M-Net adds newly-revived American Idol, puts Nashville and Riverdale on a break in order to show the finale live in South Africa.

M-Net wants the latest season of the revived American Idol to end in South Africa at the same time as in the United States and is putting the drama series Nashville and Riverdale on a few weeks' hold in order to catch up with the reality show so that the American Idol finale can be shown live in South Africa at the same time as in America.

The 16th season of American Idol that started on the ABC network in America a few weeks ago, will start on Friday 13 April on M-Net (DStv 101) at 19:00 until 21:00.

Episodes of the 16th season of American Idol will be broadcast on Fridays and Saturdays.

Due to this, the 5th season of Nashville and the second season of Riverdale are taking scheduling breaks on M-Net, so that the channel can catch up with the already aired episodes of American Idol of the past few weeks so that South African viewers can eventually watch the American Idol finale live without the fear of a winner spoiler.

New episodes of Nashville will return on 4 May at 21:00 and Riverdale's second season will resume on Saturday 28 April at 20:00.

Ryan Seacrest, facing swirling accusations of sexual harassment and assault with a charge that has now been laid with the police, is back as the presenter of American Idol. The judges for this revived season are singer Katy Perry, the country music star Luke Bryan and the music icon Lionel Ritchie.

The 14th season of Idols will start on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday 8 July at 17:30 and ends on Sunday 18 November with the dedicated Idols channel, Idols Extra, that will again run on MultiChoice's channel 199 on DStv showing auditions and additional footage.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 26 September 2017.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read - or as it can be called for today, "The Star Trek: Discovery Digest edition" - and that you should read too:

■ The Family Matters house demolished.

The Lincoln Park home in Chicago that served as the exterior for the Winslow house on the sitcom Family Matters is being demolished on 19 September.

■ The filthy-mouth, belligerent MSNBC (StarSat 263) anchor Lawrence O'Donnell goes beserk in leaked behind-the-scenes footage.
8 minutes of the disgusting Lawrence O'Donnell showing how he spews venom when he's under pressure and something goes wrong. Was it leaked on purpose?

■ A brief history of hiding penis drawings and other inappropriate scribbles in cartoons.
After Netflix had to yank an episode of Maya the Bee this week due to a hidden phallus causing embarrassment and reputational damage, here is past examples - from The Little Mermaid's castle penis to An American Tail: Feivel Goes West.

■ Even Oprah Winfrey can't heal Donald Trump's America.
Her first insert for 60 Minutes shows how divided America is.

■ SABC3's Isidingo rips off a TV massacre scene in Friday's episode (watch from 21:16)
recreating Dynasty's infamous Massacre in Moldavia wedding scene - right down to some guests shooting back and producers dribbling blood over various characters to make viewers wonder who is dead and who's alive.

■ Emmy-winning John Oliver reminds viewers (watch from 11:40) that satellite pay-TV decoder may be one of the largest energy-consuming items in your house even when it's turned off
"Pay-TV companies have no real incentive to improve them," he says in Sunday's latest episode, and proceeds to blow a pay-TV decoder up in a talk about corporate consolidation.

■ Pretty Little Liars is getting a new spin-off entitled The Perfectionists.
The show from Freeform that was seen on VUZU AMP (DStv 103). The new teen drama series might end up on DStv in South Africa as well - or perhaps on Netflix like Freeform's The Shadowhunters.
The Perfectionists is set in Beacon Hills with Sasha Pieterse (playing Alison DiLaurentis) and Janel Parrish (who played Mona Vanderwaal and who was ultimately unmasked as the mysterious "A"), both reprising their roles.

■ It's a war behind the scenes of the reboot of American Idol
as the producers and the ABC network are fighting over race. ABC and FremantleMedia that's producing American Idol are fighting over the racial composition of the judges.

■ Transparent seen on M-Net (DStv 101) is doing TV's first transgender, full-frontal naked scene.
In the second episode of the upcoming 4th season of Transparent, actress Alexandra Billings will roll over and first reveal breasts and then for the first time for a transgender actress on television, also her penis.
MultiChoice and M-Net will very likely not show the new 4th season in Nigeria and other countries as part of the ongoing self-censorship not to offend Africa's DStv subscribers outside of South Africa.

