1Magic: M-Net confirms the Tshedza Pictures produced The River won't run through it after 6 seasons.

Thinus Ferreira

M-Net confirmed industry whispers that the Tshedza Pictures produced telenovela The River for its 1 Magic (DStv 103) channel will be ending with the upcoming 6th and final season that will start on 6 February.

The River starring Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala and that introduced various new on-screen talent to viewers over the past half a decade, launched in February 2018 as a prime-time drama vehicle to anchor M-Net's 1Magic channel.

1Magic made its debut on DStv at the same time as The River which was positioned as the channel's flagship show, with the channel which was created as a premium version of the existing Mzansi Magic channel for higher-tiered DStv subscribers. 

The loss of The River set in the fictitious Refilwe, leaves 1Magic without an announced replacement, which means that M-Net is set to announce a new telenovela for the channel later this year to revitalise the channel's programming line-up after the end of The River.

Created by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, re-versioned for adaptations in Nigeria and Angola and winning 26 Golden Horn statuettes at the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), show star Sindi Dlathu also transitioned to become series co-executive producer.

Tshedza Pictures is now producing Gqeberha: The Empire which recently started on Mzansi Magic as the first telenovela being filmed in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.

M-Net in a statement confirms that "1Magic's The River is coming to an end with its upcoming sixth season".

"At M-Net local entertainment channels we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the cast and crew of The River for a memorable five years," says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director for local entertainment channels.

"Their hard work, dedication and brilliance have led to the telenovela's success. The final season is going to be the show's most epic one yet. The drama will be bigger and better, setting the stage for the ultimate finale".

Showrunner Phathu Makwarela says "When we created The River seven years ago, we knew that we wanted to tell a story that will have a definite ending".

"Now on its sixth season, we feel the time is right to bring the story of these beloved characters to an end, on our own terms and when viewers still treasure the show. As the saying goes, 'a good dancer always knows when to leave the stage', and now it's that time for The River."

Tshedza Pictures adds new Hlophe family to The River telenovela on 1Magic, casts Sindi Dlathu's real-life sister Tina in daughter role.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 5th season of The River on 1Magic (DStv 103) has made casting additions in the form of a new Hlophe family whose members will be stirring the pot in the Tshedza Pictures produced local South African weekday telenovela.

The Hlophe family is described as "wealthy, excellent and very, very dangerous.

The Hlophe family is led by traditional patriarch Bukhosi (played by Bheki Mkhwane), described as being "as quick with his brain as he is with his gun. With a military past that comes in handy for his work as a heist king, he’s brash, outspoken and charming. He's made of steel – so he's not the one to cross".

Bukhosi is married to a younger second wife, Nomafu (played by Brenda Mhlongo).

She is described that "beneath her shiny and well-groomed exterior is a tough woman who has clawed her way out of poverty. She's a terrible stepmother but she knows how to clean money – and she's set to become Lindiwe Dikana's biggest rival yet".

The Hlope sons are Mlilo (played by Vuyo Biyela) and Nkanyiso (played by Unathi Mkhize).

They are the product of Bukhosi's first marriage and have a strained relationship with their father, but he wants them to take over the family business.

"Mlilo is nothing like his father – yet he's everything like this father. Nkanyiso, on the other hand, is the more ambitious second born son who wants to wear the crown. Will the boys put their rivalry aside long enough for their family to continue thriving?" reads the official logline of the character descriptions.

The young daughter Khwezi (played by Tina Dlathu, real-life sister to Sindi Dlathu, who plays Lindiwe), is described as "smart, beautiful, and virtuous yet naïve".

She joins the family business for the time being after they buy into Khanyisa Diamonds. 

"But what happens when she finds herself in the middle of a situation that will rock both the Hlophe and Dikana families to the core?"

MultiChoice adds Maningue Magic in Mozambique and Kwenda Magic in Angola as new Portuguese channels to DStv that will produce localised TV content.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Monday MultiChoice added two new Portuguese-language TV channels: Maningue Magic in Mozambique and Kwenda Magic in Angola - for DStv and GOtv subscribers in these two African countries, with M-Net that is producing O Rio in Portuguese for Kwenda Magic as a second localised adaptation of South Africa's The River telenovela on 1Magic.

Maningue Magic and Kwenda Magic as two new Lusophone TV channels - both produced and packaged by M-Net - will show dramas, telenovelas, localised versions of reality shows, comedies, dubbed international content and local music from Monday 17 January.

"These channel launches are an exciting milestone for MultiChoice, and our hyperlocal strategy," says Joao Ribeiro, Kwenda Magic and Maningue Magic channel head.

"MultiChoice's mission is to showcase Africa's diverse, rich culture through our continent's deep storytelling history. To have two new 24-hour channels in local languages, featuring locally produced content, provides an incredibly powerful platform to do this."

Over the past 18 months, MultiChoice expanded its local content offering through several new TV channel launches including Pearl Magic Prime, Akwaaba Magic and Abol TV in Uganda, Ghana, and Ethiopia as MultiChoice prepares for the increased inaccessibility and unavailability of foreign content from Hollywood.

As Hollywood and international studios produce and funnel shows to their own video streaming services to try and build scale, they are no longer making this content available through their international distributor networks, forcing pay-TV services like MultiChoice to ramp up locally-produced and owned content.

"Until now, independent producers had few outlets for their work and had to act on many levels, struggling to get budgets, and to have their content shown," says Joao Ribeiro about the creation of Maningue Magic and Kwenda Magic.

"With our channels requiring content 24 hours a day, we can now invite local producers to pitch ideas, to commission and develop projects, and to pay fair, market-related rates for work."

"By investing in the industry, we are creating opportunities for local talent, telling local stories, and adding to the stability of the industry. We are committed to growing the industry in countries where we operate, and to deliver content that resonates with our viewers."

"We are commissioning work from established producers as well as smaller companies across the continent while also creating opportunities for alumni of the MultiChoice Talent Factory."

Fhulufhelo Badugela, MultiChoice Africa CEO, says "When we develop local channels or produce local content, we aim to create a platform that reflects local culture, so audiences see themselves represented in the content they watch".

