The Inside Baseball on How Blindsided Bela Bajaria Got the Boot as Content Boss at Netflix

by Thinus Ferreira

According to insider accounts, Netflix's chief content officer Bela Bajaria, who was spectacularly fired this week, got the boot in a very nasty way, with corporate corridor intrigue to rival the greatest of nasty blindsides in Hollywood.

Netflix bosses decided to get rid of 1 000 staffers worldwide - roughly 6% of its total workforce this week as the video streaming service's growth is slowing, while Bela Bajaria was assured her job is safe and she was even told to console those losing their jobs.

The buzz around Hollywood is that Netflix, now with Peter Rice as new content boss, is planning to pivot back to having the United States as its main market again, and to take on YouTube with a renewed focus on creating big-budget, franchise content for the US.

Bela Bajaria is credited with "globalising" Netflix's content, looking for and developing hits and slates worldwide. She ran roughly 30 of Netflix's international offices, constantly flying around at the expense of her own family.

Now insider speculation points to Netflix refocusing on the American market.

"I know this is a big change in a year that has already had its share. But I also see an opportunity to take our slate to the next level, especially in the United States and Canada where we have an outsize impact in creating big, buzzy hits that our members love and drive conversation around the world," Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO, wrote in the memo to workers about the staff retrenchments.

American reports of how a blindsided Bela Bajaria got fired this week is as legendary shocking as it's breathtaking.

Poor Bela Bajaria reportedly found out she herself is getting axed on Wednesday at 17:00 just before she was to attend a VIP screening of a film called Nobody Wants This - this after she was told she herself is safe from the thousand staffers Netflix is letting go.

Meanwhile, Bela Bajaria reportedly attended some of the Netflix town halls, was told to do some of the staff retrenchments, and attended some meetings about the changes and layoffs.

"She got f- . She got blindsided," a Netflix insider quipped. "What was extra shitty is that they made her go to these Town Halls and meetings of team leaders to be like, 'This is a hard day', and to be all supportive and calm. It's like, just tell her to her face. They could have just fired her."

About her firing, a Hollywood agent said that Bela Bajaria is being made the scapegoat for Netflix's woes and a lack of big hits.

"Netflix is definitely looking for their next hit. They don't have anything to replace Stranger Things. They don't have that big show that's on deck. But how the f- do you blame that on Bela?"

"Other people have greenlight authority too. Bella was grabbing NFL rights and wrestling. I think Netflix is one of those weird new age digital corporations that's like, 'change is good'. They are losing subscribers and the stock is down."

Another insider remarks that "Bela bled for the company. She sacrificed her family and her friends, and now she's a sacrificial lamb. It's sad". 

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria Out at Netflix

ALSO READ: Netflix Axing 1000 staff in Largest Job Cuts to Date as Streamer's Growth Slows

SHOCKER. Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria Out at Netflix

by Thinus Ferreira

In a big Netflix shocker, the video streaming service's chief content officer Bela Bajaria is out and getting replaced by Peter Rice, the former Disney and Fox executive.

Bela Bajaria was at Netflix for a decade since 2016, and became chief content officer in 2023.

Bela Bajaria's exit from Netflix comes as the streamer is getting rid of 1 000 staffers worldwide, roughly 6% of its workforce and Netflix's largest retrenchment ever as growth slows.

"I want to thank Bela for a decade of dedication, innovation, creativity and leadership," says Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO, in an internal memo sent to Netflix staffers.

"She led enormous changes at Netflix. She helped broaden our content offering to include the large-scale expansion of unscripted programming and the launches of live events and sports, in addition to crafting and running a world-class, global slate of films and series."

"Bela has built and shaped a truly global content organisation, hiring brilliant people and empowering them to make good decisions. I am incredibly grateful to her for everything she's done to help Netflix entertain the world."

"I know this is a big change in a year that has already had its share. But I also see an opportunity to take our slate to the next level, especially in UCAN [United States and Canada] where we have an outsize impact in creating big, buzzy hits that our members love and drive conversation around the world."

"Peter is one of the most effective at-scale operators in the entertainment industry."

"His business acumen is sharp, his talent relationships are exceptionally strong, and his experience across TV and film is deep and broad. He understands what makes stories resonate, and he's spent his career helping talent do the best work of their lives."

"I'm excited to welcome him to Netflix as chief content officer as we continue to scale and deliver members more of the stories they love."

