BREAKING. After 3 years of talks and 13 years apart, Viacom and CBS have reached a deal to merge again as ViacomCBS.

After 3 years of talks and negotiations following 13 years as split companies, another mega-merger is looming after the media giants Viacom and CBS have agreed to reunite in a United States deal with will have an impact on South Africa and the African continent as well.

On Tuesday CBS and Viacom that separated 13 years ago, announced that Viacom - that umbrellas Viacom's Paramount film studio and its pay-TV channels available in Africa like MTV, MTV Base, BET, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central - will merge with the broadcaster CBS, with the CBS Corporation that has the Showtime pay-TV channel and a 50%-stake in the CW broadcast network.

Viacom runs several linear TV channels as a channels supplier across Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa through Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa), while M-Net acquires and shows Showtime and CW series across its range of channels on DStv, as well as streaming series produced for CBS's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in America like The Good Fight and Tell Me a Story.

The combined Viacom-CBS conglomerate that will be known as ViacomCBS will now be lead by Robert M. Bakish who has been Viacom's CEO, with Joseph Ianniello, who has been the CBS acting CEO who will remain in place as the CEO and chairperson of a newly-designed CBS unit, says ViacomCBS in a statement released late on Tuesday.

CBS chief financial officer Christina Spade will serve as the CFO of ViacomCBS.

Shari Redstone will be the chairperson of ViacomCBS.

Viacom and CBS used to exist as Viacom until their split in 2006 but the combined ViacomCBS will now reach more than 4.3 billion pay-TV subscribers around the world.

ViacomCBS says that it now "has an opportunity to expand globally by leveraging its existing strength in both subscription and ad-supported offerings, combined library, content production capabilities and international infrastructure".

"I am really excited to see these two great companies come together so that they can realise the incredible power of their combined assets. My father once said 'content is king', and never has that been more true than today," said Shari Redstone in a statement.

"Through CBS and Viacom's shared passion for premium content and innovation, we will establish a world-class, multiplatform media organization that is well-positioned for growth in a rapidly transforming industry."

Bob Bakish in the statement says "Led by a talented leadership team that is excited by the future, ViacomCBS’s success will be underpinned by a commitment to strong values and a culture that empowers our exceptional people at all levels of the organisation."

“Today marks an important day for CBS and Viacom, as we unite our complementary assets
and capabilities and become one of only a few companies with the breadth and depth of content and reach to shape the future of our industry."

"Our unique ability to produce premium and popular content for global audiences at scale – for our own platforms and for our partners around the world – will enable us to maximize our business for today, while positioning us to lead for years to come."

Joseph Ianniello in the statement says that the merger "brings an exciting new set of opportunities to both companies. At CBS, we have outstanding momentum right now – creatively and operationally – and Viacom’s portfolio will help accelerate that progress".

"I look forward to all we will do together as we build on our ongoing success. And personally, I am pleased to remain focused on CBS’s top priority – continuing our transformation into a global, multiplatform, premium content company."

MTV's trashy reality reboot, The Hills: New Beginnings, renewed for a second season.

Viacom's MTV (DStv 130) has renewed its trashy reality reboot, The Hills: New Beginnings for a second season the channel announced on Monday.

The reboot version started in June on MTV in America and a few weeks ago on MTV in South Africa on the African channel feed of Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) for the continent.

The current reality stars in The Hills: New Beginnings include Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Audrina Patridge, Whitney Port, Stephanie Pratt, Jason Wahler, Brody Jenner, Justin Bobby Brescia and Frankie Delgado, alongside Mischa Barton and Brandon Thomas Lee.

Neither Lauren Conrad nor Kristin Cavallari who now has her own reality series on E! (DStv 124) are not involved with the MTV show that carried on with the now-older stars who first appeared in the original 2000-version a decade earlier.

Viacom renews SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon for a 13th season with 13 episodes.

Viacom has renewed its animation series, SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon (DStv 305) for a 13th season with 13 episodes.

In a press release Viacom says that the 13th season of SpongeBob SquarePants will reunite the original voice cast members Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy Cheeks) and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), as well as the current showrunners Vince Waller and Marc Ceccarelli.

SpongeBob SquarePants is created by Stephen Hillenburg and is produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, California in the United States.

The 13th season pickup comes after Nickelodeon last month commissioned a Kamp Koral animation spin-off series, and celebrated the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob Squarepants with a SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout TV special.

Viacom's BET getting ready to launch BET+ as a new streaming service in late-2019.

Viacom's BET channel is getting ready to launch its own subscription video-on-demand service (SVOD), BET+ that is set to launch around September this year.

The Wall Street Journal reports that BET+, aimed at black viewers in America, will include original movies and original scripted TV shows, along with content from other Viacom channels like Comedy Central, MTV and VH1.

Shows on BET+ will include the drama series First Wives Club based on the movie, and Peachtree Place, a 10-episode comedy that follows five 30-somethings living in Atlanta as they try to build their personal and professional lives.

