BREAKING. M-Net suddenly no longer shutting down Maisha Magic channel in March; now keeping Maisha Magic on air until end of May.

In a sudden almost turn-around pay-TV broadcaster M-Net is no longer shutting down the Maisha Magic TV channel it launched in September 2014 but will now suddenly keep Maisha Magic on the air and on MultiChoice's DStv until the end of May.

In February M-Net announced that Maisha Magic is being canned at the end of this month, the result of under-performance in the ratings.

Now suddenly Maisha Magic - like a convict on death row - its getting a further two months grace period.

According to Patricia van Rooyen, M-Net sub-Saharan Africa CEO, the decision to extend Maisha Magic's termination to the end of May was taken after further deliberation and following an assessment of Maisha Magic's performance.

It appears that certain on-air and commissioned shows, according to existing contracts had ongoing episodes to deliver, and M-Net can get more mileage out of letting that programming continue until its natural conclusion of existing season orders.

Programming on Maisha Magic include Don’t mess with Kansiime, Mr and Mrs Singh, Mazagazaga, Maisha Superstar, Tujuane Plus and Rush and Deception.

"M-Net has put on hold plans to shut down Maisha Magic in March and extended the viewing of the channel to the end of May this year.  Viewers have now been assured that they will still enjoy their favourite shows as arrangements are being made on a smooth transition as well as a natural closure to some of the channel's already on-air shows," says M-Net in a statement released on Friday.

SHOCKER. M-Net shutting down Maisha Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv mere months after launching; what's going on with M-Net?

What on Earth is going on with M-Net, and is the sterling pay-TV brand starting to self-destruct and destroying its own image in Africa? That's what insiders are asking with the shocking news that M-Net is immediately shutting down its recently launched Maisha Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv in East Africa.

TV industry insiders are buzzing over M-Net's abrupt about-turn - launching Maisha Magic as a TV channel on DStv and then canning it - raising speculation about very bad executive management appointments, absent oversight and a lack of adequate - if any - channel testing, planning and feasibility studies.

"You expect this from other African free-to-air [broadcasters] but not M-Net. What on Earth is going on?" said a veteran African TV business insider on Thursday night over the shocking news that M-Net is ending Maisha Magic on DStv mere months after it launched the channel with great fanfare.

"You don't just launch a channel - especially not on MultiChoice and then yank it. It's like opening a hotel, paying for the construction and turn-key set-up and then closing it down without any profit".

M-Net is dumping Maisha Magic in East Africa as a TV channel, raising concerns over what is happening - or not happening - under the management of Michael Ndetei who was appointed as M-Net's first ever regional director for East Africa exactly a year ago in February 2014.

M-Net says "an in-depth assessement of each of the channel's viability was concluded, including a review of the rankings and popularity of the channels" and that "a decision was taken to close Maisha Magic and refocus on Maisha Magic Swahili".

M-Net is dumping and getting rid of Maisha Magic on DStv abruptly at the end of March - raising serious concerns of what, if any, "in-depth assessement M-Net did before it decided to launch Maisha Magic with great fanfare from 1 September 2014.

Six months later, Maisha Magic is a disastrous M-Net failure - an unprecedented flop in the history of M-Net, bigger than GO and The Soap Channel which M-Net supplied to DStv and which were both terminated.

"Unfortunately Maisha Magic has not performed and grown as per our expectations." says M-Net CEO for Sub-Sahara Africa, Patricia van Rooyen.

Patricia van Rooyen says M-Net decided to can Maisha Magic saying M-Net made "the carefully considered but difficult decision to cease operations of the channel".

It gives Maisha Magic the dubious and shocking distinction of holding the record of shortest-lived TV channel ever on MultiChoice's DStv, and the M-Net packaged TV channel for DStv which lasted the shortest period of time - just 6 months.

It raises serious questions over why M-Net decided to launch the failure of a TV venture in the first place, why adequate market research and channel creation steps were not taken and what market research and intelligence M-Net is using - if any - to come up with new TV channels for DStv subscribers across the continent. 

