New Channel Alert: Zambezi Reloaded And SuperSport Reloaded To Be Allocated On The DStv And Possible GOtv Platforms

A few months ago, it was reported that MultiChoice might be looking to add Zambezi Reloaded to the DStv platform. It served as Zambezi Magic's first ever spinoff channel which similar to Maisha Magic POA and kykNET Lekker would rehash existing content.

From what my earlier prediction suggested, it would be accessible on channel 165 but unlike the above-mentioned brands. This will serve as a catch-up channel until 31 December 2023 in Malawi following DStv's exit in the market consumers had missed out on content.

Another channel which is set to join the list later this month is SuperSport Reloaded. It would serve as the second sports channel to be allocated on the DStv platform during the year following SuperSport Schools linear debut in March following its acquisition years prior.

Similar to the long-awaited reloaded channel, SuperSport will only be using this brand for repeats of sporting events like the Fast5 World Netball Series, Berlin Sports Running Marathon and even the UEFA Champions League.

If one had to guess this could be a rebranded (or temporary) version of the current SuperSport Play channel that was only exclusive to DStv Easyview consumers on DStv Stream. It's currently unknown whether it would be made available to the same consumers or move up to Access.

New Channel Alert: MultiChoice To Add Trace Brasil To The DStv Platform In Angola And Mozambique

Launched In 2019, TRACE Brasil is the one and only channel dedicated to Brazilian urban music serving 200 million Portuguese speakers in the world. Also known as Trace Brazuca apparently, it covers covers all genres of urban music including Funk, Rap, Samba, Pagode.

Weird enough, MultiChoice seems to have acquired rights to the channel for its consumers in Angola and Mozambique under the name, Trace Brasil. So we assume that either Trace Brazuca will be undergoing a rebrand or a localised version of the channel will be rolling out.

Some content confirmed for the soon-to-be-launched music channel include from what appears to be a localised version of FOCUS alongside other content like De Volta, Gospel Vibes and Tecendo A Liberdade.

The channel might arrive later in the month if not early 2024 on channel 592 which will accompany existing brands like Trace Toca, Trace Jama, Trace Urban, Trace Musika, Trace Naija and Trace Gospel therefore boosting MultiChoice number of trace channels to 6.

In other developments, MultiChoice and Disney extended the reach of ESPN 1 to DStv Family and Access consumers in Southern Africa alongside GOtv Lite consumers in ROA. Weird enough, a few markets had opted to make this an open window which ends 31 December 2023.

Development Alert: FOX And FOX Life Will Become FX And FX Life Across Baltics And CIS By January 2024, More International Disney Channels Are Expected To Close

FX returns to the Nordic and Baltics region

The Nordic and Baltic branches of The Walt Disney Company will adopt a new name and a striking visual identity on January 24, 2024, when FOX and FOX Life become FX and FX Life. FX and FX Life continue to deliver familiar and beloved content, bringing premium entertainment, including the best international series, to local audiences. 

“When FOX and FOX Life become FX and FX Life, our overall entertainment content will align with the Disney+ streaming platform while continuing to offer fans their favorite stories. This includes global hit series such as Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, This is Us, Castle, 9-1-1 and more. 

We look forward to bringing new shows and high-quality entertainment to our Estonian audience next year," said Hans van Rijn, SVP and Head of The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic. He added, "Linear television remains a priority for us, enabling our audiences to experience exciting content from the many world-class studios in the Disney family." 

The FX brand has been refined and adapted to meet the needs of local television, while maintaining the bold and confident legacy created by FOX.

Disney is pulling the cord of more TV channels

Since Disney+ inception back in 2019, Disney has closed various Disney Channels across the UK, Asia and Italy while a majority of channels still reside within Europe and Africa. Part of which still have no access to Disney+ and are therefore just losing out on content.

Theoretically, it was estimated that Disney could close their remaining linear offering by 2025 but Disney+ is still not sustainable in some of the areas launched. The linear offering is one way to help sustain the streamer and if possible lure potential audiences.

Despite the setback, Disney was still able to close it's remaining linear offering in Asia who also handle operations in the Middle East and North Africa. Since then a majority of international feeds are aligned/managed within Southern Africa (also known as Europe, Middle East and Africa).

Although there's no official confirmation, National Geographic People (Nat Geo People) and FOX Action Movies are anticipated to go dark by 2024 across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) seeing as these were handled in Asia whose offering is being migrated to Disney+. 

