Insidus Plus

Monday 11 October 2021

Could A Big Brother Africa Revival Be In The Works As More African Markets Start Working On A Local Adaptation Of The Popular Game Show?

Big Brother Africa originally began in 2003 on M-Net featuring contestants from across Africa living in an isolated household to compete for a cash prize. The show was cancelled after one season and picked once again in 2007 before getting cancelled after seven seasons in 2014.

Even though, the popular game show was canned the legacy lived on as Big Brother Naija for the past 5 years as they've been the forefront entertainers not only for Nigeria but the rest of Africa.

Not long ago, Liberia announced plans to launch a localised version of the game show titled Housemates Liberia through AYVTV. With plans to have this game show available in more markets just like Big Brother Naija.

With that in mind, its possible that MultiChoice might be planning to seperate versions of Big Brother Africa just the other day viewers have come across an advert for Big Brother Mzansi which is slated for South Africa in 2022.

The question remains on what affect it will inflict on Big Brother Naija. Considering that there's more than two perhaps MultiChoice in some regions will cut ties with the Nigerian counterpart to divert their focus their own version or offer Big Brother Naija on a limited basis.

Either way, it wouldn't surprise me if MultiChoice were to launch a dedicated channel for this game show titled Big Brother Africa for future as well as past seasons of the game show.

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Friday 20 August 2021

Prediction: G4 Expands Across The UK, Europe And South Africa Through Ginx Esports TV

G4 is an upcoming gaming brand from NBCUniversal which is scheduled to released by the end of the year in the United States and serves as a rival to SPI International's Gametoons and a spinoff to Sky's Ginx Esports TV.

The revived brand will feature new episodes of past series such as Attack Of The Show!, X-Play, G4TV Esports and Ninja Warrior. They'be even greenlit a new series which stars WWE superstar, Xavier Woods.

Even though, there hasn't been any indicator to a possible rollout it's very likely that it will launch under Ginx Esports TV since Sky is owned by Comcast that also manage NBCUniversal International.

It's also possible that some of the content seen on Ginx Esports TV will be scrapped for 'localised version' of G4's upcoming content seeing as both channels have original content in their respective markets.

Comcast recently partnered up with ViacomCBS International to rollout a new streaming service across Europe called SkyShowcase which will see the best of Peacock and Paramount+ rollout under one brand.

Thursday 12 August 2021

Could Nicktoons Eventually Be Discontinued In Africa?

Nicktoons has been available in Africa for almost 7 years offering repeats from ViacomCBS other kids brands such as Nickelodeon and Nick Jr alongside other programming that hasn't been viewed on any of those channels.

For a while now, some of the channel's new content such as 44 Cats, Atchoo!, ALVINNN!!! And The Chipmunks and Ollie's Pack have seemingly been transmitted onto Nickelodeon on a exclusive basis.

Even Nick Jr. assisted the main brand by adopting Peppa Pig.

Nickelodeon even reached a point where they'd bring back series that were cancelled ages ago such as The Fairly OddParents and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and last year the South African feed went as far as including the Nick Jr. block.

Besides Nickelodeon Africa being split into two counterparts, there's also a variation in accessibility.

The South African feed of Nickelodeon (and Nick Jr) can be only be found on DStv on the top tier packages with Nicktoons available on the lower bouquets while the African feed of Nickelodeon is lower bouquets on DStv alongside several pay-tv providers with Nicktoons (and Nick Jr) targeting the top tier packages on DStv.

If you look at it those situating in South Africa have more use for Nicktoons while those who are subscribed to DStv and have access to Nickelodeon are likely ignoring Nicktoons so adding some of the content onto the channel is not only about accessibility but their way of trying to get people to watch the channel.

Since last year, ViacomCBS International started operating a Nick Global feed at times for the African Nickelodeon and Nick Jr channels just not Nicktoons.

There's reasons why Nicktoons could stay onboard and this is due to the lack of kids entertainment out there and the reason it could part ways is pay-tv operators have been religning their offering with the rise in streaming.

A year ago, Disney took away Disney XD and MultiChoice reduced their M-Net Movies channels from 6 to just 4 channels and cut two British channels with further content moving onto other channels.

