Discovery Streamlines EMEA Operation

Discovery has announced it is aligning several of its operating markets in EMEA to improve strategic focus and enable further investment in its D2C businesses.

“We are working systematically to rationalise our operation and find synergies and efficiencies across our EMEA business. We have come a long way over the years and with this restructuring we have defined a clear path towards a leaner operating model, where we utilise the best competence across markets. By combining knowhow and leveraging our scale, we will be able to streamline decision making and operate with greater speed and focus towards future business opportunities”, said Kasia Kieli, President and MD of EMEA.

In the new EMEA operation James Gibbons’ portfolio is realigned to encompass the Nordic markets in addition to the UK markets, and Gibbons becomes GM UK & Nordics. The Nordic markets will be unified under the leadership of Nicklas Norrby. Norrby has been in charge of the Swedish business since 2019 and will now report directly to James Gibbons.

Benelux will be unified with Germany under the leadership of GM Germany & Benelux Susanne Aigner, while Spain and France will be unified under the leadership of GM Iberia & France, Antonio Ruiz.

Jamie Cooke will take on a new combined role for Russia, CEEMCA, MEA & pay-TV, and will continue to cover maternity leave for Victoria Davies. Cooke comes from the role as SVP Chief of Staff EMEA.

Leah Hooper will be taking the role of SVP D2C Growth & Strategy International, and Espen Skoland is named SVP Communications for EMEA.

CEO of TVN, Piotr Korycki has announced his departure from Discovery. He will not be replaced as Kasia Kieli, President and MD of EMEA, will take a leadership role of the Polish television network herself.

Read Also:
- October on Discovery Channel Africa
- October on TLC Africa

(Updated: 04/09/2020)TLNovelas Has A Premiere Date On DStv Alongside Package

A month ago, MultiChoice unveiled 5 new "pop-up channels" at the DStv Showcase. These channels were just sneak peeks which would answer your question on why customer care was clueless about its existence on the platform.

Each channel rollouts within a 3 month period. The first channel set to roll out on viewer's screens will be Televisa.

tlnovelas (currently available on StarTimes/Starsat) offers a huge array of English-dubbed Mexican telenovelas from Latin America's second-largest producer, Televisa.

MultiChoice and StarTimes have the awful and overrated channel FOX Life supplying content from Televisa. To make it worse FOX Life hits the repeat button after the current telenovelas so there's no need to have that useless FOX channel if tlnovelas exists.

Unlike StarTimes, tlnovelas will be available from the 14th of September 2020 until August 2021 on DStv channel 133. This pop-up format might apply to South Africa and a few other African markets as MultiChoice in some markets have a history of advertising permanent channels as popups e.g. Da Vinci, WWE Channel, PBS Kids, ESPN and AfricaNews.

There won't be a Portuguese version of the channel maybe in future they'll have one but for now it's just the English version which will be added.

TLNovelas will be available on DStv Premium, Compact+ and Compact in South Africa. Please note that the availability differs in each market so please consult MultiChoice in your country for further information.

Update: TLNovelas might launch 1st October on DStv channel 133 if not on the specified date mentioned a while back and it will be on Family in the end there's a lot of inaccuracies on their stable.

You can find the lineup here

Read Also
- FOX Life could finally be a goner
- Disney XD could become Disney XDead on DStv as it's programming moves to Disney Channel
- Zoomoo's lineup for DStv
- More info about KIX including release date and movie lineup
- More Adult Swim on Showmax
- TNT becomes the most watched movie channel in South Africa
- SA Youth still see Cartoon Network and Boomerang as their #1

Three Channels Are Rumored To Be Added On StarTimes Really Soon, Not Sure With Starsat

At the end of August, StarTimes lost Fashion TV, Fashion One, TDC (coming to DStv), FashionBOX, Gametoon and FilmBOX. Reasons for SPI International removal is still a mystery while the owners of Fashion TV and One decided to cut transmission for both Starsat and DStv. Now there's three channels are rumored to be added onto the StarTimes platform which is Comedy Central, TNT and Zoomoo.

Comedy Central is an American basic cable channel owned by ViacomCBS through its domestic network division's Entertainment & Youth Group unit, based in Manhattan. The channel is geared for mature audiences and carries comedy programming in the form of both original, licensed, and syndicated series, stand-up comedy specials, and feature films. The channel has made a huge impact in the African market especially through the DStv platform.