■ The death of the video rental store in South Africa is overrated.
Largely because there's instances where MultiChoice literally don't want DStv subscribers' money - people who actually want to rent DStv BoxOffice movies but can't - and the video rental shop turns out to be cheaper.



Star Trek: Discovery
■ Star Trek: Discovery might be worthwhile if it keeps to the Star Trek values.
The latest Star Trek series is now available on Netflix in South Africa and across Africa from Monday 25 September and what will ultimately make it worthwhile "are not the inspirations it draws from elsewhere, but the historical Star Trek values it carries forward.
- Meanwhile legacy broadcasters like CBS discovers with Star Trek: Discovery that TV ain't easy anymore.
- TV critics were prevented from reviewing Star Trek: Discovery before its debut.
This is a highly unusual embargo with CBS that didn't send out screeners to critics - something highly unusual for America's TV biz that, unlike South Africa, very often previews shows to the media beforehand, to get as much coverage as possible for new shows.

■ Star Trek: Discovery was screened privately last week in Los Angeles for Star Trek alumni and selected guests.
Nichelle Nichols who was Uhura, told Sonequa Martin-Green who now is Michael "enjoy this moment. This is yours now".
- Oddly, Netflix that has Star Trek: Discovery internationally as the worldwide distributor couldn't be bothered with any international premiere launch events in key territories like the one in Los Angeles one, or any specific publicity for the show in various countries. Neither did Kwesé TV that announced 2 weeks ago that it's partnering with Netflix for Kwesé Play.

■ Instead of the few Klingon subtitles, Netflix allows you to watch the entire 15 episodes of the first season of Star Trek: Discovery with Klingon subtitles in tlhIngan Hol - just as if you're watching from the Klingon homeworld.
- Does Star Trek: Discovery feel like proper Star Trek? And where the show will go after the first 2 episodes of Star Trek: Discovery that's now available.

■ The new Star Trek: Discovery's illustrative and off-white, painterly opening title sequence is quite a bit of a blatant rip-off of the opening title sequence of the sci-fi drama The Expanse and Da Vinci's Demons, with a bit of Mad Men in there, and melody-wise a bit of Fringe.

■ Australian television has treated Star Trek as badly there as South African television did the past decades. Star Trek Discovery displays many flaws but provides just enough good old fashion Trek for viewers to stick around.
- Unspectacular Star Trek: Discovery described as "Star Trek Lite", "barely achieves lift-off" and is more interesting for its distribution model than its content.
- In America 10 million people watched; the cast also "takes the knee" in the American protest currently sweeping that nation.

■ The article leaves out the "We have engaged the ... Klingons" as a play on the "We have engaged the Borg" but here's 7 Easter eggs in Star Trek: Discovery.
- An idiot journalist pressed a button on the captain's chair during a press tour in Toronto as part of a set visit - and it worked. The media was surprised and the production staff alarmed. And there's a bottle of Picard wine.

■ A Q&A with executive producer Alex Kurtzman revealing post-production on episode 5 started only on Monday; Bryan Fuller bailed when he realised he can't give enough time to it and the show will go down if he doesn't relinquish control to people who can give it all their time; there will never be a 22-episode season, and even if renewed for a second season it won't be shown in 2018.

■ CBS has also created a special after show, After Trek for Star Trek: Discovery to discuss the episodes.
Of course it's too much to expect from Netflix to actually communicate, publicise and actually market this for, or in, South Africa and Africa (although Netflix paid to have this content) so let me give you the details:

- After Trek is a special 46-minute weekly discussion show done by CBS for the same CBS All Access subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in America. But yes, After Trek is available on Netflix for South African viewers.
So far there is only 1 After Trek episode to jointly discuss the double-barrel first two episodes together, "The Vulcan Hello and Battle at the Binary Stars".
Someone called Matt Mira is the bad presenter and this unbearable Tribble-trash sitting behind a desk and over-moting is really awful. In fact, After Trek looks amateurish trashy and unprofessional. Was the really great Wes Teasdale of The Pensky File not available??
- On YouTube Wes has immediately started doing a podcast/recap of The Pensky File - Star Trek Discovery (as well as the current DS9 run-through) that is much better, also doing 1 episode about both the first 2 episodes.

