Cartoon Network is bringing you the perfect balance between cozy feelings and silly moments this March with the premiere of Oswaldo, a brand new series! Embark on unforgettable adventures with Oswaldo, a 12-year-old penguin, and his friends, Tobias and Léia, as they navigate the world. Although Oswaldo tends to get into trouble, it’ll be hard not to admire his innate ability to transform any daily situation into an unforgettable adventure. Remember to grab your friends, tune in to Cartoon Network, and step outside of your comfort zone with Oswaldo, premiering Monday, 11 March.
A new season of Ninjago is making its way to Cartoon Network this March! A new world is about to be revealed as this season takes place on an alternate time-line. A war between two sides, a complicated relationship, and conficts arise amongst the eforts to rebuild Ninjago City. Your favourite characters, including Jay and Nya, will struggle to keep up. Buckle your seat-belts before tuning in to this dramatic new season this month on Cartoon Network!
This March on Cartoon Network, Ben 10 faces new threats to his aliens in an all new season. From mysterious new enemies, familiar foes, and new horizons, there are plenty of new adventures just around the corner. Pack your bags, and be aware of sneaky attacks, as Ben travels between mountains and national monuments in the quest to use his powers in heroic ways. Don’t miss the season premiere on Monday, 4 March, on Cartoon Network.
BRAND NEW EPISODES DOROTHY & THE WIZARD OF OZ
The Yes Witch
Dorothy is casting a spell over the land of Boomerang with new episodes of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, premiering on Monday, 4 March. Enthusiastic attitudes permeate even the most wicked of witches, as secret enchantments are cast. When things get twisted, we all know that Dorothy and her gang will figure out a solution. But what happens when they’re faced with spells that go awry? Find out by tuning in to Boomerang this March.
MOVIE SPECIAL TOM & JERRY’S 50TH BIRTHDAY BASH!
Calling All Super Fans!
What better way to start and end the month of March than with special Tom & Jerry movies on Boomerang? From the iconic 50th Birthday Bash, through to a full week of exciting Tom & Jerry movie adventures, there’s something for every Tom and Jerry fan. The chase continues, through medieval times to the Land of Oz. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of your favourite cat and mouse this March on Boomerang.
SPECIAL STUNT HAPPOS HOLIDAYS
Happy, Hopeful, and Helpful
Spend the March holidays with The Happos Family on Boomerang! This special stunt features new episodes of The Happos Family as they find exciting new ways to pass the time when tourists aren’t around. After leaving the safari park, you’ll be busy venturing off on various escapades including taking a trip to Canada to take part in the Lemmings quest in annoying Grizzy, visiting Bear with Masha, and watching Zig & Sharko obsess over Marina. Make sure to tune in to Boomerang during the March holidays for your source of fun.
Given that Marvel has grown into becoming a pop-culture phenomenon in the country, Disney India will be launching a television destination for the brand in India. Marvel HQ will be home to all things Marvel and will be the first window to the world of Marvel for the kids in India. The channel is also a fresh new offering to the super-hero action seeking and Marvel fans across the country.
The channel aims to transport viewers into the world of epic storytelling told through inspiring characters and will reach out to kids 9+ (boys and girls) introducing them to the world of Marvel and also bring in youth and audiences who are fans of Marvel animation and the movies. The content will include animation series as well as live-action movies.
Over the last decade the popularity, affinity has been growing, we’re now seeing it transcend age groups, cities, geographies. It's a great opportunity to initiate something new with Marvel and it’s all based on the core Marvel promise of epic storytelling with human spirit. There are over 8,000 characters in the Marvel Universe being created all the time.
Marvel’s legacy is stemmed from comic books, which have historically been everyone’s first touchpoint into the Marvel Universe. But for India it has been mainly through the movies and the series.
Marvel has also been creating a strong connect through the merchandising route, with 35 million+ products sold last year at retail.
This is for the first time that a special TV destination has been created for Marvel as it allows everyone to have exposure and access, besides creating a first experience for a user.
As Devika Prabhu, Executive Director and Head - Product Media Networks, Disney India , said, “Marvel has content over different platforms, but with Disney it’s all about experience. We wanted to create a curated Marvel experience on TV. It is going to transport viewers into the world of epic storytelling told through inspiring characters. It is multidimensional, high intensity, high octane storytelling.”
Adgully caught up with Devika Prabhu to know more about the strategy behind launching Marvel branded channel. According to Prabhu, “I think with new platforms there are new opportunities for viewers to commit. The thing about Marvel storytelling and why it works in this interconnected world is because it gives new viewers an opportunity to come to the story. I don’t believe that everybody has seen everything. I believe that when you watch something curated for you, you enjoy the experience more.”
