Insidus

Friday, October 8, 2021

New Series Alert: 100 Days To Fall In Love Coming Soon To Telemundo Africa

Earlier this year, it was reported that the romcom 100 Days To Fall In Love was set to air on Telemundo after Betty In New York but was delayed likely due to the distribution agreement with Netflix.

Based on the Argentine telenovela of the same name, 100 Days To Fall In Love (100 Días Para Enamorarnos), follows two couples who struggle to be near each other decide to give another chance for each other, 100 days for them to fall back in love.

The series stars Ilse Salas, Mariana Treviño, Erick Elías (Armando, Betty In New York) and David Chocarro (Saul, Iron Rose).

Filming on the show began in March of last year and was temporarily postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic and resumed 4 months later which was the same month it wrapped production.

The series debuts everyday at 21:00 CAT/20:00 WAT/22:00 EAT from 15 November. Not only that Case Closed is back from 1st November at the same timeslot.

Telemundo is available on DStv and GOtv

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Monday, October 4, 2021

MultiChoice To Launch M-Net Essentials (ME), A New Destination For Viewers To Watch World Class Series In One Place With Ellen Nowhere In Site

MultiChoice is excited to announce the launch of Me – on 1 November – a channel offering a wide selection of international programming. The channel is targeted at DStv Family and DStv Compact viewers but will also be available to DStv Premium and DStv Compact Plus audiences.

The launch of Me will see two channels, M-Net City 115 and Vuzu 116, merged to create a bigger, better channel aimed to give viewers their famous, world class series and reality shows in one place.
“We’re changing the way we package content and creating a single, extensive, well-curated destination. Me will give our viewers and subscribers a multifaceted, competitive channel offering, and we’re pleased to offer the best international entertainment in one place,” says Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment for Multichoice Group.

M-Net City 115 was launched as a channel where viewers can catch up on the latest and best international series, while Vuzu 116 has always been the true voice of an edgier African youth. Me will feature the best of both its predecessors, while establishing a new identity strategically crafted with the discerning audience in mind.

Me is a destination for primarily the 18 to 34-year-old market, and, in addition to international scripted content, it will feature lifestyle shows and celebrity content that has been previously broadcast on M-Net Channel 101 and 1Magic. “Me is taking us in an exciting direction that speaks to the multiplatform world we live in and further sharpens our aim to give our subscribers content that they connect with,” concludes Phahle.

Come watch TV, with Me
Me will launch with daily episodes of The Rookie, NCIS: New Orleans, Survivor Australia and Young Sheldon from 17:00 to 20:00. From 20:30 you can join me for a mix of local and international series like Lioness, Prodigal Son, All American and 911 .

The Real Housewives (starting with The Real Housewives of Atlanta) will bring the drama every weekday at 21:30, leading us to our late-night slot. 22:30 is when you can get a little dark with Me as this slot will have acclaimed international dramas and thrillers like Godfather of Harlem, Clarice and Flight Attendant.

On weekends, it’s Me-time. Start Friday evening with The Bachelorette SA or a movie. Saturdays and Sunday are filled with gameshows, talent shows and reality shows like Beat Shazam, American Idol and Growing Up Hip Hop . Sunday evening at 20:00, will feature acclaimed dramas such as Queen Sugar.

Me is tv made personal. It’s a place to unwind. It’s a channel that will change and evolve to continue to offer viewers more of what they like.

Please note:
M-Net City (DStv channel 115) and Vuzu (DStv channel 116) will officially close on Friday, 29 October.

Me (DStv channel 115) will launch on Monday, 1 November at 16:00.

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ViacomCBS: Could BET Africa Be On The Chopping Block?

BET has been available in Africa for nearly a decade offering a range of shows such as Real Husbands Of Hollywood, The Wendy Williams Show, Being Mary Jane and The Westbrooks.

As years passed, BET has slowly become redundant with most of their lineup consisting of repeats. Wendy which serves as the sole purpose of the brand is often M.I.A.

Earlier this year, Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager for ViacomCBS Networks Africa and peer lead BET International, announced the end of BET as a linear pay-TV channel in the UK as they divert the brand's focus toward streaming.

It wouldn't surprise me if the same fate awaited BET in Africa perhaps it will even have more success online than it could as a linear service as ViacomCBS continues rolling out Paramount+ across Europe.

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Could Nismedia's Controversial Glow TV Return To Openview And DStv?

In 2018, MultiChoice got into a brawl with Nismedia regarding the carriage agreement for Glow TV and three years later, eMedia Investments in charge of Openview gets into a similar scandal with the company.

In July, they were rumours swirling around that Star Life would stop airing on Openview and that an eBella type channel would launch in its place (coincidence).