Nickelodeon could have serve as a placeholder for Nicktoons with certain content being transmitted to their preschool brand, Nick Jr.

MultiChoice could look into other brands such as BBC Kids and DreamWorks Channel.

Friday 6 August 2021

Could M-Net And MultiChoice Eventually Revive Big Brother Africa As A Permanent Channel?

Big Brother is famous reality show that features contestants who live together in a specially constructed house that is isolated from the outside world. The first show which is based in Dutch began in September 1999 and since then became a major franchise with 54 adaptations around the world.

In Africa, we got to see a Pan-African version of the game show from M-Net between 2003 - 2014 before becoming a Naija exclusive by Africa Magic from 2017 and onwards through DStv.

It was recently reported that Liberia would be making its own version of the game show which will launch on DStv channel 399 not sure what's wrong with 198 which begs the question on whether M-Net plans to revive Big Brother Africa with regional adaptations if so how would they able to cram all those shows in 1 year.

My guess would be that MultiChoice and M-Net will eventually operate Big Brother as a full-time brand not just in Nigeria but the rest of Africa as well. I can see some having a joint game show of course.

From what I've gathered, this franchise is all about welcoming talent and unlike Idols SA pop-up channel. This one is not reserved for only auditions.

Last year, MultiChoice's content boss (who died of COVID-19 complications may she R.I.P.) mentioned how popular the show has become and how the viewership has grown exponentially during the pandemic.

With that in mind, a permanent feed doesn't seem far off and I know it's a lot to process but my idea for this channel is to give at least 6 month coverage perhaps reduce the duration to get more markets onto that space and to air repeats for the rest of the year and often run a second channel when the content gets bigger.

While the pop-up ran across all packages or at the ones paying more than R100 this permanent one will be available to the family package (my opinion). Not saying Access customers will lose anything but they'll have open windows when it's live or repeats could work to better save up on costs.

There's other channels on DStv airing new episodes throughout the year which would actually affect the viewership that's why mentioned repeats. It wouldn't also be the best time to deploy such antics during the December holidays since some viewers won't be invested to their TV screens.

Big Brother Africa would join fliekNET which served as a yearly pop-up before becoming a full-time channel. MultiChoice has been Afrocentric and more focused on what they have as opposed to what's still available which is the reason for Honey, Wild Earth, Moja 9.9., Novela Magic, Maisha Magic Movies, kykNET Lekker, Abol TV and Pearl Magic Prime.

Thursday 29 July 2021

How Warner Bros. Discovery Might Help With The Rollout Of HBO Max?

Not long ago, WarnerMedia and Discovery announced they'd merge to form a new company which would bring Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and TLC as well as HBO, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim under one stable known simply as Warner Bros. Discovery.

These companies also have their streaming services like HBO Max and Discovery+ in the United States and around the world.

Now some countries like the UK, viewers have to wait till 2025 to get HBO Max due to a pending contract agreement with Sky. HBO also has an agreement with M-Net and Showmax so should it launch in the UK chances are Africa would have to wait for these contracts to expire.

As mentioned earlier, WarnerMedia and Discovery are merging this new company could form another streaming service which offers the best of Discovery+ and HBO Max specifically in markets like the UK. By the time, HBO Max rolls out in the UK and possibly Africa people would have already been downloading all their content through torrent sites.

This platform could be called Warner TV+

Thursday 15 July 2021

Why eMedia Investments Stopped Distributing Turkish Dramas In English?

Kuiertyd was introduced in October 2018 on eExtra offering a mix of reality, lifestyle and drama series from kykNET as well as some Turkish dramas which was the reason for the Afrikaans block's success.

The first dubbed Turkish show Gebroke Harte (Paramparca) pulled almost half a million viewers following its debut on eExtra. From what I remember these dramas didn't get this much attention when they were available in English.

So pretty much eMedia Investments is the reason Afrikaans folks are giving dubbed programming a chance. From what I remembered most would either 7de Laan or binge watch Devious Maids or Game Of Thrones.

Besides distributing international content, eMedia Investments has catalogue of original programming ranging from Imbewu, Rhythm City and Scandal.

