Insidus Plus

COVID-19: Marcus Lamb, Founder Of Daystar TV That Opposed COVID-19 Vaccines Has Passed Away + BVN Has Been Restored In Africa, Could It Return To DStv?

Also Read

The founder of a global evangelical Christian television network who publicly opposed Covid-19 vaccines has died weeks after he contracted the virus.

The death of 64-year-old Marcus Lamb, the founder and president of the Texas-based Daystar Television Network, was announced Tuesday in a tweet by the conservative network.

"It's with a heavy heart we announce that Marcus Lamb, president and founder of Daystar Television Network, went home to be with the Lord this morning. The family asks that their privacy be respected as they grieve this difficult loss. Please continue to lift them up in prayer."

— Daystar Television (@Daystar) November 30, 2021

Lamb has publicly opposed the available coronavirus vaccines and has instead promoted unproven Covid-19 treatments, Media Matters reported.

"There's no doubt in my mind that this is a spiritual attack from the enemy," Lamb's son Jonathan said about his father's battle with Covid-19 during a broadcast on November 23, Religion News Service reported.

The son added, "As much as my parents have gone on here to kind of inform everyone about everything going on to the pandemic and some of the ways to treat Covid — there's no doubt that the enemy is not happy about that. And he's doing everything he can to take down my Dad.

Marcus Lamb joins a growing list of conservative, anti-vaccine media personalities to have died as a result of COVID-19.

Radio hosts and coronavirus vaccine critics Bob Enyart, Dick Farrel, Phil Valentine, and Marc Bernier all died this year after their battles with the Covid-19.

Other high-profile anti-vaccine advocates to have died this year from the coronavirus include: former CIA officer and conspiracy theorist Robert David Steele, anti-mask rally organiser Caleb Wallace, and South Carolina GOP conservative leader Pressley Stutts.

BVN RETURNS TO ASTRA 4A SATELLITES

BVN returned from 25 October 2021 via the
Astra 4A satellites (for the middle and South Africa) found an alternative to the SES-5 (stopped on May 1, 2021). "This technology on the Astra 4a was possible as less bandwidth was used for broadcast without a loss of quality."

Unfortunately, the owners had to distribute BVN on few satellites and affected markets had to resort to streaming in order to find these shows.

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Read Also:
- National Geographic Kids expands to Africa
- Boomerang is available on GOtv
- More international content coming to M-Net, Discovery Channel, BBC Earth and many more
- Cartoonito returning as a linear channel likely for DStv
- Maningue Magic and Kwenda Magic coming soon to DStv
- More local content coming to DStv including Survivor SA season 9 and Big Brother Mzansi
- SuperSport unveil their offering for 2022
- A+ possibly coming to DStv
- Showmax unveil their content slate
- More Africa Magic channels on DStv???
- Star Life rebranding to Life OK???
- Travel Channel going off air on DStv???
- Could The Kelly Clarkson Show move to Me?
- Could SABC Encore and Children make their way to DStv?
- Warner TV might be replacing TNT
- tvN working on becoming permanent in Africa

International Educational And Entertainment Programme National Geographic Kids Coming To Africa In 2022

Also Read

Geographic Kids Africa, which focuses on developing local content surrounding the environment, conservation, and associated topics important to children and their communities. The project aims to inspire and promote behaviour change in its audiences. To protect the world in which they live through engendering a deeper understanding of the natural environment.

The undertaking includes a 26-part television series to be shot primarily in East Africa but with additional filming in West and Southern Africa. The series will be produced by The Walt Disney Company, in association with Kenya-based WildlifeDirect. WildlifeDirect will collaborate on research and creative approaches. National Geographic Kids Africa will air across the continent on National Geographic Wild. It will extend into engaging digital platforms that further explore biodiversity, wildlife and the natural world, and the threats and challenges experienced.

Extending the reach of the National Geographic Kids Africa initiative further, a community outreach project will be launched by implementation partner WildlifeDirect across East Africa, aiming to encourage learners from 200 schools to make a lasting impact on the conservation of species-rich landscapes. By investing in knowledge and skills, through tools such as conservation hubs, educational resources, bespoke educator training and more, the outreach program aims to develop a passionate community of young explorers with the fascination and desire to protect their continent and their world.

National Geographic Kids Africa will be produced entirely in Africa by African storytellers. The stories, leadership and expertise of African conservationists and communities will be prominently featured.

