'Black Swan' moment for Canal+'s MultiChoice facing a Y2K crisis at midnight as Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to pull 12 TV channels from DStv on 31 December 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

Canal+'s MultiChoice is ensnared in a "Black Swan" moment and is staring a TV-type of Y2K destruction in the face due to the threatening, massive loss of pay-TV content at midnight tonight when Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will pull its 12 TV channels from DStv when its channel carriage contract runs out.

Canal+ and MultiChoice will not only lose these 12 TV channels without a new deal, but also all of WBD's content like HBO from M-Net (DStv 101) and the M-Net Movies channels on DStv, as well as everything supplied by all of Warner's TV studios and film studios to M-Net, but also to the struggling Showmax streamer run by MultiChoice and Comcast's NBCUNiversal.

Twenty-five years after the so-called Y2K bug that threatened to shut down computers on New Year's Eve before the arrival of the year 2000, the clock is ticking down to midnight tonight for an utterly massive and unthinkable loss of content from DStv in terms of TV channels, shows and movies.

MultiChoice's new French Canal+ bosses, who have been closing the money taps for the past few months since October, have so far failed to sign a new channel carriage agreement with WBD, which expires at the end of 2025.

Without a new multi-year channels carriage agreement, TV channels from CNN International, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Food Network, TLC, HGTV, TNT and several more will all vanish from DStv on 1 January 2026.

An M-Net insider told me that the threat represents a "true extinction-level event" for legacy M-Net's value proposition for DStv subscribers.

Ironically, the possible destruction of M-Net's premium content pipeline from America, through Warner, comes on the eve of M-Net's 40th anniversary year in 2026, with M-Net became synonymous with HBO as the home of premium shows that M-Net acquired exclusively for DStv subscribers in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

Negotiations between Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery continued this week.

According to several sources, Maxime Saada, Canal+ CEO in Paris, as well as David Mignot, the recently installed new Canal+ Africa boss in Johannesburg, are adamant that the financial exploitation by third-party content providers like WBD must end.

They apparently want to send a "strong and clear signal" that MultiChoice under Canal+ control and ownership "will no longer simply pay content providers their asking price".

One source tells me it's a "cost-cutting principle" and to "definitively indicate that MultiChoice's days as simply a price taker are over under Canal+" to all other entertainment and sports content distributors whose international contracts will also be expiring and coming up for renewal talks.

Warner Bros. Discovery on the other hand, is adamant to get paid what Warner knows its TV channels and content are worth, including its extremely desirable HBO series, as well as its studios' overall output volume.  

Insiders say the fear is that Warner Bros. Discovery's channels going dark, together with the ripping away of HBO content on M-Net, will lead to further millions of DStv subscribers cancelling their DStv subscriptions in early 2026 as they jump to streamers like Netflix and Disney+.

MultiChoice has already lost a shocking 2.8 million DStv subscribers since April 2023.

MultiChoice said that it continues to negotiate with WBD.

WBD told TVwithThinus that it "remains fully committed to finding a resolution and keeping our channels available for our audience".

"We are in regular contact with Canal+/MultiChoice and we remain hopeful that a constructive path forward can be agreed that benefits all parties, especially our viewers."

According to insiders, both sides are posturing and behaving like cowboys in a Hollywood movie.

"Canal+ and Warner are both hard-knuckled gunslingers because they can be. Neither side is blinking. They've been negotiating for months and neither one is willing to budge. Canal+ and Warner, both global players, are more than willing to pull the trigger and leave DStv subscribers with black screens where CNN, Cartoon Network, Discovery and all the rest are - even if it leads to immense reputational and financial pain for both."

The loss of WBD's TV portfolio alone will inflict immense damage on DStv.

Just Cartoon Network alone has a 49% audience share of all children's viewing. All of the other DStv channels combined represent the other half.

WBD confirmed this and said Cartoon Network has maintained its leadership position since 2006 as DStv's biggest kids TV channel.

Cartoonito, WBD's other children's channel that will also be ripped away at midnight from DStv, is, according to WB,D "the number one kids' channel on the DStv Family package".

Meanwhile, TNT holds the number one position as the most popular international movie channel on DStv, while TLC is hugely popular as a lifestyle TV channel.

