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Featured Posts

Channel Closure: WildEarth Will Stop Airing On DStv By The End Of April, Freeview And ROKU Might Follow Soon

WildEarth is an interactive wildlife channel which brings viewers closer to nature with live safaris within the hotspot of Africa. Founded i...

Friday, January 15, 2021

February 2021 On FOX Africa | New Seasons | "New" Telenovela


THE RESIDENT S4
Tuesdays at 20:45, from 2 February

Season four of The Resident continues to shine a light on the daily heroism of today’s health care workers.The provocative medical drama follows the doctors and nurses at Chastain Memorial Hospital, as they face personal and professional challenges and fight for their patients’ health. The new season picks up as Dr. Conrad Hawkins and nurse practioner Nicolette Nevin tie the knot in an intimate and beautiful wedding, strengthening their already powerful bond.

Meanwhile, Chastain is transitioning from private to public hospital, causing the hero doctors to fight to fix the broken machine from the inside. Dr. Randolph Bell finds himself mining his own past to find his estranged former stepson, elite plastic surgeon Dr. Jake Wong. Bell attempts to bring Dr. Wong to Chastain to increase the number of world-class surgeries at the hospital and to repair their complicated past.

Additionally, as star surgical resident Dr. Mina Okafor and her brilliant mentor, Dr. AJ Austin, grow closer than ever, they must learn to maintain a professional relationship within the walls of the hospital.

GREY’S ANATOMY S16 (21 x 60)
Wednesdays at 20:45, from 3 February

Miranda Bailey became a foster parent and helped Amelia get through intense labor. Early in season 16, Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) experiences a miscarriage. As she began to move forward with her life again, she finds herself taken by a teenage foster kid who was being treated at the hospital.

ROAD TO DESTINY (TELENOVELA)
Monday – Friday at 15:05 from 10 February 2021
Repeat omnibus of all 5 episodes that aired during the week: Sundays from 07:05 (Omnibus start times may differ slightly each week)

Luisa Fernanda Pérez, a beautiful, 18-year-old student, has two passions: mastering the violin and gardening, a skill she inherited from her father, Pedro, the former groundskeeper of the wealthy Altamirano family's estate. A chance encounter with destiny alters her life when she is injured in a car accident caused by Luis (her biological father), a playboy lawyer. In the process, Luisa falls for his stepson, Carlos, the attractive, young doctor who treats her in hospital.

Read Also:
- Will Star replace the FOX branding internationally?

February 2021 On National Geographic Wild Africa | Big Cat Month | Continuation


Big Cat Month is a month-long, annual programming event on National Geographic Wild. The stunt is designed to appeal to blue chip / natural history viewers looking to see the majesty and power of these animals and learn something new. In addition, it allows National Geographic to highlight the work the National Geographic Society is doing to protect big cats and their habitats through the Big Cats Initiative with Derek and Beverly Joubert.

Jade Eyed Leopard
Sunday 7 February at 18:00

Her name is “Toto,” Swahili for small, with the most striking, bright, aquamarine eyes.  She was born under a safari camp tent in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. JADE EYED LEOPARD, narrated by Emmy-nominated and Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”), reveals the first three years of Toto’s life as she learns the fundamental skills of survival and makes her passage to adulthood. World-renowned filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers and big cat conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert uncover Toto’s tale with stunning perspective — shot in pristine 4K and seldom-before-seen thermal night vision views.

Leopard & Hyena: Strange Alliance
Sunday 7 February at 18:45

When Toni, a young male hyena is expelled from his clan, he forms an unexpected hunting partnership with Mahri, a female leopard. But predator enemies are waiting to drive a wedge between them. After an explosive attack from wild dogs, Toni must decide between returning to Mahri or joining a clan of his own.

Diary of a Teen Leopard
Sunday 7 February at 19:30

Pemba is a Mamma’s Boy! At two-years old, he should be independent, but he’s still living at home! Like most teenagers, he’s impatient and headstrong, which makes him bad at stalking and hunting, so Mom provides all their meals. But when Mom is injured Pemba is forced to grow up fast in order to survive! Can he sever those apron strings and face his fears to launch into adulthood?  

A Leopard’s Legacy
Sunday 7 February at 20:25

A confident and powerful leopardess named Olimba, rules over an exceptionally large area along Zambia’s Luangwa river. She is a formidable hunter, a courageous ruler, and a devoted mother. She’s just given birth to two tiny cubs, and as she faces the challenging task of motherhood, it’s a constant battle to hunt successfully, to defend her prime territory, and to protect her cubs against her enemies. During their first few months, the cubs go from strength to strength, as Olimba introduces them to the world of a carnivore. But whenever she goes out hunting, she leaves them vulnerable. One day, Olimba discovers a nomadic male leopard near her cubs, and without hesitation, she attacks him. He makes a lucky escape, but when Olimba returns to the den, one of her cubs is gone. As she comes to terms with her loss, Olimba forges on as a devoted mother, and passes on all her knowledge to her blue-eyed boy, named Makumbi. When he’s a year old and succeeds in hunting his own prey, Olimba parts ways with her son. But their final hostile encounter leaves the youngster vulnerable, with a dreadful eye injury. His resilience and fighting spirit see him through, and despite his blind eye, he turns into a strong-willed hunter.

Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard
Monday 8 February at 6:50 & 10:05
Shot over three years in China's Qhinghai Mountains and with never-before-seen footage, The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard tells the story of a devout female snow leopard who settles into an unfamiliar valley to give birth and raise her two cubs despite incredible odds.

Cecil: The Legacy of a King
Sunday 14 February at 18:00

This incredible special follows the life and legacy of one of the world's most famous lions - Cecil. The ultimate big cat king, Cecil was a warrior, a father and a loyal brother. But his untimely death at the hands of an illegal hunt - spelled the end of his extraordinary reign; evoking feelings of fury and sadness to all who heard his tale across the globe. This special will look at the life of the lion behind the headlines, it will look at his pride before and after his death as well as how he came to be Africa's ultimate king of the beasts.
 
