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Let me be the first journalist covering television to note this news: M-Net will be turning 25 years old next year - in October 2011 to be exact - when the blue ''M'' will be celebrating a quarter of a century as a pay broadcaster in South Africa.
How M-Net will mark this auspicious occasion (I attended M-Net's 20th anniversary party which was really done really, really well 5 years ago) in terms of a possible anniversary event, but more importantly in its on-air look, logo and content, is still uncertain. Hopefully M-Net will legitimately be making a big fuzz about its 25th anniversary, compared to DStv's 15th birthday two months ago for which it embarrassingly did nothing besides running a small competition.
If I could have only one wish for M-Net for its 25th birthday (and I'm really desperate for it, and a total sucker when it comes to these things) it would be for a great, new M-Net music promo. (Or go jazz up and remake one of the ubercool old ones!) Do you possibly remember M-Net's love of Queen and the first ever uber-cool M-Net promo (We won't stop the magic at a-aaaall!'') with all the M-net personalities and people together? Do you remember when they all climbed and sang on the roof of M-Net's then-new Randburg building in another uber-uber cool promo? Followed by the uber-uber-uber cool auditioning animals?
And do you remember the uber-uber-uber coolest M-Net on-air music promo EVER? The 6 flip tile, optical illusion omni-directional steps with beautiful M-Net personalities accompanied by an incredible music score with a little sax, violins, . ''You feel the power, you feel the heat. Feel the fire of excitement burning in your name. When the magic touches you, you see rainbows! When the magic touches you, the kaleidoscope turns, and everything is new, when the magic touches youuuu!'' Beautiful and TV perfect.
Please M-Net, make a super uber, emotionally stirring, coolest ever 25th birthday promo for 2011. Please! Look at these classic TV ads from premium, sterling brands - from British Airways and Volkswagen (I couldn't the Pick 'n Pay people on the roof) to the sheer magic when that Coca-Cola Christmas trucks come to town. Look at what they all share: A rousing score. Beautiful visuals. A narrative of accomplishment and a story of joy. People. People working together to create something bigger than themselves. Little bits that all come together to create one great thing. A celebration of a legacy. Share that with us in 2011 M-Net: The awesomeness of wonderful television.
The song in this Coca-Cola commercial by the way is from Melanie Thornton, and there's a whole version, and Coca-Cola of course just added in their little slogan in the chorus. And it contains the word ''magic''. M-Net could just as well use a portion of this song and adapt it too. ''When the world is ever changing, Light a candle in the dark. There's a source of inspiration in the air, Let the magic dry your tears and heal your heart.''
