Reminder: BET Unveils New Daily Drama Queendom, Might Rollout On e.tv

BET Africa imagines a more inclusive future with a riveting new daily drama, Queendom. Coming to DStv channel 129 on 22 April, the new scripted daily drama celebrates the strength, resilience, and power of women who shape their own destinies.

 

Following the success of Isono and Redemption, BET Africa’s latest original daily drama is inspired by authentic African royal legacy. Rooted in destiny and centred around the life of Nthandokayise Mthombeni, played by Linda Mtoba, the story presents a world in which women rise, flip patriarchy on its head and reign.

 

Queendom explores themes of cultural heritage, tradition, fate, ancestry, power struggles, identity and survival. It tells the story of Nthandokayise (Linda Mtoba), a maverick community leader in Tsakane, who discovers that she is the rightful heir to the throne of Khahlamba Kingdom. Her mother, Tholakele Mthombeni, played by Sindi Dlathu, has been keeping this secret from her for 30 years.

  

Queendom brings South African acting royalty to TV screens with a distinguished cast including Hamilton Dlamini as King Banzi Khahlamba, Mduduzi Mabaso as Prince Andile Khahlamba, Pallance Dladla as Prince Mcebo Khahlamba and Dawn Thandeka King as Queen MaNdlovu. Other prestigious cast include Slindile Nodangala, Themba Ndaba, Mike Mvelase, Lehasa Moloi, Nhlanhla Kunene and Patrick Mofokeng.

 

Reflecting on her role, Linda Mtoba says, "I am thrilled to be part of 'Queendom,' a story that goes beyond the ordinary and delves into the complexities of love, destiny, and the power within. Ntando is not just a character; she's a symbol of the strength all African women possess. In her story, we witness the collision of two worlds, the power of destiny and the rise of a queen. I can't wait for viewers to embark on this journey with us." 

 

Sindi Dlathu who plays Tholakele Mthombeni, a resilient and protective mother to Nthando says, "Taking on the role of Tholakele in 'Queendom' has been a profound experience. Tholakele beautifully captures the essence of familial bonds, empowerment, and the strength of a mother's love. Mzansi is in for a treat, and I am excited to be part of this extraordinary project. It’s an important story to tell."

 

The multitalented musician and actor Jabulani "Sjava" Hadebe is another notable member of the Queendom cast, playing Prince Mkhuseli Khahlamba, the first born son of King Banzi. The award-winning artist, known for hits like 'Ekseni' and 'uThando,' has crafted the title track of Queendom. The song is titled Wena Wamanzi promises to resonate with the emotional depth of this powerful story. The acclaimed artist notes that, “Being a part of Queendom has been a beautiful experience. I’m honoured to be part of something that pays homage to African culture and I’m honoured to have been able to contribute a piece of my music to the narrative.”

CAST & CREW

 

Production Company: Clive Morris Productions

 

Directors: Andries van der Merwe (Head Director), Athi Patela  and Menga Nhlabathi (Series Directors)

 

Head Writer: Lunga Radebe

 

Director of Photography: Chuck Manganyi

Creative Producer: Kayla Ahmed Jardine

Show Runner: Sayitsheni Mdakhi

 

Wardrobe: Phindile Mlambo

 

Make Up: Mmabatho Malinda

Key Cast: Linda Mtoba, Sindi Dlathu, Hamilton Dlamini, Mduduzi Mabaso, Pallance Dladla, Dawn Thandeka King, Jabulani "Sjava" Hadebe, Slindile Nodangala, Nhlanhla Kunene and Patrick Mofokeng, Themba Ndaba, Mike Mvelase, Sibulele Gcilitshana and Samkelo Ndlovu.

 

Synopsis: Ntandokayise Mthombeni, a maverick community leader in Tsakane, discovers that she is the rightful heir to the throne of the Khahlamba Kingdom. She must overcome the ruthless and immoral Prince Mcebo in a life-threatening battle to fulfil her destiny as Queen.

 

Premise: Ntando, a resilient and street-smart law student, battles financial hardships while juggling multiple jobs to support her mother, step-father and loving boyfriend in Tsakane. Unbeknownst to her, she is the long-lost heir to the throne of the Khahlamba Kingdom. Her mother, Tholakele, had kept this a secret, having fled for her life from the Khahlamba Kingdom over 30 years ago. Hurt that he is not next in line, Prince Mcebo, is set to destroy the kingdom through his greed and corruption. Will Ntando awaken to the significance of saving her people and the sacred life-sustaining spring water at the heart of the Khahlamba Kingdom?

The Canal+ Effect: How The French Company Might Arrange MultiChoice Going Forward?

As some readers are aware, Canal+ is looking to finalize a takeover deal with MultiChoice. This sees Mzansi Magic, KykNET and Africa Magic under the management of a French based company Vivendi whose been looking to build their global portfolio. 