If you look at these dramas none of them are in Afrikaans so dubbing these Turkish dramas is sort of their way of making up for the times wasted and eMedia doesn't have any of its own Afrikaans reality shows so they borrowed from kykNET.

Why go after Turkish? Character I presume they wanted individuals Afrikaans folks can idolize and relate to, second being these shows are time consumers with all the plot twists and lastly accessibility as not a lot of platforms harper these type of shows.

e.tv had tried getting local content onto other channels back in 2013 all of which were black based before it didn't work out so eExtra is targeting an audience SABC 2 has been very distant with.

It looks like eExtra and possibly eMedia will invest more time in Kuiertyd soaps than Telemundo and Azteca soaps as their streaming service seemingly has these shows absent perhaps due to international content rights so maybe it will be obtainable later.

Wednesday 7 July 2021

Is An eBella Revival On eMedia Investments Still On The Cards And Could It Replace Something Like Star Life On Openview?

eBella was a short-lived female-focused channel which was produced by eMedia Investments offering reality, lifestyle and telenovelas.

The actual reason for it's discontinuation is still unknown but from what sources mentioned before eMedia had considered launching a seperate reality channel and telenovela channel.

Now these old rumors seem very likely as several stations on eMedia have undergone some lineup changes especially with Kuiertyd on eExtra.

The only thing safe on eExtra is the local repeats from e.tv and for some reason the Indian dramas but why the Indie though.

Could it be possible that maybe one of the current Indian channels on Openview will be booted soon, in this case Star Life?

eExtra always had Indian dramas through eBella and this was before Star Life was conceived. During that time, viewers still noticed a presence in Turkish (English), Latin American and Mexican telenovelas now that has been occupied by more Indian and Kuiertyd soaps.

Both of which retain a 28.6% share in the schedule. The only difference is there's no similar offering for Kuiertyd like there is for Indie dramas. That wasn't the case before as the offering in that area was much smaller at the time.

Even if Star Life was kicked to the curb there's chances that viewers will be redirected to eExtra as it boosts their viewership particularly for these type of series.

eMedia Investments has signed an agreement with SABC and they're still waiting on two entertainment channels they were promised more info about in June so they'll likely use those channels to cover up for the loss and possibly rollout an additional channel, in this case an eBella type channel.

You know how e.tv airs repeats of Kuiertyd dramas in the mornings well this eBella type channel repeats the Indian dramas at night and feature some other programming.

In the end, it seems possible that maybe e.tv will be distancing themselves or limiting the number of soaps from Latin America and Mexico due to their new streaming service eVOD which seemingly reveals only Turkish dramas with other programming on eExtra missing from the lineup.

Thursday 17 June 2021

What If A Modernized SABC Encore Launched As The Two Channels On OpenView?

SABC and eMedia Investments reached an agreement back in March that would grant OpenView customers access to SABC's 19 radio stations alongside 3 additional channels one of which being a sports channel.

It was stated at the time that SABC Sport alongside the 19 radio stations would roll out in the month of April with the other two being carrying content from SABC archives alongside new programming being unveiled within the next 3 months being April to June likely to crossover onto July.

SABC Education was suspected to be the first one but it was stated the two would be entertainment channels besides that OpenView already has 2 other educational channels that often air the same programs.

The second rumored channel was the Encore channel formerly available on DStv but the idea from SABC was to also give these new channels some fresh content so I derived it into SABC 4 and SABC 5 channels the broadcaster initially plotted to launch before downsizing to just three channels.

Perhaps, SABC Encore a channel SABC hoped to continue on another platform could be the mysterious brand for OpenView except it won't actually return but split into two parts.

The name SABC 4 and 5 could be a better way to "label' these Encore channels.

SABC 4 would be home to all the local dramas and soapies currently seen on SABC 1-3 such as Yizo Yizo, Soul Buddy, Velaphi and Intersections while as SABC 5 will bring in factual, religious and lifestyle entertainment such as Motswako, 50/50, Voetspore and Psalted.

SABC is currently in a TV licence brawl with MultiChoice and is scheduled to also launch a streaming service later in the year with eMedia Investments launching theirs in the month of July.