MultiChoice says it's working on "alternative" channels and content plans to replace Warner's content if no deal is reached by the end of today, but sources explain that there exists no like-for-like equivalent replacement content for the Warner offering anywhere else in the world for Dstv to acquire and package.

Prof Lizette Rabe, media expert and emeritus professor at the University of Stellenbosch, told TVwithThinus that entertainment content can still be negotiated, but that the reduction of information and the news offering, especially during a time where democracies are under pressure is a serious matter.

"MultiChoice had already started scaling back channels, which represents a loss for viewers looking for a wider perspective," she said.

"BVN, the Dutch service, and Deutsche Welle, for example, simply disappeared quietly after on-screen messages of 'this service will no longer be available a month from now' - without any explanation to consumers."

"The fact that MultiChoice and Canal+ have to renegotiate for a new contract - of which the clock is ticking down to 31 December - in addition to Warner Bros. Discovery fielding buyers in the United States - has set the stage for a perfect storm for the South African company that has basically always had a monopoly over pay-TV information and entertainment."

"And as a consumer, I have to add - one apparently not concerned about its subscribers and not communicating truly and honestly. The result is that DStv is bleeding subscriptions."

"Now the company is in a position where possibly even more people are going to decide whether the R1000 plus per month for the DStv premium package are worth it, for what they're getting in return. It is indeed an unexpected 'Black Swan' moment for MultiChoice/Canal+," she explained. 

ALSO READ: Stalemate in channel carriage extension negotiations between Canal+'s MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery could see 12 TV channels axed from DStv at the end of December 2025: 'You trust us with your money'

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. Canal+'s MultiChoice now says 12 TV channels from Warner Bros. Discovery will definitely be removed 31 December 2025 in channel carriage fight.

ALSO READ: Netflix to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's studios and HBO Max streamer for $72 billion: 'The Albanian army has taken over the world'

ALSO READ: Subscriber starts 'Save our DStv channels from cancellation' petition as Canal+'s MultiChoice tries to strike new deal with WBD: 'Loyal DStv subscribers are deeply frustrated over betrayed trust'

ALSO READ: M-Net and Showmax at risk of losing HBO and all other Warner Bros studios series and film output in TV channels carriage fight between Canal+'s MultiChoice and WBD

ALSO READ: Canal+'s MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery unable to agree on price for 12 TV channels and HBO content, won't lower subscription fees for DStv subscribers if channels are axed

ALSO READ: Why Canal+'s DStv faces massive downfall danger after a Warner content wipeout

HBO Harry Potter series cast Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout as Harry, Hermione and Ron

by Thinus Ferreira

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter drama series that will very likely be seen on MultiChoice's M-Net (DStv 101) has cast its main Muggles who will portray Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, with Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout who will portray the three main characters.

More than 32 000 actors auditioned for these three lead roles. Filming of the new series in the United Kingdom at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden is set to start within months.

"After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron," showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod say in a statement.

'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen."

"We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there."

The three actors join John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch.

HBO's Harry Potter drama series which is envisioned to run for a decade, is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, who also serves as showrunner. 

Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. 

The series is executive produced by author J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films.

Sky sues Warner Bros. Discovery over withholding 'highly valuable' Harry Potter series, WBD says lawsuit is Sky's 'baseless' attempt to get HBO shows after 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

Comcast's Sky in the United Kingdom is dragging Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to court over the upcoming Harry Potter drama series and is suing WBD for allegedly withholding the option for Sky to become a co-producer on the show and being in breach of a multi-year contract to partner on shows.

In a lawsuit that Sky filed late on Friday in a New York federal court, Sky says that WBD is in breach of a contract, signed in 2019 whereby WBD was supposed to offer Sky at least four TV shows, made for its Max streaming service, which Sky could pick from to co-produce.

Sky says WBD "fell far short of that mark" for the entire duration of the contract, that WBD deliberately didn't offer Harry Potter, and is deliberately keeping Harry Potter for itself for its own potential gain as "the cornerstone of the launch of its Max streaming service in Europe".

Harry Potter which is expected to run for a decade as a TV series is supposed to debut its first season in 2016.

It is still unclear whether Harry Potter will be on M-Net (DStv 101) on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa but the odds increased tremendously after Harry Potter switched to become an HBO Original in June.

In its statement, Sky says it is taking WBD to court "to safeguard our interests and enforce our rights to partner in the production and distribution of highly valuable content".

