Insidus

Friday, April 23, 2021

Heads Up!: Weeknights Will Never Be The Same On e.tv

eMedia Investments doesn't continue to stop making headlines for their set of channels. From eExtra's overflow of telenovelas to Rewind's revamped lineup now it's e.tv's weeknight format.

Later this month, NCIS: Los Angeles was unexpectedly removed from e.tv schedule and replaced with the reboot of CBS' Magnum Pi and that's not the only changes coming to e.tv.

Here's a list of other developments coming to e.tv:
- Castle and Checkpoint switch days but still retain the 10pm timeslot. So it's Castle on Tuesday and Checkpoint on Wednesday from April 28.
- The finale of How To Get Away With Murder season 4 is on April 22nd at 10pm and Devi moves it's timeslot from April 29.
- A repeat of the Turkish drama, Die Wiel Draai (Eve Donus) will broadcast at 11pm on Monday to Thursdays from April 26 perhaps to make up for the reduction of 10pm dramas.
- Rhythm City ends in 3 months time and the channel hasn't shared much details on a possible replacement or if they'll even be one.

Perhaps they'll be another timeslot change where either Durban Gen or Imbewu take up 7pm and there's a chance another local drama could occupy that spot.

Hit Sci-fi Thriller War Of The Worlds Returns For A Highly Anticipated Second Season On FOX Africa

The second series of FOX and CANAL+’s multi-faceted drama series War of the Worlds, written and created by BAFTA Award-winner Howard Overman (Misfits, Crazyhead, Merlin) of Urban Myth Films, will premiere on Mondays at 20:45 (CAT) from 24 May 2021 on Fox (DStv 125, Starsat StarSat 131). The eight part series will premiere with a double bill of the first two episodes, with a single episode per week thereafter.

Set in France and the UK, the critically-acclaimed, modern-day retelling of H.G. Wells’ classic novel has an ensemble cast, including Golden Globe winner and EMMY and Tony award nominated actor Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), and Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award winner, Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People), along with further returning cast members, Léa Drucker, Natasha Little, Stéphane Caillard, Adel Bencherif, Ty Tennant, Stephen Campbell Moore, Bayo Gbadamosi, Aaron Heffernan and Emilie de Preissac.

In the first series of War of the Worlds, an alien attack all but wiped out mankind, with just a handful of humans fighting to survive. And no one felt more rocked by the invasion than Emily (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who discovered she may have her own strange personal connection to the aliens. Series two of War of the Worlds sees our characters left reeling by the possibility that the invaders could be human. A tense fight to take back the planet awaits them. For some, the sheer desperation to survive will lead them to contemplate sacrificing one of their own...

Howard Overman commented: “It was always my intention in the first series of War of the Worlds that the intricacies of human relationships would be at its heart. Watching these complex characters brought to life by such a fantastic cast of actors was a joy, and it’s been a thrill returning to their stories for series two.”

“The first season of War of the Worlds brought a uniquely thrilling and action-packed drama with deep human emotion to viewers across the continent, and was an instant hit,” said Evert van der Veer, Vice President, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We are excited to join fans in the continuation of this gritty sci-fi story, just as we are to add this season to the existing content roster of the boldest, brightest and most unexpected live action and animation, that can only be found on Fox.”

A global hit, the first series of War of the Worlds achieved one of the highest viewing records on CANAL+ on-demand service, as a CANAL+ Creation Originale. Airing in more than 50 European and African markets on FOX, it was the most successful regional launch since 2016, and was the UK’s highest rated new FOX launch since 2012. War of the Worlds season one is among the highest-performing series on EPIX in the US.

Distributed internationally by STUDIOCANAL, the drama series is executive produced by Howard Overman, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps for Urban Myth Films. War of the Worlds was produced with support of Welsh Government funding through Creative Wales. The second season of the contemporary adaptation sees Richard Clark return to direct episodes 1-4 whilst Ben A. Williams directs episodes 5-8.

War of the Worlds is produced by Studiocanal-backed Urban Myth Films, in partnership with CANAL+ and FOX, and is broadcast in the US on EPIX.

School Sport Live Rebrands Into SuperSport Schools, Could A Linear Channel Be In The Works In The Near Future

SuperSport has recommitted to its proud history of growing sport across the continent with the launch of SuperSport Schools, a ground-breaking initiative to change the future of South African schools’ sport. As part of the strategy, SuperSport acquired a majority stake in Schools Sport Live, which will see the business rebranded as SuperSport Schools.

Schools sport is the foundation of South Africa’s sporting success and this venture will aim to identify and expose young talent by broadcasting as many schools sporting fixtures as possible. The production plan will embrace new technology by giving schools access to innovative artificial intelligence-based production to deliver a dynamic multi-screen viewing of schools and youth sport.

Outside of the coverage across SuperSport channels, the SuperSport Schools mobile application will provide parents and other interested parties access to view schools sport anytime, anywhere, live and on-demand.

* Check out the SuperSport Schools Website *

SuperSport Chief Executive, Marc Jury, says the success of schools sport is fundamental to producing a winning sporting nation.

“This initiative is a natural extension of our mission to play our part to grow the pipeline for South Africa’s future sporting heroes. Schools Sport is the foundation from which great sporting nations are built. The stronger the foundation, the brighter our future sporting stars can shine,” said Jury.

Proteas netball captain, Bongi Msomi and World-Cup wining Springbok, Lukhanyo Am, will be leading the campaign with the hope of taking SuperSport Schools to every corner of the continent. Both stars were discovered late in their careers and speak directly to the gap the new platform is trying to close. The focus will be on netball, hockey and rugby for initial implementation phase, with cricket and water polo following suit as the programme extends.

This initiative would not be possible without enablement partners, Nashua. Their national footprint of engineers provide a world class service offering to install, maintain and support the project, especially as they have a great understanding of the school’s infrastructure environment. Nashua will play a key part in rolling out the artificial intelligence automated cameras which are designed to produce and distribute live + highlight content via the mobile application and social/digital channels.

