'Max & The Midknights' Renewed For Season Three; To Premiere On Nickelodeon Global On December 3

Based on the best-selling children's books by acclaimed author and cartoonist Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), the medieval action-adventure comedy series follows Max, a determined 10-year-old girl with big dreams of becoming a knight, as she leads her friends on epic adventures filled with excitement, bravery, and lots of fun. In season three, Max and the Midknights embark on a quest to help a neighboring kingdom of gnomes and discover that their own kingdom could be in danger.

Max & the Midknights will premiere on the Nickelodeon Global pan-regional feed on Wednesday 3rd December 2025.

A Restless Knight, Part One: After a raucous season one, Max & the Midknights are back and ready for action! There's just one problem-Byjovia is quiet! Too quiet... (#301; season three premiere)*

*Season one of Max & the Midknights was split into two seasons, so "season one" in the episode's synopsis means both seasons one and two.

After defeating Fendra and Gastley, Max & The Midknights are living their best lives in Byjovia. Max is in training in knight school, Kevyn runs the royal library, Simon helps animals in need, Millie is in training with Mumblin, and Uncle Budrick is the royal troubadour. Although things seem perfect, Max is itching to go on another quest. When a wild beast known as a Clatterback shows up in Byjovia and threatens to do major damage, Max saves the day, making it even more apparent that she really wants to be out on the road helping people. Her desire for a new adventure is answered when Queen Nerelia of Tresk shows up begging for help.

A Restless Knight, Part Two: When the Gnomes of Tresk are kidnapped by a mysterious evil, Max & the Midknights volunteer to save them, but Max's plans for her second quest go awry when she learns not all the Midknights are as eager as she is to go on the mission. (#302)

When the Gnomes of Tresk are kidnapped by a mysterious evil, Max & the Midknights volunteer to save them. Max is thrilled to go on a new quest, but her plans go awry when she learns that Simon doesn't want to go. Having just settled into Byjovia with his new family, Simon would rather stay home. Despite feeling sad, the Midknights tell him that they understand how he feels. Sadly, Mumblin must also sit out the journey after an accidental tumble down the library steps leaves him in a full body cast. The Midknights set sail down two members. The morning they leave though, Simon has a change of heart. With the help of his animal patients, Simon rushes to the docks to try and catch the Midknights before they sail away from Byjovia. As Simon nears the ship, he and the Midknights are confronted by the angry Clatterback. In the nick of time, Simon convinces the animal to let them go. Simon tells the Midknights that he has changed his mind. They are his family and he's going on this quest with them. 

The Spirit of the Sea: As Max and the Midknights sail across the sea on their quest, they get spooked when Uncle Budrick claims there's a ghost on board their ship! Meanwhile, Mumblin fears someone is out to get him. (#303)

As the Midknights sail across the sea on their latest quest, Max realizes the gang might be a little rusty. Kevyn and Millie aren't seeing eye to eye, Simon is preoccupied helping his animal clients from long distance, and Uncle Budrick is terribly seasick! However, Max is certain she can get them working as a team. But when Uncle Budrick is spooked by something sinister in the shadows below deck, he is convinced he saw a ghost! Determined to get back on mission, Max leads the charge to search the ship and find whatever mysterious presence might be haunting them. They soon find there's no ghost at all-they've been spooked by a stowaway, the former King of Byjovia, Gastley! But as the Midknights are distracted, the ship veers off course and into a powerful storm! They quickly realize they must act as a team in order to steady the ship before it capsizes! Meanwhile, back in Byjovia, Mumblin fears someone might be behind his recent spate of accidents, and takes matters into his own hands...

The Trial of Mumblin the Magician: After being blown off course, the Midknights navigate a set of treacherous waterfalls as they try to reach the Gnomes of Tresk. Meanwhile, Mumblin pleads for his freedom in Wizard Court where the odds are stacked against him. (#304)

When the Midknights' ship is set off course, the team must survive treacherous new waters. Before Max can enact her plan, she is summoned to Wizard Court where Mumblin is on trial for his life. Max must help Mumblin prove that he is a good wizard and that he escaped the afterlife to help the Midknights defeat Fendra. If Max can't, Mumblin will be sent away for good. Max calls on the Midknights to testify on Mumblin's behalf. When those attempts fail, Max takes the stand. At first, Max's emotional testimony seems to win over the court, but her pleas for Mumblin's freedom backfire and Mumblin is ultimately found guilty. Luckily, Kevyn discovers a way to save Mumblin. Max must battle the Worms of Justice and if she wins, then Mumblin will be set free. Transported to a desert, Max battles giant worms. In the end, Max defeats the worms and Mumblin wins his trial. Unfortunately, the Midknights are sent back to their boat, which is headed straight for a massive waterfall!