Seregenti Speed Queen
Sunday 21 February at 18:00

Nzuri is the Speed Queen of the Serengeti - but being fast isn’t enough. She’s constantly bullied by hyenas on the grassland and hunted by lions in the marsh. When two of her cubs are killed, the family is exiled to the transition forest. There, she learns to adapt her hunting methods and adds strategy to speed in order to outwit her enemies and steer her remaining cubs successfully to adulthood.
 
Tiger Queen of Taru 
Sunday 28 February at 18:00
Filmed over six years, the story of Maya the tigress plays out in a tiger reserve in Tadoba, Central India. Here, Bengal tigers chase wild dogs, fight sloth bears and feud among themselves over bloodlines and territory in never-before seen footage. Maya writes her own rules when it comes to raising a litter, yet motherhood doesn’t come easy. One thing is clear, Maya will do whatever it takes to secure her bloodline within the Kingdom of Taru. 

SNAKES IN THE CITY S7
Mondays at 18:00 from 25 January 

Episode 2 (1 February at 18:00): A hitchhiking forest cobra at a wedding keeps Simon and Siouxsie guessing and an emergency black mamba callout turns into a canine rescue mission.

Episode 3: (8 February at 18:00): Simon and Siouxsie try to secure a black mamba escape artist, wrangle an irate python, and catch a cat killer.

Episode 4: (15 February at 18:00): Simon has his hands full with a lightning fast mamba and an unidentified snake terrorizes a school, before Siouxsie handles the deadliest of the lot.

Episode 5: (2 February at 18:00): Synopsis TBC


The channel is available on DStv, Starsat and StarTimes.

February 2021 On National Geographic Africa | New Seasons


EUROPE FROM ABOVE S2
Wednesdays at 21:00 from 10 February

This series of spectacular aerial journeys reveal the world's most remarkable nations as they've never been seen before.  From the Acropolis in Greece to the construction of the world's longest bridge in Turkey, and Finland's giant ice breaking ships. This all access aerial documentary lays bare the traditions, innovations and breakthroughs that continue to shape these modern nations today.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION: SPECIAL REPORT S4
Thursdays at 20:00 from 11 February

In this special season of Air Crash Investigation, every episode examines multiple aviation disasters that prove to have similarities including engines that separated from their aircrafts mid-flight, mismatched pilot pairings that led to deadly crashes, and improvised landings with tragic consequences.

FOOD FACTORY S3
Tuesdays at 20:00 from 23 February

Behind each bag of chips, can of beer, bar of chocolate, and loaf of bread is a mega-industrial production line that brings each product to the masses. Food Factory is a mesmerising behind-the-scenes peek into the weird and wonderful processes that produce everyone's favourite foods.

From fresh ingredients to finished products, Food Factory reveals in awe-inspiring detail just how mass-produced favourites are really made. Put on a hard hat and get ready to meet the food!


Channel is available on DStv, Starsat and StarTimes.

February 2021 On ESPN Africa | NFL Superbowl | Scottish Premiership


NFL (NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE) – SUPERBOWL

The 55th annual Super Bowl will headline ESPN Africa’s February line-up with the event taking place on February 7, 2021*. The annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) will see the league’s top franchises competing for the top prize in US football. Can Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs defend their title or will another franchise rise to the top?

One of the most anticipated sporting events on the US calendar, the Super Bowl has moved to become a truly global cultural event, becoming as well-known as for the cutting-edge commercial spots and half time show as it is for the actual game.

NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Basketball fans can mark February 2021 on their calendar as the hotly awaited conclusion to the regular season of the National Collegiate Athletic Associations (NCAA). From these fixtures will come the 68 elite college franchises who will make up the teams competing in the “NCAA March Madness” extravaganza, the single-elimination tournament to determine the national championship.

The NCAA college basketball league is a hotbed for developing NBA talent with several African students participating in some of the biggest colleges in the US.

Fixtures and timings to be confirmed in due course.

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP (SCOTTISH FOOTBALL)

Football fans across the continent can catch up with the latest from the Scottish Premiership, the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL).

The big question is whether local export Bongani Zungu and Steven Gerrard’s Glasgow Rangers can bring an end to Celtic F.C’s 6-year dominance of the Scottish Premiership.

Follow ESPN Africa's media pages for further details


Channel is available on DStv, Starsat and StarTimes.

Isibaya Is Coming To An End On Mzansi Magic


Some confirmation from Nomsa Philiso, channel director for Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net, that Isibaya will be ending this year.

"It's always sad when a show that was popular and loved ends, as it is the case with Isibaya. However, times change and television is about adopting and adapting.

"As Mzansi Magic, we are thrilled about the new partnership with Black Brains Productions. They will be bringing in fresh content that is innovative and captivating. Furthermore, the other exciting element is the fact that this is their first telenovela production. It is great opportunity for Black Brains to broaden their base and creativity.

"Our platforms are fundamentally created to help producers to grow and reach new frontiers."

Isibaya will be replaced by new telenovela Diepsloot towards the middle of 2021.

Monday, January 11, 2021

Laws Of The Heart Coming Soon To Telemundo Africa


Telemundo Africa will be introducing it's first new telenovela of 2021. This time it comes from none other than Colombia's RCN Television. The name of this telenovela is called Laws Of The Heart.

Laws Of The Heart (La Ley Del Corazon)The series takes place in a successful law firm specialized in family law, dedicated to cases ofp separation and in general to family conflicts and couple Pablo Domínguez, a partner lawyer at the firm Cabal-Ortega-Domínguez and associates, is going through a difficult situation in his life when separating from his wife Jimena. Suddenly, the lawyer meets his colleague Julia Escallón, who is about to marry Camilo Borrero, but the fate will give an unexpected turn in the life of the woman on the day of their marriage and by things of the Life, will end up very close to Pablo and facing him the courts.

The series creator Mónica Agudelo Tenorio passed away and this 2 season telenovela is dedicated to her.

Since the show's inception, they've been several adaptations of the series including Televisa's Por Amar Sin Ley and ABC's Big Law. They also managed to accumulate 11 awards alongside 21 nominations.