Corporate South Africa and businesses will have an opportunity to be involved in the initiative, with specialised commercial sponsorship packages available to enable and fund the installation of the camera equipment across regions and schools.

Further to this, SuperSport has partnered with the MEC of Sports in the Eastern Cape in an effort to showcase more sport in the talent-rich region.

“The Eastern Cape has produced many of South Africa’s finest sporting stars, we hope our contribution will help to start unveiling talent from all corners of the province,” Jury concluded.

Schools Sport is well and truly alive

May 2021 On History Africa | Icons Of Music | Other Programming

ICONS OF MUSIC
The HISTORY® Channel Africa kicks May of with the Icons of Music featuring legendary septuagenarian rockers of note - Ozzy Osbourne, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney and the ethereal eternal Gypsy woman Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame. The iconic king of reggae, Bob Marley is also celebrated in Roots of A Man and reveals just why Marley ‘s infuence as a singer, songwriter, and global pop-culture prophet contnues to impact the music world 40 years afer his death in 1981. The Icons campaign concludes with South Africa’s very own Johnny Clegg, whose style of Zulu dancing and melodic fusions of rock and African rhythm united a naton and endeared himself to Madiba. The musical journey that Clegg found himself on, is showcased in Johnny Clegg: The White Zulu and his story is told against the backdrop of a country that was scarred and broken by the legacies of the then politcal system. His energetc dance and mix of Zulu and English lyrics rose to prominence with his frst band Juluka, that began as a duo with Sipho Mchunu – one of the frst ‘mixed’ groups in the South African apartheid-era.

1 May – 5 June, Saturdays at 20h15

PAUL MCCARTNEY: WINGS OF A BEATLE
1 May
From the small clubs of Liverpool to the world stage, Sir Paul McCartney has dedicated his life to the music industry. He has not only dominated the airwaves globally with the Beatles, he reigned supreme on the charts with Wings and his solo work. But Paul McCartney’s life hasn’t always been glamourous and has been met with some extremely dark days. Experience the story behind one of the music industry’s most treasured musical icons. This is Sir Paul McCartney’s journey.

BOB MARLEY: ROOTS OF A MAN
8 May
Robert Nesta Marley, known across the globe as Bob Marley, was the frst and debatably only superstar ever to emerge from the third world. He rose from humble rural beginnings and blossomed into a man of such signifcance and infuence that his atempted assassinaton in 1976 turned out to be politcally motvated. Marley’s musical infuence is stll felt all around the world today, but he was more than just a musician – he had a universal quality in his messages that transcended race, colour, class and economics. This documentary explores the life of one of the 20th century’s most charismatc and challenging performers. Bob Marley transcends the role of reggae luminary: he is regarded as a cultural icon who implored his people to know their history.

OZZY OSBOURNE: THRONE OF DARKNESS
15 May
Ozzy Osbourne epitomises the typical rockstar - with his music, lifestyle, attude and outlandish behaviour. John Michael Osbourne was born in Birmingham, England on December 3rd, 1948 in a very working-class area. Known worldwide as the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, as he became known, could never hold down a job. He didn’t want to. However, what he did want was to be a Rockstar. Ozzy Osbourne got his start in Black Sabbath when he placed an ad in a local music store in Birmingham. The ad read “Ozzy Zig needs a gig has own PA”. Now known to be the physical embodiment of rock and roll and over 70 years old, he is stll going strong and showing the world the true meaning of ‘being metal’.

STEVIE NICKS: WILD AT HEART
22 May
Stevie Nicks has remained an iconic role model, staying synonymous with the witchy, transcendental, deep-rooted mystcism of a fairy godmother. Her enchantng song writng, strong will, and powerful presence onstage, has endeared her to women and men all over the globe. They say great art comes from great tragedy. This couldn’t be more true with the songstress of Fleetwood Mac. For decades, she has fronted one of the most successful bands in history, resurrectng them from the ashes. Even with the trials and tribulatons of being a member of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie reigns as one of the most prolifc women of music.

MICK JAGGER: A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER
29 May
There has never been a rock and roll star quite like Mick Jagger. He is the voice of a generaton. With over 5 decades in the industry, he has completely evolved the sound of music and pushed the Rolling Stones in a directon that has helped them become the biggest rock and roll band ever. He is a successful musician, artst, actor, move producer and business man. Relive the life and career of the face of the Rolling Stones…This is Mick Jagger, a Knight to Remember.

BONUS
Channel Premiere
JOHNNY CLEGG: THE WHITE ZULU
June 05
Saturday at 20h15
The exceptonal story of a commited musician, crazy for dance, who made the world love his vision of a South African culture that allowed everyone, black and white, to express themselves and make it possible to get along. Apartheid was a divisive tool, but Johnny Clegg’s dream sought a way of unitng South Africans by mixing English and Zulu, African rhythms and rock. In the early 1970s, he invented a unique style, that is unlike any other, and made it a politcal art. His story and that of his music are in line with the history of South Africa and his long journey to freedom.

OTHERS
Brand New & Exclusive
HOW THE NAZIS LOST THE WAR
2 May
Sundays at 20h15
Hitler’s war machine was feared and ruthless – at least for a tme. It cut a swathe through Europe and North Africa and threatened to overrun Russia. From 1939 into the early 1940s, Hitler’s dream of a Third Reich and dominance over all of Europe was a distnct possibility. But then cracks appeared. The war machine became vulnerable. The history of World War Two is usually told through the eyes of the victors – but How The Nazi’s Lost The War is told through the lens of the bumbling generals and an increasingly paranoid Fuhrer.