The voice cast behind the Midknights, a group of misfits each with their own unique talent, include: Blu del Barrio (Star Trek: Discovery) as Max, a brave and determined girl ready to take on any challenge headed her way; Melissa Villaseñor (Saturday Night Live) as Millie, a wacky yet super positive girl who brings the power of magic to the Midknights; Zeno Robinson (Transformers: EarthSpark) as Simon, Millie’s street-savvy and sometimes sarcastic companion; and Caleb Yen (Beyblade X) as Kevyn, the bookish genius with a photographic memory. Together, the group accomplishes nearly everything that they set their mind to achieve.

Alongside the Midknights, Jeremy Rowley (iCarly) lends his voice as Uncle Budrick, Max’s lovably silly parental figure and professional troubadour, Gary Anthony Williams (Central Park) voices Mumblin, a famous retired magician who helps guide the Midknights on their quests, Brian Stepanek (The Loud House) voices King Gastley, the nefarious ruler of Byjovia, willing to do whatever it takes to maintain his throne, and India de Beaufort (It’s Pony) voices Fendra, a dark sorceress working for King Gastley.

Produced by Nickelodeon Animation in Burbank, Max & the Midknights is executive produced by Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate) and Jane Startz (Ella Enchanted). Sharon Flynn (All Hail King Julien) and David Skelly (Toy Story 2) serve as co-executive producers and showrunners. Development and production is overseen by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, TV Series Animation, Nickelodeon, Nathan Schram, Vice President, Development, Nickelodeon Animation, and Stephanie Alpert, Vice President, Production, Nickelodeon Animation. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

The article was originally published by NickAlive!

Disney's Linear TV Channels Return To Sky Italia

Disney's linear TV channels are coming back to Sky. In a few days, as ItaliaOggi can exclusively reveal, the partnership agreement between the Burbank giant and Comcast’s broadcaster will be officially announced. The deal will bring some of Disney’s rich content catalogue — including Disney, FX, Hulu, etc. — back to good old traditional linear television channels, which, contrary to what many analysts have claimed for years, never actually go out of fashion.

Soon, therefore, Sky Italia subscribers will enjoy a new Disney-branded channel, with potential future developments in the areas of animation, TV series, movies, and documentaries.

Sky’s strategy

All of this fits into a broader strategic redesign in which Sky is reshaping its partnership perimeter based on the value perceived by its subscribers. This same logic explains the recent acquisitions of TV rights for basketball and rugby, the renewal of the UEFA agreement for Champions League rights from 2027–2031, and the ongoing negotiations with Liberty Media-Dorna for the renewal of MotoGP rights (whose current deal expires at the end of 2025). MotoGP currently finds itself with TV ratings halved, a championship of little interest, and no standout personalities apart from Marc Márquez — yet it is unlikely to give up its relationship with Sky (the platform that still guarantees the greatest visibility for the two-wheeled circus) and may simply accept a lower fee for the rights.

The end of the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery

The agreement with Disney comes just as Sky Italia’s long relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery is officially coming to an end. As is already known, from 1 July 2025 all Eurosport, Discovery, and even the free-to-air channels of the WBD group disappeared from Sky. On 31 December 2025, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, all Warner films, and new HBO series will definitively leave the platform. HBO, controlled by WBD, was the home of flagship titles such as House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Succession, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and The Pitt.

The future of HBO and Warner content on Sky

From 2026 onwards, Sky will still be able to broadcast new seasons of most of those existing franchises (with the exception of The Pitt), but no longer on an exclusive basis. However, it will no longer have direct access to new Warner or HBO films and brand-new series.

At least not directly. Because, thanks to the many new partnerships Sky is signing, Warner content that has “left through the door” may very well come back in “through the window” — possibly via Peacock, Netflix, or other platforms.

