TOLDJA! M-Net rejigs the revamped V-Entertainment as a once-a-week, Friday-only show on VUZU AMP; adds new weekly music show, Massive Music.

M-Net is rejigging V-Entertainment and will bring it back after a month's on-air absence as a once-a-week, Friday-only show on VUZU AMP and also adding a new weekly music show, Massive Music on Fridays on Mzansi Magic.

At the end of June M-Net abruptly ended the weekday entertainment magazine show V-Entertainment on VUZU AMP and Vuzu after 8 years on the air and said the show isn't cancelled but no longer properly speaking to its audience and needs to evolve.

According to M-Net the reworked V-Entertainment on VUZU AMP (DStv 103) will be a "fresher, more insightful and jam-packed production".

Exactly as insiders told TVwithThinus at the end of June, V-Entertainment is returning in August as a once-a-week episode.

Instead of the gaggle of youth presenters, the revamped V-Entertainment will return on 4 August at 19:00 to VUZU AMP and will now be presented by the older-skewing Somizi Mhlongo who is also an Idols judge on sister channel Mzansi Magic.

Somizi Mhlongo will co-present with two of the former V-Entertainment presenters who have been kept on - Nomuzi Mabena and Siyabonga "Scoop"Ngwekazi.

"We've revamped V-Entertainment to bring the viewers the best dose of entertainment news, in a more current version of the popular format," says Reneilwe Sema, M-Net's director of local entertainment channels.

To compete with e.tv's existing Friday evening music show Club 808, on 4 August a new music show, Massive Music, is added to the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) schedule at 21:30 with presenters Lalla Hirayama and the YFM DJ Smash Africa.

The show will strictly keep to a rule of not doing "inserts" but to let artists speak in as unguarded as possible interviews.

M-Net says Massive Music will offer "artist interviews, captivating studio performances, and a weekly music chart" as a show where viewers will be able to "get the story behind the songs or albums across all genres".

"The show adheres to a strict 'no insert' policy, instead using the time to probe deeper into the artist's psyche for a more meaningful and richer interview experience, as well as allowing more room for top-notch performances."

"Each week will feature a hot seat segment, discussing all things music and creative.  Whether you're a jazz junkie, afropop fan, hip hop head, kwaito devotee, or house hound, Massive Music will cater to every music palette."

Reneilwe Sema says the aim is for Massive Music to "appeal to a broader base of music lovers, the content of which is sure to change Friday night viewing for good".

M-Net dumps entertainment magazine show V-Entertainment after 8 years on VUZU AMP, says show's 'going on a break' but will return in future.

M-Net has decided to dump its youth-centric weekday entertainment magazine show V-Entertainment  on VUZU AMP (DStv 103) that it believes is no longer properly aligned to the youth entertainment culture, saying the show is abruptly "going on a break" but telling TVwithThinus that it isn't cancelled.

V-Entertainment served as VUZU's flagship daily half hour entertainment magazine show since 2009 when M-Net's GO channel rebranded as VUZU, and again transitioned to the premium channel VUZU AMP when that channel launched in October 2014.

V-Entertainment, produced by Don't Look Down Productions, as a South African pop culture version of E! News, gave rise to presenters like Lalla Hirayama while providing opportunities for people ranging from Nonhle Thema and Siya Ngwekazi, Dineo Moeketsi, Denise Zimba and Shelton Forbez.

The show inflicted brand and reputation damage when a new crop of presenters introduced in April 2016 didn't gel with viewers.

M-Net told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that V-Entertainment isn't cancelled. Yet the show is going off the air after 8 years for a break, instead of staying on-air while doing a retool. V-Entertainment will end with a "special" hour long episode on Friday 30 June at 18:00.

According to insiders, a reformatted V-Entertainment is likely to return as a weekly episode from August but definitely won't be back as a weekday show. The show that's been seen on VUZU AMP and VUZU will likely also become a VUZU AMP show only.

"V-Entertainment broke boundaries and introduced audiences to fresh new talent," says Reneilwe Sema, M-Net's director of local entertainment channels. "Entertainment culture is always evolving and we must change along with it."

M-Net said "fans need not despair though, as the changes coming in August will reflect our aim of being at the forefront of innovative entertainment".