OPINION. M-Net's insane disregard for what its own channels like M-Net, M-Net Edge and Vuzu AMP are - and how its deliberately breaking its own channels propositioning.

M-Net's apparent callous disregard for the very expensive and premium shows the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster buys from the big broadcasters in the United States for its M-Net packaged channels on MultiChoice's DStv just keeps growing.

M-Net's insane, misguided and utterly wrong programming choices and allocations - that's done very deliberately - betrays that (a) either there's idiots working there who knows little about television, or that (b) M-Net knows better but doesn't care to follow its own guidelines for its self-compiled channels and what they're supposed to be about.

M-Net runs the M-Net channel on DStv 101, M-Net Edge as its edgier twin on DStv 102, Vuzu AMP on 114 (and its poorer sister Vuzu), as well as a string of Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) type channels in addition to the M-Net Movies family (and of course a channel like M-Net Family!).

Does the chicken now have too many chicks to keep track of?

M-Net comes across as either completely confused about what to do with the shows bought and where it should go, or deliberately doesn't care to put it in the right places where it makes sense for viewers and throwing it into whatever channel where there's an opening.

Imagine buying a separate Cars and a Frozen 50 piece puzzle in those foil packs. Both are from Disney. Imagine opening both, but instead of keeping them separate on the dining room table you jumble them up.

Now you tell two toddlers to build them - indiscriminately using Cars and Frozen puzzle pieces, sticking any piece of the puzzle where any piece will seemingly "fit". You will get somewhere, but eventually it doesn't look pretty.

In my view that's what M-Net as a pay-TV broadcaster seems to be doing with M-Net's various channels like M-Net, Vuzu AMP and M-Net Edge.

It's extremely confusing for viewers, looks to me to be tantamount to very bad planning and execution on M-Net's side, and ends up being bad for all DStv subscribers irrespective of what package they're on - as well as for M-Net terrestrial subscribers.

Just take a look for instance at what M-Net is doing for January 2016 for M-Net (DStv 101), M-Net Edge (DStv 102) and Vuzu AMP (DStv 114).

As just a normal person watching and consuming television, or someone working in television, ask yourself if M-Net executives really are so clueless as to not know better, or whether the people who work there and who are responsible for this really just don't care?

The problem is that M-Net risks becoming exactly like the SABC.

With three TV channels, the SABC repeats and cross broadcast so much programming - every single movie on one channel is shown on another channel after a few weeks for instance, along with soap repeats and other shows daily - that the distinction blurs.

SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 all have different channel looks and are theoretically different.

Yet because of the actual content shown on them, what's supposed to have set them apart and made them unique and their own "product on the shelf" originally, has been dramatically weakened, tainted, watered-down and homogenised.

If you say each channel has a different feel, is aimed at different LSM groups, courting different advertisers and viewer demos, why is it acceptable to, or why can, one movie or show fit on another channel without a problem?

It shouldn't be "possible" but yet it happens, showing how programming executives are not, and are not able to, keep up the gates and strict separation to keep distinct content that "fit" on one channel, off of another.

SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 are no longer and haven't been for a long time distinct channels (the SABC calls it its notorious "transversal strategy" - code for when you actually don't have enough content and are constantly "padding" to fill all the schedules).

The channels are no longer different entities and have become more like three content pipes coming out of the same bucket.

M-Net is likewise in a growing bad manner risking diluting its brands of M-Net, M-Net Edge and Vuzu AMP in much the same way - ironically not because of too little new content like the SABC, but because of too much content.

The net effect in the end is however exactly the same: channel brand dilution.

In slotting in shows across its channels, M-Net shows a shocking lack of insight and perspective for what its own channels are, and what they're meant to be.

