M-Net has quietly scrapped two of its televised award shows for 2019 with neither the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards on Africa Magic, nor the DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards on Mzansi Magic, that will take place this year.
According to insiders the problem is finding sponsors to help carry some of the huge production costs associated with mounting the TV awards, the same issue that in 2016 led to the demise of both Viacom Africa's MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) and MultiChoice and CNN International's African Journalist Awards which took place the last time in that year.
M-Net West Africa started the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2013 that was broadcast annually across sub-Saharan Africa on MultiChoice's DStv, mostly during March, to promote and recognise African TV and film productions from across West, East and Southern Africa.
The 6th Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards however only took place in September 2018 in Lagos, Nigeria - several months later than previous years.
For the 6th edition of this award show, the viewers' votes which were steadily reduced every year, accounted for only 25% of the winners, with Africa's viewers who by that time only had a say about who wins in 7 out of the 27 categories.
M-Net in South Africa started the DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards in August 2017 and held it for a second time in November 2018, to promote and recognise South Africa's entertainment industry.
One of them back in 2020
According to MultiChoice Africa, although the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards isn't taking place in 2019 this award show might return in future.
According to MultiChoice the AMVCAs requires huge funding to make happen, as well as an alignment between the production, competition and commercial teams, as well as staging it in Nigeria where there are limited venues capable of a production of this scale.
According to M-Net, although the DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards isn't taking place in 2019, this awards show is not cancelled.
"We are still in deliberations at the moment and cannot say much without final approvals. Everything else regarding the awards will be communicated in due time," Mzansi Magic told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry.
M-Net said that the DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards will be taking place sometime in 2020 for a third time, although a specific time-frame is unclear.