MultiChoice has partnered with YouTube-focused pre-school entertainment company Moonbug Entertainment to launch a specially curated Moonbug Kids Channel on DStv and GOtv in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The channel will feature “exclusive, linear, preschool content from the Moonbug portfolio of much-loved shows,” a statement from the two entities said on Thursday (20 October).
New Moonbug Kids Channel on DStv and GOtv
The Moonbug Kids Channel will be available to 21.7 million DStv subscribers across 45 African countries and will air in English. All Moonbug shows will be featured on the channel, including CoComelon, Blippi, Gecko’s Garage, Morphle, Arpo and recent acquisitions such as Little Angel and Oddbods.
The channel runs 24/7 and features engaging entertainment that not only pacifies but also supports children’s development. Its schedule is designed to mirror daily family routines such as mealtimes, playtime, bath time and bedtime.
“This an incredibly significant deal for us and part of our wider strategy to roll out Moonbug Kids channels on pay-TV platforms across EMEA and APAC,” Moonbug EMEA and APAC managing director Nicolas Eglau said.
“Launching a premium, advertising-free, linear channel with DStv is one key advantage of our digital-first approach. It enables us to structure the channel by applying our in-depth knowledge of children’s viewing, including when and how they engage with content.”
DStv’s mindset shift
The partnership highlights DStv’s mindset shift about digital-first content, which refers to content that was initially available on digital platforms only (such as YouTube). DStv is now embracing this content on its platform.
“Digital-first content is entering traditional channels and reaching new audiences. The quality and appeal of these shows has vastly improved over the past few years. Platforms like ours recognise these shows’ benefits in adding value to our customers,” Executive Head of Content Strategy and Third-Party Channels at MultiChoice Group Georginah Machiridza, explained.
“MultiChoice are very selective about the kind of channel that gets on the platform, so for us being on MultiChoice is almost like a quality stamp of approval,” Eglau concluded.
“We’re all parents. Moonbug was started by parents for parents. And as such we want to create great entertainment for kids all around the world – which kids will love – and their parents will love that they love.” Ditte Lucas, Head of Brand at Moonbug added.
The channel’s DStv and GOtv platform details
Moonbug Kids Channel is now available on the following DStv and GOtv platforms:
- South Africa: Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access.
- Rest of Africa: Premium, Compact Plus, Compact and Family.
- Angola and Mozambique: Bue.
- GOtv Supa: Mozambique.
- GOtv Max: Zambia, Namibia, Malawi and Nigeria.
- GOtv Plus: Ghana, Uganda and Kenya.