Like the SABC, these channels are more and more becoming less different.

The same content is "good enough" to apparently go anywhere, instead of being that "good enough" to have only one special place and one channel where it properly fits.

Sleepy Hollow has been on M-Net, then M-Net Edge and now Vuzu AMP. Really? Yes, really.

Game of Thrones is on M-Net and M-Net Edge. Arrow is on M-Net and Vuzu AMP. (And if Arrow is on M-Net, why is Flash that's exactly the same type of show, on Vuzu AMP?)

If Scandal! The Fixer is on M-Net, why is How to Get Away with Murder on Vuzu AMP (where it totally doesn't belong at all)?

It's completely erratic, non-sensical and insane.

M-Net buys its expensive American TV content (bought in dollars) but then seemingly disregards its own channel's propositioning (is extensively typed up guidelines of what channels are and stand for just theoretical brand summaries?).

The result is that viewers (who cares, all DStv subscribers are all the same, right?) are short-changed - and it damages the brand loyalty for individual channels instead of building and maintaining it.

American Idol that the publicists at M-Net and Vuzu AMP call American Idols (sigh) was always on M-Net (DStv 101).

It's one of that channel's signature shows. A short while ago M-Net and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) together with Telkom gave away a viewer prize for someone and the Idols winner of the 11th season to attend the live finale of the 15th season which will be that show's final season ever.

But guess what? M-Net the big broadcaster just moved and dumped "American Idols" from M-Net the channel and is putting it on Vuzu AMP. It will start on 8 January at 20:30.

How about actually keeping your show that was your show and getting the brand benefits of what you've invested in?

By the time the winner attends the "American Idols" finale of what was a M-Net (DStv 101) competition, the show that is part of your competition and brand exercise is broadcast on ... Vuzu AMP??

I get that M-Net now wants Idols and "American Idols" gone from M-Net (DStv 101) because new hatchling The Voice South Africa is going to create brand confusion and huge conflict if two or all three of them are shown together on one channel.

M-Net clearly wants to keep Idols and The Voice SA from interfering with each other and wants to limit confusion and brand cross-pollution.

Yet strangely M-Net doesn't feel the same about the danger of cross-pollution between its actual channels.

And what about a M-Net and DStv subscriber who've always watched "American Idols" on M-Net (DStv 101)?

What if that person is/was loyal to M-Net or loyal to the show and doesn't know that "American Idols" has moved and is soon starting on Vuzu AMP after Christmas?

Arrow was always on M-Net too. From 5 January at 21:30 for the 4th season it's also suddenly jumping to Vuzu AMP.

Just like Glee and several other shows, M-Net carelessly will move a TV show that started on one channel to several other channels until viewers just give up on trying to find it and keep it.

M-Net's lazy Vuzu AMP publicists apparently couldn't bother to actually watch the show or to come up with a season applicable description, still calling Oliver Queen a "spoiled billionaire playboy" (really? After three years?) who "returns as a changed man determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow".

That was applicable for the first season of Arrow and maybe the first few episodes. Viewers who've watched Arrow for three year will now Oliver Queen is definitely not spoilt and that the rest of the team have actually grown and moved on.

Of course you will only know that if you actually cared for the content and are watching it.

Sleepy Hollow that was on M-Net, then moved to M-Net Edge (DStv 102) when that channel launched because its ... edgy.

Well, Sleepy Hollow, sad to say, is suddenly moving to Vuzu AMP from 6 January at 21:30. And I'm not joking.

Why does M-Net have a channel like M-Net Edge or want to have M-Net Edge if Sleepy Hollow is the very first show the channel launched with starting off with the second season - only to by the third season flung Sleepy Hollow away like the chopped off head in the hand of the headless horseman?

The first season of Gotham was on M-Net. The second season was suddenly on M-Net Edge. But if Gotham is the same as Arrow and Flash (and it is!), will the third season of Gotham suddenly pop up on Vuzu AMP?

I don't understand it, it doesn't make any sense to me, and it probably doesn't make any sense because  it's TV programming that's devoid of logic.