"Localisation goes beyond simply duplicating popular formats in a different language or with a different cast. It's about incorporating a country's social, gender and religious conventions, as well pop-culture trends like music, influencers and celebrities into stories. This is what makes our hyperlocal strategy unique and exciting."

Content on Maningue Magic will include the telenovela Maida, about a naïve teenager who leaves the countryside for the big city; a Mozambican music show Estação do Boss; as well as  Date My Family Moçambique that will be a local version of the hit reality dating show.

The Influencer, a Mozambican original series will tell the story of a girl pursuing a dream to be a digital influencer who end on a network of drugs and prostitution. 

Top+ will showcase famous artists and personalities from Mozambique and Africa who are attracting attention on social networks. Txunado is a magazine show about Mozambican fashion, arts and lifestyle.

On Kwenda Magic, flagship shows include O Rio, an Angolan adaptation of popular 1Magic telenovela The River; Makongo, a new drama about a young man’s life in Luanda; and Salão de Beleza, a sitcom about a Luanda establishment and its diverse, dramatic customers.

O Rio in Portuguese is the second adaptation of South Africa's The River, following a first adaptation in Kenya for viewers in East Africa where that version runs as Kina. Although not an adaptation, South Africa's The River is also dubbed for broadcast in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Showcase 2021: MultiChoice and M-Net aggressively ramp up Lusophone production targeting DStv subscribers with new channels and content in Portuguese in Mozambique and Angola.

SABC1's Skeem Saam shuts down because of Covid-19 infection fears, crew and cast go into self-isolation as studio and offices are disinfected.

by Thinus Ferreira

Skeem Saam has abruptly shut down production on the highly-rated SABC1 show because of Covid-19 fears as cast and crew are going into self-quarantine following a crew member who came into contact with a relative who tested positive for the coronavirus.

M-Net's The River on 1Magic (DStv 103) also recently shuttered production because of Covid-19, making Skeem Saam the second locally-produced South African TV show to shut down again after the film and TV industry halting started to reopen since May following the country's national lockdown period that started at the end of March.

Skeem Saam has already completed episodes available and the show will continue to broadcast uninterrupted on SABC1 in its 18:30 weekday timeslot.

"The Skeem Saam cast and crew has ceased filming until further notice," the show confirms, saying that it "was with dismay that we can confirm that a colleague has come into direct contact with a relative that has tested positive for Covid-19."

"Therefore, for the safety and health of everyone, we have taken the decision to pause shooting until further notice. The crew member and everyone else that they have been directly in contact with have all been tested and are awaiting results."

"The rest of the cast and crew have been asked to urgently self-quarantine while necessary health procedures and testing are being arranged in accordance with government legislation. Whilst our doors stay closed, our studio and offices will be disinfected and santised," the show says.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has brought feelings of doubt and fear to our doorsteps but we can still fight it. This is the only time we can come together separately and give everyone that is affected our love, understanding and support. They are not in this alone," says Skeem Saam.

Skeem Saam has continued its phenomenal ratings surge during lockdown for another month in May 2020, climbing to the second-most watched show on SABC1 and on all of South African television.

In May Skeem Saam once again managed to surge past Generations to clinch the second most-watched spot in the TV ratings increasing from an already astronomical 8.84 million to 9.013 million viewers.

This isn't the first time that Skeem Saam pulled more viewers than Generations, but the show's phenomenal ongoing ratings gain is noteworthy, and the 9 million viewers for Skeem Saam is a new ratings record for the show itself as well.

Coronavirus: Production on The River telenovela for M-Net's 1Magic on DStv shutters after colleague tests positive for Covid-19, Tshedza Pictures locks studio doors for decontamination and will not do interviews.

by Thinus Ferreira

Production on The River telenovela on M-Net's 1Magic (DStv 103) channel has been forced to shut down for a second time this year because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, this time because an unnamed person working on the show has tested positive for the virus on Tuesday morning.

The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures, restarted production on 1 May 2020 after weeks of downtime when South Africa's entire film and TV industry shuttered since late-March because of South Africa's national lockdown period to try and curb the spread of the virus.

Now the weekday primetime series produced for one of M-Net's channels and seen on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service has locked the studio doors again.

The River has closed its doors for the set to be decontaminated and the Tzhedza Pictures producers don't want to do any interviews.

"Ever since we resumed production on 1 May 2020, all necessary lockdown health guidelines were implemented on set," says Phathu Makwarela of Tshedza Pictures in a statement.

"After we received the news of the colleague testing positive, we immediately asked the cast and crew that came into contact with the member to go into self-isolation. They will soon avail themselves to health authorities for testing, in-line with government directives."

Nomsa Philiso, channel director for local entertainment channels at M-Net, in the prepared statement says that "We have contacted the production team in order to assure them of our support".

"Our understanding is that ever since they resumed production, the production team implemented all the necessary health precautions to ensure the safety of cast and crew."

"Now more than ever, we need to show compassion to our fellow brothers and sisters, and we would like to wish the affected member of the production team a speedy recovery."

M-Net ran out of episodes for The River on 8 May 2020 which was replaced on the 1Magic schedule by Is'thunzi. After production resumed on 1 May, new episodes of The River resumed on 25 May 2020.

It's very important to note that MultiChoice, M-Net and Tshedza Pictures felt the need to specifically say that there won't be any interviews done because they want to make very clear that they don't want to talk about Covid-19 and its impact on the show, and don't want to answer any questions about it at all.

So far there's been very little evidence of South Africa's TV and film industry working on awareness campaigns and pro-active communication against the stigmatisation of Covid-19 and people with Covid-19.

This is something once again shown by the approach of MultiChoice, M-Net and Tshedza Pictures to outright tell the media that there won't be any interviews done.

TV programming, producers and South Africa's media show viewers how they themselves respond when confronted with Covid-19, and through that are teach viewers how they should react when they or someone they know tests positive for Covid-19: Hide and don't talk about it.

While fighting the scourge of Covid-19 South Africa's TV and film industry should keep in mind that it is as important to signal that there is nothing "wrong" with being Covid-19 positive, nothing to be ashamed about, and nothing to hide away for or to keep a secret.

