NBCUniversal International To Close E! In Germany, Austria And Switzerland By The End Of 2022

During the week, Broadband TV shared the news that NBCUniversal will be axing their female skewed celebrity based E! channel by the end of 2022 for strategic purposes.

“For strategic reasons, the channel E! Entertainment will be discontinued at the end of the year,” a Sky Deutschland spokesman confirmed to Broadband TV News. “We are fully concentrating on our very successful pay-TV channel brands 13th Street, SYFY and Universal TV, providing our customers with an exciting and broad entertainment portfolio,” said the Sky spokesman.

Both NBC Universal and Sky Group are part of US media company Comcast.

Of course this entail doesn't state what fate awaits the rest of NBCUniversal's linear offering globally or in this case E! Entertainment as traditional TV is becoming a waste for OTT platforms like Disney+ and Netflix.

NBCUniversal will be rolling out a new streaming service Universal+ in South Africa from October 14th exclusively on MultiChoice's Explora Ultra supplying content already viewed on various channels including Telemundo, Universal TV and DreamWorks Channel.

Recommended Games #7: Rich Knight's Horror Show Moonwalker Can Also Be Playable Through Your Device

The gameplay is focused on finding children, all of whom resemble Katie from the movie, who are scattered throughout the levels, some behind objects such as doors. Most of the objects are empty or contain enemies. Jackson's standard attack is a stylized high kick that is commonly incorporated into his dance routines; in the Sega Genesis version, Jackson's attacks fire off blue sparks, giving him greater offensive range. If the player continues to hold the attack button, and moves Jackson backwards, he performs his Moonwalk dance move. Jackson also has a special attack button which, when held, will cause him to start spinning; releasing it will cause him to throw his hat at enemies, destroying them instantly, but if the button is held for longer, Jackson will bring all on-screen enemies together to start dancing to his music. Once the choreography is finished, all enemies are damaged or defeated. These special attacks cost Jackson some health, sapping up to half his full life bar at full charge. Rescuing children restores some of Jackson's health. Once all children are rescued, Bubbles will mount on Michael's shoulders and point him in the direction of the level's final confrontation, where Mr. Big taunts him before sending waves of enemies for Jackson to defeat (on the Master System version, Bubbles is absent, and the levels cut straight from the final child to the enemy rush).

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#BoycottMoonbugKids: The Possible Outcome To The Demise Of Da Vinci Kids On The DStv And GOtv Platform

With only a few days left on the DStv and GOtv platforms, MultiChoice has decided to axe the educational channel, Da Vinci Kids and this comes after unveiling a new preschool channel, Moonbug Kids. Thanks to our sources we were able to get an official statement.

MultiChoice constantly reviews its channel offering to ensure we continue to bring our customers the best quality local and international content that adds value to our customer's viewing experience. As such, Da Vinci (DStv channel 318 and GOtv channel 66/157/359) will no longer be available to DStv packages, effective 15 October 2022. We continue to look for fresh content that resonates with our viewers. Customers can look forward to more exciting content announcements such Moonbug Kids channel launching soon - and we've launched another kids channel, DreamWorks Channel earlier this year.

As mentioned in a previous post, Moonbug Kids will be added as a replacement to Da Vinci Kids and with MultiChoice battling transponder constraints it's led the brand to scrap a couple of channels in order to allocate more channels.

Unlike most replacements, Moonbug Kids is like when you slide BET with Travel Channel - random. As the two don't have much in common aside from the demographic with a bit of variation.

Da Vinci Kids audience range from 8-12 years with shows like Siesta Z, Operation Ouch, Horrible Histories and Wild Kratts. Accompanying the lineup is a dedicated family block filled with mostly documentaries and other factual content.

I mean after its acquisition the channel has become less of a Discovery Channel but more like a CBeebies and PBS Kids I mean there's more animation and the live-action puts it in a competitive spot with Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

But that's the thing, not a lot of people are familiar with this version of the channel as amazing as the improvements have been we have to face the facts. Not everyone is familiar with this version as opposed to the one from few years back.

The same can be said about its replacement Moonbug Kids as its audiences is further limited from Da Vinci Kids while the channel catered to 8-12 years then 6-12 years with Moonbug Kids it's like mixing Baby TV and JimJam to form this fresh smoothie.

Moonbug Kids has managed to redeem themselves and I have no doubt about that but the audience doesn't match up to Da Vinci Kids I mean the channel carried preschool just like Boomerang it doesn't come full-time as seen here.

Moonbug Kids is home to CoComelon a show featuring music, dance and nursery rhymes again something you'll typically see on Baby TV and the only thing that's less Baby TV about the channel is Supa Strikas and beside the point it's not something you'd expect on Da Vinci Kids.

