Catfish: The TV Show Is Shutting Down

A year ago, Paramount Television Studios was shuttered in a cost-cutting move as its parent company prepared to merge with Skydance.

With that deal on the verge of closing, the new Paramount is reviving the Paramount TV Studios name — which will in turn absorb one of the company’s two remaining studio operations as well as the formerly independent Skydance Television.

Skydance TV president Matt Thunell is set to lead Paramount TV Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg, the newly named co-chair of Paramount Pictures (with Josh Greenstein) and chair of Paramount Television.

The reconstituted Paramount TV Studios will house productions currently under Showtime/MTV Entertainment, the home of prolific creator Taylor Sheridan (the Yellowstone-verse, Landman et al), key Showtime series like the Dexter franchise and Yellowjackets, and Netflix’s Emily in Paris, among others. It will also be home to Skydance productions including Prime Video’s Reacher and Cross — which were co-productions with the former Paramount TV Studios.

Paramount announced in August 2024 that PTVS, then led by Nicole Clemens, would shut down. Its productions — including the aforementioned Reacher and Cross and Apple TV+’s Murderbot — moved to CBS Studios. The shutdown was part of a wave of cost-cutting moves, which included hundreds of layoffs, in the year-plus leading up to the merger, which is set to formally close on Aug. 7.

Former Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy previously headed Showtime/MTV Entertainment but will not remain with the merged company after the deal closes. Keith Cox, head of scripted at Showtime/MTV Entertainment, is expected to stay on; Cox has a long working relationship with Sheridan and David C. Glasser, the head of 101 Studios which co-produces Sheridan’s shows and Showtime’s The Agency.

Thunell became president of Skydance TV in late 2022 after nearly eight years at Netflix, where he oversaw development and production of series in the U.S. and Canada.

Former Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks will have CBS Studios in his portfolio as the merged company’s chair of TV media, which also includes the CBS network and the company’s cable channels.

Canal+'s MultiChoice Unveils Structure For LicenceCo

MultiChoice Group has announced details for the first time about its plans to restructure the shareholding in its main South African operation to facilitate the JSE-listed broadcaster’s sale to France’s Groupe Canal+.

The move comes 10 days after the two companies secured the green light from the Competition Tribunal for their transaction to proceed.

The merging parties have agreed to a special shareholding structure in South Africa to comply with South African legislation that prevents foreign entities from holding more than 20% of the voting rights in locally licensed broadcasters. Although the 20% restriction is likely to be lifted to 49% through proposed legislative changes, this could still take years.

MultiChoice South Africa Holdings will declare an extraordinary dividend to its shareholders of R1.375-billion

MultiChoice said last month that the new structure for its South African operation will meet the requirements of “all applicable laws, including the restrictions on foreign ownership and control of South African broadcasting licences contained in the Electronic Communications Act (ECA)”.

“The structure includes MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd, the entity which contracts with South African subscribers, being carved out of MultiChoice Group and becoming an independent entity, majority owned and controlled by HDPs,” it said with reference to “historically disadvantaged persons”, a definition used in the ECA to deal with black economic empowerment rules.

“The reorganisation is specifically designed to ensure that the licensed entities within MultiChoice Group remain compliant with foreign control restrictions under the ECA, thereby preserving the integrity of the company’s broadcasting and signal distribution licences,” MultiChoice said on Monday.

As a result of the changes, MultiChoice South Africa will effectively be getting a range of new investors.

New shareholders

In recent days, MultiChoice, LicenceCo (created to host the new structure), Phuthuma Nathi Investments, 13th Ave Investments, Identity Partners Itai Consortium (IPIC) and the trustees of the MultiChoice Workers Trust have entered into several transaction agreements (including various subscription, repurchase and shareholders’ agreements) to give effect to the reorganisation.

13th Avenue is owned by investment vehicles associated with former Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko, Neo Lesela, Khanyisile Kweyama and Philiswe Sibiya.

IPIC is owned by investment vehicles associated with Sonja De Bruyn, Maxwell Nyanteh, Taleleni Moshapo, Ernest Kwinda and Eugene Govender.

Phuthuma Nathi is a listed broad-based black economic empowerment vehicle.

The Workers Trust is a broad-based ownership scheme, the beneficiaries of which are employees of LicenceCo and employees of key suppliers of LicenceCo.

Upon implementation of the transactions, MultiChoice will hold 20% voting rights in LicenceCo ordinary shares and a 49% economic interest:

1) The class-A shares are ordinary shares with full economic rights from the outset, while the class-B shares and the class-C shares are notional vendor funded (NVF) shares that entitle the holder to a “trickle” dividend of 20% and 35%, respectively, until the NVF balance is reduced to zero, after which they convert to ordinary shares with full rights. 

2) Initial NVF balance of R2.148-million escalated at 75% of the prime rate. 

3) Notwithstanding that this portion of PN’s overall shareholding is notionally vendor funded, the overall financial effect of its combined shareholding in LicenceCo (though the class-A shares and class-B shares) is an effective increase in shareholding

The economic interest referred to here includes the economic interest associated with the LicenceCo B shares and C shares, which are subject to the notional vendor funding mechanic. #The voting percentage referred to arises from the application of the foreign control restriction and other qualifications to the voting rights of shareholders. This voting percentage may adjust if the foreign control restriction and other qualifications are amended or fall away

MultiChoice South Africa Holdings will soon declare an extraordinary dividend to its shareholders – Phuthuma Nathi and MultiChoice – of R1.375-billion, of which R343.75 million will go to Phuthuma Nathi. The payment of this dividend is subject to the implementation of the steps in the reorganisation.

“The net economic effect of the reorganisation for MultiChoice is that 26% of the economic interest in LicenceCo, the licensed broadcasting service provider that contracts with South African subscribers, will be disposed of, and 15% of the economic interest in Orbicom, the licensed signal distributor and holder of electronic communications and radio frequency spectrum licences, will be disposed of,” MultiChoice said. Under the plan, Phuthuma Nathi will increase its effective shareholding in Orbicom from 25% to 40%.

The article was originally published by TechCentral