Roundups #72: Nickelodeon To Be Phased Out In South Korea For Educational Channel, FOX Italy To Cease Transmission From July And NBC 3 To Rollout On The DStv Platform

More educational content for the little ones

Last month, it was reported that Nickelodeon would exit in more Asian markets by the end of June with several content folded under the streaming service, Paramount+.

As the brand prepped for its closure, the channel featured mainly local content like Hello Carbot, Jurassic Cop, Dr. Egg and Larva In New York possibly in an attempt to rollout the replacement Kizmom which won't carry any Nickelodeon content as future content goes to Paramount+.

It's been speculated that more brands from Paramount are expected to cease transmission mainly those with a localised feed.

 

Another one bites the dust

Last year, The Walt Disney Company halt various FOX brands across Europe as several content went onto the streaming service Disney+ as the brand plans to close 100 linear channels in the coming future as streaming becomes their top priority.

FOX in Italia was another victim to cord cutting as its last days saw the channel broadcast Boris a local drama which Disney+ will be rebooting soon air throughout the day while other regions actually tried to incorporate variety.

Star is a tile under Disney+ where viewers can view various FOX programs. Other available on Disney+ are Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.

 

NBC set to add third TV channel to the DStv platform

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) (Afrikaans: Namibiese Uitsaai-Korporasie, NUK) is the public broadcaster of Namibia. It was established in 1979, under the name South West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC).

The brand opened up one of their channels to several African regions as part of the WorldSkills Africa competition which featured various regions including Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The brand is set to launch NBC 3 on the DStv platform after the pay-tv platform was spotted testing NBC 3 a pay-tv channel home to dramas, telenovelas, sports and movies.

PBS Kids To Unveil New Logo

PBS KIDS, the #1 educational media brand for children, announced a comprehensive update to its logo for the first time in two decades. The new logo, set to debut on July 19, builds on an expanded graphics package that began rolling out last year, which features a bright updated color palette and an array of people and environments. The refreshed look is designed to build on the equity and strength of the PBS KIDS brand and optimized for today’s digitally-focused kids and families.

Audiences will see a new text-focused logo dominated by bright, fun colors, large bold lettering and clear visuals. With feedback from parents, kids, and experts in the field, the logo’s use of PBS KIDS text only reinforces the beloved, trusted and familiar brand name and signals fun, safe, educational content for families. The new logo’s colors, including PBS’ blue and PBS KIDS’ green, combined with the style of the iconography, are also designed to complement the iconic PBS brand.

 

Complementing the logo redesign, PBS KIDS recently worked on an expansion to its brand package that is reflective of the kids and families they serve. The creative includes a vibrant color pallet with combinations that conform with accessibility standards, whimsical typography, engaging design elements, and new visuals of people and places that bring a diversity of culture, race, ethnicity, geography, family structure, varying abilities, body type, and more to the PBS KIDS visual world. The approach was to build on the existing graphics package, adding new friends to join PBS KIDS’ longstanding animated kids Dot, Del and Dee as part of one welcoming PBS KIDS world.

“We’re thrilled to unveil our new logo and branding updates, which are meant to bolster the PBS KIDS mission by continuing to reflect and reach our audience in a multiplatform environment,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President & General Manager, PBS KIDS. “Our new logo is fun, welcoming and bright, and resonates with kids and parents as a new look for the PBS KIDS brand that they love and trust.”

PBS KIDS worked with Lippincott, a global creative consultancy, to develop the new logo.

A More Rational And Measured Road To Analogue Switch Off In SA

One of the core findings against the Minister of Communications by the Constitutional Court is that her imposition of an analogue switch-off date was unlawful and irrational.

EMedia Investments welcomed the ruling and had the following to say: “The matter of irrationality was probed and challenged at the Broadcasting Digital Migration Committee meetings, set up by the Department of Communications, and chaired by the Minister of Communications. eMedia Investments pleaded with the Minister of Communications on numerous occasions to listen to the logic and the rationality of the task at hand. We agreed that the switch-off must happen to enable digital migration, but insisted that it must be in a practical, logical, and fair manner – ensuring that there are no negative consequences to any households, or the Free To Air TV industry.”

 

Khalik Sherrif, CEO of eMedia Investments, went on to say: “EMedia Investments acknowledges and accepts that the analogue transmitters which affect SA’s progress, and impacts on the already auctioned spectrum for the telcos, must be vacated as soon as possible. eMedia has provided a well researched proposal on how the migration could be done and how the spectrum affecting the telcos could be vacated almost immediately, subject to minimal approvals from Icasa (who have acknowledged and received eMedia’s application for approvals months ago), and which will allow the telcos to get on with the use of the spectrum. The proposal was not taken seriously and there was no alternative but to approach the court.”

Sherrif said that for the sake of Free To Air television and the millions of people that would have been affected by a ‘hard switch-off’: “We are pleased that the Constitutional Court heard our plea. We were never against the analogue switch-off. We believe that a planned strategy for digital migration will have many benefits for all South Africans. We are looking forward to working with the minister and her department to agree on a meaningful and measured approach to systematically implement the migration without delay, not only to allow the viewing public sufficient time to switch over to a digital solution for TV viewing, but also for the telcos to use the spectrum allocated to them for the benefit of the country, as earmarked by the President in his SONA of 2021”

Roundups #71: Trolls: The Beat Goes On Coming Soon To DreamWorks Africa, Mzansi Wethu Airs Its First Drama Series Titled Isibopho And eExtra Goes For Two With Ice Adonis And Twice My Son In Law

More eToonz repeats for DStv customers

eToonz left the DStv platform for almost a month and since March various content mostly repeats from the channel are currently viewed on the DreamWorks Channel.