At launch, BET+ will be available on Android devices, Amazon Fire, Roku and Apple TV.

Commercials for BET+ are expected to appear during the 2019 BET Awards taking place on 23 June in the United States and one will feature Tyler Perry in conversation about BET+ with his film ater ego Madea.

BET in the United States declined to comment.

Tyler Perry is onboard to promote and supply programming for BET+.

It's not clear if or when BET+ would be made available in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa by Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

The Walt Disney Company will launch its Disney+ streaming service in November, excluding South Africa and Africa, and WarnerMedia will also launch its as-yet-unnamed streaming service during the fourth quarter of 2019 in the United States as well.

Apple is also planning on launching Apple TV+ at the end of 2019.

Nickelodeon renews PAW Patrol, Bubble Guppies, Abby Hatcher and Butterbean's Café for further seasons.

Viacom's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) has renewed four of its preschool animation series PAW Patrol, Bubble Guppies, Abby Hatcher and Butterbean's Café for further seasons.

PAW Patrol gets a 7th season, Bubble Guppies is renewed for a 5th season, and Abby Hatcher and Butterbean's Café both get second seasons.

In the seventh season of PAW Patrol with 26 half-hour episodes, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, the heroic pack of pups - Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker - go on super-charged adventures after receiving all-new abilities when a super-power replicating baddie, the Copycat, arrives in Adventure Bay.

Then, the PAW Patrol travel to Dino Land where they meet new pup and dinosaur expert, Rex. With brand-new rugged Dino Rescue gear, heavy-duty vehicles and tools, the pups are ready for action-packed prehistoric rescue missions. PAW Patrol features a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving.

The fifth season of Bubble Guppies with 26 half-hour episodes will introduce brand-new guppy Zooli, a spunky and smart student, animal expert and fin-tastic friend to the guppies' school class.

Together, the guppies will dance, sing, play and learn valuable lessons as they embark on all-new underwater adventures. Set to a soundtrack of catchy, educational pop songs, Bubble Guppies features a curriculum that infuses the core elements of kindergarten readiness, including math, literacy, the arts, science and socio-emotional development.

In the second season of Abby Hatcher with 26 half-hour episodes, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, Abby and her best Fuzzly friend Bozzly lend a helping hand to some new Fuzzly pals as they explore their incredible hotel home, encounter a shuttle bus full of surprises and zoom off to new locations with Abby's souped-up bike and Fuzzly-finding gear.

Abby Hatcher features a social-emotional curriculum highlighting empathy, compassion and problem-solving skills.

The second season of Butterbean's Café with 20 half-hour episodes will continue to follow Butterbean, her fairy friends - Dazzle, Poppy, and Jasper - and her little sister Cricket, as they use teamwork to successfully run their neighbourhood cafe and whip up healthy snacks and sweet treats for the citizens of Puddlebrook.

Butterbean's Café showcases creative cooking and features a curriculum with social-emotional lessons that highlight kindness and gratitude, and leadership skills.

eNCA spreads completely 'fake news' as it wrongly reports that 'Trevor Noah might be out of his job'; TV news channel erroneously claims that The Daily Show on Comedy Central could be cancelled.

The South African TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) on Saturday spread "fake news", erroneously and wrongly reporting as a breaking news "top story" that "Trevor Noah might be out of a job" and wrongly claiming that The Daily Show on Comedy Central (DStv 122) could be cancelled with its "future hanging in the balance".

None of it is true.

Sadly and shockingly, neither the clueless and incompetent weekend worker at eNCA who cobbled together the report from false facts without attribution to any actual original news sources, nor any information checkers, online editors or other gatekeepers at eNCA saw or bothered to check and first verify any of the false information before publishing it.

eNCA with a fake headline "Trevor Noah might be out of a job" that is devoid from all truth, reported wrongly to news consumers that "the future of Comedy Central's Daily Show hangs in the balance".

That is not true and neither is or will Trevor Noah be out of a job, nor does the future of The Daily Show "hang in the balance".

eNCA wrongly reported fake news, saying "This could mean the end of one of the most watched and beloved parody news shows" - again a completely false assumption since The Daily Show isn't and won't be ending.

eNCA wrongly reported that "authorities, AT&T-DIRECTTV plans to drop 22 channels".

Nothing like AT&T-DIRECTV exists.

DirecTV is an American satellite pay-TV service, "DirecTV" is its brand name, and is a subsidiary of AT&T (U-verse is another such similar service from AT&T).

DirecTV is also not an "authority" or "authorities" - it is a commercial pay-TV service, one of about 26 in America.

What is happening but that eNCA doesn't understand nor bothered to, is that DirecTV is in negotiations with Viacom at the moment, with Viacom that provides TV channels to all pay-TV providers in America and worldwide, like South Africa, for the continuation of its channels on DirecTV.

