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Tuesday, October 3, 2023

What To Expect On The Nickelodeon Channels Across Africa In November 2023?

Nickelodeon:

The Really Loud House
Episodes: 113, 117, 119
01/11/2023-03/11/2023
18:15

Squeeze That Sponge Stunt
The Patrick Star Show: 121-126
SpongeBob SquarePants: 288-293
16/10/2023-01/11/2023
Monday-Friday
15:30

The Loud House
Episodes: 705-708
13/11/2023-21/11/2023
Monday-Friday
17:00

Nicktoons:

SpongeBob SquarePants
06/11/2023-17/11/2023
Episodes: 261B, 263B, 264B, 270A, 273-277
Monday-Friday
11:30

The Casagrande's Stunt: Family Fiesta The Casagrandes
20/11/2023-01/12/2023
Monday-Friday
15:25

Nick Jr:

Bossy Bear
30/10/2023-10/11/2023
Episodes: 111-115
Monday-Friday
09:30

Monday, October 2, 2023

Gamma. Expands To Africa, Names Larry Gaaga VP And GM

…Chooses Nigeria as operational headquarters  

Gamma., an artiste-first multimedia platform, providing creative and business services across all artistic and commercial formats, today announced an expansion of its commitment to Africa with the addition of two impactful music industry pioneers to the region’s executive team.

The executive appointments include legendary Nigerian songwriter and recording artiste, Larry Gaaga, joining as Vice President/General Manager of Africa.

Historically, international labels have headquartered their African operations solely in South Africa, with Nigeria often having satellite presence. However, Gamma. is rewriting this narrative by investing its largest resource focus in Nigeria, recognising its position as the leading country in terms of the global export of music.

Taken together, these actions amplify the foundation that Gamma. and its digital distribution arm, Vydia have built in the region, increasing the company’s capabilities and resources and ensuring a two-way exchange of culture and opportunity for artistes worldwide.

“Gamma.’s mission is to both nurture talent local to Africa and the Middle East into global superstars, as well as to open the continent for Western artists to reach new fans and opportunities,” said Sipho Dlamini, President, Africa and Middle East, Gamma. “Larry has the historical background and cultural fluency critical to establishing the relationships and resources necessary for us to succeed.”

Most recently, Gaaga was Vice President of Def Jam Africa, where he led the label’s A&R division. In his new role, Gaaga will oversee Gamma.'s operations across the entire African continent. His visionary leadership and guidance to the teams in both Nigeria and South Africa will drive the company’s growth, development, and ultimate success across the region.

“Larry extensive experience, deep understanding of the local music landscapes, and relentless passion for nurturing talent are welcome additions to the Gamma. family,” said gamma. Co-founder and CEO, Larry Jackson. “He will strengthen our market presence and drive significant growth across Africa and by extension, worldwide.”

Gaaga's primary focus will be on providing strategic direction for long-term success, driving revenue growth, and expanding market reach across Africa. He will spearhead initiatives to develop local talent, ensuring their success both domestically and on the global stage through collaborations and partnerships with the wider group.

Naomi Campbell, a prominent figure in the global entertainment community and Special Advisor to Gamma., played a crucial role in fostering the partnership between Gaaga and the company. "Artistic brilliance knows no bounds,” says Campbell. “Larry’s appointment exemplifies the spirit of artistic empowerment. I am thrilled to have played a part in bringing his visionary talents to this artiste-first platform.”

Responding to his appointment, Larry Gaaga said, "I am honored and excited to take on the role of Vice President/General Manager of Africa. This presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth of the entertainment industry across the continent, promoting local talent and showcasing the incredible creativity and diversity of our artistes to the world.”

The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in New York, London, Miami, Nashville, Lagos and Dubai.

HISTORY Channel Africa Launches ‘My History Moments’

The HISTORY® Channel Africa (DStv 186) is excited to launch My History Moments, a poignant short-form series that sees notable South Africans share pivotal moments from their lives that have historical significance and profound personal meaning. To further uncover stories that shaped our nation, the channel is also calling on South Africans to share their My History Moments as part of the campaign.

“The HISTORY channel is renowned the world over for sharing stories that matter, stories that tell of major turning points in history or that have evolved us a society and as individuals. Through this project we’re honoured to share these deeply personal local stories, that tell of our incredible resilience, that will resonate with many South Africans,” says Marketing Manager of the HISTORY Channel Africa, Anita Gardini.