But Supa Strikas being on a brand that is dedicated to preschoolers has me wondering how such a franchise can be reduced to preschool even that of Baby TV. I mean most of the company's property is preschool just kind of curious how Supa Strikas ended up in that predicament.

And even more curious on who still has the energy for this soccer legend I mean I believe everyone needs a break every now and then but Supa Strikas has been all over the place SABC, e.tv, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and now Moonbug Kids.

Da Vinci Kids doesn't have much alternatives aside from National Geographic and Curiosity but they aren't kid based and the channel kind of set up its offering in a way that would appease their target audience and those accompanying them and these brands cater for a much wider spectrum.

 

New Series Alert: Zee Rush Kicks It Into High Gear With Never Kiss Your Best Friend Coming Soon To Zee World

Last month, Zee World is a general entertainment channel home to various Bollywood shows and movies from Zee Enterprises unveiled a new block Zee Rush home to various web shows and to start off the new slot will be Never Kiss Your Boyfriend.

Never Kiss Your Best Friend revolves around two best friends, Tanie and Sumer, who meet after 5 long years of separation. A heart-warming story that redefines the rules of friendship. The romantic drama stars starring Nakuul Mehta, Anya Singh, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Niki Aneja, Rituraj Singh, and Vivek Mushran.

Based on the book of the same name, the author Sumrit Shahi has worked on several shows including  Pyar Tune Kya Kiya on Zing and Veer Ki Ardaas...Veera on Star Plus. He has even written screenplays for web series Black Coffee and another StarPlus show, Tu Suraj Mein Saanjh Piya Ki.

Heer Kothari from The Free Press Journal gave four star stating "A refreshing web series". Shubham Kulkarni from Koimoi wrote " Nakuul Mehta & Anya Singh Starrer Is A Staple Drama With An Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Hangover To It". Ruchita Mishra from Peeping wrote " Kya pyaar dosti hai?' Nakuul Mehta’s and Anya Singh's friendly rom-com is totally relatable". Arushi Jain from Indian Express wrote "An easy-breezy show on love and friendship".

The series is set to replace I'm On The Edge weekdays (excluding weekends) at 22:00 CAT from 17 October.

Rich Knight: 5 Reasons Michael Jackson's Moonwalker Was A Childhood Horror

A lot of people talk about how that boat scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, or the Wheelers in Return to Oz, really messed them up as children. And most of the time, those people are joking. Yes, those scenes and characters were bizarre and didn’t really fit in a “kid’s movie.” But they didn’t really mess anybody up, either. They were just creepy. Well, I’m here to tell you that the Michael Jackson movie, Moonwalker, which came out in 1988, and pretty much consisted of a few music videos strung together, legitimately did mess me up as a child.

And it’s because it slipped into my subconscious. Growing up, there are a lot of things connected to Moonwalker that I didn’t even realize were from this film that seriously freaked me out as a child, and I didn’t even know why. You might be wondering how this happened, and I can tell you. But do I want to? Yes. Yes, I do. Because it will be therapeutic for me, and I have to start somewhere, right? Annie, am I okay?

I Used To Think I Dreamt This Movie

There are two movies that I thought I dreamt but could have sworn were real. One was a sequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory that actually turned out to be a live-action version of The Little Prince, starring Gene Wilder. And the other was Moonwalker . Strangely enough, I was more convinced that the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory sequel was real since there is actually a sequel to the book called, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

But Moonwalker was the movie that was too weird to be real. In my dream of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sequel, Willy Wonka and Charlie land in a forest with their elevator, and these little creatures pop out behind trees. That’s all that I “remembered”. But in Moonwalker, I could have sworn I remembered these clay figures chasing Michael, and him turning into a robot. Obviously, that was all just a dream…wasn’t it?

Segments In The Movie Became Actual Music Videos

And here’s why my lizard brain almost believed it was all just a dream. It’s because many of the segments in the movie actually became music videos. This is because Moonwalker isn’t really a movie, per se, as it is just a bunch of music videos that are loosely strung together. “Man in the Mirror,” “Speed Demon,” “Leave Me Alone,” and of course, “Smooth Criminal,” are all featured in this film.