Following are excerpts from the interaction:
What’s the thought behind launching a
separate channel for Marvel?
We believe it is time for such a channel. With the Disney channel we have the kids and family angle, with Marvel it gives us the opportunity to tap into the action/adventure space. Seeing the popularity of Marvel, I think there is a need to have a base and a home front.
Usually such launches are done during the holidays or closer to school vacations. Why launch it so close to the exam season?
The launch is more about building a base over the next few months, so that by the time the summer vacations begin, the base is already there. The users would have got habituated to the content by then.
How challenging will it be to launch amid
strong, established players?
If there is a market out there that wants this
kind of content, then they will find a way to see it.
Who is your TG for Marvel HQ? Will it clash with the TG for your other kids’ channels?
The Marvel TG is everybody who loves Marvel. Having a separate platform for Marvel helps us break down the universe and help new viewers understand. That is going to be our endeavour – make Marvel HQ the platform to go to for people who love Marvel but don’t necessarily know all about it and want to know more.
What would be your content strategy for
Marvel HQ?
We are currently starting off with 40 per cent of the schedule as Marvel content accompanying the launch and as we go forward, we will think of growing that. The
thrust will be the summer season. I don’t really think viewers look at genres.
They look at the story. They don’t see a Spiderman live action movie or Spiderman animated series as separate entities.
The series will be animated, while the live action will be in the form of movies. The objective is to have a home for all things Marvel.
What is unique is the option to shoot in multiple languages, which is not something that a lot of other categories can do. We will simultaneously broadcast in 4 languages –
English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu – so viewers can choose a language of their preference.
What would be your marketing strategy for the new platform?
We have an extensive multi-media plan. Currently our focus is on creating a base for our viewers as well as a base for Marvel HQ.
Are you looking at merchandising options for India?
We are looking at consumer engagement activities and will share the details as we go forward.
Will you at localisation of the channel at some point or is Marvel at such a level that you don’t need to do so?
I think right now Marvel is at such a level that it feels local already. If you talk to anybody who has watched any Marvel movie, especially the way it is dubbed and the kind of references that are there, you will realise why it has become so prominent; it is because how we connect with it. The objective of localisation is to connect with the people.
Can we look forward to a local super-hero in the Marvel universe?
It’s a new base; right now we have got 8,000 super-heroes to manage! Marvel characters are spontaneously recalled, and most of them are high in affinity as well. Obviously, the popular ones are those who form the Avengers; everybody’s been seeing them for the last 10 years, the most popular ones being Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spiderman. Spiderman, I think, for the longest time has been the first Marvel super-hero in India and a lot of us grew up with him.
What have been the significant viewership trends in the kids’ genre in 2018?
Kids like to be surprised, they like new concepts, they want to see a lot of things that surprise them – something unexpected, something to do with today’s technology pounded into a wall that they understand, and they are very happy to keep watching what they love. Kids need aspirational characters, someone they want to look up to – negative or positive, it doesn’t matter. They want someone to emulate, someone to be when they role play. It’s all about role play for kids, especially those below the age of 8, where they adopt the persona. Therefore, they need characters that they can connect with.
Do you think OTT has become the first screen of choice in single TV homes, where the mobile becomes the platform for viewership?
Kids will watch content wherever it is made available to them. So, it really depends on what their dynamics are and where they are.
Kids adapt very well, so it’s unlikely to change. Having said that, television is still the biggest platform of reach in the country. If you want to build something, if you want to reach out to everyone, and linear platforms are your answer.
As far as OTT programming for Marvel HQ channel goes, at this point in time we are considering it as a linear platform.
Alaskan Bush People
From Wednesday 13 March at 20:00
Deep in the Alaskan wilderness an incredible family was born and raised wild. Billy Brown, his wife Ami and their seven grown children - five boys and two girls - are so far removed from civilisation that they often go six to nine months of the year without seeing an outsider. They've developed their own accent and dialect, refer to themselves as a "wolf pack," and at night, all nine members of the family sleep together in a one-room cabin. Simply put, they are unlike any other family in America. There are new beginnings on the horizon after the first of the wolf pack, Noah, gets married; how is the family faring with a new member?
