by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice and ViacomCBS Networks Africa have quietly changed the MTV Music 24 channel into MTV Hits (DStv 323).
Apparently indicative of the empty space-filler and time-waste that the channel is, neither MultiChoice, ViacomCBS Networks Africa, or ViacomCBS Networks Africa's PR agency DNA Brand Architects could be bothered to notify the media, or to respond with answers to media queries or with the most basic of press release announcement.
The switch from MTV Music 24 to MTV Hits comes just 2 years after the tired VH1 Classic was changed into MTV Music 24.
Last week TVwithThinus in a media enquiry asked DNA Brand Architects for help about MTV Music 24 upcoming change to MTV Hits. Why is ViacomCBS Networks Africa changing the music channel? What will MTV Hits be showing? What will MTV Hits programming be? Is there an official channel logo?
DNA Brand Architects said that it hasn't public announced the channel's change and that "We will share a statement as soon as possible".
By Tuesday morning at the time of publication of this article, and after MTV Music 24 had now changed to MTV Hits, there was still nothing.
Whatever MTV Hits has or shows is clearly of no real importance to MultiChoice nor ViacomCBS Networks Africa that neither cares for any exposure of press coverage of the change or the channel, or about communicating about it to the media.
UPDATE Tuesday 1 June 2021 12:15:
Fathima Beckmann, ViacomCBS Networks Africa communications director has responded after I reached out to her on Tuesday morning - something one would expect DNA Brand Architects to have done days ago and that actually gets paid by ViacomCBS to communicate on ViacomCBS's behalf, instead of showing an insouciant attitude towards a media enquiry.
The ever-gracious Fathima Beckmann says that "similar to
the VH1 transition to MTV Music 24, ViacomCBS Networks Africa has transitioned
MTV Music 24 to the current and evolved Music Hits on DStv" and confirms that "the transition was made
yesterday on DStv channel 323".
"This channel replacement with MTV Hits offers current and relevant content for our
viewers and will continue to play just music videos which we are confident will
resonate even more strongly with local audiences."
"MTV Hits
will continue to play current, proven and future music videos from all genres,
including pop, dance, rock and urban with popular artists from Ed Sheeran,
Taylor Swift, Drake, Beyonce to Imaging Dragons and Ariana Grande."
