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Channel Closure: WildEarth Will Stop Airing On DStv By The End Of April, Freeview And ROKU Might Follow Soon

WildEarth is an interactive wildlife channel which brings viewers closer to nature with live safaris within the hotspot of Africa. Founded i...

Friday, March 29, 2024

Development Alert: Baby Shark's Big Show Likely Cancelled On Nickelodeon After 3 Seasons As New Episodes Rollout On Nick Jr.

Baby Shark's Big Show! is an animated children's television series based on the " Baby Shark " brand from the South Korean company Pinkfong. SmartStudy, Pinkfong's parent company, co-produces the show with Nickelodeon Animation Studio from the United States. 

In South Korea, Baby Shark's Big Show! debuted on the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) with a Christmas special on December 25, 2020 with the full series from September 2021. In the United States, it premiered on Nickelodeon on December 11, 2020. 

Not long ago, it was reported that Paramount Global had removed various Nickelodeon titles from their lineup. This included Paramount+ originals Big Nate and Rugrats alongside past series like Are You Afraid Of The Dark? and Middlemost Post. 

Paramount Global which is undergoing a possible restructure amidst a possible acquisition had consumed various debts. The latter to have been axed are a part of corporate write offs which sees some of these projects getting erased from existence.
Amidst this shakeup, several consumers had spotted new episodes of Baby Shark’s Big Show on the Nick Jr. channel. As some readers are aware, all primetime titles are usually folded under Nickelodeon with preschool stuff under a dedicated block.

Sister stations for Nickelodeon are usually bombarded with repeats and usually whenever a current program from Nickelodeon is made available on an exclusive basis it usually signals a possible cancellation. 

Although there's no official confirmation, Nickelodeon has been very distant from most of their projects. Nickelodeon serving as co-producer alongside Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) means that the show could be picked up by another platform.

Paramount+ Removes 10 Nickelodeon Titles Including ‘Blue’s Clues & You!’ & ‘Rugrats’ Series

Paramount+ has purged 10 Nickelodeon original series, following the removal of other Nick titles from the platform over the past several months.

The list includes Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019-2022), Blue’s Clues & You! (2019), It’s Pony (2020-2022), Middlemost Post (2021-2022), Ollie’s Pack (2020), Ryan’s Mystery Playdate (2019-2023), Santiago of the Seas (2020), That Girl Lay Lay (2021-2024) as well as the made-for-Paramount+ Big Nate (2022)and Rugrats (2021).

This is said to be part of content removal addressed in the most recent Q4 earnings call on February 28. Targeting Nick titles is a little surprising as, according to parent Paramount Global, the network’s Kids & Family content consistently ranks among the most watched and re-watched programming on Paramount+.

“In connection with our continued review of our international content strategy, during the first quarter of 2024 we made a strategic decision to focus on content with mass global appeal,” the company said in its 10-K filing. “As part of this, we are rationalizing original content on Paramount+, especially internationally, and improving the efficiency of our linear network programming. As a result, we have reviewed our expansive global content portfolio and are removing select content from our platforms.”

Paramount expects “to recognize additional programming charges that we currently expect to be in the range of approximately $700 million to $900 million during the first quarter of 2024.”

Thursday, March 28, 2024

New Series Alert: New English/Afrikaans Dubbed Telenovela "Innocence" Debuts This April On SABC 3

After KykNET & Kie debuted a 2 hour timeslot for Turkish dramas as a rival offering to eExtra's Kuiertyd. The public broadcaster is next to join in the war of Istanbul with the addition of a new daily drama from the 1st April at 16:30 titled Innocence.

Synopsis for Innocence:

The life of Bahar, who leads an ordinary life, will change forever when her daughter becomes a victim of violence. On the night of February 24, a young girl is found who was thought to be dead. Ela Yüksel turned 19 that day. Her mother accuses businessman İlker Ilgaz. İlker is about to marry İrem. With the mother's accusations, İlker and Ela's forbidden love, the bloody truths of all three families will come to light.