Read Also:

- SABC Education's status on both DStv and StarSat

- House Of Zwide coming soon to e.tv

- e.tv to become another SABC

- Nickelodeon returns to e.tv

- Analogue TV is going off air soon, be sure to get a decoder when purchasing a TV set

- BritBox to launch in South Africa

- Is an SABC 4 and SABC 5 channel on the way?

- Details on SABC's kids brand (not SABC Education)

- Current status of TV licence

- Linear channels switch to 7 day viewing, Will SABC and e.tv viewers be able to cope

Friday 14 May 2021

Prediction: Linear Channels Switch To 7 Day Viewing

This format has adapted mainly with telenovela/soapies and kids channels such as Telemundo, Zee World, Star Life, Novela Magic, Toonami and JimJam where a program airs new episodes every single day including weekends.

Now imagine if this format where to take a toll on all linear channels. Not only would it reduce repeats but it would mean viewers would get more fresh content within a year.

Streaming services such as Netflix dump full seasons of programs on their platform in a single day. Perhaps streaming is the main factor to this viewing.

Remember the days when you had to watch programs at a particular time and sometimes you miss out now you have options to record and watch later.

This brings us back to the 7 day viewing, as much as it may be a hassle to catch-up on so many shows in so little time, viewers actually got what they wanted which is reduction in repetition.

Repetition will never be cancelled I mean you're still charged if you watch the same program on Netflix.

Let's take a premium channel like M-Net for starters where their viewers aren't kids that can tolerate repeats more than adults and aren't hubs dedicated only to soapies.

When a show ends completely on M-Net, they barely rehash past seasons and hardly bring back old shows.

This format on M-Net would mean viewers would continue to get new shows perhaps even adapt to a different offering while as feeling nostalgic even if that means welcoming old programs from the early 2000s.

7 day viewing has its benefits but if I had to look from another angle it could lead to a reduction in channels since you'd be bringing more content which means more money goes in so if M-Net where to adapt to that you'd need to wonder how long it will be till a channel like M-Net City would cease to exist.

Not implying that it would be those channels perhaps even channels from ViacomCBS, Discovery Inc and AMC International would be up for discussion.

Not everything would be 7 day viewing if you look at the title of this article I never put "all" to linear implying that certain channels due to their position or offering would be excluded from this format.

Thursday 28 January 2021

The Mind Bongling Reason SuperSport Has Two WWE Channels

SuperSlam (former name) launched as a a promotional channel back in August 2019 with some outlets referring to it as The WWE Channel and would continue running until the end of that year. The pop-up version was bombarded with repeats and yes Total Divas would constantly hit the restart button.

From January 2020, the channel was officially renamed into The WWE Channel and became a full-time brand for SuperSport not only that they incorporated NXT and 205 Live which weren't available on SuperSport at the time e.tv lost rights to WWE alongside content that was only found only on the WWE app.

2020 was also the year where COVID-19 became a trendsetter causing setbacks in people's daily lives. On cable, you got to see viewers lose out on several channels while others were reshuffled and that's where SuperSport comes in.

In September 2020, the brand followed Sky in the UK and launched thematic channels. Not only that WWE could also be found on channel 236.

Now here's the issue, SuperSport gave the WWE Channel a different logo on top of that other channel number and viewers woke up and saw two WWE Channels and it wasn't even using the SuperSport logo.

Since then viewers have been complaining about it not only that UFC had its own channel now viewers have a hard time catching up due to the reshuffle. Once again proving that bigger brands (in this case cash cow) get most of the spotlight.

According to their customer care, both channels will remain as they are mirrored channels with the same content, the reason is to try and get WWE closer to their sports content (SuperSport), without affecting those who are accustomed to 128.

Now this is just ridiculous, viewers experience change everyday so I'm certain they're immune to these things look at BBC First and Disney XD for starters. Now tell me where was that energy when those channels were canned. Perhaps the other reason 128 is alive to keep Ginx TV on 127 company since they're both sports and entertainment brands.