As mentioned, most international territories (including MENA) are being handled by Disney EMEA who only supply children brands Disney Channel and Disney Junior alongside factual brands National Geographic and National Geographic Wild.

In Portugal, all the FOX channels are being folded under the Star brand by 2024 (i.e. FOX Life becomes Star Life). This includes consumers in Angola and Mozambique for which MultiChoice operates their service and also supply the affected brands like FOX, FOX Life and FOX Comedy.

News Shorts: Jellystone Might End With A Season 4 On Cartoon Network And Max, Bob Hearts Abishola Will End On CBS After 5 Seasons And History Channel Across Africa Explores The Many Legacies Left By Past Civilisations

Jellystone has mysteriously been renewed for a season 3 & 4

Jellystone! is an American animated television comedy series developed by C. H. Greenblatt for Max and Cartoon Network. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and features reimagined versions of various characters by Hanna-Barbera.

The series was renewed for a second season by 2022 with a further 40 episodes. It could have gone the same route as Little Ellen and Close Enough but instead Warner Bros. Studios opted to split these 40 episodes into two seasons bringing it to a total of 4 seasons with the latter expected to air by January 2024.

Most crew members who had worked on the show had since then moved to Disney's STUGO while C.H. Greenblatt is developing a new show for Disney Television Animation. Honestly, Jellystone was one of those few shows to get some light of day after a one year hiatus.

Bob and Abishola call it quits

The fifth season of the multi-cam comedy is due to premiere on Feb. 12, with the series finale now set for May 13 on CBS with M-Net also anticipated to air the finale sometime in 2024. The show is described as a love story about Bob, a middle-aged compression sock businessman from Detroit, who unexpectedly fell for his cardiac nurse, Abishola, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack.

The ending of “Bob Hearts Abishola” marks the potential end of an era at CBS. With the show ending, coupled with the previously announced ending of “Young Sheldon,” Chuck Lorre does not currently have any shows slated to be on the CBS schedule going into next fall. Unless the network picks up a new show from Lorre and his team between now and then, it will be the first time Lorre has not had at least one show on CBS since 2003.

Lorre’s run at CBS has been nothing short of historic. In the past 20 years he has co-created and executive produced shows for the network including long-running hits like “The Big Bang Theory,” “Two and Half Men,” “Mom,” and “Young Sheldon.” He is currently prepping the series “Bookie” for Max.

Ancient civilisations revealed

This December on the HISTORY Channel, DStv 186, discover great empires that’ve shaped the world we know today.

Explore the many legacies left behind by past civilisations, learn more about the iconic rulers of the ancient world and uncover the architectural achievements of extraordinary empires.  

Don't miss these three series this December...

Footprints of Civilisation

Saturdays at 19h25

Starts 2 December

In our technologically advanced modern age, it’s easy to forget the enormous debt we owe the ancient world. The concept of democracy was developed by the Ancient Greeks, everything we know about space began with the Babylonians, and the roots of the binary system that drives today’s computers can be found in Ancient Egypt. The legacies left behind by some of these civilisations, as long as 5000 years ago, have become the foundations of much of what we take for granted today. 

Empire Builders S2

Sundays at 20h15

Starts 24 December

This epic series that brings to life some of the ‘Great Empires’. Each episode visits the most significant sites that have defined their achievements and legacy; 100 historic sites in all, discovering how they were built, for what purpose, and what they reveal about each empire’s rise and fall. Combining CGI and dramatic reconstructions with insights from history experts, Empire Builders reveals the story of extraordinary empires that are still shaping the way we live our lives today. Stories include the Ancient Greeks, the Inca, the Pacific, China, Netherlands and Mexico.

Ancient Empires

Tuesdays at 19h25

Starts 26 December

Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. Rulers of Greek, Roman and Egyptian empires. The three most iconic, powerful and brilliant leaders in ancient history. Leaders whose lives and legacies still shape our world today. Their names are well known, but their stories have never been told like this before. To survive and succeed they had to be unique, strategic, ruthless and charming. The story of their epic lives reveals just what it takes to rule over an Ancient Empire.

Head Into The Holidays With Great Prizes And The Best Shows From Cartoon Network And Cartoonito Africa

On the back of a bumper block of festive season programming this December, Cartoon Network and Cartoonito also offer fans the chance to snag some exciting prizes, thanks to our friends at Garmin.