TNT, offers the best of contemporary and Hollywood blockbusters, with programming built on an action-driven, pulse-raising slate, mixed with romantic gems and hilarious comedy just as our African fans like it and offers programming that is relevant and interesting to African fans, with channel premieres of films such as Robin Hood, Jurassic Park and Pitch Perfect. TNT is a brand by WarnerMedia (Cartoon Network, CNN and Boomerang). The channel is currently available on DStv in South Africa and the the rest of Africa.

ZooMoo is a Canadian kids' channel that delivers a unique mix of live-action combined with animation and puppets - it's the world's first fully-interactive pre-school channel dedicated entirely to animals and nature, aimed at kids aged 2-7 years old. The channel is accompanied by a free ZooMoo App, which completes the multi-screen environment, synchronized on a real-time basis with the channel. The channel is available in other parts of Africa like Zuku TV for example. The channel is owned by Blue Ant Media (The Smithsonian Channel and Love Nature).

Comedy Central might be available later this month on StarTimes I doubt Starsat will get it since it's a cheaper version of the StarTimes platform (which costs just as much as DStv in those territories). TNT is said to launch on September 9th on StarTimes this is the first channel I can see on StarSat which to me is a replacement for FilmBOX and Zoomoo is still in the rumored category, for now it will launch as a pop-up channel from the 1st of October on DStv.

Read Also:
- October 2020 On Comedy Central

eMedia Investments Is Launching An OpenView Inspired Streaming Service

Yep, you read correctly eMedia Investments will be launching a new streaming service called OpenView Plus by October 2020.

This cames after their ongoing partnership with VIU which is also a streaming service that distributes several of their local productions alongside some content from the SABC.

OpenView launched back in October 2013 with e.tv, eMovies and eToonz available since it's arrival. By 2017, they were available in 1 million households only to grow by another million in the next 3 years.

That's not the only thing launching from the brand as they'll begin rolling out OpenView Connect in the upcoming months to households without fibre. They're also looking into launching more channels on the platform.

The platform might be similar to the DStv Now service except you don't need a decoder to watch the content and more likely channels seen on the app. There's also no details on whether this platform will distribute new content or channels that you won't found on your regular OpenView decoder.

OpenView is exclusive to South Africa so are these new products coming from the platform knowing neighbouring countries they'll distribute these products illegally.

MultiChoice will also be launching a dishless version of DStv in the coming months and SABC was plotting to launch their own streaming service back in 2018 but since then there's been no updates about it.

Read Also:
- Elif is coming to eExtra only
- Pokemon Journey finally airs on e.tv

Elif Is Coming This September To eExtra

Sometime this year, I did share the news about this new Turkish telenovela, Elif. At the time they stated the show would be air on e.tv and eExtra but that has changed as it will only air on eExtra for now.

The pandemic has shifted plans for several companies over the years. There's plenty of content to air on e.tv but since then they've been surfacing on their sister channels and yes including Elif.

Elif, a pretty and kind 6-year-old girl, is in danger of being sold to pay the gambling debts of her stepfather, Veysel Şimşek. Her mother Melek escapes, but finds out that she is very sick. She leaves Elif in the protection of her best friend, Ayşe Doğan, a maid in a wealthy family's household. Ayşe tries to get permission from the Emiroğlu family to raise Elif in the mansion. However, she is holding a well-hidden secret: Elif is the biological child of Kenan, the beloved eldest son of the wealthy family. Kenan is unaware that Elif is his child from a past love his family forced him to leave. He is now married to Arzu Karapınar. They have a daughter, Tuğçe Emiroğlu, who is a very spoiled girl known for her bad temper. Elif is forced to live at the luxurious estate, away from her beloved mother, and unaware of her proximity to her biological father.

As all other upcoming shows this one will also be dubbed in Afrikaans and join shows like Doodsondes, Deur Dik En Dun and Vuurspel Vierspel.

The series starts on Monday 14 September at 18:15 on eExtra

eExtra is available on OpenView channel 105, Starsat channel 489 and DStv channel 195

(UPDATED: 03/09/2020)Sizzling Hot New Adult Swim Content On Showmax From 1 September

Just in time for Spring, the Adult Swim corner dedicated to adult animation, exclusive to Showmax in Africa, will unleash brand-new, bold and irreverent content with the launch of Lazor Wulf and Ballmastrz, Mr. Pickles spinoff: Momma named me Sheriff, and a new season of Venture Bros. This mixed and diverse slate of internationally acclaimed adult-oriented comedy, filled with dark humour and anarchic animation, is guaranteed to keep Adult Swim’s devoted fan base glued to their screens this September.

