by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net's publicity division has declined to provide South Africa's media with any screeners of episodes of the new second season of its Shaka iLembe produced by Bomb Productions for its Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) TV channel, saying journalists must watch it on Sunday nights.
M-Net's refusal to provide digital screeners of episodes ahead of time to the press, is in stark contrast to screeners provided on request for its other local content across its M-Net, kykNET and Mzansi Magic TV channels on DStv.
M-Net and Showmax also provide press with screeners for international shows on request through the intermediary screener platforms of Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO and others.
MultiChoice doesn't have its own proprietary screener platform that safeguards content but allows for content to be viewed securely, by for instance media, with watermarks and other security measures.
M-Net didn't provide a reason for why it doesn't want media to see Shaka iLembe episodes ahead of time and isn't doing screeners.
Portia Hlongwane, Mzansi Magic publicist, says "No screeners have been made available for either Shaka iLembe season 1 or 2. All media covering the episodes are watching them live and sending through requests".
A longtime journalist told TVwithThinus "It's M-Net's loss. Talk about a buzz-kill approach. The excitement to do work about something is gone before it even starts. Do they think I'm going to sit on a Sunday night to watch something to then send requests? Who's too stupid to realise they should tell you ahead of time what's happening or make it available before airing?"
Another writer covering television said "Their lack of even asking who wants a screener or sending out a link signals they probably have no media they actually trust. If you have relationships with journalists and actually know them, why can't you give them a screener to an episode?"
A third journalist noted "It's funny how they want all this coverage for Shaka and think it will happen with no effort but can't even get basics right like a screener or creating an actual media relationship over the course of this season".
