What To Expect On TNT Across Africa In December 2023?

Christmas Special

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Unwrap the magic of Christmas with TNT's festive movie extravaganza! From 24-26 December, dive into a jolly lineup of family-friendly comedies that'll have your whole crew in stitches!

Sunday, 24 December 

15:00 Beverly Hills Ninja (2014) 

16:30 Gremlins (1982) 

18:15 The Mask (1994) 

20:00 Coming to America (1988) 

Monday, 25 December 

15:10 Explorers (1985) 

17:00 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) 

18:40 A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) 

20:30 Meet the Parents (2000) 

Tuesday, 26 December 

15:35 Madea’s Family Reunion (2006) 

17:25 Surf Ninjas (2014) 

18:55 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)

20:00 The Tuxedo (2002)

Tom Cruise Fan Month

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Get ready to cruise through December with TNT's Tom Cruise Fan Month! Every Friday in December, we're dedicating our programming to the legendary star.

Friday, 1 December 

20:30 Collateral (2004) 

Friday, 8 December 

20:30 Days of Thunder (1990) 

Friday, 15 December 

20:30 War of the Worlds (2005) 

Friday, 22 December 

20:30 Minority Report (2002) 

Friday, 29 December 

14:15 Minority Report (2002) 

16:40 War of the Worlds (2005) 

18:35 Days of Thunder (1990) 

20:30 Edge of Tomorrow (2014) 

22:25 Collateral (2004)

Fellow Feeling

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Embrace the spirit of unity on December 16th, with 'Fellow Feeling,' a cinematic journey celebrating friendship, breaking barriers, and sharing the love.

Saturday, 16 December

13:15 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 

15:35 Justice League (2017) 

17:35 Blood Diamond (2006) 

20:00 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

100 Years of Warner Bros.

*Exclusive* Special

In 2023, Warner Bros. celebrated 100 years of movie magic, and we're wrapping up this epic journey with a bang! TNT proudly presents '100 Years of Warner Bros.' documentary, a four-part series unveiling the incredible legacy of this iconic studio. Catch a new episode every Wednesday in December after a prime-time Warner Bros. classic. It's a month of cinematic history in the making!

Wednesday, 6 December 

20:30 Ocean’s Eleven (2001) 

22:25 100 Years of Warner Bros.: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of (2023) 

Wednesday, 13 December 

20:30 Mad Max (1979) 

22:05 100 Years of Warner Bros.: Clint, Kubrick & Kryptonite (2023) 

Wednesday, 20 December 

20:30 Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) 

23:00 100 Years of Warner Bros.: Heroes, Villains & Friends (2023) 

Wednesday, 27 December 

20:30 300 (2007) 

22:25 100 Years of Warner Bros.: Wizarding World & The Big Bang (2023)

New Series Alert: Someone To Watch Over Me Coming Soon To Novelas E

Novelas E, a general entertainment channel operated by StarTimes that is tailor-made for the most popular love stories had had announced the addition of a Phillippe romantic drama titled Someone To Watch Over Me, it starred Tom Rodriguez and Lovi Poe. 

This inspirational drama tackles the story of a Johanna’s unwavering love for her husband TJ who is suffering from Early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She will do everything for her sick husband even allowing Irene into their lives and into their home. 

The series was broadcast on GMA Network between September 6, 2016 and concluded on January 6, 2017 with a total of 90 episodes.

Someone To Watch Over Me airs daily on St Novelas from 21 November. GMA Network is home to number of productions including My Husband's Lover, Abot-Kamay na Pangarap, Stories For The Heart, I Can See You, Spooky Valentine and One Day Isang Araw.

Showmax Sets Sights On Becoming The Number-One Streaming Service In Africa With Bold Relaunch

Eight years after entering the streaming market in South Africa, Showmax is gearing up for its biggest year yet. The African streaming service is relaunching in February 2024 with a brand-new look, new app, and entirely new product suite. This comes after the announcement of the partnership between Showmax and international media heavyweight Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky earlier this year.

The new Showmax will have three plans: Showmax Entertainment, Showmax Entertainment Mobile and the exciting Showmax Premier League. Powered by SuperSport and made for mobile users, Showmax Premier League is the first standalone Premier League mobile streaming service ever to launch in Africa and will take every single match of the world’s most popular football league to every corner of sub-Saharan Africa.

As it prepares for relaunch, Showmax released a first look at a completely refreshed logo and brand identity. “We can’t wait to share the new Showmax,” says Showmax CEO Marc Jury. “We have an incredibly powerful new technology platform, a bold brand that truly represents our driving spirit, and a content slate that is unmatched. No other streaming service in Africa can offer what Showmax is bringing to the table in the new year.”

Showmax’s migration onto the global Peacock streaming platform means it’s ready to scale, and scale fast. The robust platform is used across the globe and is a leader in sports streaming, having successfully live-streamed the Super Bowl to more than six million users simultaneously.

