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We Baby Bears Coming Late 2021 On Cartoon Network Africa

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Cartoon Network’s beloved Baby Bears assemble for their next adventure, We Baby Bears, an original comedy coming to Africa in November 2021. Overloaded with the cuteness and humour that fans around the globe adore them for, the series tracks baby Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear through a multitude of imaginative worlds, but this time via their magical box. Currently in production, We Bare Bears director, Manny Hernandez, returns as executive producer to bring his own creative vision to life in the newest iteration of the sibling cubs’ arrival.

“Manny’s admiration for anime and music come to life in this fresh new expansion of the beloved franchise,” said Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics (GKYAC). “The spectacular landscapes and musical inspirations transform this new series into an unforgettable journey for all We Bare Bears’ fans and beyond. And did I mention they are baby bears!”

We Baby Bears features the baby bears on their search for a place they can settle down and fit into. Each episode transports them into vibrant and colourful worlds, where they befriend legions of familiar fairy-tale faces. During their ongoing crusade, they are faced with the decision to stay or continue their journey for a permanent abode they can call home. Produced by Cartoon Network Studios, We Bare Bears creator, Daniel Chong, joins Hernandez as executive producer.

The announcement follows the debut of We Bare Bears: The Movie, the first-ever TV movie for the series, which served as the finale for the long-running hit show We Bare Bears. The TV movie debuted for digital download earlier this year and trended in the top 10 Comedy and Kids & Family categories on iTunes for several weeks following its release.

Fans across Africa can tune in to catch We Bare Bears: The Movie on Sunday, 29 November 2020 @ 16:05 CAT where Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear catch the Department of Wildlife Control's attention and their world turns upside down! Forced to go on the run by the diabolical Agent Trout, the Bears rely on friends, both old and new, on a wild and hilarious road trip. Join the Bears as they stack up for their biggest adventure ever on Cartoon Network Africa, DStv channel 301, and GOtv channel 67 (Ghana 158 and Uganda 356)!

BBC Upfront + Other Rumored Developments For DStv

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BBC held a virtual upfront today to discuss details relating to the new agreement they had with MultiChoice and also unveil a bunch of programming for their channels. Here's the scoop (part of it mentioned earlier):
- MultiChoice made the decision to remove BBC First (they didn't mention it but it gave it away) and BBC is trying to get viewers hooked onto BBC Brit which will be the new hub for content that was available on First.
- BBC Brit will broadcast the new anthology miniseries, Small Axe this summer in South Africa. The 5-episode Small Axe drama series revolves around stories focused on the experience of black people in Britain, with the cast that includes John Boyega.
- Production of the latest 6th season of Come Dine with Me South Africa produced by Rapid Blue TV on BBC Lifestyle shut down because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic but will restart soon for the last few episodes of the season that will then be shown.
- BBC Earth will broadcast Perfect Planet, with Sir David Attenborough as the narrator. Two new series filmed in Africa, will be Work On the Wild Side, and Waterhole: Africa's Animal Oasis. Other upcoming series include: Age of Nature and Ades Climate Pioneers.
- CBeebies which was available only on Premium and Compact+ will now be available on DStv Compact, Family and Access presumably around the time Disney XD stops airing on the platform.
- BBC Lifestyle will be available in high definition.

Rumored developments that have nothing to do with BBC:
- More channels are rumored to get pulled off these include regional channels.
- Nickelodeon will be open for a limited time to celebrate the launch of Danger Force.
Packages: Access, Family and Compact
- fliekNET will be available for 3 days in October.
Packages: Compact+
- M-Net Movies 2 will be open from 6:00-18:00
Packages: All packages
- EVA and National Geographic will be opened for a limited time
Packages: Access
- Telemundo will be added onto DStv Easyview from 19 October (with the deduction of new telenovelas it wouldn't shock me if it dropped from three to just two current telenovelas)
- SABC Education will be added soon you just need to wait on SABC to provide those details.
Packages: All packages
- There's been rumours that MultiChoice changed the availability for the 4 remaining channels before you'd need Compact to watch all 5 new channels now that's been adjusted in some markets. There's also been talks of expanding current channels.

