MSNBC To Change Name To MS NOW Under Versant

MSNBC will change its name to My Source News Opinion World (MS NOW) and unveil a new logo later this year as part of the cable news channel’s spinoff from the Comcast-owned media company NBCUniversal.

Comcast announced last year that it would spin off most of its cable television networks into a separate publicly traded company called Versant. The new company will include MSNBC and the financial news channel CNBC as well as the USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and the Golf Channel.

The branding changes represent Versant’s emphasis on “building our individual identity and vision for the future while laying a foundation for the continued growth and success of our businesses,” Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said in a memo to staff Monday morning.

“The peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal, and it is a symbol they have decided to keep within the NBCU family,” Lazarus said. “This gives us the opportunity to charge our own path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization following the spin.”

MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said the network will not change editorial direction as it builds out its own newsgathering operation entirely separate from NBC News. (MSNBC launched in 1996 as a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft.)

“While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not,” Kutler said in an internal memo. “Our commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver from what the brand promise has been for three decades.”

The rebrand will be accompanied by a national marketing campaign “unlike anything we have done in recent memory,” Kutler said.

CNBC, for its part, will keep the acronym “Consumer News and Business Channel” but will debut a new logo without the peacock.

Comcast will retain NBCUniversal assets such as the NBC broadcast network, NBC News, NBC Sports, the streaming platform Peacock and the cable brand Bravo.

David Ellison And Paramount’s New Regime Vows To Boost Nickelodeon And Family-Friendly Content, Invest In Paramount+ And Hang On To Cable Channels

 BET Networks is no longer being shopped to third-party buyers, the new leadership regime at Paramount Skydance confirmed on Wednesday, August 13 as top executives gathered for a wide-ranging Q&A with journalists.

David Ellison, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the studio that he acquired last week, told reporters that BET and its content franchises would be a key part of the new regime’s streaming strategy. Ellison said the plan is to operate the company with its assets intact — that’s in contrast to the string of assets sales that Paramount Global and its predecessors have done in recent years. BET in particular had been shopped to a number of prospective buyers in private equity and prominent Black investors and stars including Tyler Perry.

Ellison said the concept of keeping Paramount Pictures, CBS and other assets together was a key point of his earliest discussions last year about buying the studio with former Paramount Global chair and majority shareholder Shari Redstone.

“We had this conversation with Shari when we had the first meeting, actually about the company. It is our intention is to keep the company together and invest in that lens,” Ellison said.

“We’re thinking about the cable network is not as declining linear assets that we need to spin them up or deal with somehow. We’re thinking about those brands that we have to redefine,” Ellison said. “Nickelodeon is also one of those. Fids and family is so important to the world and making sure that we’re doing the right thing for Nick and that whole cadre of content is critically important to us as well.”

Overall, Ellison and his top lieutenants sketched out a roadmap for the new Paramount Skydance team’s priorities that include increased investment in the Paramount Pictures studio, CBS and the Paramount+ streaming platform. Ellison and Paramount president Jeff Shell reiterated that the plan is to consolidate the company’s major streaming assets — subscription service Paramount+ and free ad-supported (FAST) platform Pluto TV — into one central service to save operating costs and to make Pluto TV a better driver of subscriptions for Paramount+.

Joining Ellison and Shell at the session were Andy Gordon, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer; George Cheeks, Chair of TV Media; Dana Goldberg, Co-Chair of Paramount Pictures and Chair of Paramount Television; Josh Greenstein, Co-Chair of Paramount Pictures and Vice Chair of Platforms; and Cindy Holland, Chair of Direct-to-Consumer.

Asked point blank if the programming budget for Paramount+ will increase to make the service competitive with larger rivals such as Disney+ and HBO Max, Ellison said yes. Cindy Holland, the Netflix alum who is leading streaming operations for the new Paramount, was also blunt when asked if she intends to commission made-for-streaming movies from the sibling studio. “Made for streaming movies are not a priority for me,” she said.

Gerry Cardinale, head of RedBird Capital which also had a big role in financing the $8 billion transaction, offered an expansive view of a team ready to spend what it takes to upgrade Paramount’s aging infrastructure. Cardinale complimented Ellison for being a savvy business executive in addition to having the creative ambition to own a movie studio, Big Three broadcast network and more.

“I’m betting my firm and my career on this deal. That should tell you guys one thing: We are coming, we are going to invest, and we’re going to be really sophisticated. This is not other people’s money,” Cardinale said. He even suggested that the Paramount Skydance ethos would not only change the corporate culture at Paramount and CBS but influence the broader industry.