LOCAL

Known for its track record of setting trends with Showmax Originals, Showmax will be ramping up its content slate across the continent in December in preparation for the relaunch. The diverse lineup includes its first 2D animation, Twende, about an adorable boda-boda driving pangolin, as well as second seasons of record-breaking bromance Adulting, smash hit reality series Kwa Mam’Mkhize and Nigerian hit Wura, not to mention the reunion of The Mommy Club. And that’s not all, with launches on the way for Convict Conman, a new true-crime series (from the producers of Devilsdorp, Rosemary’s Hitlist and Steinheist); Trompoppie, a murder mystery series set in the competitive world of high school drum majorettes; Nigerian legal drama Agu; first Nigerian Original feature film, School Run and reality series Sports Wives. Every Wednesday until 27 December, Showmax will also be releasing new episodes of their breakthrough CANAL+ co-production Spinners, the first African show ever selected for Canneseries.

INTERNATIONAL

For fans of international content, the new Comcast partnership guarantees Showmax an ongoing supply of hit content, as the media giant owns the likes of Universal Pictures, NBC, Peacock, Sky, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo.

Viewers can expect international titles on Showmax to radically increase in the new year, with December’s lineup already including The Super Mario Bros. Movie (the biggest animated opening of all-time, and the biggest global opening of 2023), Fast X (which was the #1 international opening of 2023), Emmy®-nominated Poker Face and King Arthur epic The Winter King. Already home to the three most nominated shows at this year’s Emmys®, Showmax will continue to draw content from Banijay, BBC, eOne Fremantle, HBO, ITV, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros, among others.

Showmax continues to go from strength to strength. It was recently named one of the RoW40 (40 Trailblazing Companies that are beating the West) by the New York based global non-profit Rest of World who said, “These emerging market pioneers are outmanoeuvring Silicon Valley.” Nigeria’s 2023 BrandCom Awards also recognised Showmax as ‘The Most Innovative On-demand Video Streaming Platform’, noting that, “The video streaming service has demonstrated exceptional creativity, originality, and innovation within the on-demand streaming industry”.

“Streaming in Africa is about to take off and we’re ready to change the game,” says Jury. “We have all the ingredients in place to become the number one streaming service for Africa.”

Development Alert: Bongile Mantsai Joins Mzansi Magic Telenovela, Gqeberha: The Empire

South Africa’s favourite television bad boy, Bongile Mantsai is joining the Home of Local this November as he makes his debut Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire on the 20th of November. Bongile will be paying the role of Luzuko Mxenge’s younger brother, Hlumelo Mxenge, who can be described as ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing with a horrifying God complex and more to prove than to lose’.

 

Hlumelo is a charismatic, charming and confident man, with an infectious playful energy and a mean streak. Luzuko reaches out to his brother in a time of need, but a tragic turn of events presents Hlumelo with one of his deepest desires. He is ready to manipulate, lie, cheat and even spill blood to keep the Mxenge empire.

If you love Bongile Mantsai and the villainous characters he’s played in the past, then you’ll love Hlumelo. Viewers can expect to witness the good, the bad, and the ugly in every episode, and experience every form of the 7 deadly sins unfold on their screens.

 

Watch the reign of Hlumelo Mxenge on Gqeberha: The Empire exclusive to Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) every weekday at 21:00 with episodes also available on DStv Stream. Visit our website and find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Join the conversation using #GqeberhaTheEmpire.

Reminder: TLC Introduces Survive The Raft: A New Series Where Survival Epic Meets Social Experiment Premiering in South Africa On Monday, 4 December At 22:00

TLC announces Survive the Raft, an exhilarating new series that pushes the boundaries of reality television, blending survival epic with a captivating social experiment. Based on a 1973 social experiment, the nine-episode series challenges the notion of whether strangers from diverse walks of life can unite for a common purpose. 

 

Hosted by United States Army Green Beret, NFL football player, and actor Nate Boyer, Survive the Raft takes nine original contestants on a daring journey aboard the Acali II, testing their ability to collaborate and overcome personal differences. Set against the stunning backdrop of Panama's Pearl Islands, the contestants face a 21-day adventure that will determine if personal interests can be set aside in pursuit of a shared fortune. 

With each successful mission, the team accumulates funds in a communal cash pot to be equally divided among those who make it to the end. Participants are tasked with physical and intellectual challenges designed to disrupt and divide the group, creating a dynamic and intense experience. At the conclusion of each episode, the crew faces the choice to continue as a united group or swap out one member for a new participant. 

 

“It's a unique social experiment exploring teamwork, unity, and individual sacrifice,” expresses Nate Boyer. “Survive the Raft is not just a survival epic; it's a fascinating social experiment that delves into the human spirit. It's about whether a diverse group can come together and overcome personal differences for a common goal." 

As participants face physical and intellectual challenges designed to disrupt and divide, the central question looms: Will the good for all outweigh the good for one? 

 

Don't miss the gripping premiere of Survive the Raft on TLC South Africa on Monday, 4 December @ 22h00, where the uncharted waters of social experiment collide with the epic journey of survival. It's an unmissable adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat, questioning the limits of collaboration and the strength of the human spirit. 

