by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net is explaining what's going on with its somewhat confusing M-Net Movies 007 James Bond pop-up channel on DStv after M-Net said that the spy film series will be shown in chronological order - although discerning viewers discovered that it's not quite the case.
The M-Net Movies 007 James Bond pop-up channel - the third time that M-Net Movies is doing a Bond pop-up channel on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service - runs until 31 January and is showing every 007 film ever made, as well as some related documentaries like Bond Girls are Forever and Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007.
The Bond film channel features all 7 charming actors who have played the iconic 007 role, from Pierce Brosnan to Sean Connery, Roger Moore and current Bond Daniel Craig. All of the films will also be available on DStv Catch Up until Tuesday, 28 February 2021.
When M-Net announced the channel, it said that the 007 James Bond pop-up channel would broadcast the various Bond films chronologically, starting with the first film in the series released 59 years ago, Dr. No (1962), to the latest Bond film and box office hit, Spectre (2015).
Since the channel started, DStv subscribers - mostly highly-invested fans to whom the details matter - have been complaining that the 007 films have not really been shown in chronological order, saying that it creates confusion and that it leads to anxiety about there is shown on the channel that they might possibly have missed.
In response to a media enquiry about the issue, M-Net Movies now tells TVwithThinus that "A significant majority of the films are scheduled in chronological order".
"However, the prime-time slot is always prioritised for recent or popular films.
Also, in between the titles, different TV movies, documentaries, and repeats often tend
to 'disrupt' the channel's flow in order to provide variety and a
better viewing experience," M-Net explains.
"Therefore, you will find that on the schedule that
three or more titles may play chronologically until the order has been
disrupted by the above-mentioned factors. Then the sequencing, often, proceeds
to pick up the next day, airing the next three films on the chronology of
yesterday."
"For
instance, if you look at the schedule when the channel aired on
Friday, 22 January, the following movies were played in this order before the
flow was disrupted: Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and You
Only Live Twice (Diamonds are Forever was excluded)."
"Then
the next day, another three (On Her Majesty'S Secret Service, Diamonds
Are Forever, Live and Let Die) aired chronologically, picking up from the order of the day before, before the 'disruption'".
M-Net Movies says that the pop-up channel "plays titles chronologically, without 'disruption' on Wednesday, January 27 (The Man with The Golden Gun, The
Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, Never Say Never
Again, and A View to A Kill)."
"Also, on Friday, 29 January, from 12:05,
the majority of the Bond movies will play out chronologically, with one TV movie
airing in between titles."
