Recap To The Past Decade: Ben 10 Has Been Missing In Action For Almost Two Years

Also Read

Ben 10 has been missing on Cartoon Network for nearly two years and on April 11th of this year will mark the two year conclusion of Ben 10 (2016). It's kind of surprising that the network has yet to announce the next instalment to the franchise.

Duncan one of the creators of Ben 10 apart of Man Of Action had mentioned on Twitter throughout 2021 that they were working on something for the future of Ben 10 and it was going to be announced by the end of that year.

Here we are in March 2023 and we still got no confirmation about Ben 10 and honestly this has been the longest period of time since we got any word on the franchise. For those who weren't aware the previous iterations took a few weeks with Omniverse 6 months.

After Omniverse ended, there was a lot of uncertainty about the franchise some areas were proposing that the franchise would continue on with an original series Ben 10,000 or a possible reboot which is what we ended up getting few months after Omniverse.

We've never been in a scenario where we're creeping in on a 2 year mark of not knowing what's going on with Ben 10. Considering Warner Bros. Discovery had made cutbacks with content some were unannounced it's possible the next instalment was cancelled.

Warner Bros. Discovery appointed Tom and at the time he had a different vision for Cartoon Network as seen last year we got preschool content onto the channel through Cartoonito which has experienced immense success if you're talking HBO Max and global.

Now that you have this merger and new people tagging along now you have Michael being the president of the network and they probably revisited this project and thought we need to pivot for something better hence Velma and We Baby Bears.

Considering how popular Ben 10 is I mean just like The Powerpuff Girls it is one of Cartoon Network's biggest franchises. It's possible they're probably working on another project probably not from not what was proposed at the time Tom was around.

Ben 10 Alien Force was one of the top 10 animated series on HBO Max last year which goes to show how huge it is globally and that people are still hungry for more Ben 10 probably not Omniverse hungry but it was good in its own way and that's what counts.

From what this entails, people want a more darker version which was basically Alien Force and Ultimate Alien and not that cheesy reboot. I mean if the reboot did get much hype then we wouldn't be waiting almost two years for a follow-up to be announced.

Some people wanted a continuation for the original while others wanted a follow up to Omniverse but honestly they might do something different probably set it within another paradox. But chances are we'll be seeing 10 year old Ben for a while longer.

They've been acknowledging their older shows for sometime now that Craig McCracken is working on a reboot to Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends and a second reboot to The Powerpuff Girls. We even got a revival to Total Drama launching in the future.

Honestly, it feels like Cartoon Network is being nostalgic by bringing back these old shows and putting new spins on them. I'm sure people would want the same for Ben 10 as 2+ years is a bit too much for one of your longest running shows so hopefully we get something.

Credits: DC Network

Breaking News From Across The World In The Last 7 Days Dated 17 March

Also Read

1. Recess Revival/Reboot rumoured to be in development for Disney+
2. Lindsay Lohan is pregnant with first child
3. Shakti Arora to quit Zee TV's Kundali Bhagya
4. Cartoon Network's upcoming series Garbage Boy And Trash Can enters post-production (more info on the show)
5. The Creed to get anime series as well as spinoffs
6. Rey Mysterio announced as the first inductee to WWE Hall Of Fame for 2023
7. The Bella Twins dump the Bella trademark for Garcia
8. Vanessa Hudgens to make a comeback in the forth instalment of Bad Boys
9. Jason Derulo unveils new single It's My Thing (lyrics)
10. Disney+ Original Willow Has Been Cancelled
11. Tiana: The Series has been delayed to 2024 on Disney+
12. Diddy also looking to acquire stake in BET
13. Kellogg is changing their name
14. Ruhi Chaturvedi aka Sherlyn quits Kundali Bhagya

CITV Channel To Close As ITV Makes Most Children’s Shows Online-Only, Could eMedia Investments Follow With The eToonz Channel On The Openview Platform?

Also Read

ITV is shutting down its CITV channel for consumers in the UK and shifting most of its children’s programmes to streaming-only, arguing that young people have largely given up on watching scheduled television.

CITV will disappear as a standalone channel in the autumn, with all children’s content shifting to the streaming platform ITVX. The broadcaster said the channel was unprofitable and children’s TV audiences had collapsed in recent years because of a shift to YouTube and other streaming services.

eToonz is the South African version to the soon to be defunct CITV owned by eMedia Investments and currently viewed on the Openview platform is home to shows such as Peppa Pig, Pokémon, Barbie Dream Adventures, Thomas And Friends and Voltron.

