During the week, it was reported across social platforms that 1Magic would be bidding farewell to one of their only relevant shows on the channel The River with its sixth and final season scheduled to air this week and continue on through February 2024.
Prior to that Lingashoni is expected to bow down on the channel by March 2023 with a new show (not a telenovela) expected to take it's place once the show finishes it's run on 1Magic.
1Magic is a brand M-Net conceived back in 2019 as a replacement for VUZU AMP which was once known as M-Net Series Reality within a 20 year period. The idea was to give consumers on the top rated package and Mzansi Magic a run for its money with the above-mentioned shows.
It even featured other shows VUZU AMP would have aired like Power, The Real Housewives, The Originals, Grown Woman and Basketball Wives.
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Since launch, several media outlets have criticized 1Magic some for treating Mzansi Magic like second class while as the others turn to the brand's former incarnates as mentioned above seeing as M-Net struggled to retain a channel.
Mzansi Magic is a brand that knows what it wants to be, there was never any problems with its viewers same goes for most Magic brands even kykNET was implemented perfectly unlike 1Magic.
As The River draws to a close with news of a replacement nowhere in site. M-Net plans to funnel the channel with short form series and reality shows once Lingashoni ends and by that logic it's possible the same fate awaits The River that is if the channel is around by then.
Considering how this channel had only been drooling over Lindiwe. There's chances these endeavours will backfire I mean if The River started getting more attention when it broadcast on Mzansi Magic what a chances these shows won't do the same.
Honestly, it makes more sense to scrap 1Magic as M-Net will be needing the international content to build up their offering with streamers like Disney+ and HBO Max taking away their content. On top of Mzansi Magic transmitting most of their local stuff a few days later.
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If the goal is to deploy a competitor for the premium component to Mzansi Magic wouldn't it make more sense to source out a third party instead of auctioning out this channel's shows as premium only for them to be second hand when viewed on Compact.
These endeavours coming to 1Magic aren't guaranteed to have a huge following as seen through TAMS you have programs like The River and Lingashoni dominating DStv's viewership but only with Mzansi Magic and Wethu making them the ideal candidate to continue their legacy.