If everybody really is "in this together" - especially South Africa's influential TV and film industry - it is extremely important to be open, forthcoming, to keep talking about Covid-19 without fear, to fight against coronavirus stigmatisation and to tell people that it's okay to say that you are Covid-19 positive, to get help, and to ask for help.

Coronavirus: M-Net local soaps The River, Gomora and Isibaya will roll out new episodes from Monday 25 May on 1Magic and Mzansi Magic as their stream-viewing numbers on DStv Catch Up and DStv Now surge during March and April.

by Thinus Ferreira

More local South African primetime soaps that ran out of available episodes are set to return with the pay-TV drama series The River, Gomora and Isibaya that will all show new episodes on MultiChoice's DStv from this coming Monday 25 May.

All three M-Net commissioned series went off the air two weeks ago due to the weeks-long production break that saw all South Africa's TV shows shutter and studios lock their gates because of the Covid-19 national lockdown period to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

While broadcasters and pay-TV schedulers had some stocked episodes in the kitty it wasn't enough and eventually left DStv subscribers with hastily padded schedules on 1Magic (DStv 103) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), while on public television SABC1's Uzalo produced by Stained Glass TV also ran out of episodes.

All of these and the country's other locally-produced soaps on the SABC, e.tv and DStv have since returned to studio lots for filming but Uzalo done from Durban will only broadcast new episodes from 15 June on SABC1.

M-Net's general entertainment division told TVwithThinus on Tuesday that The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures will be back with new episodes from Monday 25 May on M-Net's 1Magic channel.

Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter and Gomora, produced by Seriti Films, which are both shown on M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel, will also be back with new episodes from 25 May, said publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi.


Stream-viewing surge on DStv Catch Up and DStv Now
All of the shows - Uzalo, Gomora, The River and Isibaya - along with multiple others have seen their TV ratings surge in March and April in record viewership increases across the board for the SABC, e.tv and DStv as viewers stuck at home and with an end to Eskom loadshedding have flocked to their screens.

Besides just linear TV ratings these series have also showed remarkable growth in delayed viewing done through DStv decoders and stream viewing through MultiChoice's DStv Now video-on-demand service.

In March the top 5 DStv Catch Up shows watched as delayed viewing through DStv decoders had Mzansi Magic taking the top 4 spots with local content with The Queen at number one with 512 000 average views, Isibaya with 458 000 average views, Mnakwethu with 448 000 average views, Kwa Mam'Mkhize with 415 000 average views and the American procedural drama series 9-1-1 on M-Net (DStv 101) in the 5th place with 340 000 average views.

In April this surged with The Queen climbing to 526 000 average views in delayed viewing on DStv Catch Up through DStv decoders, Gomora rushing to second place with 478 000 average views, Madam & Mercy jumping to the 3rd spot with  396 000 average views, Lockdown in 4th place with 370 000 average views, and Mnakwethu at 364 000 average views.

Meanwhile M-Net's second season of The Bachelor South Africa with Marc Buchner, produced by Rapid Blue has been punching far above its weight.

Although on the top bouquet tier of DStv Premium, limiting access to the majority of DStv subscribers, The Bachelor SA was the 4th most stream-watched show on DStv Now during March with 63 000 average viewers. The others were The Queen in top position (88 000 views), followed by Isibaya (83 000 views) and Mnakwethu (62 000) all on Mzansi Magic, and The River (60 000 views) on 1Magic.

In April DStv Now stream-viewing surged as Gomora (98 000 views) climbed to first place as the most-viewed show, followed by The River (92 000 views), The Queen (80 000 views), The Bachelor (77 000 views) and Isibaya (69 000 views).

Coronavirus: The River and South African television's well of stockpiled new episodes of the most-watched prime time soaps will start to run out from Friday 24 April.

by Thinus Ferreira

The well of stockpiled television episodes of South Africa's most-watched prime time soaps will start to run dry from Friday.

Both public and pay-TV channels will begin to run out of available new episodes for the highest-rated shows in the country over the next couple of days and weeks because of the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus national lockdown. 

With the national shutdown in effect in South Africa that has been extended by further weeks to try and curb the spread of Covid-19, the broadcaster pantry will start to run dry from tomorrow.

That will be followed over the next few days and weeks by a cascading effect of programming changes across channels as broadcasters and pay-TV services from MultiChoice to the SABC are forced to pad their schedules with different content as new pre-recorded, locally-produced shows run out of episodes.

With the country marking record TV ratings gains during day time and prime time for South African television as families - including parents and kids - remain cloistered at home, it remains to be seen whether the massive viewership surge will hold once broadcasters are forced to schedule repeats and content viewers have already seen.

On Friday 24 April the M-Net-run channel Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) will broadcast the last new episodes of Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter and the new telenovela Gomora produced by Seriti TV that have both now run out of stockpiled episodes. 

M-Net schedulers are replacing these two hours on Mzansi Magic with double episodes at 19:00 of the first season of The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures, from Monday 27 April.

Both are two of the most-watched shows on pay-TV with Gomora that lured up to 1.7 million viewers in March and Isibaya 1.003 million viewers, together with The Queen from Ferguson Films that also shut down in March that was the most-watched show on DStv last month with 2.2 million viewers.

The Queen will screen the last episode of the current season at the end of the second week of May.

While first season episodes of The River is now shown on Mzansi Magic, the telenovela that is actually in its third season with first-run episodes on the other M-Net channel, 1Magic (DStv 103), is also running out of episodes. 

The River that lured 1.165 million pay-TV subscribers in March to DStv will end on 8 May, replaced by Is'thunzi, produced by Rapid Blue.

The River has also been on a hiatus and production break because of the Covid-19 lockdown with no fourth season that has been confirmed says M-Net.

The Somizi & Mohale: The Union wedding reality limited series, produced by The BarLeader, that was exclusively produced for MultiChoice's streaming service Showmax will now pad the linear TV schedule and unspool on Mzansi Magic from 27 April at 20:00.

Similar to what international broadcasters are now doing, the M-Net programming team is also working to pad the Mzansi Magic schedule with repeat blocks of popular reality shows like Date My Family and Our Perfect Wedding, both produced by Connect TV. Both series about family dates and reality weddings continue to draw huge audiences.