Since it's debut in 2013, eToonz has struggled to gain a vast majority of Openview consumers much less DStv while as it's other sister channels eMovies and eMovies Extra rank as the top movie channels with eExtra top entertainment brand on the mentioned platform.

Compared to the e.tv channels currently sitting abroad the DStv platform as well the additional currently viewed on the Openview platform. eToonz carries the most rebroadcasts from the main channel and any channel that was performing well would do otherwise.

When eExtra was added in 2017, it was more of a catch-up or leftovers channel for e.tv same goes with eReality now both brands have managed to build their unique slate of programming with the likes of Elif, Doodsondes, Forensic Files and Ex On The Beach.

eToonz serving as one of the longest running brands amongst had been subdued to rebroadcasts. I get why the rebroadcasts as adults watch more linear television compared to children who'd have a high preference for YouTube and social media.

All the more reason to justify eToonz lack of new content but honestly whose to say this channel won't fold under e.tv and eVOD. eMedia Investments doesn't leave consumers much alternatives at this point on Openview giving it more purpose.

As for DStv, I can see why they'd opt not to renew their agreement with eMedia Investments for the channel. It's just a duplicate of the existing offering on their stable and brands like Cartoon Network and Disney Junior are luring consumers away from the channel.

As for Craze, I can see that being the future of eToonz on the Openview platform as it is with DStv consumers. It does look like something eMedia wants to retire but can't due to the laws in this country they have to put up with this content for the years to come.

News Shorts: CBeebies Set To Debut Brand New On-Air Look, M-Net Movies Action HQ To Rollout On DStv And Zee World Undergoes Various Schedule Changes

Also Read

CBeebies is set to align themselves with the rest of the BBC channels

In the UK, BBC Studios has begun phasing out the playful and enthusiastic CBeebies logo for a more bold and plan design. The new logo looks identical to the current BBC Kids and most of their linear channels the change is likely part of another alignment or streamlining strategy from the BBC.

BBC Studios is looking to boost their streamlining endeavours similar to the The Walt Disney Company with more details set to be unveiled later in the year.

M-Net Movies Action is being revived for a limited time

In September 2020, M-Net Movies restructured their movie offering by reducing their 6 movie channels at the time to just 4 each of them numbered with the second being a fusion of Action and Action+ channel. After 2 years, the M-Net Movies Action concept is being revived as a pop-up channel.

The Big Bosses Of Action will air on channel 111 from March 17 to April 2 with catch-up till May 1. Feature films include Die Hard, Unchartered, Tom Gun Maverick, John Wick: Chapter 2 and Taken.

Zee World is bringing more extraordinary to the tele

As seen this past week, Zee World in Southern African markets had their schedules adjusted with Twist Of Fate at 2pm-4pm (double bill), Can You See Me at 4pm, It's Not Easy To Love at 8pm, Broken Bonds at 8.50pm, Razia Sultan at 9.40pm and Age Is Just A Number at 10.30pm. All times are allocated in CAT.

The channel has several upcoming attractions such as Radha Mohan alongside 3 other shows and judging by these changes it's safe to put them in the coming soon tile.

News Shorts: Qhayiya Phato To Debut New Book Noxolo The Bride Later In 2023, Star Life Hits A New Low With The Rebroadcast Of The Inseparables And Abafana Ababi To Make Its Linear Debut On e.tv

Also Read

Qhayiya Phato to rollout Cinderella inspired novel

Noxolo The Bride follows the titular character on her journey to self discovery. She falls in love with Sandile but has to overcome the demons that prevent her and the groom to be from ever finding true happiness. Production on the novel began began back in 2022 and is anticipated to rollout later in the year.

The author Qhayiya Phato manages the blog Yeah Mzansi! and is also manages several fan accounts for eMedia Investments and MultiChoice.

Sister duo Jeevika and Maanvi are back on Star Life

The Inseparable Is a story of Jeevika Chaudhary and Maanvi Chaudhary are two orphan sisters living in Rishikesh with there grandmother, uncle, aunt and cousin while Viren Singh Vadhera and Virat Singh Vadhera are two brothers hailing from an elite family of lawyers in Chandigarh. The two sisters are inseparable tho there outlook towards life are totally different. Maanvi loves and respects Jeevika as though she is her mother.

The series premieres March 23 replacing Kulfi - The Singing Star.