The US Department of State, US Embassies, and local partners in Africa will enhance this initiative through multiple academic, cultural, and professional exchanges. The Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ people-to-people exchange programs will support professional development and skills sharing across sectors, including conservation, the creative industries, tourism and sustainable practices. Exchange programs create lasting connections and harness attention on conservation and the importance of protecting the natural world. The Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs will continue to lead diplomatic efforts to expand and strengthen policy and programs to conserve and protect nature.

Christine Service, General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa, adds:

“For over 133 years, the core mission of National Geographic has been to ignite the explorer in everyone through thought-provoking, fact-based storytelling from scientists, explorers, photographers and filmmakers. This initiative will bring children from across the continent into the conversation and, in doing so, energize the next generation of environmental advocates through this innovative and engaging programme.”

Says Dr Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect:

“We are deeply humbled and proud to be working with some of the world’s greatest institutions, the US Department of State, USAID, Disney and National Geographic, to transform conservation outcomes in Africa by inspiring people in Africa and around the world through the authentic voices of Africa's young heroes. This series is a first in so many ways, not least the unique partnership but also because of outreach efforts which will deliver a positive impact on nature across the region.”

In addition to amplifying local voices around conservation, the National Geographic Kids Africa initiative supports vital policy goals in addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. US climate and conservation diplomacy aspires to realize economic growth, energy security, and a healthy planet. The loss of nature and her gifts affect all people, and bold action to tackle these twin crises is more urgent than ever.
By engaging the next generation, National Geographic Kids Africa is a critical part of this effort. The series will tell the story of forward-thinking climate and conservation action in inspiring ways. It will highlight the work of African children across the continent and encourage others in Africa to make a difference in their way.

Says Matthew Lussenhop, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State:

“A key element of our charge is to address the environmental, social, political, and economic challenges we all face. We look forward to enhancing this important initiative with people-to-people exchanges to inspire and connect the next generation of conservationists, filmmakers and leaders in Africa who will create lasting change to protect their natural environment. This partnership represents an innovative way forward to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.”

USAID’s conservation programming plays a critical role in ensuring the world’s most vulnerable people can secure their health and well-being while managing and conserving their natural wealth. Through partnerships with governments, communities, and the private sector in 60 countries, USAID works to protect biological systems and improve the lives of people who depend on them. These conservation activities also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage. USAID’s nature-based solutions are building people’s resilience, priority ecosystems, and economies to climate change.

Says Karl Fickenscher, Acting Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI), USAID:

“National Geographic Kids Africa embodies USAID's new vision for global development that combines working together with our US State Department colleagues, our private sector partner, The Walt Disney Company, and our local Kenyan partner WildlifeDirect. We could not be prouder to stand alongside them, and perhaps most importantly, alongside the students, young environmentalists, and kids from communities across Africa, who will work to protect and conserve the world around them— today and in the future.”

The goal is partnering with African filmmakers to tell African stories around conservation and environmental themes to reach African and global audiences. In addition, National Geographic Kids Africa will further advance The Walt Disney Company’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, which goes back to its founding more than 90 years ago. Walt Disney himself said that: “conservation isn’t just the business of a few people. It’s a matter that concerns all of us.” National Geographic Kids Africa is another way The Walt Disney Company focuses on helping to protect the planet.
Currently, in pre-production, the National Geographic Kids Africa programme is set for a mid-to-late 2022 rollout across Africa.

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

[PRESS RELEASE ON MULTICHOICE SHOWCASE]: There’s Something For Everyone With The Best International Content On DStv

Also Read

(As indicated in the sneak peeks)
GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT
While telling African stories is at the heart of what MultiChoice does, our channels and services also pride themselves on delivering the hottest international shows – and that’s set to continue in 2022.

DStv Premium subscribers will be among the first to get in on all the drama as Sex & The City’s Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda make their return on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) in the highly anticipated ten-episode spin-off series, And Just Like That..., from 13 December.

And Just Like That… stars Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Sarah Jessica Parker (who reprises her role as the fashion icon and columnist, Carrie Bradshaw); the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated Kristin Davis (the naïve but tough Charlotte York); and the Emmy Award- winning Cynthia Nixon (the irrepressible Miranda Hobbes).

The sizzling new series follows the characters as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.

The series also includes cast members Nicole Ari Parker, Sara Ramírez, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and the late Willie Garson.

