Turner Africa's Cartoon Network adds a series of localised shorts, Pop Up Party; says Cartoon Network will be producing more local-inspired shows.

Urban Brew Studios has produced new localised African TV content for Turner Broadcasting in Africa's Cartoon Network (DStv 301) on MultiChoice's DStv in the form of a shorts series, Pop Up Party.

Pop Up Party can be seen since July on the Cartoon Network, following a young crew of local dancers as they "pop up" in various locations to dance.

The aim of Pop Up Party is to "entertain and expose all Africans to Cartoon Network's amazing world of kids entertainment with this fresh localised series of shorts," says Pierre Branco, the vice president and managing director of Turner Africa.

"Turner is proud of our audience on the African continent and to show our commitment to Africa, Cartoon Network will be producing more local-inspired shows, using some of Africa's best and most inspiring talents," says Pierre Branco.

Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network to launch its first-ever animated mini-series, Over the Garden Wall on Halloween on DStv.

Cartoon Network (DStv 301) from Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) will launch the kids channel's first-ever animated mini-series, Over the Garden Wall, on Halloween on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Turner Broadcasting Africa didn't release the Cartoon Network information to South Africa's media when it was handed out at the MultiChoice Content Showcase in Mauritius earlier this month and that South African press and TV critics were not invited to.

However the information is just as relevant and applicable for Cartoon Network as seen on DStv in South Africa - in fact is punts only its viewership in South Africa.

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) says the Cartoon Network (DStv 301) "is ranked number one in South Africa with 2.4 million monthly views".

"With this staggering result, this unique channel  has managed to dominate the age groups of 4-14, 4-9 and 10-14 as well as its core target market, boys aged 4-14".

Over the Garden Wall will launch on Hallows eve as Cartoon Network's first-ever animated mini-series, with a cast which consists of Elijah Wood, John Cleese and Tim Curry.

Over the Garden Wall follows the story of two brothers - Wirt and Greg - as they find themselves lost in a strange forest, where they encounter numerous surprises and obstacles on their journey through the woods.

"It's got a nostalgic storybook feeling, inspired by folk art and classical illustrations, not to mention the Americana influenced soundtrack," says TBS.

We Bare Bears will start on the Cartoon Network in December.

The Powerpuff Girls which was first broadcast in 1996, is set for a global relaunch in 2016.

The new Ben 10 will start in Africa in autumn 2016 and in North America in 2017. Cartoon Network also has two brand-new seasons of The Amazing World of Gumball.

"It is another extraordinary year for Turner's kids' channels in 2015 and viewers can expect it to continue in 2016," says Pierre Branco, the vice president for Southern Europe and Africa for Turner Broadcasting System.

"With a mixture of new original productions and old favourites, our offer has never been stronger. We look for unique shows that have great characters, authentic to kids and this is more apparent than ever with our upcoming programming slate," says Pierre Branco.

Pop-up kids channel, Hoolee, from Turner Broadcasting coming in December to DStv Premium subscribers for two months with movies, animated shows.

MultiChoice's next pop-up channel will be the kids channel HOOLEE from Turner Broadcasting System International that will run from the beginning of December 2015 to the end of January 2016 on DStv.

HOOLEE follows after M-Net and Disney's current Star Wars channel on channel 109 on DStv.

Turner already provides kids channels like Cartoon Network (DStv 301) and Boomerang (DStv 302) to DStv.

Turner Africa announced that HOOLEE will become Africa's first pop-up channel on DStv at the MultiChoice Content Showcase held this past week at the Outrigger Mauritius Resort & Spa in Mauritius.

MultiChoice announced that it will be doing 4 pop-up channels in 2016 for DStv subscribers and that the Star Wars pop-up channel from M-Net Movies is an experiment.

South African press and TV critics were not invited, nor told beforehand of the MultiChoice Content Showcase. Turner Africa didn't share the announcement and news of HOOLEE with South African press after it was made in Mauritius.

Turner Broadcasting says it and DStv will be making "African television history" when families all over the African continent, including South Africa, will be able to watch HOOLEE as "a first of its kind Africa pop-up children's channel".

HOOLEE will be for DStv Premium subscribers and the schedule will include "carefully chosen movies and animated shows" created from a selection of programming from Turner Broadcasting and Warner Brothers productions, as well as exclusive acquisitions.

HOOLEE will run on DStv for 8 weeks, from the beginning of December until  the end of January 2016.

"Imagine laughing, sharing surprising adventures and celebrating the summer holidays with your children every day, is the promise of the channel," says Tim Jacobs, MultiChoice Africa CEO.

"HOOLEE will offer to the whole family programmes that they have always enjoyed, as well as new and refreshing, exclusive shows and movies. The range of programming is truly amazing," says Pierre Branco, vice president and managing director of Turner Africa.

MultiChoice's DStv Content Showcase in Mauritius 2015: A summary of the programming upfront and news so far: Day 4

MultiChoice's 5 day MultiChoice Content Showcase is currently taking  place at the Outrigger Mauritius Resort & Spa in Mauritius (one journalist from Uganda calls it a "hedonistic content bash").