The new regime is thinking about “How do we build the culture, not just for Paramount but for Hollywood,” Cardinale said. “I could not be more excited. Yes we are going to be investing a lot of money, and we’re going to show the great return on that investment.”

Among other highlights from the Q&A session:

“I’m here because I love movies,” Ellison said flatly when discussing his motivations for executing the complex acquisition that took more than a year to complete. The 42-year-old CEO described Sundays spent watching movies on VHS with his mother. “Our idea of a good time on Sunday was, we had 3,000 VHS movies, and Sunday was the one day we were kids that we could actually do whatever we wanted. And we would just binge all day long.”

Ellison also saluted the star that has had a long association with Paramount and Skydance when pressed about the status of the studio’s follow-up film to 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick.

“We’re really proud and honored that in our partnership with Tom, we have made 10 movies together. We want to be in business with Tom for the foreseeable future,” Ellison said. "Top Gun cannot be a bigger priority. I want to be making movies with Tom and telling stories with Tom for as long as he wants to be doing it. There’s nobody who works harder and who loves movies and loves business more.”

Ellison was pressed about the new regime’s view on CBS News. The slog of closing the merger took a toll on the Eye’s news division as President Donald Trump waged war with a baseless $20 billion lawsuit against 60 Minutes over its Kamala Harris interview. A $16 million settlement with Trump paved the way for the FCC to approve the Paramount Global Skydance transaction.

CBS News and the journalism it produces “is something that is incredibly important to me that we couldn’t support more,” Ellison said. “It’s also the area of company that we want to invest in. For sure it’s a vital part of our democracy, and it’s an honor to be part of that organization.

Goldberg, co-chair of Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television, buttressed Ellison’s pledge to invest in strong family and YA-friendly movies and TV shows. “That’s a space we’re going to run toward,” she said.

Goldberg also emphasized that there will be a new approach to managing Paramount’s valuable Star Trek franchise. "Star Trek is absolutely a priority, and it’s priority across the company,” Goldberg said. “We’re not going to be siloed off so that there’s a conversation happening about television and another conversation” about film plans.

Ellison made a point of asserting that the new ownership group is aligned with the interests of Paramount Skydance’s common shareholders. The company is bracing for widespread layoffs that will be part of the company’s pledge to find $2 billion in savings post-merger.

“What we need to do to make sure we can run as efficiently possible can as a company. And then the other is where we need to invest for growth, for long term,” Ellison said. He noted that the Ellison family and RedBird own 70% of the economic interest in the company. “We’re the largest shareholders. So from that standpoint, we’re going to look at everything through a long-term value creation lens.”

VIU And HBO Max Bundle Is Launching In Southeast Asia, Showmax Likely To Follow Soon For Consumers In Africa

HBO Max and Viu are bundling their services in Southeast Asia into a single subscription, which will bring HBO shows such as The Last of Us and The White Lotus together with Viu’s original Korean and Chinese dramas.

The bundle will launch in Q4 across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and is almost certainly the first of its kind spanning multiple markets in Asia Pacific.

HBO Max is bundled with other services elsewhere in the world, including in the States, where several variations exist. The service launched in seven key Asian territories in November last year – then known as Max, prior to the re-rebrand back to its original name over the summer.

“Following the proven consumer and business benefits of HBO Max bundles in other parts of the world, this new streaming offering will provide strong entertainment value for consumers across Southeast Asia, and help drive subscriber growth and stronger retention,” said James Gibbons, President of Asia Pacific at Warner Bros. Discovery.

“With access to two complementary and world class collections in a single subscription, local fans can enjoy even more choice – from premium Hollywood movies and series to standout local Asian content.”

The HBO Max/Viu bundle will include the likes of the Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and DC Universe franchises, feature such as Spinners and The Minecraft Movie, legacy series such as Friends and HBO originals, including The Last of Us and The White Lotus. From the Viu side comes reality series such as Running Man and 2 Days 1 Night, Chinese dramas including The Immortal Ascension and Love Has Fireworks and upcoming Viu original Korean dramas Taxi Driver 3 and My Youth. Yesterday, we revealed My Youth had been snapped up for Rakuten Viki for the U.S., Europe and Latin America.

Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and Managing Director of PCCW Media Group, said: “Our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is an exciting step forward in our promise to continually enhance Viu’s entertainment options and meet our viewers’ evolving tastes.

“By combining HBO Max’s Hollywood content with Viu’s Asian favorites in a single bundle subscription, we’re offering more choice in shows, easier access to diverse content and greater value across a wider range of programming.”