"I've gotten to know Peter personally over the years, and I’ve always been impressed by his straightforward approach, the depth of his relationships and his exceptional creative and business instincts."

"Talent should have the best experiences of their life here, and Peter and I both believe that Netflix can and should be the home of the best storytellers in the world."

"It's been an eventful series of days here, and I realise we've asked you to absorb a lot of news and a lot of information. But we all know change is what we do at Netflix."

"Greg and I will host a companywide town hall on Wednesday, 21 October. I want everyone to hear how we're thinking about the strategy and our execution amid this week's changes, and to have a chance to ask questions. It will be informal and mostly Q&A, so please bring your questions about this week's changes and anything else on your mind."

Peter Rice was the chairman of Walt Disney Television and chairman of general entertainment for The Walt Disney Company until he was fired in June 2022.

Peter Rice says "Netflix has fundamentally changed the way stories are made, shared and experienced around the world".

"They've shown again and again that they're willing to take chances on distinctive voices and fresh ideas, and I'm excited to work with the team to help bring even more great stories to members everywhere."

ALSO READ: Netflix Axing 1000 staff in Largest Job Cuts to Date as Streamer's Growth Slows

ALSO READ: The Inside Baseball on How Blindsided Bela Bajaria Got the Boot as Content Boss at Netflix

Netflix Axing 1000 staff in Largest Job Cuts to Date as Streamer's Growth Slows

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix is axing roughly 1 000 workers around the world - about 6% of its total staff worldwide - in its largest retrenchment to date as the streamer's growth has slowed.

Netflix has around 16 000 workers worldwide and is the video streaming service's largest round of retrenchments yet.

It comes after Netflix backed off from its attempt to acquire Warner Bros/ Discovery earlier this year, which has now been swallowed by Paramount Global, under the new company Skydance.

Netflix remains the largest video streaming service in the world.

Netflix is slashing workers in its so-called "product, tech, legal, HR and human resources" divisions.

Netflix has no comment about its retrenchments.

In an internal memo sent to staff, co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos told Netflix staffers, "Decisions like these are never easy, and we don't take them lightly. Our mission - to entertain the world - is ambitious, and delivering on it requires us to be disciplined about where we prioritise our people and resources".

"We know changes like this are tough, but let's stay focused. This is one of the most dynamic times in the history of entertainment - and it's a moment perfectly suited to a company like ours that's built at the intersection of technology and entertainment. Now it's on us to step up and meet the moment, together, like we always do."

They noted that "We'll continue to invest aggressively in high-impact areas to improve our service and further drive growth and innovation".

"Doing that means making focused choices across the business so we can keep delivering for our members, partners, employees, and investors."

Last month Ted Sarandos said that Netflix "is not growing as fast as I want us to and we're working on making that move faster."

Below is their memo in full:

We wanted to share that we are making a number of organizational changes and, as a result, we’ll be letting go of roughly 6% of our colleagues, with the greatest impact to our product, tech, legal, and HR teams.

Decisions like these are never easy, and we don’t take them lightly. Our top priority today is to support those who are leaving Netflix. The process will vary somewhat by country, but leaders will be connecting with impacted employees soon. 

If you are leaving, please know that we will support you throughout this transition and make sure you have as much clarity and context as possible. We also want to say thank you. What you’ve built, and the care you brought to Netflix, have made a lasting difference and we will always be grateful.

For the rest of the team, we know you have questions, too. 

Our mission – to entertain the world – is ambitious, and delivering on it requires us to be disciplined about where we prioritize our people and resources. 

Our business is strong and growing, and we remain on track to deliver our full-year forecast. We’ll continue to invest aggressively in high-impact areas to improve our service and further drive growth and innovation. 

Doing that means making focused choices across the business so we can keep delivering for our members, partners, employees, and investors.

We know changes like this are tough, but let’s stay focused. This is one of the most dynamic times in the history of entertainment – and it’s a moment perfectly suited to a company like ours that’s built at the intersection of technology and entertainment. 

Now it’s on us to step up and meet the moment, together, like we always do.

Ted and Greg

ALSO READ: The Inside Baseball on How Blindsided Bela Bajaria Got the Boot as Content Boss at Netflix

Netflix Orders Young Lady Violet Limited Series Spin-off

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has ordered another Bridgerton spinoff series with Shondaland that will produce a new limited series that will tell the "origin" story of the young Lady Violet.

