Could it be possibly further evidence that the M-Net channel (DStv 101) is losing its mojo? I'm hearing from distraught, angry and upset viewers who are sad, dumbfounded and distraught that the 54th Grammy Awards is not to be found on the M-Net channel (DStv 101) tonight.
The live 54th Grammy Awards was moved to Channel O (DStv 320) this year (so no possibility for any DStv subscribers to see it in high definition (HD). The usual primetime broadcast on M-Net was meanwhile shunted off to Vuzu (DStv 123).
M-Net analogue viewers won't see it, M-Net digital viewers might not know where it ''disappeared'' to, and DStv viewers who wanted to, can't see it in high definition. Meanwhile the 54th Grammy Awards in America scored it's second highest viewership ever yesterday.
''Where are the Grammys on M-Net, do u know?'' an M-Net viewer who wanted to watch asked me minutes before the broadcast began at 20:30. ''Thought it would be tonight as its always on a Monday on M-Net after the event but it doesn't look like it. Any ideas?''
One reader of TV with Thinus put it quite succinctly. ''This just confirms that there is something HORRIBLY wrong at M-Net. The first time in many, many, many years, the Grammy's are not shown on M-Net, but instead on Vuzu, so that means that there is no HD broadcast of the event. To top it all off, apparently the live show was shown on Channel O - again, no HD. This is not good. I'm sure you'll agree.''
I asked M-Net just after 20:00 this evening why the 54th Grammy Awards were moved off of M-Net this year and why it wasn't possible to show it in HD.
M-Net says ''M-Net did not broadcast the Grammy Awards this year or in 2011. We are grateful for the feedback and will be considering the platform on which we broadcast the Grammy Awards in 2013. The Grammys Awards are a music awards show and suited Channel O as the most relevant platform.''
In related commentary: MTV Networks Africa which runs MTV, VH1 and MTV Base on MultiChoice's DStv seemingly couldn't care less about telling viewers about programming and programming changes. On Sunday morning I asked both MultiChoice, as well as MTV Networks Africa specifically to please inform about possible line-up changes, tributes, or special programming regarding Whitney Houston. (I asked several other TV channels and operators individually and specifically as well.)
Whereas American TV channels immediately responded with information in line-up changes to American publications, those running TV channels in Africa and South Africa have not yet learnt to care at all. The lazy or simply clueless MTV Networks Africa couldn't muster the effort to tell about the Evolution of Whitney Houston TV special on MTV Base (DStv 322) earlier this evening at 19:30; or the special Whitney Houston corner marker on MTV Base saying ''Rest in Peace Whitney Houston''; or the tributes on MTV (DStv 321) or the MTV logo adaptation with Whitney Houston imagery inside it.
Its really, really disappointing - not for me personally, but for viewers interested in specific things who are simply just not being served by the channels and by timeous information from TV channels who purport to trade in viewers' select niche interests.