When I switch on a TV channel - especially on MultiChoice's DStv where "narrow-casting" and very specific TV channels are added, built and run around very finely-tuned programming genres each with their own narrow content niche - I want to watch that channel and see on it what I expect to find there.

The inverse is also true: I don't want to get there what I didn't expect to be there.

I expect "American Idols" to be on M-Net and I expect Arrow to continue to be on M-Net if that is where Arrow started. Arrow did incredibly well for M-Net ratings wise. Why dump a winner to a smaller channel where it doesn't really belong?

I further expect Sleepy Hollow to be on M-Net Edge if that is where the show fits and where I expect spooky, scary content from M-Net to be shown.

I don't expect How to Get Away with Murder on Vuzu AMP, but that is where it was seemingly pawned off to.

A few weeks ago M-Net fully planned to show the extreme ballet drama Flesh and Bones on M-Net. It blew my mind. That show fully only belongs on M-Net Edge and only someone who has no clue about its content and what it contained would put it on M-Net (DStv 101).

Who at M-Net watches (or is actually maybe not watching)? Who comes up with these seemingly daft allocation and scheduling ideas of whimsy that is damaging not just one channel brand but all of them?

M-Net, M-Net Edge and Vuzu AMP should be unique and "instantly recognisable" by their specific content - otherwise they should be called A, B and C.

The problem is these channels don't keep to their boundaries and that is bad and getting worse.

I love television desperately. I adore "my" shows.

I just wish some of the people at M-Net (the big one) for whom it is more seemingly just a technical exercise as to where what gets plonked down, cared a little more about the various M-Net channels (the individual small ones).

Anyone with different dogs will know: Only that special one always gets to jump and sleep on the bed; only that other special one always gets his special little Beeno biscuits in a silver bowl; and only that other special one gets the longer leash for walks in the park.

Even more so than dogs, M-Net, M-Net Edge and Vuzu AMP each need to get their own special treatment. They - and DStv subscribers - deserve it.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 13 May 2015

Shocking. Trash TV talk show tells 13 year old girl she will be reunited with her mother ...
... but the shocking show on Cambodia's MyTV channel then surprises the poor emotional girl who last saw her mom when she was just 6, with a gay cross-dresser in a shameful Mother's Day prank.
The disgusting MyTV is then forced to issue an apology after shocked people accuse the show and channel of exploitation.

American Idol in America cancelled.
FOX explains why American Idol's 15th season will be its last. "Pretty emotional decision" to can the once hit show after 15 seasons.
A reflective retrospective trying to put American Idol in context and what it meant for American pop culture. American Idol was the victim of its own success.

How superheroes are saving TV.
From Flash and Arrow to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daredevil, how superheroes are growing on TV with even more dramas about them coming to the small screen.

If you only were to pay for the individual TV channels you wanted ...
You're going to end up paying a LOT more. CNBC tries to determine what individual pay-TV channels will cost if you pay a la carte for separate TV channels instead of a bundled product.


Disney cancels Phineas and Ferb on Disney XD (DStv 304).
The funny animation show which won 3 Emmys is done after 126 episodes. The show was unapologetically complex, unabashedly silly, and unambiguously cheerful.


Game of Thrones' map and opening credits explained.
A Game of Thrones producer explains the mechanical map and moving automatons, why the locations actually change, and why the same locations don't appear every week.

Drama Empire increases to 18 episodes.
Second season on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) will go from 12 to 18 episodes.

RENEWED. Several American TV dramas and comedies seen in South Africa renewed for further seasons.

Several TV shows seen in South Africa was renewed in America for further seasons.

Nashville (M-Net) will see a fourth season and About a Boy (M-Net) will see a second season. Last Man Standing (M-Net) has been renewed for a fourth season.

Parenthood (M-Net) has been renewed for a 6th season; The Mentalist (M-Net / SABC3) has been renewed for a 7th and final season.

Parks and Recreation's (M-Net) upcoming 7th season will be its last. Cougar Town (M-Net / FOX) has been renewed for a 6th and final season.