Tigerland
From Sunday 31 March at 20:00
One of largest predators on the planet, tigers are now sadly also one of the most endangered. In the last few decades, there has been a massive reduction in their numbers in the wild: from over 100,000 to less than 4000 today, and they are all at risk. In an attempt to reverse this decline, the countries where the last tigers roam have committed to an ambitious program of conservation that will hopefully see their numbers double by 2022 - the next Chinese year of the Tiger. In this compelling documentary, the conservationists and local populations of India and Bhutan detail their efforts and reveal the progress made in this difficult task. It's humans who put tigers on the brink of extinction, but perhaps it will also be humans who save them.
American Chopper (2018)
From Friday 29 March at 20:00
After their family-destroying argument over a decade ago, father and son custom motorcycle builders Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. have managed to rebuild a tentative relationship. They still run their separate shops, but occasionally they will come together to build something special. After working so hard to restore it, the Yankee bike they built together is ready to be unveiled - is it the first of many more? Or will the old anger rise again and put a halt to their joint engineering? Meanwhile, they are both still working on their own projects in their own shops. Paul Sr takes on a warrior-style motorcycle build for the founder of the Spartan Race extreme obstacle course competition, while Paul Jr. builds a wild west- inspired motorcycle for country music star Clay Walker's charity. Whether it's together or apart, either way the Teutuls continue to make some of the most exciting and best designed custom motorcycles in the world.
Unique Rides
From Saturday 2 March at 21:00
Will Castro has a passion for all things automotive and, along with the team at his Long Island shop, is known for creating amazing restorations with eye-popping visuals and superb craftsmanship. His dedication to design, innovation and his top fabrication skills have garnered him a world-renowned reputation and global client base featuring celebrities, top athletes and corporate clients. In upcoming episodes, Team Unique customise and restore a '94 Mustang Cobra for actor Mario Lopez, featuring a hand-stitched leather interior and classic paint finish. And, they transform a 190E Mercedes Benz for rapper, Nas, complete with 1980s-inspired hip-hop styling. Every step of the process is on display, from the design and fabrication, to the restoration and final, fantastic reveal.
Guy's Grocery Games
From Wednesday 13 March at 15:10
Host Guy Fieri sends four talented chefs running through the aisles in a high-stakes, high skills, grocery store cooking competition. From students to grannies to celebrities, the competition is always fierce! Each episode sees the chefs hit by real-world challenges like finding workarounds when all the essential ingredients are suddenly "out-of-stock," or having to create a masterpiece when they can only cook with "5 items or less" or on a $10 budget. In the end, the food does the talking, as the last chef standing has the chance to make some serious cash!
Battle Bots
From Wednesday 6 March at 18:30
It's ultimate robot carnage as mechanical gladiators battle it out in a tournament - for glory, mayhem and destruction! Sparks fly and robots will die in this ultimate battle of machine versus machine. This series brings all the thrills and nail-biting tension of a major sporting contest, coupled with the latest in robot engineering and larger-than-life inventors. Follow the action through 32 nail-biting rounds of competition all leading to a final that decides which home-made robot or 'Bot' is the baddest of them all, as teams of builders and fighters compete for the championship. Each episode gets fully immersed in the action with high tech on-board technology and cameras and combat analytics. Who will have what it takes to win the most epic robot competition of all time?
Crikey! It's the Irwins
From Monday 11 March at 20:00
For the Irwin family - Terri, Bindi and Robert - wildlife and conservation is at the centre of their lives. It's a legacy they are keeping alive in tribute to the late, great, Steve Irwin, fondly remembered as The Crocodile Hunter. Now, they're opening up their incredible world in this engaging series. Terri is a passionate wildlife spokesperson and conservation icon around the world, and as the next generation of conservationists, the Irwin family kids have been actively involved. Bindi has dedicated her life to wildlife conservation and inspiring young people to make a difference in the world. Robert has a natural curiosity and loves learning about wildlife and the Australian bush. As well as striving to make the Australia Zoo in Queensland a global zoological destination the Irwin family continues the important work of Steve Irwin, through research, educational programs, conservation projects, and much more.
My Extreme Excess Skin
From Thursday 14 March at 20:00
The series returns to take an intimate look at people who have lost extreme amounts of weight - from gastric bypasses to strict dieting and workouts - only to find their bodies drowning in excess skin. Their journeys follow them go through extensive surgeries to remove up to 50lbs of excess skin. In this series, Dr. Nowzaradan and other top doctors meet patients including Brenda, who has lost over 250lbs and now left with skin dripping down her body. Her husband has also lost huge amounts of weight but their current bodies have left on the verge of divorce. Model, Calisto, was bed-ridden for six years due to pesticide poisoning and she reached over 400lbs. After lap band surgery she lost 240lbs - but was left with layers of loose skin. Her dream is to fit into her wedding dress without her compression garments showing through. For some, there are severe issues accompanying the weight loss journey. Ultimately, the results are shocking and leave the patients with a new body and new life.