The suppliers of channels - like Viacom - sign what is called channel carriage agreements. This is a contract lasting for a specific period, for instance 5 years, with a pay-TV service that then pays the supplier an amount (usually a few cents per subscriber per month).

This contract for Comedy Central and a dozen other channels from Viacom delivered to DirecTV is now expiring. The two sides are busy negotiating a new possible contract.

If there isn't a new contract between Viacom and DirecTV, Viacom's Comedy Central will continue to exist,it just won't be available on DirecTV anymore.

Comedy Central will continue to be available to subscribers and viewers of more than 20 pay-TV services in America, as well as globally, as well as Comedy Central Africa carried and available in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv and provided by Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

The same with The Daily Show and the same with Trevor Noah.

Just because it might no longer be on "the authorities" DirecTV, doesn't mean Comedy Central as a TV channel, The Daily Show or Trevor Noah is in any danger, has a "future in the balance" or "might be out of a job".

It is the same as if MultiChoice decided to drop e.tv as a channel from its line-up on DStv.

e.tv would still be available on the satellite TV services of StarSat and on Openview. The future of shows like Scandal! and Rhythm City wouldn't "hang in the balance", they would just not be on DStv anymore, they wouldn't be cancelled, and the soap stars in these shows won't be at risk of a "might be out of a job".

It's absolutely shocking that eNCA would produce and run fake trash like this.

eNCA ended up deleting its Tweet linking to its fake news reporting on Saturday afternoon after TVwithThinus noted the horrific fake news from eNCA.

Later eNCA did another Tweet after altering its fake news story and making the headline "Trevor Noah's Daily Show up in the air at AT&T" - still a clickbait headline and false news.

eNCA also altered and edited its original fake news report, without adding any editorial note that the article has been changed since it was first published and explaining why - something legitimate news sources do when changing and updating stories and correcting mistakes.

eNCA kept the mistake "AT&T-DIRECTV" but took out that it is "authorities", added that it could mean the end of the show for "AT&T-DIRECTV customers" at the end of a sentence and wholly deleted wrong sentences.

On Twitter readers criticised eNCA, saying it's "still a very misleading headline". "Noah's show is perfectly safe. One US TV provider out of many that is making (idle) threats because of a contract dispute. #clickbait".

Another said "This is not accurate. There are middle school papers with better editors".

Comedy Central's Comedians Solve World Problems goes global including a localised South African version.

Viacom's Comedy Central (DStv 122) is expanding and localising its digital Comedians Solve World Problems series globally, that will include a uniquely South African version of the series.

South Africa is one of 10 countries chosen for a localised version where the short-form series - that was originally a British series made by Comedy Central International for viewers in the United Kingdom - will be adapted for local viewers.

Besides South Africa, local versions of Comedians Solve World Problems are in the works for the United States, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Asia, GSA (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), France, Spain, Benelux (The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg), Mexico and Brazil.

In every episode, two local comedians appear who sit across a table from each other and talk about pressing topics, moral issues and current affairs, for instance, racism or overpopulation.

Each localised version will have up to 20 comedians appear in their own series. Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) haven't yet announced which South African comedians would feature in Comedians Solve World Problems.

The localised Comedians Solve World Problems will run on digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.

In the United States 5 episodes have already been produced, in Asia 10 episodes have been made and other countries and territories like South Africa will have 8 episodes.

A few of the episodes will address the same global problem or topic tackles in all of the localised versions, while the rest of the episodes in various regions will focus on local issues and news of interest to those territories.

The global localisation of Comedians Solve World Problems comes after Viacom Digital Studios International created production hubs in Buenos Aires, New York and London and these decided and managed to increase their digital content output.

Viacom's 'New Nickelodeon' charting a new course to serve all kids with a wide-range of new content, including Lego City, SpongeBob spin-offs, and a scripted boarding school music series.

Viacom's "New Nickelodeon" (DStv 305) says the children's channel is charting a new course to serve all kids - who are now "their own programmers" in a connected world - with its biggest and most wide-ranging new content slate ever, including a SpongeBob SquarePants spin-off.

Brian Robbins, Nickelodeon president, says in a statement that Nickelodeon is unveiling a new content slate created for "today's kids who are multicultural, family-focused, and in control of their entertainment choices across platforms"

"With a foundation of supercharging its globally powerful original franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol, and welcoming new, acquired properties into its ecosystem, Nickelodeon's new slate represents a renewing of its commitment to serve all kids, through a multicultural lens; bringing in talent kids love from other platforms and formats; and opening up its demo to capture kid and parent co-viewing, to satisfy this generation's demand for shared family time."

"We have a laser focus on who kids are today, and what they want, so we are making a wider variety of shows and series for them, and we're working with brand-new kinds of talent and producers," says Brian Robbins.

"We have a new creative team in place and a renewed energy that we're harnessing to bring the buzz back to Nick."