Disney Jr., The Powerhouse Brand Behind Streaming’s Top Preschool Series, Unveils New Slate At ‘Disney Jr. Let’s Play!’ Event

After a record-breaking year, Disney Jr., which currently dominates preschool television with the top three shows on streaming for Kids 2-5 — Bluey, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse — unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news and premiere dates today. The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television, at the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” fan celebration.

Highlights included new series Cars: Lightning Racers, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Academy AwardⓇ-winning Cars films, with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their iconic roles; Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, the first-ever preschool Avengers series; and two new seasons of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, which debuted July 22 on Disney+ as the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date* and was also the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, per Nielsen.

Said Davis: “Disney Jr. is where preschool magic begins — and no one does it bigger or better. Our shows are often a child’s very first connection to the world of Disney, sparking the songs they sing, the characters they adore, and the adventures they want to live again and again.” She continued, “Today’s announcements build on that leadership, expanding the worlds kids already love and introducing new multiplatform stories that will capture the hearts of the next generation.”

NEW SERIES, SPECIALS AND SHORTS

CARS: LIGHTNING RACERS (New Series)

• Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation in association with Pixar

• Executive Producers: Travis Braun and Frank Montagna

• Story Editor: Dana Starfield

• Supervising Director: Nathan Chew

Building on Disney and Pixar’s beloved Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis (Elemental) and Yuri Lowenthal (Marvel Rivals video game) join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.

Evolving from the new Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends series (premiering Aug. 11 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+), Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends introduces kid versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Panther (T’Challa), Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Thor. Together, the young Avengers strive to be their best selves while facing off against classic Super Baddies.

MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND IRON MAN: AVENGERS TEAM UP! (New Specials)

• Two New 22-Minute Specials Debut: Special #1 premieres Oct. 16 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+; Special #2 premieres 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons

• Executive Producers: Bart Jennett, Chris Moreno and Harrison Wilcox

• Co-Producer: Becca Topol

The first special sees Iron Man and the Avengers joining Spidey to stop Ultron and Green Goblin from taking control of the city’s devices.

A second Halloween-themed special will premiere in 2026.

MICKEY & MINNIE’S HOLIDAY SONGS: HALLOWEEN (New Stop-Motion Shorts)

• Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.

• Director/Producer: David H. Brooks

• Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV

These sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Holiday spirit.

RETURNING SERIES

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE+ (New Season Orders — Seasons 2 and 3)

• Season 2 debuts 2027; Season 3 debuts 2028 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca

• Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kim Duran

A continuation of the beloved EmmyⓇ Award-winning original series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ welcomes the next generation of preschoolers and their families to the iconic Clubhouse for all-new, plussed-up adventures with Mickey, Minnie and their pals. The first 10 episodes of Season 1 are currently streaming on Disney+, with additional episodes set to debut this fall.

SUPERKITTIES (Season 3)

• Produced by Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Jr.

• Creator: Paula Rosenthal

• Executive Producers: Sarah Mullervy, Kirk Van Wormer and Audu Paden

SuperKitties — Top 10 most-watched streaming series for preschoolers — is an adorable and action-packed series about four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and “pawesome” place. Season 3 introduces the new “Su-Purr Wild” story arc in which the SuperKitties travel into the Kittydale Wild Jungle to adventure with their wildcat friend, Willa, and new jungle critters.

CASTING NEWS

SOFIA THE FIRST: ROYAL MAGIC

• New series set to debut 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

As previously announced, Ariel Winter (Modern Family) will return in the titular role as the voice of Sofia in this new series featuring the beloved Sofia the First, set to debut in 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+.

Announced today are additional returning cast members from the original series including Wayne Brady (Let’s Make A Deal) as Clover, Tim Gunn (Project Runway) as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) as Minimus, Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy) as Queen Miranda and Travis Willingham (The Legend of Vox Machina) as King Roland.

Sofia the First: Royal Magic follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.

HEY A.J.

• Debuts 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Surfing Giant Studios

• Executive Producers: Martellus Bennett, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Michael Hodges

Inspired by former Super Bowl champion and children’s book author Martellus Bennett, the upcoming new family comedy series Hey A.J.! is a whimsical and music-filled family comedy about an imaginative young girl who, along with her stuffed bunny sidekick, uses her big imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary.