As mentioned through various sources and press statements, Trolls: The Beat Goes On will be added to the channel's portfolio in the coming months.

Queen Poppy, her boyfriend Branch and the other trolls embark on cheerful adventures in the Troll village, where they celebrate several exciting holidays and dance parties.

 

Mzansi Wethu gets some exclusive content

Mzansi Wethu has released the trailer of its first-ever original drama series since the channel debuted. Through Mzansi Magic’s Instagram page the channel has announced that Isibopho will be released and start streaming soon on the channel. The drama series has an all-star cast, and viewers can not wait for it to begin showing.

The drama series will be about a fight for survival and enemies and families bound by blood. People will be fighting for their lives and sneaking around to get the revenge they seek. The story will follow an innocent woman who will be trying to fight off a powerful opponent that she is called a sheep trying to fight dogs.

The drama series will debut at 21:00 from July 10th.

 

More kdramas on eExtra

The Bollywood lineup had manifested throughout eExtra's schedule alongside Turkish. Bad news is Korean is only viewable on the daytime good news is the channel will continue uploading more Korean series.

High Society Scandal will conclude later this month and repeats of A-Lifestyle and Mahadi Lobola take up the timeslot for the rest of the month thereafter a rerun of Ice Adonis takes up the show's timeslot with a second slot added for the new series, Twice My Son In Law.

Lee Jin-sook is a speaker on family happiness. However, she has a sad past. Years ago, she was kicked out of the house by her mother-in-law and was forced to be separated from her newborn daughter. An encounter with Hyeon-tae leads her to not only fall in love but meet her birth daughter.

The series airs at 14:50 from July 4th with Ice Adonis at 14:05.

Introducing The Renowned Graphic Designer For eMedia's eToonz Channel, Rayaan Cassiem + Several Designs For The Channel

Born and raised in Cape Town, Rayaan was never found without a crayon, paintbrush or pencil in hand scribbling, doodling and painting for hours at a time.

Being determined to study Graphic-Design at the Technical University, he sold his car and worked odd jobs, ranging from construction to shelf-packing. His hard work and dedication paid off and he received a bursary in his third year, completing his BTech in Graphic Design. Rayaan draws his inspiration from a myriad of avenues including graffiti and street art, album covers, comic books, animation, video games, fine art as well as graffiti and street art. ‘Being able to earn a living and supporting my family doing what I love is a blessing,’ he says.

 

Rayaan’s artwork appeared alongside local and international artists as part in popular mixed-media group exhibitions in South Africa, Europe and the United Arab Emirates, where currently lives and works. His special interest in local African Mythology and Folk stories inspired Rayaan’s edition of 30 portraits of children from the Matchbox daycare centers in his unique graffiti-inspired style, all drawn on fine paper in A4 format.

10 WWE Superstars That Hated Each Other In Real Life

When you are WWE Superstar you don't expect to get along with everyone in the locker room. Sometimes the locker room is filled with different personalities and these personalities will clash. Sometimes these feuds are kept private and sometimes made public.

Here is a countdown to the 10 WWE feuds:

10. Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins

In 2019, Riddle's wife posted a negative video about Becky Lynch. This didn't sit well with Rollins so he vowed to never work with him.

During an interview, Riddle made the following statement:

I'll be honest, I've met Seth multiple times and he's met me and I don't think we'll ever be best friends, I don't think we'll like one another, we're just two different people. Although we love wrestling, I love my significant other said something about Becky that they didn't like and I did not like or agree with it. Seth didn't like me after that and I don't think Becky liked me or my wife either, which is understandable it is what it is.

The two ended up working together in 2020 so its unclear about the status between the two.

9. Becky Lynch and Nia Jax

Although it hasn't been confirmed, it's rumoured that these two never got along after Nia Jax broke Becky's nose in 2018 on Raw. Following that incident, the two have hardly been seen working together and what's strange is WWE never booked a march considering how publicized her injury was.

 

Following Nia's release from WWE, she took to social media to address things from politics to covid. She even compared mask wearing to the horrors of the Ukraine war - controversial. Becky unfollowed her building up to that feud.

8. Paul Heyman and AJ Styles

The two had a great relationship when Paul Heyman managed Raw between 2019 and 2020. Paul Heyman considered him one of the best wrestlers to be put in WWE. However this relationship turned sour when Luke and Carls Andersen were released from WWE.

Paul Heyman doesn't make the decisions but AJ Styles exaggerated a bit about the whole situation. The two ended up working in different brands never to be put on anything together.

7. Ronda Rousey and Alexa Bliss

When Ronda Rousey joined WWE in 2018, one of the wrestlers she worked with the most was Alexa Bliss. The two never worked well together as Alexa Bliss made it clear after several months that Ronda Rousey was over stooping her in the ring and was almost out of action for a year due to her recklessness.

 

Nia even give hints to the rumours and Bliss supported it then when Ronda returned and won The Royal Rumble. Alexa made a sarcastic meme written what a surprise.

6. Matt Riddle and Goldberg

Riddle never moves away from voicing his own opinion. Throughout his career, he's never shown any interest to Goldberg. Mocking his wrestling style declares Goldberg a danger to wrestling.