And it’s weird that I didn’t believe this was a movie since I had the Michael Jackson Moonwalker video game for my Sega Master System. I played the hell out of that game, and I loved it. It was a platformer (of sorts) where you had to rescue children by opening doors. It was really fun, but something didn’t quite sit well with me when it came to a trench-coat-wearing bad guy with sunglasses. There was nothing really scary about this character. But then I saw the movie…

Joe Pesci Always Scared Me As A Child And I Didn’t Know Why

I found out that Moonwalker was a movie while watching an episode of The Angry Video Game Nerd . In the episode, which was about the Moonwalker game, the Nerd briefly mentioned that the game was based off of a movie, which made my heart leap into my throat. All those years where I just thought I imagined the movie finally came crashing home. I got goosebumps and had to see if it was real. When I found out that it was, I watched it and finally understood why I had an irrational fear of Joe Pesci growing up.

Because while most kids of a certain age found Joe Pesci to be funny as the short-tempered thief, Harry, in Home Alone, I always found him terrifying. For some reason, I thought he was either going to kill Kevin, or take him hostage and pump him full of drugs, which didn’t make any sense. Why would he give Kevin drugs? Well, it turns out that Joe Pesci plays a character named Mr. Big in Moonwalker, and he’s the main antagonist. And get this. He wants to make all the kids in America drug addicts, and even kidnaps a child. It gets worse…

I Had An Irrational Fear Of Being Kidnapped When I Was Growing Up

Parents always try to scare their children when they tell them about strangers so their kids don’t get kidnapped. So of course I had a fear of being taken. But my fear of being kidnapped was really bad. So much so that I had several nightmares about being taken to a lair where armed guards stood watch while my captor lurked in the shadows. Well, I now realize it was all because of this stupid movie that I was so afraid of being kidnapped.

In the film, there’s a segment that eventually became the video “Smooth Criminal.” I’m sure you’ve seen it—the white suit, the bending forward, the pool hall. All that good stuff. Well, in the movie, after the big music number, Mr. Big (Joe Pesci) kidnaps an orphan child and ties her up, threatening to inject her with drugs. And after I saw that, it all made sense to me why movies like Goodfellas and even My Cousin Vinny always gave me intense anxiety. But that wasn’t even the worst part…

Robot Michael Jackson Is Nightmare Fuel

No, the worst part, and the part that actually made me scream as a grown ass man, was when Michael Jackson turns into a robot. It was something of a primordial, distant memory that struck me right in my heart when I saw him transform into a robot and shoot down people dead. Dead!

And what’s really strange is that this scene is also in the video game, but my mind didn’t make the mental leap. Seeing it on the screen just cleared up so many holes for me as to why I always loved MJ growing up, but was also really, intrinsically frightened by him. So much so that I couldn’t look at his picture for too long or I would feel really unsettled. I always thought it was because of his “Thriller" video, but no. It was Moonwalker and Robot Michael Jackson. 100% Robot Michael Jackson . That scene is terrifying. And those are my 5 reasons.

What To Expect On The Home Channel In November 2022?

Location Location Location (24) NEW
No floorboard is left unturned as dynamic property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer help house hunters find the perfect home in the perfect location in a new season of Location, Location, Location. This time the challenge ahead of Kirstie and Phil is tougher than ever. Britain’s choosiest home hunters are looking for just the right spot and our expert realtors are, as always, up to the task. They will help these house hunters secure the right home in the right spot for these families to live their happy-ever-after.

07 November 2022 to 30 January 2023 
Mon 09:00 Tue 13:00 Wed 17:00 Fri 21:00

Escape To The Chateau DIY (2) NEW
'Escape to the Chateau: DIY' follows plucky Brits taking on the task of renovating and running their fairy-tale Chateaux dotted throughout the French Countryside. There will be ups and downs, but these property owners will continue on as they laugh, cry, & triumph in their seemingly never-ending challenge to renovate and maintain their huge French castles.

07 November 2022 to 29 May 2023
Mon 12:00 Tue 16:00 Thu 20:00 Fri 08:00 Sat 12:30 & 19:30 Sun 16:30 & 23:30

Donal’s Family Kitchen (1) NEW
Taking inspiration from his own busy household, and from family favourites around the world, Donal Skehan presents a selection of innovative recipes to refresh your collection. From braised beef shin lasagne to a sweet baked treat that will make your family’s taste buds sing. You will see it all on Donal’s Family Kitchen.

07 November 2022 to 09 January 2023
Mon 14:00 Wed 18:00 Thu 23:00 Fri 10:00 Sat 08:00 Sun 14:30

All About Property (8) NEW

07 November 2022 to 30 January 2023
Mon 16:30 Wed 20:30 Thu 08:30 Fri 12:30 Sat 17:30 & 00:30 Sun 13:00 & 21:30

Nadiya Bakes (1) NEW
As Nadiya Hussain returns to baking, her happy zone, with delicious cakes and beautiful breads that emerge from the oven. Be prepared to see delicious treats like classic bakes with a twist as well as recipes for chocolatey bliss only on Nadiya Bakes.

