M-Net's Pearl Magic Prime turns 4 with 17 original programmes showcasing Uganda's film industry

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net's Pearl Magic Prime (PMP) channel marks its 4th anniversary on MultiChoice's DStv platform with 17 commissioned shows like Crossroads and 15 licensed shows which are all showcasing Uganda's growing film and TV industry. 

"Pearl Magic Prime's 4-year journey has been one of creativity and community, providing a platform for Ugandan stories to shine," says Rinaldi Jamugisa, MultiChoice Uganda's communications manager. 

"This anniversary is a tribute to our dedicated viewers and the creative minds behind every show."

Margaret Mathore, M-Net East Africa head of channels, says "Since October last year, we have introduced compelling new content that continues to captivate Ugandan audiences". 

 "Our commitment to premium local programming remains steady, and we are excited about nurturing and showcasing Ugandan talent."

Two years after M-Net launched the Pearl Magic channel, it started Pearl Magic Prime as a spin-off from Pearl Magic, launched on 8 February 2021.

SHOCKER. MultiChoice Africa and M-Net claim it's practising and adhering to Covid-19 TV and film production regulations - but shocking photos show a lack of mask wearing and flouting of social distancing on set.

by Thinus Ferreira

While MultiChoice Africa and M-Net claim to adhere to "strict" Covid-19 safety measures on-set during the filming of their TV shows to keep casts and crews safe, shocking images are surfacing from just one TV show currently being filmed on the continent, showing a lack of wearing masks and a complete disregard for even the most basic of protocols like social distancing to be followed.

Last week, Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment, praised the talent, casts and crews of various MultiChoice and M-Net productions and their resilience "as our industry navigated the complexities brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic which were characterised by production stoppages and a period of uncertainty for many creatives".

Now very serious questions are being raised about the degree to which the African continent's largest pay-TV operator is really respecting the resilience of productions if there appears to be little to no real oversight on keeping industry workers safe and protected from Covid-19 and to really ensure that Covid-19 safety rules are adhered to.

MultiChoice Uganda last week took journalists and influencers on a set visit to Sanyu, one of M-Net's brand-new telenovelas for MultiChoice new Pearl Magic Prime channel that was launched on DStv in February.

At the time Hassan Saleh, MultiChoice Uganda managing director, said that MultiChoice is "proud of the role we are playing in the entertainment sector in Uganda and look forward to connecting with our audiences".

Now it looks like MultiChoice Uganda is raising the on-set risk of cast, crew and media to connect with Covid.

During the Sanyu set visit, media took photos that DStv Uganda and M-Net oddly wanted the journalists to take at the production that is done by Nabwiso Films and that is also streamed on Showmax.

The shocking photos show crew members from various divisions working behind-the-scenes with none wearing masks, actors who are not in front of the cameras also not wearing masks, and even insouciant media hanging onto each other without masks on and posing for selfies.

Make-up artists and stylists work on talent with no masks or social distancing adhered to at all.

The photos also show how the Sanyu crew and cast - including the MultiChoice Uganda PR and media liaison officers and the visiting media completely disregard the most basic of Covid-19 safety protocols during the set visit.

A DStv Uganda PR person is photographed literally rubbing shoulders with others - with no social distancing and no masks visible anywhere - smiling and posing for social photos,  alongside Matthew Nabwiso in a green T-shirt who is the Sanyu series director.

TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice how the lack of creating and adhering to Covid-19 safe on-set protocols on shows produced for DStv align with MultiChoice's publicly-stated comments that it is adhering to Covid-19 safety regulations.

"We continue to adhere to strict protocols when it comes to on-set safety as the safety of our cast, crew and staff remain our number one priority," said Thandeka Mqaba, a MultiChoice PR and marketing manager.

"In the specific case of the Sanyu cast members, these members kept their masks off only when shooting scenes, all cast members are tested for Covid-19 ahead of filming and they currently stay at one location to limit the Covid-19 risk. It is in our interest to keep cast, crew and the media safe from Covid-19."

Photos taken on set however clearly show that crew members don't wear masks and don't social distance, and that cast members are clearly also not wearing masks when they're not shooting scenes.

MultiChoice was also asked that since cast and crew, and even media, are not wearing masks on a TV set in Uganda, if MultiChoice deems there to be no Covid-19 in Uganda, or a very low risk of contracting or spreading Covid-19.

"MultiChoice is very conversant of the risk of Covid-19 in all the markets in which we operate, many of our shows are shot in a Covid bubble, with all productions adhering to strict protocols. We continue to take all precautionary measures in the interest of the safety of our staff, cast and crew. Only a few members of the tour removed their masks as pictured," said Thandeka Mqaba.

MultiChoice was asked why DStv Uganda is fine with the cast and crew of a TV show like Sanyu not wearing protective Covid-safe gear on set, and why media are taken to such a show and showcased such a production.

"We continue to adhere to strict protocols when it comes to on-set safety as the safety of our cast, crew and staff remain our number one priority," said Thandeka Mqaba.