As announced today, Amari McCoy (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends) will star as lead character A.J., Martellus Bennett will voice her father, Marty, and GRAMMYⓇAward-nominated Jhené Aiko voices her mom, Siggi. Rounding out the cast is Juliet Donenfeld (Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures) as A.J.’s best friend Jessie, Innocent Ekakitie (Bunk’d) as Jazz, and David Mitchell (Phineas and Ferb) as A.J.’s bunny sidekick Theo. Pop superstar and GRAMMY Award winner Meghan Trainor will recur as A.J.’ s best friend Jessie’s mom.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS 

DISNEY JR. ARIEL – THE LITTLE MERMAID (NEW SPECIAL)

• New 22-minute special debuts Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+

• Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr.

• Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland

The new 22-minute special Disney Jr. Ariel – The Little Mermaid: The Glow Crystals will debut Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+, and will air in rotation as part of Disney Jr.’s World Princess Week programming line-up (Aug. 24-30). It follows Ariel as she and her friends use their special gifts to rescue her family after a glitch in Ursula’s crystal ball sends her, Triton and Sebastian into a mystical cavern.

FIREBUDS (Season 3)

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

The series follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, living in the fantastical world of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis, where humans and their talking vehicle sidekicks work and play together. Season 3 introduces a new “Aquabuds” story arc and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in daring water rescues.

STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES — (Season 3)

• Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr.

• Executive Producers: Michael Olson, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes

The anticipated third season will debut this Fall. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Season 3 follows the young Jedi as they delve into the world of droid care, befriending a droid shop owner named Dotti and three new droids: Beepers, Dozer and Gigi.

Disney Princess Let’s Party Launches This August

Disney princesses have inspired girls and fans of all ages to discover, dream and believe through characters who go on epic, fun adventures where they realise their true potential. The heroines and their beloved stories have created shared moments between generations and this August, the fun continues with Disney Princess Let’s Party.

 

Disney Princess Let’s Party invites families and fans to create their own magical world and adventures by holding their own magical princess party inspired by the Disney princesses - from Cinderella to Jasmine, Belle to Ariel, Mulan and Tiana, there is a story and adventure waiting for all to be shared and celebrated.

 

The Disney Princess Ultimate Party Digital Hub is now live at www.disney.co.za/Disney-Princess-Party, featuring party inspiration including downloadable activity books, recipes, craft tutorials and more – all on hand for families to use to help spark their imagination.

 

24 – 31 August will mark Disney Princess Week and to celebrate, for the month of August, grown up party goers and throwers will be encouraged to share their Disney Princess parties on social media using the hashtag #DisneyPrincessZA, Tagging @DisneyinAfrica on Facebook and @DisneyAfrica on Instagram, to stand a chance of winning an exclusive Disney Princess hamper worth over R5000.00*.

 

Comments Christine Service, General Manager of DTC & Networks and Country Manager Sub-Saharan Africa of The Walt Disney Company Africa: “Disney continues to entertain the world with beloved stories and characters and the Disney princesses create opportunities for shared connections across generations. We hope that fans and families will enjoy throwing their own Disney Princess-inspired celebrations this August, embracing the messages of uniqueness and positivity with a dose of imaginative play, adventure and fun.”

 

A vast selection of Disney Princess toys, games, fashion and accessories will be available at leading retailers across South Africa, including Disneystore.eu this August too, offering something for Disney Princess fans of all ages. Mattel has products for hours of play, including Disney Princess Spin and Reveal Fashion Dolls (with 11 surprises), the Disney Princess 2-in-1 Stories Fashion Dolls inspired by favourite moments, Disney Princess Castle Pet Palace Playset and the magnificent Magical Adventures Castle – the ultimate Disney Princess doll house. LEGO® brings the Disney Princess Castle & Royal Pets Toy Building Playset, Disney Moana’s hilarious side-kick Hei-Hei set and Disney Cinderella’s Castle, complete with horse carriage. Enchanted playtime awaits!

The celebrations continue with Disney+, the home of all Disney Princess animated feature adventures, Moana 2 (2024), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Moana (2016), Brave (2012), Tangled (2010), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Mulan (1998), Pocahontas (1995), Aladdin (1992), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Little Mermaid (1989), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Cinderella (1950) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Not to mention the live action reimagining’s and retellings of these stories (Maleficent (2014), Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Mulan (2020)) as well as hours of animated series, shorts and specials including Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World, LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, and much more.

 

Disney Channel (DStv 303) and Disney Junior (DStv 309) will be celebrating Disney Princess Week too, with the premiere of Disney’s Moana on Friday 29 August at (17:00 CAT on Disney Channel) and new episodes of much-loved Disney Junior Ariel (weekdays on Disney Junior). As a special treat also on Disney Junior, Sofia the First will air with episodes featuring the Disney princesses themselves inspiring Sofia in her journey to be a better leader and friend.