08 November 2022 to 27 December 2022
Tue 18:00 Wed 23:00 Thu 10:00 Fri 14:00 Sat 07:30 Sun 14:00

Wok Vs Pot (1)
Italian classics go head to head with Asian favourites on ‘Work vs Pot’. Join hosts, Silvia Colloca and Marion Grasby as they share their insatiable appetite and desire for hometown cuisine. In each episode, Silvia handles the pot with her incredible Italian classics, while Marion’s on the go, dishing up her Asian and Thai favourites. The result is a collection of family meals, classic recipes, desserts and quick dinners that are sure to win over the crowds.

14 November 2022 to 28 November 2022
Mon 10:00 Tue 14:00 Thu 18:00 Fri 23:00 Sat 07:00 Sun 13:30

Property Brothers: Forever Home (2) NEW
Drew and Jonathan Scott are on a mission to help couples transform their houses into forever homes where they can put down roots and happily spend their lives on Property Brothers: Forever Home. But before that can happen, they need Drew and Jonathan to unlock the full potential of their house and renovate it into the home of their dreams.

14 November 2022 to 27 March 2023
Mon 17:00 Wed 21:00 Thu 09:00 Fri 13:00 Sat 16:00 & 23:00 Sun 11:30 & 20:00

Scotland’s Home Of The Year (2)
Catch Scotland’s Home Of The Year where property experts travel Scotland exploring three different homes in each episode. Only one home from each region can make it to the final in a bid to be named Scotland’s Home of the Year. From a cliff top home, and a home inspired by Vikings, to a maritime themed fisherman's cottage, you will see it all on Scotland’s Home of the Year.

21 November 2022 to 09 January 2023
Mon 19:00 Tue 22:00 Wed 11:00 Thu 15:00

Find Me A Dream Home Australia (1)
We all love to dream that we have the money to buy our dream home. On Find Me A Dream Home Australia, we meet the buyers who can do just that and have the dollars to invest in Real Estate. In each episode, the Fabulous Nikki Osborne takes a couple on a tour of three of the most gorgeous homes in their price range. These house hunters have the money, know exactly what they want and are ready to buy. The challenge is to find the property they are going to love. For some it’s a coastal view while for others their ultimate fantasy is to live sky-high in a luxury penthouse. These home buyers have a keen eye for detail and a desire for the ultimate luxury lifestyle.

22 November 2022 to 11 April 2023
Tue 19:30 Wed 22:00 Thu 11:30 Fri 15:30 Sat 13:30 & 20:30 Sun 17:30 & 00:30

Moving Houses (1) NEW
Clarke Gayford goes along on a journey with New Zealand families, couples and adventurous individuals, transporting their dream homes to their ideal locations on this season of Moving Houses. With a breathtaking combination of science and engineering, and jaw-dropping home renovation and design, each episode showcases a single action-packed move. It’s a dramatic journey as charming cottages, historic villas, and sleek designer pads are uprooted, chain-sawed into pieces, and trucked through some of the country’s trickiest terrain.

28 November 2022 to 30 January 2023
Mon 08:00 Tue 12:00 Wed 16:00 Fri 20:00

Room To Improve- Dermot’s Home (1) NEW
After 13 blissful years in the house where he and his wife raised their three children – the place where he created his first 'room to improve’ -architect Dermot Bannon is moving on. A new home awaits in the form of a run-down 1930s house in Drumcondra – soon to be fitted with a massive two storey extension that will triple its size. For the first time ever, Dermot is both client and architect – a dual role in which he’s far from comfortable. And as he struggles to realise his vision, he’ll need all the help he can get. Can Ireland's most famous architect separate this head from his heart as he embarks on his most personal project yet - the family home of his dreams? Find out on Room To Improve-Dermot’s Home.

28 November 2022 to 05 December 2022
Mon 22:00 Tue 11:00 Wed 15:00 Fri 19:00

What To Expect On Via In November 2022?

Kom ons braai: Familie en Vriende
Season 18
12 November 2022 // Saturdays 20:00
46 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: Food / Competition
Three couples braai against one another for points and prizes. Each couple has a chance to throw a braai party at their own home and the duos score one another efforts in terms of braai technique, taste and entertainment.

Slim vang sy baas
11 November 2022 // Fridays 17:30
46 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: Game show
In each episode of this fun-filled game show, two teams go head-to-head and battle it out through a series of rounds that will put their general knowledge to the ultimate test. Hosted by Beer Adriaanse.