Robin Hood based comedy to rollout on e.tv

Abafana Ababi a brand new locally produced action comedy starring Thomas Gumede as Thebe, a comical cool cat, Matli Mohapeloa as Gift, a slick ladies’ man and Justin Strydom as Stuard Rembrand, the crime boss. Thebe and Gift are best friends from Orlando, Soweto, who grew up poor with aspirations of being rich. They take the easy road and get into a life of crime, and make it big as two bandits modelled on Robin Hood – stealing from the wealthy (who acquired their money from dirty deals in the first place), and then share their takings with the community.

The film airs Sunday at 20:00 from March 19.

HBO Max (Or Max) Will Likely Fold Under MultiChoice's Showmax Streaming Service, No Word On Discovery+ As Yet

Also Read

During the month, NBCUniversal in partnership with MultiChoice are planning to rollout a revamped Showmax streaming service featuring content from the highly anticipated streamer, Peacock. Of course details about the pricing have yet to be revealed.

As some are probably unaware, NBCUniversal has done several partnerships with MultiChoice over the years aside from Universal, DreamWorks and E! and the digital component Universal+. Through their Sky service, MultiChoice was able to distribute a number of television sets.

This deal doesn't come as a shock, not that I was anticipating something like this but the reality is Peacock coming as a standalone put itself in a very risky position hence the reason SkyShowcase (a merger with Paramount+) exists in various European markets.

All of this had got me thinking about Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming service.

As some consumers are aware these two are set to the last entry in Africa as we got most of the major streaming services Netflix, BritBox, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock (as mentioned) with Paramount+ gearing up for its rollout later in the year.

Last year, it was stated that HBO Max and Discovery+ would merge to form this giant streaming service which would have complicated things as the HBO side of the business was waiting till 2025 for contracts to go null therefore giving HBO Max the greenlight.

Compared to HBO Max, there was no problem in getting Discovery+ out to those regions which had a deal in place for the other streamer. If it wasn't for this restructure, we could have gotten Discovery+ or at least recieved an update about the platform in Africa.

After several months, it was revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery scrapped plans to merge these two but would rather keep Discovery+ intact as it's cheap while boost the lineup of HBO Max (soon Max) as the brand had seen a cutback of original content back in 2021.

In April, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to unveil more details about this new Max streaming service which I honestly think won't be made available to African consumers compared to Discovery+.

As mentioned, they will be the last entry to the streaming game and as above-mentioned streamers have been reeling in potential consumers. With that in mind is it possible that HBO Max will fold under Showmax?

Showmax is home to various locally produced content and they also supply a number of international content from NBC, Starz, CBS Studios, Sony Pictures Television. They also supply various titles exclusive to HBO Max alongside catalogue from Adult Swim.

MultiChoice even have various linear channels from HBO Max's parent company including TNT, Discovery Channel, TLC and Cartoon Network. Even supply various shows to M-Net such as The Flight Attendant and House Of Dragons which serves as a spinoff to Game Of Thrones.

Showmax becoming the official home to HBO Max wouldn't be far fetched as Warner Bros. Discovery in recent months had signed deals with local broadcasters in Australia and Japan which go over 2025 which boosts the possibility of the same outcome in Africa.

Showmax in general supplies content various content from BritBox and Paramount+. With those deals set to expire, it's possible these streamers would want to keep the content abroad their platforms and distribute them across linear stations.

HBO Max benefits Showmax in the long run as it would help build their international portfolio and help them serve as a strong contender to Netflix and Disney+ which too have a lot of international content in the pipeline. I'm just so lost with with plans for Discovery+.

I mean the platform has too much content that I feel not everything would fit under Showmax so maybe Discovery+ being the only standalone platform wouldn't be a bad idea and MultiChoice distributing a freemium version also wouldn't be a bad thing for DStv consumers.

Before the merger, Discovery Inc. wasn't expecting Discovery+ to be Disney+ big or to compete with other streaming services mentioned here so far.  So all I'm saying is HBO Max being apart of Showmax isn't a bad thing as consumers can't pay for all these platforms.

Discovery+ could as well serve as both a freemium and pay-tv type service. Showmax could bundle selected content particularly premium or first run content perhaps.

Recap To Last Year: The Disappearance Of BBC UKTV On The Openview Platform

Also Read

Last year, eMedia Investments in partnership with BBC Studios unveiled South Africa's first free-to-air entertainment channel, BBC UKTV. A general entertainment channel featuring a selection of content ranging from doccies, lifestyle, dramas and kids shows.