BBC Studios Africa Reveals New Format For BBC Lifestyle, Hidden Gems: South Africa

BBC Lifestyle is set to unveil Hidden Gems: South Africa, a fresh and immersive travel series that takes viewers off the beaten path to discover South Africa’s most luxurious and lesser-known escapes. Launching in 2026, the six-part series blends influencer-led storytelling with audience participation to celebrate the country’s rich natural beauty.

Hidden Gems: South Africa follows five South African travel influencers as they explore and showcase two of South Africa’s greatest hidden gems per episode, each accompanied by a guest. In each episode, the influencer receives an envelope revealing the surprise gems which they must visit, review, and showcase. BBC Lifestyle viewers will vote for their favourite hidden gem from the series and be in with the chance of winning exciting prizes. The most compelling review and favourite gem, voted for by the audience, will be revealed in the final episode (Episode Six) with the winning influencer receiving a special prize.

The series sees the influencers traveling across South Africa, offering a curated look at destinations that combine luxury with authenticity. Each episode is shaped by a distinct theme, celebrating the diverse beauty and character of South Africa’s landscapes.

The new series is produced by PD Production, the producers behind BBC Lifestyle’s popular shows – Listing Jozi, Listing Cape Town, Listing Mauritius and Listing Coastal South Africa which is currently airing on BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel 174) every Wednesday at 8pm with repeats Thursdays at 5pm.

Pierre Cloete, Vice President for Africa at BBC Studios, commented: “We’re thrilled to bring Hidden Gems: South Africa to BBC Lifestyle in 2026. This new format celebrates the diversity and richness of South Africa’s hidden destinations and showcases authentic local stories and personalities that will resonate with audiences across the continent. For the first time, BBC Lifestyle viewers will be invited to vote for their favourite gem, adding an exciting interactive element to the series.” 

Nico Nel and Trevor Kaplan producers from PD Production said: “With Hidden Gems: South Africa, we wanted to go beyond the usual travel show format. By empowering local influencers to spotlight South Africa’s hidden gems, we’re creating a series for BBC Lifestyle that’s both visually stunning and unique. We have just started filming and can’t wait for viewers to see the magic that’s been captured”

Hidden Gems: South Africa is proudly sponsored by LekkeSlaap, South Africa’s leading accommodation app.

Gerriline Fouché, LekkeSlaap's Chief Marketing Officer said “Hidden Gems: South Africa beautifully captures what we love most about local travel: discovering special places and the passionate people behind them. It’s a privilege for LekkeSlaap to help shine a light on these unique stays across the country.”

Paramount Looking To Increase Its Bid For Warner Bros. Discovery To $71 Billion

David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance is said to be turning to new partners in the Middle East to help back his offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in its entirety.

Paramount Skydance has formed an investment consortium with the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi to submit a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, sources told Variety. The bid is being largely backed by the Ellison family (which owns 100% voting control in Paramount Skydance) with involvement from three Arab countries: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), the sources said. In addition, Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital is backing the bid.

Each of the funds would put up $7 billion (for a total of $21 billion); Paramount Skydance would front $50 billion for a proposed WBD acquisition for a total of $71 billion. (It’s not clear if that price tag would be inclusive of debt.) The board of Warner Bros. Discovery had previously rejected a $23.50/share offer from David Ellison.

The board of Warner Bros. Discovery has set a Nov. 20 deadline for initial bids from interested acquirers, which also include Comcast and Netflix.

Separately Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was meeting at the White House with President Trump.

Meanwhile, Comcast co-CEO Brian Roberts traveled to Saudi Arabia in late October to attend a conference in Riyadh hosted by the PIF, Variety has confirmed. He also visited Qiddiya, where the country is building a theme park destination, to scope out the area for a possible Universal park in the area. But it’s not known whether Roberts solicited investment backing from the Saudis for a Warner Bros. bid by Comcast.

Reps for Paramount Skydance, Warner Bros. Discovery and Comcast declined to comment.

Under the scenario in the WBD bid led by Paramount Skydance, the Saudi, Qatar and Abu Dhabi funds would hold small minority stakes in Warner Bros. Discovery. Each of the three would get “an IP, a movie premiere, a movie shoot,” a knowledgeable source told Variety. “All they care about is reputation and soft power,” the source added.

