Mzansi Magic Music channel on DStv updates on-air look with shows returning for second seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net have updated the look of its Mzansi Magic Music (DStv 321) channel with the change that came into effect on Monday 14 February with the channel proposition that is also shifting to be "synonymous with Afro Soul and home of the classic tunes".

Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, says "Evolution is essential for growth hence the decision to refresh the look and feel and improve the schedule to meet the needs of our audience. Mzansi Magic Music's new look is something we are excited to unveil and we are sure our viewers will love it".

Programming wise Mzansi Magic Music will debut the 13-episode second season of Lounge Series on Saturday 19 February at 19:00 consisting of "intimate studio performances in front of a socially distanced live audience" with stories and performances from Lady Zamar, Simmy, Blaq Diamond, Langa Mavuso, Mandisi Dyantyis, Lebo Sekgobela, K.O and Khuli Chana.

Mzansi Magic Music Specials with presenters Stoan and LootLove are also returning on Saturday 19 February at 18:00 with revealing interviews with guests ranging from Bongani Fassie, Zahara, Mr Jazziq, Rapulana Seiphemo, Israel Matseke Zulu, Thembi Nyandeni and Thembi Seete.

The gospel show VIP Invite is on the channel on Sunday afternoons from Sunday 20 February at 17:00 and includes praise and a worship sermon, together with real-life testimonies from audience members and musical guests. It once again has the gospel star Hle as the presenter, with second season guests who will include Khaya Mthethwa, Keke, Sbu Noah and Ayanda Ntanzi.

MultiChoice and M-Net prep a 2-hour One Night with Mzansi live variety TV special for DStv subscribers on Sunday 17 October from the Dubai Opera House.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net are prepping a One Night with Mzansi variety TV special that it plans to broadcast on Sunday night for DStv subscribers live from the Dubai Opera House that will feature a range of concert stage-to-screen performances and singing like Britain's annual Royal Variety Performance.

With the aim of showcasing South African talent, One Night with Mzansi will be broadcast live on Sunday night 17 October at 21:00 as a 2-hour variety TV special on M-Net's 1Magic (DStv 103) and Mzansi Magic Music (Dstv 321) channels for DStv subscribers in South Africa, with a repeat on Mzansi Magic on Monday morning at 06:00.

The One Night with Mzansi variety TV special putting South African talent on stage will serve as a replacement of sorts to showcase local artists after the MultiChoice Group and M-Net scrapped both the 2021 African Magic Viewers' Choice Awards in Lagos, Nigeria and the 2021 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards in Johannesburg this year, with kykNET that has been silent about the 2021 kykNET Silwerskermfees that will very likely also no longer take place this year.

Nomzamo Mbatha now living in Los Angeles and who appeared in the film Coming 2 America earlier this year will be the host of One Night with Mzansi, that will include performances by Mi Casa, Blaq Diamond, DJ Maphorisa, Ami Faku and the amapiano musician Daliwonga.

Also singing will be both the Mzansi Youth Choir and the Drakensberg Boys Choir, along with Sho Madjozi and the Maskandi artist Khuzai Mpungose.

Thando Thabethe, the Queen of Ndebele music Dr Nothembi Mkhwebane, Coenie de Villiers and Pabi Moloi of e.tv's The Morning Show have also been lined up to be part of the special.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and the country's minister of arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa, as well as a representative of the South African Business Council (SABCO) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will make speeches during the live TV special.

MultiChoice and M-Net add several Hugh Masekela specials to the Mzansi Magic Music schedule and DStv Catch Up to pay tribute after the death of the South African jazz legend.

M-Net has quickly scheduled several Hugh Masekela programmes on Mzansi Magic Music (DStv 321) to pay tribute to the artist after the death of the South African jazz legend.

"It is with great sadness that M-Net has learned of the passing of musical legend Hugh Masekela, a leader and stalwart of the music and entertainment industry worldwide," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment at MultiChoice.

"His legacy, contribution and influence on the music world will be long remembered and treasured."

"Hugh Masekela told the South African story in an inimitable way. Through his music, the fight for democracy reached audiences all over the world, and to us, he was the voice of hope during dark times," says Yolisa Phahle.

"Hugh was recognised by the greatest musicians in the world. He played alongside jazz legends, incredible contemporary and chart-topping musicians, and is one of a few to have been at the famous Rumble in the Jungle. I have some very precious personal memories as he was a close family friend and a major inspiration to me as a young musician," says Yolisa Phahle.

"Today, South Africa, the rest of our continent and the world remember a man who touched lives in a magical and meaningful way".

M-Net and MultiChoice announced that it will be honouring Hugh Masekela's legacy with several specials, but started this at 12:00 on Tuesday on the Mzansi Magic Music channel already, although a programming notification was only issued at 13:30.

The following shows were already broadcast on Mzansi Magic Music on Tuesday afternoon, but will be repeated over the next few days, and will also be made available on DStv Catch Up from 18:00 on Tuesday evening:

12:00: The Best of Hugh Masekela Special
13:00: Friends of Hugh Masekela
14:00: Hugh Masekela Live at the Market Theatre

18:00: The Best of Hugh Masekela Special
19:00: Friends of Hugh Masekela
20:00: Hugh Masekela Live at the Market Theatre

Heavily hyped #PlsCallMe on Mzansi Magic Music with multiple weekly episodes, cut down to just one episode per week on Saturdays.

#PlsCallMe on Mzansi Magic Music (DStv 321) is more a case of please make it go away - Mzansi Magic Music has cut down and done away with the show's multiple weekly episodes which has been reduced to just one a week barely months after it launched at the end of January.

Mzansi Magic Music hyped the start of #PlsCallMe in January with the return to television of former Jam Alley presenter V-Mash, as well as Nestum and Phule Welsh with #PlsCallMe which appeared to be positioned as the channel's new flagship show and early primetime anchor.

Now #PlsCallMe, a viewer music request show, has fizzled out to one episode a week on Saturdays at 18:00.

It appears potential viewers didn't even want to do the effort or waste the energy of interacting with a request show even if it doesn't cost them anything.

"Due to the nature of the television industry, we review our scheduling regularly and a decision was made to screen it once a week," Mzansi Magic Music tells TV with Thinus in response to a media enquiry as to why #PlsCallMe is suddenly down to one weekly episode.

Mzansi Magic says "#PlsCallMe is not the channel's flagship show".