Shondaland and Netflix refer to the as-yet-untitled Bridgerton series as "untitled Bridgerton project" and it will be in the same vein as the Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in which the younger Violet already featured.

"Similar to the massive global hit Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the series will chronicle the early life of a young Lady Violet and tell the story of her romance with Viscount Edmund Bridgerton," Netflix says.

In the current Bridgerton, Ruth Gemmell portrays the widowed matriarch Lady Violet Bridgerton, while Connie Jenkins-Greig is the teenager Violet.

It's unclear whether Connie Jenkins-Greig will reprise the role. Shonda Rhimes as Bridgerton executive producer and Nicholas Nardini are the writers and showrunners of the prequel series.

Season 5 of Bridgerton is currently in production in London.

The Masked Singer SA Set for Season 4 in 2027 as Primedia Studios and Rose & Oaks Media Prep 'Even Bigger' Fourth Year of TV Musical Reality Competition: 'A Really Famous Soccer Player Said No for Season 1 and Came Back and Said I'm Ready Now for Season 4'

by Thinus Ferreira

After two seasons on SABC3 and a just-concluded third season on SABC2 and Netflix, the producers behind The Masked Singer South Africa confirm that the local format adaptation of the hit TV musical celebrity guessing game will be back for a fourth season on South African television in 2027.

"There's one really famous South African soccer player who said no to me for season one of The Masked Singer SA. This year he came back to me and said 'Okay, I'm ready now. Season 4 it's me and you," co-executive producer Anele Mgudlwa of Rose & Oaks Media told TVwithThinus.

Rose & Oaks Media, together with Primedia Studios, produce the shiny floor format show from Fremantle for the South African public broadcaster's SABC2 TV channel. 

Episodes of the just-concluded third season are also sold to Netflix.

While The Masked Singer SA doesn't contain any live elements, Rose & Oaks Media are researching the feasibility of making the show and episodes more interactive.

"We have been looking into different systems that would allow us to incorporate live voting for viewers at home. Hopefully, in the next fourth season, we will have a longer production timeline, which will allow us to bring in people who are couch detectives - maybe on-screen even, says Frankie du Toit, co-executive producer and creative director of the show.

"There are a lot of fun things. The question is how does The Masked Singer SA get bigger and better? Easy."

"So season 4: Bigger ideas. I don't think we can get bigger celebrities, but I think we can get more interesting ones and keep the game going. But in terms of the format and the show of The Masked Singer SA, we've only started."

Anele Mgudlwa says "the leap between seasons of The Masked Singer SA is big. If you think of the leap between season 1 and season 2, and then between season 2 and now. The leaps are big."

"Imagine the leap from now to season 4. Even this year, the set was bigger. The costumes were bigger. Frankie got the biggest camera in there. We are viewers ourselves before we are producers. So we are aware that the viewer experience has to grow over time."

"We introduced the duets. We're going to double down on that even more - people really enjoyed it."

ALSO READ: Choreographer Bontle Modiselle Wins Season 3 of The Masked Singer SA with Songs and a Dance as Spotty the Dog

ALSO READ: INTERVIEW. Choreographer Bontle Modiselle is The Masked Singer SA's Season 3 Spotty-winner: 'I Loved what Spotty Could Offer'

ALSO READ: INTERVIEW. Content Creator Mzwakhe Mbuli Jr. on 'Bzzzz'-ing as Masked Singer SA's Mosquito: 'Everything Robot Boii Does Has to be at The Top'

ALSO READ: The Masked Singer SA Co-exec Producers Anele Mgudlwa and Frankie du Toit on Season 3's Bigger Swings with Localised Masks and Language, Adding AI for Clues, and Celeb Contestants: 'This Season We Played the Perfect Game'

Netflix adds 7-episode documentary series The Trials of Winnie Mandela from 23 April with never-before-seen footage from Emmy-winning director Mandy Jacobson

by Thinus Ferreira

On 23 April, Netflix will add the 7-episode documentary series from the late, Emmy-award-winning director Mandy Jacobson, The Trials of Winnie Mandela, that contains never-before-seen footage of the late South African struggle icon, along with interviews dissecting her legacy.

Produced through production companies Indelible Media and The African Oral History Archive, The Trials of Winnie Mandela has Barbara King as producer, as well as Swati Mandela-Dlamini, one of Madikizela-Mandela's granddaughters.