American Idol (M-Net / SABC2) will see a 14th season.

American Idol season 12 two day finale live on M-Net this Thursday and Friday morning at 02:00.

M-Net will be bringing the finale of the 12th season of American Idol to M-Net subscribers and DStv viewers live on Thursday and Friday morning at 02:00 on the M-Net channel (DStv 101) as Candice and Kree battle it out in their final on-stage showdown.

Along with final performances by Candice Glover and Kree Harrison, Thursday's highly anticipated sing-off between the two women will also feature Carly Rae Jepsen performing her new song, "Take a Picture" - a collaborative effort between American Idol fans and the singer herself.

I asked M-Net how the American Idol two day finale will be handled on the South African pay-TV broadcaster's schedule, and here is what M-Net will be doing for viewers:

M-Net viewers can tune in on Thursday morning at 02:00 (South African time) for the final performance of the top two contestants in American Idol which M-Net will be screening live from America.

M-Net viewers can again tune in on Friday morning at 02:00 (South African time) as the 12th season of American Idol culminates in the grand finale and a new winner in a 2 hour season finale.

M-Net viewers who don't want to wake up or stay awake, can watch the episodes on Saturday 18 May at 18:00 (the final performances which is Thursday's episode) and on Sunday 19 May at 16:55 (the final results show and finale which is the Friday episode).

THE CIRCLE OF SHAME. Zoanette from American Idol the latest proof that reality television will put anything on to try and make you watch.

No. This is not a wannabe drag queen from RuPaul's Drag Race but a real so-called contestant on the latest 12th season of American Idol on M-Net.

She also sang "The Circle of Life" from Disney's The Lion King in Las Vegas. Kid you not.

Then people clap, shout and therefore encourage this shameful shameful spectacle. Interestingly as many people loathe her as like her. A lot of people thought Zoanette was a "joke" contestant, but she is very real and very really in the show.

Of course Zoanette Johnson comes with the obligatory sad sob story to make reality television tabloid fodder.

When she was two she came to the United States of America from the war-torn African country of Liberia.

Now her wacky antics ("the ciiiiiiiirccle of liiiiife") is stealing the show on American Idol.

FIRST LOOK. Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban join Randy Jackson as judges for the 12th season of American Idol.

American Idol has released the first official photo of the new season of the reality show South African viewers see on M-Net, with the photo including the three new judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj for the new 12th season.

The glampop Mariah Carey, Australian country singer Keith Urban and Trinidad hip hop artist Nicki Minaj are replacing Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, and join Randy Jackson as the only returning (and remaining original judge) on the sagging show which is seeing major viewership erosion.

The 12th season of American Idol will start in January 2013 in the United States and started its New York auditions before the judges today.

BREAKING. New 7th season of Grey's Anatomy; 10th season of American Idol to debut on M-Net in January.

You're reading it here first.

M-Net is set to debut the new seasons of Grey's Anatomy as well as American Idol in January 2011 with American Idol episodes shown in South Africa barely days after it gets broadcast in America.

The seventh season of Grey's Anatomy and the 10th season of American Idol will both start on M-Net in January - American Idol days after its American debut on Janaury 12, 2001. M-Net will use American Idol once again as a marketing and promotion tool for the seventh season of Idols that will start its nationwide audition phase in February in South Africa.

The seventh season of Grey's Anatomy is set to start on M-Net on January 24, 2011 and the 10th season of American Idol will start on M-Net at this stage on Sunday, January 16, 2011.

ALSO READ: M-Net announces a new 7th season for Idols to start with auditions in February 2011.

Programming note: M-Net will be showing the American Idol finale live on Thursday morning at 02:00.

Well done for M-Net that will be broadcasting the American Idol finale live tomorrow morning, Thursday 27 May, at 02:00 for fans who don't want to wake up on Thursday and have the result of the winner spoiler for them.

