Warner Bros. Discovery Remains With The Most Popular Kids Channels In The African Market Including Boing, But Where Does That Leave Toonami Exactly?

During the week, Warner Bros. Discovery held a showcase where they were able to clear up some fears consumers had of Cartoon Network shutting down as seen with the Disney Channels and the current offering of Boomerang once it becomes Cartoonito in March.

Cartoon Network ranks as the most popular kids destination in South Africa for a 7th year in a row pulling at least 15 million households which is ginormous for any channel in general with Boomerang (soon to be Cartoonito) coming in second place with 10 million.

Some of these popular shows include Regular Show, We Baby Bears, Craig Of The Creek, Teen Titans GO!, Grizzy And The Lemmings, Masha And The Bear, Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes.

Insidus Games:
- Transformers
- Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit
- Looney Tunes
- The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo A-Go-Go!

Currently available in selected parts of Africa, Boing was apparently part of this event and to my surprise it's actually managing to get some attention. Not much had been shared in terms of performance but viewers are digging classics like Johnny Bravo and Clarence.

Of course, one brand that Warner Bros. Discovery failed to mention amidst all of this is Toonami.

Since 2021, Toonami is no longer regarded as kids entertainment which was the whole point of this virtual event. But the brand features a ton of kid centric programming and films from the likes of Batman, Superman, Justice League and Teen Titans.

It still repetitive compared to most channels seen under Warner Bros. Discovery that it wouldn't be shocking if they scrapped the channel. Cartoon Network has been airing a variety of content from the DC Universe and Toonami's offering would help compliment that section.

Regular Nick:
- Wonder Pets revival might be in the works for Nickelodeon
- Peacock greenlights two new animated series
- Boomerang to go dark on the DStv platform next month
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May

As opposed to the future of Toonami, it might as well be Boing which incorporates all aspects of kids and family in terms of animation including the DC Universe. Besides, both are very much underrated and the one Boing gained popularity after nearly a decade.

Sentech To Launch Streaming Platform To Rival SABC+

The SABC is Sentech’s biggest client — by far. But that’s not stopping the state-owned broadcast signal distributor from formulating plans to rival the public broadcaster in streaming services.

While the SABC has been without a board for several months, Sentech has been making plans to launch what appears will be a competitor to SABC+, the streaming service launched by the public broadcaster late last year when it took over management and operation of Telkom One, a joint venture it had with Telkom.

News of Sentech’s plans to offer a so-called OTT service (over the top — industry jargon for streaming) emerged in parliament on Wednesday when communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the company will “soon launch a homegrown OTT platform that will be anchored by Nemisa but which will be available to other content producers”. Nemisa is a state-owned non-profit in Ntshavheni’s portfolio that focuses on technology education, including in multimedia production.

The launch plans come amid growing tension between the SABC and Sentech over signal carriage fees.

“Our goal is to eventually make this platform the home for quality films, documentaries and children’s stories, in addition to SABC+,” the minister told MPs.

Sentech plans to launch the OTT platform in the first quarter of the 2024 financial year – that’s sometime between March and May this calendar year. A Sentech spokeswoman was on leave and not immediately available to comment further on the platform and its planned content offerings.

The launch plans come amid growing tension between the SABC and Sentech over the signal carriage fees the latter charges the former to distribute its terrestrial channels to South African audiences.

The SABC and its commercial free-to-air rival e.tv last year accused the broadcasting signal distributor of excessive pricing and anticompetitive behaviour.

Formal submissions
Their broadsides against the state-owned enterprise were included in formal submissions to communications regulator Icasa, in which they called for urgent regulatory interventions in the signal distribution market to deal with alleged monopolistic abuses by Sentech.

The submissions form part of a market inquiry by Icasa into the signal distribution services market. Sentech has asked that the regulator’s discussion document be withdrawn because, among other reasons, updated legislation to govern audiovisual services is in development and Icasa’s investigations shouldn’t pre-empt these potential policy changes.

E.tv parent eMedia Investments said in its submission to Icasa that it is “deeply concerned at the fact that the issues relating to significant market power in relation to signal distribution services have been ignored for decades”.

Video Entertainment:
- Rumour: SuperSport Schools to get a dedicated channel on the DStv platform
- Disney Junior and Disney+ to debut new Star Wars series in May
- Paramount+ set to merge with Showtime
- eVOD has yet to offer linear channels as promised in 2021

“This is despite pleas by the broadcasters that the market needed urgent regulation. Indeed, Icasa recognised as far back as 2010 that there was an urgent need to regulate the market due to Sentech’s undisputed dominance,” eMedia said. “Yet Icasa has taken no steps in this regard… All this has been to the detriment of broadcasters and caused them financial harm.”

The SABC also strongly criticised Sentech’s tariffs and behaviour, describing them as “not appropriate or correct”. It said its concerns led to the creation of a “chart of accounts project” at the public broadcaster to determine the fairness or otherwise of Sentech’s fees.