M-Net says its "grateful" to Michael Ndetei and some of the most talented and creative people in the Kenyan media industry" but the Maisha Magic closure is flashing red lights over what exactly M-Net is doing in East Africa and whether its lost its magic.

"M-Net remains firmly committed to the Kenyan market and will ensure that it continues to support film makers by showcasing their talent on other M-Net channels."

"The film and television industry in Kenya will continue to be supported by M-Net's investment in channels made in Africa for Africa, thus ensuring that we assist Kenya in playing a role in the growth and future of African television and film on the continent," says M-Net.

Yet the shocking real-life actions are speaking much, much louder than words.

In 2014 Michaerl Ndetei said "there's definitely great potential for a customised East Africa television brand". Well, it seems that Michael Ndetei spoke too soon - or at least too soon as far as M-Net is concerned and is either clearly out of touch or not up to the job.

Either in reality there isn't great potential in general in the market for what M-Net offered, or there isn't an appetite  for subscribers to specifically M-Net's East African product.

The abrupt dumping of Maisha Magic means that nothing will come of M-Net lofty ideals and now lofty 2014 announcement that Maisha Magic will be followed by many more Maisha Magic branded TV channels in East Africa in the future.

With M-Net dumping Maisha Magic on MultiChoice, is not clear whether it's completely capitulated and given up on the red-hot Swahili market in East Africa where rivals like Zuku started Zuku Swahili Movies as a new channel in 2014, and StarTimes run channels like Star Swahili and Bollywood Swahili.

How will M-Net subscribers trust M-Net again when it again in future says its launching yet another Swahili or other M-Net type brand in East Africa? People won't trust it to last. What they will do is laugh it off. 

Like Mello Yello, Vanilla Coke and Fresca. 

All of them remembered - but laughed at - as shocking brand extension failures of their main brands which never should have happened. Add Maisha Magic to that list.

BREAKING. M-Net appoints Jan du Plessis as director: movies, Victor Eckard as director: general entertainment, closes content division.

You're reading it here first. 

I can break the news: M-Net is appointing Jan du Plessis as director: movies and Victor Eckard as director: general entertainment from 1 August at the South African pay-TV broadcaster shutters its internal group content services division.

The appointments are the latest top executive shuffle continuing this year and which started with the appointment of Yolisa Phahle as M-Net's new CEO for South Africa in March and the shocking exit of the veteran Pierre Cloete in June who oversaw the M-Net, M-Net Series and M-Net Movies channels.

While veteran Jan du Plessis joined M-Net in 1994 from Sterk-Kinekor where he headed up the acquisition's division, Victor Eckard's appointment will raise eyebrows in South Africa's TV industry - he only joined M-Net in 2006.

Victor Eckard joined M-Net in 2006 as a radio DJ at Tuks FM and became a presenter for JIP on the cancelled MK channel, after which be became a content executive for the MK channel, and later the head of strategy and business development.

Now Victor Eckard will be in charge of a realignment of the set of M-Net Series channels which turn one year old on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform tomorrow (9 July) and which has been underperforming for months according to multiple sources, and which is set to be undergoing a dramatic change within months.

Jan du Plessis who previously was the head of the M-Net channel, was until now the director: group content services at M-Net but that division is being downsized.

As Jan du Plessis takes over M-Net's movies division, existing M-Net staff in the group content services division, which is being closing down, will be moved to both the M-Net Series and M-Net movies divisions within the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster.

Meanwhile Glen Marques' portfolio of studio content negotiation on behalf of M-Net was enlarged to also include the portfolio of channel acquisition.

There's been no public announcement on the appointment and division shutdown from M-Net yet.

BREAKING. M-Net's Biola Alabi leaves M-Net to study at Yale University; won't be returning to M-Net.