Where to watch:
• M-Net (DStv Channel 101) with a double-bill premiere on Monday, 13 December at 20:30.
• DStv catch up, express from the U.S every Friday from 10 December, exclusive to subscribers with a connected DStv Explora and the DStv App

House of the Dragon will broadcast exclusively on M-Net, DStv Channel 101 and episodes of one of next year’s most highly anticipated series will also be available on DStv Catch Up. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the series is set 200 years before the events of the record-breaking and multi-award-winning Game of Thrones series and tells the story of House Targaryen. The 10-episode series will come to M-Net early in 2022 and stars, amongst others, BAFTA-nominated Paddy Considine, Emmy Award-nominated Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke and Rhys Ifans.

DStv is the Home of Survivor, on the back of the success and buzz generated by recent seasons of Survivor South Africa. Survivor USA comes home to M-Net in January 2022, taking place among the sand and surf of Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands – a favourite location. But, in the words of Jeff Probst: “Don’t expect the same old, same old”. The latest season has been changed up in more ways than one.
Season 41 will usher in a new era, which will be marked by a lack of a theme, harkening back to the early days of the series. The show will simply be known as Survivor 41. “Those ideas served us very well for 20 years, but now it’s time for something new,” explained Probst. “The new players and the gameplay will define each season, much like a Super Bowl or any other regular sporting event.”
Survivor South Africa has been a huge hit in Australia, where it’s streamed on 10play – so we’re bringing Survivor Australia, here. The eighth season of Australian Survivor – ‘Brains V Brawn’ - features contestants divided into two tribes with obvious delineations and starts on M-Net in December, straight after the end of the current, seventh season.

On the M-Net Channels, The Thing About Pam will span six episodes with Renee Zellweger making her broadcast television debut in an NBC true-crime series based on a wild saga initially chronicled on one of the most popular “Dateline NBC” storylines of recent years.

The series is based on the 2011 murder of Missouri woman Betsy Faria. Her husband, Russ Faria, spent four years behind bars for her murder before being acquitted in 2015 – with his wife's death still unsolved. Zellweger plays Pam Hupp who is serving a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Louis Gumpenberger. Authorities believe Hupp killed Gumpenberger to frame Russ Faria for the murder of his wife. Hupp testified against Faria in the initial trial where he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison after his wife was found stabbed 55 times in their Missouri home. The Thing About Pam is currently scheduled for April 2022.

Award Shows remain popular with DStv viewers, and with the American Music Awards taking place just a few days ago, there’s plenty to look forward to with the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (1 February on 1Magic), 94th Annual Academy Awards (28 March 2022 on M-Net), Billboard Awards (28 April on 1Magic) and Miss Universe.

Our partner channels continue to diversify our offering with shows that spark inspiration, defy the rules, entertain, enthrall and amaze.

In TLC’s Too Large, morbidly obese individuals fight for their lives with the help of bariatric surgeon Dr. Procter. Friendships are put to the test. A previously homeless man gets back on his feet. A teacher loses weight to regain lost love. A desperate mother attempts to transform her body to be a better parent for her son. Only some will make the changes necessary to earn the bariatric surgery and change their lives.

From the producers of 90 Day Fiancé comes sexy new docu-soap Love in Paradise – The Caribbean, following people who found love in the Caribbean. The tropics will provide the backdrop for relationships in various phases from holiday flings that turned serious to a rekindled love after 10 years apart and a vacation romance that turned into a pregnancy. Will meeting in paradise work out once the suntan fades?