Catch the first season weeknights at 21:00 CAT/20:00 WAT/22:00 CAT from 15 February which comes around the time as Close Enemies Season 2 debuts.

Telemundo is available on DStv and GOtv

Friday, January 8, 2021

Doodsondes Season 3 Coming In March On e.tv


For those without eExtra, you might have been watching it weekdays at 10:30 on e.tv in order to catch-up which seems kind of odd as most of the population aren't home at that time so Doodsondes (Yasak Elma) is joining Bittersoet (Kara Sevda) in you snooze you lose scenario.

If you don't want to fall behind make sure you get OpenView if you want to watch it freely or get DStv and Starsat to pay for it alongside other channels.

Here's a brief summary of season 3:

A long time passed after the disappearance of Ender and the Arguns' life has completely changed. Sahika took over the management of the house and established a fear empire. She took Yigit to her side and now, she's trying to conquer everything. The only thing she didn't consider is that Yildiz, who disappeared on the night of Ender's disappearance, will suddenly return. Besides, Yildiz will not come alone.

Catch season 3 weekdays at 17:30 on e.tv and 4 hours later on eExtra from Monday, 15 March replacing Deur Dik En Dun

Read Also:
- Will Star Life get a name change?
- e.tv primetime viewing
- Four new telenovelas coming soon to eExtra
- e.tv acquired broadcasting rights to Erkenci Kus
- OpenView is planning to launch a streaming service
- Rhythm City last episode airs this July
- Review on e.tv channels
- Review on SABC

Several Channels Are Missing On Starsat


As usual, Starsat failed to engage with the media regarding the upcoming developments occuring on the platform. Apparently several viewers noticed a bunch of other channels went missing on the platform and the channel go as follows:

Fine Living: Discovery made the decision to remove the channel as part of a strategic alignment meaning you could see more changes coming from their stable. Pretty much Real Time is the channel's successor kind of like how Discovery Science was snatched for Discovery Family.

St Eyethu: nearly a year after this outdated local channel launched on the platform it was discretely taken off. According to StarTimes, they're working on the content there.

SA Music and Soul Playlist: both these channels are currently available on OpenView. After an intense battle, StarTimes promised to bring fresh content which implied that these channels were phased out from their portfolio.

St Africa and WAP TV: no actual details were given regarding their removals for St Africa it could be in relation with St Eyethu.

StarTimes joins eMedia Investments and MultiChoice that witnessed the loss of several channels during the course of 2020 except theirs came a little later than the other two.


Read Also:

AEW Dynamite is coming to TNT Africa

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Two Music Channels Reportedly Removed From Starsat


Starsat started off the new year discreetly by removing two music channels from their platform without any notice, SA Music And Soul Playlist.

At that time many viewers have filed complaints regarding these channels across their media pages and the admin is seemingly ignoring and deleting comments.

In a recent conversation with the channel providers, they confirmed that both these channels can be found on OpenView and are no longer available on Starsat meaning that you'll need to get that platform to enjoy those channels.

Of course, Starsat managed to reply after a couple of days. They seemingly confirmed their demise by stating that they're sourcing out fresh content.

Last year viewers witnessed the loss of several channels. Could 2021 be a continuation to last year since Starsat is not upfront with the media on upcoming developments.

Read Also:

AEW Dynamite is coming to TNT Africa

- Is Star Life being rebranded soon?
- Will Star replace the FOX branding internationally?
- Will Magnolia Network rollout on Starsat?
- Will CourtTV rollout in Africa?

Prediction: The Future Of Cartoon Network And WarnerMedia's Other Kids Channels


Last month, Cartoon Network USA viewership continued to plummet and now channels such as Nick Jr and Disney Junior pull in more viewers than them. Even the Adult Swim block on the channel which airs at 10pm to 5am pulls more viewers than the channel.

This is due to the fact that more people are opting to streaming and also that WarnerMedia stopped putting much effort towards the channel and proved that ratings don't matter anymore.

If you look at Cartoon Network now, the channel lacks variety and is flooded with constant reruns of Teen Titans GO! at some point viewers enjoyed the show now they're irritated over the fact that it's the only thing available there.

The decrease is not only coming through Cartoon Network but other kids brands such as Disney Channel and Nickelodeon which are dealing with a similar situation. Except it seems like WarnerMedia doesn't intend to recover from that.

Since HBO Max inception in 2020, most of Cartoon Network's programs became HBO Max exclusives and for the first time in many years the channel had no original programming.

Later in that year, WarnerMedia greenlit a bunch of programming under Cartoon Network most of them were tagged with HBO Max.

Now the question remains on how long this format will go on. WarnerMedia has been doing a lot of reconstructing part of it may include putting their focus on less brands even aligning them together and perhaps scrapping Cartoon Network to some extent and converting it to HBO Kids or Family.

HBO Kids runs as a programming block on HBO Family in the United States and also the Family brand has a 24/7 channel in Asia. None of which have any original content but since HBO Max is around chances are they'll use these brands for reruns.

Perhaps HBO will revive the kids block on their channel and use it for all the original content and launch a seperate kids channel for reruns. To do this they'd probably take HBO Family and change the name to HBO Kids.

HBO Kids launches as a replacement channel for Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Adult Swim will only have animation under the HBO Max branding everything else remains to some extent.

I'm not expecting it to happen out of the blue perhaps the objective now is put as much HBO Kids titles on HBO Max and Cartoon Network. So them airing it on Cartoon Network is their way off trying to make viewers familiarise HBO on the kids space so they don't pull a Universal Kids and fans are completely turned off by the brand.

The change could only occur when WarnerMedia feels they got enough HBO Kids titles to fill up the channel and less Cartoon Network originals. Right now there's like 5 pending CN originals and 1 that's coming from Europe.

WarnerMedia International operates Cartoon Network, Boomerang and a bunch of other regional channels such as ToonCast, Cartoonito, Pogo, Boing and Toonami. The regional part feels a little pinch while Cartoon Network and Boomerang adapt to the U.S. counterpart.

