M-Net (DStv 101) has grabbed the controversial and must-see new documentary, Leaving Neverland about young men speaking out about how Michael Jackson allegedly sexually abused them for years and will quick-show the buzzed-about film in two parts this Friday and Saturday night.
M-Net will show part 1 of Finding Neverland on Friday 15 March at 21:00, with part 2 on Saturday 16 March at 21:00 in South Africa and across Southern Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.
The shocking Leaving Neverland had its premiere last month at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States and was broadcast on HBO last week and is distributed internationally by the Kew Media Group.
To accommodate Leaving Neverland that M-Net is rushing to viewers in Southern Africa, M-Net will broadcast double episodes of America's Got Talent: Champions at 18:00 and 19:00 on Friday, and the season finale of A Million Little Things an hour earlier at 20:00.
On Saturday M-Net will show Sky's Carnage at 17:30, The Kids are Alright at 18:30, American Housewife at 19:00, Murphy Brown at 19:30, Riverdale at 20:00 and the Sunday night movie Death Wish that is being replaced by the second part of Leaving Neverland.
Leaving Neverland is produced and directed by the award-winning Dan Reed with the 4-hour documentary that is harrowing, yet must-watch television, telling the story of James Safechuck and Wade Robson - now adult men in their 30s - who befriended Michael Jackson at the ages of 10 and 7 respectively.
Through gut-wrenching interview with both as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained abuse by Michael Jackson over years, and explores the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both eventually had sons of their own.
"Bringing Leaving Neverland to Southern African screens is a testament to the fact that M-Net brings the most compelling content to the continent as quickly as possible," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity.
"Please note, however, that the documentary is not suitable for younger viewers as it contains strong language, discussions of self-harm and graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse."
Kew Media Group has sold Leaving Neverland in over 130 countries and counting and last week M-Net told TVwithThinus it is looking into possibly acquiring it, which it did.
Jonathan Ford, the executive vice president of sales at Kew Media Distribution, in a statement says "We are seeing unprecedented interest in Leaving Neverland from a host of leading broadcasters and platforms worldwide".
"Dan is an exceptional filmmaker and has delivered an utterly compelling documentary on a very difficult subject. This, along with the continued global scrutiny of Michael Jackson's personal life, is a real factor of this huge demand."
The Simpsons decided to pull an episode a 1991-episode featuring Michael Jackson who did an uncredited appearance, following the revelations of Finding Neverland, with The Simpsons producers saying the documentary's shocking revelations doesn't allow The Simpsons' episode "to remain".