Innocence (also known as Masumiyet) starred Hülya Avşar as Hale Ilgaz, Deniz Çakır as Bahar Yüksel, Mehmet Aslantuğ as Harun Orhun, İlayda Alişan as Ela Yüksel and Serkay Tütüncü as İlker Ilgaz

It premiered on 24 February 2021 and concluded on 24 May 2021 with a total of 13 episodes on NOW. Formerly known as FOX, the channel is home to shows such as Om Elke Draai (Her Yerde Sen), Dokter Ali (Mucize Doctor), Doodsondes (Yasak Elma).

The news of the channel's first ever Afrikaans dubbed telenovela comes after the public broadcaster had moved further Afrikaans shows to SABC 3. As they look to restructure SABC 3 as a multilingual brand as seen with sister networks SABC 1 and SABC 2.

“We are very excited to launch this slot, and we couldn’t have done it with more apt drama. The story in INNOCENCE is aligned to the times of our modern society as it explores the unfortunate realities of transactional relationships, fame/popularity, cyber bullying, and gender-based violence that plague our modern society. We have seen the staggering increase in popularity of Turkish drama the world over, and South Africa is no exception. We have selected the most recently produced and compelling drama titles to ensure our viewers will be highly entertained on a daily basis”- Sane Zondi, S3 Head of Channel.

Reminder: The Second Season Of High-Stakes Medical Drama, SkyMed, Premieres Exclusively On Universal TV In Africa On 1 April

NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer today announced the territory premiere of the second season of high-stakes medical drama, SkyMed, on Universal TV in Africa. The young medics and pilots flying air ambulances return for more life, death, and drama in the skies of remote Northern Canada. The new season will air every Monday at 20:00 CAT from April 1, exclusively on Universal TV in Africa, with episodes available on Universal+ immediately thereafter.

SkyMed’s second season promises new hookups, heartbreaks, and challenges on the job as the medevac service expands into new territory, throwing the flight crew into intense new emergencies at work and in their personal lives.

The series was inspired by creator Julie Puckrin’s sister and brother-in-law who met flying air ambulances. Returning to SkyMed is Natasha Calis (The Possession, The Firm) as Nurse Hayley Roberts, Morgan Holmstrom (Day of the Dead, I Still See You) as no-nonsense Nurse Crystal Highway, Praneet Akilla (Nancy Drew, October Faction) as First Officer Chopper, “Ace” Aason Nadjiwon (Step Up All In, Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce) as golden boy pilot Captain Austen Bodie, Mercedes Morris (Between, Slasher) as First Officer Lexi Martine, Thomas Elms (I Still See You, Timeless) as icy-cool pilot Captain Nowak, and Kheon Clarke (The Magicians, Supermans & Lois) as Nurse Tristan Green. Braeden Clarke (Impulse, Run Woman Run) reprises his recurring role as Crystal’s charming on-again-off-again love interest, Jeremy Wood, Emilia McCarthy (Zombies) returns as Madison and Aaron Ashmore (Ginny & Georgia, Veronica Mars, The Thaw) returns as Wheezer, the wise-cracking big brother that everyone looks up to.

Cast joining the second season includes Sydney Kuhne (Ginny & Georgia) as fiery new flight medic Stef, Ryan Ali (The Hummingbird Project) as handsome young pilot Reese, and Nadine Whiteman-Roden (Faith Heist) as Dr. Yana Noah.

SkyMed is produced by Piazza Entertainment in association with CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster, and CBS Studios. The series is created by Julie Puckrin, who also serves as executive producer along with Vanessa Piazza and Gillian Hormel. Outside of Canada, SkyMed is distributed internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Season 2 of SkyMed premieres on April 1 at 20:00 CAT, exclusively on Universal TV in Africa, with new episodes every Monday. The episodes will also be available on Universal+.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Moonbug Entertainment To Rollout New Children's Channel Blippi & Friends In MENA With More International Territories To Be Added Soon

Candle Media-owned kids’ entertainment outfit Moonbug Entertainment has launched its second linear channel, Blippi & Friends, catering to young audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Distributed by Intigral on Jawwy TV and stc tv, Blippi & Friends is a 24/7 linear channel named after Moonbug’s live-action pre-school brand, targeting children aged four to eight years old. It includes a daily segment tailored to younger pre-schoolers.

The channel’s lineup boasts a diverse array of Blippi shows such as Blippi Visits, Blippi Draws, and the Blippi Game Show, alongside other popular franchises like Meekah and the feature-length special Big Dino Adventure. The daily segment for pre-schoolers showcases beloved shows including CoComelon, Little Angel, and Arpo.