"Warner has repeatedly failed to offer Sky the annually required minimum number of contractually qualifying series for its consideration," Sky says.

"Specifically, Warner was obligated to present Sky with at least 4 shows per year across 2021, 2022, and 2023 but undisputedly fell far short of that mark, in certain years offering barely a single qualifying series while also withholding critical, contractually required information necessary for Sky to evaluate any potential options that it did receive."

According to Sky, "This misconduct has deprived Sky of its bargained-for opportunity to co-fund, co-produce, and subsequently exploit exclusively in the UK and European territories all manner of top-end Warner content."

"If all that were not enough, Warner has now even brazenly denied Sky its right to partner on Warner's highly valuable decade-long, tentpole television series adapting J.K. Rowling's iconic Harry Potter novels, set to premiere in 2026 or 2027."

"Instead, Warner has largely disregarded the parties' agreement and sought to keep the Harry Potter content for itself so that Warner can use it as the cornerstone of the launch of its Max streaming service in Europe."

According to Sky's 2019 deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, "For each calendar year from 2021 through 2025, Sky shall be presented with all qualifying HBO Max original series, and not less than 4 in any event, that are one hour slot length in duration per episode, intended to be multi-season, produced by WBTV or HBO Max for premiere on HBO Max, and which are ordered within the applicable year to a first season. Sky shall select a minimum of 2 new series per year".

Sky says "We continue to work constructively with Warner Brothers Discovery and have a separate agreement in place that will ensure Sky customers continue to enjoy HBO shows, including new seasons, such as House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus and Euphoria, along with exciting new releases such as Dune: Prophecy, and many more for years to come".

WBD in a statement says WBD's licensing agreements with Sky will all expire at the end of 2015 and that Sky's lawsuit is " a baseless attempt by Sky and Comcast to try and gain leverage in its negotiations for our programming beyond that date".

"We know HBO branded shows are critical to Sky, as evidenced by their desire for over a year to find a way to renew our agreements, and this lawsuit makes it clear that Sky is deeply concerned about the viability of its business were it to lose our award-winning content."

"WBD will vigorously defend itself from this unfounded lawsuit as we move forward undeterred with plans to launch Max, including the new HBO Harry Potter series, in the UK and other European markets in 2026."

ALSO READ: Harry Potter series to debut in 2026.

ALSO READ: No Penguin but Harry Potter and Green Lanterns series will now be seen on M-Net in South Africa after Warner Bros. Discovery switches them to HBO Originals.

Financial Times: Warner Bros Discovery decides not to split off its linear TV channels from its streaming and studio business.

by Anna Nicolau and James Fontanella-Khan, Financial Times

Warner Bros Discovery's senior management is looking to avoid a break-up of the company as executives race to reverse the Hollywood group's plunging share price, according to people familiar with the matter.

Following a fall of almost 70% in its stock price since WBD was formed in 2022, chief executive David Zaslav and chief financial officer Gunnar Wiedenfels have recently evaluated "all options" to arrest the decline, said two people familiar with the matter.

However, senior executives who carried out a detailed analysis of the consequences of a split have determined that fencing off the group's declining television channels from its streaming and studio business was not the best option at this time, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The Financial Times reported last month that WBD - which owns HBO, the Warner Bros. studio and CNN - was drafting a break-up plan.

But while such a split initially looked "compelling on paper, it would create very significant operational challenges: doing sports rights deals, determining what goes on linear television or what goes on direct to consumer streaming and when," said a person who was involved in the deliberations.

"In the best-case scenario, you'd be dealing with years of legal challenges," the person added. A company spokesperson declined to comment. 

Breaking up the storied Hollywood group would be likely to trigger lawsuits from debt investors, while also complicating the use of Warner's content across various platforms and networks, said the people familiar with management's thinking.

A corporate break-up was viewed as the "nuclear option", said another person close to WBD's management, but they cautioned that the situation was fluid and circumstances could change.

Zaslav and Wiedenfels are instead looking to offload smaller assets. They are considering offers to sell Polish broadcaster TVN or a stake in Warner's video games business, which holds valuable intellectual property to Harry Potter games, said people familiar with the matter. 

WBD's management hopes investors will remain patient as they work to turn around the company, they said, believing its true market capitalisation should be about $60 billion, or $25 a share, well above the $7.88 at which it closed on Monday. 