The Saudis do not have “any incentive” to join a prospective Comcast bid for Warner Bros. (excluding WBD’s linear TV networks) because their understanding is that “the Trump administration doesn’t like Comcast CEO Brian Roberts at all,” the source said.

Trump, who has regularly been upset about the coverage of Comcast-owned MSNBC (which is now called MS NOW), earlier this year called Roberts the “chairman of ‘Concast’” and a “lowlife.” Trump has equated the cable news outlet to “an illegal arm of the Democrat Party,” and claimed that Comcast “should be forced to pay vast sums of money for the damage they’ve done to our Country.”

Saudis Reportedly Eyeing Warner Bros. Discovery With Comcast

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia – reportedly worth upwards of a trillion dollars – may be entering the fray for a potential takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and it may be teaming up with Comcast Corporation.

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he held meetings with PIF officials while exploring a WBD bid.

According to The New York Post and Puck News, Roberts also visited Qiddiya, the site of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming “megacity of play” where a Universal‑branded theme park is expected in partnership with Comcast’s theme‑park business.

Why the Saudis Are Interested: Studios, Streaming & Theme Parks

The Saudi connection makes strategic sense. The PIF may want the Warner Bros./DC brand as the anchor for a Universal Studios park in Qiddiya, pairing with Comcast’s existing theme‑park infrastructure.

A Saudi–Comcast alliance would thus bring global content, streaming/IP rights, and a real‑world destination into one package.

Meanwhile, WBD is already positioned for sale: the company plans to split into two public entities — one focused exclusively on studios and streaming (Warner Bros.), and the other on linear networks (Discovery Global) — by mid‑2026.

Fewer Regulatory Hurdles Thanks to Spinoffs

Regulatory concerns that typically plague big media mergers may be reduced in this case.

Comcast is spinning off its U.S. cable networks and related news assets into a new publicly traded company called Versant Media Group Inc., which will leave Comcast primarily with its theme‑park, streaming, and studio assets.

At the same time, WBD’s planned split isolates the studio/streaming business from its legacy cable networks, making the part that potential buyers want cleaner and more streamlined.

What It Means for the WBD Sale Race

If a Saudi–Comcast bid materializes, it could throw a new wrinkle into the running, which already includes Paramount Global/Skydance (led by David Ellison) and streaming players like Netflix.

The presence of Saudi backing adds serious firepower and global ambition. With WBD stock already rising past $20 and Zaslav aiming for far more, a new bidder like this could accelerate or reshape the bidding war.

The article was originally published by Cosmic Book News

Paramount Cancels DORA And 2D-Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles On Nickelodeon

The upcoming seasons of Nickelodeon's CG-animated DORA and 2D-animated Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be their last.

Season two of Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres on Paramount+ in December and will run on Nicktoons next year. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures, the series bridges the gap between Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures' blockbuster TMNT movie, Mutant Mayhem, and it's upcoming sequel, currently slated for release in 2027. The franchise is expected to continue with IDW's TMNT comics.

The debut of Dora‘s fourth season on the streamer was originally slated for the fourth quarter of this year, but is now TBD. It too will be followed by a linear window on Nick Jr. A fifth and final season of Dora also has been produced; its fate is unclear. A reimagining of Nickelodeon's iconic Latina heroine, the series is produced by Nickelodeon Animation, with the show's cancellation coming as the franchise is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Paramount is actively exploring third-party licensing opportunities for both series, something the company has been doing consistently for a number of years, with a number of Nickelodeon titles available on Netflix, for example.

The cancellation decisions come on the heels of the post Paramount-Skydance merger restructuring. In it, all Paramount linear networks, including Nickelodeon, as well as the Nickelodeon Animation Studios, which produces the majority of the Nick animated shows, including Dora and Ninja Turtles, were consolidated into a TV Media division overseen by Chair George Cheeks.

In a memo last week announcing TV Media’s executive structure, Cheeks hinted at a slimming down the current roster of cable series.

“Our cable brands will focus on a more curated slate, optimizing programming and marketing resources to amplify what resonates most,” he said. “That means leaning into franchises like SpongeBob, PAW Patrol, RuPaul’s Drag Race, South Park, Ms. Pat and The Daily Show, while continuing to develop new IP across our studios and seeking new ways to amplify and connect with audiences.”