 

There are a number of ways to celebrate and create your own magical world, with Disney Princess Let’s Party this August.

Boxing Champion Laila Ali Jumps into the Ring as Host of Food Network’s Chef Grudge Match Where Culinary Rivals Battle to Settle Old Scores

Boxing legend Laila Ali is trading her boxing gloves for a chef's apron as she takes on hosting duties for Food Network's explosive new series, Chef Grudge Match. This high-stakes culinary competition sees top chefs from around the world battle it out to settle long-standing feuds and bitter rivalries. From sous chefs who've been wronged by their bosses to restaurateurs defending their businesses from copycats, these culinary professionals put their prized knives and reputations on the line for a chance to win $10,000 cash, their rival's most treasured knife, and ultimate bragging rights.

 

The series premieres on Tuesday, 19 August 2025 at 17:00 CAT on Food Network (DStv channel 175) and will be available for streaming on DStv's Catch Up service. "I'm thrilled to be joining the Food Network family," said Ali. "As someone who's always been passionate about both competition and delicious food, Chef Grudge Match is the perfect fit. From the ring to the kitchen, I've never shied away from a challenge and now I get to have fun while bringing that same intensity to a show where culinary rivalries are settled once and for all!"

 

The premiere episode features Gabe Bertaccini, a Food Network favourite who has harboured a 15-year grudge against his protégé, Tyler Romine, who left Gabe's catering business with only three days' notice. The second match showcases Taylor Frankel from Vail, Colorado, who has a bone to pick with her former Sous chef, Maria Busato, after she opened a rival catering company in the same small town.

 

Throughout the eight-episode season, viewers can expect heated battles over business disputes, recipe rivalries, student-teacher conflicts, and even husband versus wife showdowns, all taking place in front of a live studio audience with the electric atmosphere of a boxing match.

Resident judge Jet Tila is joined by an impressive lineup of guest judges throughout the season, including Eric Adjepong, Maneet Chauhan, Adrienne Cheatham, Tiffani Faison, Stephanie Izard, Eddie Jackson, Chris Oh, and Claudette Zepeda.

 

"With reputations and livelihoods on the line, competition in the food world has heightened stakes which have produced legendary grudges and rivalries," said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. "Chef Grudge Match brings these grievances to a head in front of a studio audience, with all the energy of a live boxing match, and Laila Ali is the perfect ringmaster to oversee these battles for ultimate bragging rights."

 

Chef Grudge Match premieres on Food Network Africa on Tuesday, 19 August @ 17:00 CAT on DStv channel 175 and GOtv channel 104 (Kenya, Malawi) and 404 (Uganda).

Hulu Is Set To Launch On Disney+ Globally By The End Of The Year

A new “unified” Disney+ and Hulu streaming app will be available in 2026, the company said. According to a Disney rep, customers will still be able to buy a stand-alone Hulu subscription (as well as a stand-alone Disney+ plan).

“Today we are announcing a major step forward in strengthening our streaming offering by fully integrating Hulu into Disney+,” CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston said in prepared commentary on the media giant’s quarterly earnings. “This will create an impressive package of entertainment, pairing the highest-caliber brands and franchises, great general entertainment, family programming, news and industry-leading live sports content in a single app.”

The single Disney+ app with Hulu will deliver an “improved consumer experience,” which will lower churn, Iger said on the earnings call. Both services will be “on one tech platform,” which will result in cost synergies, according to Iger. In addition, Disney — which already sells ads for Disney+ and Hulu together — sees new opportunities for bundling ad sales by fully combining them, he said.

In their prepared remarks, the Disney execs said, “By creating a truly differentiated streaming offering, we will be providing subscribers tremendous choice, convenience, quality, and enhanced personalization. This will enhance our ability to continue to grow profitability and margins in our entertainment streaming business through expected higher engagement, lower churn, and advertising revenue potential, as well as operational efficiencies that over time may result in savings that we can reinvest back into the business.”

In addition, Hulu will become a global general entertainment brand: Starting in the fall of 2025, it will replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally.

“Work is already underway to continue enhancing our technology, and over the coming months, we will be implementing numerous improvements within the Disney+ app, including exciting new features and a more personalized homepage,” Iger and Johnston said.