Toonami functions as a 24/7 channel perhaps they'll change it to DC Kids if you look at the the overload of DC Animation perhaps Cartoon Network will incorporate itself there for selected shows that aren't DC while Toonami gets the anime. That's one way to follow the U.S. counterpart.

Then ToonCast and Boing use the Cartoon Network branding since all they're doing there is airing reruns perhaps Boomerang will manage the non-English feeds. Pogo has regional content so they'll likely use the HBO Kids branding leaving Cartoonito unscathed.

Cartoon Network could get back up and salvage the little viewers left on the brand but since cable is becoming expensive is it worth saving. The only thing they can do now is reduce TTG's airtime perhaps that's what will get viewers engaged again but before this mess popped up and after the variety was gone the brand reserved itself for 2-3 shows, do you think that's what their future will be when TTG ends or something much different.

February 2021 On CBS Reality Africa | New Series & Season


CLOSE CALLS ON CAMERA S7
We take a closer look at the split-second moments when everyday events threaten to become a disasters, and meet the people who lived to tell the tale.
Saturdays and Sundays at 19:30 and 01:20 from 6th February to 7th March repeated  Weekdays at 09:10 and 14:30 from 15th to 26th March.

BOTCHED UP BODIES S1
This documentary series profile people whose cosmetic surgery procedures have gone disastrously wrong.
Weeknights at 21:10 and 01:25 from 22nd February to 7th April repeated Saturdays and Sundays at 20:20 from 28th February to 25th April.

CBS Reality is available on DStv channel 132

Costal Killers Season 2 Coming Soon To CBS Justice Africa


Perhaps it’s the sea air or too much sun. But despite the jollity associated with sandcastles and ice creams, breezy promenade walks and donkey rides, many British seaside towns have a dubious reputation for hosting the most remarkable crimes.

Some of the most strange and terrifying murders ever recorded in British criminal history have taken place at the famous seaside resorts; the grand hotels playing host to some of the deadliest murderers imaginable, and the seafronts doubling as stalking grounds for the serial killers.

Sunday 19:00 from 28th February until 2nd May.

eExtra Welcomes Four New Telenovelas This January


The new year has brought a lot of changes towards Rewind that inflated it's lineup with telenovelas which left some viewers are a tad unsatisfied that they got another eExtra onboard but let me let me spoil your day even further.

Apparently, eExtra has four telenovelas lined up for viewers which come from America (Mi Corazon Insiste En Lola Volcan), Turkey (As Die Skoen Pas) and the last minute entries India (Siddhi Vinayak) and KOREA (Ice Adonis).

I dwelled on the first two last year so I'll give a brief description on the other two:

Ice Adonis is a mystery drama which follows stories and triangles revolving around the revenge of a woman who lost everything including her family and her one true love. The series is produced by tvN which is a long awaited channel launching on DStv.

Siddhi Vinayak is a romantic drama which follows a misunderstanding between the titular characters who unite after 14 years and get themselves in a hurdle of drama. The series was produced by &TV.

Catch new episodes of Ice Adonis weekdays at 14:05 with Siddhi Vinayak at 16:45 from Monday 18 January.

Now eExtra has a total of 8 fresh telenovelas making it the channel with the most telenovelas.

Read Also:

e.tv primetime lineup

- Is Star Life getting a rebrand?

Friday, January 1, 2021

e.tv International Drama Series Lineup From January 2021


The Librarians and occasional films will continue airing until Friday, 8th January after that the primetime viewing from 20:30 resumes with a couple of new developments from Monday, 11th January.

Weekdays at 20:30
Monday: Chicago Fire S7 (New Season)
Tuesday: Chicago Med S4 (New Season)
Wednesday: Chicago PD S6 (New Season)
Thursday: Hawaii Five-O S4 (Back-To-Back)
Friday: NCIS: Los Angeles S5 (Back-To-Back)

Weeknights at 22:30
Monday: Empire S5 (Another New Development)
Wednesday: Power S4 (Continuation)
Thursday: How To Get Away With Murder S4 (Another New Development)

February 2021 On Da Vinci Kids Africa | Odd Squad | Themed Episodes


Kids Programmes
Odd Squad
From February 20th 
Saturdays & Sundays 13:30
Is something odd? Call the Odd Squad! Join the team of agents as they use indirect reasoning and basic math to investigate and solve strange happenings in their town. From disappearing objects to duplicating pizzerias, these skillful kid agents must use their brains to help their town, and sometimes even to save humanity itself! Tune in from February 20th at 13:30 and investigate everything strange, weird and especially odd!

Adult Programmes
Project Greenglow: The Quest for Gravity Control – BRAND NEW (One-off)
Sunday, February 21st at 22:00
It’s mysterious, it’s powerful and it stops us falling off the planet. Gravity is the fundamental force that keeps us on Earth and binds the universe together. But we still don’t fully understand it. Meet the scientists who are trying to change that. Could we see flying cars and journeys to the stars in our lifetime? Find out, on Project Greenglow - The Quest for Gravity Control, Da Vinci TV, February 21st at 22:00.

Valentine’s Day Special: Electric Love and Magnetic Attraction
Sunday, February 14th 
From 17:00 to 20:00
We’re in the mood for love… a love of science, of course! We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day this year with a heart-racing lineup of shows in our Electric Love and Magnetic Attraction Special.

Launch powerful rockets you can build at home in Look Kool, and discover how our brains can play tricks on us in Mindworks. Find out why your heart is different from other organs in PinCode, and learn how your heart works in Operation Ouch!. Watch an amazing display of magnetic levitation in Science Max, and explore the magic of electromagnetic attraction in ScienceXplosion. Look into how makeup is made in When I Grow Up, and investigate what’s so attractive about magnets in Xploration DIY SCI.

Tune in to the Da Vinci channel on February 14th from 17:00 to cozy up with these awesome episodes. It’s gonna be electric!

Da Vinci Kids is available on DStv and StarTimes (and Starsat)

Read Also:
- January on Da Vinci Kids

Unexpected Developments Coming Soon For Viewers On e.tv Rewind, What Does That Spell Out?