On 1 May the Real Housewives of Johannesburg, produced by RHOSA Productions, will start on Mzansi Magic for 14 episodes until 20 May with season 1 of Madam & Mercy taking over after that. 

"As M-Net local entertainment channels, we pride ourselves on our authentic local content and this lockdown period provides us with the perfect opportunity to share this. Viewers now have time to catch up on their favourite shows and we are excited to keep them entertained with a double dose of a drama series that has received recognition on the global stage," says Nomsa Philiso, director of M-Net local entertainment channels.

"M-Net continues to enjoy healthy relations with our content suppliers and we are all working together to ensure that our customers don't miss out on a single moment of excellent entertainment, even when production has to take a break."

"With these changes to our line-up and a host of award-winning shows, viewers can still enjoy a riveting line-up of great entertainment to make staying at home more bearable." 

SA's most-watched show out of new episodes on 8 May

On South Africa's public broadcaster, the country's most-watched prime time series, Uzalo on weekdays at 20:30 that lured over 10.29 million viewers in March will broadcast it's last new episode two weeks from now on 8 May on SABC1.

From 11 May the SABC will have to switch to repeats of old Uzalo episodes for at least a week.

The Durban-based production company Stained Glass TV remains shuttered along with others and can only resume production once the national lockdown is lifted.

"The lockdown has put production under immense 'post lockdown' pressure,' Stained Glass TV tells TViwithThinus in response to a media enquiry. 

"Pre-recorded episodes will be on-air up until 8 May, thereafter viewers should expect episode reruns while the production works determinedly to deliver more episodes per week and catch up with our delivery schedule."

"Viewers can anticipate new and exciting episodes from Monday 18 May," says the show.

This is all however contingent on production companies being allowed to open the studio doors after 30 April if the national lockdown is lifted and lifted and in heavily-affected provinces like Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

On e.tv the free-to-air commercial broadcaster still has enough stockpiled episodes of both of its local weekday soaps - Rhythm City, produced by Quizzical Pictures and Scandal! produced by Ochre Moving Pictures - as well as telenovela Imbewu done from KwaZulu-Natal by Grapevine Productions for now to stave off repeat broadcasts during prime time.

SABC2's 7de Laan, produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, currently has enough new half-hours stockpiled to last until 25 May.

Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that the public broadcaster has a sufficient TV soap content, will communicate when soaps run out of episodes and switch to repeats, and is in contact with production companies.

"The organisation has a sufficient soapie content offering to cover the duration of the lockdown period. The organisation has also ensured that, as part of its efforts to build resilience in its broadcasting environment, there are measures in place to ensure business continuity during this period and in the event of further extensions."

"Should future repeats of popular soaps be required, this will be communicated to the public."

"The SABC remains committed to continue to provide an essential service of broadcasting to the millions of South Africans, who rely solely on the corporation for information, education and entertainment."

Nominees announced for 2020's 14th South African Film and Television Awards as NFVF looks to improve the credibility of the Saftas.

by Thinus Ferreira

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) announced the nominees of the upcoming 14th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) on Friday morning at a media event held at The Mall of Africa, with M-Net's telenovela The River on 1Magic (DStv 103) that lead the nominations in the TV category with 15 nods, and the film Fiela se Kind that scored 11 nods as the feature film with the most nominations.

The SABC's soap Generations on SABC1, 7de Laan on SABC2, as well as Isidingo on SABC3 were all locked out of this year's Saftas after they failed to enter the South African awards show.

The production companies Word of Mouth Productions producing SABC2's Muvhango, as well as Ferguson Films producing The Queen and The Throne for M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) dropped their Saftas boycott they've maintained for several years and entered their respective soaps and telenovelas again.

Besides having discussions with production companies who have been boycotting the awards show, the Safta organisers have also relooked and refined the judging guidelines for the awards show, with the various scriptwriting categories which are being returned to the main (and televised) award ceremony after they were abruptly dumped last year.

The various Saftas categories have also been relooked, adjusted and reduced to 70.

The 14th South African Film and Television Awards that is moving back from Sun City to Johannesburg, will take place at the Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre over two-nights with the Craft Awards set for Friday 27 March and Main Awards taking place on Saturday 28 March and which will be broadcast live on South African television.

In television the telenovela The River scored 15 nominations, followed by Isibaya and the 4th season of Lockdown which all got 11 nods, and The Republic grabbing 10 nominations.

"I would like to congratulate all our 2020 SAFTAs nominees for telling authentic stories that resonate and connect with the people of South Africa," says Makhosazana Khanyile, NFVF CEO.

"As the NFVF we couldn’t be prouder of the immense contribution that these women and men make to the local film and television industry, not forgetting the broadcasters that provide the platforms for these stories to come alive".

"A key priority for us this year was to bring credibility back to the SAFTAs judging process," she says.

"It is no secret that many production companies have voiced their frustration with our appraisal system, some going as far as to boycott the SAFTAs altogether."

"Having taken this feedback to heart, we’ve taken every measure possible to ensure that the judging process is fair, transparent and without bias. Today I’m proud to announce that as a result of these efforts we’ve received over 300 entries for the SAFTAs," says Khosi Khanyile.

Viewer votes will once again decide the categories of Best TV Presenter and the Most Popular Soap/Telenovela.

The 14th South African Film and Television Awards will be hosted at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre over two-nights: Craft Awards on Friday, 27 March 2020 and Main Awards on Saturday, 28 March 2020 – with the Saturday show broadcast live on television.

Full nominees list to be added here (updating)

MultiChoice grabs over half of all the awards at 2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards as pay-TV productions become the big winners.

MultiChoice won over half of all of the Golden Horn trophies handed out at the 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), meaning a massive win for pay-TV in the country but also raising warning lights about the future inclusivity of free-to-air television production at the awards.

MultiChoice scored big at the 13th Saftas that took place on Saturday at Sun City at the National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) awards ceremony raking in wins for its streaming service Showmax as well as its M-Net, Mzansi Magic, 1Magic and kykNET channels.

MultiChoice's win-tally however also raises a flickering warning sign about the dangerous dominance of pay-TV content crowding out freely available South African TV content at the awards show.