Married With Secrets
From Friday 15 March at 21:00
This investigative series takes and in-depth look at what happens when 'happily ever after' goes horribly wrong. From secret affairs to hitmen for hire follow the real-life stories when husbands and wives embark on secret lives that take them down dark paths, often leaving to devastating results. Families with seemingly perfect lives often hide the darkest secrets - and once the skeletons come out of the closet, no one is safe. Featuring interviews from those directly involved in the investigations as well as dramatic re-enactments of vital moments, these cases prove that there's no vow too sacred to break and no place too twisted for these spouses.
Dare to Wear
From Tuesday 19 March at 21:00
What happens when you put together two extreme fashion victims - both on opposite sides of a style spectrum - and have them not only live one another's look, but also have them shop for a whole new look for someone else? This stylish series is on a mission to take clothes swapping to a new level! Contestants include Robyn, a stay-at-home mum who hides her body beneath her old maternity clothes, and Sheron, a nurse/caregiver whose attention-seeking clothes enter the room before she does. Plus, Josi, a sexy hard rock singer with an overly risqué daytime look, swaps her style with Mona, a special education teacher hiding behind her deceased grandmother's dowdy clothes. How will they fare as they face their worst fears and swap clothes for 24 hours?
My 3000-lb Family
From Friday 1 March at 22:00
This incredible series follows a new family facing the consequences of morbid obesity, as they embark on a remarkable weight-loss journey. Weighing in at over 700- lbs, Casey is the largest; he spends most of his time eating huge amounts of food in his bedroom while playing video games for hours. Casey's cousin Ed is more active and a dad of two, but his weight of 450-lbs is dangerously life- threatening. He knows he must change before his daughters follow his example and become obese as well. Cousin Amy might weigh the least in the family, but at almost 400-lbs, she sees a future of life-limiting weight gain. And, Amanda faces a diagnosis of endometrial cancer, which is untreatable if she continues to weigh 650-lbs. All four cousins make a pact to go on a weight loss journey together and fight the family legacy of obesity threatening their lives. And, a year later, have the Anderson family managed to keep the weight off after their surgery?
Buddy Vs. Duff
From Saturday 16 March at 19:05
In an epic competition to end one of the greatest feuds in baking history, Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman go head- to-head in a series of challenges that test their culinary expertise. They start with a bake-off testing their dessert skills of all kinds, and then they head into the cake-off, where the chefs and their assistants try to out-do one another with extravagant creations like a classic car cake celebrating Fast N' Loud host, Richard Rawlings, and a bridal fair presentation of their ideal wedding cake. The competition comes to a climax with a final, space-themed challenge in Philadelphia, where the judges will crown the winner. Who will win the ultimate showdown and take a slice of victory?
My Big Fat Fabulous Life
From Monday 25 March at 15:50
Whitney Thore weighs in at nearly 400-lbs, but that doesn't stop her living life on her terms as dancer. This dancing queen is happy with her body and lives life out loud! In this series, Whitney visits a newly-sober Buddy in D.C., where an intimate moment between them leaves her perplexed. A bitter Heather helps Whitney celebrate her 34th birthday as she continues her struggle to move on from her own relationship with Buddy. And, after weathering tough criticism from friends and family alike, Whitney pursues her dream of adopting a child, only to receive crushing news that may jeopardize her dreams of ever being a mother. With the discovery of a shocking family secret and fears of Buddy relapsing, life is proving to be a rollercoaster for Whitney; and there's never a dull moment!
Serial Killer Season
From Saturday 9 March at 22:00
America’s most horrific serial killers go under the spotlight with a series of documentaries exploring their stories, and how events unfolded. BTK: A Killer Among Us examines the longest-running serial killer in history whose 30-year reign of terror began in 1974 with one of the most brutal murders Wichita, Kansas had ever witnessed. The programme recounts the investigation that captured him, and the impact on the lives of everyone in his orbit - especially his daughter. In Deadly Legacy, detective Jason Moran reopens the case of one of America's most notorious serial killers, 'Killer Clown' John Wayne Gacy, to finally identify the eight victims who have gone without a name for decades. And, Bad Henry recounts how detective Garry McFadden beat the odds to find and capture serial killer, "Bad" Henry Louis Wallace.
