M-Net On DStv Compact: Could This Be The Possible Outcome To The Cancellation Of Me And 1Magic?

With M-Net Essentials (ME) and 1Magic serving as M-Net's last secondary channels set to exit the DStv platform by early February. Some have led to wonder if a possible restructure to DStv packages could be in development as MultiChoice remains silent on how they'll retain their Compact+ consumers.

For several years now, MultiChoice's premium market has been declining rapidly similar to HBO and even Discovery Channel in the United States has seen a fall in consumption. These consumers have all integrated to Netflix and various other affordable plans.

Although MultiChoice has seen a decline in premium consumption their lower markets continues to rise. In the last annual results dated 30 September 2023, their mass market had increased from 54% to 57% while their premium and mid market decreased from 46% to 43%.

It kind of leads one to wonder what fate awaits their remaining premium offering particularly M-Net. As mentioned, there's been less consumption so much that MultiChoice remains discrete on its viewership numbers with House Of Dragons being the only notable show pulled around 8000 views.

Again with M-Net's Me and 1Magic exiting, could it be possible that Me's content will remain exclusive to M-Net as 1Magic's offering migrates to Mzansi Magic. When you kind of look at DStv, it offers Universal TV and Comedy Central brands seen airing selected content from M-Net.

Demise in Me would reduce the repetition seen amongst channels and could help elevate the viewership numbers on Universal TV and Comedy Central. Of course, if M-Net were to be added as compensation for Me where does that leave premium consumers.

Theoretically, a possible restructure to packages wouldn't seem far fetched a stretch if all bets were on M-Net becoming accessible. Compact+ has been losing value as the latter ESPN 2 and E! Entertainment all migrated to lower bouquets and a similar outcome arose when it launched snatching Premium channels.

If Premium and Compact+ merged, consumers on top tier bouquet would get exclusivity to brands like Discovery Channel, CBS Justice, History, Curiosity Channel, SuperSport Action, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Qwest TV.

February 2024 On HGTV Across Africa | New Series Alert: Selling Dubai | Returning Shows Including House Hunters And Fixer Upper | More

Married To Real Estate S3

NEW SEASON

Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson get clients into the dream neighborhood they never thought they could afford. By using their unparalleled real estate expertise, they'll make smart purchases and even smarter renovations while managing their busy family.

First TX: 14 Feb

TX Day: Wednesday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 1 May

Help! I Wrecked My House S4

NEW SEASON

Jasmine Roth rescues homeowners who took on major DIYs and are living without bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms due to issues they can't fix. Jasmine and her team help finish the problematic projects and turn mishaps into dream spaces in record time.

First TX: 28 Feb

TX Day: Wednesday

TX Time: 22:00

Last TX: 15 May

Fixer Upper: The Castle S1

NEW SEASON

Chip and Joanna take on their biggest fixer yet: the famous castle in Waco, Texas. As they breathe new life into the historic landmark, they must also tackle its challenging infrastructure while preserving its original beauty.

First TX: 4 Feb

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 12:15

Last TX: 18 Feb

Fixer Upper: The Hotel S1

NEW SEASON

Chip and Joanna Gaines transform a 100-year-old historic building near Magnolia Market into a boutique hotel, showcasing their love for hospitality, restoration and their home city of Waco, Texas.

First TX: 25 Feb

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 12:15

Last TX: 10 March

Selling Dubai S1

BRAND NEW

Luxury real estate expert Maria Morris is launching her own agency in Dubai, and the stakes have never been higher. She's assembled a team of savvy agents, and they're determined to make their mark on one of the most competitive markets in the world.

First TX: 24 Feb

TX Day: Saturday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: TBC

House Hunters: Amazing Water Homes S1

BRAND NEW

The House Hunters franchise is expanding to help buyers with their unique wish lists. Whether it be amazing water homes or the dream of working with a real estate agent that is downright wacky, the pressure is on to find the perfect home.

First TX: 4 Feb

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 13:05

Last TX: TBC

What If The M-Net Series Trademark Were Revived Perhaps In Place Of M-Net 101?

With MultiChoice and M-Net set to axe secondary networks M-Net Essentials (Me) and 1Magic in the coming weeks. It kind of leads one to wonder if the main M-Net channel which had been exclusive to premium consumers since it's inception will get purged.

Unlike Me and 1Magic, M-Net hadn't undergone any rebranding, name change or drastic reshuffling to programming if anything it has seen a decline in audiences. Similar to the United States were brands like HBO and NBC had lost at least 10% of their audience yearly.