Nickelodeon's new direction was developed against the network's defining research insights into today's kids, who, according to Nickelodeon "are the most diverse generation ever", who cite shared experiences with their parents and family as their top priority; and who are "in near-total control of their entertainment choices, enabled by any one of the 12 connected devices found in today's average household"

"Kids today are their own programmers, so we have been working very fast to transfer our expertise as television content makers to all the new places and platforms kids are going to," says Brian Robbins. 

"Our vision for a new Nickelodeon is to fill up every screen, of every size, to make an impact on as many consumers as we can and to be at the forefront of conversation for today's kids and families."

"Everything we're making will have different formats, for all platforms, so we can travel the audience back and forth from one to the other while being home base for all the shows, the biggest franchises, the characters and talent they love."

Some of Nickelodeon's new content slate includes The Casagrandes, the spin-off from the animation series, The Loud House that will follow 11-year-old Ronnie Anne after she moves to the city with her older brother Bobby and her mom, where they now live with their big, loving and chaotic multigenerational Mexican-American family, the Casagrandes.

Santiago of the Seas (formerly The Swashbuckling Adventures of Capitán Calavera) is an animated series follows the adventures of 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate.

Nickelodeon is also working on an as-yet-untitled Simon Fuller and Ryan Tedder produced scripted music series set in a boarding performing arts high school, with original music in every episode. 

Nickelodeon is commemorating the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob Squarepants with the "Best Year Ever," a tribute that will include an original one-hour special, SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout, that will premiere later in 2019.

Additionally, plans are in place to expand the SpongeBob SquarePants universe with spinoffs focused on the core characters into formats such as new series, specials and feature-length movies. The anniversary will culminate with the release of the new SpongeBob film, It's A Wonderful Sponge, from Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies. 

The second season of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will start on Nickelodeon later this year, and follow the Turtles as they continue to hone their ninja skills, uncover new, powerful weapons and encounter a world beneath the streets of New York City.

The franchise is also being expanded with an original, feature-length animated movie being produced by Nickelodeon Studios for Netflix. 

Paddington (working title) with actor Ben Whishaw is coming to Nickelodeon as a new animation series, following a younger Paddington and his adventures in London with the Brown family and their friends.

Lego City is a new animated comedy, created and produced by LEGO Group, that depicts the funny, smart, and dynamic slices of life within the sprawling and diverse LEGO CITY community. 

Lego City will start later in 2019 and will follow the intertwining paths of the city's everyday heroes as they work together to stop a mysterious master criminal who begins to wreak havoc on their town. 

Viacom's Nickelodeon working on a deal with CBS Studios for an animation, youth-centred, Star Trek series.

Viacom's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) is working on a deal with CBS Studios for an animation, youth-centred Star Trek series.

CBS Television Studios' Star Trek: Discovery currently in its second season and rolling out new episodes weekly is available on Netflix South Africa.

Several other new Star Trek series are currently in pre-production, including an as-yet-untitled one revolving around Captain Picard with Patrick Stewart reprising his Star Trek: The Next Generation role; and Lower Decks as as animation comedy series for adults; and Section 31 that will involve the character of actress Michelle Yeoh.

The new possible animation series for Nickelodeon will be done by CBS Television Studios, Alex Kurtzman's Secret Hideout, and the writer-brothers Kevin and Dan Hageman.

Nicki Minaj dumps Viacom's BET Experience festival and the 2019 BET Awards over BET's online Twitter bullying, pitting her against rival Cardi B.

Artist Nicki Minaj has dumped Viacom's BET (DStv 129) channel, saying she's pulling out of its upcoming BET Experience and will not be at or involved in its BET Awards after BET on its Twitter account commented on her appearance at Sunday night's 2019 Grammy Awards, saying "Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is being dragged by her lacefront".

BET's online bullying - now deleted - unfavourable compared Nicki Minaj with her Grammy-winning rival, Cardi B who had a historic win on Sunday night when she became the first solo female rapper to win the award for best rap album.

Nicki Minaj said she's dumping BET's BET Experience and that she and her mentor, the Young Money music label rapper Lil Wayne, will no longer participate, and won't be setting a foot at the Viacom network's 2019 BET Awards later this year.

"Young Money will no longer be a part of the BET Experience or award show," Nicki Minaj wrote.

A few weeks ago BET announced weeks ago that both Nicki Minaj and Cardi B would be doing shows during the 4-day BET Experience in Los Angeles.

BET deleted the tweet and in a statement is apologising and says: "BET loves Nicki Minaj. We have supported her from the very beginning of her career and will continue to do so moving forward".

"Nicki has paved the way for so many performers and has solidified her place as one of the most powerful figures in the music industry. Unfortunately, the respect we have for Nicki was violated by this post that should never have been written."

"The post does not reflect how we feel about Nicki. And further does not reflect our company values. We deeply apologize for the hurt, disappointment and confusion that this post has caused. We are committed to doing everything we can to address the situation."