It's important to note that several production companies responsible for the biggest shows in terms of audience in South African television are actively boycotting the NFVF and the Saftas, with Generations, Muvhango, 7de Laan and Ferguson Films with its The Queen and The Throne that refused to enter the 13th Safta awards.

On Saturday MultiChoice won around 48 awards in total - more than half of the overall total.

MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service Showmax won 5 awards - the most out the TV comedy category for the first Showmax Original production Tali's Wedding Diary that got 7 nominations in the 13 comedy categories.

M-Net's 1Magic (Dstv 103) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform was the most awarded TV channel overall in the telenovela category, with 10 awards, all going to The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures, also making The River the most awarded show at the 13th Saftas.

The River won Best telenovela and Most popular TV soap/telenovela, Best actress (Moshidi Motshegwa), Best actor (Presley Chweneyagae), Best supporting actor (Lawrence Maleka), Best directing (Johnny Barbuzano, Catharine Cooke, Zolani Phakade and Ferry Jele), Best scriptwriting (Gwydion Beynon and Phathutshedzo Makwarela), Best cinematography (Gaopie Kabe and Trevor Brown), Best editing (Ula Oelsen, Bongi Malefo & Matodzi Nemungadi) and Best sound (Ben Oelsen, Lele Seate and Tladi Mabuya).

Lockdown on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) became the most awarded drama show winning 5 awards from 8 nominations, including for Best TV Drama; Dawn Thandeka King as Best Actress, Lorcia Cooper as Best Supporting Actress, Gisellah Mcleod for Best Wardrobe and Babalwa Carol Djieutcheu for Best Hair and Make-up.

Meanwhile Isithembiso on Mzansi Magic became the most awarded soap winning 4 Golden Horn trophies at the 13th Saftas, and Mzansi Magic itself becoming the most-awarded channel overall in the soap category.

Isithembiso won for Best script (Charleen Ntsane, Chris Blomkamp, Daniel Zimbler, Sayitsheni Mdakhi, Iain Paton, Catherine Muller, Libby Dougherty, Andrew Petersen, Mbasa Tsetsana, Sydney DireZoe Arthur, Thabo Boom & Matthew Jankes), Best cinematography (Sevetian Maslamoney and Zeno Petersen), Best editing (Kirsten de Magalhaes, Rian van der Walt, Jeremy Briers, Molatsi Molefe, Martin Mosala, Sphiwe Nhlumayo, Matodzi Nedmungadi, Tshepo Kgatsoetsoe and Brett Anoli), and Best sound (Charles Sijaji and Mark Phillips).

Isibaya won for Best supporting actress (Gcina Mkhize), Best supporting actor (Abdul Khoza), and Best directing (Phiwe Mkhanzi and Sthembiso Mathenjwa).

Vele Manenje won Best supporting actress for Ring of Lies on Mzansi Magic in the telenovela category.

Die Ellen Pakkies Storie on kykNET (DStv 144) became the most awarded feature film at the 13th Saftas, winning 4 awards for Best actress (Jill Levenberg), Best actor (Jarrid Geduld), Best director (Daryne Joshua) and Best music/score (Quinn Lubbe).

kykNET (DStv 144) also became the most-awarded channel overall in the category, winning 9 of the 14 categories.

In addition to Die Ellen Pakkies Storie’s wins, Stroomop won Best supporting actress (Ilse Klink), Kanarie won Best script (Christiaan Olwagen and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder); Meerkat Maantuig won Best cinematography (Willie Nel); Nommer 37 won Best editor (Simon Beesley), and Stroomop won Best make-up and hairstyling (Minuche Bridgette Snyman).

kykNET also won for Hannes Brummer as Best actor in the comedy category for Elke Skewe Pot and the Afrikaans legal drama series Fynskrif on kykNET won Best sound (Stef Albertyn) and Best music/score (Braam du Toit) in the drama category. 

The Afrikaans soap Getroud met Rugby on kykNET won Best art direction (Michelle Cronje) in the soap category.

Other MultiChoice winners included M-Net's (DStv 101) My Kitchen Rules South Africa that won Best international format; Mzansi Magic's Thembi’s Trial that won Best made-for-TV movie, and kykNET's The Rockets 50ste Herdenking Konsert that won Best music show.

"It's a big deal to have so many talented people and productions recognised at these awards - huge congratulations to all the winners," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, in a statement.

"There's a virtuous circle where quality local TV shows and movies attract more interest and more buyers, which in turn means more high-quality output, more jobs and an even stronger industry."

"By creating and funding so many original productions across the MultiChoice stable, I'd like to believe we're playing our part in driving that virtuous circle and in telling Africa’s stories. The fact that we're getting interest in our originals from around the world is a testament to the quality of our industry."

2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) sees M-Net's The River on DStv's 1Magic channel win the most awards at 10, while Showmax makes history winning the first awards for a video streaming service.

In another embarrassing broadcast production of the South African Film and Television Awards on Saturday night the National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 13th Saftas saw M-Net's telenovela The River on 1Magic (DStv 103) win the most awards - 10 - with Showmax making history, winning its first awards and marking the first awards ever going to a video streaming service in the history of the awards show.

With multiple production companies boycotting the Saftas this year in a list that's growing, winners who were announced at the technical awards on Saturday morning and the evening's "main" awards at Sun City were not truly legitimate and representative of the South African film and television industry.

The NFVF and Saftas organisers admitted they did nothing the past year to reach out to producers and to address their concerns around the Saftas.

The 13th Saftas broadcast on SABC2 was presented by Pearl Modiadie and Thomas Msengana who were flat in the presentation in a production filled with multiple mistakes and problems, ranging from sound to visual mistakes and even a wrong winners envelope.

In a statement Shadrack Bokaba, NFVF acting CEO, said "With the Saftas, the NFVF looks to celebrate the industry as a whole while being able to outline some of the inroads made in the industry and I believe that this weekend, we certainly did that. Well done to all the winners."