Not surprisingly, Nick’s flagship franchises, SpongeBob SquarePants and PAW Patrol, made the list of priority linear brands. Neither Dora nor Ninja Turtles did but both have a long history at the network and may be revisited in the future with new iterations.

The Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cancellation was first reported by The InSneider.

Sky New Zealand Launches Two New Channels To Replace Paramount's Offering And Cartoon Network

Sky New Zealand is launching two new self-branded channels to replace Paramount’s Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network, which are ceasing transmission from early December.

The new offerings, Sky Comedy and Sky Kids, will carry programming from the expiring channels in addition to new shows from a range of studios and locally commissioned content.

“Kids and comedy programming are at the heart of Sky’s entertainment offering. By bringing these important channels ‘in-house’ we can choose and curate the content that we know our customers enjoy and engage with, combining Paramount fan favourites with content from other studios,” said Fiona Murray, Sky NZ’s head of entertainment.

Sky Comedy will feature Comedy Central content including the final season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, South Park, The Daily Show and Beavis & Butt-Head, in addition to retro classics including Cheers, Reno 911!, Nathan For You and Key & Peele.

Sky Kids is being pitched as offering educational programming for preschoolers through to primary school-age children. Former Nickelodeon and Nick Jr content will be included alongside “a strong slate of local programming.”

The new outlet will complement the existing CBeebies channel, providing local content including Katie’s Kuri and The Last Moa, as well as multiple seasons of home-grown hits such as Kiri & Lou, The Drawing Show, Extreme Cake Sports and Secrets at Red Rocks.

Sky NZ said some content from the axed channels will continue to be available via on-demand on the new Sky Experience service across the Sky Box and Sky Pod platforms. Cartoon Network content will continue to be available on-demand through the HBO Max hub via the Sky Entertainment package.

The broadcaster has also partnered with Mood TV to bring two new local music channels to its channel line-up, Juice TV and J2, which effectively replace MTV Hits and MTV 80s. In line with the global shutdown of the MTV brand, the music channels will no longer be available via linear in New Zealand.

In October, it was announced that MTV linear channels would progressively shut down in the UK, Poland, France and Brazil. In Australia, the MTV brand has suffered a similar fate, with its channels having been shut down weeks ago by OTT provider Fetch TV. Paramount owned Australian channels MTV 80s, MTV 90s, MTV 00s, MTV Club and MTV Hits which were previously carried by Foxtel in a deal that was not renewed.

All changes to Sky NZ programming take effect from December 2.

Nickelodeon International Will Be Premiering Two Brand New Transformers: EarthSpark Season Four Specials In December 2025

In Part One, "Hometown Heroes", every victory has a cost, and now the Maltos must face those consequences. Robby's caught abusing his powers, but Mo and "Detective" Thrash team up to prove their brother's innocence. Meanwhile, Twitch becomes her own worst enemy...(S4 993)

Full synopsis: Over the years, the Maltos and the Autobots have vanquished foes and protected Earth from destruction, but some victories have come at a tragic cost... Now, some are painting the heroes as villains and the Maltos must face those consequences. Even though Robby's powers give him status amongst his peers and purpose in his community, when he's caught abusing his power, he's unwittingly proving his detractors right. Sensing something isn't right, Mo and "Detective" Thrash team up to prove their brother was set up. Meanwhile, Twitch obsesses over mistakes she's made in the past and she becomes her own worst enemy. Still, the Maltos and the Autobots rally to battle enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy them - and other worlds. Twitch fails her team when they need her the most, and Robby can't be there for his sister to lean on. Luckily, an old ally arrives in in time to help. In the end, the heroes unite and end the fight, but the Maltos may never be the same again. TO BE CONTINUED...

Then, in Part Two, "Legacy of Hope," the Maltos and the Autobots search Cybertron for their missing allies. Failure is not an option, so Thrash steps up to help his struggling sister lead this important mission. Meanwhile, Robby and Mo find a new friend, and Optimus finds an old enemy. (S4 992)

Long synopsis: Robby and Mo are alone and vulnerable on Cybertron. After they venture into the unknown to find what they've lost, the rest of the Maltos and the Autobots arrive to search for their missing family and friends. Failure is not an option, so Thrash steps up to help his struggling sister lead this important mission. Tension builds between the troubled Twitch and the ultra-confident Thrash - dividing the team when they need to be united. Meanwhile, Robby and Mo find a new friend, and Optimus finds an old enemy. A confrontation leaves the Maltos and the Autobots severely weakened and scattered all over Cybertron while their enemy gains incredible strength and power. Twitch loses herself, Robby hits rock bottom, and Optimus Prime believes his worst fears have come true. Each must face their greatest challenges alone, and each needs to succeed if they're to stand a chance at defeating the rising evil on Cybertron threatening to cast its shadow across the entire universe. Luckily, it is in darkness that hope shines brightest.