The group was formed in April 2022 out of a merger that was meant to help two legacy media companies, Discovery and WarnerMedia, compete in a brutal streaming battle with Netflix and Disney.

However, it has struggled to convince Wall Street, which has sliced its valuation and put pressure on WBD's management, to take action. The company is set to report its quarterly earnings on Wednesday. Since the merger, the group has focused on cutting costs and paying off debt, introducing several rounds of lay-offs and selling assets such as All3Media, the UK production company behind Fleabag.

Its news channel, CNN, last month laid off about 100 employees, or 3% of its staff, as part of a digital turnaround strategy. 

While WBD's management has been keen to sell assets, the bar for divesting CNN would be "very, very high" because of its strategic importance as well as the tax implications of a deal, said one person familiar with the matter.

This person added that WBD considered it unlikely that there would be an offer compelling enough to offset these concerns.

"Zaslav has also been very clear that he views CNN as a strategic and reputational asset. It is one of the flagship networks that helps us on the affiliate side," they said, referring to the payments cable companies make to television networks to run their programming.

Overall, WBD "should be worth significantly more. It shouldn't take another two to three years to get there," the person said. "But the market is tough right now and a lot of things have to go well."

How M-Net and Showmax created a jaw-droppingly amazing press drop in South Africa for season 2 of HBO's House of the Dragon: 'A premium gift that's interactive with longevity'.

by Thinus Ferreira

For the second season of HBO's House of the Dragon fantasy drama series seen in South Africa, M-Net and MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax did an absolutely amazing physical press drop, delivered by courier, to selected media. 

Here is this press drop's behind-the-scenes origin story.

Selected media, journalists and some influencers were hugely surprised - with jaws literally dropping - when a big box arrived by courier to coincide with the debut of the second season of HBO's House of the Dragon fantasy drama series on M-Net (DStv 101) and MultiChoice's streamer Showmax.

When the box was opened that the courier delivered, it revealed a glossy black-and-green wraparound with the two differentiated dragon crests and a beautiful "All Must Choose" card. 

This was already extremely creative, beautifully done, and by far one of the best press drops media in South Africa had received in many years.

The inside of the press drop box was even more astounding: A green and black chess set, with the chess pieces in a beautiful velvet bag, and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label premium scotch whisky, and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Green Label whisky.

If there are awards for PR and marketing press drops, this M-Net and Showmax boxed spectacular and its entire creative conceptualisation and execution truly deserve to win best-in-show for 2024. 

Who exactly dreamed this up, went sourcing for green chess pieces, and thought of pairing black and green bottles of Johnnie Walker whisky for winter, all wrapped inside packaging that instantly communicates that a TV show is special, premium and high-quality content?

TVwithThinus went in search of answers about this very unique and completely unrivalled House of the Dragon press drop that was a collaboration between the M-Net and Showmax teams, with Nadine Moonsamy and Kevin Kriedemann as the PR leads for each brand.

"It was conceptualised and designed in the Showmax Creative Studio, briefed in by the M-Net and Showmax PR Teams," Tracy Kirschner, specialist: creative and marketing for Showmax Creative Studio, tells me.

The individual creative team members responsible for the idea and design are Phathu Netshivhungululu (creative and design concept), Tracy-Lynn Kirschner (creative and copy concept), Hendrik Schonken (creative concept), Karabo Makenna (creative concept and design manager), Robbie Makwakwa (packaging design) and Colin Makhubela (creative director).

Also from the Showmax PR team, Stacey Venter was very involved in this campaign.

Once the House of the Dragon press drop was conceptualised and designed, it was then outsourced to a packaging and promotions company to bring it to life.

"House of the Dragon is a global phenomenon, and we wanted our South African media partners to participate in the fun and excitement surrounding season 2 of the title," Nadine Moonsamy explains.

"The second season's narrative focuses on the conflict between two factions, captured by the theme 'All Must Choose' and is symbolised by the colours black and green. This guided the creative direction, ensuring an authentic representation of House of the Dragon while also integrating both the M-Net and Showmax brands," she says.

Tracy Kirschner explains that "Our task was to conceptualise and design a stand-out media drop that built anticipation around House of the Dragon season 2 - the next chapter in the HBO epic which would be landing on Showmax and M-Net on 17 June. The idea had to centre around the HBO global marketing theme of Choose your side".