Development Alert: Caracol Televisión's The Girl To Rollout On An Upcoming DStv Channel

During the week, it was reported MultiChoice had begun work another TV channel likely pertaining to Soweto TV due to the latter Faith Cooking and Ladies In Heels. Prior to the channel's possible rollout, One Freestate Televisual will be allocated on the DStv platform.

From what we can gather, this is most likely another community channel I mean it wouldn't seem far fetched. Firstly, they're currently working through an SD feed and most premium channels like BBC Lifestyle, Mzansi Magic and TLC had all been migrated to HD.

If it's any consolation, this untitled TV channel had acquired broadcasting rights to The Girl (La Niña) from Caracol Televisión while as Soweto TV broadcasts River Of Passions (Niche, Lo Que Diga El Corazón) - coincidence.

Based on real life events, it follows a young woman who was part of the guerrilla force now seeks a better life in the city. She wants to study medicine, to heal instead of hurt, but she'll have a challenge since being part of outside-the-law groups always leaves consequences.

The series was broadcast on Caracol Televisión from 26 April 2016 to 16 September 2016 with 86 episodes each with a 45 minute duration. It starred Ana María Estupiñán as Belky/Sara, Sebastián Eslava as Manuel Monsalve and Marcela Benjumea as Mireya Pinzón.

MultiChoice Renews Several Studio Deals Including NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney And More

Every year, MultiChoice would usually host a content showcase where they'd display various attractions currently or yet to be seen across their platforms. 2023 was one of those years were for some reason none of this occurred so another option would be the interim results.

Interim results are usually the one way MultiChoice is able to engage with consumers about the performance on their platforms and also a downsized version to the content showcase which reflect mostly toward their assets than 3rd parties.

It is through this report hidden way in a page is the renewal agreement with NBCUniversal, MGM, Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount and Disney for their content distributed to M-Net and linear channels. Of course, MultiChoice doesn't provide a duration or terms to these new agreements as seen with Disney back in 2021.

It was also highlighted that they had reduced 3rd parties cost which could mean a number of things: First with Showmax 2.0. set to rollout in the first quarter of 2024 MultiChoice would have to reduce their portfolio so that NBCUniversal can use their 30% stake in the platform.

M-Net had undergone a similar route following the rollout of Disney+ and had since then (co-)produced a number of shows like Devil's Peak, Reyka, Recipe For Love And Murder, and Blood Psalms.

Another would have to pertain to their linear offering, most companies highlighted provide a selection of factual, lifestyle, general entertainment and children's channels. It's likely that one of these channels are going dark soon if not building the lineup for another channel.

National Geographic possibly becoming a member of A+E Networks could mean the end of National Geographic Wild as A+E Networks sustains one channel. Nickelodeon possibly being sold to Warner Bros. Discovery would signal the end of Nicktoons and Nick Jr. as linear channels.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir (PDF)

So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who traveled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more.

In an extraordinary story that only he could tell—and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it—Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humor, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening—as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the book fans have been waiting for.

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Could Nickelodeon Be Offloaded Onto Cartoon Network In The Next Two Years??? Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav Seem To Hint At That Possibility

Nickelodeon is a children's channel that is operated by Paramount Global which is home to some of the most iconic characters including Garfield, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Loud House alongside iCarly and Henry Danger.

During the week, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery was looking to become an acquirer in the next two years as the impact of strikes and write offs to fully developed productions saved them up a lot of money. They site NBCUniversal and also Paramount Global as possible candidates.

Both companies are heading for a loss before the end of this current financial period with their streaming endeavours. It is what led to delay of global rollouts to this streaming services as the latter are looking at potential partnerships with Peacock rolling out across Africa under the Showmax streaming service and likely Paramount+.

Although this sale isn't an official thing NBCUniversal was rumoured to have explored the possibility of merging with these brands but got rejected as the latter felt this merger would favour them. Paramount on the other was in negotiations a few years back with Netflix of a possible acquisition before talks got scrapped as the streamer was more invested in their studios than linear offering.

Warner Bros. Discovery from the looks of things doesn't expect these two companies to recover the lost income overtime and might look to declare bankruptcy if not sale I mean Paramount Global current CEO was open to the idea and had attempted that with BET before plans fell through.

How this affects Nickelodeon?

Not only does Nickelodeon provide content but they distribute a number of TV channels like NickMusic, TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. and Nick@Nite. All of this will likely just shut down if a sale were to occur with content like Paw Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants folded under Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation.

Nickelodeon could continue to operate as a separate tier from Cartoon Network I mean it doesn't seem far fetched. Warner Bros. Discovery had made several attempts at building the live-action offering on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon had conceived a number of successful shows including iCarly, Big Time Rush and Drake And Josh.

In this current climate where cable TV is being rendered obsolete one of these companies would have to give in and look into offloading assets if it gives them any chance of sustainability.