Its too bad that M-Net Series (DStv 110) didn't do the same with the Lost finale on Sunday in which the rest of the world took part, but American Idol followers can now stay up and enjoy the final two hours live on TV, while they social network and fret about who the winner between deadlock-supergirl Crystal Bowersox and ''the heart of the season Lee Dewyze is going to be. Viewers will also see American Idol say goodbye to judge Simon Cowell and there will be a special surprise visit by Paula Abdul.

Viewers who don't want to stay up for the American Idol finale can catch it tomorrow evening on M-Net from 19:30 in a three hour special. This means that M-Net is pre-empting the episodes of 90210, Desperate Housewives and Fringe. The Saturday repeat will also still take place on M-Net Series at 11:00.

BREAKING. American Idol's 9th season finale in May will be broadcast live on M-Net.

You're reading it here first.

I asked. They were willing to answer. Now I can exclusively reveal first that M-Net will be broadcasting the American Idol ninth season finale LIVE in South Africa at the same time when American viewers will get to see who wins on the Fox Network.

I already told you right here that M-Net is planning to show the American Idol finals LIVE as well in May, and now the pay broadcaster is also making plans to show the finale in the same way as viewers get to see the Annual Academy Awards in South Africa at the same time if they're willing to wake up (or stay awake) in the early hours of the morning.

When the American Idol finale goes out, M-Net plans to show it live very early on Thursday morning, 27 May with the American Idol ninth season winner announced around 02:00 South African time. Of course the finale will still go out in its normal Sunday afternoon timeslot on M-Net as well.

BREAKING. M-Net planning to air American Idol finals live in May.

You're reading it here first.

I can exclusively reveal that M-Net is planning to show the American Idol finals LIVE when the ninth season of American Idol enters the month of May.

Currently episodes are shown on a Sunday in South Africa. It seems CRAZY and UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE since South Africa's primetime is hours ahead of America where the finals will also be going out on a different day of the week. Yet that appears to be what M-Net is now promising South African viewers in the brand-new on-air promo.

With the words flashing ''American Idol finals LIVE'' in the new on-air promo, M-Net says:
''In May things really start to heat up - only this time - (cue American Idol judge Randy Jackson: ''I was blown away'') - it's live on your screens.''

I've asked M-Net for clarification and any further information, the moment I hear anything, I will post it here.

BREAKING. M-Net ''profusely apologize'' for American Idol mix-up, schedules new times for missing hour.

You're reading it here first.

After THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY when M-Net messed up the five hour Sunday broadcast of American Idol, M-Net is now taking full responsibility for the mistake and will rectify it by broadcasting the correct final hour tonight as well as on Sunday.

M-Net admits that nobody watched the American feed as it was received and converted to check whether the episode in terms of content, chronology and episode structure was indeed correct.

The correct final hour - the American Idol results and elimination show announcing the top 20 contestants - will now be screened tonight between 21:30 and 22:30. This hour will also be broadcast on Sunday between 13:00 and 14:00 just before the week's new five hour show starts.

''We profusely apologize to out M-Net viewers,'' says Pierre Cloete, M-Net's channel manager. ''M-Net takes full responsibility for this anomaly, which could have been prevented with a thorough system check. We'll ensure that our technical teams monitor the delivery and conversion of the feed in more detail to ensure that it doesn't happen again.''

Click on READ MORE below for the exact broadcasting times on M-Net, M-Net HD (DStv 170) and M-Net Series (DStv 110) of when you can catch the ''missing hour'' of American Idol.

M-Net's massive mess with American Idol, botches five hour show.

M-Net will have some explaining to do today to outraged fans of American Idol and viewers who were sitting through Sunday's five hour show of American Idol on M-Net were subjected to a massively messed-up episode with unexplained repeats in it and no results show.

M-Net botched yesterday's massive broadcast by suddenly starting to repeat sections of what has been showed earlier during the day, gave no explanation as to why it's happening or what the broadcaster will be doing to correct it, and had no results show at the end.

M-Net started showing American Idol with the girls performing at 14:00 and two hours later at 16:00 the boys performing for two hours. Then suddenly at 18:00 when the results and elimination show was supposed to start bits of the girls performance started to repeat again with no elimination show.

