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. 70th Golden Globes this year on M-Net and for DStv Compact viewers on M-Net Stars; Academy Awards on M-Net in February.

M-Net will have the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards for subscribers on M-Net (DStv 101) live on Monday 14 January at 03:00 in the morning as well as again on M-Net later the day in primetime at 20:30, but for the very first time ever M-Net is making this Hollywood awards ceremony available to all DStv Compact subscribers as well by broadcasting it a few days later on the M-Net Stars channel (DStv 111).

The 70th Annual Golden Globes will be shown on M-Net live and during the evening on the day it takes place in high definition (HD), and M-Net will repeat it a day later on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 103) on Tuesday 15 January at 20:30.

DStv Compact subscribers will also be able to watch the Golden Globes for the very first time; M-Net is scheduling the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards for M-Net Stars on Saturday 19 January at 18:00 (South African time).

Meanwhile M-Net has also secured the broadcasting rights to The 85th Annual Academy Awards or the Oscars taking place in February and will show it in South Africa on Monday 25 February at 20:30 (South African time).

M-Net of course also has the broadcasting rights for the first time of the 7th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) which will be taking place and will be shown in March on one of the M-Net channels as I've reported in November - most likely Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) or maybe M-Net (DStv 101) if the organisers and producers can do something about dramatically improving the shoddy production values.