The move to fully sew Hulu together with Disney+ comes after Disney — following two years of negotiating — closed its deal with Comcast to buy out NBCUniversal‘s one-third stake in Hulu in June 2025. Disney paid Comcast in total about $9 billion, including $8.61 billion in November 2023 and $438.7 million this past June. Comcast had been seeking more than $13 billion for the 33% Hulu stake; the final price tag was determined through arbitration by a third-party banker.

Disney has already taken steps to integrate Hulu and Disney+. In the spring of 2024, the Disney+ app launched “full” integration of Hulu content, which the company has used as a way to convert stand-alone Disney+ customers into bundled Disney+/Hulu subs.

Also Wednesday, Disney announced that it will no longer report streaming subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, following the lead of Netflix and others.

MTV Entertainment Studios, Home To Ridiculousness And Catfish: The TV Show Is Shutting Down

A year ago, Paramount Television Studios was shuttered in a cost-cutting move as its parent company prepared to merge with Skydance.

With that deal on the verge of closing, the new Paramount is reviving the Paramount TV Studios name — which will in turn absorb one of the company’s two remaining studio operations as well as the formerly independent Skydance Television.

Skydance TV president Matt Thunell is set to lead Paramount TV Studios, reporting to Dana Goldberg, the newly named co-chair of Paramount Pictures (with Josh Greenstein) and chair of Paramount Television.

The reconstituted Paramount TV Studios will house productions currently under Showtime/MTV Entertainment, the home of prolific creator Taylor Sheridan (the Yellowstone-verse, Landman et al), key Showtime series like the Dexter franchise and Yellowjackets, and Netflix’s Emily in Paris, among others. It will also be home to Skydance productions including Prime Video’s Reacher and Cross — which were co-productions with the former Paramount TV Studios.

Paramount announced in August 2024 that PTVS, then led by Nicole Clemens, would shut down. Its productions — including the aforementioned Reacher and Cross and Apple TV+’s Murderbot — moved to CBS Studios. The shutdown was part of a wave of cost-cutting moves, which included hundreds of layoffs, in the year-plus leading up to the merger, which is set to formally close on Aug. 7.

Former Paramount co-CEO Chris McCarthy previously headed Showtime/MTV Entertainment but will not remain with the merged company after the deal closes. Keith Cox, head of scripted at Showtime/MTV Entertainment, is expected to stay on; Cox has a long working relationship with Sheridan and David C. Glasser, the head of 101 Studios which co-produces Sheridan’s shows and Showtime’s The Agency.

Thunell became president of Skydance TV in late 2022 after nearly eight years at Netflix, where he oversaw development and production of series in the U.S. and Canada.

Former Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks will have CBS Studios in his portfolio as the merged company’s chair of TV media, which also includes the CBS network and the company’s cable channels.

Why A Sports Only Package Seemed Speculative But Unlikely For DStv?

As reported, MultiChoice is planning to restructure it's DStv packages giving consumers the option of paying for TLC and Mzansi Magic minus SuperSport. Also within the test run, is the possibility of unbundling SuperSport from the rest of the DStv offering.

This has been something Sky in the UK and their potential new owners Canal+ had in France. MultiChoice had acknowledged falling behind with other parts of the world and in its bid to attract DStv consumers will be the unbundling of its offering.

There's a reason various outlets have been highly skeptical about SuperSport becoming its own standalone platform. Take a page of Showmax PRO, some consumers would subscribe for certain matches then cancel making it hard for MultiChoice to accommodate these viewers.

Canal+ had also offered such service in the markets in which it operates and concluded to say everyone that has tried this failed.

So what MultiChoice proposed in earlier drafts was giving consumers the option of paying for local dramas, cartoons, music and movie channels. In an attempt to make rates affordable for its top tier consumers give them the option to get a football only package with other sports on a separate package.

Those choosing to pay for both packages would be offered a discounted rate. A formula Canal+ already incorporate and one MultiChoice will likely adapt when concluding their trial in the coming months.

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<div style="text-align: center;">

  <a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/p/posts-you-might-like.html?m=1">

    <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52nPaphdgFKT0v84OY3OHqF_GZOFI0x1LhDRUg9q_hBpaamr0cQVwAViHms_INuj_eAUXiRLEl0GZlXHTHDhELzZptnPQjLrCuJvcfNxyz-s4Gj07_h1Nm-3X6_rvFe6dE-HWfUauPlEmJJOzbNVnkRuKHQC0tdu6ysWoViWIm_qR4sIdyt4E2_luAGk/s470/IMG_20250718_220318.jpg" alt="Banner Description" class="clickable-banner" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;" />

  </a>

</div>

Notes

• By <a href> replace the link with the page or site of your choosing

• For <img src> I needed to go to Blogger's posts to get the image link which would require you to upload the image and you'll find a button similar to this one "< >" click it and select html view. Within there select the href that link would make up img src or the component that helps display images.