 

How to Enter: Easy as 1-2-3!

Entering the competition is a breeze! Visit www.CartoonNetworkAfrica.com and www.CartoonitoAfrica.com between the 11th and 24th of December and head to the Festive Competition page. Answer an easy multiple-choice question to submit your entry for a chance to win incredible prize bundles valued at R3 500 each!

Exciting Prizes Await!

Three lucky winners from each channel are in for a treat – they'll snag a Garmin vívofit® jr. 3 fitness tracker for kids, accompanied by a stash of awesome Cartoon Network or Cartoonito branded goodies!

 

Adventure awaits with the kid-tough and swim-friendly Garmin vívofit® jr. 3, boasting a vibrant display and unique fitness tracker options. Kids will light up as they explore the different app adventures and mini games by completing 60 minutes of daily activity. Parents, it gets even better – use the app on your smartphone to track steps, monitor sleep, manage chores, set timers, and reward those little victories. Amp up the fun with new timed activities and friendly Toe-to-Toe™ step challenges. And for a little peace of mind, quickly see your child’s emergency contact phone number right on the device.

But that's not all! Alongside the Garmin vívofit® jr. 3, Cartoon Network's prize bundles are a vibrant delight. Picture stylish CN branded headphones, We Baby Bears plush bags, Craig of the Creek Frisbees, and Prince Ivandoe notebooks and tote bags. Cartoonito's goodies are equally delightful – Bugs Bunny Builders placemats, Batwheels sunshades, tote bags, and sticker books, all crowned by a fabulous Cartoonito backpack! Get set for excitement – gear up for the chance to win big and turn every day into a thrilling adventure!

Tune In!

Get ready for a holiday extravaganza with Cartoon Network! Starting on the 14th of December at 14:30 CAT, catch the CN Summer Festival loaded with summer vibes – parties, dancing, vacations, and epic adventures with your Cartoon Network crew. You can also dive into a Happy Christmas-themed block on the 24th and 25th of December at 16:10 CAT, featuring a brand-new Prince Ivandoe special episode among a compilation of Christmas episodes from Teen Titans Go!, Craig of the Creek, The Amazing World of Gumball and more.

Switch over to Cartoonito for extra excitement! Hop on to the Cartoonito World Tour every weekday from the 18th of December at 07:45 CAT. It's a daily adventure around the globe, from Mr. Bean to Tom & Jerry in New York and so much more. Cartoonito's then got you covered with the biggest animated stars in Movie Stars Holidays with Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and Tom & Jerry, to name a few, from 09:40 CAT. And for that extra dose of holiday cheer, tune in for the 'Holidays on Ice' Batwheels Special followed by the ‘Looneyburg Lights’ Bugs Bunny Builders Special on the 24th of December from 08:00 CAT.

 

Stay tuned, mark your calendars, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure with Cartoon Network,  Cartoonito and Garmin.

 

SABC+ Undergoes A Major Restructure Which Sees Only TV And Radio Channels Accessible On The Platform, Archived And Third Party Programming Axed

Following SABC's acquisition of the TelkomOne streaming service from Telkom which had since then folded under SABC+. The streaming service has been struggling to garner any traction as seen with local players such as eMedia Investments' eVOD and MultiChoice's Showmax.

The SABC turned to high data prices as the cause for the little consumer consumption. Another reason would be marketing as the broadcaster hasn't invested in any exclusive content for the streamer as the latter has been viewed on their linear platforms with some third parties from Curiosity and Da Vinci.

A few months ago, SABC had removed their shows from MultiChoice's DStv Catch-up service with further content meant to reside within SABC+. 

From 1st December, SABC restructured their streaming service so much so that it doesn't look like a competitor to a majority of existing streaming services available in the market but to only DStv Stream which serves as a wireless version to the current linear platform.

It only features SABC 1-3, SABC Education, SABC Sport, SABC News and SABC Lehae alongside the 19 radio stations. There's currently no catch-up not even a section to view third party shows from Curiosity or an archived section for past SABC productions unless they plan to include that at a later stage.

During the year, they had licensed selected content to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and VIU. Theoretically, it could be possible that they'll licence content to competitors as a means to keep SABC+ sustainable if not abandon the whole streaming regime.

It is very possible that the latter could resurface or get supplemented but that would probably be possible if SABC+ is able to see any growth consumer wise. Otherwise it's current state will look like a watershed version to the existing DStv Stream service.