There's been many questions as to how Canal+ will align MultiChoice's assets and below is what we believe could be the final outcome:

StudioCanal

As the name implies, StudioCanal is a French based film production and distribution company that currently owns the third largest film library in the world. This is where ROK Studios resided after it was acquired in 2019 with MultiChoice Studios to follow. 

Interesting enough, StudioCanal also offers subsidiaries of the same name within Austria, Germany and the UK. If I had to guess StudioCanal Africa could be on the final piece of this puzzle.

MultiChoice Studios resides within 22 million households while StudioCanal resides within 8 million. Combining this would make it an African powerhouse and probably leading Africa to have its own subsidiary within the French company. 

StudioCanal is also home to the linear ROK channel and will likely be where Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic and KykNET reside.

M7 Group/Canal+ Luxembourg S.à.r.l.

M7 Group is a Luxembourg based and also one of Europe's leading pay-tv operators offering culture and language specific packages in eight countries including Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. 

As we've seen in recent years, Canal+ has been buying out companies as a means to expand. MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv packages would serve as distant relatives and also another means to get the M7 Group services into Africa.

Metropolitan France/Canal+ Premium

This section is dedicated to their linear offering which consist of self titled brands part of which reside in Africa like Canal+ Discover and Canal+ Sport. Even SPI International brands like FilmBox Africa and even FightBox have a dedicated section in this category. 

In terms of content, M-Net and SuperSport will be handled under this section. They are expected to be remain in operation but as far as branding is concerned that is yet to be determined. 

M-Net had been pivoting toward streaming in recent years by reducing their movie offering even shutting down their secondary network Me. If you look at it, M-Net could get a proper send-off or at least by name ideally it could rebrand to Canal+ Premium/Canal+ First.

Thereafter, M-Net could remain as a trademark for a collection of local channels like Pearl Magic, Africa Magic and Maisha Magic. Never got the sense in having M-Net as a singular brand and also for a collection of locally curated channels.

If the plan was to incorporate the Canal+ trademark on sports ideally Canal+ SuperSport would make a lot of sense. This is something that they could apply temporarily and overtime simplify the name to Canal+ Sport to get viewers accustomed. 

Staylive To Distribute WBD Cycling And Motorcycling Content

Spring Media company, Staylive, was first founded in 2013, now delivering over 1,000 live sports events per week to audiences globally.

A selection of WBD Sports cycling and motorcycle sport events will be available on Staylive through pay-per-view and subscription packages in markets independent of exclusive WBD platforms and broadcast partnerships.

The cross-country cycling tournament UCI Mountain Bike World Series which kicked off the 2024 season last week in Brazil is the first sport event to stream on Staylive. The competition will also be available on WBD platforms on Max, Eurosport and discovery, as well as across several local and national broadcasters.

WBD programming also includes the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) and UCI Track Champions League.

Matt Parker, CCO of Staylive, said: “Partnering with WBD Sports for this historic season of cycling and motorcycling events is a testament to Staylive’s technical capabilities and commercial expertise. We are immensely proud to work with and alongside industry powerhouse, WBD Sports, as they secure new and innovative ways to maximise content distribution and reach. This collaboration highlights our ability to meet the high technical demands of streaming world-class sports events, while enhancing the fan experience across the globe.”

Trojan Paillot, SVP Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndications at WBD Sports Europe, added: “Our partnership with Staylive demonstrates the commitment of WBD Sports in serving sports fans around the world with premium and diverse content from leading sports formats and properties. Through this partnership, we are not just distributing sports content, we are creating a more accessible and immersive experience for fans, no matter where they are. This is a prime example of how we’re increasing our ability to meet the evolving needs of our audience and to bring them closer to the sports they love.”

PlayKids TV FAST Channel Launches In U.K. & Ireland

PlayKids TV is distributed in the U.K. and Ireland through Netgem’s ISP partners such as TalkTalk TV, Community Fibre TV and BetterTV. The FAST channel offers families educational entertainment with curated videos organized around key moments of the day, including morning routines, afternoon play and bedtime.

The scheduling of the channel allows kids to ease into the day with cozy stories and original songs such as “Let’s Get Ready,” which helps youngsters get ready in the morning. In the afternoon, children will find content on PlayKids TV based on themes such as arts and crafts, playing together nicely and songs about animals. In the evening, little ones can enjoy winding down stories and bedtime songs.

Talking Tom & Friends, Earth to Luna and The Hive are among the offerings.

Ben Pugh, head of partnerships at Sandbox Group, said: “With over ten years in the children’s media business, we know how to engage kids best throughout the day and that entertainment alone isn’t enough. So, our focus is on providing fun educational videos for families that children love and parents can feel good about. We’re excited to be able to offer quality, curated learning content for free for families via Netgem TV’s FAST service.”