Best short film
Stillborn (Yellowbone Entertainment)

Best student film
The Water Dancers (University of Cape Town)


TV COMEDY
Best achievement in directing
Tali's Wedding Diary (Ari Kruger)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Thuli no Thulani (Rethabile Ramaphakela, Mpho Osei, Karabo Lediga, Anne Davis, Julian Koboekae, Tshegofatso Monaisa, Meren Reddy, Bradley Katzen, Katleho Ramaphakela)

Best achievement in art direction
Abo Mzala III (Lerato Pitso)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Abo Mzala III (Regentse Munyai)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Abo Mzala III ( Gisselah McLeod)

Best achievement in sound
Bedford Wives (Janno Muller)

Best achievement in cinematography 
Tali's Wedding Diary (James Adey)

Best achievement in editing
Talis' Wedding Diary (Richard Starkey)

Best actress
Julia Anastasopoulos (Tali's Wedding Diary)

Best actor
Hannes Burmmer (Elke Skewe Pot)

Best supporting actress
Nomsa Buthelezi (Abo Mzala III)

Best supporting actor
Warren Masemola (Single Galz)

Best TV comedy
Tali's Wedding Diary (Sketchbook Productions)


TV SOAP
Best achievement in directing
Isibaya (Phiwe Mkhanzi, Sthembiso Mathenjwa)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Isithembiso (Charleen Ntsane, Chris Blomkamp, Daniel Zimbler, Sayitsheni Mdakhi,  Iain Paton, Catherine Muller,  Libby Dougherty, Andrew Petersen, Mbasa  Tsetsana, Thabo Boom, Matthew Jankes)

Best achievement in editing
Isithembiso (Kirsten de Magalhaes, Rian van der Walt, Jeremy Briers, Molatsi Molefe, Martin Mosala, Sphiwe Nhlumayo, Matodzi Nedmungadi, Tshepo Kgatsoetsoe, Brett Anolik)

Best achievement in sound
Isithembiso (Sevetian Maslamoney, Zeno Peterson)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Uzalo (Nokubonga Ngobeni)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Uzalo (Stella Johnson)

Best achievement in art direction
Getroud met Rugby (Michelle Cronje)

Best actress
Kgomotso Christopher (Scandal!)

Best actor
Jamie Bartlett (Rhythm City)

Best supporting actress
Gcina Mkhize (Isibaya)

Best supporting actor
Abdul Khoza (Isibaya)

Best TV soap
Uzalo (Stained Glass TV)


TELENOVELA
Best achievement in directing
The River (Johnny Barbuzano, Catharine Cooke, Zolani Phakade, Ferry Jele)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
The River (Gwydion Beynon, Phathutshedzo Makwarela)

Best achievement in original music
The River (Brendan Jury)

Best achievement in editing
The River (Ula Oelsen, Bongi Malefo, Matodzi Nemungadi)

Best achievement in sound
The River (Ben Oelsen, Lele Seate, Tladi Mabuya)

Best achievement in cinematography
The River (Gaopalelwe Kabe, Trevor Brown)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Broken Vows (Princess Morodi)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Broken Vows (Mmabatho Seema)

Best achievement in art direction
Broken Vows (Sam Dell)

Best actress
Moshidi Motshegwa (The River)

Best actor
Presley Chweneyagae (The River)

Best supporting actress
Vele Manenje (Ring of Lies II)

Best supporting actor
Lawrence Maleka (The River)

Best telenovela
The River (Tshedza Pictures)


TV DRAMA
Best achievement in directing
Tjovitjo (Vincent Moloi)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Emoyeni (Thishiwe  Ziqubu, Karabo Lediga, Tshenolo  Mabale, Nozipho Nkelemba, Mmabatho  Montsho)

Best achievement in editing
Emoyeni (Itumeleng Nkabinde)

Best achievement in sound
Fynskrif (Stef Albertyn)

Best achievement in original music
Fynskrif (Braam Du Toit)

Best achievement in art direction
The Docket (Ilze Van Den Berg, Richard Rehbock, Nazo Maloyi)

Best achievement in wardrobe
Lockdown II (Gisellah Mcleod)

Best achievement in make-up and hair
Lockdown II (Babalwa Carol Djieutcheu)

Best achievement in cinematography
Emoyeni (Marc Rowlston)

Best actress
Dawn Thandeka King (Lockdown II)

Best actor
Mothusi Magano (Emoyeni)

Best supporting actress
Lorcia Cooper (Lockdown II)

Best supporting actor
S'dumo Mtshali (Is'thunzi II)

Best TV drama
Lockdown II (Black Brain Productions)



Best documentary short
The NFVF and Saftas suddenly didn't award this category because there is now a dispute regarding an ownership issue. The NFVF, Saftas organisers and Instinctif PR agency didn't notify the public about this and by Monday morning, 4 March 2019 hasn't responded to media enquiries about what is going on with the category.


DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Best achievement in directing 
Everything Must Fall (Rehad Desai)

Best achievement in cinematography
Tribe versus Pride (Dereck Joubert)

Best achievement in editing
Tribe versus Pride (Jolene Van Antwerp)

Best achievement in sound design
Tribe versus Pride (Beverly Joubert)

Best documentary feature
Everything Must Fall (Uhuru Productions Pty Ltd)


Best wildlife programme
Incredible Bats (Earth Touch)

Best children's programme
Restyle my Style IV (Quizzical Pictures)

Best reality show
My First (Mirror Effect Media)

Best game show
Noot vir Noot 43 (Stemmburg Television)

Best international format show
My Kitchen Rules SA II (Picture Tree)

Best factual and education programme
Kick it (Engage Entertainment)

Best current affairs programme
Dr Sello Of Ikhageng (Health-e, Checkpoint)

Best variety show
Jan (Brainwave Productions)

Best magazine show
Nisboere (Production etal)

Best youth programme
Mi Kasi Su Kasi (What Box)

Best talk show
Thando Bares All (Oxyg3n Media)

Best music show
The Rockets 50ste Herdenkingskonsert (All Star Productions)

Best made for TV movie
Thembi's Trial (Chocolate Milk and Cookies)


FEATURE FILM
Best achievement in directing
Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie (Daryne Joshua)

Best achievement in scriptwriting
Kanarie (Christiaan Olwagen, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder)

Best achievement in cinematography
Meerkat Maantuig (Willie Nel)

Best achievement in sound design
Sew the Winter to my Skin (Barry Donnelly)

