ViacomCBS Will Be Launching A New Channel Carrying Content From BET And Showtime, Will This Perhaps Get Added On StarSat Or Serve As A Replacement To BET Africa On DStv?

Also Read

ViacomCBS is to launch SHO*BET by the end of the year to do that it's taking up Showtime's Showcase channel in the United States.

The company is planning to relaunch the channel, which currently airs films, documentaries and comedy specials, with scripted series from both Showtime and BET.

It is the latest example of synergies between Viacom and CBS since its merger in December.

President and CEO Bob Bakish, speaking on the company’s investor call following its fourth-quarter financials, said, “We see an even bigger opportunity to grow Showtime subscribers by making better use of its plex channels, some of which are currently underutilized. To that end, we will be rebranding and relaunching Showcase as SHO*BET this summer featuring AA scripted series from Showtime and BET.”

He added, “We see this as a compelling value creation play that will allow us to benefit from the growing demand for premium, African American content across platforms.

Now in Africa, where the channel can be seen through MultiChoice's DStv platform. It's currently stuffed with movies leaving less space for all the crappy and decent programming.

BET Africa, has become a strong brand in the market with its local productions like Black Tax and iSono so the chances of them replacing it is very little at the same time these brands merged so anything is possible.

Genius Brands Launches Their Very Own Kiddies Channel Online, Will DStv Or StarSat Perhaps Get It?

Also Read

Former Fox Kids Networks head Margaret Loesch and former Disney exec David Neuman are to be tasked with growing the soon-to-launch kids OTT.

Genius Brands International announced two new hires as it prepares to launch its upcoming digital channel. Former Fox Kids Networks Worldwide president and CEO Margaret Loesch was named executive chairman of the California-based company’s upcoming Kartoon Channel!, and former Disney Television president David Neuman takes the role of chief creative officer.

Loesch previously held roles with Marvel Productions and The Jim Henson Company. She has also served on Genius Brands’ board of directors since 2016. Neuman, meanwhile, joins Genius Brands from media company Happs, a live-streaming news app. He previously served as president of Walt Disney Television from 1996 to 1998.

In their new roles, Loesch and Neuman will be responsible for building viewership, market share and advertising demand for Kartoon Channel! as well as attracting creative content. Neuman will work closely with Caroline Tyre, who was hired by Genius Brands as SVP of international distribution in June 2019.

Kartoon Channel! will launch in the US on June 15 and target kids ages two to 11. More than 4,000 episodes from shows including Baby Genius, Shark Academy, Dino the Dinosaur and Super Geek Heroes will be available on the channel. The OTT channel will not require a subscription, and will be available through a number of platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Roku, among others.

National Geographic Kids Plans For Disney+

Also Read

National Geographic is going to be one of the main core brands of Disney+ and it’s “Nat Geo Kids” division is set to take advantage of its new audience. And with “Nat Geo Kids” getting its own “section” within the Children’s profile section, we can expect to see more new shows from the brand, which also makes a wide range of products including books and magazines.

Disney want the team at “Nat Geo Kids” to develop new content for Disney+, though there isn’t a set number of hours or content quota to fill.

“Nat Geo Kids” is looking to create long-form TV series that are aimed at kids aged from six to 12. This new content can be animated, live action, game shows, and competition series.

“The programming we’re looking for is going to be brainy, fun, fact-filled, inspiring and will really amplify and grow Nat Geo’s mission. It’s an opportunity for us to continue to ramp up across a number of our pillars like animals in nature, exploration and adventure, science and innovation, world culture—all grounded in the fact-based world we live in.” Said Geoff Daniels.

He also confirmed the second season of Weird But True will launch on Disney+ in November. The series consists of 13 x 30 minute episodes, which sees Charlie and Kirby explore the fun, strange and surprising ways the world works.

Other series in development include a Explorer Academy, which is based on the “Nat Geo Kids” Publishing book series of the same name. No details such as a launch date, episode length or run time, were confirmed.

“Explorer Academy is inspired by the work our explorers do, and all the new technologies coming online [that allow kids] to create a meaningful impact on the planet, rooted in conservation they can do. I think it really encapsulates the spirit of adventure and exploration that National Geographic stands for. We’re going to continue to mine that line.”

The new shows from “Nat Geo Kids” are going to be slightly different from the usual National Geographic content as they are looking at pitches and scripts for a variety of projects such as pure fantasy, science fiction and comedy series.

“Right now, Nat Geo Kids reaches 260 million kids globally. I think we’re looking at where those opportunities are, [so we can] continue to roll out Nat Geo Kids and the content we’re building around the world. We are looking to ramp that up over the long haul.”

National Geographic looks set to take advantage of its new opportunity and with full support from its new owners, Disney, it does look like we will have lots of exciting content to look forward to.

Miniso Goes Global With Cartoon Network's 'Adventure Time'

Also Read

Miniso has teamed up with Cartoon Network to present an epic 264-item collection of Adventure Time products in its stores across 62 territories around the world. From Europe to Asia, and Africa to North America and South America, the retailer is stacking its shelves with items featuring iconic characters including Finn, Jake, BMO and Lumpy Space Princess.

Launching this month as part of a phased global rollout, Adventure Time fans across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda will be able to enjoy an immersive in-store experience with the collection, which will be comprised of plushies, stationery, gifts and accessories such as backpacks and cosmetics. In the near future, the collection will add even more items as well as expand to additional territories.