Just like MultiChoice, Nismedia has filed a case against eMedia for breaching their contract which was set to expire in February 2023. There's no indicator on how true any of this but not long ago VIU took the same action making eMedia look unprofessional.

Through court documents similar to the one for MultiChoice, they request that the channel remain on Openview until the whole matter is resolved.

Nazeer Noormohamed who serves as the CEO of the channel alongside the production staff and several fans have been invading several platforms to vent out their frustration.

According to the CEO, the court could take this matter seriously since they ran into a similar encounter three years ago and if all goes well. They might even review the case with MultiChoice.

As good as that all sounds, Glow TV hasn't been performing well in terms of "management".

They want to air all the episodes Openview customers missed out on from scratch if they return knowing very well that there's StarSat customers viewing Glow TV.

Three years along the line, Openview customers often experienced technical difficulty so Glow TV constantly adjusted their schedule to please them while other brands would move forward.

You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For Kuiertyd fans be sure to follow the Doodsondes on twitter.

Friday, October 1, 2021

African Animation Network Rolls Out As A Programming Block With Plans For A 24/7 Station Still Underway

The AAN will first roll out a one-hour weekly edutainment block across networks in Africa at the end of this year, said its founder and head of projects and content Nick Wilson.

The animation-focused programming block will be trialled for three months in partnership with, at present, around 11 partner broadcasters in Sub-Saharan Africa that cannot yet be named.

“These broadcasters have a total audience reach of around 85 million viewers, and we’re conservatively estimating we can engage 8.5 to 12 million kids,” Wilson said.

The ANN plans to secure investment to launch its own linear channel if the trial is successful.

“We’re pretty bullish that we will get further investment to be able to run or at least build out a programme block or a 24/7 linear channel,” Wilson added.

“We want to create a broadcast network across the continent, but we also want to work in partnership with the local broadcasters and assist them in building ecosystems. We do not want to be in competition with them.”

On the content the network would greenlight, Wilson said: “There are only a handful of TV series that have come out of Africa and there is not enough catalogue for us to run a 24/7 linear channel.

“We have relationships with various distributors, who have plugs that we could license into Africa. But ultimately, the idea is for us to build up our channel around a new production company.”

Following the launch of a broadcast network, Wilson said the AAN would look to roll out accompanying digital platforms.

“In our roadmap, we have already identified that streaming or SVoD services will be part of the project’s long-term future, and we will pivot to that when it becomes necessary,” he said.

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Could ViacomCBS International Media Networks In Africa Also Be Opting To Streaming Following The Smithsonian Channels Closure Within The Market?

In September, it was reported that The Smithsonian Channel alongside FOX will stop airing on StarTimes across Africa meaning less international channels for their customers.

The reasons for FOX's demise was already disclosed but The Smithsonian Channel was never stated at least not until another platform being Zuku TV addressed the matter.

According to the East African provider Zuku TV, The Smithsonian Channel was apparently discontinued by the supplier being ViacomCBS International Media Networks.

ViacomCBS International Media Networks already handle other brands in Africa such as Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, MTV Hits, BET, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr and Nicktoons.

The problem here is none of Smithsonian's content fit any of these channels and ViacomCBS didn't give their viewers other means of viewing the programming.

So what is going on exactly with ViacomCBS? Why not leave your viewers with other means of viewing the entertainment? Is it possible that The Smithsonian Channel heading to streaming soon?

In 2018, ViacomCBS launched a streaming service for The Smithsonian Channel in the United States called Smithsonian Channel+ which has since been merged onto Paramount+.

Paramount+ which isn't available in South Africa as of yet is home to ViacomCBS other brands (as mentioned earlier) current and future programming.

By taking all this into account, is it possible that more channels from ViacomCBS will join The Smithsonian Channel in this turmoil as viewers wait on the launch of Paramount+.

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New Series Alert: Impak Coming Soon To eVOD

Also read:
- Afrikaans voice actors for Droomvelore and Die Put
- Doodsondes returning for a fourth season on eExtra
- Dokter Ali season 2 coming soon

eVOD has seemingly become the home of not only e.tv local dramas but the Turkish offering available through their Afrikaans block, Kuiertyd.

With most of them now available on eExtra such as Dokter Ali, Kurt En Shura and Voelvry. It looks like eVOD is trying to stay ahead of their linear counterparts by introducing another Turkish drama, Impak.

Impak (Çarpışma), follows Kadir Adalı is the Chief Commissioner of the Organized Crime Branch of the Istanbul Police Department. The moment he loses his wife and daughter in a terrorist act, his happy family life is destroyed. Feeling very sorry for what had happened and suffering from this loss, he decided to end his life. Without realizing it, he causes a catastrophe that changes the lives of four people.