In an interview Goldberg had this to say about the wrestler:

Yeah, the cocky kid, Riddle spouting off his mouth in the beginning and I didn't appreciate it very much by any stretch of the imagination. But the guy has put in a lot of frickin hard work and a lot of frickin hard work and he's dedicated his life to the business.
Whether I like him as a human being or not, I have to understand and appreciate his passion for the business and work ethic.
Because he works hard and that's what I appreciate as an athlete and as a human
Is he a prick sometimes? Absolutely, But that's him, That's his character and so am I.

5. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair used to be the best of friends but in 2021 fans found out that wasn't the case. The two used to be inseparable and as both their careers progressed things have changed.

They used to travel to many places together on a tour bus but that's not the case and they hardly speak to each other. No reason was given to the confrontation but it's believed to be Becky's rise in popularity with both women finding men in their lives mean less time spent together.

 

4. Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville

This issue was highlighted following the infamous exchange in championship belts in 2021 when Charlotte Flair was suppose switch belts with Becky Lynch but went off script to make her look bad. Not only did it affect Becky but destroyed the authority figure in Sonya Deville.

Sonya was so angry that she wanted to fight Charlotte of course no details were given if she wanted to do anything physical.

3. Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar

Riddle believes that he should be the one to end Brock Lesnar's career and although he didn't say anything derogatory to him. Lesnar loathe Riddle that he made it clear in the 2021 Royal Rumble that he would never work with him in any capacity.

The two wind up clashing when Riddle continues with his comments but never in single man matches.

2. Booker T. and Corey Graves

In 2018, Booker T. made it clear in a podcast that Graves was the reason he wasn't commentator for Raw and people believed he was going to attack him.

He made somewhat of a bizarre statement:

 

Corey Graves, right now, I wouldn't necessarily say he's on my bad side but he's the reason I'm not on Monday Night Raw right now.
Because you know what a lot of people in the company thought I was going to jump him, I was going to do something bad to him, I was gonna drag him, I was gonna take him out of the woodshed, I was gonna beat that men so bad, I was gonna beat him until this man say "Please, please, please just don't beat me anymore".

There have been reports that WWE had tried to resolve their issues but no details have been given in regard to their relationship.

1. Matt Riddle and Roman Reigns

In 2021, Matt claimed he could beat him in a fight and had this to say:

No disrespect to Roman, he seems like a swell fella but at the same time, it's like when people say they're a great parent.
You know what? if you were a great parent
When he's saying 'acknowledge me' or 'move the needle', no you don't
You're related to Rock, Shut up
Like I'm not impressed I can beat you up in a real fight
So shut your mouth.

A few months later, it was revealed that he had to write an apology letter which he outright rejected.

Paramount+ Announces Plan For 150 International Originals Ahead Of UK And Ireland Launch

Over a year after its initial launch in the U.S., streaming service Paramount+ will be available in the U.K. and Ireland on Wednesday, June 22. Its international slate of seven new titles was announced on Monday, including its plans for 150 international originals by 2025.

The global expansion of the streaming service was first announced in May. Many U.S.-based streaming services are now entering into new countries and territories, as well as investing in international content to attract new audiences and diversify their content offerings across the globe. Disney+, for example, recently launched in 16 markets across the Middle East and North Africa. The streaming service aims to expand to 160+ countries by its fiscal 2023.

Although Paramount+ is considered a younger streamer than its rivals Disney+, HBO Max and Netflix, the company is committed to expanding in large international markets as the race for global domination continues for U.S. streaming services.

Last week, Paramount+ launched in South Korea in a partnership with TVING. In addition, launches in Italy, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland are set for the end of 2022. Paramount+ will launch in Africa and the Middle East in 2023, as well as in India in partnership with Viacom 18.

 

The remainder of the markets in Europe has Paramount and Comcast partnering together to launch a new service called SkyShowtime. Coming later this year, the service will be available in Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Previously, Paramount+ unveiled its determination to greenlight 50 new scripted originals this year, with previously announced titles like “Sexy Beast” (from the U.K.), “The Chemistry of Death” (Germany), “Bosé” (Spain), “Fallaci” (Italy), “Impact” (France) and “Los Enviados” (Mexico), among others.

On Monday, Paramount+ revealed several more upcoming titles, including “Murder of God’s Banker,” a docuseries about the murder of Italian banker Roberto Calvi in the 1970s; a French fantasy horror series called “Mask: Marie Antoinette Serial Killer;” a German thriller “A Thin Line;” a German drama “The Sheikh;” an Italian true-crime drama called “Circeo;” a Mexican crime thriller “Sinaloa’s First Lady;” and a Mexican suspense thriller movie “One Must Die.”

In addition, international viewers who subscribe to Paramount+ will get to watch exclusive originals, blockbuster films from Paramount Pictures, and a wide selection of popular shows like “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “Halo,” “The First Lady” and more.

 

“Paramount’s story began with the longest-running studio in Hollywood, and today we span the globe with our worldwide production studios that create hits for audiences around the world, which now live all in one place: Paramount+,” EVP and International General Manager Marco Nobili said in a statement. “As the service continues to expand internationally, there’s a great opportunity for content to travel globally, opening up a world of opportunities for talent and creators as we plan to commission 150 international originals by 2025 while delivering incredible value to subscribers on Paramount+.”

Today, the company will also have a drone show in Birmingham featuring 600 drones — the largest drone show in the U.K. The spectacle will feature a QR code, which gives viewers a free seven-day trial of the streaming service. Paramount Global has done this before to promote its sci-fi series “Halo” in March but with 400 drones flying above Austin, Texas.