After reports last month that Biola Alabi is leaving M-Net, which Biola Alabi then flat-out denied when she said she is staying put at M-Net as M-Net Africa's managing director for special projects; M-Net is suddenly announcing that Biola Alabi is indeed leaving the pay-TV broadcaster.

Biola Alabi is going to study at Yale University for five months and won't be returning to M-Net.

"After her Yale fellowship, Biola Alabi will pursue new career opportunities," says M-Net in a statement.

"We wish her every success in what will certainly be a glittering career," says M-Net Sub-Saharan CEO Patricia van Rooyen in the statement.

Biola Alabi joined M-Net in 2008. Her job focus changed at the beginning of 2014 when her job title was amended to that of M-Net Africa managing director for special projects.

In this capacity she was tasked to look after projects such as the AfricaMagic Viewers' Choice Awards, reality productions such as Big Brother Africa and the AfricaMagic Original Films project.

During Biola Alabi's tenure at M-Net she oversaw the launch of the AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Yoruba and AfricaMagic Swahili TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv and the expansion of the AfricaMagic brand to eight TV channels.

She also presided over four editions of Big Brother Africa, as well as the Face of Africa model reality show in 2010.

BREAKING. Nkateko Mabaso appointed as M-Net's new director for local interest channels in South Africa, replacing Yolisa Phahle.

You're reading it here first. 

Nkateko Mabaso has been appointed as the new M-Net director for local interest channels in South Africa.

Nkateko Mabaso with a BA degree in marketing communications will replace Yolisa Phahle on 1 April, who has been promoted to become M-Net's first CEO for South Africa, also from 1 April and who held the position until now.

Nkateko Mabaso will oversee channels such as Vuzu, Channel O and the various Mzansi Magic TV channel which is packaged and produced by M-Net for MultiChoice's DStv platform.

He joined M-Net in 2010 as the marketing manager for Vuzu and Channel O and has been M-Net's general manager for local interest channels..

"Nkateko Mabaso made a great contribution to the successful launch of the acclaimed Mzansi Magic channel and his role soon evolved into that of the head of marketing and public relations for local interest," says Patricia van Rooyen, the CEO of M-Net for Sub-Saharan Africa.

"In his new position, reporting to Yolisa Phale, Nkateko Mabaso will be a key leader of the South African team responsible for ensuring that M-Net delivers only the most relevant, most compelling content".

M-Net CEO Patricia van Rooyen on M-Net's nursery school and the pay-TV broadcaster's M Life to help with all of life's mundane chores.

August is Women's  month and in the August issue of The Media trade magazine M-Net CEO Patricia van Rooyen makes quite a "revelation".

Did you know that M-Net as a pay-TV broadcaster runs a nursery school for working mothers and have done so from the early days? That's what Patricia van Rooyen told The Media magazine. M-Net also provides M Life.

"This service helps with all those mundane chores that one doesn't always find the time to do," she tells the magazine in the current issue, "like collecting the dry-cleaning, paying bills and so forth."

"Every organisation should ask themselves and ask women what more can we do for working mothers?" says Patricia van Rooyen.

And remember Jane Dutton, the erstwhile eNews news reader on e.tv who've moved on and has been working for Al Jazeera in Doha, Qatar? She tells The Media in the August edition of the magazine she is now the single mother of 18- month old twins.

"Being older means I am quite chilled about the whole thing, but man it's a killer on the back, all that picking up and changing nappies," Jane Dutton tells The Media magazine.

M-Net management shake-up: Theo Erasmus shifts to help AfricaMagic; Pierre Cloete moves to oversight of M-Net, M-Net Series from 2013.

You're reading it here first. 

I can exclusively break the news that major top executive changes are coming to M-Net as the Randburg-based pay-TV operator will make Theo Erasmus the new channel director in South Africa for the AfricaMagic channels and Pierre Cloete will take over overseeing both the M-Net (DStv 101) and M-Net Series (DStv 114) channels in addition to his current work load from January 2013.

The top executive changes, not yet publicly announced, are part of a internal management restructuring under M-Net CEO Patricia van Rooyen.