Adult Swim’s newest animated series, Lazor Wulf, is an acid vision of friendship and modern life from an African-American perspective. The story follows a crafty wolf with a laser on his back who goes on a series of adventures with his friends while hanging out at The Clurb, Esther's, and other neighbourhood hot spots. Uniquely, the series features a predominantly black voice cast, which is still a rarity in animation. Created by Henry Bonsu, the voice cast is led by rapper Vince Staples, who is also an executive producer, along with stand-up comedian J.D. Witherspoon (comedian, actor, YouTuber), professional wrestler and American football player, Ettore ‘Big E’ Ewen, and Quinta Brunson (The Girl Who's Never Been On A Nice Date).

Ballmastrz: 9009, created in 2018 by Christy Karacas, stars Natasha Lyonne as the voice of Gaz Digzy, a mixed-race athletic superstar in a dystopian future where humanity is satiated by a violent sport simply called ‘The Game’. Gaz, the former captain of the best team in The Game, The Boom Boom Boys, is demoted to The Leptons, the worst team in The Game. Her only way back to the top is to somehow lead these pathetic misfits and 'ultimate losers' to victory.

Momma Named Me Sheriff, the spinoff to Mr. Pickles, focuses on Old Town's dim-witted Sheriff, who still lives at home with his Momma and whose best friend is a doll, and he's the Sheriff of Old Town. Created by Will Carsola and Dave Stewart, the series stars Kaitlyn Robrock (ThunderCats Roar, Amphibia), Jay Johnson (Men in Black, Anchorman) and Brook Shields (The Blue Lagoon, That 70’s show, Lipstick Jungle). Mr. Pickles will air its season 4 finale on the 1st of September alongside the Momma named me Sheriff spin-off.

The new shows join Adult Swim staples Rick and Morty, Robot Chicken and Mr. Pickles, which all launched new episodes as part of a global event earlier this year. All series are available in full, exclusively on Showmax in Africa.

Head on over to the Adult Swim corner on Showmax, the #1 destination for original, internationally awarded, and phenomenon-hyped animation, from the 18th of September and not 1st of September, and get an eclectic mix of the off-beat animated series that Adult Swim is known for.

Read Also:
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September 2020 On Disney Junior Africa | The Lion Guard | Premiere Episodes

THE LION GUARD
Premiere episodes
Weekdays from Monday 31st August to Thursday 10th September at 16:30
The Lion Guard comes roaring back onto Disney Junior this September, with premiere episodes from season three on weekdays, from Monday 31st August to Thursday 10th September at 16:30, on Disney Junior.
In this third season The Lion Guard roars again to defend the Pride Lands! Kion, Bunga and the rest of the Guard battle predators and villains to protect their home and preserve the Circle of Life. In the episode on Tuesday 1st September at 16:30, entitled The River of Patience, while Kion heals at the Tree of Life, Makucha, Chuluun and Ora attack. Kion wants to defend the Tree, but must learn to focus and find patience to heal.
Premiere episodes of The Lion Guard air on weekdays from Monday 31st August to Thursday 10th September at 16:30, on Disney Junior.

DISNEY JUNIOR MUSIC LULLABIES
Premiere episode
Tuesday 1st September at 19:25
There’s nothing better at bedtime than one of our Disney Junior Music Lullabies, to calm young children and get them to sleep. This month one further premiere episode airs on Tuesday 1st September at 19:25.               
Disney Junior Music Lullabies are the songs young viewers know and love from favourite shows and characters, reimagined as calming, relaxing lullabies. In this episode, entitled I've Been There Buddy (Monday 1st September at 19:25), Animal is playing in the snow on a wintery night when he sees Summer ice skating and wants to join the fun!
This premiere episode of Disney Junior Music Lullabies airs on Tuesday 1st September at 19:25, on Disney Junior.