To further excite potential subscribers in the U.K. and Ireland, Paramount+ revealed a two-minute teaser starring Uma Thurman and Jack Whitehall.

Roundups #70: Iron Rose Reloads On Telemundo Africa For Second Season, Turkish Drama Full Moon Starring Can Yaman Launches On Novela E Plus And ZNBC 3 Launching Soon On The DStv Platform

Iron Rose is not done just yet

Popular demands has been taking Africa by storm offering already viewed content like My Heart Beats For Lola, Woman Of Steel, A Passion For Revenge and Lord Of The Skies as Telemundo works on sourcing out more content.

Ahead of its anticipated return, StarTimes acquired rights to Iron Rose while Telemundo loaded one of Aracley Arambula's other projects from the channel, The Boss with Iron Rose following immediately after it ended.

 

 

The second season of Iron Rose is set to load on the channel from June 27th at 6pm replacing current season of the series.

Can Yaman is coming to StarTimes

The actor and model is currently seen on e.tv's Droomvelore portraying the role of Can Divit. Just like stars Demet Özdemir, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Dilan Çiçek Deniz viewers will be getting double the action as Novelas E uploads new series, Full Moon.

Nazli Pinar a young culinary student who is hired as Ferit's private chef and must deal with his specific rules for preparing his meals. The two initially clash and form a beautiful friendship. What will happen when the two fall in love?

 

 

The series airs at 8pm from June 26 on Novelas E which comes 3 hours and 30 minutes after Droomvelore on e.tv.

MultiChoice Africa continues sourcing more local entertainment

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is a Zambian television and radio station, formerly state owned, now owned by Zambians. It is the oldest, widest and largest radio and television service provider in Zambia.

 

ZNBC also supplies a set of linear and radio stations offering news, public affairs, sports, religion, education and sport similar to the supposed channel set to launch on the DStv platform soon.

MultiChoice has begun testing out a channel titled ZNBC3 which was believed to be a religious channel at the time but turns out to be plus channel to the current ZNBC 1 & 2 which carries the above-mentioned.

The 2002 ‘Scooby-Doo’ Movie Originally Had a Velma and Daphne Kiss and Wrote Velma as ‘Explicitly Gay’

Scooby-Doo has survived so many iterations and many story arcs. But the franchise has lived on this long because that dog is so loved by audiences. Add in the other well-known characters Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Velma, and Mystery Incorporated is as iconic as cartoons can get.

The 2002 Scooby-Doo live-action film was a change of pace for the franchise since it was the first live-action version of these characters, but it also aimed at teens rather than kids. Because it originally started off as a PG-13 film, there were a lot of jokes and scenes filmed for the movie that ended up having to be cut when the studio wanted to make it more family-friendly. One of those scenes involved a kiss between Daphne and Velma.

 

An on-screen kiss between Daphne and Velma was cut from ‘Scooby-Doo’

James Gunn, the writer of the live-action 2002 film, has shared a lot of behind-the-scenes info on the movie on Twitter and elsewhere. This is how fans know about the rating change. He even wrote in January that the MPAA gave the movie an R-rating at firstOpens a new window , because of a “misinterpreted” joke.

But even back in 2002, Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne), one of the stars of the film, revealed a change. She told Sci-Fi WireOpens a new window that a kissing scene between her and Linda Cardellini (Velma) was cut.

 

“It wasn’t just, like, for fun,” she said. “Initially in the soul-swapping , Velma and Daphne couldn’t seem to get their souls back together in the woods. And so the way they found was to kiss and the souls went back into proper alignment.”

There is a deleted scene from the DVDOpens a new window , where Velma’s body was just taken over by one of the aliens, and Daphne finds her in weird behavior. Velma then turns on her in the locker room. While there’s nothing inappropriate about two women kissing, the studio didn’t want to include it back in 2002.

 

And while this kissing scene was cut, don’t expect to see it, or any other deleted scene that wasn’t already on the DVD.

“Also, for the record I doubt any of those old cuts still exist,” Gunn wrote Opens a new window in January.

Other edits were made to the film to make it more ‘family-friendly’

Another edit that was made on the film involved digitally adding more clothing to Daphne and Velma because apparently too much cleavage was showing.

“They CG’d clothes over @lindacardellini & @SarahMGellar’s cleavage,” Gunn wrote. “But that wasn’t the MPAA, that was the studio, who wanted it more family-friendly. Some parents in test audiences had complained (& this doesn’t contradict my last tweet – I didn’t direct this film)”
Basically, as Gunn already said, he and others had originally set out to make a PG-13 movie, and the studio turned it into a PG film. Whether it was marketed to teens or not, Gunn thinks that the family-friendly additions (and cuts) hurt the second film’s success and stopped a third from ever happening.

“I felt like a lot of teens came out for the first film Opens a new window and didn’t get what they wanted (and didn’t come back for the sequel),” he wrote, saying it was a mistake. “But today I don’t know.”

James Gunn also revealed that he wrote Velma as gay, something she’s been all along

And, as news came out recently, Gunn had initially written Velma as a blatantly lesbian character. Again, it’s not inappropriate by today’s standards, but having a lesbian character in 2002 wasn’t really a common aspect in kids’ movies.

“In 2001 Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script,” Gunn shared on Twitter on July 12. “But the studio just kept watering it down & watering it down, becoming ambiguous (the version shot), then nothing (the released version) & finally having a boyfriend (the sequel).”