MultiChoice didn't tell South African press and TV critics about it or that it's happening. And surprise, surprise, South African press are not there although the bulk of the channel seen are the same, and the news and announcements shared there relevant and applicable to South Africa as well.

For day 1 and day 2 news and stories check here with links to further articles.

For day 3 news and stories check here with links to further articles.


Friday 4 September
Morning
The morning kicked off with The Walt Disney Company doing the day's first presentation. Deirdre King, head of marketing at The Walt Disney Company Africa spoke.

I asked both Disney on Thursday and Disney's South African PR company Taryn Fritz PR, to please help me and send me whatever information is announced, presented or issued to press on Friday. By Friday (after I asked again twice) ... nothing.

Deirdre King tells the press that more content from Africa will be coming to Disney soon (besides of course the I Love Violetta companion show).

A whole season of the popular pre-school animation series Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior (DStv 309) has been translated into Swahili although Disney has no date for when it will be broadcast on DStv.

A new Facebook page for Disney Junior will be launching on 1 October for viewers, parents and kids in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) in the photo above, presented next.

VIMN Africa issued information at the same time as it was released during the panel discussion which included TV executives like Evert van der Veer (head of comedy for Africa), Tasania Parsadh (the senior channel manager of Nickelodeon in Africa) and Tim Horwood (VIMN Africa creative director and channel director for MTV Base).

Read more about VIMN Africa's presentation at the MultiChoice Content Showcase here. It's for channels like MTV, Comedy Central, MTV Base, BET,  Nickelodeon, NickToons, Nick Jr. and includes a comprehensive summary of programming updates, announcements and renewals.

VIMN Africa says Viacom isn't about just the business of creating television but about creating experiences. Nice.

Afternoon
SuperSport was next with Alvin Naicker (head of production), SuperSport presenter Carol Tshabalala, Graeme Murray (SuperSport general manager for Southern Africa) and Anthony Baffoe (FIFA and CAF general co-ordinator) appearing.

SuperSport announced it will have at least 6 SuperSport channels covering the 2016 Olympic Games on DStv. SuperSport will cover "every event where an African stands a chance of winning a medal".

SuperSport says it has helped to lay the foundation across Africa in football club licensing, the upskilling of administrators and for setting basic standards at Africa's stadiums.

SuperSport will be starting a dedicated new Zambian football magazine show soon, to profile the Zambian football league.

Alvin Naicker said SuperSport created a Broadcast Manual for football leagues to educate them about how sport broadcasting works, and its impact on fixtures, and the timing of when games should best be played.

"We don’t just pay money for rights and walk away, sending in a couple of cameras to film a sporting event."

SuperSport said it's the biggest contributor in Africa when it comes to investment in continental sport.
[Here is one article about SuperSport's presentation  and here is another one.]



The holiday kids channel that MultiChoice is adding for the December holidays is apparently HOOLEE, from Turner Broadcasting Systems Africa (TBS Africa) which will be running from December 2015 and in January 2016.

Sweet nothing from Turner's PR people at Burson-Marsteller in South Africa about any of the Turner news and presentations or HOOLEE, or about Pierre Branco, Turner Broadcasting System's new general manager, talking about CNN International (DStv 401) and Turner's TV news brand in Africa.



The afternoon belonged to BBC Worldwide doing a baking exercise with the press in lieu of The Great South African Bake Off starting soon on BBC Lifestyle. Keep in mind that South African journalists are not actually there. (Although its not BBC Worldwide's "fault".)

BBC Worldwide helped tremendously and issued information regarding BBC Lifestyle at the same time as The Great Bake Off activation on the island happened.

The Great South African Bake Off will start on 6 October at 20:00 for 12 hour long episodes on BBC Lifestyle.

The 5th series of The Great British Bake Off will start in December on BBC Lifestyle for 10 episodes.

Mary Berry Cooks will start on BBC Lifestyle on 15 September at 20:00 for 6 half hour episodes, and Jamie's Comfort Food will start on 11 November at 20:00 for 6 hour long episodes.

Lorraine Pascale: How to be a Better Cook will start on BBC Lifestyle on 6 November at 20:00 for 6 hour long episodes.


Evening
Satirical news show Zambezi News performs. Another story about Zambezi News and M-Net's Zambezi magic channel here.

M-Net has the American cast of the TV drama series From Dusk Til Dawn on M-Net Edge (DStv 102) (a channel of course seen in South Africa on DStv) in Mauritius for a press conference and panel discussion on Saturday morning. The second season just started on M-Net Edge.

Actors Zane Holtz and D.J. Cotrona showed up on Friday night already at M-Net's evening of dance and comedy as part of the presentation by M-Net's Zambezi Magic and Maisha Magic East channels.


Like Pawn Stars South Africa, on History getting a second season, A+E Networks openings its first African office this week in Johannesburg, Top Actor SA on BET getting a second season, and several other programming involved in actual announcements at the MultiChoice Content Showcase, the huge irony is that its often South African content driving the announcements even in Mauritius when MultiChoice and channels want to show they're going "local" and investing in Africa.