The least SuperSport could have done was perhaps make 236 a timeshift channel where viewers get to watch everything an hour later kind of like what M-Net has with its M-Net +1 on channel 901 but hey that would impact negatively as it already is with DStv attempt to cutback on duplication and 236 is not a place for timeshift channels.

So how long do you suppose M-Net +1 will stick around with the likeness of Catch Up and the fact that content from M-Net resurfaces on its other channels. In the end, MultiChoice just proved to everyone once again why viewers should be disappointed and rather downgrade, cancel or look into other alternatives.

Read Also:

- Will Paramount Network replace Comedy Central and MTV?

- Cartoon Network could become a second tier channel, what does this mean for Boomerang?

- SABC, e.tv and DStv ratings for December 2020

- Will Star replace FOX on DStv?

- Will Magnolia Network rollout in Africa? perhaps to even replace Travel Channel

- AEW Dynamite is airing next month

Qubo: Background Information And Why It's Not Successful Despite Having Huge Owners Behind Them

The kids brand has been around since 2006 in the United States as a block and standalone channel and most people there (including other markets) never heard of it.

Most of its shows are forgettable except Veggie Tales and most who knew the brand probably grew up watching something from there at some point.

In May 2006, Ion Media alongside NBCUniversal, Corus Entertainment and Scholastic and Classic Media (now DreamWorks Classics with the old branding being used sometimes) announced that they were launching a new educational brand for kids called Qubo.

The brand would have a programming block on NBC, Telemundo and Ion Television as well as on demand service and seperate TV network.

As stated by Rick Rodriguez (former president of Qubo), the brand would be a bilingual offering content in English and Spanish. The reason they call it Qubo is based on the fact you can use it in both those languages without any changes.

In September 2006, NBC launched the kids block which replaced the Discovery Kids block (owned by Discovery, discontinued it to focus on the kids channel). At launch the lineup consisted of shows such as Jane And The Dragon, 321 Penguins, Veggie Tales and Larryboy.

Now the issue here was all the religious stuff was censored out because they violated the rules of NBC's standards and practices department. Many people including the creator of Veggie Tales hated this so the brand pulled those shows off Qubo in 2009.

Ion Media requested must carry policy from the FC to further expand the brand. A year later, they signed carriage agreements with Advanced Cable Communications and Blue Ridge Communications.

After Comcast acquired NBCUniversal in 2012, NBC and Telemundo announced that they would be discontinuing the Qubo block. NBC replaced theirs with NBC Kids and Telemundo replaced theirs with Mi Telemundo.

This left Ion Television as the only network as the only channel with the Qubo block.

In October 2013, Ion Media Networks acquired Corus Entertainment, Scholastic and by the time Classic Media's shares of Qubo of course these 3 brands obtained programming redistribution from Qubo.

On January 2015, the block on Ion Television was renamed Qubo Kids Corner because it was moved from Friday mornings to Saturday mornings.

Here's why it hasn't been successful even after having huge brands behind them:

1. Many of Qubo's programming isn't all that great. Most of their shows are throwaway and forgettable pieces of nothing. The ones that aren't existed way before Qubo like Veggie Tales and Babar The Elephant.

2. It doesn't exist everywhere. Qubo is affiliated with 67 stations across 36 states and Washington, DC. Many major areas like Baltimore, Merlin and San Diego California are not in Qubo territory.

Add the fact it has no app and you got an epic fail.

Just as Medora Entertainment speculated the channel would be shutting down:

On January 14, 2021, Scripps announced that it will discontinue Ion Plus, Qubo and Shop Ion effective February 28. The spectrum allocated to the networks on the former Ion Media stations will be repurposed to carry the Katz-owned networks starting March 1. with the initial slate of Ion Television O&Os adding those networks following the expiration of Scripps/Katz's existing contracts with other broadcasting companies the day prior, and other stations following suit as contracts with existing affiliates expire throughout 2021 and 2022; in markets where major network affiliates operated by Scripps already carry a Katz-owned network, some will be offloaded to the Ion stations to free up limited spectrum capacity during the ATSC 3.0 transition..

There are rumours that Qubo with be replaced with Ion Kids regardless I don't any kids channel will gain much recognition in the United States since viewers are opting towards streaming.

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