Swati Mandela-Dlamini also fronts the documentary series with another granddaughter Zaziwe Manaway (née Dlamini). Both fronted the 2013 reality series Being Mandela. 

Ivor Ichikowitz, Mandy Jacobson and John Nyoka served as executive producers.

In this new documentary series, Swati Mandela-Dlamini and Zaziwe Manaway look at the life of their grandmother, known as the "Mother of the nation", pieced together by personal accounts, family anecdotes and public records.

Featured in The Trials of Winnie Mandela are former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, former president Kgalema Motlanthe, anti-apartheid activist Dr Nakedi Mathews Phosa, advocate Thuli Madonsela, political analyst and writer Sisonke Msimang, human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka, visual artists Nkululeko Mahlangu and Loyiso Mkize, newspaper editor Mondli Makhanya, as well as Madikizela-Mandela's longtime personal assistant Zodwa Zwane. 

Also included are members of the notorious Nelson Mandela Football Club, as well as family members of Siboniso Tshabalala and Stompie Moeketsi, who reflect on the lasting wounds of their deaths and Madikizela-Mandela’s involvement.

In The Trials of Winnie Mandela, she reflects in her own words on her childhood, her activism, and her relationships as a wife, mother, and comrade in some never-before-seen footage from the later years of her life.

The documentary series explores the controversies that defined her public image, including the headlines and scandals that followed her, as well as her persecution by the apartheid regime.

Also included in this biographical work are the voices of some of her detractors and some of her harshest critics, offering a fuller view of a life lived under unforgiving, relentless scrutiny.

According to Netflix's synopsis, "Like most families, the Madikizela-Mandela family is complicated – complex characters and stories that hover between half-truths and never-spoken-about moments as two granddaughters discover, when they go on a journey to find the essence of their grandmother".

"But this is no ordinary grandmother. This is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, one of South Africa’s greatest feminist icons – a revered, global figure. One whose legacy continues to remain shrouded in mystery and intrigue. An icon embroiled in allegations of kidnapping, assault and murder."

Monsters In Africa: Why the continent waits for its own global fantasy and sci-fi breakthrough

by Thinus Ferreira

While Netflix's Squid Game did it for Asia and put Korea on the global map for genre content, the Nordics found success mining folklore, and Latin America booms with producing "telefantasy", the one continent that is still waiting for its local Wakanda-like breakthrough on the worldwide stage is Africa.

While Africa is rich in stories, folklore, writing talent and creativity, the execution and production in successfully birthing an African-type of Squid Game that garners global appeal has so far remained elusive.

In September 2024, MultiChoice's Showmax, which Canal+ is now shuttering, released Subterranea, Kenya's first-ever sci-fi series as a psychological thriller that never would have seen the light of day if it weren't for the African streaming service that took a big swing with the Nairobi-based Kibanda Pictures on the bunker-set series.

When it comes to quality, engrossing and smart science fiction and fantasy, home-made in Africa and resonating with global viewers, Nosipho Dumisa-Ngoasheng, says the lack of buzzed-about genre content is because Africa underestimates itself.

The South African writer, director and producer who co-founded Gambit Films, says, "I have many opinions on this".

She spoke as a panellist at the 8th Joburg Film Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she implored Africa's biz to take a new look at genre content and to take the risk with sci-fi and fantasy stories, and to start trying it out on a small scale.

While  Comic Con Cape Town is set for 30 April and Comic Con Africa 2026 is marked for 24 September in Johannesburg and while both fan-driven events on African soil have found success and support from sci-fi and fantasy lovers, the content and stars it rests on are primarily international. 

"This is for me where I think it's a case of 'don't under-estimate our audiences'. I think in this particular area, I do feel we have under-estimated our audiences," she says.

"2009's District 9 science fiction action film from Neill Blomkamp came out several years ago. If you asked me what film I wish I had been a part of, that would be it without a question," Dumisa-Ngoasheng noted.

"While it wasn't a South African production in that it wasn't a South African company or South African studio or anything like that, what it did highlight is that our audiences are absolutely hungry for it. Our audience absolutely wants it. And then nothing."

"When District 9 came out, I was absolutely convinced that it was the dawn of a new era - that something new was coming. We had big things we were pitching. We had all or spec sci-fi's. And then the conversations were always ''Our audiences don't understand it'. Which I don't believe."