Wys my 'n huis
Season 1
13 October 2022 // Thursdays 17:00
23 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: Home and garden
In each episode, we follow a couple, an individual or a family on their search to find the perfect home to buy or rent. A real-estate agent will show them three homes: Two that tick all the boxes on their wish list and one wildcard property that doesn’t meet any of their requirements but might just be exactly what they were looking for.

ALREADY ON AIR BUT STILL NB!
Houvrou of trouvrou?
Season 1
28 September 2022 // Thursdays 20:00
46 minutes x 10 episodes
Genre: Reality
The search is on for the number-one trouvrou (the ideal wife) in South Africa! In this provocative, new reality show a group of eight women from across the country will check into a luxury farmhouse where they will compete to be crowned the trouvrou of the year and to answer the question: Which area in South Africa produces the best marriage material? Our panel of three, opinionated judges will determine the leader board and the eventual winner.

JAN
Season 4
16 October 2022 // Sundays 20:30
46 minutes x 10 episodes
Genre: Food / Docuseries
Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, South Africa’s first Michelin-star chef, has dazzled viewers with his culinary adventures through some of the most beautiful places in the world – from Apricale in Italy to the Kalahari in South Africa. In the fourth season, he delves deeper into South Africa's culinary traditions (and gives us a sneak peek into his latest secret project).

Huisgenoot Ware Lewensdrama’s: Vlees en bloed
Season 1
10 October 2022 // Mondays 20:00
46 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: True crime
A gripping new true-crime series that focusses on the most shocking cases of familicide in South Africa.

Kookpunt
Season 2
11 October 2022 // Tuesdays 20:00
46 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: Food / Competition
In each episode of this fast-paced cooking competition, three chefs go head-to-head over three intense rounds to win an enviable cash prize. In round one, must choose between two dishes they wish to recreate. The winner of round two gets to choose the ingredient that they and their competitors cook with in round two. After round two, one chef is sent home and the final two chefs must cook with the surprise ingredients hiding under our cloche. At the end of the episode, one chef takes home a cash prize.

Uit die slaapkamer
Season 2
5 October 2022 // Wednesdays 21:00
23 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: Talk
The sexologist Doctor Elna Rudolph became a fan favourite of VIA viewers after a series of appearances on Minki van der Westhuizen’s talk show Minki. And now Doctor Elna has her own talk show in which she (with the help of an opinionated panel) answers and addresses everything you’ve ever wanted to know about sex but were too afraid to ask.

Minki
Season 13
10 October 2022 // Mondays 17:30
46 minutes x 13 episodes
Genre: Talk
In this talk show, the much-loved Minki van der Westhuizen invites people who inspire and interest her to join her on her couch to chat about life, love and everything else.

SuperSport Unveils Exciting Sporting Line-Up For The Rest Of 2022 Through 2023

SuperSport continues to be a global leader in sporting content – and the undisputed World of Champions revealed a tantalising sports catalogue for 2023 at today’s MultiChoice Showcase. Boasting a catalogue of local and international sporting action headlined by extensive coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, MultiChoice has reaffirmed its commitment to bring its customers the best sports entertainment.

The very best football
The world’s biggest football tournament is around the corner and there is only one place in Africa where every fan can immerse themselves in everything 2022 FIFA World Cup. That place is SuperSport. Its World Cup production will be bigger than ever, with more matches, more digital support and more technology.

The tournament will run from 20 November to 18 December and SuperSport will broadcast all 64 matches live and in prime time, with highlights, historical footage and news updates adding value for our customers to enjoy. Customers can also stream all the live action on the DStv Now app and Showmax Pro, to watch wherever they are.

‘’Amidst the excitement and buzz of the World Cup, SuperSport will also be broadcasting the Premier League; La Liga; the DStv Premiership; the UEFA Champions League; UEFA Europa League; Ethiopian Premier League; SkyBet Championship and the MultiChoice Diski Challenge. We will offer an unprecedented football experience that will reaffirm our right to call ourselves the World of Champions,” says Marc Jury, Chief Executive Officer at SuperSport.

The best of local sport

SuperSport remains a long-term supporter of local sport, both as an investor and a broadcaster. “Our coverage of local football, rugby and cricket has grown from strength to strength. We continue to widen our net to include a variety of other sport such as basketball; netball; boxing; golf; hockey and golf,” says Jury.

SuperSport also supports the growth and development of women’s sports. It will broadcast the Spar Proteas’ critical milestones and journey to the 2023 Netball World Cup, including all their fixtures. SuperSport also broadcasts the under-19 DStv Schools Netball Challenge.

The company will continue to broadcast key live sporting events which see South African teams competing with the best teams from around the world.