During the festive season, e.tv and Rewind temporarily changed their lineup. On e.tv side, they did the usual for 20:30 take the 5 for 1 while Rewind scrapped almost everything for marathons of sitcoms and dramas with films.

Now the festive season has wrapped up and e.tv will be resuming with their prime time viewing but on Rewind's area it becomes even more complicated to handle.

For starters, the outdated episodes of Scandal, soon-to-be-cancelled Rhythm City and cancelled soapie Backstage aren't part of the lineup. Instead, the channel will air reruns of Una Maid En Manhattan, Naagin, Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, Die Vreemdeling and Imbewu's YESTERYEAR STOCK. Perhaps it's just a drafted schedule.

Everything else somewhat remains even the sitcoms and drama series but this is where things get interesting.

Telemundo's Corazon Valiente (Fearless Heart) and Los Miserables (For Love And Justice) are added to the channel's lineup. These two telenovelas aren't new to the market but they are definitely are to the eBrand so Rewind is no longer recycling meals from their restaurants.

Corazon Valiente follows childhood friends Ángela (Andrea Fonseca) and Samantha (Ximena Duque) who were separated by fate for years reunite and become bodyguards for those who need protection. Los Miserables follows a woman named Lucia "Lucha" Duran (Aracley Arambula) is accused of a crime she hasn't committed and has to find a way of not going back to prison a second time.

With this in mind, is it possible that there's a rebrand coming soon to e.tv set of channels now that Rewind has exclusive programming and eExtra is more reliant on telenovelas particularly Indian and Turkish content.

Perhaps, the reason for eExtra favouritism is over the fact these two type of shows pull has a major following and huge fanbase. Other than that the offering is very unique from what you can find on DStv.

The reason Indian soaps get early timeslots is possibly due to the fact there's many of them available in the market and that eExtra put it in a timeslot where it doesn't clash with the shows on Glow TV, Star Life and Zee World while the Turkish content "was" barely available within the market until TDC arrived for which both channels still offer a unique lineup and TDC might take longer to bring the Turkish content seen on e.tv and eExtra.

With that in mind, maybe Rewind will invest more into American and Mexican telenovelas from Telemundo and Azteca since these shows are accessible not only in South Africa but across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Maybe the object now for eMedia Investments is to deduct the amount of DStv already seen on their channels. 

The Indian offering can be found on DStv Indian package so why put that on eExtra it's easy to give those who don't have that package an opportunity to watch them. The reason for it's early timeslots is to ensure that it doesn't clash with the Indian offering on Glow TV, Zee World and Star Life. They give this content attention because of its popularity and the fact that there's less English stations repeating them.

The Turkish lineup has been doing well for a long time. There was no home for the content by then some stations even abandoned them. eExtra was one of the few stations for that in Africa alongside some telenovela channels on StarTimes. MultiChoice recently launched a Turkish channel and it will be while before anyone there can see repeats from eExtra.

Perhaps these changes has something to do with the upcoming streaming service OpenView+, for those who are unaware a lot of companies like Disney, ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia have launched their own streaming services and due to that some countries had to witness the demise of certain channels.

eMedia Investments might follow these companies and streamline their offering. I don't see them shutting down anything likely replacing, adding and improving their current channels.

Rewind's days are numbered at this point or at least the name perhaps they'll call it eBinge or eSeries.

With eExtra I don't see them throwing away the name as yet even with the overflow of telenovelas. They have an Afrikaans block (Kuiertyd) which is used for other content but then again they might duplicate the block on the other channels and reduce it on eExtra leaving the door open for a name change.

News&Sports might become seperate channels perhaps it doesn't look like eMedia Investments is interested in getting another sports channel and France24 will likely go off air on the platform.

eToonz might replace Craze or vice versa I mean eMedia Investments might want to put their focus on one kids brand so they could even find another name and use it for both brands.

eNolly could be revived under another name but this time it also airs Rhythm City, Scandal and Backstage to easen the blow of Rewind and eExtra.

2021 is shaping up to be an interesting year for TV

Read Also:

- OpenView's upcoming streaming service

New Turkish telenovela coming in January on eExtra
New Telemundo telenovela coming in January on eExtra
Review on e.tv channels
eToonz better e.tv kiddies lineup needs more variety if it wants to succeed
Upcoming shows on eToonz
SABC wants platforms like OpenView to pay TV licence

Thursday, December 31, 2020

Disney Is Renaming The Star Channels In Netherlands, What Does This Mean For StarPlus And The Other Star Channels In Africa?


When Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, it obtained Star India, a hugely successful broadcasting company based in India, which has a network of 60 channels in eight languages, that reaches approximately 790 million viewers a month across India and more than 100 countries.

With it’s streaming service, Hotstar being rebranded as Disney+ Hotstar in India in March.

Disney officially revealed details of how it was planning the branding of “Star” internationally at December’s Investor Day event, which will see Star added as a new sixth tier within Disney+ in February in many regions including Europe, Australia, Canada and in Asia. At the same time, Star+ is launching in Latin America as its own platform with live sports. With many Fox channels in Latin America will also be rebranded “Star”.

Disney Africa is likely to do the same as Europe with latching the best of Star on Disney+ since no one in this market can pay for a lot of streaming services.

According to Dutch television provider Ziggo, Disney will be rebranding its Hindi channels, Star Plus and Star Gold channels in the Netherlands to Utsav Plus and Utsav Gold. This rebranding will be taking effect from February 1st.

The name Utsav is likely based on Star Utsav which is one of Star India's linear channels which is currently being used for archived content. It was available in UK for 2 years before becoming a reruns channel.

Star India already operates channels in Africa such as StarPlus, Star Vijay and Star Life through StarTimes, Platco Digital's OpenView and MultiChoice's DStv. It wouldn't be shocking if the name was dropped in favour of Utsav. The one in India might do the same it's currently unknown at this point. Readers have been wondering how Star would replace FOX in Africa if the Star branding was already being used so there's your answer.

