A nice step forward for South Africa, thanks to M-Net and DStv, which for the first time ever brought South African TV viewers the nominations for the Academy Awards live, and in high definition (HD).
The link-up was perfect (it started a few minutes late but that was because they were running a bit late in the United States) but M-Net and M-Net Movies pulled this one off without a hitch.
Paying for television isn't just about quality television and better television; part of the currency is relevance, immediacy.
By showing the nominees for The 85th Academy Awards in real-time, live and in HD, M-Net and DStv advances the scope of what it offers South African viewers as part of a global popular culture community.
It not only increases subscriber buy-in and the enjoyment of those viewers who follow and watch an event such as the Oscars, but also elongates the overall viewer experience which gets another television chapter added to its staggered on-screen story as it is played out on television in South Africa.
The 85th Academy Awards will be shown on M-Net and across M-Net channels on DStv as follows:
Monday 25 February from 03:00 on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103)
Monday 25
February from 20:30 on M-Net (DStv 101)
Tuesday 26
February at 20:30 on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103)
Saturday 2
March at 18:00 on M-Net Movies Stars (DStv 111)