Some of the content in question includes Top Gear, Live At The Apollo, Midsomer Murders, Come Dine With Me, Wild Africa, Planet Earth and Yakka Dee.

As of 2023, the channel has yet to materialize on the Openview platform with eMedia Investments and BBC Studios remaining on any developments about the channel with the latter added to MultiChoice's DStv as a cheapo on the Easyview bouquet.

It has led to an onslaught of angry Openview consumers some pointing the finger at MultiChoice as eMedia Investments rolls out the pay-tv version to the current free-to-view Openview platform, Ultraview.

Before any word about what the offering or how the bouquet would be priced. They were several Openview consumers who believed that BBC UKTV will form part of Ultraview technically not a DStv problem but a DStv effect as it seems.

If this turned out to be a reality, eMedia Investments alongside BBC UKTV would have deceived several media outlets alongside current Openview consumers with BBC Studios serving as an accomplice I mean the channel comes with a fee on DStv.

But the idea of BBC UKTV being a pay-tv channel wouldn't be the most shocking for Openview I can imagine them reviving ITV Choice or sourcing another DStv channel e.g. BBC News to tag along in this new setup.

All that is known at the moment is that eMedia Investments has yet to rollout a new channel to the free component of Openview. If the supposed channel isn't BBC UKTV then it could mean that plans for the channel were likely scrapped at this point.

The Regular Nick Effect: Breaking News From Across The World From In The Last 7 Days Dated March 11

Also Read

1. Scooby-Doo And The Mystery Pups no longer moving forward at HBO Max
2. Totally Spies! Season 7 has been delayed to 2024
3. Adam Sandler was honoured with the King Of Comedy Award at the 2023 KCAs
4. Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will return with new season after 4 year hiatus
5. Veteran radio and TV presenter Mark Pilgrim, 53, has died
6. Tom Sizemore, ‘Heat’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Actor, Dead at 61
7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem features an A-List including Seth Rogen and John Cena
8. Nicki Minaj is launching her own record label
9. Genius Brands double down on Al with new shorts
10. Poltergeist rumoured to getting revived by MGM
11. FutureLife and SuperSport Schools sign three year deal to provide nutrition for children
12. Nick Cannon working on new show Celebrity Prank Wars hosted by Kevin Hart
13. Velma Season 2 is in development
14. Kesha and AEW superstar MJF make a cameo appearance in Impractical Jokers
15. Batman: The Caped Crusader is coming to Amazon Prime Video for 2 seasons
16. ITV Studios shuts down their children's channel CITV
17. Peppa Pig to launch on Disney+ in 19 countries with more territories to follow
18. Disney to start selling their content to broadcasters again
19. Beetlejuice 2 is in development with original cast and Jenny Ortega
20. Miley Cyrus unveils new album, ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION
21. Tame Impala returns in 2023 with first new single, Wings Of Time from the film Dungeons And Dragons: Honors Among Thieves

From The Clone To Prisoner No. 1: We Present A List Of Shows From The 2010s That Have Never Aired On Telemundo Africa

Also Read

Telemundo has been in the African market for almost a decade offering a mixture of action, comedy, drama and romance. But what some may not be aware is that there's a number of series that haven't been seen on the channel.

And we're not referring to the shows below 2009 which most viewers would find outdated although they're great shows like El Diablo and La Tormenta. But this content dates as far as 2010 some even 2017 yet they remain to not be seen on the channel.

Considering these shows have no chance of airing on the channel, I just think it's best everyone knows that some of this content was picked up or filmed in English but somewhere along the line they were scrapped before even hitting African shores.

Here it is the list of shows that haven't aired on the African feed of Telemundo:

1. El Clon (The Clone)

Based on the Brazilian telenovela O Clone, this melodrama features a love triangle featuring Lucas, a handsome hero, challenging his clone for the love of an enticing, exotic woman. Lucas is young when he falls for a young Arab girl named Jade. She is caught between modern values and her Islamic upbringing. They separate and two decades pass. Then a strange turn of luck brings the pair together. Then Jade meets the clone, who is just like Lucas, but twenty years younger. She must choose between the man she loved and the memory she cherishes.

This limited run melodrama, which starred Mauricio Ochmann and Sandra Echeverría, deals with topics such as drug trafficking, cloning and Islam.