Brand New & Exclusive
RIVER HUNTERS S2
13 May
Thursdays at 20h15
Once again, wild swimmer and presenter Rick Edwards, YouTube star Beau Ouimete and Gary Bankhead head to some of the greatest rivers in the United Kingdom, to unearth new treasures from some of the most iconic moments in Britsh history. Their adventures this tme will take place in the Batle of Stamford Bridge/ River Ouse in York, the River Conwy and rise of the Plantagenets in Wales as well as the River Debden with its proximity to the burial grounds of the Anglo-Saxon Kings and fnally the River Lochy which witnessed the Jacobite rebellion and rise of Bonnie Prince Charlie. With the rivers of England, Scotland and Wales less polluted than ever before they are travelling with real hope and expectaton of some amazing finds.

May 2021 On WildEarth | Recap | Farewell To Summer | More Wildlife

WildEarth is a 24/7 wildlife channel that brings viewers face to face with the thrill of Africa in real time through LIVE safari shows from five of the best wilderness locations across South Africa.

Sunrise Safari
Start: 6.30 am End: 9.30 am (CAT)
Start: 4.30am End: 7.30am (GMT)
Start: 6.30 am End: 9.30 am (CET)
Start: 12.30am End: 3.30am (EST)

Sunset Safari
Start: 3.30pm End: 7.30pm (CAT)
Start: 1.30pm End: 5.30pm (GMT)
Start: 3.30pm End: 7.30pm (CET)
Start: 9.30am End: 1.30pm (EST)

The launch of a LIVE bushwalk

In March WildEarth added a LIVE bushwalk into itssunrise and sunset safari shows. On a LIVE bushwalk viewers become part of the natural landscapemore so than when on the vehicle. Stepping off the vehicle, everything comes alive.With a slew of potential dangers lurking, it’s essential that the guide is aware of the surroundingsand viewers can feel the trepidation as each foot is laid on the ground. Those lacking ineducation regarding the bush cannot but help feel vulnerable. As with any experience that remindsus of the fragility of life, walking in the bush inspires awe and appreciation and is perfect for a LIVE broadcast.

WildEarth says goodbye to summer

Summer ends at the beginning of April and as we move into May the first cold fronts will arrive. The vibrant green of the bush is replaced by shades of brown as the bush becomes dryer. In South Africa the last rains will be seen in earlyApril and then there will be no more rain until October. It is the start of the long and hard dryseason. Animals congregate around sparse waterpoints, this is a tough time for all the floraand fauna.. Winter is the perfect time for safari because although the bush does not look as vibrant,the animals are much easier to see because they join together in large herds or flocksclose to water. The WildEarth safari guides are wearing thick jackets and beanies due to the factthat early mornings and late evenings are very cold.

Wild dog pups

The denning of wild dogs takes place towards the endof the rutting season of impala, usually in May. There are large numbers of male impala that areworn out from the intense competition of the rut and these weakened animals become an easytarget for the dogs.
An unidentified pack of wild dogs has arrived at NgalaPrivate Game Reserve, which is one of the locations WildEarth streams from. This is veryexciting for the guides who live and work there because they think they may den on the property..Den sites are often abandoned aardvark holes in termite mounds and these sites offerprotection for the growing pups. WildEarth looks forward to welcoming some cute wilddog pups on their daily LIVE shows.

The Promise of Baby Leopards

One of the dominant female leopards at Phinda PrivateGame Reserve is called the Nyoni Female. There is a strong belief that she has cubsthat have just been born and she is hiding them somewhere in a den. The reason for this beliefis that she has been seen a lot less than normal and recently she was seen with suckle markson her underbelly. A mother leopard only brings her cubs out of the den when they are 8 weeksold and so we should start seeing these tiny balls of fluff in May.

Friday, April 16, 2021

May 2021 On Investigation Discovery Africa | 5 New Series Alert! Including A Bill Cosby Series | More

Doomsday: The Missing Children (Brand New)
TX Date: May 2
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
We reveal how 7-year-old JJ Vallow and his older step-sister, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan mysteriously disappeared from Rexburg, Idaho in the fall of 2019. At the center of the mystery is Lori Vallow, the children's mother, and her new husband, Chad Daybell.

Bill Cosby: An American Scandal (Brand New)
TX Date: May 4
TX Time: 25:05 CAT
Take a look deep inside the secret life of this comedy legend. With exclusive interviews and insider details, we uncover shocking family drama and examine the allegations that brought about his epic fall from grace.

Id Films: Whitey Bulger: The Making Of A Monster (Brand New)
TX Date: May 11
TX Time: 23:20 CAT
The definitive account of James "Whitey" Bulger, the sadistic criminal mastermind who ruled a vast underworld empire through fear, intimidation and murder, and later eluded justice for two decade.

Kentucky Murder Mystery The Trials Of Anthony Gray (Brand New)
TX Date: May 16
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
In 2007, retirees James and Vivian Gray are gunned down in their rural Kentucky home. The police suspect their only son Anthony, and he confesses to the murders. But the Grays are not who they seem, and neither is the investigation or his confession.

Web Of Lies S7
New Season
TX Date: May 21
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
We're increasingly living our lives online unaware of the risks that might happen. Looking for friendships, love, sex or work has led many into a twilight world of seduction, danger, and false identity. You never know where the web of lies will lead.

A Deadly Dose S1
New Season
TX Date: May 23
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
The death of Susan Winters, an attorney and mother of two, is ruled by authorities to be a suicide. But strange details of her demise have convinced Susan's parents that this was murder - and that Susan's husband Brent is connected to it.

Good News: WWE Channel To Become A Singular Channel Again On DStv

Another channel bites the dust... this time it's none other than the duplicate WWE Channel occupying channel 236 which annoyed a lot of DStv customers.

The channel launched in September 2020 alongside SuperSport expanded sports lineup and lasted about 6 months on DStv.

At the time, MultiChoice explained to both channels will remain as they are mirrored channels with the same content, the reason is to try and get WWE closer to their sports content (SuperSport), without affecting those who are accustomed to 128.

In short, they chose to remove 236 since it was hardly appreciated by most viewers and those that noticed only complained about the resemblance to 128. It's nice to see there's some justice with viewer's subscription.