Mathieu Ghariani, director of commercial operations at Netgem, said: “We are thrilled to include PlayKids TV among our 130 FAST channels, which are distributed as part of our service in the U.K. through TalkTalk TV and numerous other operators. Netgem’s recent announcement regarding the expansion of our FAST service into new territories, dubbed FAST Lane, underscores our commitment to providing Telecom Operators with an exceptional experience while maximizing revenue for both operators and content owners. The addition of exclusive and reputable children’s content such as Playkids TV to our service exemplifies our dedication to a robust content strategy aimed at delivering a ‘Telco grade’ experience to our valued clients.”

Pending Investigation: The Competition Tribunal Orders MultiChoice To Televise Their Sporting Content To Openview Consumers

The Competition Tribunal has granted interim relief to eMedia in its fight with MultiChoice over the carriage of sublicensed sports from the SABC on its Openview free-to-air satellite platform.

eMedia took MultiChoice, which owns SuperSport, to the Competition Commission last year after the pay-television broadcaster refused to allow the SABC to broadcast rugby and cricket games on its channels it broadcasts via Openview.

According to a statement by the tribunal on Monday, eMedia has accused MultiChoice of “abusing its alleged dominant position by concluding anticompetitive and restrictive sublicensing agreements with the SABC”.

“eMedia alleges that MultiChoice prevents the SABC from broadcasting major sporting events (such as rugby and cricket games – including World Cup tournaments), sublicensed to the SABC, on the SABC’s channels carried on eMedia’s Openview platform.”

eMedia lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission last year and subsequently also sought interim relief from the tribunal to “stop MultiChoice from enforcing the restriction in existing sublicensing agreements or including such restrictions in any new sublicensing agreements until the merits of the case are decided”.

“The tribunal has granted eMedia interim relief pending the final determination of its complaint to the commission, or for a period of six months, whichever occurs first,” it said.

From Kuiertyd To Guilty Pleasures: eExtra Revives Timeless Dizi Channel, tvN And Eurochannel After Being Ousted From DStv

eExtra is a South African general entertainment channel operated by eMedia Investments. Since its inception in 2017, the channel has become exclusive home of international stories viewed in Asia, Turkey, India and now Europe.

Following its departure from Latin America, eExtra has slowly alienated its lineup from other channels viewed on DStv. It usually offers between 6-8 primetime shows which is more than what any of its other competitors offer on the platform e.g. Telemundo. 

Since 2022, eMedia Investments had been going through a carriage dispute with MultiChoice for eExtra alongside eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz. These channels have gone under numerous extensions with the final ending by July 2024.

eExtra's purge from DStv would not only lead to less programming but also a decline in revenue and possible content cuts. Although this channel would remain on Openview and in a separate agreement with Starsat consumption will decline.

Out of all 4 channels, eExtra has the least amount of repeats and also the most amount of local airtime. It's third party offering consists of purged offerings from thee DStv platform such as Timeless Dizi Channel (Turkey), tvN (Asia) and Eurochannel (Europe).

Timeless Dizi Channel was a general entertainment channel home to various content produced in Turkey. MultiChoice opted to only make it a pop-up channel and unlike most brands on the list several content had resurfaced on DStv.

The brand is known for shows like Kind Van Die Noodlot (Asla Vazgeçmem), Voëlvry (Kuzgun) and Kurt En Shura (Kurt Ve Shura).

tvN was also added as a pop-up channel by March 2021 and MultiChoice opted not to make it permanent. Since then, CJ ENM has been trying to revive the channel on another platform but was only successful in select shows on eMedia Investments' linear channels.

The brand is known for shows like Cheese In The Trap, Tails Of The Nine Tailed and Tomorrow With You.

Eurochannel was more of an underrated channel offering short form content various European countries including Germany, Denmark, Romania and Poland. This channel was exclusive to DStv Stream by 2015 and unlike Ginx eSports TV wasn't carried full-time.

The brand is known for shows like Soos Nag En Dag (Kukačky) and Sommerdahl Moorde (Dan

Sommerdahl - Todliche Idylle).

Possibly Cancelled??? As Production Is Paused On MTV's Siesta Key After 5 Seasons

Sources connected to the show tell us the series is not considered officially canceled by the network ... as there’s a possibility it could return in the future. Still, the current incarnation of the show has come to an end after 5 seasons.

Many fans online, including several Reddit threads, have been wondering for months when they would get a 6th season of the show -- which hit an all-time ratings low in season 5 before airing its finale in January 2023.

The show came on the air in July 2017 and quickly became a hit in the first 4 seasons, which were filmed in Sarasota County, Florida. In season 5, the show pivoted and documented cast member Juliette Porter and her friends as they moved to Miami.