The rebranding is being done so Disney can use the “Star” brand as part of Disney+ in the Netherlands, which is coming on February 23rd.

There's still no news on when or if Disney+ will roll out in Africa so chances are will have to wait until at least 2022/3 I mean they could take longer since they're still rolling out in other parts of Europe and the fact that there's contracts they have with other distributors so they're waiting for some of them to expire to begin rolling out Disney+.

Read Also:
- Will Comedy Central and MTV be saved in Africa?
- Magnolia Network launches in 2021, will it launch in Africa perhaps to replace certain Discovery Channels?
- New episodes of The Walking Dead return in March on FOX 
- Is Nick Jr the next kids channel to go off on DStv? At least not the Ethiopian version
- Will any of these channels occupy channel 304 on DStv?
January on Disney Channel
January on Disney Junior
- Will CourtTV rollout in Africa?
More countries shut down Disney XD

February 2021 On History Africa | WGTM | S: WHR | HH: TFC | ND Stunt


Brand New & Exclusive
WORLD’S GREATEST TREASURE MYSTERIES
26 February – 21 May | Fridays 21h05
From the producers of The Curse of Oak Island and The UnXplained, comes an excitng new documentary series delving into the mysteries of Oak Island and beyond. Hosted by real-life treasure hunters Rick and Marty Lagina, this eight episode series chronicles the greatest treasure hunts of the past, present and (perhaps) future. World’s Greatest Treasure Mysteries ofers a combinaton of great story telling, compelling interviews with treasure-hunters, historians and experts, as well as on-locaton treasure hunts in progress, sometmes with the Laginas themselves. From pirates such as Blackbeard and outlaws like Jesse James, to Aztec gold, priceless historical artfacts from American history and sunken treasure ships, this series digs deep into the many treasure quests across the globe, revealing amazing new details and clues from past searches - and in some cases, advancing the hunt.

Brand New & Exclusive
SHIPWRECKS: WHEN HISTORY RESURFACES
11 February – 18 March | Thursdays at 20:15
From the Indian Ocean’s clear blue atolls to the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River, we embark on an epic expediton with the Cinémarine team to capture the remains of six of the world’s most spectacular underwater disasters. With the most advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment, amid danger and uncertainty at tmes, we take a deep dive to explore - up close and in 4K - these mysterious wrecks, coming up for air only to hear the testmonies of crew members and passengers who survived to tell the tale.

Brand New & Exclusive
HUNTING HITLER: THE FINAL CHAPTER
21 February | Sunday 20h15
CIA Veteran Bob Baer’s investgaton proved that Hitler could have successfully fed Germany afer the war and disappeared into South America. But the investgaton also produced a more unexpected discovery: startling evidence that a Fourth Reich was successfully mountng on South American soil with one central goal-a devastatng atack on the United States. In this special, Bob is back in the war room to interrogate the true scope of Hitler’s Fourth Reich plans, and explores how the Nazis infltrated and specifcally targeted America afer World War II.

NATURAL DISASTERS STUNT
02 February - 16 March at 20:15

HOW LIFE BEGAN
02 February | Tuesday 20h15
Billions of years before man frst walked the Earth, billions of years before even the dinosaurs existed, Earth was teeming with life! Single-cell organisms made a roiling soup of our oceans, and living creatures were crawling in our very soil. Where did it come from? What is life, exactly? Is it chemical, spiritual, or a combinaton of both? Do distant planets teem with life just as Earth does? And how do you go from a single- celled organism to a trillion-celled organism like Man?

Brand New
FIRST APOCALYPSE
09 February | Tuesday 20h15
Sixty fve million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped of the face of the Earth. Over the years there have been a number of theories as to why. For the last three decades it has been thought that the cause was an asteroid impact in Mexico. Now, some scientsts believe that a giant volcano in India was the culprit, as well as other environmental factors. Either way, many agree that the demise of the dinosaurs could not have been a simple story of a single impact event, followed by complete extncton. How can we learn from the dinosaur’s fall from grace and how much our own fate may be intertwined with theirs? Are we doomed to follow in the dinosaurs footsteps or do we face extinction?

Brand New
COMETS: PROPHETS OF DOOM
16 February | Tuesday 20h15
Comets - these celestal travellers have forever flled us with fear and wonder. Lurking in the furthest reaches of our solar system, they come close to Earth as they orbit our Sun - so close they may leave their signature: massive craters...roiling oceans. Could something as destructve as comets hold the key to life? Are the building blocks of carbon-based life forms frozen inside? Do they contain informaton about the creaton of our solar system? At the conclusion of two spectacular NASA missions that sent spaceships to rendezvous with these mysterious objects, we examine the scientfc and historical record of comets, including man’s reacton to them.

MEGAQUAKE
23 February | Tuesday 20h15
An earthquake of 8.0 happens about once a year, like the one that recently hit Hait. A 9.0 quake happens once every 20 years, like the one that struck Indonesia in 2004. An earthquake of 10.0 has never been recorded in history. Untl now. The 10.0 quake is said to occur once every 2500 years and is capable of destroying entre civilizatons. We’ll see what would unfold if a 10.0 Megaquake struck diferent fault lines in the US, underwater and around the world.

Brand New

NEANDERTHAL APOCALYPSE
2 March 20h15
Each of us, all over the world, carries up to four percent of Neanderthal DNA. Yet the Neanderthal is extnct; they disappeared 39,000 years ago. The queston is what happened to this strong and resilient species that did walk the earth for 300,000 years? What could have wiped them out and set us on the path of who we are today? And if the hearty, resourceful Neanderthal could be driven to extncton, could the same thing happen to us? This special will tell the story and explain the science with a combinaton of graphics, acton sequences, and experiments. We will be going on an exploratory journey of investgaton and discovery. Animaton will illustrate their traits, strengths and weaknesses, and bring to life our very own Neanderthal avatar.