           

PUPPY DOG PALS
Premiere episodes
Weekdays from Monday 14th to Friday 25th September at 16:30
Cuddly canines the Puppy Dog Pals return to the channel this month, with premiere episodes on weekdays from Monday 14th to Friday 25th September at 16:30.
Bingo and Rolly’s energetic and fun-loving neighbour pup, Keia, joins the team as they embark on even more outrageous missions to help their owners! Join the silly trio as they explore their neighborhood, travel to new places around the world, and make brand new animal friends. With Bingo, Rolly, and Keia, every day is an adventure - especially when you have your best friends by your side!
In the first of this month’s BTVP episodes, I Heart Rufus (Monday 14th September at 16:30) after Cupcake hurts Rufus' feelings, Bingo and Rolly reunite the best friends.
Premiere episodes of Puppy Dog Pals air on weekdays from Monday 14th to Friday 25th September at 16:30, on Disney Junior.

THE ROCKETEER
Series premiere episodes
Weekdays from Monday 28th September at 17:00
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s The Rocketeer, Disney Junior’s latest superhero, who flies onto our screens this month as our brand-new series takes off, with premiere episodes on weekdays from Monday 28th September at 17:00.
Seven-year-old aspiring pilot Kit Secord learns she’s next in line to become The Rocketeer, a rocket-pack wearing superhero who can fly! Armed with cool new gear and a secret identity, Kit takes to the skies to protect her town of Hughesville and its residents from danger. Assisting her in her heroic adventures are best friend Tesh, bulldog sidekick Butch, and airplane mechanic grandfather, Ambrose. In the series launch episode, First Flight/Pilot Error (Monday 28th September at 17:00), when Kit's parents decide she's too young for flying lessons, her dream to fly comes true in an unexpected way! Then Tesh tries to upgrade Kit's Rocketeer superhero gear.
Premiere episodes of The Rocketeer air on weekdays from Monday 28th September at 17:00.

P. J. MASKS
Premiere episodes
Weekdays from Monday 28th September at 18:00
P. J. Masks is one of Disney Junior’s most popular shows, so fans will be delighted to hear that their pyjama clad heroes are back on the channel, with premiere episodes on weekdays from Monday 28th September at 18:00.
At night normal kids Connor, Greg and Amaya don their pyjamas, activate their bracelets and gain super powers, becoming superheroes Catboy, Gekko and Owlette, ready to fight evil. In the first of this month’s premiere episodes, Prank Wheelz, (Monday 28th September at 18:00), the Wolfies turn their Wolf Wheelz into Prank Wheelz.
Premiere episodes of P.J. Masks air on weekdays from Monday 28th September at 18:00, on Disney Junior.

(UPDATED: 27/08/2020)September 2020 On Disney XD Africa | Premiere Episodes | Stunts | Possibly RIP

AMPHIBIA
Channel premiere episodes
Weekdays from Monday 7th to Friday 18th September at 17:00

Disney XD’s delightful animated series Amphibia returns this month, with channel premiere episodes on weekdays from Monday 7th September at 17:00, leading up to the season one finale on Friday 18th September at 17:00

Amphibia chronicles the hilarious adventures of 13-year-old Anne Boonchuy who, after stealing a mysterious music box, is magically transported to the world of Amphibia, a wild marshland full of talking frog-people. With the help of an excitable young frog named Sprig, Anne will transform from monster to hero and discover her life’s first true friendship.

In the season finale channel premiere episode, entitled Reunion (Friday 18th September at 17:00), when Anne reunites with human friend Sasha, the Wartwood frogs throw a party. Sasha later reveals to Anne her plan to get back home, but it will come at a grave cost. 

Channel premiere episodes of Amphibia air on weekdays from Monday 7th September at 17:00, leading up to the season one finale on Friday 18th September at 17:00

LAB RATS
Every episode ever
Weekends throughout September from 12:30

Throughout September Disney XD is continuing to air every episode ever of Lab Rats (including Elite Force), with back to back episodes at weekends from 12.30.

When Leo settled into the high-tech home he shared with his inventor stepdad, Donald Davenport, his mom, Tasha, and Eddy, the "smart house" computer, he discovered a secret underground lab containing three “experiments”. They were super-human teens: Adam the strong one, Bree the fast one and Chase the smart one. From that point on Leo and the Lab Rats shared many adventures.

Back to back episodes of Lab Rats air at weekends throughout September from 12.30, on Disney XD.

BIG HERO 6
Premiere episodes
Weekdays Monday 21st to Friday 25th September at 17:00

Lovable inflatable hero Baymax is back this month, with the rest of the Big Hero 6 team, in premiere episodes on weekdays from Monday 21st September at 17:00, up to the season two finale on Friday 25th September at 17:00.