“The details of the various costs per service and per transmission site have been requested from Sentech with the objective of understanding how the structure of the cost for each service was derived. Sentech has not been cooperative in this regard for the past two years,” the public broadcaster alleged in its submission.

The SABC also filed a complaint against Sentech at the Competition Commission in 2021, in which it accused the signal distributor of “unfair and anticompetitive pricing”. 

Rubi: The 2004 Classic Telenovela That Won A Lot Of Hearts

As reported a while ago, TLNovelas is planning to rollout the Mexican telenovela Rubi in the coming month and unlike most remakes this one comes as a sequel leaving audiences with several missing pieces but it's a norm with most reboots so travel back to 2004 where it all started.

Rubi follows the titular character described as a beautiful but poor university student who is only interested in money. Her dream is marrying a rich man to leave poverty behind and does whatever it takes to achieve it even if it makes people unhappy.

It stars Bárbara Mori, Eduardo Santamarina, Jacqueline Bracamontes, Sebastián Rulli, Ana Martín, Yadhira Carrillo, Josefina Echánove, Antonio Medellín, Ana Bertha Espín and José Elías Moreno.

Everyday Novelas:
- Sightless Love coming soon to TLNovelas
- Zee World to add an additional 3 shows to their lineup
- Ana's Revenge coming soon to Telemundo
- Second Chance and Hart Van Goud coming soon to Zee One and eExtra respectively
- Queen Of The Night and How Do I Say This? coming respectively to Timeless Dizi Channel and Zee World
- New Series Alert: eMedia Investments Acquired Broadcasting Rights To Turkish Romcom, Aşk Mantık İntikam

Canal de las Estrellas aired Rubí from May 17 to October 22, 2004 with a total of 115 episodes. Univision broadcast Rubí from September 20, 2004 to March 7, 2005, and has named Rubí as the top telenovela of all time.

Rubi became a star in the awards category after bagging Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Telenovela, Best Supporting Actress and Best Musical Theme at the 23rd TVyNovelas Awards and Best Female Protagonist Of The Decade at the Tv Adicto Golden Awards.

A number of adaptations had already been produced the original dates back to 1968 followed by a film in 1970. From the 2010s, a Pinoy version titled Bagong Simula with an Arabic version had been produced with the 2020 remake being the latest installment so far.

Out of all these remake, the upcoming series Rubi will be one of the shortest tales to date on the channel.

Disney+ And Disney Junior Announce Release Date And Additional Key Cast For “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures”

Disney+, Disney Junior, and Lucasfilm has announced that “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will premiere on Disney+ and Disney Junior (DStv channel 309) on May 4, 2023. Set during The High Republic era, the animated series 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. 

Disney+ and Lucasfilm also released two stills from the series, which include Master Yoda, Jedi younglings Kai, Lys, and Nubs, and their friends Nash and RJ-83 on planet Tenoo. The second image shows Lys, Kai, and Nubs during a training sequence.

Produced by Lucasfilm for Disney+ and Disney Junior, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour (“Elena of Avalor”) is supervising director and co-producer; Jeannine Hodson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is producer; and Lamont Magee (“Black Lightning”) is consulting producer.

Insidus Games:
- Lizzie McGuire: On The Go!
- Tinkerbell
- Spy Muppets: Licence To Croak
- Winnie The Pooh: Hunny Trouble

“‘Star Wars’ transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters,” says James Waugh, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” executive producer and Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy at Lucasfilm. “When developing ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,’ the first ‘Star Wars’ series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a ‘youngling’s’ first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy. The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.”

Alyssa Sapire, Senior Vice President, Development, Series, Strategy, Disney Junior: “Our collaboration with Lucasfilm on this series is an amazing opportunity to introduce this universally cherished franchise to a younger generation. As an early entry point into ‘Star Wars,’ we have created a series with exciting new and familiar characters and storylines that highlight the values of compassion, teamwork, and friendship, which are important elements for all of our Disney Junior programming.”

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will debut on Disney+ and Disney Junior on May 4, 2023.

Regular Nick:
- Lego Monkie Kid returns this April on Cartoon Network
- Cartoonito to get a dedicated channel in France
- Da Vinci Kids plans co-viewing future
- PBS Kids has yet to rollout the new logo in other countries

Roundups #140: Lego Monkie Kid Returning For A New Season On Cartoon Network, Borderline To Make Its Free-To-Air Debut On SABC 3 And Discovery+ To Remain Onboard While As HBO Max Gets Renamed Possibly WBD+

More Lego Monkie Kid for D

Stv customers this April

Inspired by the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, Lego Monkie Kid serves as one of many  trilogies which follows the adventures of a young teenager, MK, as he comes into terms of his mission to save the world.