M-Net has hit rough patch so much so that neither them or MultiChoice are ever public about the viewing numbers of their programs. When 1Magic debuted, their lowest rated show V-Entertainment had at least 10,000 viewers so M-Net would need to have something around that range.

Not that the channel has become irrelevant, but it's basically how SABC would view SABC 3 - niche. It's still dominant in the field it caters for or at least on linear platforms offering latest seasons to shows alongside films.

But with the downfall of the secondary networks and decline in viewership on M-Net, MultiChoice should consider unifying these brands under one name. I get that Me still had that M-Net trademark but by styling it's more like SABC 3 (S3) making it more alienated.

A brand that comes to mind would be M-Net Series, one of M-Net's most iconic trademarks was basically M-Net Movies but for drama series and reality shows. M-Net has been causing conflict with its premium movie channels airing select content before them.

M-Net Series would help reduce the rift between M-Net and M-Net Movies and if anything could help M-Net lure in viewers. M-Net (better yet M-Net Series 1) could add just add series like RuPaul's Drag Race and Power Book 4 Force in the timeslots allocated to movies.

The other two channels would serve as secondary brands rehashing content viewed on M-Net Series 1 and similar to 1Magic recieve first run programs. The second channel would tailor toward reality and lifestyle and the last would revive the M-Net City/Edge concept.

From my understanding, this concept was used several years back as M-Net Series Showcase, Reality and Zone. Only one out of the three garnered relevance but was partially due to the other two being folded under premium alongside the downsizing of content.

Again, I don't think the M-Net Series concept failed but how MultiChoice executed it was what led to its downfall. If anything, VUZU was more like how one would interpret M-Net Series Reality while Showcase was more like a rival brand to M-Net with content sharing between channels.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Almost Got A Third Season

Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated is often regarded as the best iteration of Scooby-Doo and we all assumed based on how the show ended that it ended on the writer's terms but it turns out that wasn't exactly true.

According to an interview on ScoobyAddicts.Com, Mitch Watson who was the head developers of the season mentioned that they were working on a third season of Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated at one point. They did want to produce a third season seeing as it was a hit overseas before getting cancelled.

The third season would have revolved around the gang driving off to the Harland Alison College and solving other mysteries along the way. Various monsters from previous iterations of franchise would make a comeback and there was also going to be a new mystery surrounding the college.

Unfortunately, two seasons was it and they were going to do a third season at one point. Honestly speaking, it was probably for the best as they had this one plot that consumed over two seasons and wanted to prolong the show with the third season which might have not been well recieved.

There comes a point where network executives want to prolong the franchise that it ends up seeing a drop in quality. It would come to a point where fans would want it to end and that's where Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated would have probably ended up if a third season existed.

If anything, it would have probably been better to make the third season a separate show from Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated.

Development Alert (Rumour): Pretty Freekin Scary Cancelled On The Disney Channel After One Season

During the month, it was reported Bunk'd would end on the Disney Channel with a 7th season. On top of that, the channel had been quietly cancelling shows such as The Ghost And Molly McGee and Saturdays, now rumours have that Pretty Freekin Scary is joining the line-up.

Synopsis for Pretty Freekin Scary:

After her sudden demise, Frankie Ripp, a 14-year-old girl, agrees to a deal with the Grim Reaper that she would go back home but accompanied by her underground parents. Frankie tries to keep the Grim Reaper a secret from everyone, while at the same time she must work for the Grim Reaper by completing a series of given tasks should she wish to keep her life.

Created by Jason P. Hauser, and based on Cloudco Entertainment's property of the same name, the series stars Eliana Su'a, Kyan Samuels, Leah Mei Gold, Yonas Kibreab, and Emma Shannon. It premiered on Disney Channel on June 15, 2023. 

Although the rumours pertaining to Pretty Freekin Scary hasn't been ruled out as yet it wouldn't seem far fetched. Disney Channel hadn't done much marketing for their fresher batch of content and another reason would be issue surrounding Saturday's demise.

According to some outlets, Disney is focusing on building out its multicam strategy and that includes prioritising shows that are based on Disney-owned IP, and creating global tentpole programming. It kind of leads one to wonder what fate awaits The Villains Of Valley View and mainly Hamster And Gretel.

Disney Channel is working on a fifth season to Phineas And Ferb with Dan Povenmire (creator of Hamster And Gretel). One has to wonder if Disney will prioritise both shows or leave one on the air as the creator had refused to have a crossover special for Hamster And Gretel if it bows out with only 2 seasons.