Hiro and Baymax, along with friends Wasabi, Honey Lemon, Go Go and Fred, form the legendary superhero team Big Hero 6, protecting their city from scientifically-enhanced villains. In the season two finale episode Legacies - Part Two (Friday 25th September at 17:00) Hiro and Baymax discover that Trina is trying to get revenge for Obake and cement his legacy by destroying the city. Big Hero 6 is forced to find a way to work with the police.

Premiere episodes of Big Hero 6 air on weekdays from Monday 21st September at 17:00, up to the season two finale on Friday 25th September at 17:00, on Disney XD.

DUCKTALES
Premiere episodes
Weekdays from Monday 28th September to Thursday 1st October at 16:30

Delightful ducks Scrooge McDuck and his mischief-making triplet grandnephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, return to the channel this month. Premiere episodes from season three of their adventures in DuckTales air on weekdays, from Monday 28th September to Thursday 1st October at 16:30.

A long lost Junior Woodchuck journal leads the Duck family on a hunt for the world’s greatest lost artifacts. But F.O.W.L., a secret organization from Scrooge’s past, has stepped out of the shadows to stop them at any cost. The family will have to get smarter, tougher, and sharper to confront F.O.W.L. and save the world! In the season three launch episode Quack Pack (Monday 28th September at 16:30) the family members are not quite themselves as they soon discover the planned family photo shoot might just be a part of a bigger wish gone wrong!

Premiere episodes of season three of DuckTales air on weekdays from Monday 28th September to Thursday 1st October at 16:30, on Disney XD.

Disney XD Africa might shut down soon following the UK channels in October

(UPDATED: 03/09/2020)September 2020 On Disney Channel Africa | Leftovers From August | Movies | Repeats From Disney XD

SADIE SPARKS
Premiere episodes
Weekdays until Friday 4th September at 15:40

Disney Channel’s great new series Sadie Sparks continues this month with premiere episodes on weekdays until Friday 4th September at 15:40.

A magical line-up of talented actors cast their spell and lend their voices to animated comedy series, Sadie Sparks. The star cast includes Georgia Lock, Rufus Hound, Craig Revel Horwood, Sammy Moore and Tyger Drew-Honey. Fourteen-year-old Sadie’s life turns upside down when she learns she’s a wizard-in-training. A magical mentor is sent to guide and train her – Gilbert, an old and grumpy rabbit!  In this month’s first premiere episode, Heat Stroke/A Tale of Two Sadies (Tuesday 1st September at 15:40) Sadie casts a weather spell and causes an extraordinary heatwave. Then Gilbert takes Sadie’s place in the school council elections when she has a cold.

Premiere episodes of Sadie Sparks continue on weekdays until Friday 4th September at 15:40, on Disney Channel.

DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIES
Fridays throughout September at 17:00

This September Disney Channel continues its treat for movie fans – the chance to see a classic Disney Channel Original Movie every Friday at 17:00, repeated on Saturday at 10:40.

The September season starts with Zapped (Friday 4th September), then continues with Cadet Kelly (Friday 11th September), followed by Camp Rock (Friday 18th September), and finally Double Teamed (Friday 25th September).                          

In Zapped (Friday 4th September) when her mom remarries, Zoey finds herself living in a messy, chaotic house with her loud stepdad and three out-of-control stepbrothers. After a freak accident with her smartphone, Zoey discovers that she has a magical app that can control the boys in her life. Thrilled at the chance to restore order to her world, Zoey begins commanding the boys in her life to behave better, but she soon learns that when you don’t allow boys to be boys, you open a whole new can of worms!

Fans have a chance to see these great Disney Channel Original Movies again on Fridays throughout September at 17:00, repeated on the following Saturday at 10:40.

REPEATS FROM DISNEY XD

- Phineas And Ferb double bill airs weekdays at 8:35 and 18:15

- Marvel's Spider-Man double bill airs Sundays at 18:55

- Big City Greens weekdays at 19:05 and Sundays at 7:45

- DuckTales airs Sundays at 6:25

- Lab Rats is scheduled to air on the channel as well

- Supa Strikas double bill airs weekdays at 19:30 until 11 September then it will be once-off

- Disney's 11 airs at 19:55 from Monday 14 September