Disney Junior's 'The Rocketeer,' Showcasing A Young Girl Taking On The Mantle Of The Beloved Flying Superhero, Premieres Monday, 28 September On Disney Junior

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Disney Junior's "The Rocketeer," a new comedic, animated adventure series featuring a young girl named Kit Secord, who takes to the skies to protect her community after becoming the surprise recipient of a rocket-pack that gives her the ability to fly, will premiere Monday, 28 September on Disney Junior, DStv channel 309 at 17:00. Inspired by Dave Stevens' beloved superhero comic books and Walt Disney Pictures feature film, the series stars Kitana Turnbull ("A Series of Unfortunate Events") as Kit, and Billy Campbell and Kathy Najimy as her parents, Dave and Sareena Secord. Campbell is best-known for starring as Cliff Secord in "The Rocketeer" film.

Set in the idyllic small town of Hughesville, each episode of "The Rocketeer" is comprised of two 11-minute stories that follow Kit as she embarks on a high-flying adventure to help save her community and its residents from trouble -- usually brought on by the many comedic villains who will be featured throughout the series. As with most superheroes, Kit has a team to help her pull off her heroic adventures and keep her identity hidden from the masses. Her best friend, Tesh, serves as Ground Control when Kit takes to the skies and is also the inventor of the hi-tech gadgets and upgrades for her rocket-pack; and her grandfather, Ambrose Secord, works at the Hughesville Airport and serves as her mechanic. Also along for the ride is Kit's loyal bulldog, Butch.

In the premiere episode, Kit receives a surprise package on her birthday containing The Rocketeer's helmet, which Grandpa Ambrose immediately recognizes as belonging to the famed superhero. With that, he unveils the rocket-pack which he was told to hang on to until the next Rocketeer was chosen. As Kit learns the ropes of becoming a flying superhero, Grandpa Ambrose and Tesh help with her training. Upcoming guest stars include Tony® and NAACP Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad (Disney•Pixar's upcoming "Soul") as May Songbird, a famed stunt pilot who Kit helps overcome a fear of flying after a fall from grace; Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody Award winner Marlo Thomas ("That Girl") as Kit's grandmother, Sitti, who comes to visit for the town's annual food festival; Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Annie Potts (Disney•Pixar's "Toy Story") as Dave's younger sister and aviation test pilot, Scarlett; Rahul Kohli ("iZombie") as Tesh's dad and Hughesville Trailblazers troop leader, Mr. Cheena; and D'Arcy Carden ("The Good Place") as Ava, a self-flying airplane.

In addition to Turnbull, Campbell and Najimy, the series stars legendary voice actor Frank Welker ("Scooby-Doo") as Grandpa Ambrose and Butch the bulldog; Callan Farris (Disney Channel's "Gabby Duran & the Unsittables") as Kit's best friend, Tesh; and Navia Robinson (Disney Channel's "Raven's Home") as Kit's flight school classmate, Valerie Valkyrie. Voicing the recurring comedic villains in the series are Maria Bamford ("Arrested Development") and Kari Wahlgren ("DC Superhero Girls") as sister team, Laura and Harley; Maurice LaMarche ("Futurama") as Sylvester Slapdash; Charlie Adler ("The Transformers" franchise) and Parvesh Cheena (Disney Junior's upcoming "Mira, Royal Detective") as The Great Orsino and Deany, respectively; and celebrity chef Ted Allen ("Chopped") as Cast-Iron Chef.

"We are very excited to introduce our young, new superhero 'The Rocketeer' to our Disney Junior audience. It’s a great adventure series, that can be enjoyed by the whole family, while addressing themes of empowerment, critical thinking and problem solving,” says Evert van der Veer, Vice President, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Africa.

