eVOD Has Been Credited In Latest Annual Results From MultiChoice Group

MultiChoice and eMedia Investments have been in an on/off relationship following the dispute in regard to the 4 e.tv channels. As seen in May, the channels went dark on DStv without notice only for the Competition Tribunal to look back on their final notion following pending investigation.

During that time, MultiChoice had managed to find the necessary alternatives with kykNET's Turkish offering on kykNET & Kie, DreamWorks, KIX and Movie Room all of which have managed to perform at their best capacity but not enough to fill the void left by the e.tv channels.

For those who've been following eMedia's stations for a while may have heard of eVOD I mean who wouldn't have heard of it as it is the only known outlet to stream the bulk of content some of which haven't aired any of eMedia's channels.

It was speculated the only reason eVOD wasn't added onto the Explora Ultra had to do with the ongoing feud between eMedia Investments and MultiChoice in regard to DTT and the carriage fees for their channels as other brands like the SABC are said to be earning more with just SABC News.

But as MultiChoice outlined in their recent annual results, they plan to add more streaming services even crediting various entities that haven't been seen on the Explora Ultra like Acorn TV and eVOD.

Taking that to account, could you say that eVOD will likely be bundled under the Explora Ultra perhaps as a replacement to e.tv's 4 channels as the channels only returned as part of a technicality and aren't must carry channels like SABC 1-3.

Blown Away And Alone: Polar Bear Island Renewed For Season 2 + Premiere Date On History Africa - September 2022 Highlights

Brand New
BLOWN AWAY S2
5 September Mondays at 20h15
In the ultimate make or ‘break’ elimination competition, world-renowned glassblowers face-off in North America’s largest-ever hot shop across 10 fast-paced episodes. Showcasing the intriguing world of glassblowing, these amazing artists are pushed to creative extremes to showcase their skills and ability to deal with the pressure. On the line for last blower standing is a life-changing career opportunity and a cash prize. Will they blow the judges away – or leave with shattered dreams?

Brand New
RUST VALLEY RESTORERS S2
5 September
Tuesdays 19h25
Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains is one of the most unique car communit es in the world: “Rust Valley”. You can’t miss it: acres upon acres of old and abandoned cars; a junkyard as far as the eye can see. And at its heart is a remarkable restoration shop run by a team of colourful and charismatic characters who use their impressive skills and experience to restore, trade and sell classic cars – transforming piles of rust into collectible car treasures.

Brand New and Exclusive
ALONE: POLAR BEAR ISLAND
15 September
Thursdays at 20h15
Season 9 of the HISTORY channel’s hit survival series, Alone delivers a fresh set of dangers and challenges for ten new part cipants. Equipped with just ten items of their choosing, the survivalists are dropped into a remote wilderness valley in Labrador, Canada. While document ng their experiences, each part cipant must survive in total isolat on, with hopes of outlast ng everyone else to claim the $500,000 prize. Not only must they endure hunger, loneliness, and the elements, but this season, they’ll become the hunted as they discover their location is situated deep in polar bear territory. No camera crews. No gimmicks. It is the ultimate test of human will.

Brand New and Exclusive
ANCIENT ALIENS S14
24 September
Saturdays at 19h25
Ancient Aliens examines 75 million years of the most credible alien evidence here on Earth, from the age of the dinosaurs to ancient Egypt, to the skies over the Western Desert in the present day US. Ancient cave drawings of strange creatures, an asphalt-like substance in an Egypt an pyramid made from the remains of unidentified creatures, continued mass sightings in the USA – these are just a few of the strange stories that will be invest gated.

Roundups #82: More eToonz Coming Soon To Da Vinci Kids, More Wrestling Action Coming Soon To TNT Africa And Keanu Reeves to Lead ‘Devil in the White City’ Hulu Series From Martin Scorsese And Leonardo DiCaprio

More repeats for pay-tv consumers

As reported weeks days ago, eToonz alongside the 3 other e.tv channels returned to the DStv platform following pending investigations which could take up to 6 months. Since then, MultiChoice has been doing quiet a job filling up for eToonz.

Aside from DreamWorks Channel which is basically eToonz Extra and PBS Kids, Da Vinci Kids has been stacking their lineup with several content which seen been viewed on the red brand like Doki, The Deep and Bajillionaires and now another series fills that list, Yoko.

Yoko follows three children who unexpectedly meet the spirit of the game, Yoko. Together they revive the game and opens incredible world of childhood. Yoko adds magic to children's games and turns fantasy into reality.