On Universal, Tell Me Your Secrets is a brand-new American thriller drama series. Emma Hall (Lily Rabe), the former girlfriend of a serial killer named Parker, is released from jail after covering for him and placed into witness protection in Louisiana. Mary Barlow’s (Amy Brenneman) daughter was believed to have been kidnapped and murdered by Parker, but her body was never found, leaving Mary to believe she is still alive. Having lost her only source to find Theresa, she remembers his girlfriend, Emma, and tasks John, a convicted rapist who is looking for redemption, to find her.
Action-Drama Leverage Redemption stars, Christian Kane and Noah Wyle and sees the Leverage team taking down those who think they can take what they want.
On E!, Clash of the Cover Bands is a new music competition series hosted by Stephen “Twitch” Boss with global powerhouse Meghan Trainor, Grammy-nominated powerhouse singer- songwriter Adam Lambert and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ester Dean serving as celebrity judges with the end-game of a $25 000 prize and the chance to appear in studio for a musical performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The Swim and Pushing the Line are headliners on Discovery Channel (promo mistaken it for Discovery World). Pushing the Line (January 2022) follows some of the top highliners and the up-and-comers of sport, who live together and push one another to take on the craziest places to set lines and break records.
In The Swim, Ben Lecomte endeavors to fulfill his childhood dream of swimming the Pacific Ocean. He, along with NASA and nine other partners, create a living laboratory to uncover secrets of the ocean and clues about the state of life on Earth.
January sees the arrival of Design Star: Next Gen on HGTV, while Investigation Discovery’s Relentless is a six-part series which follows filmmaker Christina Fontana's search for a missing woman in Hannibal, Missouri. The sixth season of Twist of Fate comes to ZEE World, featuring the most-loved couple affectionately known as AbhiGya, with old villains returning to disrupt their happy love life.

DOCUMENTARIES & WILDLIFE
BBC Earth delivers Sir David Attenborough’s The Green Planet, which will see the legendary environmentalist travel to the USA, Costa Rica, Croatia and northern Europe, from deserts to mountains and from rainforests to the frozen north to try to understand more about how plants live their lives.
All Creatures Great and Small S2 (2 January, 19:00), Midsomer Murders S22 (3 January, 20:00 – territory premiere) and Miss Scarlet and The Duke S2 (14 February, 20:00) all return to BBC Brit next year, too.

On National Geographic, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller sees van Zeller tap into her underworld contacts to embed in the world's most illicit smuggling pipelines. Season 2 of Green Eyed Killers returns to Lifetime to tell the stories of ordinary people, who come to extraordinary ends all because of jealousy.

LOCAL
Mzansi Greed debuts on Moja Love on 2 December at 21:30. The true -life program lets viewers explore the world of crime and greed. What lengths will a person go to for money and power? The series focuses on cases of Ponzi schemes, embezzlement and other crimes, featuring Interviews with family members, police investigators business associates, fraud victims and, in some cases, the fraudsters themselves.
Season 2 of Mina Nawe House starts on Moja Love on 4 December at 21:00. The five couples move into a house to undergo a “relationship restart”. All the couples will be together in one house for 11 days in order to save their marital bonds. The couples do a number of exercises to see if their relationships are worth saving. The couples will need to decide if they should breakup or make up. Tune in for all the drama and revelations!

KIDS
For the kids, Cartoon Network presents Coach Me If You Can and Big Blue. In the former, Daniel Sissou has a secret: his favorite soccer ball is none other than Erico Platana, the world’s greatest soccer player who a mad sorcerer has turned into a ball. In order to go back to being human, Erico has to seriously deflate his ego and help clumsy Daniel become a champ. They may both be bumblers but together, things can only get better!

Aimed at kids 4-8, Big Blue follows sibling underwater adventurers Lettie and Lemo and their quirky submarine crew as they explore and protect a vast, ocean-covered planet from ship- stealing crabs, know-it-all jellyfish, and a health inspector shark!
On NickToons, Big Nate follows 11-year-old prankster Nate and his best friends as they navigate sixth grade with humor and style. Coming to Nickelodeon in February is Overlord and The Underwoods, an original half-hour, live-action, single camera family comedy which follows the titular North American family, whose life is turned upside down when their distant cousin, Overlord - the second most-wanted villain in the universe - seeks refuge in their home after being forced into intergalactic witness protection.

Disney Channel and HONEY is cooking in 2022 with Disney’s Magic Bake-Off and Kids Kitchen Relay. Disney's Magic Bake-Off is a baking competition series about complicated challenges and fun games as contestants shape and bake extravagant Disney-inspired cakes. In Kids Kitchen Relay, two teams of three kids each go head-to-head in a relay cooking competition. The teams are given a theme and must cook one dish as a team in three rounds without any communication between team members.

Also on Disney is Ghost Force (December 2021). Liv, Andy and Michael are three junior high school students who, unbeknownst to their friends and family, form the Ghost Force - a superhero team who have one main objective keeping the City of New York safe from feral and mischievous ghosts who wish to take over the city.

