by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net has cancelled the low-rated Tshedza-produced Champions telenovela on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) after a single season with the last episode which will be broadcast on 31 January.
Tshedza Pictures filmed the last episode in June and was told that M-Net doesn't want another season.
Champions, set inside a football club, had an extremely disappointing debut on MultiChoice's DStv on 5 February with underwhelming viewership.
The weekday telenovela in a 19:00 timeslot also suffered because of a lack of marketing, as well as barely any publicity to bring the show and its cast and crew under the attention of the media.
In June, Champions - starring Jo-anne Reynecke, Sello Maake ka-Ncube, Tumisho Masha and Kgomotso Christopher - failed to make the list of even MultiChoice's Top 30 programmes on DStv for the month.
This is what the case has been for every month since Champions started on Mzansi Magic: It never once made DStv's Top 30 most-watched shows list since February and MultiChoice did nothing to try and boost the show's buzz and viewership with no media interaction like virtual press junkets, roundtables or interview blitzes.
Over the past six months, DStv subscribers have continued to complain, as they have since the start, that they don't like and don't relate to the story and setting, and struggle to understand and feel anything for the main characters.
M-Net's Mzansi Magic division is developing new show concepts as it looks at toning down the volume of telenovelas.
Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director for local entertainment channels, says "First to our cast, Tshedza Pictures, sponsors and advertisers, thank you for your ongoing support for Champions, and your efforts in entertaining our Mzansi Magic viewers".
"Mzansi Magic plays a pivotal role in entertaining viewers during prime time, and we continue to keep up with the latest television trends."
"We are currently in the development of several new show concepts not limited to telenovelas and fine-tuning our key returning shows to ensure that Mzansi Magic's prime time 2025 slots are well received."