"We are also conducting an internal audit to assure these types of posts are not published again. We have apologized to Nicki and her team. The post has been removed and we have taken additional appropriate action."

"We understand Nicki's position and look forward to continuing our dialogue with her. Finally, we apologize to all of her fans. This should have never happened."

Viacom's Comedy Central rolling out the channel's first rebranding in 8 years, featuring its own bespoke font type and colour.

Viacom's Comedy Central (DStv 122) is rolling out the channel's first rebranding in 8 years that will soon be used worldwide.

A week ago Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) was asked when the rebranding will be introduced and rolled out for South Africa and Africa but Viacom Africa didn't respond to a media enquiry.

The Comedy Central refresh is the first one since 2011, with the rebranding look that was done by the New York studio Loyalkaspar, together with Comedy Central's in-house design team.

The Comedy Central refresh further refines the current "C"-symbol that is now alongside a custom-made sans-serif typeface called "Comedy Sans" and also includes a new colour palette using a yellow named "Summer Ale".

These are being used together with black and white as its primary colours, alongside an extended palette of red, orange, blue, green and grey to work with different TV shows and content on Comedy Central.

"The core idea behind the new branding is 'everything is content', which looked to hero the channel's shows and allow the brand to take a back-seat," says Anna Minkkinen, executive creative director at Loyalkaspar.

Viacom in SVOD deal with MTN to carry Nickelodeon, MTV, MTV Base and Comedy Central content on MTN Shortz streaming platform in Nigeria.

Viacom has entered into a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) deal with cellular operator MTN to carry content from its Nickelodeon, MTV, MTV Base and Comedy Central brands on the MTN Shortz streaming platform in Nigeria in Africa.

"We are pursuing a diversified and extensive multiplatform strategy," says Raffaele Annecchino, president and managing director of Viacom's Southern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa business cluster, in a statement.

"We are a company that produces premium longform and shortform content for every platform. We are excited to be working with great partners like MTN in Africa as we continue to evaluate each market for new opportunities and unlock value through both traditional and nontraditional distribution partners."

The Viacom deal for Africa appears limited to Nigeria and a deal between VIMN, Arial View Nigeria Limited (AVNL) and MTN.

Viacom's Nickelodeon orders a Latin-American spin-off animation series of The Loud House, Los Casagrandes.

Viacom's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) has ordered a Latin American animation spin-off series from its The Loud House series, entitled Los Casagrandes.

Los Casagrandes will likely show up on Nickelodeon's African TV schedule eventually, unless the series contains or shows a gay character - something that saw The Loud House being banned in Kenya in East Africa by that country's over-zealous censorship board and that resulted in Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and MultiChoice pulling the series off the air for DStv subscribers across Africa, including South Africa.

Nickelodeon ordered a first season of 20 episodes of Los Casagrandes, following a girl, Ronnie Anne and her family as they adjust to life in a big city, Great Lakes City, where they now live with their big, loving and chaotic multi-generational family, the Casagrandes.

In Los Casagrandes Ronnie Anne makes new friends, build stronger bonds with her relatives and explores the endless possibilities of city life. Bobby helps Grandpa Hector run the family’s corner store, and becomes familiar with the neighborhood’s quirky characters.

"Nickelodeon is proud to expand The Loud House universe by offering a new perspective on family life with Los Casagrandes," says Chris Viscardi, Nickelodeon's senior vice president of animation production and development, in a statement.

"There's no better time than today to tell stories about a kid growing up in a loving, multi-generational , diverse family."

Mike Rubiner who is the co-executive producer of The Loud House will also serve as the executive producer of Los Casagrandes, with animator Lalo Alcaraz who will be a cultural consultant.

Viacom's new flagship channel, Paramount Network, to launch in the United Kingdom as well, again raising questions as to when Paramount Network will be making its debut for South African and African pay-TV subscribers.

After making its debut in January in America, Viacom announced on Friday that its new premium entertainment flagship channel, Paramount Network will be launching in the United Kingdom on 4 July.

The announcement about the UK expansion is once again raising questions as to when Viacom and Viacom Africa is going to be making the Paramount Network available to pay-TV subscribers in South Africa and, or across the rest of Africa.

Viacom clearly has a plan to roll out the Paramount Network - its rebranded and reprogrammed Spike channel - internationally, and TVwithThinus already asked the question back in January 2018: Will - or when will - South Africa's pay-TV viewers get to see Viacom's new Paramount Network channel, and should it replace something like MTV Europe on DStv?

Also in January Viacom Africa told TVwithThinus that it will explore opportunities to build the brand in the African market.

Now, 7 months after the launch of the Paramount Network in the United States, Viacom UK is rolling out the Paramount Network in Britain from 4 July, saying that it is "set to deliver high-end Hollywood entertainment with blockbuster movies, scripted drama and critically acclaimed comedy featuring some of the biggest names on the planet".