Best achievement in original music
Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie (Quinn Lubbe)

Best achievement in editing
Nommer 37 (Simon  Beesley)

Best achievement in production design 
Five Fingers for Marseilles (J Franz  Lewis)

Best achievement in costume design
Five Fingers for Marseilles (Pierre Vienings) 

Best achievement in make-up and hairstyling
Stroomop (Minuche Bridgette Snyman)

Best actress
Jill Levenberg (Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie)

Best actor
Jarrid Geduld (Ellen, Die Ellen Pakkies Storie)

Best supporting actress
Ilse Klink (Stroomop)

Best supporting actor
Zolisa Xaluva (Sew the Winter to my Skin)

Best feature film
Sew the Winter to my Skin (Yellowbone Entertainment)


Best TV presenter
Siv Ngesi (The Man Cave VI)

Most popular soap/telenovela
The River (Tshedza Pictures)

No, M-Net is not moving its telenovela, The River from 1Magic to Mzansi Magic or making episodes available on that DStv channel.

M-Net is not moving its new local telenovela The River on the 1Magic (DStv 103) channel to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and the pay-TV broadcaster has no plans at the moment to make episodes of the series available to lower-tiered DStv subscribers.

M-Net says The River - produced by Tshedza Pictures where it's written and executive produced by Phathutshedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon with Connie and Shona Ferguson as supervising producers - will remain exclusively on 1Magic as a viewing offering for a DStv Premium audience.

"It was definitely a joke. The River is not moving to Mzansi Magic, Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels, tells TVwithThinus.

It comes after the writer and producer Portia Gumede on social media told people on Monday - that happened to be 1 April - "Great news. The River on 1Magic is being moved to Mzansi Magic. Now we can all watch it". It turns out that it was an April Fool's Day joke.

The River on 1Magic is only available to DStv Premium subscribers since it started on 29 January this year, while Mzansi Magic is available to more pay-TV viewers including Premium but also DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.

While the ratings of The River of just a few thousand viewers per episode over the past two months has been so-so, it's to be expected and not out of line with some other Premium only DStv channels like M-Net (DStv 101), since the premium audience targeted telenovela is only available to the smallest potential pay-TV audience.

That upmarket audience lured to tune in to the weekday drama starring Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala - although small - are however highly courted and the most sought after by advertisers, justifying higher per thousand viewer ad spot rates for the 1Magic channel.

REVIEW. The River on 1Magic is a meshed jumble of Jacob's Cross 2.0 and Isidingo 2.0 with a black 'Cherel de Villiers Haines', and scenic aerial drone shots.

The new telenovela The River for M-Net's rebranded 1Magic (DStv 103) channel that started on Monday for DStv Premium subscribers is a patchwork of stories and styles you've likely seen or had a passing interest in before - a somewhat overwrought mesh, borrowing from where parts of some other TV soaps have gone before.

Way overacting, Sindi Dlathu, hyping up the histrionics in interior shots but completely flat in exterior shots filmed on location, is channeling a black Cherel de Villiers Haines mining boss character (who also killed - and hid a body in a mine shaft in Isidingo - and who also grew up poor and abused but rose to rule thanks to ruthless ambition).

Once again South African viewers are fed the stale TV trope that a successful business woman surely must be evil and surely couldn't have attained what she did on her own by simply being good and good-natured.

It's interesting that Hlomla Dandala formerly from Jacob's Cross on M-Net and Africa Magic, and Don Mlangeni Nawa formerly from Isidingo on SABC3, both show up in roles.

The River, produced by Tshedza Pictures, comes across as a mash-up of Jacob's Cross 2.0 and Isidingo 2.0 so the presence of both of these actors serve intentionally or unintentionally as visual reminders and touchstones of the soapy dramas and roles they've been seen in before.

Nothing in The River except for visual scene setting aerial drone shots (that are done well) feels new.

Yet again a mining drama. Yet again rich people who are bad. Yet again a rich family unaware of the evil actions of the boss parent and spouse. Yet again poor people part of a mining community who are naive and being exploited.

Keep in mind that The River (the opening title sequence looks like M-Net's Egoli 2.0) is made for DStv Premium subscribers - an audience that already has access to the avalanche of multiple weekday soaps and telenovelas across the SABC's channels, as well as e.tv's new generation of stylised local prime time telenovelas.

The question then becomes why this upscale audience would watch yet another poor vs rich, mining community framed drama (complete with some traces of Skeem Saam angst).

The River - and this review is based on having viewed the first broadcast episode only, and yes, stories often take longer than the establishing episode to set up plot points - doesn't seem to have any themes that haven't been explored in other local soaps before.

In the first 24 minutes a woman is buried alive, another woman shoots and (presumably) kills herself, and a man is hit with a brick on his head from behind and drowned.

 It's too much violence for an opening episode and literally hitting the viewer over the head with trying to show how "faux brutal" it can be. What (shock value) will be left for later?

The episode's set piece - the cold open of a massive mining front-end loader advancing on a woman and burying her under a load of dirt - is effective, but it also looks quite fake due to how it was filmed.

The suicide that follows a few minutes later comes across as emotionally hollow since the viewer feels nothing for the character - and can't: there's been no time to get to know the character and have an emotional response because you don't (yet) care.

Lunga Shabalala's acting stuck out as really bad. Maybe it's just the Lindani role and he might not be a bad actor per se, but he should possibly just stick to plain TV presenting roles.

In terms of screen time the first episode of The River is very Sindi Dlathu heavy, and yes, it is a soap, but the portrayal of Lindiwe as a Cherel-on-steroids type character is way too overly dramatic - from tears to chasing men out of a boardroom and a far too over the top "lets make sure this person is really dead" scene on a river's edge.

Too may fake things kept taking me out of the story, from a dad's wholly unrealistic conversation with his son, someone clearly sipping from an empty cup, a non-diamond looking rough diamond with the appearance of a Star Trek crystal, and a mine workers revolt filmed in close-up scenes to unsuccessfully try and hide that there are only 15 extras supposed to represent a whole mining company.

After a Miriam-hiding-Moses type flashback and other unfulfilled agreements it felt as if the generically entitled The River as a telenovela would have been better as Broken Hearts or Broken Promises maybe? Who knows.