If I had to guess which channel will likely go off air in the coming months on DStv. My pick would be M-Net +1 thanks to Catch Up and Showmax and the fact MultiChoice has started streamlining entertainment which led to the cancellation and restructuring of several channels.

WWE Channel 236 goes off from May

May 2021 On TLC And Real Time Africa | 3 New Series Alert | Returning Series Including 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After And Return To Amish | More

Since both cater for the same audience and owned by one brand what better way then to merge highlights as the news keeps piling up.

TLC:

The Blended Bunch
Brand New
TX Date: 5-May
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
Tx Day: Wednesday
In a small town in Utah lives a widow and widower who, combined with their 11 children, have formed the modern-day "Brady Bunch." Spencer and Erica Shemwell have found love after loss, but blending a family this big can come with some major challenges.

90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? S6
New Season
TX Date: 20-May
TX Time: 20:00 CAT
Tx Day: Thursday
These couples had 90 days to marry their foreign-born fiancés or return home. Most of them sealed the deal, but they’re realizing that the hard part is far from over.

My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now S6
New Season
TX Date: 28-May
TX Time: 20:00 CAT
Tx Day: Friday
Morbidly obese patients strive to lose weight through diet and gastric bypass surgery with the help of Dr. Younan Nowzaradan.

Real Time:

Kids Baking Championship
S1-2
Brand New
TX Date: 3-May
TX Time: 12:00 CAT
Tx Day: Mon-Fri
After a nationwide search, eight kid bakers have emerged as contenders for the title of Kids Baking Champion. Hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli lead these talented young bakers through tasty challenges.

Flea Market Flip S1
Brand New
TX Date: 10-May
TX Time: 15:00 CAT
Tx Day: Mon-Fri
Flea markets are filled with hidden treasures, you just have to know where to look. In Flea Market Flip, two teams go head to head to see who can make the most money transforming unexpected diamonds in the rough into high dollar gems.

Return To Amish S4
New Season
TX Date: 18-May
TX Time: 13:30 CAT
Tx Day: Mon-Fri
RETURN TO AMISH tells the stories of the ex-Amish as they try to establish lives outside of the insular world in which they grew up.

May 2021 On Discovery Channel And Discovery Family Africa | 3 New Series Alert | Several Returning Shows Including Deadliest Catch And Flying Wild Alaska | More

Expect more highlight merges at least ones that make sense. In this case on channel transmits part of its shows to another and is owned by the same company.

Discovery Channel:
Deadliest Catch S17 (New season)
TX Date: May 25
TX Time: 20:00 CAT
Day: Tuesday
It's the deadliest job on earth: crab fishing off the Alaska coast on the icy Bering Sea. These adventurers risk their lives as they battle Arctic weather, brutal waves and a ticking clock for big money in this modern- day gold rush.

Chasing Classic Cars S12 (New season)
TX Date: May 9
TX Time: 20:00 CAT
Day of week: Sunday
Gain instant membership to the exclusive club of elite car restorers and multi-millionaire collectors as this series follows Ferrari expert and master car restorer, Wayne Carini, on his personal mission to uncover, restore and sell classic cars.

Naked And Afraid S7 (New season)
TX Date: May 5
TX Time: 20:00 CAT
Day: Wednesday
One man and one woman are dropped into the middle of the unforgiving wilderness for 21 days. Totally naked, the complete strangers battle the elements and stave off starvation, dehydration, and vicious predators to see if they have what it takes to survive this punishing challenge.

Discovery Family:
Into Alaska S1 (Brand New)
TX Date: May 3
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
Tx Day: Monday
Alaska's National Wildlife Refuges are the last untamed places in America. Into Alaska gives an up-close look at the bears, moose and other wildlife inhabiting the stunning Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island, along with the men and women who protect it.

Fail Army S7
New Season
TX Date: May 18
TX Time: 20:10 CAT
Tx Day: Tuesday
Videos of frantic and spectacular fails from around the world.

Raw Recruits S1 (Brand New)
TX Date: 17-May
TX Time: 17:40
Tx Day: Monday
A group of Britain's toughest teens go through one of the most intense soldier training programmes in the world. Following the recruits of Army Foundation College in Harrogate as they begin their basic army training.

Flying Wild Alaska S2 (New Season)
TX Date: May 27
TX Time: 21:00 CAT
Tx Day: Thursday
This series follows the unconventional Tweto family that rules Alaska's most dangerous skies. Operating their family- run airline, Era Alaska, they battle unforgiving Alaska weather and terrain to transport life's necessities to one of the most remote and extreme regions of America.

Shark City (Brand New)
TX Date: May 7
TX Time: 15:10 CAT
Tx Day: Friday
Chief Shark Officer Andy Samberg takes us on a tour of a mysterious underwater world in the protected waters of the Bahamas, where different species of sharks fight for food and struggle to survive. It's shark-eat-shark, and shark- eat-pretty much everything else too.

Amakhosi Studios Forges Partnership With Starsat Rise

Amakhosi Studios is proud to announce that through its partnership deal with South African based Starsat Rise (St Rise) Channel 120 it will now be exporting local content and talent.

The channel will be available in 42 countries including Zimbabwe with all local shows premiering on the 25th of May as part of the African Day Celebrations. For the first time since independence, we are celebrating with 100% Zimbabwean content and talent which will be available on Satellite Television to African audiences.

It has almost been a year since the first Covid 19 Lockdown which has meant that Zimbabweans who love local content have been short changed as they cannot access quality local live entertainment. Zimbabwean content creators and artists themselves are failing to earn money from their creative entertaining works through live shows. Through this partnership Amakhosi Studios and Starsat Rise channel 120 seek to change the economic challenges COVID-19 has brought to the arts entertainment and cultural industry.

Interested content creators and artists may bring their ideas, concepts and finished works to Amakhosi Studios for export.

Email: amakhosistudios@gmail.com

Friday, April 9, 2021

BOING Africa Gets A New Bounce In Its Step!