“We aim to have something for everyone, all the time, across our channels,” says Yolisa Phahle, CEO General Entertainment and Connected Video at Multichoice Group. “Our international content slate has grown larger than ever, delivering unprecedented value for our subscribers across hundreds of channels, with thousands of hours of fresh, world-leading content, every year.”

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Read Also:
- Cartoonito returning as a linear channel likely for DStv
- SuperSport unveil their offering for 2022
- Reorganising coming to National Geographic
- Star Life rebranding to Life OK???
- Showmax unveil their content slate
- A+ possibly coming to DStv
- More Africa Magic channels on DStv???
- Could G4 launch in Africa perhaps to replace Ginx TV?
- The Search For Frida coming in 2022 to Telemundo
- Could The Kelly Clarkson Show move to Me?
- December on CBS Reality and CBS Justice
- December on The Home Channel
- Female wrestling promotion launching in 2022, could SuperSport pick it up?
- Travel Channel going off air on DStv???
- Could SABC Encore and Children be in development?
- Warner TV might be replacing TNT
- tvN working on becoming permanent in Africa
- African Animation Network launching an experimental animation block
- Toei Animaton teaming up with tvN parent company on anime
- Big Brother Africa has been greenlit in 3 markets

Women Of Wrestling (W.O.W.) An All New Female Wrestling Series Owned By Impact Wrestling's Parent Company AXS Entertainment Relaunches Next Year In 160 U.S. Territories, Could e.tv Or SuperSport Perhaps Get It?

Also Read

It's a very interesting and prosperous time across the wrestling industry right now. At no time before were there more wrestling promotions on major TV networks, giving more wrestlers the chance at a big stage in front of millions. And at no time have more non-traditional or even underseen wrestlers been given a shot at the main event scene.

Of course, no group of wrestlers has seen a bigger rise up the ranks like the women of the industry, who have shattered through the glass ceiling of Bra & Panty matches and silent valets to main eventing WrestleMania.

This renaissance of women's wrestling has now reached the apex, as there will now be an entire show featuring solely women's wrestling on major TV networks with the announcement that the recently shuttered promotion WOW – Women of Wrestling will be returning in 2022 and on major television networks in 160 U.S. markets in a new deal with ViacomCBS.

WOW Superhero Tessa Blanchard in the teaser trailer for the WOW reboot in 2022, courtesy of WOW.

While WOW had a brief run on the specialty TV network AXS TV from 2019-2020, this will be a huge step up in visibility for the promotion. New episodes of WOW will air in weekend syndication on 160 ViacomCBS networks across the U.S., which accounts for 70 percent of the country. And if you're looking for older seasons of WOW, those are anticipated to be available to stream on the CW Seed and Pluto TV platforms starting in December of 2021.

Jeanie Buss , the owner of WOW (along with WOW creator David McLane) and the Los Angeles Lakers said the following about the promotion and its big relaunch :
"Wrestling's presentation of women has long been very important to me, and we now are presenting the epitome in sports entertainment that will highlight the athleticism of these superstars as we reintroduce WOW.

Our partnership with the entire ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group family allows us to continue our mission of providing wrestling fans and WOW Superheroes what they have all deserved: a global platform for a dedicated women's wrestling league."
Dan Cohen , President of ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group also included the following statement about WOW:

"We are thrilled to partner with Jeanie Buss and David McLane to create a significant global footprint for WOW and expand our diverse, world-class content portfolio.

This series offers audiences unique, compelling and creative entertainment that features female 'superheroes' in the ring, behind the cameras and in all aspects of the business. Both in the U.S and abroad, we believe this is an event program that will make some noise in the marketplace."

Also included in the big WOW reboot news today is what should serve as a big confidence-boost to fans that AJ Mendez (formerly AJ Lee in WWE) will follow her husband CM Punk in a return to the wrestling industry by becoming both an Executive Producer and color commentator on the rebooted WOW.

There's no word on an official launch date yet for 2022, but WOW did release the following teaser video featuring returning former WOW Champion Tessa Blanchard.

e.tv used to air WOW every Wednesday at 8pm now they house it's former sister brand Impact Wrestling which was once available through SuperSport.

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can also follow Doodsondes for Kuiertyd updates.

Updated: Utsav Next Target Could Be The Star Channels Currently On DStv, StarSat, Zuku TV And Openview + Disney Channel And Disney Junior Could Go Off Air Sooner Than Expected As Disney Shifts Its Focus Towards Streaming

Also Read

Later this week, Disney and Star in India announced that they would exit from the English general entertainment industry which resulted in the termination of most of their channels with Hindi channels taking their spot.