"In the specific case of the Sanyu cast members, these members kept their masks off only when shooting scenes, all cast members are tested for Covid-19 ahead of filming and they currently stay at one location to limit the Covid-19 risk. It is in our interest to keep cast, crew and the media safe from Covid-19."

The pay-TV company was also asked when MultiChoice changed its position regarding practising Covid safety measures during filming either for Africa overall, or for specific African countries, and for Uganda, and how this work and why this changed.

"MultiChoice has not changed its position regarding practising Covid-19 safety measures in any of our operations, we continue to adhere to strict safety regulations in line with government protocols across our operations," said Thandeka Mqaba.

MultiChoice Uganda and M-Net expand Pearl Magic with the new Pearl Magic Prime premium channel for DStv Uganda subscribers; adding weekday series, telenovela and other local productions.

 

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net are adding the Pearl Magic Prime channel on channel 148 to the channel line-up of MultiChoice Uganda from Monday 8 February 2021, two years after Pearl Magic was launched.

Pearl Magic Prime will be a more premium channel in the same way that M-Net created 1Magic (Dstv 103) for higher-tiered DStv subscribers than its Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel in South Africa.

MultiChoice and M-Net launched Pearl Magic in October 2018 to help promote local Uganda TV content creation. 

MultiChoice and M-Net say they are "amplifying" the Pearl Magic experience with the premium version of the channel that will only be accessible to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers in Uganda.

Pearl Magic Prime will have a sprinkling of new shows, blended with several of the existing programming and shows on Pearl Magic like Date My Family Uganda, My Wedding Day, Pablo Live, Ekibbitu, Between Us, Half London and The Honourablez.

The package of new and exclusive Pearl Magic Prime shows will eventually over time be seen on Pearl Magic as well by lower-tiered DStv subscribers.

MultiChoice was asked for help with the Pearl Magic Prime information in a media enquiry last week but a publicist told TVwithThinus that a media release is only scheduled to be issued this week. 

"Our mandate as a channel is to provide our viewers with thought-provoking and entertaining content which captures Ugandan cultural nuances, we cannot wait for audiences to experience this new addition to our stable," says Timothy Okwaro, M-Net's director for East and Southern Africa channels, on M-Net's corporate web page.

MultiChoice says that it will continue to work with established and upcoming local producers to deliver content on the Pearl Magic channels in the region.

Pearl Magic Prime will at launch feature a drama entitled Prestige; as well as Mama and Me, a TV series that falls within the dramedy category; Sanyu that is a telenovela, as well as Story Yange, a docu-series that explores the humble beginnings, meteoric rises, devastating falls and crippling vices of the most popular social influencers in Uganda.

Prestige (Mondays to Fridays at 20:30) revolves around the ad executives of a family and their lust for power that is fuelled by love, jealousy, grief and hatred, featuring Alvin Emitu, Cleopatra Kyoheirwe, Evelyn Namtovu Kironde as well as Nana Kagga and Simon Kalema who are also producing the show.

Mama and Me (Wednesday and Thursday at 19:30) tells the story of a middle-aged teacher whose husband steals her money to give to his concubines.

After his accidental death, she is accused of murder and must use her wits to stay out of jail and to fight off in-laws who want to take her property. Mama and Me will star Debbie Bakuseka, Nambozo Gloria Catherine, Suubi Nalwanga and Kaylar Kirabo Elizabeth.

Sanyu (Mondays to Fridays at 20:00) tells the story of an innocent, rural teenage girl that is forced to leave her family and her pursuit for education to do a domestic worker's job for a complex, wealthy urban family where she falls in love with the son of her employer in a story of love, emotion and drama between the privileged and underprivileged. 

Some of the cast members of Sanyu are Tracy Kababiito, Timothy Lwanga, Farida Nabagereka, Blessing Naturinda, Kyeyune Shalom, Kuddzu Isaac, Allan Katongole, Marion Asilo Dorothy, Abbey Mukiibi Nkaaga, Housen Mushema, Elenour Nabwiso, Sharon Nalukenge and Racheal Nduhukire.

Story Yange (Saturdays at 20:00) profiles Uganda's influencers and the rise, setbacks and personal struggles of people like Dr Martin Aliker, Alex Mukulu, Princess Evelyn Komuntale, Judith Heard, Hon Dr Miria Matembe, Captain Mike Mukula, Irene Namubiru and Moses Matovu.

Hassan Saleh, MultiChoice Uganda, managing director, gave a speech on Monday morning at a media launch event for the Pearl Magic Prime TV channel that was held in Kampala.

Hassan Saleh's speech wasn't made available but he said in a press statement with prepared quotes that the additional creation of Pearl Magic Prime will see further investment in overall local content in Uganda's TV and film indsutry.

"Pearl Magic Prime is set to live up to its tagline of delivering more value to the customer like never before. We are proud of the role we are playing in the entertainment sector in Uganda and look forward to connecting with our audiences."

"As per our ongoing commitment to our customers, we will continue to enhance our viewer experience by offering more value to our customers. We are confident that Pearl Magic Prime will connect with DStv audiences and reinforce our strategic vision to be the leading African storyteller."