There’s a little more blue in the clouds, a little more ray in the sunshine, and a lot more colour all around! That’s because WarnerMedia’s cartoon-based kids’ entertainment channel, Boing, is gearing up for a fresh look and feel as of the 10th of April.

The channel, which airs across households in 19 African countries for girls and boys aged four to 14 years old, is home to a range of spontaneous and humorous franchises and popular comedy and action shows such as international animated hits like Sonic Boom, Dragons and The Jungle Bunch; 90’s classics including Codename KND, Dexter’s Laboratory and Johnny Bravo; and other channel favourites, for example, Angelo Rules, Uncle Grampa and Oswaldo.

Working closely with children from the core target market, the channel has redesigned its playfulness, introducing a new chameleon-like logo. A massive icon library that can be changed and adapted according to the brand's modernised visual language has been developed and features over 320 graphical elements, including 150 Boing brand stickers aligning the shows kids love with the channel. With just the right amount of childhood chaos, the new, flexible logo can be updated into many different variants working across all the different platforms on which the channel is featured, giving Boing viewers in Africa something to look forward to every single day.

“The new-look Boing is a fun-filled playground where kids can take ownership of the brand, finding themselves surrounded by a palette of stickers, icons, and other doodles allowing fans to add their own element of chaos to create unique looks that reach a new level of excitement and fun,” says Ariane Suveg, Kids Content Director for France and Africa. “With this new fun-filled identity, Boing is now even more connected and in step with the world of our young viewers: Dynamic, inclusive, and constantly evolving!”

The channel has kept its promise and has managed to match local African kids’ taste by acquiring exclusive programmes. In April, viewers can look forward to Boing Sunday Marathons at 13:30 CAT every week, including the maddening misadventures of Oswaldo, the escapades of a group of ten-year-olds in Codename KND, everyone’s favourite Uncle Grampa, the exciting tale of Maurice the penguin in The Jungle Bunch, and ending the month with the sweet-talking 11-year-old in Angelo Rules.

- Toonami Africa deserves better

Toonami Rebranded In France Last Year And Why The African Feed Needs To Follow?

Toonami started on a rocky road in 2017 through the now defunct cable provider Kwesé TV and managed to gain popularity after a year. Few months after its removal, the channel resurfaced on Cell C's streaming service, Black which suffered the same fate as the cable provider.

Not much was known about the version Black distributed but Kwesé TV's version included content from DC Animation, selected content from Cartoon Network and an ongoing stack of anime.

In 2019, MultiChoice launched a knockoff version of the brand for a limited period dedicated to DC Animation and a year later Toonami resurfaced in that same format.

Even though Toonami was seen as a pop-up through DStv. WarnerMedia had some luck and forged a deal with StarTimes to bring the brand onto their platform FULL-TIME.

Since then, it's been bombarded with repeats and viewers have been making requests for fresh content and they chose Dragonball Super which ended its run on Cartoon Network.

In other parts of the world such as France, Toonami underwent a rebrand to include content for a mature audience making it more edgier with the introduction of AEW Dynamite and Adult Swim at weeknights with DC Animation and anime occupying the rest of the schedule.

WarnerMedia EMEA's status on this channel is kind of quo, but from my point of view most channels that are not on DStv don't get much hype or media attention not that it's impossible but if you have a provider that keeps things discreet these are the consequences.

-------------------------------

Get ready for some next-level action! From Monday, the 19^thof April, WarnerMedia’s TOONAMI channel will be getting a fresh branding and identity overhaul, establishing the channel in a more grown-up dimension, asserting itself progressively more amongst young adult superhero and anime enthusiasts.

The new-fangled TOONAMI, the Home of Superheroes, has upped the ante and will now also offer young adult superhero enthusiasts across Africa a 24-hour programming line-up, jam-packed with top-rated animated and anime-focused content. Fans will be taken to the mysterious world of DC Comics franchises for the best of iconic heroes and heroines from film and series including Batman, Superman, The Green Lantern, Young Justice and The Justice League, as well as popular animated series such as Teen Titans and anime-focused programming like the international hit anime phenomenon, Dragon Ball Super.

With a new design, brand new colours and a layered visual effect, the newTOONAMI identity, developed by WarnerMedia's in-house creative team, was produced by South African company, Wicked Pixels - a multi-award-winning studio specialising in high-end animation, visual effects and motion design. The new simplified logo is a modernised reinvention of the old with a nod to the ‘80s and is calibrated to accompany the brand across all linear and non-linear platforms. The innovative visual dressing, embodying four themes, will resonate with young adults. These pillars reference 2D styling representing comic books and manga, 3D styling aligning the brand with the gaming world, bringing spectacular action into play, and connecting the audience with the contemporary digital communication codes through pictogram, shapes, and visual puns.

Like any Hollywood blockbuster, the refreshed TOONAMI will be adorned with a musical theme, composed especially for the channel by Africa's first Music and Audio Agency, Audio Militia. The award-winning agency collaborated with WarnerMedia to produce the new soundtrack, mixing four different orchestrations to accompany the channel's new look and feel.

“Adult Animation is arguably the fastest-growing animation category with the most headroom for growth, and our refreshed TOONAMI channel reflects this change, targeting young adults with action and animation content,” says Guillaume Coffin, Head of Affiliates & Advertising France, Benelux, Middle East, Turkey, Africa & General Manager for Turkey. “TOONAMI, the only channel entirely dedicated to superheroes, meets the growing demand for die-hard superhero and anime enthusiasts alike, offering plenty of pulse-raising, action-packed series, new, exclusive movies and original documentaries for millennials.”

Newly added to the channel, to kick start the channel refresh, is the anime series,Fire Force, based on the Japanese manga series of the same name. In this new series, the city of Tokyo is plagued by a deadly phenomenon: spontaneous human combustion! Luckily, a special team is there to quench the inferno: The Fire Force! With new member Shinra and his devil footprints, they're going to save the city from turning to ash.