The Walt Disney Company revealed plans to close 100 international Disney channels before the FY22 with more Disney Channels expected to close in Europe as streaming looks to be the brands top priority.

The likely reason for Star's demise is due to Disney+ since The Walt Disney Company took the Star branding for their streaming service so Star India keeping it for English viewers would only cause confusion.

Earlier this year, the UK & Europe rebranded their Star channels to Utsav with the changes applicable to viewers of those regions. Of course, there's several signs that the branding will be duplicated in more countries.

Vijay TV is the only channel internationally to use that adapt to that branding and Star India is seemingly testing out the Utsav branding through the StarPlus and Star Gold channel in Africa.

Star Life being the only English channel in Africa will have to create some distance from Star India or join the party seeing that they're exiting the audience it's catered for.

The European counterpart manages the Star channels in Africa so it seems logical for the Utsav branding to enter the region the question would have to be why delay the switch, could Star Life have some involvement perhaps?

The Disney Africa Facebook page stopped promoting content from Disney Channel and moved it to the Disney Africa Channels page (formerly Disney Junior Africa) with the main page likely to be used as a portal to promote Disney+.

The UK, Asia, Italy and Australia already lost Disney Channel and Disney Junior so it doesn't seem far fetched to think the same fate awaits the Disney Channels in Africa.

The Walt Disney Company is set out to be another Netflix. Even if that means cutting the cord of several channels in markets where cable is dominating the circuit.

In November, Disney Channel and Disney Junior have seemingly hit the reruns button with the main channel airing reruns of Gigantosaurus.

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

tvN's Parent Company CJ ENM Joins The Anime Business As They Partner Up With Toei Animation

Also Read

Korean entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM has entered into a strategic partnership with leading Japanese animation studio Toei Animation as it continues to expand its global footprint. Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate across both their libraries and team to create new product including television series, films and animation. The tie-up will also allow both to tap each other’s regional markets.

CJ ENM is is Korea’s foremost film and television studio, cable operator and music producer. Best known for multiple Oscar winner Parasite, the company’s film credits also include Snowpiercer and Miss Granny. Series credits range from Crash Landing On You to Goblin: The Lonely And Great God and Hospital Playlist while it is also behind music format I Can See Your Voice; stage credits include the Tony Award winning Broadway production Kinky Boots.

CJ further has a strategic investment in David Ellison’s Skydance Media and is currently co-producing a drama series with the U.S.-based company. It is also involved in the production of the TV-adaptation of Parasite with HBO.

The company has been on a global expansion push over the past year looking to form partnerships with content creators in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Toei has produced numerous series including the Dragon Ball Z and One Piece franchises as well as Galaxy Express 999 and Sailor Moon. Its library numbers 13,100 episodes, including 255 feature films and 288 television series.

The two partners will now work closely to co-produce premium content that appeals to a global audience, be it new projects or those based on existing IP. They have formed a task-force with creatives from both sides to accelerate production.

“Toei Animation’s IP has great potential for transmedia or cross-media storytelling, as they have an existing strong global fandom and appeals to a wide range of age groups. We are also excited to see how CJ ENM’s original content that expands over 5,000 different IPs will be able open new doors of creative possibilities for Toei Animation,” said Jongmin Yi, Senior Vice President of CJ ENM’s Content R&D Center. “Through this strategic partnership, we plan to develop never-seen-before transmedia contents in both Korea and Japan.”

Added Takashi Washio, Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Production Department at Toei Animation, “We look forward to working with CJ ENM, a company that has been recognized for its borderless content and its influence in shaping some of the new trends in the global media entertainment landscape. Combined with Toei Animation’s know-hows from a wealth of experience and accomplishments in producing global animation hits, we are confident that the two companies will be able to create synergy to create global mega-hit contents.”

CJ ENM currently has a content agreement with MultiChoice's Showmax for their K-Dramas and they are pushing to get DStv to bring back tvN.

You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

ViacomCBS: Could BET Africa Be On The Chopping Block?

Also Read

BET has been available in Africa for nearly a decade offering a range of shows such as Real Husbands Of Hollywood, The Wendy Williams Show, Being Mary Jane and The Westbrooks.