 

The “Velma is gay” narrative is something many fans had picked up on in other iterations of the character, most recently in the 2010 series Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated . And that was, of course, on purpose because Velma was always gay, according to writer and director Tony Cervone wrote recently.

“Marcie and Velma – Mystery Incorporated,” he wrote in a Pride Month post on June 28, along with a picture of Velma and Marcie from his series. He’s worked on several Scooby-Doo projects over the last decade. “I obviously don’t represent every version of Velma Dinkley, but I am one of the key people that represents this one. We made our intentions as clear as we could ten years ago. Most of our fans got it. To those that didn’t, I suggest you look closer. There’s no new news here.”

He later wrote in a comment that the breadcrumbs had always been there. Just because the series never explicitly used the term “gay” or “lesbian,” Velma was very much a part of the LGBTQ community.

ESPN Africa Boxing 18 Set To Entertain

Boxing fans across Africa can look forward to some of the best combat sport action when ESPN Africa Boxing 18 takes place in Johannesburg and broadcasts live on ESPN on Thursday 30 June 2022, from 19:00 (CAT). Sanctioned by Boxing South Africa (BSA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF), this event will be headlined by a 12-round match for the IBF International Junior Middleweight title between DR Congo's Emmany Kalombo (15-1-0) and Kenyan Rayton Okwiri (7-0-1).

Known as 'The General', Kalombo was last in action in April, defeating Malawian Chikondi Makawa via third-round technical knockout in Soweto, while the unbeaten Okwiri is making a much-anticipated return to the ring. In his most recent fight, in October 2021, Okwiri knocked out John Serunjogu of Uganda in a middleweight non-title fight in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

 

The former African Boxing Union middleweight title holder is determined to put a major belt around his waist once again. “I have done it in the past and it’ll not be any different this time round. This is a big fight for me and the title must come back home as I’m serious to win it,” Okwiri explained.

Kalombo, however, feels that things will go differently: “I have known Okwiri as an amateur boxer for a long time and I’m gonna chop him down and stop him from taking the title."

The co-main event is a 10-round Welterweight clash between South Africa's Thulani Mbenge (18-1-0) and Idd Pialari of Tanzania (30-7-1). Mbenge was last in action a year ago, claiming an impressive third-round knockout win over Jabulani Makhense. Pialari broke a losing streak by defeating Chimwemwe Chiotcha via unanimous decision in February this year.

 

 

The main card also features an eight-round Super Flyweight clash between Sikho Nqothole (14-2-0) and Selemani Bangaiza (12-7-0); Jabulani Makhense (12-1-0) v Paul Kamanga (23-2-0) over eight rounds in the Welterweight division; and a Super Lightweight battle over eight rounds between Gift Bholo (9-11-0) and Hannock Phiri (14-0-1).

The fight card for this event, is as follows:

MAIN EVENT

Main event: IBF International Junior Middleweight Title
12 rounds
Emmany Kalombo (DR Congo, 15-1-0)
v
Rayton Okwiri (Kenya, 7-0-1)

Co-main event: Welterweight
10 rounds
Thulani Mbenge (SA, 18-1-0)
v
Idd Pialari (Tanzania, 30-7-1)

Super Flyweight
8 rounds
Sikho Nqothole (SA, 14-2-0)
v
Selemani Bangaiza (Tanzania, 12-7-0)

Welterweight
8 rounds
Jabulani Makhense (SA, 12-1-0)
v
Paul Kamanga (DR Congo, 23-2-0)

Super Lightweight
8 rounds
Gift Bholo (SA, 9-11-0)
v
Hannock Phiri (Malawi, 14-0-1)

UNDER CARD

Junior Middleweight
4 rounds
Sinethemba Blom (debut)
v
Mikaeel van Doorsen (1-1-0)

Junior Lightweight
6 rounds
Cayden Truter (4-0-0)
v
Khanyisani Mbokazi (2-3-1)

 

Featuring a diverse range of the continent’s boxing talent, the ESPN Africa Boxing events that take place on the last (or second last) Thursday of every month, are televised to an audience of up to 60 million homes across Africa and Latin America. The action starts at 19:00 (CAT) on ESPN (DStv 218, Starsat 248), SABC Sport and selected international broadcasters including ESPN across Latin America, as well as a highlights package in TKO (SABC 2, Fridays at 21:30).

How to tune in:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
SABC Sport
 
All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change

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/. 

Overshadowed Timeless Dizi Channel Expands Its Reach To More African Households On StarTimes

Timeless Dizi Channel is a a general entertainment channel from SPI International which serves to be one of the sought after channels in their portfolio for its variety of Turkish dramas mainly Black Money Love, Karadayi and The Red Scarf.

It's been available in the African market for 2 years and due to the successes of eExtra's Kuiertyd block it got MultiChoice to ramp their offering on kykNET & Kie but as for Timeless Dizi Channel things have rather progressed slowly.

 

 

After the pop-up version's termination on the DStv platform, there isn't much hype from the channel or the media in regard to what's on or potential new shows from the channel.

The closest anyone has ever gotten to know about upcoming shows is through the main page which can be of no use from time as some new may have already been seen on the channel or in South Africa through eExtra.

The current partnership they have with StarTimes seems somewhat complicated. In August 2020, just a few months after its launch it was announced by the pay-tv platform will stop airing the channel and from what is already seen by viewers that's not the case.

 

 

Even more strange is how there's still more regions across Africa through StarTimes that still don't have Timeless Dizi Channel as markets like Kenya and Malawi welcome it as a "new channel" despite its availability elsewhere for the past 2 years.