“The scale of this range demonstrates the popularity and enduring qualities of the Adventure Time franchise globally,” said Vikram Sharma, Vice President of Cartoon Network Enterprises, Asia Pacific. “Miniso has been a great partner for us. And when they wanted a brand that could provide young fans with an instantly-recognizable and fun association, Adventure Time was the obvious, mathematical choice!”

Meanwhile, a new wave of merchandise from We Bare Bears – another Cartoon Network property – will also be in stores alongside Adventure Time. After impressive sales during the initial collaboration during 2018, more than 200 new and refreshed Bears’ items will be available in Miniso stores this month.

---END---

About Adventure Time

Adventure Time, Cartoon Network’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning original animated series introduces viewers to unlikely heroes Finn and Jake, buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants. The best of friends, our heroes always find themselves in the middle of heart-pounding escapades. Finn, a silly kid with an awesome hat and Jake, a brassy dog with a big kind heart, depend on each other through thick and thin. Adventure Time, is created by Pendleton Ward and is produced at Cartoon Network Studios.

About Cartoon Network Enterprises
About Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), the licensing and merchandising arm of Turner Asia Pacific, is responsible for building world-class licensing programmes across its franchises including The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, The Amazing World of Gumball and Rick and Morty, as well as other Cartoon Network and Adult Swim originals. CNE connects with millions of Cartoon Network fans through consumer and home entertainment products, promotional licensing, interactive games and publishing.

Turner also owns Tuzki, the digital IP for a new generation. And in South Asia, Turner represents the Warner Bros. Consumer Products business, managing world-famous IP such as Batman, Superman, Tom and Jerry, and Looney Tunes.

The CNE team works closely with Turner’s location-based entertainment team, which oversees licensed projects in Asia such as the Cartoon Network entertainment parks in Thailand and Bali, the cruise liner Cartoon Network Wave, and Amaazia theme park in India. Turner is a WarnerMedia company.

About Cartoon Network Africa
Turner’s Cartoon Network is a universally appealing children’s channel, slightly boy focused, filled with an exciting slate of surprising comedy and adventure. The programming line-up explores themes of humor, friendship, imagination and action, targeting children aged 6-12 with a rich mix of globally successful content, such as The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10 and The Amazing World of Gumball.

Cartoon Network has localised services across the world, available in 19 languages in over 142 million households in 70 countries.

Cartoon Network is a brand owned by Turner, a WarnerMedia company.

Website: www.CartoonnetworkAfrica.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CNAfrica/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/cartoonnetworkafrica
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cnafricaofficial/

Adult Swim Makes Its Way To Africa, Turner And Showmax Deal Brings Top U.S. Millennial Channel To Local Shores

Also Read

The #1 US cable destination for millennials, Adult Swim is set to make waves with its African premiere this month, in a new distribution deal between Turner and African OTT Subscription Video on Demand platform Showmax, owned by the MultiChoice group.

With its epic mix of animation, stop-motion and live action comedy, audiences in South Africa will have access to an extensive catalogue of Adult Swim’s weirdly wonderful, eclectic, surprising, quirky and surreal content for the first time. This includes multi-award-winning animated series Samurai Jack, Robot Chicken, and Rick and Morty, along with fan favourites Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Jellies; and live action comedies Black Jesus and Eagleheart.

Having proved its zeal for innovation and authentic engagement in the US, Adult Swim now claims 5 of the 10 best comedies launched this year amongst US males 18-34 and 3 of the 10 best comedies amongst all adults*. The brand is set to spread this energy throughout South Africa, where the comedy genre already sees great success.

“Adult Swim does television like no one else and we are excited to bring this cutting-edge programming to young African adults who are on the go. Now available exclusively on Showmax, we are creating a disruptive entertainment experience in a new segment for us in Africa: Millennials. This is a great opportunity to capitalize on the huge success of the brand in the US and engage a new group of fans in South Africa with Adult Swim’s distinctive and visually powerful content” says Guillaume Coffin, VP Head of Commercial and Business Development, Turner France & Africa.

WWE Has A New Home On Supersport, It Will No Longer Air On e.tv

Also Read

WWE (NYSE: WWE) and SuperSport, Africa’s premier sports broadcaster announced a new, multi-year agreement to broadcast WWE programming live for the first time in more than 50 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Starting Monday, August 28, SuperSport will air WWE’s flagship shows Raw® and SmackDown® as well as WWE specials, including WrestleMania® and SummerSlam®.

“WWE is a global phenomenon, so securing the broadcast rights for SuperSport is a terrific coup,” said Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport. “The athletes involved are larger than life figures who command huge followings. At long last our viewers will get to share in this entertainment spectacle in high definition. I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with WWE.”

“SuperSport is a best-in-class partner who shares our vision and passion for engaging with and entertaining our fans,” said Ed Wells, WWE Executive Vice President, International. “Televising WWE programming live in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time is an important milestone for us, and we look forward to working with SuperSport to cultivate new fans in the region.”

SuperSport channels S3, S4, S9 and SS10 will televise Raw on Tuesdays and SmackDown on Wednesdays, offering both live telecasts and same-day re-airs, and will broadcast all WWE specials live, including WrestleMania®, SummerSlam®, Survivor Series® and Royal Rumble®. All programs will be available with English commentary and on demand.

WWE programming will also be made available across some of DStv’s general entertainment channels.

To celebrate the new partnership, SuperSport will televise the prior week’s episodes of Raw and SmackDown on Monday, August 28.