May 2021 On Nickelodeon, Nick Jr And Nicktoons Africa | 2 New Series Alert! | New Seasons & Episodes Including ALVINNN!!! And The Chipmunks And Paw Patrol | Ongoing Stunts | More

NICKELODEON:

GOLDIE'S OLDIES S1
NEW SHOW
14yr old Goldie's life is turned upside down when her family moves in with her Grandpa Maury and his three 70 something, totally bonkers housemates. Goldie's landed herself the ultimate insta-family!...If she can keep everyone together.

ALVINNN!!! And The Chipmunks S5
NEW EPISODES
5 ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks, featuring international superstars Alvin, Simon and Theodore, takes us on a roller coaster ride of music, laughter and stories geared to entertain The Chipmunks' four generations of fans.

THE CASAGRANDES S2
NEW EPISODES
The Casagrandes tells the story of Ronnie Anne, an independent, adventurous, 11-year-old who explores city life with her big, loving, multi-generational Mexican- American family.

READY SET DANCE S1
NEW TO NICKELODEON!
READY SET DANCE will get you moving and grooving! Join Freeze and Twirl for great songs and cool moves!
READY SET DANCE is inspired by the real-world in studio program and is about watching, following and joining in. Animated hosts FREEZE & TWIRL connect the audience with the world of dance all designed to get the world moving one pre-schooler at a time!

NICK JR:

PAW PATROL S7
BRAND NEW EPISODES!
PAW Patrol is a preschool series starring a pack of six heroic puppies: Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Zuma, Rubble, and Skye, who are led by a tech-savvy 10-year-old boy named Ryder
WEEKDAYS 3 –14 MAY
15:00 WAT/ 16:00 CAT/ 17:00 EAT

ABBY HATCHER S3
BRAND NEW EPISODES
Abby Hatcher is an animated preschool series that follows Abby and her friends the Fuzzlies, amazing and quirky creatures that live in her family's hotel!
EVERYDAY FROM 10 TO 22 MAY 10:00 WAT / 11:00 CAT / 12:00 EAT

DEER SQUAD S1
BRAND NEW EPISODES
The adventure-rescue show follows four, lovable, enthusiastic and heroic deer friends who protect the animals of Central Forest and the humans who inhabit Platinum City, a futuristic metropolis surrounding their woodland home.
WEEKDAYS 17-28 MAY 2021
15:40 WAT/16:40:CAT / 17:40 EAT

PREMIERE MARATHON
Premiere Episode: Pups Save the Chalk Art /Pups Save a Hot Potato
The Mini Patrol and the Pups race to the rescue to save a local mural before the rain comes. // Farmer Al and Yumi find out their garden is full of holes and their one-of-a-kind potato is missing. Now the pups must find the potato thief!
SATURDAY 29 & SUNDAY 30 MAY
12:00 WAT / 13:00 CAT/ 14:00 EAT

NICKTOONS:

SPECIAL DAYS IN MAY
Themed episodes of various shows on the following days:
1 May: Workers Day
12:55 WAT / 13:55 CAT / 14:55 EAT
9 May: Mothers Day (ZA)15:00 WAT / 16:00 CAT / 17:00 EAT
13 May: ID EL FITR 10:00 WAT / 11:00 CAT / 12:00 EAT
14 May: ID EL FITR (Holiday)10:00 WAT / 11:00 CAT / 12:00 EAT
15 May: International Day Of Families 12:55 WAT / 13:55 CAT / 14:55 EAT
27 May: Children's Day (Nigeria) 14:25 WAT / 15:25 CAT / 16:25 EAT

THE BEST OF ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS
It’s the best of ALVINNN!!! And The Chipmunks with a specific theme each weekend, planned just for you!
Weekends 1 To 30 May At 12:55 WAT / 13:55 CAT / 14:55 EAT
1st Week: Teachers (Worker's Day)
2nd Week: Imagination / Having Fun
3rd Week: Family (Int. Day Of Families)
4th Week: Competition
5th Week: Technology

SQUARE ROOT OF FRIENDS
Check out all the weird and wonderful characters that make bikini bottom the incredibly fun place it is!
Weekdays 17 To 28 May At 14:25 WAT / 15:25 CAT / 16:25 EAT

DOUBLE DARE ORIGINALS S4
NEW EPISODES
WEEKDAYS 10 TO 21 MAY AT 15:55 WAT / 16:55 CAT / 17:55 EAT
Double Dare is a test of brains, speed and stamina. Two teams of contestants answer questions and perform outrageous "physical challenges", all under the watchful eye of host, Marc Summers. In the final round, they climb, slip, and slide through the wildest obstacle course on TV. It's no wonder that this show has proven to be an international success, Double Dare dives directly into the heart of childhood!

TMNT – HALF SHELL HEROES
NEW EPISODE ALONGSIDE REPEATS
SUNDAY 23 MAY AT 16:50 WAT / 17:50 CAT / 18:50 EAT
Sunday May 23 is World Turtle Day and what better way to pay homage to our four legged, hard shelled reptiles than to give the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles their own stunt!
Join us as we see our four heroes travel to unexpected lands, encounter alien portals and brave the bizarre. You may even see the turtles themselves transform.

SUNDAY MARATHONS
From 15:00 WAT / 16:00 CAT / 17:00 EAT
We’ve packaged your Sunday laughs into neat mini- marathons! Enjoy the very best in comedy animation handpicked just for you, right here on NickToons!

2 May - The Penguins Of Madagascar
9 May - (Mother’s Day) The Fairly OddParents
16 May - The Adventures Of Kid Danger
23 May - Ollie’s Pack
30 May - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

May 2021 On Comedy Central & MTV Africa | Carbonaro Back-To-Back Episodes | Amy Schumer Presents | Boity: OYT | More

COMEDY CENTRAL:
CARBONARO EFFECT:SEASON 2, 3 & 4
12 MAY AT 21:30 CAT(MONDAY-FRIDAY)
This American hidden camera practical joke reality television series is now headed for channel 122. Michael Carbonaro, an experienced magician, performs illusions and magic tricks on unsuspecting people in everyday situations.