At this point, you're better off downloading the mobile app to view these programs if there's gonna be so many inconsistencies.

Cartoon Network EMEA Might Have Acquired Rights To A New Season Of Totally Spies! Alongside New Series Goat Girl

Speaking at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, Sean Henry, VP of content strategy and acquisitions for kids, EMEA, explained that the company is looking to co-produce and acquire shows that appeal to “all kids aged 6+”.

Currently, “more boys have been watching our network channels than girls,” said Henry, who oversees the kids and family content pipeline for brands including HBO Max, Cartoon Network and Cartoonito in EMEA. He points to upcoming shows such as Goat Girl and the returning Totally Spies! that are “quite different to what we have done before” and of broader appeal.

 

“But we’re also looking for things that might skew a little bit older, something that a tween audience can enjoy, maybe families as well. Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai , which is coming next year, is a really good example of that.”

Henry said that this upcoming animated spin-off from the Gremlins feature films was the kind of co-viewing event experience that he believes can “help us broaden the appeal beyond the existing core.”

Comedies have “always been at the heart” of Cartoon Network, added Henry, who said his team is always looking for such projects as the genre “really drives peak viewing.”

 

Speaking in a panel session at the festival, Henry said that WBD wants to see “everything, content for all kids ages, all demos,” and, expanding on the point, explained: “What we are doing as a team is to not set too many parameters for people who are pitching to us.

“Sometimes you don’t know a great idea until you see it, so what I’d encourage creators and distributors to do, if they think it’s relevant for the brand and the audience, most importantly, 6-12-year-olds, pitch it to us and let’s have a discussion.”

 

Henry revealed that his team is “not really in a position to develop an idea from scratch” and won’t fully fund any productions, so are always looking for co-production partners.

“It’s great for you to come to us with a financing plan and then that’s something we can take forward,” said the exec, adding that if a promising project in need of further development was brought to him, it could potentially be taken forward by the development team at Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.

Racing 240 Audience Up 24% On Tellytrack Numbers In First Independent Viewership Report

4RacingTV’s horseracing channel, Racing 240, recorded a unique reach of 462 221 viewers between the tracking period 18 April to 26 May 2022, as reported by Nielsen Sports, the global leader in research and data intelligence.

Jean Willers, Nielsen Sports South Africa Managing Director, said Racing 240’s viewership was 24% higher than its predecessor Tellytrack (372 445 viewers) over the same period in 2021.

“Since being added to the Broadcast Research Council’s (BRC) panel of channels, we are now able to accurately analyse and report on independently verified audience numbers,” says Willers, who said Racing 240 had shown a strong performance in its first month of being tracked and independently verified.

 

Racing 240, which launched on DStv on 19 January 2022, has been attracting new viewers on a daily basis. The top performing broadcast to date was the “World Sports Betting Becoming Champions Winter Series” race day at Kenilworth Racecourse on 20 April 2022, including the WSB Maiden Plate, which attracted a unique audience of 66 025 viewers.

The initial TV viewer profile indicates that the horseracing viewer mirrors the demographic profile of all South Africans, with 51.9% male viewers and 48.1% female viewers of the channel.

The average age of Racing 240 viewers is 40 years old and the highest percentage of viewers came from KwaZulu Natal (25%), followed by the Western Cape (19%), and Gauteng and North West (12%) and Eastern Cape (10%).

 

“We are encouraged by Nielsen’s first report on Racing 240. We will continue to engage with the various industry stakeholders, our existing racing community and our targeted audiences to shape our content and channels. Measuring the impact of any change is key and we will continue working closely with Nielsen to regularly assess and report on this,” said Stephen Watson, Head of 4Racing.TV’.

Racing 240 will broadcast the showpiece Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday 2 July.

Roundups #69: Nigerian Bans New Kiddies Animation Movie Lightyear, Game Of Thrones' Jon Show TV Series Has Been Greenlit And Snowpiercer Cancelled After 4 Seasons

Nigeria is banning more content

According to multiple media outlets, countries in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and a handful of Asian countries banned the film over the seconds-long scene featuring two lesbian characters.

While Nigeria's National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) is yet to comment on the film's conspicuous absence from the big screens, Disney's official West African film distribution partners FilmOne Entertainment announced on Friday, that the film will screen in Ghana.

Since its release, the 'Toy Story' prequel has become a stage for major controversial LGBTQ+ takes. It's been over a decade-long debate with a majority of Disney's critics objecting to the studio's move to introduce inclusive content.

 

 

In 2006, executives at Disney asked that the same-sex scene be yanked off the G-rated (appropriate for all age groups) film. Disney CEO Bob Chapek reacted by ordering that the scene be put back.

Another Games Of Thrones spinoff is underway

As HBO is preparing to launch of a Game of Thrones prequel series, the network also is exploring a potential sequel centered around one of the original series’ most recognizable characters, Kit Harington’s Jon Snow, Deadline has confirmed. The project is still in exploratory stages, sources said.

If the series come to fruition, it would chronicle the post-Westeros story of Jon Snow, aka Aegon Targayen, with Harington expected to reprise his role.

The project, first reported by THR, would mark the first spinoff from and first sequel to the mega hit fantasy drama, which ran on HBO for eight seasons. Over the past several years, HBO has been focused on prequels to Game of Thrones. One, House of the Dragon, is set to premiere this summer with several others, including Dunk and Egg, and The Sea Snake, in development. The shift in strategy also coincides with the recent WarnerMedia-Discovery merger, which brought in a new leadership over HBO and the rest of the WarnerMedia divisions.

