Thinus Ferreira
M-Net confirmed industry whispers that the Tshedza Pictures produced telenovela The River for its 1 Magic (DStv 103) channel will be ending with the upcoming 6th and final season that will start on 6 February.
The River starring Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala and that introduced various new on-screen talent to viewers over the past half a decade, launched in February 2018 as a prime-time drama vehicle to anchor M-Net's 1Magic channel.
1Magic made its debut on DStv at the same time as The River which was positioned as the channel's flagship show, with the channel which was created as a premium version of the existing Mzansi Magic channel for higher-tiered DStv subscribers.
The loss of The River set in the fictitious Refilwe, leaves 1Magic without an announced replacement, which means that M-Net is set to announce a new telenovela for the channel later this year to revitalise the channel's programming line-up after the end of The River.
Created by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, re-versioned for adaptations in Nigeria and Angola and winning 26 Golden Horn statuettes at the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), show star Sindi Dlathu also transitioned to become series co-executive producer.
Tshedza Pictures is now producing Gqeberha: The Empire which recently started on Mzansi Magic as the first telenovela being filmed in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.
M-Net in a statement confirms that "1Magic's The River is coming to an end with its upcoming
sixth season".
"At M-Net local entertainment channels we
would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the cast and crew of The
River for a memorable five years," says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director for local entertainment channels.
"Their hard work, dedication and
brilliance have led to the telenovela's success. The final season is going to
be the show's most epic one yet. The drama will be bigger and better, setting
the stage for the ultimate finale".
Showrunner Phathu Makwarela says "When we created The River seven years ago, we
knew that we wanted to tell a story that will have a definite ending".
"Now on
its sixth season, we feel the time is right to bring the story of these beloved
characters to an end, on our own terms and when viewers still treasure the
show. As the saying goes, 'a good dancer always knows when to leave the stage',
and now it's that time for The River."