ANOTHER PERIOD: SEASON 2 –
SATURDAY NIGHT ORIGILOLS
15 MAY AT 22:30 CAT (SATURDAYS)
Before others staked a claim, there was one American family who stood for all that was spoiled, shameless and stupid. It's the Bellacourts, and as Rhode Island's first family of the Gilded Age, the insanely ridiculous, debaucherous clan have more servants than relatives, and their days are filled with money, sex, drugs and more money. With nothing of substance to offer their fellow citizens, the Bellacourts are solely concerned with how they look, what parties they attend, and - in the case of sisters Lillian and Beatrice, especially
- becoming super famous.

CORPORATE: SEASON 3
22 MAY AT 22:00 CAT (SATURDAYS)
A dark, edgy look at life as a Junior-Executive-in-Training at your average, soulLess multi-national corporation. Hampton DeVille is a soulless conglomerate that sinks its rapacious claws into everything from arming clandestine wars to exploiting protesters. This is a comedy about working there. Variety magazine called it ‘Deliciously dark and hilariously ruthless, a scathing satire of contemporary office culture that feels long, long overdue.

SAVANNA VIRTUAL COMEDY BAR: SEASON 2
15MAY AT 22:00 CAT (MONDAYS)
Comedy Central presents another new and exciting season of the virtual comedy show, a show like no other! Featuring some of South Africa's best stand up and sketch talent, and a side-serving of animation - all coming to you live from the Savanna Virtual Comedy Bar.

CALL YOUR MOTHER: DOCUMENTARY
09 MAY AT 22:00 CAT (SUNDAY)
It’s May, so there’s no better time to ‘Call Your Mother’. This documentary provides a hilarious ode to moms and the many ways they have shaped the work of comedy’s biggest stars. With stars including Awkwafina, Jimmy Carr and Roy Wood Jnr, this is not tobe missed.

AMY SCHUMER PRESENTS: MARK NORMAND: DON’T BE YOURSELF
16 MAY AT 22:30 CAT (SUNDAY)
Mark Normand has been told the same advice his whole life: DON'T BE YOURSELF, whatever you're thinking about saying, don't. So in his first one hour special, Mark does just that.

AMY SCHUMER PRESENTS: MARK NORMAND: DON’T BE YOURSELF
23 MAY AT 22:30 CAT (SUNDAY)
Sam Morril teams up with Amy Schumer to deliver joke after joke in his first one-hour stand-up special. Mark Normand has been told the same advice his whole life: DON'T BE YOURSELF, whatever you're thinking about saying, don't. So in his first one hour special, Mark does just that.

AMY SCHUMER PRESENTS: RACHEL FEINSTEIN: ONLY WHORES WEAR PURPLE
30 MAY AT 23:30 CAT (SUNDAY)
In Rachel Feinstein's first hour-long special, she brings her blunt humour to a variety of topics, including her love of Christian sleepovers and the purposelessness of dick pics.

MTV:
MTV LIVING THE DREAM S2
WEDNESDAY 5 MAY AT 15:00 CAT 4
4 best mates, ex Love Islanders Michael (Mac) Griffiths, Jordan Hames, Chris Taylor and Danny Williams move into theirdream house in Essex. They're filming everything on their phones, themselves, 24/7 and we get to see right inside their world of bromance, competition, forfeits, pranks and bantz.

TEEN MOM OG S9
FRIDAY 7 MAY 2021 AT 15:00 CAT
A pandemic can't keep amber, catelynn, cheyenne, maci and mackenzie from making major moves in their lives, as the moms continue to share their ups and downs and put their families first.

Catfish S8
WEDNESDAY 26 MAY AT 21:30 CAT
The hosts, Schulman and Joseph, help emotionally entangled people discover whether their online relationship is real or no

Boity: Own Your Throne S1
WEDNESDAY 25 MAY AT 21:30 CAT
In the show, the actress, rapper and TV host gives viewers a front-row seat into her busy life. She’s also opened up about the things that mean the most to her, like her family, her ancestry and her commitment to helping women and girls live their truth with confidence.

NEW SERIES ALERT!: Shocking Emergency Calls Coming Soon To CBS Reality

Shocking Emergency Calls tells the real story behind the most dramatic and extraordinary calls made to emergency operators. From victims at their most vulnerable to cold-blooded killers confessing to their crimes, the calls act as the catalyst to unravel the story - as told by those at the center of it.
With exclusive interviews and never before seen footage, this series tells the harrowing and heroic accounts of those caught up in these tragic events. Firsthand accounts from responders showcases the work of emergency services as they put their lives at risk and face moments they will never forget.
As the dialing tone starts, the true events behind terror attacks, catastrophic ﬁres, murders, animal attacks and an abduction are revealed.

Season 1 airs at 21:10 and 01:25, from 1st to 30th May. Repeated weekdays at 21:10 01:25 from 21st June until 2nd July.

CBS Reality is available on DStv

Monday, April 5, 2021

Update: SABC And eMedia Investments Expanded Agreement

Back in March, SABC and eMedia Investments held a media launch to announce a new agreement which would see Openview customers get access to SABC Sport alongside two other channels as well as SABC's 19 radio stations.

Through a media enquiry they were able to shed some light on the following:

- SABC's 19 radio stations will launch from April 15th and join Openview's other existing radio stations.
- SABC Sport will launch 2 days after the radio stations which is April 17th on channel 124. This could add some variety in the sports section and make up for the loss of sports channels Openview had over the years.
- SABC 1-3 and Sport will reportedly be available in high definition. It is currently like that through DTT, DStv and TelkomOne.
- Viewers will be able to record their favourite shows.
- Two other channels will rollout on the platform in the coming months carrying "extensive" and "archived content".
- This deal is non-exclusive as predicted earlier since both MultiChoice and TelkomOne already carry their radio stations with Sport also being available on TelkomOne.