 

DStv Viewers Spoilt For Choice With The Best International Content

MultiChoice is ending 2022 with a bang - and will continue to mesmerise its customers in 2023 and beyond - by bringing the best of international shows across its DStv channels, including evergreen BBC Earth, the stylish E! Entertainment, to the gritty Discovery Channel and the innovative Curiosity Channel, HGTV, Universal TV, TLC, ID and a whole lot more.

Currently on M-Net - off the back of one of the most successful shows in the history of television - comes the highly anticipated House of the Dragon. Set two hundred years before the events in Game of Thrones, this new series chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen. We promised you quality international shows Express from the US - and just like a Lannister - we always pay our debts. This is a promise we have kept. We’re thrilled to have the series simulcast with the US, with each episode airing at 03:00, and available immediately on DStv Catch Up - and then broadcast on linear TV at 21:30 the same day.

The best international shows continue to return to M-Net, including Chicago: PD, Fire & Med; FBI: FBI (OG), FBI Most Wanted & FBI International; NCIS: NCIS (OG), NCIS LA, NCIS Hawaii, popular procedurals like Blue Bloods; The Rookie; Law & Order and The Blacklist. Returning most-loved sitcoms include Young Sheldon S6 and Young Rock S3, alongside the best international reality shows, including America’s Got Talent S17; Britain’s Got Talent S15; Survivor US S43 & Australia S9; The Block S16 and MasterChef Australia S14 & 15.

Sunday night blockbusters remain a staple on M-Net. Highlights for the rest of 2022 include Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2 October); The Suicide Squad (9 October); The Lost City (23 October); The 355 (30 October); Uncharted (6 November); Dune (20 November); Moonfall (11 December) and, in January 2023, Jurassic World: Dominion.

On Curiosity Channel, headliner Evolve will be leading the pack of exciting new shows. Evolve will change the way wildlife TV is made. Exploring nature, science, and tech like never before, Evolve dives deep into the emerging world of biomimicry. Biologist and host Patrick Aryee explores how evolution could hold the key to unlocking some of the world’s biggest challenges. Jam-packed with wildlife, stunning locations across four continents and mind-bending futuristic science, this Curiosity original series showcases the best of human ingenuity. Patrick gains exclusive access alongside some of the world’s leading explorers, inventors and scientists who are working wonders in areas from revolutionizing healthcare to transforming transportation.

Narrated by David Attenborough, Frozen Planet II will take audiences back to the wilderness of the Arctic and Antarctica. Ten years on from the original Frozen Planet, the series tells the complete story of the entire frozen quarter of our planet that’s locked in ice and blanketed in snow - on BBC Earth.

Life In Colour with David Attenborough will also air on BBC, giving viewers a front-row seat as he travels from the rainforests of Costa Rica to the snowy Scottish Highlands to reveal the extraordinary ways that animals use colour.
Viewers’ favourites are set to make a welcome return and keep the whole family glued to their screens.

On Discovery Channel, fan favourite Gold Rush returns for a 13th season. Tales From the Explorers’ Club, hosted by Expedition Unknown’s Josh Gates, takes viewers inside the headquarters of the Explorers’ Club to ‘relive the epic adventures of members who have pushed the boundaries of human possibility venturing to Earth’s highest peaks, deepest ocean trenches, the North and South poles and even into outer space’. It will detail the accomplishments of legendary figures such as Ernest Shackleton; Gertrude Bell; Sir Edmund Hillary; Jim Lovell; and even Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

On TLC, 90 Day Fiancé: UK is a new spin-off of the original franchise, which sees couples from diverse backgrounds trying to defy the odds in their quest for true love.

On Universal TV, high-octane conspiracy series, Departure returns for a third season. After the disappearance of Flight 716 in Season 1 and a devastating train crash in Season 2, Kendra Malley (Archie Panjabi) and Dominic Heyes (Kris Holden-Ried) must once again take up the investigation in Season 3, as a ferry sinks on its way to Newfoundland, presenting the duo with a series of mysterious puzzles.

Viewers can also enjoy new seasons of other popular procedurals like Diggstown S3 and Transplant S3 on the same channel.

National Geographic’s offering gets meatier with Appetite For Adventure with Big Moe Cason returning, as ‘Big Moe’ takes his grilling mitts on the road to seek out the planet’s most mouthwatering mythical dishes, cooked over an open flame.