Brand New
AFTER ARMAGEDDON
9 March | 20h15
Afer Armageddon examines how societes have survived extreme devastaton in the past to renew themselves and emerge as new communites. Based on history’s most dramatc events, such as Hiroshima, Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, hard data will be presented analysing the disappearance of water and food supplies; the efects of deteriorated sanitaton and healthcare on survivors; the increased use of violence as a means of survival; and how communites past and present have sustained themselves while living “of the grid.” The data and historical precedent are interwoven with cinematc re-creatons and archival footage, creatng dramatc tension.

LIFE AFTER PEOPLE
16 March | 20h15
This two-hour special relies on experts’ knowledge and understanding of history in order to predict the future. Specialists from the felds of engineering, botany, ecology, biology, geology, climatology, and archaeology will paint a picture of what Earth will look like in the days, weeks, months, years and millennia afer humans are gone. Looking farther into the future, and using analyses based on the past, we see how nature will reclaim New York City as realized through striking graphics. Eventually glass buildings topple, stone buildings crumble, successive freezing and thawing turn streets and sidewalks to rubble, ground water rises, subways food, sewers crack and lightning ignites overgrown grass in Central Park, engulfng the city in fames. What kind of species will survive? Will humans ever return? Will man begin the cycle again, excavatng our ruins and trying to imagine what life was like before?

Read Also:
- - January 2021 On History

February 2021 On Eva | Repeats & More Repeats


As we progress to the second month of 2021, the channel fails to redeem themselves once again. At the moment the only thing keeping it alive is Bold And The Beautiful from CBS.

In February, you have reruns of Tanto Amor (17th) and Corazon Traicionado (11th) fall off the schedule with other reruns such as La Colombiana (12th) and Mis Tres Marias (18th). Just as you thought this channel expand the telenovela selection. It's slowly digging a hole for itself to drop dead.

The channel is up for renewal during February or March on DStv. It's probably best if AMC International cuts the cord since the channel doesn't show any signs of life outside Bold. If it doesn't close in between it's likely to occur at some point.

TLNovelas is airing content that you'd find on EVA such as Anything But Plain and there's chances we could actually see more telenovelas from EVA on that channel. Similar to what FOX Life had with this exact channel now FOX is airing them on a limited basis like really they could have found another distributor that doesn't already run a channel within the market.

When or if that day arrives viewers won't completely be left in the dark as MultiChoice recently added two more telenovela channels with tvN scheduled for an early 2021 launch on DStv.

Read Also:
- January 2021 on EVA

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Pinkalicious & Peterrific Season 2 Airs This January On PBS Kids Africa


To start off the new year, PBS Kids will be broadcasting the second season of Pinkalicious & Peterrific making it somewhat the first PBS Kids show to reach this milestone on the channel.

Pinkalicious & Peterrific is one of the shows that were made available during the channel's debut in the market.

They'll be a double bill so here's a summary of the first two episodes:

S2/E1 - 'A Birthday Party for Kendra' Pinkalicious is shocked to hear Kendra has never celebrated a birthday before so she decides to throw her a surprise party with the help of their friends! But a pinkaperfect party isn't what Kendra had in mind.

S2/E2 - 'Aqualicious' While at the beach, Pinkalicious and Peter meet Aqua, a merminnie! The three become friends and play together until it's time for Aqua to go home. But Aqua's home isn't quite what Pinkalicious is expecting - it's even more pinkamazing!

Season 2 airs Fridays at 16:00 CAT/15:00 WAT/17:00 EAT as part of Fresh Fridays

PBS Kids is available on DStv and GOtv

January 2021 On WarnerMedia Africa | SU, FD | ATDL: B | KCD | More


TNT:

Standing Up, Falling Down
In this TNT Original, sharply scripted comedy, failed stand-up comedian Scott (Ben Schwartz) moves from LA back in with his parents and sister, Megan (Grace Gummer), in Long Island and makes a dangerous new best bro, alcoholic dermatologist, Marty (Billy Crystal). With nothing to lose, the pair are soon causing chaos in bars around the city as a perfectly matched comedy duo.
Watch on Saturday, 2 January at 20:00

Available on DStv and StarTimes


Cartoon Network:

Teen Titans GO! (New episodes)
Superhero roommates Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy love saving the day, but what happens when they're done fighting crime?
Starts Monday, 4 January at 9:15

CN To The Rescue
André Lembwa is off YouTube and right onto your TV with the live action/cartoon blend
Starts Monday, 18 January at 18:35

Adventure Time Distant Lands: BMO
BMO travels to a far corner of the galaxy to save its people from a deadly threat.
Starts Saturday, 30 January at 10:10

Available on DStv and GOtv


Boomerang:

My Little Pony: Pony Life (New episodes)
A look at the funny side of friendship, with the mane 6 going on adorable adventures.
Starts Monday, 4 January at 17:00

Masha And The Bear: Masha's Songs
The new season consists of 13 episodes, each dedicated to exploring a particular country and its music, values, and culture. Together with her forest pals, Masha travels around the world to bring us a thrilling new season.
Starts Monday, 18 January at 15:30

Kikoumba Crown Down
Every Morning Kikoumba is challenged by a candidate who comes to claim his crown and with it, the title of King.
Starts Monday, 25 January at 17:45

Available on DStv

Read Also:
- Elliott From Earth coming soon to Cartoon Network
We Baby Bears coming soon to Cartoon Network

January 2021 On National Geographic Wild Africa


SAVAGE KINGDOM S4
Sundays at 18:00, from 3 January (starts with a double bill)

In the epic fourth season of Emmy-nominated SAVAGE KINGDOM, narrated by Charles Dance (“Game of Thrones”), comes the eagerly awaited real-life drama from the heart of Mombo, Northern Botswana, where peace never lasts long, and power comes with a price. Since the tumultuous aftermath of the previous season, the Kingdom’s kings and queens return to purge the land of hyena rule and regain their rightful control.

The worst drought in decades has devastated the area, making it the perfect breeding ground for a warzone. The tables are turning; dominance is shifting; and every player in this feline “Game of Thrones” must fight not only to survive but to defend his or her rightful place in an ever-changing, cutthroat kingdom. As more lions, leopards and African wild dogs enter this bloody battlefield to fight for their share of the power, only the strongest and most audacious can be victorious. War is the heartbeat of the SAVAGE KINGDOM. The story of life is written in blood; power is everything; and there can be only one ruler … right?