"In House of the Dragon season 2, House Targaryen is divided over who is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. This has caused the great family to split into two factions: The Green Council, led by the Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower, and The Black Council, led by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen."

"As the power struggle intensifies, the realm - and our audience - must choose a side. To illustrate this key theme and series narrative, we came up with a press drop concept in which every element - from the packaging to the items inside - highlights the Team Green versus Team Black conflict and encourages the recipient to engage with the idea of choosing a side."

"We also wanted to ensure that everything still felt tonally and visually aligned with the world of House of the Dragon, which also influenced our creative choices."

The box design

Tracy Kirschner says the team divided the packaging design in half: one half designed in green - and featuring a green and gold version of the Targaryen sigil - and the other in black - featuring a black and red sigil

"The box was specifically created to open right through the middle - literally splitting the House Targaryen in two and emphasising the dramatic division between the two factions."

"From a logistics perspective, the box also needed to be cleverly designed to house both the chessboard and whiskies - so we made two compartments: the top layer could be removed to reveal a second gift underneath."

The chessboard

Since House of the Dragon's second season is all about political strategy, rivalry, war games and the power struggle within a royal family "What better way to illustrate this than through the game of chess?" Tracy Kirschner says.

"We thus designed a bespoke Green vs Black chessboard, representing the two Councils."

"An extra layer of symbolism connected to the chessboard idea revolves around The Queen piece. In chess, The Queen is the most powerful piece, with the most dynamic moves. House of the Dragon S2 is about two Queens - Alicent and Rhaenyra: two politically strategic, strong female leaders on opposing sides who are vying for power."

"What we liked about the chessboard concept was that, not only was it a premium gift, but it was interactive and had longevity."

"Recipients could literally engage with the 'Choose your side' theme by picking whether to play with the Green or Black pieces. The chessboard would ideally be displayed somewhere in a house or office - acting as a long-term visual reminder of the show to the recipient as well as their friends, family and colleagues."

The Whisky

With the landscape of House of the Dragon (just like Game of Thrones) being a fairly dark, moody, wintery and medieval-inspired place, as an alcoholic drink of choice, whisky fits perfectly into this world, Tracy Kirschner says.

"But beyond simply gifting the recipient with a premium whisky, we wanted to add a conceptual layer."

"We therefore decided on two bottles: a Johnnie Walker Black Label and a Johnnie Walker Green Label. Again, this meant the recipient would have to 'choose a side' every time they chose which bottle to enjoy."

"Overall, our intention was to create a press drop that really stood out and caught the recipient's attention."

"We needed a piece that would clearly bring across the message of 'Choosing a side' - choosing between the Green or Black Council in the series, and also choosing whether to watch on M-Net or Showmax."

"We wanted to deliver something beautifully-crafted and conceptual that created talkability, encouraged social sharing and was as intriguing and epic as the show itself."

Nadine Moonsamy says the press drop was executed by a local agency, Chilli Engine, who ensured that the sourcing and delivery process was seamless.

HBO's House of the Dragon season 2 finale leaks online.

by Thinus Ferreira

Thirty minutes in clips of the upcoming second season finale of HBO's House of the Dragon seen on M-Net (DStv 101) and MultiChoice's Showmax leaked online Tuesday night in yet another damaging blow for the Westeros-set TV franchise.

Tuesday night's leak that saw several clips - a half hour of content - from the upcoming 8th episode of the second season of House of the Dragon end up across social media, is yet another damaging leak for HBO that has been unable to prevent ongoing content leaks from both the latter parts of Game of Thrones, as well as spin-off House of the Dragon.

According to Comicbook.com Tuesday night's leak started on a TikTok account - blocked hours later but too late for Warner Bros. Discovery to prevent the content's spreading virally - where 14 clips were uploaded with over half watched over 100 000 times.

From TikTok the various clips were shared to both other TikTok accounts and also to X, formerly known as Twitter. Clips also ended up on Reddit.

HBO has struggled with multiple leaks over the past few years. 

In 2017, an episode from the 7th season of Game of Thrones was leaked and watched beforehand when it ended up on illegal torrent sites. Then multiple episodes from the 8th season kept leaking before broadcast.

In August 2022 the debut episode of House of the Dragon leaked online before broadcast of the spinoff series even started. Just a few months later in October the entire first season finale of House of the Dragon leaked on illegal torrent sites as well.

