M-Net Movies rips the Oscars off from M-Net Stars after promising to give it to DStv Compact viewers.

After first promising it, DStv Compact subscribers will no longer get to see The 85th Annual Academy Awards, with M-Net's M-Net Movies division which suddenly - and with no reason - is yanking the awards ceremony from M-Net Stars (DStv 111) on Saturday.

M-Net Movies and DStv initially said The 85th Annual Academy Awards would be shown (for the first time ever) on DStv Compact and the M-Net Stars channel, making Hollywood's annual biggest award night available to more viewers in South Africa than ever before. But no more.

The broadcast scheduled for 2 March at 18:00 on M-Net Stars is no longer happening which means the promised broadcast for DStv subscribers and M-Net Stars' viewers is not happening anymore.

The 85th Annual Academy Awards were shown on M-Net (DStv 101), M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 102) and is also available on DStv on Demand.

"The M-Net Stars broadcast has, unfortunately, been dropped from the line-up," is all that M-Net Movies says - no explanation, no reason and no consolation to DStv Compact viewers.

BREAKING. Announcement of the nominees of The 85th Academy Awards to be broadcast live in South Africa on M-Net Movies Premiere.

M-Net has secured the broadcasting rights to the announcement of the nominees of The 85th Academy Awards and M-Net will broadcast it live in South Africa in high definition (HD) on Thursday 10 January at 15:30 (South African time) on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103).

This is the first time ever that South African TV viewers will get to see the announcements of Oscar nominees live in South Africa and in HD. The nominations will be made by Seth MacFarlane and actress Emma Stone.

M-Net will broadcast The 85th Academy Awards in South Africa on Monday 25 February at 20:30 (South African time).

The 85th Academy Awards in February on M-Net to include a special tribute to the James Bond movie franchise.

The 85th Academy Awards which South African viewers will be able to see on Monday 25 February on M-Net at 20:30 (South African time) will include a tribute to the James Bond movie franchise which is half a century old.

"We are very happy ro include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday," says producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron in a press release. "Starting with Dr. No back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon."

The 85th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and will be shown this year in 225 countries worldwide.