M-Net is looking to grow its new Mzansi Magic (DStv 107) channel that the pay broadcaster launched last year and is already having competitors take note, to a big premier channel similar to what the broadcaster has achieved with kykNET (DStv 111) over the past 15 years.
M-Net plans to pump millions of rands into building and growing Mzansi Magic and sees it as a ''big important channel'' with which it will support local productions and the local TV industry. The upcoming 7th season of Idols that will debut in June on the M-Net channel (DStv 101), will for instance be shown at the exact same time on Mzansi Magic, and no longer on M-Net Series (DStv 110) and a few days later.
''Mzansi Magic is the flagship channel on the DStv Compact bouquet,'' says Lani Lombard, M-Net's communication manager. ''M-Net is going to invest a lot in this channel and invest a lot in terms of local productions in this channel in future. Mzansi Magic is going to be doing a lot of local shows and really support local TV producers and the local TV production industry,'' she says. ''Mzansi Magic will look for its own special events and live events programming.''