Game of Thrones was the most-pirated TV show of the year globally, for several years.

Africa piracy: Limitless demand for cheap content

Frikkie Jonker, director of broadcast cybersecurity and anti-piracy at Irdeto, a partner of MultiChoice Africa, on Tuesday said content piracy "is a type of global organised crime that undermines the creative sector. However, what is not often discussed is what drives content piracy. What leads people to steal content?"

MultiChoice has ramped up its efforts in tracking, raiding and prosecuting TV pirates over the past months, with more arrests to follow.

"African authorities are doing a heroic job fighting cybercrime and content piracy. There have been huge successes in the prosecution of content piracy operations," he says.

"To understand why Africa becomes a target for piracy, it is useful to look at things from the perspective of a global criminal syndicate. They will often follow the path of least resistance – and for better or worse, Africa is attractive territory."

"When it comes to content piracy, Africa has low barriers to entry and an almost limitless demand for cheap content," Jonker explains.

"In terms of penetration success – circumventing cybersecurity measures – they may achieve a success rate of 70%, which compares favourably with other territories. This – coupled with Africa's billion-strong population – is a key supply driver of content piracy."

Jonker says "where there are few consequences, the barriers to using stolen content are so much lower".

"Government attitudes, too, are critically important. Where a government sees content piracy as an insignificant issue, they are allowing the sabotage of their own country's creative and entertainment sector."

"But there are further impacts: When leading content businesses consider entering the African market, they need the reassurance that their content rights will be protected. Where a country is unable to provide such guarantees, the investments do not materialise."

"In the United Kingdom, for example, police recently arrested as many as 2 000 people who were illegally viewing streams of English Premier League (EPL) football matches. Similar cases are being pursued in Africa."

According to Jonker "Many people believe they simply cannot afford to pay for content. Entertainment often takes a back seat behind the need to put food on the table."

"To some extent, premium content is a luxury, so one can understand this perception. However, pricing innovation by content platforms has led to entertainment packages at almost every price point. Financial difficulty is no longer an excuse for content piracy."

"A content sector such as pay-TV has extremely tight margins. Up to 80% of revenue generated goes into producing and securing content. Given these margins, any content theft threatens the viability of the entire industry."

"Major productions across Africa – in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and many other countries – sustain thousands of jobs in production, performance, set and costume design, all the way through to catering, transport and accommodation. The war on piracy is a war to protect these jobs."

No Penguin but Harry Potter and Green Lanterns series will now be seen on M-Net in South Africa after Warner Bros. Discovery switches them to HBO Originals.

by Thinus Ferreira

The boy who lived and a green lantern will now be on the channel that won't stop the magic - although The Penguin won't - after Warner Bros. Discovery in the United States decided to switch big-budget series under its Max Originals banner to HBO Originals.

Big-budget HBO Originals shows like House of the Dragon - currently in its second season - are guaranteed to broadcast on MultiChoice's M-Net (DStv 101) linear channel as well as its video streaming service Showmax due to existing output contracts.

Max Originals made for Warner Bros. Discovery's streamer Max - a video streaming service that isn't available in South Africa - are not guaranteed to air on DStv or Showmax.

In a strategic rethink, WBD and HBO executives have now decided to move all of its big and expensive series - whether originally earmarked for HBO or for Max - all to HBO. These shows will now debut first as HBO Originals on the HBO linear TV channel. 

Expensive shows like the Harry Potter TV series envisioned to run for a decade and the IT prequel series Welcome to Derry, originally earmarked as Max Originals, are now changing to HBO Originals.

HBO also commissioned a new 8-episode live-action drama series, Lanterns, chronicling an Earth-investigation by two Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan, which will now be an HBO Original series from the outset. 

Max Originals set for release within the next few months and later this year and which are already marketed and being sold and distributed internationally as Max shows, will however remain Max Originals. One of these is The Penguin, which M-Net told me last week it hasn't acquired the broadcasting rights for.

The Penguin, set for release in September, is an 8-episode limited series with an unrecognisable Colin Farrell starring as the Penguin, reprising his role from The Batman, alongside Cristin Milioti and Rhenzy Feliz. 

The science fiction drama series, Dune: Prophecy is likewise a Max Original and since it's also set to be released later this year, will also remain a Max Original.