The executive changes at M-Net, according to insiders, include Biola Alabi in Nigeria who is currently M-Net Africa's managing director who will remain the managing director of M-Net Africa but getting assistance from Theo Erasmus.

Theo Erasmus, currently M-Net's director for general entertainment, is becoming the channel director based in South Africa for the rebranded AfricaMagic channels since the packaging and the operations of that division happens from this country. He will be overseeing the day-to-day operations for the AfricaMagic channels for a 2 year period.

During this time Theo Erasmus and Biola Alabi will have to work together to find and groom a new chief operating officer (COO) for this expanding operational division. Theo Erasmus will move to this position and new title from 1 January 2013 and will be reporting directly to Patricia van Rooyen.

Meanwhile Pierre Cloete, currently the director of the M-Net Movies channels since this year after he was the M-Net channel head, is being moved into a bigger management role, expanding to oversight over the M-Net and M-Net Series channels, also from 1 January. He will also be reporting directly to Patricia van Rooyen I'm told about the M-Net Movies channels, as well as these two M-Net channels - now placing all M-Net branded TV channels under his control.

According to sources the changes are part of M-Net's focus on increasing local content across Africa whilst containing costs and relooking at all sistems regarding the licensing and acquisition processes and channel packaging as part of M-Net's plan to launch more channels across the continent.

M-Net Literary Awards 2012 hand out top book prizes to South African authors in a variety of language categories.

The literati gathered on Friday around crystal clear wine glasses and crisp white linen around tables at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Johannesburg as the country's well-read high society came together for an afternoon lunch and award ceremony to celebrate the new winners of this year's M-Net Literary Awards 2012.

The best of the year's authors in a variety of South African languages were honoured in various categories for their contribution, in elided language in book form, for the every-unfolding South African story.

"From an M-Net point of view, we want to reward writing in all of the languages of this country," said Patricia van Rooyen, M-Net CEO. "We want to reward and welcome all stories and in their mother tongues."

The M-Net Literary Awards 2012 attracted a massive 85 entries, and according to the judges most writers still favour historical novels.

Among African languages current social realities dominate as stories, tackling issues ranging from alcohol abuse and HIV/Aids, to the challenges faced by young South Africans. Crime writing in South Africa is also showing exponential growth.

According to this year's judges, the standard of publication of novels in South Africa remains very high. Novels published between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011 qualified for the awards held annually. This year marked the first year that a prize was awarded in the Venda category for a novel by a Venda author.

"What M-Net does is to tell stories. It's stories that make our business so successful and sustains us. That's why we continue to support these awards. We believe that anything - a novel, a script for a series - is what helps to make our business tick," Patricia van Rooyen said.

This year's category winners in the M-Net Literary Awards 2012 are:

Sesotho
Manong a lapile ("The Vultures are Hungry") by Nhlanhla Maake (Ekaam Publishers)

Sepedi
Tshweu ya ditsebe ("A Gentleman with White Ears") by Herbert Lentsoane (Maskew Miller Longman)

Venda
Murunzi wa Vhutshilo ("The Shadow of Life") by Takalani Mbedzi (Hibbard Publishers)

English
Homemaking for the Down-at-heart by Finnuala Dowling (Kwela Books)

Afrikaans
Sirkusboere ("Circus clowns") by Sonja Loots (Tafelberg)

Film Award
7 Dae ("7 Days") by Deon Meyer (NB Publishers)

Libraries in shipping containers and beautiful books: How M-Net through it's Naledi Project is helping to grow READING in South Africa.

Here's a page turner: M-Net as a pay-TV broadcaster in South Africa is also interested in (gasp!) books.

Yep. True. Although M-Net is in the business of television, the pay-TV operator is also supporting and working very hard at promoting literacy under especially underprivileged children across South Africa in a project entitled M-Net Naledi Children's Literacy Project which is growing every year.

At the other end M-Net is also supporting more advanced literary aspirations: rewarding South African authors in all languages for excellent new novels in a broad range of categories through the annual M-Net Literacy Awards.