As years passed, BET has slowly become redundant with most of their lineup consisting of repeats. Wendy which serves as the sole purpose of the brand is often M.I.A.

Earlier this year, Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager for ViacomCBS Networks Africa and peer lead BET International, announced the end of BET as a linear pay-TV channel in the UK as they divert the brand's focus toward streaming.

It wouldn't surprise me if the same fate awaited BET in Africa perhaps it will even have more success online than it could as a linear service as ViacomCBS continues rolling out Paramount+ across Europe.

You can find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Sony Pictures Networks India And Zee Entertainment Enterprises Are Set To Merge

Also Read

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) announced that they have entered into an exclusive, non-binding Term Sheet to combine both companies’ linear networks, digital assets, production operations and program libraries. The non-binding Term Sheet provides an exclusive negotiation period of 90 days during which ZEEL and SPNI will conduct mutual diligence and negotiate definitive, binding agreements. The combined company would be a publicly listed company in India and be better positioned to lead the consumer transition from traditional pay TV into the digital future.

The merger of ZEEL and SPNI would bring together two leading Indian media network businesses, benefitting consumers throughout India across content genres, from film to sports. The combined company is expected to benefit all stakeholders given strong synergies between ZEEL and SPNI.

Under the terms of the non-binding Term Sheet, Sony Pictures Entertainment, the parent company of SPNI, would invest growth capital so that SPNI has a cash balance of approximately USD $1.575 billion at closing for use to enhance the combined company’s digital platforms across technology and content, ability to bid for broadcasting rights in the fast-growing sports landscape and pursue other growth opportunities. Sony Pictures Entertainment would hold a majority stake in the combined company. Current ZEEL Managing Director & CEO Punit Goenka is to lead the combined company.

About Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI):
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, Japan. SPNI has several channels in Africa including Sony Entertainment Television (SET and SET HD), one of India's leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; MAX, India's premium Hindi movies and special events channel, the digital entertainment.
SPNI reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

About ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.:
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is a media & entertainment powerhouse offering entertainment content to diverse audiences. With a presence in over 173 countries and a reach of more than 1.3 billion people around the globe, ZEEL is among the largest global content companies across genres, languages, and platforms. The company operates brands such as Zee TV, Zee Cinema and Zee World.

SPI International Launches A Digital Version Of Their Top Performing Turkish Channel, Dizi

Also Read

Global media company SPI International unveils their new digital streaming service, Dizi, which will offer a selection of critically-acclaimed Turkish series as well as the best series, telenovelas and soap operas from all over the world depending on the demands of the local markets. Dubbed the Home Of Good Stories, Dizi combines the lean-back and lean-forward viewing experiences with a linear channel offer and a large selection of on-demand content.
.
“The launch of the Dizi streaming service signifies the evolution of the Dizi brand into a fully integrated service that combines linear and on-demand content propositions to bring the best series from Turkey and beyond to all available screens around the globe,” comments Berk Uziyel, CEO at SPI International. “As a part of SPI’s macro strategy, we offer good movies spanning all genres under one roof via FilmBox’s "Home of Good Movies". Now with our Dizi brand, we introduce the "Home of Good Stories", where in addition to some of the most sought-after Turkish series, viewers can expect to see top-quality series with powerful storylines from around the world in the future,” adds Uziyel.
.
The service’s global debut will take place this week at a NEM Dubrovnik event. In reference to the new product, SPI's Chief Marketing Officer Haymi Behar says: “The Dizi app builds on the success of the Timeless Dizi Channel and features around 400 hours of content from an inventory of critically-acclaimed series such as Black Money Love, Kurt Seyit & Shura and Insider with new episodes added monthly. The app will feature English, Polish and Spanish localized interfaces and 13 language options and more will be added in time. The Dizi service will both enable viewers to tune into the linear channel and watch episodes on-demand through their preferred devices at their leisure.”

Subscribers can access the service at www.dizi.com via web, download the mobile app that’s compatible with iOS and Android operating systems or stream their favorite content through the Smart TV app that’s available for Apple TV and soon-to-come for Android TV, Samsung and LG Smart TV devices. Dizi service also aims to integrate with many platforms and partner operators worldwide to provide their subscribers a seamless entertainment experience and the option to discover new series on demand.

For those who were upset with MultiChoice for terminating the channel and those who want to view the content in English. Good news the above fits your tastes.

Explore our content and resources