''We are aware that this is the incorrect episode and apologize for the inconveniece'' is all that M-Net managed to flash on TV screens during American Idol but kept going with the broadcast regardless until Carte Blanche started at 19:00.

BREAKING. M-Net decides to repeat American Idol on M-Net Series.

You're reading it here first.

M-Net has just decided to repeat the latest season of American Idol on M-Net Series (DStv 110).

American Idol will start on M-Net Series at 11:00 tomorrow (Saturday). The second I hear from M-Net Series in terms of what the subsequent fixed weekly premiere broadcast on the channel will be, I will post it here.

So far as I understand it, the M-Net Series talkshows, The Doctors and Ellen will now fall away temporarily until the American Idol season is finished.

UPDATE Friday 22 Jan 15:47 - Tomorrow's (Saturday) episode at 11:00 will be the first marathon set of episodes that kicked off the new season on M-Net on Sunday. Then, on 30 January American Idol will be on M-Net Series from 11:00 to 13:00.
M-Net will continue to premiere American Idol episodes on a Sunday and then M-Net Series will follow with the same episode on every Saturday.

FIRST LOOK! American Idol's 9th season.

I can show you this brand-new just-released official publicity photo for the 9th season of American Idol with host Ryan Seacrest and the judges Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi.

American Idol IX will start this Sunday on M-Net at 15:00 for a massive American Idol debut of 3 and a half hours.

At 15:00 viewers can tune in for the ''Boston Auditions'', followed at 17:00 by the ''Atlanta Auditions''. At 18:30 M-Net has changed the line-up and included the half hour special, London Live V featuring Kelly Clarkson (who of course won the very first American Idol).

BREAKING. American Idol will eventually have 24 top contestants when it starts on M-Net.

You're reading it here first.

I was first to break the news HERE on 10 December that America Idol will be moving back to M-Net and be seen here a week after it shows in America. M-Net will start showing American Idol from 17 January, super close to episodes going out in America.

Now the Fox Network in America has just issued a press release saying that instead of 36 top candidates, the show will have 24 top candidates. Here is some of what the Fox Network just said:

''The wait is almost over for the return of TV's No. 1 show! American Idol is set to return for its much-anticipated ninth season with extraordinary talent and outrageous new auditions.''

''This season on American Idol, the good, the bad and the awful audition for their shot at stardom. In the audition cities, Ryan Seacrest hosts, and Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi will be joined by rotating guest judges Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris, Joe Jonas, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Shania Twain.

According to the press release in ''The “Hollywood Round” dreams will come true ''for 24 contestants, as Simon, Randy, Kara and Ellen announce the Top 12 male and Top 12 female semifinalists. It will then be up to America to decide who moves forward in the competition.''

BREAKING. American Idol moves to M-Net in a MASSIVE way - and broadcast only one week behind America!

You're reading it here first. The massive ratings juggernaut that is American Idol is moving back to M-Net taking up a MASSIVE chunk of broadcast time on the pay channel with episodes set to air only one week after it's been on in America!

The 9th season of American Idols starts on M-Net on Sunday 17 January 2010 with a MASSIVE 4 HOURS BROADCAST EXTRAVAGANZA from 15:00 until 19:00. From Sunday, 24 January it becomes a (still massive) 2 hour weekly show.

The show starts on 12 January 2010 in America on the Fox Network, which means M-Net is making a spectacular effort with the show. American Idol is massive in terms of viewership and buzz, and M-Net has moved the show from it's M-Net Series channel (DStv 110) where it's been broadcast for the past few seasons, back to M-Net.

The pay channel will be able to capitalize on the instant buzz and global news presence created by the show. Local entertainment weeklies like Huisgenoot, You, heat and People and even the dailies with their entertainment supplements will be able to cover the show in real time, with a direct spinoff publicity benefit for M-Net.

Even the real-time coverage on TV news magazines like the daily E! News on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) and the new local V Entertainment on Vuzu (DStv 123) which cover shows like American Idol and their stars, will now be of direct benefit to M-Net viewers who will get immediate, relevant information.