"We've seen it time and time again - scifi and fantasy as genre work. I think the misconception and where we falter is in thinking it requires a crazy budget because it requires a crazy, massive world and everything is big."

"I think it comes back to the same thing about knowing what you won't compromise on. There is nothing wrong with starting small, for example, an Ex Machina. Her. These are grounded scifi's where yes, the budgets in Hollywood are spent on Joaquin Phoenix and so on but we don't have to do that."

"It takes a high concept, that is grounded with an element of these genres, that we slowly start to explore and that we start to play around with and take some risks. It's also a question of who do we take risks with? Who has already displayed an understanding of the genre?"

Dumisa-Ngoasheng says "What I also think sometimes happens if we are navigating and going into genres with partners who haven't necessarily attempted it even on a small scale, then there's a higher risk, as opposed to 'maybe they have shorts that have already been done in this way.' Maybe the story isn't so good but the technical is good - let's partner with a great storyteller or use a piece of IP to build the thing."

"I can't stress enough how I feel there's an audience, myself being one of those audience members, who are greatly underserved in the genres of sci-fi and fantasy. I mean fantasy! Africa's storytelling is grounded in fantastical stories but we never get to go there." 

Paramount launches hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery with cash offer directly to its shareholders after Netflix said it's buying WBD

by Thinus Ferreira

Paramount isn't going gently into the good night and on Monday launched a hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery, after Netflix and WBD on Friday announced that Netflix is buying WBD.

Paramount Skydance is offering an all-cash buy to WBD's shareholders, backed by the Ellison family and RedBird Capital.

Whereas Netflix is buying Warner Bros.'s TV and film studios as well as its streamer HBO Max, Paramount wants all of WBD, including its Discovery Global set of linear TV channels.

Paramount on Monday said that its deal to snap up WBD is of superior value to shareholders and won't face the uncertain regulatory process that a Netflix buyout of WBD will confront.

Since Netflix is the world's and the United States' largest video streaming service, it will raise anti-trust issues when it wants to acquire HBO Max as a big video streaming service as well that specialises in premium content.

On Monday, Paramount said that it is taking its all-cash offer directly to WBD shareholders since Paramount believes that they were not presented with "the most compelling and superior transaction".

According to Paramount, a Netflix transaction of WBD represents "inferior and uncertain value, a protracted and uncertain multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process, a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash, and ownership of Global Networks as a standalone over-leveraged company whose future trading value is uncertain".

Paramount says it is offering $18 billion more than Netflix to buy the entirety of WBD.

David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, in a statement, says, "WBD shareholders deserve an opportunity to consider our superior all-cash offer for their shares in the entire company".

"Our public offer, which is on the same terms we provided to the Warner Bros Discovery board of directors in private, provides superior value and a more certain and quicker path to completion."

"We believe the WBD board of directors is pursuing an inferior proposal which exposes shareholders to a mix of cash and stock, an uncertain future trading value of the Global Networks linear cable business and a challenging regulatory approval process."

"We are taking our offer directly to shareholders to give them the opportunity to act in their own best interests and maximise the value of their shares."

"We believe our offer will create a stronger Hollywood. It is in the best interests of the creative community, consumers and the movie theatre industry."

"We believe they will benefit from the enhanced competition, higher content spend and theatrical release output, and a greater number of movies in theatres as a result of our proposed transaction. We look forward to working to expeditiously deliver this opportunity so that all stakeholders can begin to capitalise on the benefits of the combined company."

Neither Netflix nor Warner Bros. Discovery had immediate comment.

Emarketer senior analyst Ross Benes told Reuters "The Warner Bros Discovery acquisition is far from over. Netflix is in the driver's seat but there will be twists and turns before the finish line. Paramount will appeal to shareholders, regulators and politicians to try to stymie Netflix. The battle could become prolonged."

Canal+'s MultiChoice is currently in contentious channel carriage negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery for a carriage extension of 12 TV channels on the DStv pay-TV service in South Africa and the Rest of Africa (RoA) region.

With no new deal, MultiChoice will lose the 12 TV channels by the end of December 2025, as well as studio output like the TV content from Warner Bros. Television and films from Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as everything from HBO, all bought for M-Net (DStv 101), the M-Net Movies channels, as well as MultiChoice's streamer Showmax it runs with Comcast's NBCUniversal.