Last year, SABC launched an educational channel and were in talks with pay-tv platforms to make room for the channel. Perhaps this deal has something to do with its failure to launch within that year.

Maybe SABC planned to rollout these brands in phases I mean the idea doesn't seem far fetched. Last year, the only rollouts happened through streaming platforms with the likes of YouTube, social media even TelkomOne to help leverage their offering.

I mean SABC knew in 2018 that SABC Encore was getting discontinued last year and it's possible that the deal with SABC Education went a similar route and subscribers are waiting on a far-off date perhaps around the time Openview manages to rollout one of the other two channels in the coming months.

Could it also be possible that info regarding SABC Education was removed through Starsat's website and DStv's test channel section because SABC was renegotiating with them possibly to include other properties from their stable.

May 2021 On CBS Justice Africa | New Series Alert!: MIAC | New Season

MURDER IN AMISH COUNTRY
Season 1
Sundays at 19:00.
From 9th May until 13th June.

Murders of any kind are thankfully rare events within the peaceful and reserved Amish and Anabaptist communities that are scattered across the United States. When they do occasionally occur, investigating detectives soon ﬁnd out that solving them is unlike working any other kind of case. As one cop put it: “It was easier getting information from the Mob than from the Amish.”
Dramatic, original and revealing, “Murder In Amish Country” tells the true stories of homicide investigations in this unfamiliar world, where witnesses are notoriously distrustful of outsiders
- even the police - and where justice is often dealt with internally.
Combining unparalleled access to those in or close to the Amish community, captivating interviews with the friends and family of the victims as well as with law enforcement oﬃcers and visually arresting re-enactments, the series takes viewers into a hidden world as detectives strive to break through the walls of silence and distrust by uncovering secrets, concealed deep rooted relationships and the rivalries and passions that lie beneath the surface in each community.

FORENSICS
Season 2
Sundays at 20:00. From 9th May until 6th June.

If you are a fan of real crime ‘whodunits’ and CSI’s forensic science, then this show will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. But be warned – sometimes the truth can be stranger than ﬁction. In this series, forensic scientists and police are the ‘heroes’, science is the ‘secret weapon’, and our presenter the ‘guide’, as we unravel the evidence, put science to work, and discover the truth behind real crime case ﬁles.
Each programme focuses on a real single crime case that has occurred in the last decade and that was solved by the combination of clever crime investigation and forensic science. The cases are pulled straight from the ﬁles of our New Zealand forensic experts, police and scene-of-crime oﬃcers. This is in-depth, fact- based, high-tech dramatic storytelling.
The cases cover all facets of forensic science including blood spatter, DNA, tool marking, digital forensics, toxicology, entomology, and the latest in cutting-edge scientiﬁc technology.

CBS Justice is available on DStv

Cartoon Network Is Doing Live-Action Again To Appeal Viewers And Further Boost The Content For Streaming

In February, Warnermedia unveiled a vast slate of kids’ programming bound for Cartoon Network and HBO Max. The slate spoke of a growing commitment to preschoolers and families — a new preschool programming block called Cartoonito will launch this fall.

The linchpin of this drive to appeal to more children is Tom Ascheim, Warner Bros.’s president, global kids, young adults, and classics. Installed in the role last summer, Ascheim heads up Cartoon Network. He also has oversight of Adult Swim, Boomerang, the Turner Classic Movies channel, and the studios of Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation, and his unit is responsible for kids’ and family programming at HBO Max.

After Warnermedia announced its slate, Ascheim elaborated on his unit’s strategy in an appearance at Kidscreen Summit’s virtual edition. Here are six takeaways from the session:

Cartoon Network is getting back into live action, with the blessing of audiences. The network has made live-action shows in the past (never with huge success), but Ascheim said it is committing to the medium under his leadership.

For some of his colleagues, he added, producing anything other than cartoons “felt like a bump.” But when they ran the idea of live-action shows on Cartoon Network by viewers, they embraced the idea “without a blink.”

Live action is partly a way to reach more girls. Ascheim’s data shows that girls “age out of animation earlier than boys” before returning to it as young adults. Live-action shows like the recently announced Family Mash-Up (from Hannah Montana creator Michael Poryes) were greenlit with that in mind. Animation that “does a stronger job of showing girls” is also on the cards.

American programming may get more multilingual. In North America, “we speak more English than we should,” says Ascheim. In pre-school content, his unit will work on “emphasizing more languages, even interstitially…You learn language so easily when you’re little.” He’s keen to use Cartoonito to represent a wider diversity of languages and cultures, even as English will remain the programming block’s primary language.

Cartoon Network is still creator-driven. Ascheim insisted that it’s “always” important to have this approach. “Our studios in particular are a great on-ramp for new creators,” he said, “because we surround them with more experienced talent.” The network considered adopting the tagline “Hello Weirdos.” The intent behind it was “to emphasize this idea that we all feel weird inside,” says Ascheim.

Instead, they opted for “Redraw Your World.” Ascheim added that the network has a ‘“Hello Weirdos’ Culture Committee,” which works to make its programming and employment practices more inclusive.

“We’re all struggling,” Ascheim said of finding ways to keep working in the pandemic. After noting that his unit has hit all its targets in that time, he spoke of a “collective sense of exhaustion” after “sprint[ing]” from spring to winter. Ascheim said he and his colleagues are now looking to “build for a more sustained way to do this in home, and maybe eventually in home and in office, and maybe one day only in office again.”

Meanwhile, HBO Max is picking up steam after a slower launch than that of its rival Disney+. Parent company AT&T has forecast 120–150 million global subscribers by 2025 — a rise from the target of 75–90 million it set out in October 2019.

In January, AT&T disclosed that HBO Max had nearly 40 million subscribers, although that metric includes those who can access the service through a promotion or HBO cable subscription; the number of “activated” subscriptions was around 17.2 million. The streamer’s international rollout begins in Latin America in June.