But why? Why would M-Net be supporting books and the written word if its main business is the visual video world? Well, where do those visual video stories come from and how do they get to the screen? Through writers of course. Through scripts, and creative writing, and screenplays, and imagination and storytellers.

Because every on-air story or show starts with a script and because every TV industry is only as strong as its writers, that is why M-Net is investing in reading, writing, literacy and promoting a reading culture in South Africa.

"What M-Net does is to tell stories," said Patricia can Rooyen, M-Net CEO at Friday's M-Net Literary Awards 2012 where the pay-TV broadcaster also talked about the pay-TV operator's growing M-Net Naledi project.

"It's stories that make our business so successful and sustains us. That's why we continue to support these awards. We believe that anything - a novel, a script for a series - is what helps to make our business tick," she said.

The M-Net Naledi Children's Project started in 2010 to enrich the lives of young children in underprivileged schools and helping to teach them to read. Where the project started off with 300 children in 2010, it has since grown to 1 500 kids in 5 provinces across South Africa.

This year the M-Net Naledi Children's Project was extended to include the Sive School for the Deaf in the Eastern Cape. This year the Sive School received a fully-equiped library, built from a shipping container crate which looks amazing and seems like such a brilliant idea to take books and reading and helping to foster a reading culture in remote and under-serviced areas in South Africa.

Earlier this year with a group of journalists I visited another school near Poortjie in Gauteng where M-Net is helping to bring reading and literacy to young, bright and excited primary school children whose world lights up when their teacher tells them stories and they do groupwork from their precious workbooks and story books M-Net gave them.

Covering the news  - having really done every kind of story in more than a decade as a hard news journalist - hardly gets to me or makes me emotional. But when I visited that school, I had to go stand outside around the corner for a little while because I came very close to crying.

It was very emotional seeing children who would have had no chance to ever read really great books and being exposed to the wonder and joy and growth which comes from reading, get great instruction and that opportunity to have the world of books - and the world - being opened for them.

I felt if there's a company or corporation who isn't just throwing money at some corporate social investment scheme or plan because they have to but who is really, really serious and thoughtful and giving money and resources and energy to a worthwhile plan with intent, that it's M-Net with its literacy projects like the Naledi Children's Literacy Project.

Besides setting up two reading corners in under-resourced schools in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, M-Net under its M-Net Cares banner also has a book collection drive to reach children outside the 12-week programme.

So, next time you switch on your television to watch M-Net, you might remember that this TV giant is also into reading. And in a way in which it not just matters, but actually makes a real difference.

BREAKING. M-Net creating the new top-executive position of Director: Movie Channels to look after the pay broadcaster's movie channels.

M-Net is creating a brand-new top-level executive position entitled Director: Movie Channels with the person who will be answering and reporting directly to M-Net CEO, Patricia van Rooyen.

The Director: Movie Channels will be overseeing all of the pay TV broadcaster's internal operations across all movie channels and will be responsible for the scheduling, marketing, budgets and staff development of M-Net's movie channels as a separate division as well as driving the success of M-Net's movie offering from the head office in Randburg.

M-Net's movie channels and the movies acquired for its general entertainment TV channels are seen by over 5 million subscribers across Africa.

The Director: Movie Channels will have to lead the internal operations of the movie channels and will have to have a firm grasp of consumer movie tastes, will have an in-depth knowledge and love of movies, full understanding of intellectual property rights, experience in marketing in the movie world as well as experience in television and knowledge of studios structures and offerings.

ADVISORY. M-Net CEO Patricia Scholtemeyer is now Patricia van Rooyen.

You're reading it here first.

Update that Contacts folder, TV biz.

Patricia Scholtemeyer, CEO of M-Net will now be known as Patricia van Rooyen.

I'm told the very private M-Net top exec got married a week ago. She was appointed as CEO of the pay broadcaster at the beginning of 2008.
Congratulations!