Green Lanterns detective series

Meanwhile, HBO has announced that Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King will co-write and executive produce the new 8-episode Lanterns live-action drama series, done in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Comics.

According to HBO "The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland".

James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-CEOs of DC Studios, in a statement, say "We're thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm. John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC's most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we're launching next summer with Superman".

Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, says "We are elated to be reuniting with both Chris Mundy and Damon Lindelof as they partner with Tom for this fresh take on DC's Green Lantern. As part of James and Peter's vision for the DC Universe, this first new live-action series will mark an exciting new era."

Lanterns which would have been a Max Original is now a HBO Original.

ALSO READ: Harry Potter series to debut in 2026.

Filming starts on season 2 of HBO's House of the Dragon – and someone’s not dead.

by Thinus Ferreira

HBO has started filming the second season of the dragon fantasy drama series House of the Dragon, seen on M-Net (DStv 101), with the character of Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) who isn't dead.

HBO and Sky in a statement announced the official start of filming of the second season of the George R.R. Martin prequel series at Leavesden Studios in the United Kingdom, with multiple cast members of the first season who are confirmed to be back.

For the upcoming family war, euphemistically entitled "Dance of the Dragons" viewers will once again see Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Emma D'Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Ewan Mitchell (Prince Aemond Targaryen), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen), Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria), as well as Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower.

The inclusion of Sonoya Mizuno who plays Mysaria - also known as the White Worm - means the character is still alive, despite her house being set on fire at the end of the first season.

HBO and Sky also released a behind-the-scenes photo of the back of the Iron Throne.

The series is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and details the civil and family war of the House of Targaryen - something which not only led to the end of Targaryen rule but also the end of dragons which kept growing smaller and virtually disappeared. 

"House of the Dragon has returned," says Ryan Condal, co-creator, who is now the sole showrunner after Miguel Sapochnik stepped back after the conclusion of the first season.

"We are thrilled to be shooting again with members of our original family as well as new talents on both sides of the camera. All your favourite characters will soon be conspiring at the council tables, marching with their armies, and riding their dragons into battle. We can't wait to share what we have in store."

HBO hasn't provided any release date for the second season but it's expected to start sometime in early 2024 on M-Net on DStv, once again as an Express from the US title. 

HBO's Westworld cancelled after 4 seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

HBO announced late on Friday that it has cancelled its science fiction drama series Westworld after four seasons which was seen in Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) and MultiChoice's video streamer Showmax.

The TV series of which just the first season cost reportedly cost $100 million, was based on Michael Crichton's science fiction film of 1973 about a futuristic amusement park where self-conscious androids start to kill and escape and made its debut in 2016 - but to ever-dwindling ratings which fell from 12 to 4 million over the course of its run.

Westworld's ratings fell sharply in the United States as viewers and critics complained that the story became too dense and confusing, with the show that has now fallen victim to Warner Bros. Discovery's ongoing cost-cutting across the company.

Hope however remains that HBO might eventually commission a standalone made-for-TV film for Westworld to wrap up the story like what eventually happened with HBO's Deadwood: The Movie.

The Westworld husband-and-wife showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy originally envisioned Westworld to run for at least six seasons and have been outspoken that they would have liked to do a fifth and final season to wrap up the story of the android show.

Now the series won't have a proper conclusion, ending with the fourth season which had what will now be its series finale, three months ago.

"Over the past four seasons, Lisa and Jonah have taken viewers on a mind-bending odyssey, raising the bar at every step. We are tremendously grateful to them, along with their immensely talented cast, producers and crew, and all of our partners at Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. It's been a thrill to join them on this journey," HBO said in a statement announcing Westworld's cancellation.

Kilter Films in a statement says "Making Westworld has been one of the highlights of our careers. We are deeply grateful to our extraordinary cast and crew for creating these indelible characters and brilliant worlds".

"We've been privileged to tell these stories about the future of consciousness - both human and beyond - in the brief window of time before our AI overlords forbid us from doing so."

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav on the company's latest earnings call told investors that the company is going to be leaning into the strength of its existing franchises like DC Comics' Superman and is also open to working with author J.K. Rowling on expanding the Harry Potter-franchise. Henry Cavill recently announced that he would be returning to the role of Superman. 