As part of the moving series, the 4-5-minute ‘episodes’ will be broadcast on-air on DStv 186 and shared across the HISTORY® Channel Africa’s social media platforms and YouTube channel in the coming weeks. The pieces were produced by Schultz Creative.

Some of the well-known South Africans who will be sharing their moments - from groundbreaking events to personal triumphs - include global business speaker Vusi Thembekwayo, economist Dawie Roodt, broadcasters, John Robbie and Malcom Gooding and singer and songwriter, Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

Of the My History Moments project Chaka Chaka says, “Sometimes we shy away from our history; we don’t talk about it and it’s important that we tell our stories. We tell the stories so that the next generation knows who we are, where we come from and the importance of our history. But for me the most important thing that should come from telling our stories is social cohesion.”

She adds, “It wasn’t very easy to choose My History Moment. Getting Bishop Tutu, Madiba and Bill Clinton on stage to come and do bum jives – that was making history too. But I decided to choose something personal and that made me feel part of South Africa.”

Longtime broadcaster, David O’ Sullivan says being a journalist has meant that he’s been at the forefront of numerous historically significant moments. He explains, “I find that the things that I was involved in are now in the actual history books. But at the time when something significant happened, I always realised that it was a big day, or a big moment and those moments stayed with me. If we are going to tell people about the past, we have to tell it in the form of stories like these. We need actual stories that invigorate people, that they can be passionate about and that evoke an emotion in them.”

Another contributor, poet and artist, Professor Pitika Ntuli says, “I’ve always been very interested in history. Having a historical memory prevents us from collapsing into chaos, war or plunging into unsustainable situations. History is, in a sense, a GPS that helps guide our own thoughts, so that we know what we should not be doing and what we should be doing better.”

Regional Manager Naz Khan concludes, “Within each My History Moment lies a treasure trove of personal lived experiences and life stories. It's not just about recounting events; it is important for us to honour that experience. There is profound value in preserving these unique narratives. By protecting them, we ensure that the rich tapestry of human experience and the lessons they teach endure for generations to come.”

The HISTORY Channel Africa invites you to share your #MyHistoryMoment with us. Whether it is a heart-warming memory, a funny anecdote, a significant life event, or your experience of a pivotal moment in history – we want to hear your story. To share your moment, simply use the hashtag #MyHistoryMoment and tag the History Channel Africa when posting to social media.

Join the HISTORY Channel Africa (DStv 186) in journeying through South Africa's transformative years with My History Moments.

To watch all the My History Moments visit – https://www.historytv.africa/moments

Recap To Last Month: eMedia Investments Launches Brand New Mobile App, Snap-e Scan

If you're familiar with QR Codes or the DStv Rewards app then you should know that eMedia Investments mashed this concept in a single app, Snap-e Scan (Snap-e in short).

Snap-e is a revolutionary new way to interact with your television. Simply use your smartphone to easily scan a small marker on the TV screen during your favorite program or advertisement and instantly be transported to a new world. Imagine being able to interact with your TV while lying comfortably on your couch, or purchase what you are watching on the show. This is the world of Snap-e.

The app is available to download on Google Play Store.

Since its debut, Scan-e has crossed over 100 000 downloads which is basically the equivalents of SABC News and SABC+ apps. It's currently unknown how many of these users are active following its rollout in September.

Where can I find a Snap-e marker?

Snap-e markers can be found on e.tv and Openview programs and advertisements. You can always find a code on our website and follow the instructions there to practice scanning the codes.

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Africa Magic Unveils New Logo For 20th Anniversary Celebrations

As part of initiatives for its 20th-anniversary celebrations, Africa Magic has unveiled a new brand logo and identity colours for each of the seven Africa Magic channels. The new look was unveiled at 12:00 am, October 1, 2023. 
 
Commenting on the initiative, Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice West Africa, Dr. Busola Tejumola, said changes to Africa Magic channels represent the beauty, spirit, peculiarity, and diversity of cultures on the African continent.
 
“As part of Africa Magic’s 20th-anniversary celebrations, we are unveiling a new Africa Magic logo with unique colours for each of the seven Africa Magic channels available on DStv and GOtv. The new look and feel takes effect from October 1, which marks the 63rd Independence Day celebration of Nigeria. 
 
