M-Net says DStv subscribers shouldn't panic over the relaunch of VUZU AMP as 1Magic; new channel will still have international shows, together with gripping local dramas and reality shows.

M-Net says DStv subscribers shouldn't panic over the relaunch of the VUZU AMP (DStv 103) channel that is being relaunched as 1Magic on 29 January, saying the channel will continue to show international series, alongside gripping local drama series, telenovelas and reality shows.

Three years after launching VUZU AMP, M-Net is rebranding it as 1Magic for DStv Premium subscribers, saying that it needs a better aligned channel where it can broadcast even more local entertainment to a premium DStv subscriber base.

On Tuesday M-Net is doing a launch event for just Johannesburg press to unveil 1Magic to the media, with the channel that will try and court an upmarket black viewership demographic that's familiar with the existing Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) offering and who wants even more.

While VUZU AMP has struggled to find a sizeable enough audience, M-Net says 1Magic is a brand-new channel that is being created to try and appeal to a wider urban audience.

VUZU AMP is therefore being transformed into 1Magic since M-Net has identified a need to "refine our content offering for viewers who live within a global-meets-local worldview".

With 1Magic, M-Net will offer DStv Premium subscribers a content mix of "fresh exclusive local, with existing edgy international series" as "a celebration of the modern viewer who enjoys local and international shows".

"Vuzu AMP audiences should not panic because 1 Magic will still be serving a mix of compelling, relevant and entertaining international programmes like The Fixer (titled Scandal in America), How To Get Away with Murder, The Real Housewives, Power and later on in the year, latest seasons of Ballers, Queen Sugar and Insecure," says M-Net.

1Magic's programming schedule will include dramas, telenovelas, reality shows and movies.

1Magic will also roll out local programming with its flagship new telenovela, The River, starting on 29 January as well with a cast including Sindi Dlathu, Hlomhla Dandala, Moshidi Motshegwa and others.

On 2 February, Unmarried will start on 1Magic, as an "urban chic drama", unpacking themes of love, urban hustle and bustle, and the daily challenges faced by young urban couples in trying to juggle life and aspirations. The cast of Unmarried includes Fezile Makhanya, Thembisa Mdoda, Renate Stuurman and others.

M-Net says it is positioning 1Magic as "the entertainment destination of choice for DStv Premium customers, who are comfortable crossing between the best of international and local worlds".

The channel will celebrate "the duality of the modern African viewer, by putting Viola Davis alongside Sindi Dlathu, Olivia Pope alongside Thembisa Mdoda, and Jay Ellis next to Phat Joe, on a single channel."

Shows like the Marvel collection that used to be on VUZU AMP will be integrated into the M-Net (DStv 101) channel and the M-Net City (DStv 115) channel in order to make way for more local shows on 1Magic.

Early prime time (18:00 to 21:00) shows on 1Magic will rebroadcast in the week, during the day.

Late prime time on 1Magic (21:00 to 23:00) will have content for a more mature audience and will rebroadcast in the week, after prime time. Popular series omnibuses will be scheduled on weekends.

M-Net says 1Magic will also minimise repeats since there will be more premium content on the channel, "so fans are urged to watch the premiere over rebroadcasts". 

"In line with our vision to be the best African storytellers in the world, M-Net has identified a need to invest in more local entertainment for our viewers, in the premium segment," says Nkateko Mabaso, M-Net South Africa general manager.

"1Magic will fill a viewing gap by combining new and exclusive local shows with international content.”

M-Net replacing VUZU AMP with 1Magic on DStv Premium from February 2018, adds local dramas like The River, Unmarried.

Three years after launching the M-Net AMP and M-Net Edge channels in October 2014 with M-Net Edge that had already fallen away at the beginning of 2017, M-Net and DStv are now also ending VUZU AMP and replacing it from 29 January 2018 with 1Magic (DStv 103).

Like VUZU AMP, 1Magic will only be available for DStv Premium subscribers.

For now, M-Net says that the lower-tiered VUZU channel on DStv channel 116 will remain, although M-Net says the change from VUZU AMP to 1Magic is to align all the channel names to the "Magic" moniker.

"For now VUZU on 116 will remain as a channel as we will communicate should there be any changes to that channel."

VUZU AMP has struggled to gain ratings traction the past three years and with the rebranding to 1Magic and a content programming shuffle, M-Net hopes to help lift the existing VUZU AMP ratings closer to that of the existing set of Mzansi Magic channels.

M-Net says 1Magic will carry local drama series, telenovelas, reality shows, movies and international reality, drama and films.

1Magic will broadcast series like The Fixer, How To Get Away with Murder, The Real Housewives, Power and later in 2018 the latest seasons of Ballers, Queen Sugar and Insecure.

In response to a media enquiry about the channel change, M-Net says 1Magic will be "introducing a bigger exclusive local content slate than what we currently have on VUZU AMP".

"The name change was necessary in order for the brand to fit into the M-Net brand architecture where all our channels across the continent carry the name "magic", for instance Zambei Magic, Africa Magic, Maisha Magic and Mzansi Magic".

"The new name is memorable and not specific to any language group as we are appealing to a wide audience that has a viewing appetite for local and international content".

M-Net says this will include firsts like a daily local telenovela to the channel.

On 29 January 2018 when VUZU AMP changes to 1Magic, it will launch a new local telenovela entitled, The River, with Sindi Dlathu, Hlomhla Dandala, Moshidi Motshegwa and Larona Moagi like SABC3's Isidingo set in a mining community.

On 2 February 1Magic will start the new urban drama Unmarried, which unpacks themes of love, urban hustle and bustle, and the daily challenges faced by young urban couples in trying to juggle life and aspirations. 

Unmarried stars Fezile Makhanya, Thembisa Mdoda and Renate Stuurman.

"In line with our vision to be the best African storytellers in the world, M-Net has identified a need to invest in more local entertainment for our viewers, in the premium segment. 1Magic will fill a viewing gap by combining new and exclusive local shows with international content,” says Nkateko Mabaso, M-Net general manager for South Africa.