Here be Dragons: StarTimes adds NBCUniversal International Networks' DreamWorks animation kids channel for Africa and on StarSat in South Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

China's StarTimes pay-TV operator in Africa has added the 24-hour DreamWorks kids animation channel from Monday 3 August to its TV channel line-up in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in South Africa where it operates under the StarSat brand on channel 301.

StarSat didn't respond to a media enquiry about the addition of DreamWorks and seeking a channel logo, a press release and more information.

NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) responded to a media enquiry.

Lee Raftery, managing director, NBCUniversal International Networks for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, says "Collaborating with StarTimes on bringing DreamWorks channel's award-winning shows and beloved characters to Sub-Saharan Africa is a key milestone for our business".

"We look forward to bringing young viewers the DreamWorks experience, with its compelling slate of adventurous and imaginative animated series, all in one family destination."

Lily Meng, head of StarTimes Media Division, says "We are excited to bring DreamWorks to Africa. This launch demonstrates our continuous commitment to providing premium content to African families. And it comes at a very timely moment, while most kids and parents are staying home."

The DreamWorks channel at launch will have various kids animation series like Dragons: Race To The Edge, All Hail King Julien, The Adventures Of Puss In Boots, as well as Dinotrux and Noddy Toyland Detective.

Discovery Inc.'s female-focused Real Time channel added to China's StarTimes pay-TV service in Africa and its StarSat subsidiary in South Africa.

The Real Time (DStv 155 / StarSat 162) TV channel from Discovery Inc. has now finally launched on the satellite pay-TV service of StarTimes in sub-Saharan Africa and StarTimes' StarSat in South Africa on Monday 15 April.

StarSat in South Africa was asked if it had any comment or press release about the addition of the female-focused Real Time as a channel and told TVwithThinus "no comment".

The addition of Real Time to StarTimes in Africa and StarSat in Africa comes 7 and a half months after Real Time was added to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service from September 2018.

StarTimes and StarSat also carry the Discovery Family (DStv 222) since December 2018 when it replaced Discovery Science, as well as the Investigation Discovery (ID) (StarSat 223) channels from Discovery Inc. -both of which are also available on DStv.

"Expanding our portfolio with StarTimes to include the launch of Real Time and Discovery Family means we now offer their customers an enhanced mix of entertaining content for the whole family – from popular lifestyle programming on Real Time, fun edutainment on Discovery Family, to engaging real-life storytelling on ID," says Amanda Turnbull, the vice president & general manager for Discovery for the Africa and Middle East region, in a statement.

Lily Meng, StarTimes' deputy general manager of the media division, in a statement says "At StarTimes we are excited to include more channels on our network from a global brand. We believe these new options will provide our customers with an exciting new mix of content which will allow customers more choice and value".

With Real Time's addition on StarTimes, Discovery has appointed Apricot Africa Consulting to represent the channel in certain territories across East, Central and West Africa, excluding South Africa. 

Apricot Africa territory for Real Time will includes Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Rwanda, St Helena, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.

Discovery Inc. says Apricot Africa Consulting will "expand" on the commercial advertising opportunities available on Real Time in these markets, for instance, spot sale advertising, sponsorships and brand partnerships.

Meanwhile, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN Africa) will continue to represent Real Time in South Africa where it also does the ad sales for Discovery Inc.'s other TV channels - notably those carried on MultiChoice's DStv - and seen in South Africa as well as through sub-Saharan Africa.

Discovery Inc. switched its ad sales strategy to VIMN Africa in 2018, which also saw Discovery abandoning its best-in-class and long-running annual upfront presentation to ad buyers and the media  who are no longer told, shown or know in advance as was done in the past, what programming is coming up on the portfolio of Discovery's channels in the months ahead.