Longtime cast member Amanda Miller indicated a while back the show was likely canned ... writing on Instagram, "For the last 5 years these people (& a few more) have become more than friends, they’re my family. It’s been an honor doing this show with them by my side and the memories we’ve all made together are unforgettable & I will be carrying them with me forever."

The series had its fair share of off-screen drama ... mainly surrounding former cast member, Alex Kompothecras. After the show's debut, animal rights activists called for a boycott of the show after Alex was associated with a friend group that cruelly dragged a live shark behind a boat.

Alex was later fired from the show in 2020 over past racist social media posts. The show, which was executive-produced by Alex's father, went on without him for 2 more seasons.

 Source: TMZ

Could M-Net And MultiChoice Look To Close The 1Max Channel On DStv Soon?

Last month, M-Net and MultiChoice had shuttered both 1Magic and Me channels from the DStv platform. As they consolidate further content to boost their streaming endeavors with the pay-tv company that had since then folded selected content on 1Max.

1Max is a Showmax based channel that is home to African originals alongside third party content. The channel kicked off its launch with Red Ink and Tracking Thabo Bester that garnered traction on Showmax alongside international shows like The Good Doctor and Ted.

From what has been established here, this channel was basically added as a replacement to both 1Magic and Me. But that may not be the case as Me was a low tiered brand while 1Max which is just 1Magic with more content is reserved on Compact+.

Why would Compact+ consumers care about 1Max if they have Showmax???

The channel was only unveiled when 1Magic and Me had shuttered with the media that wasn't informed beforehand about 1Max. If this was a channel MultiChoice intended to keep some marketing would have been included or notice days prior. 

Now we need to look at it like this 1Max is an absolute mess content wise. The channel features a chunk of repeats from other M-Net channels, retained 1Magic's music and sitcom block and finally retained Me's presence by 2 hours.

When M-Net City and VUZU merged to form Me although we'd get less adrenaline from the city it did however bundle lot of fiction. 1Max took a dunk on that and made it far worse as variety had been killed and overshadowed by those repeats. 

If 1Max was a channel MultiChoice intended to keep why not inform loyal consumers of Me about the channel or new season of The Good Doctor being broadcast. Another consumers in the rest of Africa are told to enjoy the 1Max experience on Showmax. 

Almost as if they're trying to destroy any chance this channel has of survival and distance consumers from the content. It wouldn't seem far fetched if 1Max was merely being used as a pawn to lure DStv consumers to Showmax and overtime just closed.

1Max is airing Wura which serves as a West African adaptation of The River perhaps the channel will close once it comes to an end similar to how The River was initially meant to close 1Magic before getting extended.

May 2024 On DreamWorks Channel Across Africa | Returning Shows Including The Adventures Of Puss In Boots And Dragons: Race To The Edge | Weekend Movies With Ice Age

NEW EPISODES (53-65)

The Adventures of Puss In Boots 

From Monday, 6th May

Weekdays at 6.25am, 7.45pm

Weekends at 11.00am, 4.50pm, 10.40pm

With the portal to the Netherworld wide open,

Puss, Dulcinea and their fellow San Lorenzans

must horde off a stream of monsters wreaking

havoc in town. Together, along with the Junior

Puss Squad, they swing into action as they battle

these creatures and the mysterious force behind them, travel to the mystical Netherworld, and try to save San Lorenzo from destruction.

NEW EPISODES (53-65)

Dragons: Race to the Edge 

From Monday, 6th May

Weekdays at 7.20pm

After defeating Viggo and destroying the Dragon

Eye, the calm doesn’t last long as Hiccup learns

the Hunters remain a threat led by a new villain

who can control Dragons! Now, Hiccup, Toothless

and the Riders must battle the Hunters like never

before with help from new and old allies. But after

a series of shocking revelations, Hiccup learns

that the true leader of the Dragon Hunter is

somebody he never expected who is after

something that threatens the course of the dragon‐kind forever! The race is on for the Riders to find this vital piece before it’s too late.

WEEKEND MOVIE

Ice Age 

Saturday 18th May at 9.20am

Sunday 19th May at 7.15am  

Twenty-thousand years ago, Earth is a wondrous,

prehistoric world filled with great danger, not the

least of which is the beginning of the Ice Age. To

avoid a really bad frostbite, the planet's majestic

creatures - and a few small, slothful ones - begin

migrating south . The story revolves around sub zero heroes: a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, a sloth and a prehistoric combination of a squirrel and rat that is known as Scrat.

WEEKEND MOVIE

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown

Saturday 25th May at 9.20am

Sunday 26th May at 7.15am 

With global warming threatening their once-icy

domain with widespread flooding, Manny (Ray

Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo) and Diego (Denis

Leary) set out to find a safe haven. Along the way,

another mammoth (Queen Latifah), who thinks

she is an opossum, joins the travelers on their

perilous quest.