Killing Time
From Thursday 14 March at 22:00
What happens in that critical, lost period of time between life and death on the day of a homicide? This compelling series focuses on those fateful moments, as detectives who worked the case recount their investigation step by step, revealing shocking discoveries that deepen the mystery at every turn. As suspects are identified and hours, minutes and seconds of the victim's last day slowly come to light, a window of missing time appears. Investigators use everything from surveillance footage to credit card statements to GPS data to piece together the rest of the timeline and solve the murder.
American Nightmare
From Wednesday 20 March at 22:00
From weddings to graduations, the best times of our lives normally go hand in hand with our warmest memories; they are moments to cherish for a lifetime. But, as this chilling series reveals, the all-American dream can become an unspeakable nightmare. Real-life home movies and photos of joyful moments and family events lie in stark contrast to the real crime scene video and 911 calls as they become tragic murder mysteries. Featuring first- person accounts from detectives investigating the crime, as well as the victims' family and friends, the series peels back the layers of each case to reveal how the horrific events unfolded.
The Lake Erie Murders
From Friday 29 March at 22:00
Ominously named for its violent and unpredictable nature, Lake Erie - which borders four US states and parts of Canada - is home to some of North America's darkest and deadliest murder cases. This series goes to the edge of the water and takes a deep dive into its most notorious mysteries. In 1975, high school student Debbie Gama disappears on her way to the beach at Lake Erie. When her body is discovered in a creek wrapped in wire, the ensuing investigation ends up uncovering more than her murderer, revealing a secret world of twisted sex, drugs, and sadomasochism. In 1993, Mother-of-three Joan Giambra is found strangled, lying naked under her comatose 11-year old daughter. The young girl becomes the only hope of catching a serial killer; but will she remember his identity before he comes back to silence her too? One thing is certain when it comes to Lake Erie, there is something about the water.
Turner Africa had a successful end to 2018, with the combined kids multiplex and general entertainment channel, TNT, achieving greater reach and rating results than ever before.
In November, Turner Kids celebrated 51 consecutive months in the #1 spot among pay-TV multiplexes in South Africa. Alongside this, Cartoon Network celebrated its highest-ever monthly share, and remained the #1 pay-TV Kids channel among kids aged four to 14-years-old.
Cartoon Network remains the favourite kids’ TV channel in South Africa, dominating the entire top 15 chart of best performing shows. The most popular shows vary between familiar faces such as Ben 10, alongside new Cartoon Network original hits like Apple and Onion and Craig of the Creek. Original Cartoon Network productions and Warner Bros. content totaled 77% of the most viewed content on the channel.
Cartoon Network continued with its high performance success in December, with the Power Rangers: Clash of the Red Rangers movie viewed by an impressive 239 000 kids aged four to 14-years-old, and the sneak peak of the new Cartoon Network Original Summer Camp Island claiming the second spot.
Boomerang is closing in on Cartoon Network’s ratings, after moving up to rank #2 amongst the pay-TV Kids channels for kids aged four to 14-years-old.
After benefiting from a fresh rebranding in September 2018, TNT Africa had an excellent month in October, with the highest performance ever in ratings (an average of 36 000 viewers). In November, TNT Africa broke a new record with 40 700 viewers tuning in (+13% month on month) and achieved its second highest performance in share (1.14%) since December 2016. TNT ranked #5, ahead of Studio Universal, for a second month in a row.
For the first time ever, not only did TNT dominate the Top 50 competitive movies in November, with seven movies on the Top 10 list, but the channel also secured the top three spots for the month.
For prime-time tune-ins, TNT remained on top of the podium. TNT's great performance was driven by viewers tuning in on weekday afternoons (averaging 83 000 viewers between 3pm and 6pm) and Saturday evenings during prime time (in November driven by the The Schwarzenegger Fan Month stunt). The stunt was a huge success, with the four Schwarzenegger movies, aired at 8pm, gathering an average of 202 000 viewers, resulting in a fantastic 3.8% in share!
About Turner International
Turner International is an entertainment, sports and news company that creates premium content and delivers exceptional experiences to fans whenever and wherever they consume content. It operates versions of core Turner brands, including CNN, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and TCM Turner Classic Movies, as well as country- and region-specific networks and businesses in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. It manages the business of pay- and free-TV-channels, as well as Internet-based services, and oversees commercial partnerships with various third-party media ventures; it teams with Warner Bros. and HBO to leverage WarnerMedia’s global reach. Turner International operates 178 channels showcasing 47 brands in 34 languages in over 200 countries. Turner International is a WarnerMedia company.