SNAKES IN THE CITY S7
Mondays at 18:00 from 25 January 

Episode 1: Catching a black mamba at midnight is only part of Simon and Siouxsie's latest challenge. They also bring 25 baby rock pythons into the world.

Read Also:
- Will Star Replace The FOX Branding Internationally?
- New episodes of The Walking Dead return in March on FOX
- January on Disney Channel
January on Disney Junior
More countries shut down Disney XD

January 2021 On National Geographic Channel Africa


TRAFFICKED WITH MARIANA VAN ZELLER
Thursdays at 21:00 from 21 January

Award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller explores the inner workings of the global underworld's most dangerous black markets. In each episode, she journeys inside a different black market - from drugs to guns to tiger parts - to meet the players, learn the business, and unearth the geo-political circumstances and context that create the world's multitrillion-dollar shadow economy.

NARCO WARS
Mondays at 21:00 from 25 January

The Latin American Narco Wars are spiralling out of control. Despite the $1 trillion spent on enforcement and the 2.5 million death toll, more illegal drugs are being produced, trafficked and consumed than ever before.
Featuring interviews and action filmed with key players on both sides of the law, this 10 part series will examine the drug wars - both past and present - to explain why.

INSIDE NORTH KOREA – THE CRIMINAL STATE
Thursday 19 January at 21:00

North Korea, a James Bond villain in the form of a brutal dictatorship self-isolated from the global community as they pick its pockets. Criminal actions skirt sanctions to keep the cash strapped nation afloat.

INSIDE NORTH KOREA – THE CYBER STATE
Thursday 26 January at 21:00

North Korea can now attack without landing a soldier on the ground, and with impunity. From Sony to WannaCry, the North embraces cyber-crime for profit and disruption with a 6000 strong army of cyber criminals worldwide who pick its pockets.

CHANGE MAKERS STUNT
The National Geographic Channel kicks off the new year with a programming stunt showcasing womxn who have brought tremendous change in the world. On Sundays at 21:00 watch women who brave the wild to raise awareness on conservation to those who broke preconceived notions by exploring and furthering the knowledge we have of our planet.

Read Also:
- Will Star Replace The FOX Branding Internationally?
- New episodes of The Walking Dead return in March on FOX
- January on Disney Channel
January on Disney Junior
More countries shut down Disney XD

Saturday, December 26, 2020

The 8th Day Coming Soon To Timeless Dizi Channel Africa


As expected we'd follow other regions TDC and now the next Turkish drama making its way onto viewers screens is intriguing super series, The 8th Day (8. Gun).

When nothing is what it seems, anything is possible.

Bahar is a clever and cheerful college student. She has grown in wealth and lived a happy life... Until one day when everything turns upside down. Her mother Şehnaz, who was a software engineer at the Lotus company, is killed. Bahar steps aways from her safe life, into a dark world. People who killed her mother are after Bahar now. She tries to survive her enemies while working to solve the mystery behind her mother’s death.
In "The 8th Day", you will watch how Bahar's perfect life changes dramatically with the mysterious disappearance of her mother.

Will Bahar manage to survive and unveil the mystery behind her mother’s dissappearance?

Director: Çağrı Vila Lostuvalı, Ender Mıhlar
Screenwriter: Toprak Karaoğlu, Savaş Korkmaz, Seda Çalışır
Stars: Burcu Biricik, Bugra Gülsoy, Musa Uzunlar, Ceyda Düvenci

Catch the first episode at 21:40 CAT/22:40 EAT/20:40 WAT which takes up Kurt Seyit And Shura from Tuesday, 5 January

TDC is available on DStv and StarTimes

Friday, December 25, 2020

e.tv Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Erkenci Kus


Thought of sharing the news with Turkish fans later in 2021 but since there's a lot of fans here I decided to share the news early.

e.tv bagged another Turkish show which will also be dubbed in Afrikaans called Erkenci Kus. The fact I said e.tv doesn't imply it will air there chances are it will air exclusively on eExtra so when a Turkish show is announced beforehand I'll use e.tv as the liable source kind of like how Nickelodeon use their name when signing show off to Nicktoons.

This telenovela will be available later in 2021 on eExtra as part of their successful block, Kuiertyd. It will be available in the middle of the following year so I might give out a date when it's available and the title so for now here's the plot:

Sanem is a young woman who aspires to become a writer and live in the Galápagos Islands. She helps out at her father's grocery store but is forced by her parents to choose between an arranged marriage with her neighbor Muzaffer and finding a suitable job. Sanem will find a job at Fikri Harika, one of Turkey's leading advertising agencies where Leyla, her older sister, is an executive assistant. Aziz, the owner of the advertising agency has two sons, Emre and Can. Emre wants to take over the business, but his father considers Can better suited for the job and appoints him manager of the agency. Can has what his father wants for the company, but Can prefers taking photos in remote parts of the world. Can eventually agrees to run the company when he learns of his father's health problems. Aziz also tells Can to find the spy in the company that is helping their competitor Aylin. Emre doesn't like the idea of his brother being the manager and believes that he deserves that position and plans to make him fail. At the party for the 40th anniversary of the company at an opera, Sanem enters into the dark backstage and bumps into Can. Can, thinking that she was his girlfriend Polen, kisses her. After leaving, Sanem realizes that she is in love with the stranger that kissed her, giving him the codename Albatros. Soon, Can falls in love with Sanem, and discovers that he kissed her on that day in the opera, and thus began this inevitable story of love.

Just to let you there's more Turkish shows coming and I'll mention them later in 2021.

Read Also:
- New Turkish telenovela coming in January on eExtra
- New Telemundo telenovela coming in January on eExtra
- Review on e.tv channels
eToonz better e.tv kiddies lineup needs more variety if it wants to succeed
Upcoming shows on eToonz
SABC wants platforms like OpenView to pay TV licence