Nickelodeon International will premiere the all-new Transformers: EarthSpark season four specials in December 2025, including on:

Nickelodeon Central and Eastern Europe (including Africa):

Saturday 6th December 2025 at 15:45 CET: Hometown Heroes

Sunday 7th December 2025 at 15:45 CET: Legacy of Hope

Nickelodeon Germany:

Friday 15th December 2025: Hometown Heroes

Friday 15th December 2025: Legacy of Hope

TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK stars Sydney Mikayla (Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts) as Robby Malto, Zion Broadnax (Day Shift) as Mo Malto, Benni Latham (Cornerstones: Founding Voices of the Black Church) as Dot Malto, Jon Jon Briones (Ratched) as Alex Malto, Kathreen Khavari (Dead End: Paranormal Park) as Twitch, Zeno Robinson (Big City Greens) as Thrash, Danny Pudi (Community) as Bumblebee, Alan Tudyk (Resident Alien) as Optimus Prime, Rory McCann (Game of Thrones) as Megatron, Cissy Jones (The Owl House) as Elita-1, Diedrich Bader (Better Things) as Mandroid, Cyrus Arnold (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) as Jawbreaker, Z Infante (Dead End: Paranormal Park) as Nightshade and Stephanie Lemelin (Dawn of the Croods) as Hashtag.

TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK is created and co-executive produced by Dale Malinowski (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and executive produced by Ant Ward (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). The series is developed for television by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, TV Animation for Nickelodeon. Production is overseen for Hasbro Entertainment by Kari Rosenberg and by Leslie Wishnevski for Nickelodeon.

Source: NickAlive!

Disney Junior Relaunching In The UK By November 13th

Remember when Disney shut down all its UK children’s channels back in 2020, telling us Disney+ would be the “exclusive home” for everything? Well, plot twist – Disney Jr is coming back to Sky next week.

The preschool channel launches on Thursday, November 13, joining the Sky Kids pack alongside Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, and Sky’s own ad-free kids channel.

It’s a move that would have seemed utterly bizarre five years ago, when Disney was adamant that streaming was the future and linear TV was dead.

Clearly, things have changed.

How We Got Here

Disney Jr has had quite the journey in British television. It started life way back in 1997 as “Disney Channel Underfives” – a programming block for preschoolers on the main Disney Channel.

By 1999, it became Playhouse Disney, and a year later in September 2000, it launched as its own standalone channel on Sky Digital.

If you’re of a certain age, you might remember the live presenters – Dave Benson Phillips and Alex Lovell, known as Big Dave and Little Alex – hosting shows from “the Playhouse”, a colourful set that looked like something out of a Fisher-Price catalogue.

In 2006, Playhouse Disney moved from being a premium add-on to basic Sky packages, and viewing figures shot up. Families clearly loved it.

The channel was rebranded as Disney Jr in May 2011 as part of a worldwide rebrand, and it kept going strong – adding HD in 2013 and even going 24/7 in 2017.

Then Everything Changed

In June 2020, Disney dropped the bombshell. All three of its UK children’s channels – Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Jr – would shut down on 1st October 2020.

The official line was that Disney and Sky couldn’t agree on a new carriage deal. But really, Disney was going all-in on Disney+, which had launched in the UK just six months earlier.

The Disney Channel on Disney Plus

“From October 1st, Disney+ will become the exclusive home for content from Disney Channel, DisneyXD and Disney Jr in the UK,” Disney announced.

And that was that. On September 30, 2020, Disney Jr’s final programme was Gigantosaurus.

After a few promos and a Vampirina music video, the channel cut to a still image of Mickey Mouse, Animal from Muppet Babies, and Vampirina, before vanishing from channel 605 and 606 on Sky.

Virgin Media had already pulled the plug a day earlier. CBBC and CBeebies moved into Disney’s old channel slots, and it genuinely felt like the end of an era.