2. La Diosa Coronada (The Crowned Goddess)

The story is based on Angie Sanclemente Valencia's involvement in the transportation of cocaine from Argentina to Europe. The series stars Carolina Guerra, Arap Bethke, Jonathan Islas, Carolina Gaitán, Rodolfo Valdés and Margarita Reyes.

3. Ojo Por Ojo (Eye For An Eye)

From Gustavo Bolivar, the story is based on Laura Restrepo's novel, "El Leopardo al Sol" while borrowing some elements of William Shakespeare's " Romeo and Juliet ". The series stars Gaby Espino, Miguel Varoni, Gregorio Pernía, Carmen Villalobos and Gonzalo Garcia Vivanco.

4. Amar De Nuevo (Love Again)

The story begins one tragic day, when Frijolito was in a traffic accident with his best friend Palito and his parents, Salvador and Veronica. Veronica's cousin, Bulmaro, had received orders from his boss, Max, to cause the accident. Max wanted revenge on Salvador, as he had hoped to get closer to Veronica. After that day, everything changed. Frijolito and Salvador were killed in the accident, Veronica was in a coma for two years and Palito was entrusted to the care of his grandmother Lily.

The series stars Patricia Garza, Eduardo Rodríguez, Alejandro Felipe and Jorge Eduardo García.

5. Flor Salvaje (Wild Flower)

Based on the novel La Novia Oscura, the series follows a young girl who loses her mother and brother all in one day. Only to then be abandoned with her three younger sisters by her father. It stars Mónica Spear, Tony Dalton José Luis Reséndez, Roberto Manrique, María Elisa Camargo and Gregorio Pernía.

6. Camelia La Texana

The story of a naive and beautiful young woman who tries to escape her destiny. The story begins in the 1970s when young Camelia and her mother flee one of Mexico's most dangerous capos, Don Antonio. Camelia's beauty attracts a lot of attention, jealousy from other women and infatuation on the part of many men, who fall powerless at her feet. Her mother tries to protect her from the fate that pursues her, but as she sets off in search of adventure Camelia meets the man who will be the love of her life, and also her betrayer: Emilio Varela. The series stars Sara Maldonado, Erik Hayser, Andrés Palacios and Dagoberto Gama.

The story is based on the song titled "Contrabando y Traición" by Los Tigres del Norte.

7. Villa Paraíso

Cristina, a beautiful young woman who fights to preserve the family heritage stays an apartment complex called "Villa Paraíso" which she inherited from her parents. The tenants are more than friends and little by little they become a big family. It stars Ximena Duque and David Chocarro as the main protagonists, while Silvana Arias and Ricardo Chávez star as the main antagonists.

8. Celia

Based on the life of Celia Cruz, it tells the story of one of the legends of Latin music and her major international career. We know the beginnings of her passion for singing in Cuba starting in 1950, and her recognition as the most decisive singer of La Sonora Matancera. The series stars Jeimy Osorio, Aymée Nuviola, Modesto Lacén, Willy Denton, Carolina Gaitán, Abel Rodríguez and Margoth Velásquez.

9. Mariposa de Barrio

Based on the autobiography Unbreakable: My Story, My Way authored by Jenni Rivera before her death. The inspiring and poignant story will follow in the footsteps of Jenni Rivera towards a dream of fame; An autobiographical journey from birth, based on her book "Unbreakable", as well as unpublished testimonies that reveal, as never before, her own family and explore her life as a daughter, mother, wife, lover and artist.

It stars Angélica Celaya, Gabriel Porras, Rosalinda Rodríguez, Samadhi Zendejas, Tony Garza, Regina Orquín, Enrique Montaño, Adrián Carvajal, Adriano Zendejas, Emmanuel Morales, Xavier Ruvalcaba, Raúl Sandoval and Mauricio Novoa.

10. José José, El Príncipe De La Canción

The fictionalized life story of Mexican singer and composer known as José José, based upon his autobiographical memoirs. It stars Alejandro de la Madrid, María Fernanda Yepes Itatí Cantoral, Danna Paola and Rosa María Bianchi

11. Prisoner No. 1 (Preso No. 1)

The story of a humble farmer who becomes President of Mexico. When he is falsely accused of fraud and incarcerated, he must fight back against the corrupt system behind the scheme and clear his name for the sake of his country and family. It stars Erik Hayser, Alejandra Ambrosi, Alejandro de la Madrid, Mariana Seoane, Arturo Peniche and Angélica Celaya.