The Box: Channel A’s drama 'The Witch' set to release, Netflix announces new slate of indian Originals for 2025
MultiChoice
Africa: M-Net has concluded the Afrikaans crime drama Die Byl after six seasons, with the final season premiering on kykNET. The series, set in Cape Town and starring Waldemar Schultz as detective Colonel Piet van der Bijl debuted in 2016 and was inspired by real-life South African detective Piet Byleveld. Initially produced by Marche Media and later Wolflight Films, Die Byl focused on serial killer cases and became a staple on kykNET and Showmax. The show’s conclusion marks the end of a decade-long run. kykNET confirmed there will be no further seasons.
The South African TV market faces potentially devastating problems as South Africa’s broadcasters, including the SABC and e.tv, are back in court urging the government to delay the analog TV signal switch-off on March 31st. They warn of a "devastating impact," with millions of viewers potentially losing access overnight, leading to a sharp drop in ratings and ad revenue. The groups argue that cutting analog signals could erase nearly a third of the country’s public TV audience, jeopardizing the survival of broadcasters. This follows South Africa’s long-delayed digital migration process, which had a previous deadline of December 31, 2024. The court battle highlights the ongoing struggle to balance technological progress with public access to television.
MultiChoice and M-Net have announced five new Nigerian shows for their Africa Magic channels on DStv, set to premiere between early 2025 and March. The lineup includes:
Uriri, a fantasy drama about warrior Ogaga, debuted on December 30 and airs Mondays to Wednesdays on Africa Magic Showcase.
PTA, a school hostage drama starring Levi Chikere airs on Thursdays and Fridays.
Two other series, Inu Jin on Africa Magic Yoruba and Obi Di Omim on Africa Magic Igbo were also announced though further details remain to be announced.
Netflix has also announced its content slate for 2025 for new South African series such as;
An Afrikaans drama titled Tuiskoms, produced by Infinity Films.
Go!, a series created by Kutlwano Ditsele and directed by Thuli Zuma and Tristan Holmes will premiere featuring a cast led by Thandolwethu Zondi and Katlego Danke.
Kings of Jo'Burg Season 3, starring Connie Ferguson and Zolisa Xaluva, and Unseen Season 2, with Gail Mabalane and Dineo Langa, will debut on Netflix in 2025.
Asia: Channel A’s new weekend drama The Witch, directed by Kim Tae-kyun and based on Kang Full’s popular webtoon of the same follows the mysterious romance between Dong-jin (Park Jin-young), a man battling a curse, and Mi-jeong (Noh Jeong-ui), a woman isolated by tragedy, as they find salvation in each other. Produced by Showbox and Mr. Romance, and distributed internationally by A&E Korea, The Witch is a highly anticipated well-made adaptation of the beloved webtoon.
Keisuke Oishi has been appointed as Prime Video Japan’s new Country Manager. Previously working as a Sony Corp. executive, Oishi has spent a decade rising through the ranks at Amazon and will now report to Gaurav Gandhi, VP of Prime Video for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. He replaces Takashi Kodama, who left in late 2023 to lead Amutus Corporation, the parent company of manga publisher Mecha Comic. Oishi takes charge of Prime Video’s operations in Japan, including SVOD, add-on subscriptions, TVOD, and live sports, as the platform remains the country’s leading streamer by subscribers. His role is crucial for Amazon’s continued growth in the region stating “he would “lead efforts to solidify its position as the first-choice entertainment destination for customers in Japan.”
This news contrasts the announcement that Nippon TV has appointed Hiroyuki Fukuda as its new Representative Director, President, and COO, effective January 1. Fukuda highlighted the challenges of declining TV audiences and stressed the need to reduce reliance on broadcasting revenue. He plans to steer the company toward a more content-focused strategy, anticipating turbulent times ahead stating, "At a time of drastic change in the media industry and the business environment in general, I feel that I have been fated to take on this role as our battle for survival is reaching its climax”.
Major advertisers like Toyota, Nissan, and Shiseido are withdrawing their ads from Fuji Television following a scandal involving former SMAP member and TV host Masahiro Nakai. Over 50 companies have pulled their spots after Shukan Bunshun reported Nakai settled a JPY90 million ($577,00) claim with a woman over an alleged 2023 sexual assault. Nakai denied the allegations but acknowledged resolving "a trouble." Fuji TV president Koichi Minato faced backlash for a lack of transparency during a press conference, admitting the network knew about the incident for six months before it went public.
Similar troubles are going on in India as BBC Studios India is reportedly considering an exit from the subcontinent, potentially reshaping the region’s content production landscape. Known for successful projects such as Criminal Justice and an adaptation of The Office called Broken News, the studio bridged British storytelling with Indian audiences but faced challenges scaling operations amid fierce competition from local producers and streaming platforms. If finalized, the move could end a unique era in Indian entertainment, leaving the fate of ongoing projects uncertain. Recently, Sameer Gogate, general manager of India productions at BBC Studios since 2019, stepped down after overseeing Criminal Justice and Broken News. The potential exit highlights the shifting dynamics of India’s entertainment industry.
Netflix has announced a slate of new Indian originals for 2025 including:
The Ba**ds of Bollywood* (The Bads of Bollywood), a series about outsiders navigating Bollywood, and Akka, a 1980s-set drama starring Keerty Suresh and Radhika Apte.
Telugu comedy-drama Super Subbu,
A boxing-themed series titled Glory
Previously announced titles such as Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins and Mandala Murders
New seasons of Khakee, Rana Naidu, Kohrra, and Delhi Crime.
Cholawood Productions
Latin America: Kate Del Castillo’s Cholawood Productions announced a first-look deal with The Mediapro Studio US & Canada. The agreement gives The Mediapro Studio exclusive rights to develop and produce Cholawood’s scripted and unscripted projects in Spanish, English, or both. The studio also named Francesca Ricagni as its first head of US Hispanic Content. Co-founded by Del Castillo, Carmen Cervantes, and Jessica Maldonado, Cholawood’s recent projects include the ViX series Volver a Caer and the action thriller Hunting Ana Bravo.