The third instalment to Battle Of The Belts arrives on TNT Africa

This weekend’s Battle of the Belts III card, which took place in Van Andel Arena, West Michigan, on 6 August, features Claudio Castagnoli defending the ROH (Ring of Honor) world title against Konosuke Takeshita. That’s one of three belt battles coming your way. Saturday’s special will also see Jamie Hayter get her shot at Thunder Rosa and the AEW women’s championship, while the mighty Wardlow puts the TNT title on the line against Jay Lethal.

Fans can tune in to this AEW special, Battle of the Belts III, on Saturday, 13 August at 10:50 CAT on TNT Africa!

Other AEW fast-paced, high-impact competitions coming to TNT Africa this weekend include:

AEW Rampage, Saturday, 13 August @10:00 CAT:

· AEW Interim World Title Eliminator Jon Moxley vs Mance Warner

· Friday Night Street Fight Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs TonyNese & Josh Woods

· The Debut of Madison Rayne

AEW Dynamite, Sunday, 14 August @10:00 CAT:

· AEW Interim World Championship Jon Moxley vs Chris Jericho

· Coffin Match Brody King vs Darby Allin

· Jade Cargill Open Challenge for the TBS Championship

· Tornado Tag, Lucha Brothers vs Andrade El Idolo & Rush

Keanu Reeves starring in a Hulu series

It’s official: Hulu is moving forward with a TV adaptation of Erik Larson’s best-seller Devil in the White City with Keanu Reeves set to star in what will be his largest TV role to date.

The drama, which has been developed as a film and TV series since Leonardo DiCaprio optioned the property in 2010, has scored a formal series order at the Disney-backed streamer. The news was announced Thursday as part of Hulu’s virtual time before press at the Television Critics Association’s summer tour.

Based on Larson’s novel, Devil revolves around Daniel H. Burnham (Reeves), a demanding but visionary architect who races to make his mark on history with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and Dr. H. H. Holmes, America’s first modern serial killer and the man behind the notorious “Murder Castle” built in the fair’s shadow. (DiCaprio is not expected to have an on-screen role as of press time.)

That Time A Former DStv Channel Was Made Available On The Openview Platform

SABC Encore is a defunct entertainment channel that was supplied exclusively to MultiChoice's DStv as part of a 5 year agreement made between them and the public broadcaster which was worth half a billion and included SABC News that continues to operate on the platform.

When SABC Encore left DStv, the SABC had stated on several occasions that they were working on continuing the channel on another platform. Aside from DStv, the channel was viewable on DTT but due to a lack of funding the space reserved for the channel remains inactive.

Of course there has been a lot of site seeing for SABC Encore. Take for instance, any major league broadcast on SABC 1 and SABC Sport often SABC Encore is used as somewhat of a pop-up for this content the same happened with some live memorial service for a local figure.

Interesting about this as that the SABC seems to acknowledge all this as the press release credits SABC Encore without diving further in the sudden inclusion of the channel especially with no input coming from MultiChoice.

SABC and eMedia Investments had signed an agreement for which two channels are still awaiting launch on the Openview platform and as speculated from several witnesses SABC Encore could be one of the two channels but that's where it gets more intriguing.

Several months ago, a consumer noticed that SABC 1 was 'mislabeled' as SABC Encore and that was the only thing different about the channel as everything else functioned normally and just recently another user noticed the SABC Encore banner.

Other brand names that were also used aside from SABC Encore through various other outlets include SABC Africa, SABC Entertainment and with SABC Children which at this point is sharing a space with the controversial channel.

The brand's presence just builds further speculation that this was indeed one of the two channels eMedia Investments and the SABC failed to launch last year and as stated by both parties these channels are nonexclusive which could explain its presence on TelkomOne.

'CN To The Rescue', 'Garbage Boy And Trash Can', 'My Cartoon Friend' And More Local Productions On Cartoon Network Africa Likely To Be Axed

Warner Bros. Discovery held a conference call in the past week where they addressed several aspects including the merger of their two streaming service HBO Max and Discovery+ with Africa expected to get before early 2025 another was regarding the content on their platforms.

Apparently, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to ship more content to their streaming service and sell less to local providers like M-Net and e.tv. On top of cancelling several productions from HBO Max like Batgirl and Little Ellen. They'll also be targeting various local productions across the world.