How To Add A Custom Content Banner Widget To Your Blogger Website?

Ever wanted to add a custom banner to your blogger website to display certain places of your site or platforms you're currently subscribed to. Good news, we've got a widget to match your liking as seen above.

Step 1: Go to Blogger's layout section and click Add Gadgets 

Step 2: You will have to choose HTML/JavaScript and copy the code provided below

<div class="custom-banner">

    <div class="banner-content">

        <h3>Explore Our Content!</h3>

        <p>Check out our latest posts and resources.</p>

        <div class="banner-buttons">

<a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/p/posts-you-might-like.html?m=1" class="banner-btn">Cartoon Games</a>

            <a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/p/featured-attractions.html?m=1" class="banner-btn">DStv Highlights</a>

            <a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/search/label/Everyday%20Novelas?m=1" class="banner-btn">Telenovela Updates</a>

<a href="https://www.mediafire.com/folder/7vznku6zvg906/Insidus+Collection" class="banner-btn">Insidus Plus - Documents And Games</a>

<a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/search/label/Openview%20Plus?m=1" class="banner-btn">Openview Highlights</a>

<a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/p/posts-you-might-like.html?m=1" class="banner-btn">News On Animation</a>

<a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/search/label/Sports%20Entertainment?m=1" class="banner-btn">Sports Highlights</a>

<a href="https://taplink.cc/prsdube16" class="banner-btn">Social Platforms</a>

<a href="https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/search/label/Video%20Entertainment?m=1" class="banner-btn">Streaming Highlights</a>

        </div>

    </div>

</div>

<style>

.custom-banner {

    background-color: #FFFFFF;

    border: 0px solid #ddd;

    border-radius: 8px;

    padding: 20px;

    text-align: center;

    margin: 10px auto;

    max-width: 1200px; /* Adjust width as needed */

}

.banner-content h3 {

    font-size: 24px;

    margin: 0 0 10px;

    color: #333;

}

.banner-content p {

    font-size: 16px;

    color: #666;

    margin: 0 0 15px;

}

.banner-buttons {

    display: flex;

    justify-content: center;

    gap: 10px;

    flex-wrap: wrap;

}

.banner-btn {

    background-color: #ff0000;

    color: #ffff00 !important;

    padding: 10px 20px;

    text-decoration: none;

    border-radius: 5px;

    font-size: 10px;

    transition: background-color 0.3s;

    white-space: nowrap;

}

.banner-btn:hover {

    background-color: #0056b3;

    color: #ffff00

}

@media (max-width: 600px) {

    .custom-banner {

        max-width: 90%;

        padding: 10px;

    }

    .banner-buttons {

        flex-direction: column;

    }

    .banner-btn {

        width: 88%;

        margin-bottom: 10px;

    }

}

</style>

Notes

• By <a></a> you can remove the links within href and replace them with your own

• Before closing with </a> you can give your link a name

How To Add A Recent Posts Slider To Your Blogger Website?

You may have visited a couple of websites and noticed that their posts move automatically in a vertical position and wondered how you can get this on your blogger website. Below is some types on how you can get this widget on your blogger website.

Step 1: Go to Blogger's layout section and click Add Gadgets 

Step 2: You will have to choose HTML/JavaScript and copy the code provided below

Below this recent post slider shows posts based on particular label 

<div id="recent-posts-slider">

  <ul id="recent-posts-list"></ul>

</div>

<style>

#recent-posts-slider {

  overflow: hidden;

  width: auto; /* Ensure full width */

  background: #f9f9f9;

  border: 0px solid #ddd;

  padding: 10px;

}

#recent-posts-list {

  display: flex;

  gap: 15px;

  animation: slide-left linear infinite;

  list-style: none;

  padding: 0;

  margin: 0;

}

#recent-posts-list li {

  min-width: 220px;

  max-width: 220px;

  background: transparent;

  border: 0px solid #ccc;

  padding: 5px;

  box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);

  text-align: center;

}

#recent-posts-list img {

  max-width: 100%;

  height: auto;

  margin-bottom: 8px;

}

#recent-posts-list a {

  text-decoration: none;

  color: #ff6a00;

  font-weight: bold;