With an glut and oversupply of similar shows for South African viewers, The River feels too generic. There's really nothing that makes it stand out as must-see, novel and compelling viewing - yet another new washing powder brand in a long aisle of TV laundry detergents promising more, but basically delivering the same as the existing ones, with the same ingredients.

It's good that it exists - at the very least it's work and experience for the local TV industry. But groundbreaking, refreshing and genre expanding The River is not.


■ M-Net didn't make The River on 1Magic available beforehand for review purposes and this review is based on watching the first episode only, and as a linear broadcast episode on Monday night.


editor's note: This review was updated on Wednesday 31 January 2018 by correcting a spelling mistake and changing the spelling of Sindi Dlathu's name to the correct "Sindi" from "Sindy".

Is M-Net's new 1Magic channel on DStv going to commit the cardinal sin of repeating old content that was on VUZU AMP - just because the rebranded channel has a new name?

It will be a serious error of judgement but what is the chance that M-Net's new 1Magic channel replacing VUZU AMP on 29 January is going to start rebroadcasting old content that was on VUZU AMP?

I'm desperately hoping that it won't be happening, although if it does, I won't actually be surprised.

MultiChoice has been working hard the past two years to start limiting the number of repeats and old content across its DStv satellite pay-TV service, but one thing that has seriously been irritating viewers, it hasn't put a moratorium on: the shameful recycling of old content that starts popping up yet again on a "new" channel, just because a TV channel gets a new logo and a new name.

BBC Worldwide did it with BBC Brit, Discovery Networks International did it with Discovery Family, AMC Networks International (AMCNI) did it with Sundance TV that replaced AMC, and I'm holding my breath to see whether M-Net's "new" channel 103 with a new name is going to dredge up the "old" channel 103 content.

If a TV channel has a new name, a new look and a new channel brand identity, it shouldn't trade in its yesteryear stock. 

It will be interesting to see if M-Net is going to put stuff like Being Bonang or Minnie Dlamini's wedding TV special, Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones, that was on VUZU AMP, again on 1Magic. Keep in mind that 1Magic is supposed to be and presented as a DStv Premium channel.

If M-Net does end up doing that, 1Magic won't really be any different that BBC Brit, DStv Family and Sundance TV that were actually "cheating" pay-TV subscribers after their "relaunches" as new channels. 

And why go to all the effort of a new name and image and a new coat of paint on the factory door outside, if its still the same assembly line conveyor belt on the inside?

I dearly hope that 1Magic that is promising new shows like The River and Unmarried isn't going to load up on old content that DStv Premium subscribers have already seen in the past on VUZU AMP.

Ongoing series and shows that used to be on VUZU AMP like The Real Housewives are of course fine, because it's new episodes. But 1Magic will start to incur its first image dent if it dishes up VUZU AMP things people have seen before.

The one problem that 1Magic has is that it starts out with not a big, but actually a sizeable trust deficit - both with viewers as well as with the press covering television and the TV business.

Already I have had 5 different journalists ask me versions of: "So how long do you think 1Magic will last?"

That's not a good thing. 

Viewers, and I suspect several of the press, are not instantly going to "embrace" 1Magic. They are suspicious because they're been burnt now so many times before that they're no longer willing to just "invest" their heart and time and attention into a channel that might also just be outright cancelled and be done away with in another 3 years' time.

M-Net has made so many chops and changes to its channels over the past half a decade that it's almost a question of people not taking it "seriously" anymore when some M-Net channel is launched.

In the back of your mind there's now perpetually the nagging suspicion that it might be taken away just as easily as it was launched, after a year or two.

VUZU AMP lasted just over 3 years - a bit longer than M-Net Edge, so why should DStv subscribers have any trust or show affinity to embrace 1Magic? 

Like an orphaned child shunted from foster home to foster home one too many times, it is understandable why DStv subscribers might have trust issues with new TV channels that arrive, promising the world with new names, just to disappoint and then fold when you least expect it (yes Animal Planet, we're talking about you).

To a degree, M-Net already missed an opportunity this past week with 1Magic to properly explain the new channel, to try and allay fears that might exist, to put 1Magic into proper context, to try and influence attitudes, and to answer questions.

There was a media briefing for the launch of 1Magic at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg but M-Net did it only for Johannesburg media. Sadly the bulk of the type of Johannesburg media outlets who were invited and attended couldn't be bothered to report anything of substance about it.

Either the type of media invited are bad and lazy or incompetent, or M-Net didn't have interesting or relevant things to say - or perhaps both. Whatever the case might be, it's not good for 1Magic beginning as a new TV channel to have a media event and there not being actually a flurry of stories about what was said at the actual briefing.

The result is that ordinary viewers, as well as South Africa's TV industry, haven't been able to hear what M-Net has to say and wants to bring across and communicate about 1Magic.

Nkateko Mabaso, M-Net South Africa's general manager, was at the 1Magic media launch and press briefing and spoke, but there's not been a single article about anything he said from the media who were invited and attended.

Reneilwe Sema, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, was at the 1Magic media launch and spoke but likewise there's not been a single media place where you are able to find what exactly he said.

The award-winning scriptwriter Phathu Makwarela (Muvhango on SABC2's former head writer) responsible for The River as one of the executive producers and produced by Tshedza Pictures, was there as well and spoke, but you won't find any of his comments from this past week anywhere either.

To date there's not been a single review of The River that was actually previewed and shown at the media launch and press briefing to journalists (M-Net won't be showing it to TV critics outside of Johannesburg).

For 1Magic's start and to really bring it under the attention of people, M-Net should maybe have made a much bigger fuzz about 1Magic as a new channel launch, especially because there's the VUZU AMP existence that precedes it, and that it needs to get distance from.

Hopefully M-Net's 1Magic can in time (if it lasts long enough), overcome some of the built-in bias and skepticism that exist about yet another relaunch, and that it will be launching with on Monday.

If it can last on DStv for longer than 3 years and 3 months it will already be considered more of a success that what VUZU AMP ever was. 

With so many available TV channels now and the attention of viewers and the press so splintered, it's incredibly difficult to break through. Hopefully 1Magic will grow and be able to find traction.