It is led by Jack De Sena, Dave B. Mitchell, Stephanie Sheh, David Chen, Patrick Seitz, Sean Schemmel, Victoria Grace, Steve Blum, Gwendoline Yeo, Kyle McCarley, Kimberly Brooks and Kimberly Brooks.

Sean Schemmel who currently voices The Monkey King is also known for voicing Goku in the Funimation Dub of Dragon Ball, which much like the show, is also inspired by Journey to the West.

Regular Nick:
- Cartoonito to get a dedicated channel in France
- Da Vinci Kids plans co-viewing future
- PBS Kids has yet to rollout the new logo in other countries
- Disney renews 3 adult animated series through 2025

Love is also in the air with SABC 3

It seems like eExtra won't be the only thing sharing the love this Valentine's Day, SABC 3, South African free-to-air channel owned by the SABC home to various local and mostly international productions had acquired rights to the British drama, Borderline.

This mockumentary follows an incompetent UK border control department based in the fictional Northend Airport. Inspired by immigration issues in Britain at the time of filming, this comedy touches on the topic with light-hearted humour. In charge of the unit is Chief Inspector Proctor who leads the In charge of the unit is Chief Inspector Proctor who leads the team of border agents and baggage handlers who all seemingly hate their job. 

Trouble brews as the motley crew deal with everything from new derivatives to unruly travellers. It stars David Avery, Jackie Clune, David Elms, Liz Kingsman, Jamie Michie, Ralf Little and Guz Khan.

Openview Plus:
- Ratings for SABC 1-3 and e.tv for December 2022
- e.tv to rollout a rebroadcast of Die Put
- eExtra scrapped the launch of 4 telenovelas
- Verdeelde Liefde to return with a second season on eExtra

Warner Bros. Discovery starts off 2023 with more confusion

According to the Journal’s sources, Warner Bros. Discovery is still planning to launch a “supersize streaming service” in the near future. The service will feature all of the HBO Max content and most of the content that can currently be found on Discovery Plus. Nevertheless, Discovery Plus will still be available as a standalone option for consumers.

The sources claim that WBD doesn’t want to risk losing the 20 million Discovery Plus subscribers that may not be interested in paying more for a combined offering. Therefore, the new service and Discovery Plus will share some content, including Discovery Channel’s Shark Week block and TV shows from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network.

During the week, Twitter users recently discovered a private account they suspect might be connected to the company. The account is named WBD+ (@wbdplus) and its bio reads: “All in one.” The account has zero followers and its tweets are protected, but there’s a chance that this could be the name of the upcoming streaming service.

Or it could be a troll with too much time on their hands.

What You Need To Know About The NFL Super Bowl 2023?

It’s finally here. The 2023 American National Football League’s Super Bowl, the 57th annual showdown between the best of the best, will broadcast live, exclusively across Africa on ESPN (Dstv 218, Starsat 248) in the early hours of the morning on Monday 13 February 2023. One of the most anticipated sporting events on the U.S. calendar, the annual championship game, which will see the league’s top franchises competing to hold the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy, will air live at 1:30 AM (CAT) with repeats at 8:00, 17:00 and 22:00 on ESPN2 and at 14:00 on ESPN.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Super Bowl LVII will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona between Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles, who’ll be competing in their fifth Super Bowl, will be sporting their home green jerseys, while the Chiefs, who’ll be playing in their fifth Super Bowl, will be in white.

In what some may call an awkward moment, Andy Reid who coaches the Chiefs, was the Eagles head coach from 1999-2012. He will essentially be doing his best to defeat a team he spent over a decade building.

Perhaps even more interesting is the situation mom Donna Kelce finds herself in as the first mother to have two sons play against each other at the Super Bowl. Her younger son Travis plays Chiefs tight end while her son Jason plays centre for the Eagles. She has been spotted wearing a “half-and-half” top ahead of Super Bowl LVII, incorporating the colours of her both of the teams.

DStv Flex:
- Virtual Reality offers a new opportunity for African filmmakers
- Ratings for DStv from December 2022
- Big Cat Sunday this February on National Geographic Wild
- CBS Reality acquired rights to Killer's Caught On Camera

Beyond sport, the Super Bowl is a truly global cultural event, as well-known as for the cutting-edge commercial spots and half time show as it is for the actual game. This year, the half time show will be performed by popular artist Rihanna. The halftime show typically lasts around 15 minutes and is expected to contain an impressive medley of anthems from the nine-time Grammy award-winning artist.

The national anthem will be sung by Chris Stapleton -  a country music singer that has 15 Country Music Association and 10-Academy of Country Music Awards in addition to being an Eight-time Grammy. Stapelton follows artists such as Mickey Guyton, Eric Church, Demi Lovato, Gladys Knight and others who have had this honour in the past.

How to tune in to ESPN:

ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248 
ESPN2: DStv 219, Starsat 249

All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
Schedule subject to change