Intigral’s streaming platforms Jawwy TV and stc tv extend the reach of Blippi & Friends across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Nicolas Eglau, Managing Director of EMEA, APAC and Global Distribution at Moonbug Entertainment, said: “Following the successful launch of our Moonbug linear channel, which is now available in 83 countries across the globe, we are delighted to announce the launch of the brand new 24/7 Blippi & Friends channel in the Middle East and North Africa.

“Designed to enrich families and their daily routines, this channel has been curated with the local market in mind, with Blippi not only sharing bespoke messages but celebrating regional holidays and moments too. The launch of this channel marks our next step in bringing great entertainment to children across the world.”

Moonbug, known for its success on YouTube, previously introduced its first linear pay TV channel in South Africa in 2022, with MultiChoice incorporating the Moonbug Kids channel into its lineup.

Patrice MotsepeIs In Talks To Join Canal+ In A Bid To Acquire MultiChoice Group

Billionaire Patrice Motsepe is in talks with Groupe Canal+ to join the French broadcaster’s multibillion-dollar bid for broadcaster MultiChoice Group, according to people familiar with the matter.

Bringing South Africa’s richest black man into the deal would likely help the French media conglomerate meet the country’s stringent black ownership requirements, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is still private.

Representatives for both Canal+ and Motsepe’s investment company, African Rainbow Capital, declined to comment. Discussions are at an early stage and there is no guarantee that an agreement will be reached, said the people.

Canal+ has built up a holding above 35% in MultiChoice, South Africa’s biggest pay-TV group, triggering a mandatory takeover offer. If the Vivendi Group-owned French broadcaster can navigate the country’s limits on foreign media ownership, it will gain greater access to African markets, home to the world’s fastest-growing and youngest population.

Canal+ is expected to make a formal offer for MultiChoice at R125/share, valuing the company at about R55-billion, before 8 April for consideration by the board’s independent members, said the people. The French company had pushback from MultiChoice on its earlier offer of R105/share.

Formed in South Africa in 1985, MultiChoice expanded across Africa in the early 1990s with packages including live English football matches and local shows. The company was spun off from Naspers in 2019. It also owns Showmax, the popular video streaming service and Netflix rival.

Vivendi aims to combine its local Canal+ operations with MultiChoice, creating a group with almost 50 million subscribers and resources to invest more in local content and sports.  

Credits: Bloomberg and TechCentral

BOMBSHELL. WildEarth Goes On A Rant And Exposes Lucrative Business Deal With MultiChoice's DStv

During the week, it was mentioned by WildEarth's CEO that they have made numerous attempts to in securing carriage fees for their channel on DStv. Following unsuccessful attempts, the company is looking to take their channel off DStv by the end of April.

The only way WildEarth can remain on the DStv platform would be for MultiChoice to pay for the channel and not vice versa.

Earlier the company had mentioned that MultiChoice would rather pay for National Geographic and National Geographic Wild. But through ongoing interaction with viewers some minor details had been revealed about their agreement with DStv.

Here’s a little David and Goliath story - although at this point, it is difficult to see how David is not going to get...

Posted by Wildearth on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
On top of their financial woes, WildEarth has been paying MultiChoice to keep the channel on air. For 4 straight years, WildEarth on top of generating some ad revenue had to split part of those earnings to keep their space on DStv and cover other expenses. 

Taking to account such deals are not unlawful but haven't proven to be favorable either. It's like running your own website where the publisher (DStv) offers ad platforms (WildEarth) a space to promote in exchange for money with ad platforms getting exposure.

Based on circumstances, it's "likely" WildEarth approached MultiChoice and only agreed to this as they were hoping to salvage more out of this. Not a lot of people were familiar with the brand as seen with flagship show SafariLIVE it seems like the only logical conclusion. 

Another would be that MultiChoice positioned WildEarth as a business type channel as seen with former channels VOOV and TV Mall.

MultiChoice had agreed to carry WildEarth as a pop-up channel initially under those terms. Based on figures opted to continue this agreement while WildEarth running on the platform was hoping to join the league of Warner Bros. Discovery and BBC Studios. 