Paramount Network's international launch is being overseen by Jill Offman, the executive vice president for Comedy Central and Paramount Network International.

There is however still no indication of how long Africa's viewers and pay-TV subscribers in South Africa are still going to have to wait to get to see the Paramount Network, following its roll-out for American and British viewers.

"Launching on TV screens in the United Kingdom is another critical milestone for the Paramount Network brand, which we're convinced will resonate strongly with British viewers given Paramount's distinguished and successful history of epic, cinematic storytelling for global audiences," said Jill Offman in a statement.

Jill Offman referring specifically to "Paramount's distinguished and successful history of epic, cinematic storytelling for global audiences", makes it clear that the Paramount Network has global ambitions as a channel and would just as seamlessly be a fit for viewers in South Africa and Africa where the Paramount logo is well known as a brand.

So far there's been silence as to whether the Paramount Network could make its appearance in Africa on direct-to-home (DTH) pay-TV satellite services like MultiChoice's DStv, StarTimes Media's StarSat or Kwesé TV - or even on over-the-top (OTT) streaming services like Cell C black or DEOD that carry linear TV channels.

TVwithThinus asked Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) again on Friday - after the announcement of the Paramount Network's debut in the UK - whether Viacom and Viacom Africa have any plans, or are working on bringing the Paramount Network to South Africa and the rest of Africa, and also roughly when that would be and on what platform if there are any plans.

"We are excited about the upcoming Paramount Network launch in the United Kingdom," Alex Okosi, the executive vice president and managing director for Viacom International Media Networks Africa and BET International, told me in response.

"At Viacom International Media Networks Africa we are always exploring opportunities to grow our portfolio on the continent to appeal to local audiences."

MTV abruptly halts production on Catfish, suspends presenter Nev Schulman after allegations of sexual misconduct.

Viacom's MTV (DStv 130) has abruptly halted production on its Catfish series and suspended presenter Nev Schulman following allegations of sexual misconduct.

"We take these allegations very seriously," says MTV said in a statement. "We're working with Critical Content, our third-party production company, to conduct a thorough investigation and we've put a pause on shooting until the investigation is completed."

Since 2012 Catfish with Yaniv "Nev" Schulman and Max Joseph seek out the real identities of people who pretend to be other people online as they "fish" for victims who fall for their deceptive alter ego online romances and are conned out of money. Nev Schulman is also an executive producer of Catfish.

It's not clear what the nature of the sexual misconduct allegations against Nev Schulman are, but it surfaced in two YouTube videos earlier this week that were posted by a woman who appeared on Catfish 3 years ago.

Nev Schulman in a statement says "the behaviour described in this video did not happen and I'm fortunate that there are a number of former colleagues who were present during this time period who are willing to speak up with the truth".

"I have always been transparent about my life and would always take responsibility for my actions – but these claims are false."

Comedy Central International commissions 6 digital short form originals, including a 2nd season of the South African YouTube personality Josh Pieters' show, Josh Investigates.

Viacom's Comedy Central International is expanding its digital programme offering with 6 new short-form originals for YouTube and social media, including a second season of the South African YouTube personality Josh Pieters' show Josh Investigates.

"What works for us is content that speaks to that 18 to 34 audience. One of the areas that works for our audience, and resonates in multiple territories, is sketch," says Claire McArdle, vice president of comedy for Comedy Central International.

The South African YouTube personality Josh Pieters will be back for a second season of Josh Investigates in which he will explore such topics as feminism, artificial intelligence and whether anyone really cares about politics.

The team behind the online sketch comedy series Comic Relief Originals will produce Modern Horror Stories, a mixture of spoofs, satire and parody sketches skewering contemporary problems.

The London-based stand-up comedian Sofie Hagen will do Sofie’s Sex Stories, where she sits in her bedroom with her funny friends to talk about their sexual escapades, with the stories humorously retold through various mediums, including a puppet show and animation.

The British comedian Sophie Ducker is seen in What I Wish I’d Said, in which comedians get to re-live an embarrassing moment, but this time find the perfect response.

The standup comedian Fin Taylor anchors a political game show Fin Taylor Plays Bullshit Bingo, where he deflates the overheated rhetoric around issues of the day, from Brexit to clean eating. He’ll travel to locations and interview individuals who don’t realize they’re contestants, and call them out on their performance.

Made Up News is an antidote to the news industry’s credibility gap. It features trustworthy news anchors, correspondents and guests discussing the day’s biggest headlines, with experts and fake-news experts going head to head in an attempt to get to the heart of the story.

Nickelodeon promises a 20% increase in the overall episodes of new and returning kids shows for 2018/2019.

Viacom's kids channel Nickelodeon (DStv 305) says it will be increasing the episodes of all new and returning shows on the channel by 20% for the 2018/2019 season, giving parents and children more youth programming to keep them entertained for longer.