“We have had two decades of impactful storytelling and growth with our audience at the heart of this journey. The new logo and colours of Africa Magic channels represent the tenacity, creativity, enthusiasm, warmth, harmony, happiness, inspiration, and hope among the diverse cultures on the African continent. As we celebrate this milestone, Africa Magic looks forward to more decades of quality entertaining content for our esteemed audiences with a commitment to telling unique and authentic African stories that depict the everyday realities of Africans, for the African and global audiences,” Tejumola said. 
 
Africa Magic, which started with one channel in 2003, has grown to a chain of seven channels: Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Urban, Africa Magic Family, Africa Magic Yoruba, Africa Magic Igbo, Africa Magic Hausa, and Africa Magic Epic within the last two decades. 
 
With over 30,000 original content hours, and an estimated one million viewers daily, Africa Magic has established itself as the reliable home of high-quality family entertainment in Africa. Africa Magic has elevated the business of movie production and licensing on the continent while also discovering and nurturing talents for the entertainment industry. 
 

News Shorts: Nick Jr. International (Global) Is Set To Enter The Splat Zone In France, African Businessman Charles Awuzie Enters Talks With Several Broadcasters Including DStv For Big Brains Naija And Maisha Magic Plus Expands To More East African Households On DStv Access And GOtv Plus As Maisha Magic Movies Goes Dark

Nick Jr. international is entering the Splat Zone

During the year, Nickelodeon unveiled a brand new on air look which saw the rebrand reprise one of their iconic logos and give it a more iconic feel. This format was duplicated across several platforms with some areas reprising their previous logos over the updated design.

Following the rebrand, consumers were curious as to when or if Paramount plans to update their designs toward their Nick Jr. and Nicktoons brands. As for right now, Nick Jr. logo's has been updated but this is applicable to consumers in the United States and France.

France being the first international region to unveil the Splat on Nick Jr. particularly on social platforms hints at the rollout of the iconic logo in other countries. Although a date has yet to be released we presume before end of 2023 if not by the end of the festive season.

Big Brains Naija coming soon to DStv???

Nigerian-South African-based businessman Charles Awuzie has proposed the Big Brains Naija reality television show as an intellectual alternative to the ongoing Big Brother Naija show. The reality show is said to handled in Nigeria unlike Big Brother which is based in France.

In a Facebook post, Awuzie revealed that negotiations are underway with several broadcasters including DStv for the game show. Should DStv acquire rights to Big Brain Naija it will likely be distributed by Africa Magic as seen with Idols and Big Brother.

Big Brains Naija is a rewarding programme that grants prizes to winners from different categories on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis. The programme is a brain challenge that tends to keep the mind alert through a series of questions and answers in a quiz format.

Maisha Magic Plus is coming to DStv Access

Last month, it was reported that MultiChoice would discontinue Maisha Magic Movies to its entirety in the coming weeks. This comes after the channel was ripped away from DStv customers in South Africa and in place was British entertainment channel, BBC UKTV.

Now a similar fate await awaits consumers in East Africa as MultiChoice unveiled two local dramas Zari and Ka-Siri for the Maisha Magic Plus brand in a campaign known as Tumefungulia Magic which will see these shows being made accessible to DStv Access and GOtv Plus.

"As industry players, we are delighted to have partners like MultiChoice who allow Kenyans tell their own stories that are authentic are speak to the cultural and societal nuances that are alive in them while creating jobs for actors, actresses, chefs, transporters, real estate owners, make-up artists, video editors, sound producers, camera crew, set designers among others in the film ecosystem.”

News Shorts: Akili And Me Expands To More African Households With Play Room, StarTimes Novela E Plus Acquired Rights To The Mexican Drama Rubi III And People's Weather To Rollout A Brand New Wildlife Documentary Monkey Rehabilitation

Akili And Me is getting more love

A few months ago, Ngwato Nkosi Group announced the addition of Play Room which features fun and educational content for children with a mixture of live-action and popular animated series such as the Tanzanian based series Akili And Me dubbed in Zulu.

Akili And Me follows a curious 4-year-old who lives with her family at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. She has a secret: every night when she falls asleep, she enters the magical world of Lala Land, where she and her animal friends learn and play games.