Donate to WildEarth: click here 
Petition to keep WildEarth on DStv: click here 

Drafted Version: April 2024 On Cartoon Network And Cartoonito Across Africa | Returning Shows Featuring Craig Of The Creek And Ninjago | Earth Day Stunt Featuring Cocomelon And Bugs Bunny Builders | More

Cartoon Network 

• Craig Of The Creek (New Episodes): Following the adventures of Craig Williams and his two friends, Kelsey Pokoly and John Paul `JP' Mercer, as they explore the untamed wilderness of the Creek, which is dominated by tribes of children.
• Jellystone (New Episodes): Yogi Bear, Cindy Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and other residents of Jellystone cross paths in fun and ridiculous ways, turning everyday activities into hilarious pandemonium.
• Ninjago: Dragon's Rising (New Episodes): Two teenagers from different worlds use their Ninja powers to defend dragons from villains who want to harvest the dragons' life forces.
• Pokemon: The Power Of Us: Ash and strangers with nothing in common must work together to save the people and Pokémon of Fula City when a series of threats interrupt the annual Wind Festival. 
• Mewtwo Strikes Back: Dr Fuji creates a living weapon by cloning legendary Pokémon Mew. But when Mewtwo develops his own plan to destroy the world, Ash, Pikachu, and their friends must prevent catastrophe.
• Teen Titans GO! Vs. Teen Titans: The Master of Games, a villain who travels through the multiverse, abducts the Teen Titans in order to take over the world. He soon pits them against another version of themselves to destroy Earth.
• Teen Titans: Trouble In Tokyo:Teen Titans follow Saico-dek to Tokyo and learn about the Brushoman legend. Inspector Daizo, Head of Tokyo Troopers, hunts down Teen Titans one by one by implicating them in the murder of Saico-Dek.

Cartoonito 

Moley (New Episodes): Revolving around an adventurous mole's quest with friends to broker peace between humans and moles. Following the underground adventures of the charmingly optimistic charmingly young mole, Moley.
• Earth Day Stunt including Cocomelon, Bugs Bunny Builders, Zig & Sharko and Mr. Bean.
• All Day Marathon of Mr. Bean, Zig And Sharko, Masha And The Bear, Lu And The Bally Bunch, Grizzly And The Lemmings, Cocomelon and Batwheels.

Nickelodeon's Live-Action Slate On Possible Hiatus Following Release Of ID's Documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV

During the week, Investigation Discovery unveiled a new four part documentary series, Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV. With a fifth episode set to rollout in the coming weeks which sees various former Nickelodeon stars talk about their experience on the network.

Episode 3 garnered the most attention after All That and Drake And Josh star Drake Bell came forward to address the abuse he experienced as a minor. Since then, several notable figures came forward to voice their support with talks over the matter still ongoing. 

Nickelodeon had responded to the revelations on Quiet On Set but some child actors feel more needs to be done by the network:

“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct. Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts, and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.”

Schneiderverse hold on Nickelodeon 

Following the release of Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, Nickelodeon has distanced themselves from anything Schneider this includes Henry Danger and Danger Force shows that form part of the Dangerverse and also the last of Dan's masterpieces. 

In 2019, Nickelodeon did an investigation on misconduct in the workplace and fired Dan Schneider after investigation concluded. Although, he has no involvement in any projects from the network he is still being credited amongst properties.

Drake Bell after coming forward on Quiet On Set had criticized the network for keeping these shows on air for several years. It has caused further live-action on the channel to be boycott with their future in jeopardy.

As some readers aware, Nickelodeon currently has only two live-action projects on the air, The Really Loud House and Tyler Perry's Young Dylan. Following cancelations to Danger Force and That Girl Lay Lay, these shows are likely to suffer the same effect if not worse.

We're not saying Nickelodeon won't offer any further live-action but the toxicity that persisted on previous projects would endanger their success rate. If anything, it's possible Nickelodeon could put more attention to their animation slate. 

Something we've kind of seen Disney Channel put more emphasis as they've got a new movie on Big City Greens coming out alongside a new season of Phineas And Ferb. Monsters At Work which was previously a Disney+ first had moved to the network for Season 2.

Although Nickelodeon doesn't have a consistent lineup of content its one of the very few brands alongside Disney Channel to offer anything noteworthy as all other content is streamed these days.