Warner Bros. Discovery operates Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami and Boing across Africa through the likes of MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv, StarTimes' StarSat, Telkom's TelkomOne, Canal+ and Azam TV.

Cartoon Network, Africa's top entertainment channel for children has been hotspot for Warner's local endeavours for almost a decade with productions like Dance Club, Ben 10 Challenge, My Cartoon Friend, CN To The Rescue and Pop-Up Party which are likely to be yesterday's news.

Last month, HBO Max and Cartoon Network greenlit a Nigerian animated series Iyanu: Child of Wonder as seen with the sequel Scoob: Holiday Haunt. They're not only targeting content that's already out in the airwaves but content that has yet to be released.

Bollywood Updates: Starsat To Welcome Zulu Dubbed Version Of Zee TV's The Heir, Zee World Reportedly Postpones Unfortunate Love And Every Girl's Dream And Star Life Welcomes Back Game Of Love And Adds Imile To The Lineup

The news of The Heir's launch on the StarSat platform has garnered mix reaction from viewers as most want to see something similar through the likes of SABC 1 and Mzansi Magic instead of having another eExtra as the channel St Rise has been positioned in the way of these two channels.

Unlike Mzansi Magic, SABC 1 has dubbed several international content primarily kids shows in a variety of native languages so St Rise hopping on the dub wagon doesn't seem far fetched at this point in time.

In other startling news, Zee World still doesn't have a launch date for Unfortunate Love and Every Girl's Dream. The two series were teased later in July with timeslots already allocated for the shows but it seems as if the shows won't come in their respective slots.

Other developments on the channel includes one of their other shows like My Heart Knows which follows Meet In Love to have it's broadcast reduced to compliment Dance Naija Dance which is a spinoff to Dance Africa Dance.

Last development isn't as much devastating as the other two unless you're looking at fan favourite series returning to Star Life, Game Of Love which is just Zee World's Twist Of Fate or Telemundo's Fearless Heart so yeah you can see how irritable that can be.

Good news for audiences of Star Life, the channel apparently picked up rights to another series Imlie which follows the titular character as she is forced to marry a journalist after they seek shelter in a hut during heavy rains. On reaching the city, she realises that her husband is engaged to be married.

Based on the Bengali drama Ishti Kutum, the series stars Sumbul Touqeer Khan, Fahmaan Khan, Mayuri Deshmukh and Gashmeer Mahajani.

The news of Imlie comes just as the channel unveils new series Pandya Store and Night Of Doom.

What To Expect From The Makers Of Newzroom Afrika New Channel On DStv, Movie Room?

Home Affairs: A Christmas Tale
Genre: Family
Starring: Elsabé Daneel, Celeste Loots
Family is the heart of this local Christmas movie, when a family gathers for Christmas, the holiday surprises them with a lot more than just gifts under their Christmas tree.

Nativity
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen
In the film teacher Paul Maddens lies to his rival that Hollywood are coming to watch his school's Christmas nativity, but after the lie gets out of hand, he must resolve the issue fast.

One Night With Kwa Mxolisi
Genre: Drama
Starring: Nyaniso Dzedze, Donovan Goliath
When a once semi-successful rugby player opens a new restaurant, his friends come to celebrate his success. After too many drinks friendships are tested.

Happiness Is A Four Letter World
Genre: Romance
Starring: Mmabatho Montsho, Khanyi Mbau
In this uplifting South African romantic drama, three friends try to find love, happiness and success in Johannesburg.

Season's Feelings
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Kiroshan Naidoo, Natalie Robbie
On their way to a not-so-conventional Christmas party, a band of outsiders collide with themselves and each other as they try to figure out quarter-loves, half-loves and family.

A Boere Krismis
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Lara Toselli, Johann Vermaak
In a chaotic South African Christmas comedy. In Claire's final attempt at becoming an actress-director-writer, she uses her fiance's family in a docu-film to launch her failed career.

Pop, Lock 'N Roll
Genre: Drama
Starring: Steven Pillemer, Eric Uys
An ambitious dancer gets a chance to become famous, but his life takes a turn when he falls in love with his producer's wife.

Herb & Moon
Genre: Family
Starring: Robert Whitehead, Katherine Neethling
When a rebellious grandfather finds out he won't spend Christmas with his granddaughter, he "breaks out" of his nursing home to see her.