Filming on season 2 of HBO's House of the Dragon to start in early 2023 as first season finale draws 9.3 million viewers in America.

by Thinus Ferreira

Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the first season finale on Sunday of its dragon fantasy series House of the Dragon on HBO and HBO Max reached 9.3 million viewers in the United States, making it HBO's most-watched series finale since the series finale of HBO's Game of Thrones.

Filming of the second season of House of the Dragon will start early next year.

The 9.3 million viewers for the first season finale is however lower than the 10.2 million viewers who watched the second episode of the first season in America - the first season's most-watched episode.

The viewership of the first season's second episode was slightly higher than the 9.99 million people who watched the season's debut episode in America.

The 9.3 million viewers of House of the Dragon's first season finale are the combined viewership tally of people who watched the linear broadcast on HBO, as well as three subsequent repeats, and also those who watched through streaming on its HBO Max streaming service. 

Ratings for the linear airing in South Africa of the finale on M-Net (DStv 101) on Monday where its shown at the same time as in America at 03:00 in the morning local time, and again during late prime-time, is not available yet and HBO Max has not launched and is not accessible in South Africa yet.

The series finale of HBO's Game of Thrones, also shown in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa on M-Net, netted 19.8 million viewers in America in 2019 for the conclusion of the 8th and final season.

Warner Bros. Discovery in its statement says that outside of America, House of the Dragon "has surpassed Game of Thrones season 8 making it the most-viewed HBO title ever in Europe, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan on an HBO streaming service".

House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin's 2018 novel Fire & Blood and is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, telling the story of the fall of House Targaryen.

Filming of the second season of House of the Dragon will start in early 2023 with the war between different houses, known as "the Dance of the Dragons", which will play out over the rest of the series, starting with the second season.

"We're so thrilled to see House of the Dragon catch fire with Game of Thrones fans around the world, as well as new viewers who are discovering the world of Westeros for the first time," said Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max, in a statement following the conclusion of the first season of House of the Dragon.

"Congrats to George R.R. Martin, (co-showrunners) Ryan Condal, Miguel Sapochnik and the whole House of the Dragon team on an incredible first season."

ALSO READ: HBO 'aggressively monitoring' and trying to scrub House of the Dragon's first season finale from the internet after thousands torrent and download an episode leak from EMEA region.

HBO 'aggressively monitoring' and trying to scrub House of the Dragon's first season finale from the internet after thousands torrent and download episode leak from EMEA region.

by Thinus Ferreira

The first season finale episode of HBO's House of the Dragon leaked on Friday and had been illegally downloaded and shared on torrent sites thousands of times by Saturday morning, three days before its linear broadcast is supposed to take place on M-Net (DStv 101) on Monday in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

HBO said that it was aware of the leak of the episode, is "aggressively monitoring", was trying to get it scrubbed from the internet, and that it appeared that the leaked episode came from the system of a distribution partner somewhere in Africa, the Middle East or Europe, known as the EMEA region.

"We are aware that the 10th episode of House of the Dragon has been posted on illegal torrent sites," HBO says in a statement.

"It appears to have originated from a distribution partner in the EMEA region. HBO is aggressively monitoring and pulling these copies from the internet."

"We're disappointed that this unlawful action has disrupted the viewing experience for loyal fans of the show, who will get to see a pristine version of the episode when it premieres Sunday on HBO and HBO Max, where it will stream exclusively in 4K."

In South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa HBO's House of the Dragon is shown on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, with M-Net which has a long-running licensing deal with Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO. 

Viewers are however not getting access to the behind-the-scenes companion show, The House that Dragons Built, which is a documentary series on the HBO Max streaming service chronicling the making of each episode and which has also been uploaded to torrent sites.

It is the second leak for House of the Dragon which also saw its first episode leaked online in August days before it had its linear TV debut, when thousands of people worldwide swarmed to pirate-watch the start of the series online with a pristine, high-definition (HD) 1080p, full surround sound version of the first episode that was shared, complete with an HBO logo in the top-right corner and enabled subtitling in various languages.

What is happening with HBO's House of the Dragon is similar to what happened with George R.R. Martin's latter seasons of Game of Thrones which all saw episodes being pirated before broadcast, including almost all of the episodes of the widely-panned 8th and final season which leaked online.

Game of Thrones was the most-pirated TV show of the year globally, for several years.

ALSO READ: HBO's House of the Dragon leaks online as pirate viewers in their thousands swarm to watch it before its linear TV debut.