}

/* Media Queries for responsiveness */

@media (max-width: 768px) {

  #recent-posts-list li {

    min-width: 150px; /* Reduce the min-width on mobile */

    max-width: 150px;

  }

}

@media (max-width: 480px) {

  #recent-posts-list li {

    min-width: 120px; /* Further reduce for smaller screens */

    max-width: 120px;

  }

}

@keyframes slide-left {

  0% { transform: translateX(0); }

  100% { transform: translateX(-100%); }

}

</style>

<script>

  const feedUrl = "https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default/-/Upcoming?alt=json"; // Change 'Tech' to your label

  const list = document.getElementById("recent-posts-list");

  fetch(feedUrl)

    .then(res => res.json())

    .then(data => {

      const posts = data.feed.entry || [];

      posts.slice(0, 10).forEach(post => {

        const title = post.title.$t;

        const link = post.link.find(l => l.rel === "alternate").href;

        let thumb = "https://via.placeholder.com/220x150?text=No+Image";

        if (post.media$thumbnail) {

          thumb = post.media$thumbnail.url;

        } else if (post.content && post.content.$t.match(/<img[^>]+src="([^">]+)/)) {

          thumb = post.content.$t.match(/<img[^>]+src="([^">]+)/)[1];

        }

        const li = document.createElement("li");

        li.innerHTML = `

          <a href="${link}" target="_blank">

            <img src="${thumb}" alt="${title}" />

            <div>${title}</div>

          </a>

        `;

        list.appendChild(li);

      });

      const speed = 40;

      list.style.animationDuration = `${speed}s`;

    })

    .catch(err => {

      console.error("Failed to load recent posts:", err);

      list.innerHTML = "<li>Failed to load posts.</li>";

    });

</script>

This recent posts slider shows all posts by default

<div id="recent-posts-slider">

  <ul id="recent-posts-list"></ul>

</div>

<style>

#recent-posts-slider {

  overflow: hidden;

  width: auto; /* Ensure full width */

  background: #f9f9f9;

  border: 0px solid #ddd;

  padding: 10px;

}

#recent-posts-list {

  display: flex;

  gap: 15px;

  animation: slide-left linear infinite;

  list-style: none;

  padding: 0;

  margin: 0;

}

#recent-posts-list li {

  min-width: 220px;

  max-width: 220px;

  background: transparent;

  border: 0px solid #ccc;

  padding: 5px;

  box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);

  text-align: center;

}

#recent-posts-list img {

  max-width: 100%;

  height: auto;

  margin-bottom: 8px;

}

#recent-posts-list a {

  text-decoration: none;

  color: #ff6a00;

  font-weight: bold;

}

/* Media Queries for responsiveness */

@media (max-width: 768px) {

  #recent-posts-list li {

    min-width: 150px; /* Reduce the min-width on mobile */

    max-width: 150px;

  }

}

@media (max-width: 480px) {

  #recent-posts-list li {

    min-width: 120px; /* Further reduce for smaller screens */

    max-width: 120px;

  }

}

@keyframes slide-left {

  0% { transform: translateX(0); }

  100% { transform: translateX(-100%); }

}

</style>

<script>

  const feedUrl = "https://prsdube16.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=json"; 

  const list = document.getElementById("recent-posts-list");

  fetch(feedUrl)

    .then(res => res.json())

    .then(data => {

      const posts = data.feed.entry || [];

      posts.slice(0, 10).forEach(post => {

        const title = post.title.$t;

        const link = post.link.find(l => l.rel === "alternate").href;

        let thumb = "https://via.placeholder.com/220x150?text=No+Image";

        if (post.media$thumbnail) {

          thumb = post.media$thumbnail.url;

        } else if (post.content && post.content.$t.match(/<img[^>]+src="([^">]+)/)) {

          thumb = post.content.$t.match(/<img[^>]+src="([^">]+)/)[1];

        }

        const li = document.createElement("li");

        li.innerHTML = `

          <a href="${link}" target="_blank">

            <img src="${thumb}" alt="${title}" />

            <div>${title}</div>

          </a>

        `;

        list.appendChild(li);

      });

      const speed = 40;

      list.style.animationDuration = `${speed}s`;

    })

    .catch(err => {

      console.error("Failed to load recent posts:", err);

      list.innerHTML = "<li>Failed to load posts.</li>";

    });

</script>

Notes

• By const feedURL replace it with your URL and the Upcoming label replace it with any label on your website

• The const speed widget goes faster if decrease below 40

• By posts slice (0,10) this is where you decide how many posts you want to have displayed