Boomerang Vs. Toonami Vs. Boing: Most Likely To Get Chopped

Boomerang, Toonami and Boing are animation brands within Warner Bros. Discovery's portfolio that cater to kids and youth adults but to better understand them it's best to explain each of them individually in detail.

Boomerang is a children's brand that caters to viewers aged 4-7 with shows like Masha And The Bear, Grizzy And The Lemmings and The Happos Family while as carrying content for the whole family to enjoy like Looney Tunes Cartoons, Mr. Magoo and Zig & Sharko.

Toonami is an action driven channel for young adults featuring various animation from DC's superheroes like Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Justice League and Teen Titans. Accompanying the league of DC characters is anime like Hero Academia and Dragonball.

Boing is basically another Nicktoons as it features a classic set of content like Adventure Time, Regular Show, Johnny Bravo and Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends while as being used a brand for CN's forgotten or reject shows like Angelo Rules, Oswaldo and The Jungle Bunch.

In short, Boomerang is the best place for laughter while Toonami caters for comic book fans and people in the mood for some action and Boing travels back in time to the place where it all began with old favorites while blending to the modern society.

Unfortunately with all these traits come some minor flaws of which these 3 all have in common. Although each have a role to play, it's more transparent the more you watch but I feel it's best to bring it up.

On a year to year basis, Warner Bros. Discovery invests a certain amount of airtime on their channels with Boomerang and Cartoon Network getting the most Investment seeing as they're more acknowledged compared to Boing and Toonami.

In terms of content, Boomerang doesn't have a lot of noticable shows just gags which can help pass the time but that's as far as it goes. Just like Toonami, it can be irritating on how these shows rollout and how long it takes before you can get anything worthwhile.

Boing is just another repeats channel if anything it kind of rectifies the errors of Boomerang and Toonami. After all, the lineup adjusts constantly you don't have to wait several months or a year to find something worthwhile but that's just the perks of being a Nicktoons which can be substituted.

If there's any channel that would likely get chopped in this instance, it would have to be these three as it is Warner Bros. Discovery is cost cutting and I'm not saying they won't be much left on these stations or we'll see less content but 2/3 is a Nicktoons with the third being an odd triplet.

Roundups #82: Paramount Provides Outdated EPG For Nicktoons Africa, Dressed For Mourning Coming Soon To Citi TV And StarSat To Double Down On Dubs With Second Zulu Drama Series

Could Nicktoons be on the chopping block?

Although, there's no official confirmation about the channel's demise within the region. Nicktoons has been less toonie as the lineup is jam-packed with mainly current shows from Nickelodeon with a few discrepancies here and there.

Apparently, MultiChoice provides two alternate schedules of the channel same with Nick Jr. but as mentioned the discrepancies are more transparent with Nicktoons as the channel lists Program To Be Confirmed online while DStv's EPG mentions Alvin although it's Horrid Henry.

It's believed at this point that the only reason Nicktoons is just offering a duplicate selection to Nickelodeon is Paramount's way of phasing out the channel and cancelling out potential liabilities like Horrid Henry with NickMusic's fate in question.

Women In Black coming soon to Ghana

Citi TV a Ghanaian channel that features a unique blend of credible, authentic and timely news, current affairs as well as compelling non-news programming will soon introduce the rumoured TLNovelas series titled Mujeres De Negro (Dressed For Mourning).

Mujeres De Negro follows the rich coastal town of Encino Blanco, three married couples spend the weekend at Coral Beach while their husbands go on their already traditional fishing trip on a yacht. Not far from the pier, the yacht suddenly explodes. Only chips remain on the surface. In seconds they lost their husbands, and they have to go on with their lives without them...just as they planned.

The series stars Mayrín Villanueva, Alejandra Barros, Ximena Herrera and Arturo Peniche.

More local dubs are heading your way

eMedia has seen success with eExtra's Kuiertyd that it's consolidated this content onto more platforms only for MultiChoice to ramp up a similar offering on kykNET & Kie with StarTimes doing something similar which is no way competition.

Earlier in the year, StarSat launched its first Zulu dubbed show with Phillipine revenge drama Blood Sisters on St Novelas now they'll be launching a second Zulu dubbed show but this time for the channel St Rise worst part they pick Waaris (The Heir).

Waaris follows Amba, who belongs to a Punjabi family, gives birth to a girl child. However, circumstances force her to hide the gender of her baby and raise her like a boy. The series aired on Zee World, Zee One and eExtra and now it's also launching on St Rise from August 22nd.