 

 

TNT loses out on another series

Fans of the post-apocalyptic series will be disappointed with the announcement that following the filming of Season 4, which is currently underway, the dystopian thriller Snowpiercer will not be returning with more episodes, according to Deadline. The series centers on a group of the last humans on Earth seven years after an apocalyptic event that causes the world to freeze over. The last remaining humans stay alive in a giant moving train that never stops.

Snowpiercer's cancellation definitely comes as a surprise, especially after the major events of the Season 3 finale seemingly promised that the storyline was heading to bold new territory in the coming seasons. The cancellation of the series follows the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia, TNT's parent company, which will completely restructure the business models of Warner Bros. and will likely lead to the cancellation of other projects in the near future. Alongside Snowpiercer, TNT's Animal Kingdom.

 

After years of development hell, the first season of the series premiered on TNT in 2020 and continued for three more seasons until its recent cancellation. The first three seasons of the show so far have received a moderately positive response from critics with some praising it for its ambition and style while also saying it does not live up to the subversiveness of the film.

NFL Streaming Service Expected To Launch In July

The National Football League is expected to launch its own mobile-focused streaming service, NFL+, as early as July, according to a report from the NFL owner meeting in Atlanta by Sports Business Journal (SBJ). The platform will reportedly cost around $5 per month and will feature live in-market games on mobile phones and tablets as well as other possible content, including radio, podcasts and a variety of other team-created content. This is directed at fans who desire a mobile streaming option as a complement to the big screen.

 

NFL+ aims to function independently as a part of NFL Media, which sources say will give the NFL new data on its users. However, on the other hand, there are other reports that the streaming product could be folded into a larger streaming package, wrote SBJ’s Ben Fischer.

Additionally, The Athletic reported in April that the NFL might be looking for a partner that could distribute NFL Media or NFL Films content. While it is unlikely that Netflix will ever cover live sports, we do think that it would be in its best interest, especially since the company is planning to launch a livestreaming option for the service.

 

Despite the saturated streaming landscape, nothing excites viewers quite like the NFL, and it sounds like the league is looking to further capitalize on America’s obsession.

NFL+ is the latest announcement of a profitable year for sports entertainment, and the new streaming product could imply the convergence of sports media at large. Major League Baseball is also hoping to launch its own streaming service in 2023, and FIFA has become a streaming rival as of last month with the launch of FIFA+.

Roundups #68: The Smurfs To Get An Animated Musical, Sylvester Stallone Stars In Drug Fused Crime Drama Tulsa King And The Real Housewives Are Coming To Cape Town

Paramount+ and Nickelodeon tagged on another project

Chris Miller is set to direct Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation’s untitled Smurfs musical movie. The announcement will be made during the Paramount and Nick presentation at Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

South Park‘s Pam is writing the LAFIG Belgium and IMPS production which is set for release on Dec. 20, 2024.

 

 

More Paramount+ for viewers

Sylvester Stallone is making the jump to streaming. Paramount+ has released the first teaser for “Tulsa King,” the new crime drama from “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, featuring Stallone in the central role.

Stallone, in the first regular TV role of his career, plays Dwight Manfredi, a New York Mafia head who finally gets out of jail after a 25-year sentence. Upon his release, he’s unceremoniously relocated by his boss to Tulsa, Okla. to establish criminal operations there. Stuck in a new location with zero existing connections and with no support from his Mafia family, Manfredi slowly builds a crew of unlikely allies to establish his own criminal empire.

 

“Tulsa King” premieres with its first two episodes Nov. 13, followed by weekly episode drops.

The Real Housewives is expanding to Cape Town

 

It began over 16 years ago in the affluent Californian enclave of Orange County, and since then, The Real Housewives franchise has gone on to achieve global success with 21 series internationally.

Locally, we've been introduced to wealthy wives and their lavish lifestyles in the RHOD (Real Housewives of Durban) and the RHOJ (Real Housewives of Johannesburg).

So it's really no surprise that The Real Housewives of Cape Town would follow.

From 10 July on Mzansi Magic fans of the show will be introduced to the seven 'housewives' who front the Cape Town series.

New Series ‘The Doomies,’ ‘Dragon Striker’ Lead Packed Disney TV Slate

Disney Television Animation, Disney Junior, and Disney EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) hosted their annual Annecy Festival studio presentation on Wednesday, giving a detailed look at what the tv divisions of the mouse factory have planned for tv and streaming in the coming months.

During the presentation, three new series were announced as well as news of several returning shows. Standouts among the day’s reveals included new series Dragon Striker, produced by Cyber Group Studios and La Chouette Compagnie, and The Doomies from I Lost My Body studio Xilam Animation.

According to Orion Ross, VP of animation, Disney EMEA, “The Doomies and Dragon Striker are the first part of a new slate of animated originals we’re developing in EMEA for global family audiences on Disney Channel and Disney+. These ambitious, premium series will introduce the work of leading creators from our region to the world, and we are both honored and inspired to be working with this new generation of storytellers.”

 

 

Below, a breakdown of the titles featured during Wednesday’s presentation, all of which will appear on Disney+ and other Disney platforms:

NEW SERIES

Dragon Striker

The series, created and produced by Sylvain Dos Santos, will be directed by Charles Lefebvre from screenplays by writer Paul McKeown. Cyber Group Studios and La Chouette Compagnie produce for Disney EMEA.