The series promotes numeracy, literacy and social skills toward preschoolers. Following its rollout on Play Room, Akili And Me has been picked up by numerous broadcasters including Akili Kids, The Africa Channel, Arewa 24, DBE TV, KTN, One Africa TV and MBC TV.

Rubi is coming to StarTimes

Based on the 2004 Mexican telenovela of the same name, the story revolves around a young journalist named Carla who convinces the titular character, a mysterious woman who lives in a dark mansion, to tell the story of her life and why she isolated herself from the outside world out of free will.

It starred Camila Sodi as the title character alongside other stars like Jose Ron, Rodrigo Guirao and Kimberley Dos Ramos.

The series received both positive and negative
reviews from the audience. Sodi's performance was compared to that of Bárbara Mori's from the 2004 adaptation. Luckily, the series managed to obtain good ratings during its run on Univision.

Rubi airs weekdays on Novelas E Plus from October 9 at 21:30.

Monkey Rehabilitation is now on People's Weather

Monkey Helpline, a compassionate haven dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and protection of our primate friends. With a deep-rooted commitment to wildlife welfare, we strive to safeguard the lives and habitats of monkeys, offering them a second chance at a life filled with love and freedom.

It commences on October 2.

Why eXposed Was Silently Rebranded To eSeries On Openview?

eXposed (now eSeries) is a free-to-air TV channel operated by eMedia Investments that launched in 2022 offering a variety of international content from dramas like Hudson & Rex, The Walking Dead and House Of Cards to reality like Dark Side Of The Ring and F**k That's Delicious.

The channel was launched in place of Rewind and was also used to supplement or package the international lineup formerly viewed on e.tv as the brand looks to boost their local and streaming endeavours.

It is basically a mashup/competitor of several DStv channels particularly premium brands like M-Net, 1Magic, Universal and Comedy Central while as supplying content from tvN, Vice TV and Lifetime.

During the month, eMedia Investments' silently renamed the channel to eSeries after a year on air. In which eMedia had stated would offer a “unmatched, dramatic rollercoaster ride” with international series across multiple genres making top-rated content available on Openview.

Of course, details surrounding the rebrand remains a mystery if one had to guess it probably has to do with the recent change in programming as Bollywood shows formerly seen on eExtra such as Surrender In Love is now on eSeries another is the lack of edgy series.

eXposed was being built up as another M-Net Edge/City which featured a lot of edgier shows like Doom At Your Service, Billions and Why Women Kill. Overtime, that part of the channel probably subsided as there's was not much content to retain that part of the brand.

Henceforth, the switch from eXposed to eSeries.

Development Alert: Wild Kratts Encourages Empathy For Animals During World Animal Month Across Africa On PBS Kids

This World Animal Month, the beloved PBS Kids series "Wild Kratts" is back with Season 4, airing weekdays at 4pm from 2 October on DStv Channel 313. Known for its thrilling blend of science education and adventure, "Wild Kratts" aims to instill empathy for animals in young viewers.

"Wild Kratts" is not your typical wildlife show. With over a decade of live-action animal footage, the Kratt brothers bring the natural world to life, making science and natural history accessible to kids.

Key Empathy Concepts from "Wild Kratts":

Everything has needs: The series teaches that all living creatures share fundamental needs like food, shelter, and care.

Unique needs: Viewers learn that individual needs can differ among living things.

Taking action: "Wild Kratts" encourages children to act on empathy, building confidence and responsibility.

Celebrating World Animal Month with "Wild Kratts":

As World Animal Month unfolds, "Wild Kratts" offers a unique opportunity for families to connect with animals. The Kratt brothers exemplify respect and care for creatures, fostering empathy and connection.

Parents can encourage their children to care for animals at home, in the community, or in nature, leading to higher empathy scores. Even preschoolers can take meaningful responsibilities in pet care.  For families without pets, there are countless ways to support animals in the wild, such as cleaning up local parks, installing bird feeders, or cultivating pollinator-friendly gardens.

Wild Kratts" encourages children to become "creature adventurers, " observing animal life without harming creatures or their habitats.  As "Wild Kratts" returns with new episodes this October, families can embark on thrilling adventures and cultivate empathy for all living creatures, joining in the worldwide celebration of World Animal Month.