Nickelodeon at its latest upfront presentation on Tuesday evening in New York, said that the channel - also available through Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) in Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform - will be delivering more than 800 new episodes of new series as well as returning shows.

The bigger episode count on Nickelodeon represents a 20% increase over last year.

"With our share growing and content pipeline in overdrive, we are reinventing ourselves to best serve the new and next generation of audiences on new and next-generation platforms," said Cyma Zarghami, the president of the Nickelodeon group.

"Kids are both our anchor and North Star, and that bond with the audience allows us to connect to them everywhere."

Nickelodeon is working on Los Casagrandes, a brand-new companion series for the animated series The Loud House, that has been banned in Africa on DStv due to censorship, a new animated series from the United Kingdom entitled Pony and Musical Dares, a new short-form series created and executive produced by Nick Cannon, and the first project by Viacom Digital Studios for Nickelodeon’s YouTube channel.

Besides the popular PAW Patrol and returning Blue’s Clues, continuing with new episodes, Nickelodeon is also rolling out Abby Hatcher, Fuzzly Catcher, Butterbean’s Café, Fashion Ally (working title) and The Swashbuckling Adventures of Capitán Calavera (working title).

Nickelodeon is also doing new kids movies Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling and Invader Zim.

Fantasy youth drama series, The Shannara Chronicles, on Netflix cancelled by Viacom; producers Sonar Entertainment looking for a new TV channel to take it over.

Sometimes even an elfstone ain't enough to save the world (or your show): The Shannara Chronicles available on Netflix in South Africa and Africa has been cancelled after two seasons, with Viacom opting not to renew the fantasy series.

The Shannara Chronicles that was on MTV and made for MTV in America, is one of the victims in the fallout of the massive restructuring in getting rid of scripted and drama series on all of Viacom's channels besides Viacom's new flagship and premium general entertainment channel, the Paramount Network launching in America tomorrow.

If The Shannara Chronicles did get a third season from Viacom, the show would have had to move to the Paramount Network, exactly as TVwithThinus speculated would likely be the case a year ago, in February 2017 - only the new Paramount Network didn't want the show, feeling that it doesn't fit in with what the new channel wants to be.

No word yet on when South African viewers will will get to see the Paramount Network on possibly MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, or StarSat or perhaps one of the new streaming services.

The Shannara Chronicles was renewed for a second season in 2016 but then episodes were suddenly burnt off in a roll-out of 2 episodes per week in October and November of 2017 as Viacom raced to get rid of it.

The fantasy drama series produced by Sonar Entertainment and based on the fantasy novels of the famed fantasy author Terry Brooks could still be picked up by another TV channel or streaming service like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video for instance, but the chances are slim.

Netflix has been showing The Shannara Chronicles outside of America and starred Austin Butler (Wil), Ivana Baquero (Eretria), Manu Bennett (Allanon), Aaron Jakubenko (Ander) and Marcus Vanco (Bandon).

Sonar Entertainment is now looking for a new TV channel or streaming service to possibly take over the show that filmed in New Zealand.

America's TV Guide was first to report the cancellation of The Shannara Chronicles, quoting Kevin Kay, the new Paramount Network president as saying "We have officially passed on making any more. Maybe Sonar Entertainment is going to take it somewhere else. For us, we passed on the future of that".

Will - or when will - South Africa's pay-TV viewers get Viacom's new the Paramount Network channel, and should it replace something like MTV Europe?

A question of paramount importance: Will - or when will - South African pay-TV viewers get to see Viacom's new flagship TV channel, the Paramount Network, that is launching on 18 January in the United States?

Will Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) possibly roll out the Paramount Network in 2018 on one of the existing direct-to-home (DTH) satellite pay-TV services like MultiChoice's DStv, StarSat from China's StarTimes Media SA and On Digital Media (ODM), or Kwesé TV?

Or perhaps the Paramount Network could possibly be added to the channel line-ups of one of the new over-the-top (OTT) services like Cell C's black, or DEOD?

A year ago, in February 2017, Viacom announced that it will be creating the Paramount Network in 2018 through scrapping its one channel, Spike TV, and that it will remake, rebrand and relaunch Spike TV in early 2018 as The Paramount Network - it's most important new channel.

The Paramount channel as a premium, general entertainment channel will carry "bold original scripted and non-scripted series" with Viacom that's moving its best shows to this channel and rolling out several brand-new scripted series and drama series on this channel.

Programming on the Paramount Network will include brand-new programming and series like Waco, Heathers (pictured), American Woman, Yellowstone, First Wives Club, Velvet and Accused along with shows like Lip Sync Battle, Ink Master, Bar Rescue, Bellator MMA and more.

Since the Paramount Network will be Viacom's flagship TV channel from next week, it's inconceivable that South African and African viewers won't get to see it ... eventually.