On Monday afternoon, MultiChoice Group said that it "is aware of the announcement made regarding Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix".

"Our own commercial discussions with WBD remain ongoing, and we are not in a position to comment on the negotiations of other industry players. There is no final decision regarding any WBD channels or content on our platforms."

"As always, any updates that may affect our customers will be communicated directly and transparently. Our focus remains on providing the best possible content offering."

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

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net and Showmax are both at risk of losing all of Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO content, as well as all of the TV series and films licensed from WBD's TV and film studios, in separate negotiations that form part of the bigger channels carriage agreement negotiations and standoff between Canal+'s MultiChoice Group and WBD.

The existing channels carriage contract between MultiChoice and WBD expires at the end of December 2025.

The months-long talks to hammer out a new channels carriage extension contract have become contentious, with the risk that DStv subscribers could lose the 12 TV channels supplied by WBD at the end of the month.

It is however not just the 12 TV channels that might get axed from DStv but also all of the HBO content seen on MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax, as well as on the M-Net (DStv 101) channel, and the M-Net Movies channels, which are bought "separately" from the full linear TV channels as part of output deals.   

A source told TVwithThinus that the potential loss of WBD's content for MultiChoice's DStv, M-Net and Showmax is its "biggest existential threat in its history".

Talks between Canal+, MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery again took place on Thursday evening.

The WBD channels at risk of going dark on DStv on 31 December include CNN International, Discovery Channel and Cartoon Network - all three of which have been on DStv since it launched 30 years ago in 1995 - as well as Cartoonito, Food Network, TNT, TLC, ID: Investigation Discovery, Real Time, HGTV, Discovery Family and the Travel channel.

Another source made it very clear to me that the current negotiations with MultiChoice involve separate agreements for both Warner Bros. Discovery’s channel brands, as well as for all of its premium content like HBO series and Warner Bros. titles.

It means that HBO shows and Warner Bros. films appearing on M‑Net, M‑Net Movies and Showmax are also part of the ongoing discussions - not just the 12 TV channels, creating a much bigger possible content loss catastrophe than what DStv subscribers realise.

If MultiChoice and WBD fail to sign a new channels carriage agreement, M-Net and Showmax will also lose the individual shows and films acquired from WBD's TV and film studios like Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, as well as HBO.

HBO series titles range from The Gilded Age, The White Lotus and Dune: Prophecy to House of the Dragon, the new upcoming spinoff Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that will debut in 2026, the new Green Lantern series Lanterns that will start in 2026 as well, and also the highly anticipated new Harry Potter drama series, currently filming its first season and is expected to run for a decade like Friends.

M-Net didn't respond with any answers or clarification to multiple media queries made last week about this output deal that it is at risk of losing.

A concerned and angry DStv subscriber has now started an online petition, entitled "Save our DStv channels from cancellation" to implore MultiChoice not to allow these 12 TV channels to get axed from DStv.

A third insider told me "things are not looking good".

"WBD, which is now taken over by Netflix, is the largest American content supplier of third-party entertainment to DStv and M-Net. You can't replace that massive loss with anything else, even if MultiChoice says it will work on finding replacement content."

"How will they explain to DStv subscribers paying exorbitant monthly subscription fees already why they no longer have CNN, Discovery or Cartoon Network, but that you want them to keep paying?" another source said.

MultiChoice says "While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage".

MultiChoice also hinted that WBD's asking price for whatever content the negotiations are over, might be too high.

MultiChoice says it's trying to acquire content "at the best possible pricing. Every time you subscribe, you trust us with your money, and we take that responsibility seriously".

Warner Bros Discovery told TVwithThinus that it has "not yet reached a mutual agreement with MultiChoice to continue broadcasting our much-loved brands. We want to assure our viewers that Warner Bros. Discovery remains unequivocally committed to finding a resolution".

"Our primary goal is to keep these channels accessible to our loyal audience. We are hopeful that a constructive path forward can be found that benefits all parties, especially the viewers."

Before Canal+'s takeover of the MultiChoice Group, Maxime Maada, Canal+ CEO, told South African regulators that DStv would have more content and more services after Canal+'s buyout and not fewer.

The Competition Commission of South Africa told TVwithThinus in response to a media query about the potential loss of WBD's TV channels and content from DStv, M-Net and Showmax, that "The Competition Commission is not able to comment on this at this stage until it has established all the relevant facts".