Crime docuseries Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller returns, with the titular award-winning journalist continuing to explore the inner workings of the global underworld's most dangerous black markets. In each episode, she journeys inside a different black market or trafficking network - from drugs and stolen cars to outlaw bikers and Amazon mafias - to meet the players, learn the business and better understand the world’s multi-trillion-dollar shadow economy
HGTV offers exquisite lifestyle shows with celebrity hosts. Brand new show The Great Giveback with Melissa McCarthy will make its debut. McCarthy partners with design-savvy Jenna Perusich to give back to those who give selflessly to others, with surprise home makeovers.
BBC has a string of returning favourites, including popular dance show Strictly Come Dancing, general knowledge gameshow Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? With Jeremy Clarkson and a new instalment of The Weakest Link with Romesh Ranganathan. Ghosts is set to amuse viewers with sharp British humour as the young couple who inherited a grand country house, continue to meet the ghosts of its former inhabitants.

All Creatures Great and Small S2, Midsomer Murders S22 and Miss Scarlet and The Duke S2 all return to BBC Brit as well.

On BBC Lifestyle, Listing Jozi S2 and Come Dine With Me South Africa S8 will also be airing.
This Body Works For Me, a show where empowered women openly talk about how their erotic work earns them an income, will also be available on Honey TV.

MultiChoice is always seeking new ways to deliver content that is specifically tailored for customers, by adding new channels to its platforms.

QWEST TV, a Soul and Jazz channel co-owned by Quincy Jones, will launch later this year. Featuring legends such as Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong and Roberta Flack, the channel preserves the richness of history, while reflecting the present-day beauty and reality of culturally and racially diverse people.

Universal+ will give customers high-quality international full box sets, current and back seasons to binge - with the addition of approximately 1 400 titles from E! Entertainment, Telemundo, Studio Universal, Universal TV, Dreamworks, available for longer periods of time on a Connected Explora and the DStv App.
Kids’ content forms an integral part of our DStv offering and we have the best brands to entertain our young audiences.

Kids can look forward to Moonbug, a new channel that will bring joy to the little ones. The channel is home to premium quality kids’ shows like CocoMelon, Blippi and Little Baby Bum.

Cartoon Network is set to dazzle with new shows like Lego’s Monkie Kid; Ivandoe; Jane Armor and fan favourite ratings driver Dragon Ball Super, which will be returning after a 3-year break.

On Boomerang, animated new shows include BatWheels from the DC Universe and Interstellar Ella, a show about a girl who is gleefully testing her limits in a star-filled playground called ‘The Milky Way.’ Ella is a bright-eyed girl propelled by curiosity and ambition who discovers exciting new worlds alongside her best friends.

Kids can look forward to new animated and live action shows on Disney channel, including Hamster and Gretel and The Villains of Family View, which follows a family of raucous supervillains who must somehow beat a path to normalcy in a small Texas town.

Zombies returns for part 3 and the little ones can look forward to new seasons of Gigantosaurus and Spidey and his Amazing Friends, on Disney Junior.

The biggest event on the Nickelodeon calendar, the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, will also be airing in 2023.

“We are extremely proud of how our intentional slate has grown over the years, allowing us to deliver even more world-class entertainment for our customers. We have a diverse audience with different needs and preferences, which is why we continually challenge ourselves to deliver the latest, innovative content in a quest to cater for all our customers,” says Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head of Content Strategy and Third-party Channels at MultiChoice.

 

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Kids’ Channels, Cartoon Network And Boomerang Recognised In Sunday Times GenNext Awards

The results of the 18th Sunday Times GenNext Awards, conducted by Yellowood, have been announced, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s kids’ channels and cartoon shows have once again dominated the television category.

Cartoon Network has, for the seventh year in a row, come in as the #1 ‘Coolest Kids TV Channel’ with Boomerang following closely behind in the #3 spot. Not only has Cartoon Network snatched the top spot in this category, but it has featured as the third ‘Coolest TV Channel’ among kids in this category, and it continues to be the #1 ‘Coolest TV Channel’ among males.

Warner Bros. Discovery's performance went unmatched in the 'Coolest Cartoon Shows' category, with seven shows in the top 10. Boomerang's Mr Bean: The Animated Series took the top spot, and its famous cat and mouse dynamo duo, Tom & Jerry, came in second place. Cartoon Network's The Regular Show, Dragon Ball Z, and Teen Titans took the #3, #4, and #6 spots, respectively, and Boomerang's Masha and the Bear took the overall 8th position in the category!

Both Cartoon Network and Boomerang have proven to be undisputed in the pay-TV kid’s channels in the first semester of 2022, maintaining their ongoing ranking as the number one and two channels, dominating every demographic, reaching on average more than 5,1 million kids (4-14-years-old) every month.*

Ariane Suveg, VP Head of Kids Channels, Warner Bros. Discovery France, Africa and Israel, says: “We are extremely proud of this year’s results! It is wonderful to watch our channels and characters live, grow and thrive – especially in such a competitive environment where audiences are unequivocally spoiled for choice. We have been the number one ‘Coolest Kids TV Channel’ and ‘Coolest Cartoon Show’ for several years. This is testimony that our kids’ channels have entrenched themselves in the South African youth and are seen to be cool and widely loved!”