The 2019 action series stars Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ (Die Vreemdeling), Elçin Sangu (As Die Skoen Pas), Onur Saylak, Melisa Aslı Pamuk and Alperen Duymaz which has aired in over 15 markets.

You can stream 10 episodes of the series from Monday 11 October or wait till 2022 to see it on e.tv or eExtra as a replacement for Voelvry, The Girl Named Feriha or Deur Dik En Dun.

You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For Kuiertyd fans be sure to follow the Doodsondes on twitter.

Ahead Of Two New SABC Channels, Glow TV Is The Second Channel To Go Off Air On Openview This Year

After 8 years, eMedia Investments' Openview platform silently parts ways with Nismedia's Indian brand, Glow TV leaving many viewers devastated as to why the channel was terminated from the platform.

eMedia Investments as usual doesn't inform the media about any of the changes coming towards their Openview platform so we have search around for the necessary info.

Openview is in the process of launching two more channels from the SABC which to me could be their way of trying to make up for the loss of Glow TV so pretty much cost cutting.

Glow TV hasn't been off to a good start formerly owned by Urban Brew Studios. The channel was on the verge of shutting down in 2015 only to be saved by Nismedia.

Even after the new owners came into the equation. The channel has been repetitive not only that losing out on several programming as more competitors such as Zee World and Star Life entered the circuits.

Three years ago, the channel was removed from DStv as the contract ended with them so they sought to eMedia Investments for the unsuccessful eBella channel whose content is now directed onto eExtra.

Seeing that eExtra is now increasing their hours for Kuiertyd. It wouldn't surprise me if it became a Mzansi Magic and kykNET infused channel while the Indian and Koren content were put on a seperate channel perhaps in Rewind's place.

Getting back to Glow TV, viewers will still be able to watch the channel through StarSat while Openview viewers have eExtra and Star Life to keep them occupied.

You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For Kuiertyd fans be sure to follow the Doodsondes on twitter.

M-Net City And VUZU Reportedly The Next Channels Set To Go Off Air On DStv, Will Merge Into One Brand, ME

According to several DStv customers, they've apparently recieved a message which stated that M-Net City (channel 115) and VUZU (channel 116) will go off air soon for a new channel called ME.

This news is really shocking considering how M-Net has been very clingy to VUZU I guess they finally realised how crappy the channel has gotten following the launch of 1Magic (formerly VUZU Amp) so the merge with M-Net City will give it's lineup some relevancy.

ME is said to be the home of world-class entertainment so basically it will be M-Net Series all over again. Why not give it an M-Net branding since they'll likely be using it for reruns on M-Net and 1Magic. The name ME might have been derived from VUZU's former counterpart GO.

VUZU is available from the family package while M-Net City starts from the Compact package.

It wouldn't surprise me if this channel is made available on channel 115 to Compact subscribers while Family customers are given E! or MTV to make up for VUZU seeing that it's a reality channel and M-Net will try to make ME a top priority.

This would be similar to what they did with M-Net Movies All-Stars on Family when it became M-Net Movies 3 for Compact customers due to M-Net Movies Action.

The demise of M-Net City will bring a lot of outrage amongst customers. Despite not being 24/7 with most of its lineup consisting of repeats. The channel was unique in a way some would say it had a better offering than Universal TV.

Now these same people will likely rally around Universal TV to avoid those housewives and if my assumption is correct for family customers they'll lose out on several sitcoms as well as the final season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

These termination could have come as a result of the pandemic and also the rise in streaming with several of M-Net's distributors withholding content for their own platforms.

From 1st November, M-Net City and VUZU merge into one channel known as ME and with this change on the horizon, how long do you suppose it will be till the same is done to Mzansi Wethu and Mzansi Music?

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Insidus

Featured Posts

eMedia's 4 Channels Recieve Another Extension On MultiChoice's DStv, Might Go Dark By August 2024

Friday, October 8, 2021

New Series Alert: 100 Days To Fall In Love Coming Soon To Telemundo Africa

Monday, October 4, 2021

MultiChoice To Launch M-Net Essentials (ME), A New Destination For Viewers To Watch World Class Series In One Place With Ellen Nowhere In Site

ViacomCBS: Could BET Africa Be On The Chopping Block?

Could Nismedia's Controversial Glow TV Return To Openview And DStv?

Friday, October 1, 2021

African Animation Network Rolls Out As A Programming Block With Plans For A 24/7 Station Still Underway

Could ViacomCBS International Media Networks In Africa Also Be Opting To Streaming Following The Smithsonian Channels Closure Within The Market?

New Series Alert: Impak Coming Soon To eVOD

Ahead Of Two New SABC Channels, Glow TV Is The Second Channel To Go Off Air On Openview This Year

M-Net City And VUZU Reportedly The Next Channels Set To Go Off Air On DStv, Will Merge Into One Brand, ME