"However, it is important to note that any changes to the business of the merged entity will have to be done in a manner that ensures that the merger conditions are not undermined or violated."

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: 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

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

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix will buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios, as well as its HBO Max streaming service for $72 billion, excluding its Discovery Global TV channels.

Netflix and WBD announced the deal on Friday that will give Netflix control of the content produced by TV studios like Warner Bros. Television, film studios like Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as premium pay-TV channel HBO and the video streaming service HBO Max.

Canal+'s MultiChoice is currently in contentious negotiations with WBD for a channels carriage contract extension for its 12 TV channels included on DStv in South Africa and the Rest of Africa (RoA) which expires at the end of December 2025.

Canal+'s MultiChoice and M-Net is furthermore in negotiations for a new content output deal as well with WBD for HBO originals, as well as the TV series and films shown on M-Net (DStv 101), DStv's M-Net Movies channels, and MultiChoice's video streamer Showmax.

Both of these contracts - for the linear TV channels, as well as for the series and films content from WBD - form part of the same negotiations.

Fifteen years ago in December 2010 in an article headlined "Time Warner views Netflix as a fading star", Jeff Bewkes, then the CEO of Time Warner that owned Warner Bros. and HBO, in an interview with the New York Times, said, referring to Netflix, that "It's a little bit like, is the Albanian army going to take over the world? I don't think so".

Now that Netflix "Albanian army" has indeed taken over the world - or at least Warner Bros. Discovery.

Netflix's buyout of WBD has to pass regulatory scrutiny in the United States, with the deal expected to take between 12 to 18 months to complete.

It will exclude Discovery Global, the TV channels division that will house WBD's linear TV channels like CNN, CNN International, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Travel channel, Magnolia Network, Discovery Channel and others.

On Friday, Netflix was adamant that nothing would change, that Netflix would continue to operate according to how it always has, and that Warner Bros.' currently operations and distribution would continue independently, including its theatrical film releases and schedule.

The TV and film studios of Warner Bros. are combined the biggest in the world.

Where the deal might run into trouble is the anti-trust issue that will arise with the world's and the United States' biggest video streaming service buying another streaming service and by all measures HBO Max as the one with arguably the most premium content.

The Netflix deal is strongly opposed by Hollywood.

"Together we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling," said Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, in a statement.

"Today's announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world," said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, in the statement.

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: 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: 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

Netflix commissions Quizzical Pictures for South African adaptation of Brazilian film with Cape Winelands set Love & Wine film set for 5 December release

Thinus Ferreira

Netflix Africa has commissioned Quizzical Pictures to make a South African adaptation of the Brazilian film Ricos de Amor, with Love & Wine produced in Cape Town and the Western Cape Winelands region, which will be released on the streaming service on 5 December.

Love & Wine was executive produced by Odirile Mekwa, JP Potgieter and Harriet Gavshon and directed by Amanda Lane, 

The film that has Amanda Lane, Darryl Bristow-Bovey and Zelipa Zulu as writers, has Ntobeko Sishi, Thandolwethu Zondi, Masali Baduza, Thando Thabethe, Bongile Mantsai, Desmond Dube, N'kone Mametja, Simone Neethling, Rorisang Mohapi and Bohang Moeko as part of the cast.

The logline for Love & Wine as issued by Netflix's new PR company in South Africa, Burson, reads: "A privileged young man working at his wealthy father's business traps himself in a lie when he falls in love with a hard-working medical student and tries to convince her that he comes from more humble beginnings like hers. What follows is a comedic whirlwind of chaos and heartfelt revelations". 

Love & Wine follows the wealthy Ovee (Ntobeko Sishi) who wants to prove he is more than "money".

He asks his friend and driver Nathi (Thandolwethu Zondi) to help him with a plan to find out if love can conquer all.

Wanting to get an internship at his father Sityebi's (Bongile Mantsai) winery, Ovee falls in love with a doctor Amahle (Masali Baduza).

Meanwhile, Nathi starts to enjoy his nouveau riche life, and while chasing the same internship, falls in love with the winery's manager Lena (Thando Thabethe).