With a sample of over 12 000 youths aged 8 to 30 years, the Sunday Times GenNext is the leading annual youth brand preference and consumer behaviour survey. It is considered a leading barometer of what South Africa’s kids, teens and young adults find on-trend and aspirational, delivering insights valued by brand management, advertising, and marketing professionals alike.

 

ESPN Africa Boxing Heads To The East Coast This Summer

The Walt Disney Company Africa and Suncoast today announced that they will be bringing a series of ESPN Africa Boxing events to Durban, hosted exclusively at Suncoast. The agreement also sees the Suncoast Towers and Sunsquare Hotel becoming the hotel partner for the series in Durban.

The ESPN Africa Boxing events at Suncoast will take place on 17 November 2022, 26 January 2023 and 30 March 2023 at The Globe, a multi-purpose venue that will play host to what promises to be a thrilling collection of bouts and performances from some of Africa’s leading boxers.

Showcasing a diverse range of the continent’s boxing talent and sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA), ESPN Africa Boxing events take place on the last (or second last) Thursday of every month. The fights are broadcast live on ESPN Africa (DStv 218, Starsat 248) as well as several broadcast partners across the globe.

With five main fights per event, and two undercard bouts on each bill, ESPN Africa Boxing showcases the best of boxing talent from across the continent. In addition, at least one all-female bout is included per event in order to help grow the sport and provide aspiring young female boxers with a platform. Known for its premium broadcast production, ESPN delivers a high-quality boxing viewing experience, complete with all of the fanfare that accompanies high-stakes boxing matchups.

As one of the world’s leading sports broadcasters, ESPN brings an unparalleled portfolio of sporting content and documentaries to its viewers across the world. In Africa, the broadcaster extends this offering by showcasing European football and various other international franchises, such as the English Football League (EFL), Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), Dutch Eredivisie and Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as various African sports tournaments such as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the ESPN Africa Boxing series.

“We are extremely proud to be associated with The Walt Disney Company Africa and for being a part of the team bringing ESPN Africa Boxing to our city. The Globe is a fitting venue to host an event of this calibre and we look forward to welcoming boxers and guests to each exciting event,” says Suncoast Operations Director, Adam MacIntyre.

“With this agreement, we are excited to be collaborating with Suncoast in bringing ESPN Africa Boxing to KwaZulu-Natal, a first for the series,” said Kyle De Klerk, Director: Sports Commercial and Business, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We especially cannot wait to hear from local audiences who watch and attend these three events, knowing the immense popularity of the sport in the province.”

For updates regarding ESPN Africa Boxing and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.espn.com/. 

 

SHOCKER (MAYBE NOT)!!! Da Vinci Kids Is The Next Channel To Exit The DStv And Likely GOtv Platform Across Africa

From October 15th, MultiChoice will be breaking hearts of several children and family members as Da Vinci Kids is scheduled to exit their platforms after 3 years with the pay-tv operator failing to communicate with the media beforehand about the changes.

Da Vinci Kids was added in 2019 on the DStv platform in the midst of a carriage feud with A+E Networks for Lifetime and History with CuriosityStream (now Curiosity Channel) and CBS Justice added in the midst of that dispute.

The channel was once available on the Openview platform and was much repetitive but thanks to its acquisition in 2020. Da Vinci Kids managed to be an elite with shows like Odd Squad, Animal Rescue, Xploration DIY SCI, Bajillionaires and Detention Adventures.

Unfortunately all of that wasn't enough to retain the channel on their platforms as some sources mention that the channel didn't fit into their 5 year content strategy whatever that is but it's closure brings the total number of terminations on the platform to 9.

Last month, they unveiled a new preschool channel Moonbug Kids home to shows viewable on Cartoon Network and Boomerang like Supa Strikas and CoComelon alongside other content like Oddbods, Mia's Playground and Gecko's Garage.

I guess my hunch was right Moonbug Kids was coming to kill but I'm sure no one expected it to be Da Vinci Kids perhaps JimJam as the content seems out of style while others are duplicated on DreamWorks Channel and CBeebies.

Over whether MultiChoice will use channel 318 for anything similar to Da Vinci Kids that remains very much a mystery I mean there's a couple of channels I'd recommend BBC Kids or Kartoon Channel but as of right now you can view the channel on StarSat or through the app.