As TVwithThinus reported last year, the Paramount Network, together with BET (DStv 129), Comedy Central (DStv 122), MTV (DStv 130), Nickelodeon (DStv 305) and Nick Jr. (DStv 307) will now be Viacom's flagship channel brands with all of Viacom's effort, focus and content spending that will now be going to these channels.

The Paramount Network will do and have the premium shows in Viacom's content collection, while MTV is getting "refocus" around reality shows.

Viacom International Media Networks already operates a Paramount Channel (a film channel) in some parts of the world - but not in South Africa and Africa - and will likely just morph and change these placeholder channels (Paramount Channel and Spike TV) in other territories into The Paramount Network over time.

But what about countries where these placeholder channels don't already exist and have an existing footprint?

Last week TVwithThinus asked Viacom International Media Networks Africa if VIMN Africa will be adding, or is looking at adding, the Paramount Network as a TV channel in South Africa and Africa, and also whether getting the Paramount Network to viewers in South Africa and across Africa is important or seen as a priority.

How exactly does VIMN Africa see the Paramount Network's importance and relevance for South Africa and Africa?

"We are thrilled for the launch of Paramount Network in the United States and will explore opportunities to build the brand in the African market," says Alex Okosi, VIMN Africa and BET International executive vice-president and managing director.

"VIMN Africa is always looking at ways to optimize our business and brands to appeal to the broad, diverse audience on the continent."

"Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount is a powerful brand that resonates with audiences globally. With 12 locally scheduled versions around the world, the Paramount Channel is Viacom International Media Network’s fastest growing brand."

"We are thrilled for the launch of Paramount Network in the United States and will explore opportunities to build the brand in the African market.”

TVwithThinus will keep tracking the ongoing developments around the Paramount Network since Kevin Kay, now the Paramount Network president, himself has said that Viacom's new channel is positioning itself as the crown jewel in Viacom's collection of TV channels going forward.

"The Paramount Network will take Spike's already strong programming mix and amplify it with the Paramount brand. Its focus will be on building distinctive, high-quality scripted and non-scripted original programming – with dramas, comedies, documentaries, movies, sports and tentpole events."

One possibility - if the Paramount Network were to be made available in South Africa - would or could be to replace MTV Europe (DStv 130) on MultiChoice's DStv for instance.

MultiChoice already carries MTV Europe and the Afro-tainment MTV Base as separate channels.

Just like MultiChoice had done with Viacom's BET channels that was cut down from two to one, MTV could be snackwitched down to one channel without any loss to make space for the Paramount Network in MTV Europe's place.

The original content on MTV Europe like the Siesta Key-type shows could easily be transplanted onto MTV Base's schedule to make the programming line-up of MTV Base stronger, combining the best of MTV's Brit-American reality series with MTV Base's original African productions like the MTV Shuga series.

It would also make it easier for viewers to know where to find all the MTV-ey reality and music type content, with then the Paramount Network as the more higher grade channel where the drama, sitcom, documentary series and scripted fare content and shows like the new Yellowstone drama with Kevin Costner can reside.

On Monday in America at the Annual winter tour of the Television Critics Association (TCA) in Pasadena, California, Kevin Kay told TV critics that the Paramount Network wants "to be the definitive new home for premium storytelling", and that "our goal is to change the game of how viewers experience high-end scripted" TV content.

Paramount Network president of development Keith Cox told TV critics that Paramount Network is going to be famous for big bold originals. We want to make linear TV urgent again."

Viacom and BET settled out of court with former BET programming boss Zola Mashariki who Viacom fired while she was on sick leave for breast cancer treatment.

Viacom and its black entertainment TV channel BET suddenly settled out of court with its former BET programming boss, Zola Mashariki after Viacom and BET abruptly fired Zola Mashariki in March while she was on sick leave for breast cancer treatment.

Viacom and BET have settled out of court with Zola Mashariki who started a gender-discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit against BET and Viacom and the former BET president of programming, Stephen Hill, after she was fired.

When Viacom and BET shocked in March announcing that Zola Mashariki is "departing", Zola Mashariki fired back saying "I am on medical leave. My job is protected by the Family Medical Leave Act and related statutes (FMLA) and I have a contract in place".

"Viacom/BET are aware that I am scheduled to return on 11 April and that my medical leave may need to be extended depending on the progress of my recovery".

Hilariously Viacom and BET - after firing a woman during her medical leave for breast cancer treatment - issued a statement on the same day in March saying that BET confirms that Zola Mashariki is no longer employed and that her "claims misrepresent the facts and are without merit. We strongly deny any allegation of wrongdoing".

Now Viacom and BET settled out of court at the beginning of this month and is playing nice, saying only the nicest things about Zola Mashariki.

"As head of original programming, Zola Mashariki brought fresh new content and top-notch talent to BET Networks," says BET in a statement.

"We thank Zola Mashariki for her many valuable contributions, and our thoughts are with her and her family as she focuses on her health. The litigation between the parties has been resolved. Neither party will make any further comment on this matter".