The Mandalorian Reimagined As A Game Boy Game

The Mandalorian is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series produced in the Star Wars franchise, beginning five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983).

The Game Boy version (produced by Eric Wilder) follows the battered Mandalorian returns to his client to collect his reward and tend to his wounds; complications arise and what should have been a simple task becomes far more dangerous than anyone could have expected.

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News Shorts: Ted TV Series From Seth MacFarlane Based On Movie Rolls Out On Peacock, Highly-Anticipated New Original Series FX’s “Shōgun” Makes Global Debut On Disney+ And Lionsgate Is Working On A Live-Action Adaptation To Naruto

Ted is getting his own show

The streamer has dropped an official trailer for the seven-episode series that serves as a prequel to the film franchise. The fresh cast of characters include Max Burkholder (Parenthood), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria), Scott Grimes (The Orville) and Giorgia Whigham (13 Reasons Why) while MacFarlane will continue to voice Ted.

In this comedic prequel event series to the Ted films, it’s 1993, and Ted the bear’s (Seth MacFarlane) moment of fame has passed. He’s now living back home in Framingham, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett (Max Burkholder), along with John’s parents, Matty and Susan (Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach) and cousin Blaire (Giorgia Whigham). Ted may be a lousy influence on John, but at the end of the day, he’s a loyal pal who’s always willing to go out on a limb for friendship.

The series will stream on Peacock from January 11, 2024.

James Clavell's best seller is being reimagined

Disney+ revealed FX’s “Shōgun,” the much-anticipated global event series, will premiere on Tuesday, February 27 on Disney+. The premiere of the 10-episode limited series will include the first two episodes, followed by a new episode each week. 

“Shōgun,” an original adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “Lord Yoshii Toranaga” who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, “John Blackthorne” (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, “Toda Mariko” (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.

“Shōgun” is created for television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks, with Marks serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Naruto is heading for the big screens

According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, who also helmed Red Sonja and the animated version of Tomb Raider. 

This comes almost a decade since it was first reported, with Michael Gracey signed to direct the project. He will be joined by Avi Arad and Ari Arad who will serve as producers and Lionsgate’s Erik Feig, Geoff Shaveitz, and Kelly O’Malley. 

More details, including its cast and release date, are yet to be unveiled. 

Recap To Last Month: Insidus Plus Is Now Offline With Regular Nick: Games To Follow On New Year's Eve

As mentioned, Insidus Plus and Regular Nick: Games will go offline from 31 December 2023 with further content now residing on Insidus. Currently working on filing up the void for these brands particularly Regular Nick: Games which has now reverted back to Insidus Games.

Reverting the name back was one way we could limit the conflict with our current offering Regular Nick which is reserved for kids and families. Insidus Games has a page of its own known as Cartoon Games which isn't ad-free - not like that portion was reversed for reading.

But it's only the page that comes with ads, through Entertainment Zone which is what Insidus Plus reserved has a watered down version of the offering (no ads) alongside other content which include a range of documents, YouTube videos and the best of Insidus.

Unlike Insidus Games, we reduced the Plus brand name even further now it will be a way to promote selected content from existing brands like Everyday Novelas, Video Entertainment, Sports Entertainment and Regular Nick. Initially, it would have been retired to its entirety.

Besides that, Insidus Plus was always an Insidus 2 platform where it would leverage existing content and build up the line-up for some of our brands. Or at least that's how it was viewed initially so not much expansion or replacing to go around there as seen with Insidus Games.

For those browsing the Cartoon Games page would notice there's only 5 options and it shuffles when a page is reloaded. As soon as we do manage to build the offering we will crank up the numbers. For now, Insidus Collection is available on the menu bar and we took the liberty of adding a script "for more... content" which will redirect you to your destination.

Insidus Collection will feature various content we will look to promote on the site with more content still awaiting clearance. If you click on the platform you'll notice a folder known as Insidus Library now this is what we promoted on Insidus Plus but didn't feel garnered much traction like Insidus Games.

To those who think Insidus Library will be boring trust me it's more like Regular Nick: Games or at least what we're aiming for we have bibles from SpongeBob SquarePants and Adventure Time and even Marvel documents from the webslinger himself Spider-Man.

Trust me when I say 2024 will be revolved on filing the blanks of the two affected brands and also we are expanding our horizons at the same time without jeopardizing the reputation of Insidus.