Judge throws out Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magadumana interdict application to block Netflix SA and Storyscope from releasing Beauty and the Bester doc series

by Thinus Ferreira

On Friday morning Judge Sulet Potterill, as expected, dismissed the urgent court interdict application brought by convicted murderer, rapist and fraudster Thabo Bester and dr Nandipha Magadumana who tried to block Netflix from showing its documentary series Beauty and the Bester that the streamer earmarked for a release today.

"Judge Sulet Poterill in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria this morning said "A defamation claim can be instituted and damages sought. I cannot find in any way that the screening of the utterances they find to make the doctor guilty affects her right to have a fair trial".

She dismissed the interdict application with cost against Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magadumana and noted that the information about the two are "firmly in the public domain".

At exactly 09:00 on Friday, Netflix globally released the 3-episode Beauty and the Bester, with the 40-minute episodes having titles like "A Monster is Dead", "Ride or Die", and Everything to Lose".

The first episode of Beauty and the Bester details the prison fire in which Thabo Bester allegedly faked his death to escape, the second episode details how Nandipha Magadumana's friends and family feared that she "got swept away by love", while the third episode chronicles the manhunt for the two fugitives who crossed borders into Tanzania, and how deep Nandipha's involvement is in Thabo Bester's life of crime. 

Produced by StoryScope, Beauty and the Bester - a word play on the story "Beauty and the Beast" - has Anthony Molyneaux as director, with Neil Brandt, Laura Colucci and Thandi Davids as executive producers.

Netflix declined to provide media with digital screeners of Beauty and the Bester ahead of time, something which is usually done for review purposes and to promote content, saying it is "sensitive".

Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magadumana, with separate lawyers, both brought an urgent interdict application against the release on Netflix of Beauty and the Bester, chronicling the buzzy crime-riddled tale they're ensnared in.

After the judge tossed the interdict application on Friday morning, TVwithThinus asked Netflix South Africa for comment. Burson that does corporate communications on behalf of Netflix SA said Netflix has no comment or statement.

It's a two out of two for fail for Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magadumana who last year also brought an interdict application against MultiChoice's streamer Showmax and IdeaCandy when they tried to block the release of the documentary Tracking Thabo Bester that was also dismissed with cost.

Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magadumana are both due back in the Bloemfontein High Court next week Friday for their criminal trial. 

Thabo Bester is currently held in the C-Max division of the Kgosi Mampuru II jail.

ALSO READ: Netflix will only have half an hour time on Friday morning to halt global release of hot take doc series Beauty and the Bester if Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magadumana court interdict is maybe granted

MultiChoice Namibia is losing 49 subscribers daily who cut the cord over high prices and Netflix as it hikes DStv fees up to 8% from April 2025 and blames inflation

by Thinus Ferreira

As MultiChoice Namibia gets ready to hike prices from April 2025 and blames inflation, Namibia's broadcasting authority has revealed that MultiChoice Nigeria is losing 49 subscribers daily in that country who are cutting the cord due to the high subscription fees and competition like Netflix.

Namibia's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN), in its latest sector report, indicates that MultiChoice Namibia has shed a combined 35 578 DStv and GOv subscribers between the start of 2023 and the end of 2024.

This means that MultiChoice Namibia over the past two years has lost 49 subscribers daily.

According to the regulator, MultiChoice Namibia has seen an 11% decline in the satellite pay-TV operator's total subscribers in the country in the 4th quarter of 2024.

"This may be attributed to the recent increase in subscription fees and growing competition from streaming platforms like Netflix," the regulator notes in its Q4 broadcasting sector report.

From April 2025, MultiChoice is hiking DStv fees in Namibia by between 6% and just over 8%.

This is MultiChoice Namibia's second price hike in less than a year, after it hiked prices in September 2024.

MultiChoice Namibia is hiking DStv Premium by 6% from April from N$985 to $1045 - crossing the psychological threshold of $1000 per month for its top-end package for the first time ever. 

MultiChoice Namibia is increasing DStv Compact Plus 5.9% from N$675 to N$715, while DStv Compact is increasing 6% from N$495 to N$525.

DStv Family is increased 6.7% from N$370 to N$395, while DStv Access will increase by 8.5% from N$175 to N$190.

DStv Lite - the cheapest package - is getting a price decrease from N$110 to N$60, making it 45% cheaper.

MultiChoice Nigeria blames inflation in the country for the increase of between 6% and 8%.

"Africa’s much loved storyteller has taken into account the current rate of inflation and economic pressures facing Namibians when considering our price adjustments," says MultiChoice Namibia.