The series is developed and executive produced by seven-time Emmy Award nominee Nicole Dubuc (“Transformers: Rescue Bots”). Michael Kenny (Disney’s “Miles From Tomorrowland”) is supervising director. Emmy Award-nominated Beau Black (Disney’s “The Lion Guard”) is the songwriter, and Annie Award-nominated Dominic Lewis (Disney’s “DuckTales”) is the composer. The series is produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior.

Court TV Expands Into UK, Will Africa Follow Soon(Including DStv And StarTimes)

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The real-life dramas of criminal trials in the US now have an international audience as Court TV launches in the UK.

Court TV is now available on Sky channel 179, with more distribution agreements expected to be announced soon.

Building on its popularity with US audiences and advertisers, Court TV’s UK channel provides viewers access to, and expert analysis of true-life courtroom dramas taking place in the US today, from opening proceedings, gavel-to-gavel, all the way through to the verdict. Daytime trial coverage in the US will air in primetime in the UK given the time difference.

“There’s been nothing like Court TV in the United Kingdom until now,” said Jonathan Katz, president and CEO of Katz Networks, part of The EW Scripps Company, which owns Court TV. “American crime dramas have long been a staple on television worldwide, including the U.K., while global consumer interest in the real-life drama of true-crime programming has skyrocketed, with American reality crime content as the most-watched. Court TV is the only network covering these cases and these events live, as they happen, from start to finish. We anticipate viewers in the UK will embrace having a front-row seat to American criminal justice.”

The UK launch of Court TV coincides with the 25th anniversary of the O.J. Simpson murder trial verdict, which saw the former American football star and popular celebrity found not guilty of double murder. On October 3rd and 4th, Court TV will present a marathon of its 25-episode original docuseries OJ25, which looks back at the infamous case, encapsulating the courtroom action in chronological order.

Court TV launched July 1st 1991 and ran until the end of 2007. Katz Broadcasting, LLC (E.W. Scripps Company) revived the channel back in 2018 before it's demise WarnerMedia owned the brand for a short period of time.

Extreme E To Broadcast Across Africa Via Multi-Year Startimes Partnership

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Extreme E, the pioneering electric off-road motor racing series, is set to be broadcast live across the African continent, with the series signing-off on a three-year agreement with digital television operator StarTimes.

The deal will see Extreme E’s five-race global odyssey from the Arctic to the Amazon Rainforest, air live to more than 30 African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire in English, French, Portuguese and other local languages. Season 1 gets underway in early 2021.

The championship’s goal is to highlight the impact that climate change and human influences are having on the severely damaged locations in which it will race, whilst raising awareness, driving sustainability and inspiring action through world-class motorsport.

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “Extreme E is a top-tier sporting product unlike anything else out there at the moment. Likened to Star Wars Pod Racing meets Dakar Rally, its mission is to drive awareness of climate change worldwide, whilst promoting battery electric vehicles and workable, sustainable solutions.

This broadcast partnership with StarTimes is really important for helping to share our messages across Africa, which is an integral location to the series as Senegal’s Lac Rose plays host to our Ocean stage.”

Kristen Miao, StarTimes Sports Director, said: “Motorsports are getting more and more popular in Africa and at the same time people are increasingly concerned about climate change issues. With Extreme E, they will see that sustainability can also mean excitement and adrenaline. We are delighted to bring this unique championship into million of homes across Africa.”

The agreement with StarTimes is the latest broadcast deal to be announced by Extreme E, with the championship also set to partner with BBC (UK), Discovery (Europe and North America), FOX Sports (United States, Canada and the Caribbean), FOX Sports Asia (Southeast Asia), FOX Sports Australia, Mediaset (Italy), Sony India (Indian subcontinent), TVNZ (New Zealand), RTM (Malaysia), Dubai Sports (Middle East), RDS (Canada), China Sports Zhibo.tv (China), RTL 7 (The Netherlands), ORF (Austria), ESPN Africa and BTRC (Belarus).

Further sporting, broadcast and partnership announcements will follow in the coming weeks(meaning there could be more partners within the African market).

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?

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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?

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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+

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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'

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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.

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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/

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