M-Net's Afrikaans language TV channel kykNET (DStv 144) is adding a brand-new late-night actuality timeslot with new programmes and presenters as a fixed new programming strand which will run on every weeknight from Monday 6 October.
From Monday 6 October viewers will be able to tune in for new actuality and magazine shows like Insig with Waldimar Pelser who is the editor of the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Rapport; while kykNET is reviving one of its first local actuality shows, the longrunning studio talk show Prontuit and is even bringing back the original presenter Mariëtta Kruger.
The new kykNET actuality timeslot is in response to viewers demanding less repeats and more regularly updated magazine and actuality programming which changes more often than other serialised and heavily repeated shows.
The new weekday actuality slot on kykNET will feature various programmes ranging from politics and economic issues to business, culture, the arts, fashion and even satire.
The increase in new Afrikaans programming on kykNET comes at the same time that the SABC moved the bulk of Afrikaans programming permanently from SABC2 to SABC3, the public broadcaster's TV channel with the smallest footprint, making several Afrikaans TV shows less accessible to millions of terrestrial TV viewers in South Africa.
In July the SABC lied and said the move of the Afrikaans TV news bulletin from SABC2 to SABC3 as well as programming was only temporary, although it had already been planned as a permanent move.
The SABC also ordered the Afrikaans soap 7de Laan on SABC2 to reduced the amount of Afrikaans.
Besides Waldimar Pelser, Yvonne Beyers and Mariëtta Kruger kykNET viewers will also see iconic South African soap star Shaleen Surtie-Richards becoming a TV presenter, as well as Jody Abrahams, Bouwer Bosch, Santie Botha, Kabous Meiring, Kim Cloete, Divan Botha, Fanie Cronjé, Francois Toerien and Melt Sieberhagen fronting shows from October in the actuality timeslot.
"At kykNET, we continuously strive to improve and renew our schedule," says Karen Meiring, M-Net's director of Afrikaans channels.
"Our viewers' need for more relevant actuality programming was the reason behind the decision to make our available late night slots more actuality-driven, instead of repeating programmes".
"We not only want to inform and entertain, but also expand on everyday issues to stimulate conversation. This is a major move to something fresh and highly exciting – a brand new late night lineup that'll get tongues wagging on screen and across all social and other media".