We all thought that was it – Disney was done with traditional TV in the UK.

What Changed?

Fast forward to 2025 – and it seems Disney’s “streaming-only” strategy hasn’t quite worked out as planned.

Disney+ has seen its growth slow down. Prices have more than doubled since launch – from £5.99 to £14.99 for the premium tier. And the streaming wars have become a bloodbath, with every company scrambling for subscribers.

Earlier this year, Disney did something that would have been unthinkable in 2020 – they struck a deal with ITVX to put premium Disney+ shows like The Bear and Andor on ITV’s free streaming service.

ITVX Disney library

That was the first sign that Disney was willing to play ball with other platforms again.

Now, with Disney Jr returning to Sky, it’s clear Disney has realised that keeping everything locked behind a subscription paywall might not be the smartest move.

Traditional TV still has value – especially for parents of young kids, who often prefer the simplicity of just turning on a channel rather than navigating through yet another streaming app.

And – it gives viewers a taste of what they can find on Disney+.

The Kids TV Apocalypse

The timing of Disney Jr’s return is fascinating, because UK children’s television is currently in crisis.

Just yesterday, we reported that the Pop family of channels – Pop, Tiny Pop, and the rest – are shutting down on Sky and Virgin Media this December. Pop on Freeview is becoming streaming-only.

POP Player

Why? According to Pop’s owner, “commercial value across the UK kids’ TV market is now just 4% of what it was ten years ago.”

CITV shut down in September 2023. With Pop now leaving traditional platforms, the BBC’s CBBC and CBeebies were set to become the only free-to-air linear children’s channels left in the UK.

So Disney Jr coming back to Sky – while everyone else is running away from kids’ TV – is somewhat surprising.

But then again, Disney isn’t relying on advertising revenue like Pop was. Disney Jr will be part of the paid Sky Kids pack, and it’s effectively a shop window for Disney+ subscriptions.

What You Need To Know

Disney Jr HD launches on Sky Satellite, Sky Glass and Sky Stream on November 13. Sky hasn’t confirmed the channel number yet.

The channel will be part of the Sky Kids pack, which now includes 10 live channels – including the ad-free Sky Kids channel, Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, and now Disney Jr, plus on-demand content.

You’ll be able to watch Disney Jr via the TV guide or on demand on all Sky devices, as well as the Sky Go app.

And before you ask – yes, Disney Jr content will still be on Disney+ as well. This isn’t replacing the streaming option, it’s just giving families another way to watch.

We’ve reached out to Virgin Media to ask whether Disney Jr will also return to their Kids pack, but we haven’t heard back yet. We’ll update this article when they respond.

So What’s Next?

Does this mean Disney Channel and Disney XD could come back too? Who knows. For now, Disney seems to be testing the waters with Disney Jr – which makes sense, given that preschoolers and their parents are probably the demographic most likely to appreciate traditional linear TV.

Originally posted by Cordbusters

Canal+ And SuperSport To Broadcast AFCON In More Than 40 Countries Across Africa

CANAL+ is proud to announce that its MultiChoice subsidiary, SuperSport, has secured broadcast rights for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™ (TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025™) for English and Portuguese-speaking African countries.

When the 35th edition of the tournament kicks off in Morocco on 21 December 2025, CANAL+ will become the first global broadcaster to bring viewers the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™, the massive African football showpiece, in French, English, Portuguese and local indigenous languages.

It means the broadcaster will offer CANAL+ and SuperSport viewers the most comprehensive football viewing experience that any sports broadcaster has ever managed to accomplish for Africa’s greatest football competition.

The group made the announcement on 06 November 2025 that SuperSport has concluded a broadcast rights deal with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the right to broadcast the tournament in English and Portuguese-speaking Sub-Saharan African territories.

CANAL+ Africa CEO, David Mignot, said: “CANAL+ Africa CEO, David Mignot, said: “Our newly-formed merger with the MultiChoice Group has already unlocked opportunities and benefits for our customers. And this year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is a great demonstration of the power and potential of this common ambition: bringing together our expertise to offer unprecedented coverage.

"Moreover, broadcasting this competition in different languages is a strong way to build closeness with our viewers. For all these reasons, our subscribers will be part of the most spectacular celebration of African football."

CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, said: “This is an exciting day for CAF and for African football. When the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Morocco in December, Africans everywhere — on the continent and across the diaspora — will be watching with pride. Millions will follow the games on television, celebrating the best that African football has to offer.

“In Ivory Coast, the last AFCON attracted approximately 1.5 billion viewers globally. We anticipate that this edition will be an even greater success, reaching new audiences and inspiring the world once again. When 180 nations express interest in broadcasting AFCON, it is proof that the world is excited about African football.”

CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, said: “[CAF to insert quote]”[SM1]

Rendani Ramovha, Director of Sport Content English and Portuguese-speaking Africa for MultiChoice, (a CANAL+ company), said: “We are especially proud to be able to bring the story of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™, live to all our viewers in English and Portuguese-speaking Sub-Saharan African territories.

"SuperSport has been the preferred choice for millions of passionate fans across the continent, and this tournament won’t be different, as we will have a dedicated SuperSport AFCON channel.

“As part of the CANAL+ Group, we can take that viewing experience to another level, which means people can expect more compelling viewing, brought to them in a language of their choice. It is truly poised to be a celebration of African glory.”

Viewers will be able to view SuperSport’s coverage of Morocco 25 on DStv and GOtv, while CANAL+ subscribers will enjoy the action on CANAL+ Sport and on demand using the CANAL+ app.

In Nigeria and surrounding regions, fans can enjoy the matches in English or Pidgin, while Swahili is available in East African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. In Angola, South Africa and Mozambique, fans have become accustomed to enjoying the beautiful game in Portuguese on SuperSport, which will be available during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™.

South Africans, meanwhile, will also enjoy games in isiZulu and Setswana on top of the standard English and Portuguese commentary.

CANAL+ and SuperSport’s coverage of the tournament will include stellar line-ups of star analysts, commentators, presenters and African football legends, who will bring their unique takes on the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025™.

Hundreds of millions of viewers can see their favourite African heroes in action, including the likes of Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mané (Senegal), Ronwen Williams (South Africa), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco).

Comcast Looking To Make A Bid For Both Warner Bros. Discovery And UK Based Broadcaster ITV

Comcast’s European pay-TV business Sky is in talks to acquire U.K. TV giant ITV’s media and entertainment (M&E) unit.

In a statement early Friday morning London time, ITV said it “is in preliminary discussions regarding a possible sale of its M&E business to Sky for an enterprise value of £1.6 billion,” which translates to $2.1 billion.  

The M&E business includes ITV’s commercial free-to-air TV channels in the U.K., as well as its ITVX streaming platform. Its revenue for the first nine months of 2025 was down 5 percent from the year-ago period to £1.45 billion ($1.90 billion).

Not part of a deal would be production powerhouse ITV Studios, which produces such shows as Love Island, Britain’s Got Talent, and the Harlan Coben Netflix hit series Fool Me Once, among many others. ITV Studios has been the topic of much deal chatter in recent years, with the likes of Banijay, All3Media parent RedBird IMI, and others being cited as potential buyers.

Sky is led by CEO Dana Strong. It not only operates pay-TV and streaming businesses in the U.K., Ireland and Italy, but has also been growing its telecom offerings, such as broadband and mobile phone operations. Sky also owns the production arm Sky Studios, which is led by Cécile Frot-Coutaz and has been growing its investment in original content creation. Recent Sky Studios productions have included the likes of Mary & George, starring Julianne Moore, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, starring Harvey Keitel, and The Day of the Jackal, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.

While confirming overnight reports of deal talks, ITV on Friday also emphasized that a transaction for its M&E division with Comcast’s Sky may ultimately not come together. “There can be no certainty as to the terms upon which any potential sale may be agreed or whether any transaction will take place,” its statement highlighted. “A further announcement will be made in due course if appropriate.”

lTV is led by CEO Carolyn McCall. The news of the deal talks came after ITV said on Thursday that it was planning $46 million in “temporary,” or “one-off,” cost savings amid “softer” advertising demand in the fourth quarter.

Comcast’s potential play for parts of ITV comes at a time when it also seems to be exploring a potential bid for parts of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Overnight reports said that Comcast has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to evaluate a possible deal for the David Zaslav-led Hollywood conglomerate’s studio and streaming businesses, following WBD’s recent decision to explore various deal options.