Synopsis: When the world’s most popular sport combines with magic, awesomeness escalates quicker than a dragon-powered strike! In this action-packed adventure full of comedy and high-stakes sports drama, elite players have a magical signature move they can use on the pitch. 12-year-old Key is a farm boy fanboy who can only dream of entering the famous school where the greatest players train before joining the big leagues—until he discovers he has his own ultra-powerful spell and may even be the legendary Dragon Striker. Key joins a team of hapless underdogs who band together to take on the school champions while fighting to prevent an ancient evil from resurfacing.

 

 

The Doomies

The series is co-created by Andrès Fernandez – who will direct – and Pozla (aka Rémi Zaarour), and written by Henry Gifford. Xilam Animation produces for Disney EMEA, with Marc du Pontavice acting as producer.

The first season will be comprised of 22 half-hours.

Synopsis: When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open a gateway to another world, they turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. Roped into an epic supernatural mystery, they will cross paths with the so-called “Chosen One” and do battle with both literal and inner monsters. The Doomies is a spooky comedy that combines thrills, chills, and surprises with character-driven comedy from an odd couple of ordinary teens engulfed by extraordinary circumstances. Its fast-paced humor and high-stakes action take place in a quirky French town in the heart of Brittany, imagined with moody flair and graphic style.

Zombies: The Re-Animated Series

Disney Television Animation produces the series. Aliki Theofilopoulos, Jack Ferraiolo, Gary Marsh, David Light, and Joseph Raso are executive producing.

Synopsis: Every day is a surprise at Seabrook High—whether you’re a cheerleader, a zombie, a werewolf or even a vampire! ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series invites us into the daily lives of Zed, Addison, Eliza, Willa and the entire Seabrook crew. This gang may have figured out each other, but they haven’t quite figured out how to survive high school. Get ready for more musical fun and new friends as Seabrook becomes the #1 destination for all kinds of mythical monsters looking for a fresh start. And this means some pretty wild adventures—from the cafeteria to the football field—because sometimes the scariest thing you have to face is high school.

 

 

SERIES RENEWALS

Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life

Xilam Animation returns to animate the second season of this Disney EMEA show. Jean Cayrol (Floopaloo, Paprika), Fred Martin (A Kind of Magic, Oggy Oggy), and Kahlil Ben Nahmane (Zig and Sharko, Oggy Next Gen) direct, with Nicole Paglia as head writer.

The second season expands on the original order of 39 seven-minute shorts with a new order of 54 shorts.

Synopsis: Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life stars Disney’s much-loved chipmunk underdogs in a non-verbal, classic-style comedy, following the ups and downs of two little creatures living life in the big city. Combining the traditions of slapstick cartoons with contemporary, comedic character-driven narratives, season two introduces huge new adventures for the two tiny troublemakers. Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale are joined in their perpetual pursuit of acorns by Donald, Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies, great and small.

Monsters At Work

Melissa Kurtz produces for Disney Television Animation with Kevin Deters as executive producer and Stevie Wermers as supervising director.
Season two synopsis: In season two, new doors of opportunity unexpectedly open at rival energy company FearCo and Tylor’s co-workers at Monsters Inc. begin to question where his loyalties truly lie. As his Laugh Floor partnership with Val is pushed to the brink, Tylor must discover where he really belongs.

Marvel’s Spidey And His Amazing Friends

 

 

Disney Junior and Marvel Studios produce in association with Atomic Cartoons produce, with Harrison Wilcox as executive producer, Bart Jennett as co-executive producer, Steve Grover as supervising producer, and Becca Topol as co-producer and story editor.

Season two synopsis: The first full-length Marvel series for preschoolers, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends follows the adventures of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, and Miles Morales as they team up with Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and Black Panther to defeat foes like Rhino, Doc Ock, and Green Goblin and learn that teamwork is the best way to save the day. Season two premieres this fall and sees the addition of Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Retpil, Black Cat, Sandman, and Electro.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse

Phil Weinstein is supervising director and executive producer for Disney Television Animation, with Thomas Hart serving as co-executive producer and supervising story editor, and Steve Walby as producer.
The whimsical animated series Mickey Mouse Funhouse introduces preschoolers’ first pal, Mickey Mouse, and his friends—Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto—to Funny, an enchanted talking playhouse who takes the Sensational Six on adventures of all types to unique worlds that inspire the imagination. Designed to inspire kids to expand their creative play, encourage wish fulfillment and impart lessons of friendship and ingenuity, each episode features two 11-minute stories separated by a midway stretch break. A 22-minute special, Mickey Mouse Funhouse: Pirate Adventure, is also set to premiere this August and features legendary pirate Captain Salty Bones as he invites Mickey, Minnie, and friends to join the biggest treasure hunt ever and see if they can become true pirates.

OTHER NEWS
Disney also announced that it has ordered 10 additional episodes of each of these previously-announced upcoming titles: Hamster & Gretel, Kiff, Hailey’s On It, and Primos. This will boost the first seasons for each of these titles to 30 episodes.

During the Annecy presentation, Disney also shared sneak peeks at Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, and the upcoming documentary Mickey: The Story of a Mouse.

The studio also went through the current Disney Junior slate, including Eureka!, Firebuds, SuperKitties, Kindergarten: The Musical, Hey A.J.,  and RoboGobo. Disney Television Animation’s current lineup was also spotlighted, including Big City Greens, The Owl House, The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

And finally, the studio talked about the importance of international partnerships with studios across the EMEA region on several key titles including Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, Ghost Force, The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti, and Viking Skool.