Produced by M-Net and Mzansi Magic, Followed Suit
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THE MARKET Whether it’s movies, top-notch international series, local productions, drama, comedy or reality shows, television viewers on the African continent turn to M-Net and the M-Net channels for magical television. From its inception in 1986, South Africa’s first pay-television company was set to be a winner - providing world-class entertainment to a nation hungry for superb entertainment and escape from the mundane. It all started with one channel only, but today M-Net consists of a family of diverse audience- specific television channels that are available to viewers across the African continent. The mix of channels boasts general entertainment and niche channels that are Idols SA available on several platforms - from DStv satellite bouquets to DStv mobile and online programme, Carte Blanche, has become an popular Idols SA, now in its eight year and co- spaces. institution on Sunday nights, with more than 150 produced by M-Net and Mzansi Magic, followed Viewers know M-Net as the force behind prestigious local and international awards to its suit, sparking many more local versions of hit all things magic, as its well-known pay-off line, name. M-Net also created South Africa’s first daily international formats. The recent MasterChef “where magic lives” confirms. The M-Net brand soap, Egoli, in the 80s, which was later followed by SA and kykNET’s Boer Soek ‘n Vrou are prime reached iconic status quickly and continues to the groundbreaking first outdoor soap,The Wild, examples of huge audience attractions. satisfy both audiences and advertisers to maintain shot entirely on location. In addition, the M-Net channels are creating its position as Africa’s prime provider of foreign As you would expect from the visionary their own reality shows - among them the highly and local content. broadcaster, M-Net brought blockbuster original Fortuinsoekers on kykNET and Forever reality shows to our shores. It kicked off with Young on the youth channel Vuzu. ACHIEVEMENTS building the famous Big Brother House on the Being Africa’s leading company in the The M-Net channel has revolutionised local M-Net premises in 2000 and becoming the world of television, M-Net has always been at content in many ways and continues to produce first broadcaster worldwide to dedicate a 24/7 the forefront of technological developments. high-rating shows. Its longest-running local channel to the Big Brother format. The hugely M-Net was the first General Entertainment channel providing a complete channel in High Definition and these days almost all local shows are recorded in HD. Furthermore, M-Net products have huge followings on interactive social media platforms. The seventh season of Big Brother Africa, Big Brother StarGame received more than 800 000 likes on Facebook and had more than 300 000 followers on Twitter. HISTORY Founded in the mid eighties, the Electronic Media Network - or M-Net - was South Africa’s first pay-television operation. Its first broadcast - one 12-hour channel - took place in October 1986. Crucial to the early success of M-Net was the subscriber management division, which later became MultiChoice. Initially, M-Net captivated audiences with a mix of movies, sport and international soaps. In 1988, the channel introduced Carte Blanche, the multi-award winning actuality programme that has become a South African Inkaba television institution and which still holds its MNET_FA.indd 2 10/9/12 1:59 PM Local Interest PROMOTION • kykNET - dedicated Afrikaans channel M-Net embarks on various marketing activities, • Koowee - children’s channel available in both including on-air promotion, brand-building Afrikaans and Zulu campaigns on all media, and innovative marketing • Mzansi Magic - proudly SA, known for its drives. bubblegum movies and telenovelas The M-Net channels continuously scoop • Vuzu - youth channel local and international marketing and advertising • Channel O - urban music channel awards. • MK - music channel At the 2012 PromaxBDA Promotion, M-Net Africa Marketing and Design Awards, the M-Net • Several AfricaMagic channels - from channels walked off with a total of 12 awards. entertainment to dedicated movie channels The PromaxBDA Awards recognise the best MasterChef SA and language-driven channels such as in design and marketing from advertising and AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Yoruba, promotions agencies around the world. position as the most-watched show on premium and AfricaMagic Swahili Furthermore, M-Net’s rock and alternative pay-television. M-Net Movies music channel MK has won many of the most With the advent of DStv and satellite • Eight dedicated movie channels of which six prestigious advertising awards around the world television, the M-Net mother-brand expanded are in HD for its brand identity and channel imaging - into more channels and after 26 years in the including international yellow and bronze Pencil business, M-Net produces almost 30 channels RECENT DEVELOPMENTS awards. for the South African market and more than In March 2012, M-Net launched its African Film 40 channels for audiences across the African Library (AFL). This video-on-demand service BRAND VALUES continent. boasts the biggest collection of movies made M-Net’s mission is to create the best television by African filmmakers, including classics from entertainment in Africa and beyond. To this THE PRODUCT Senegal’s Ousmane Sembene and Egypt’s Youssef end, the brand has invested significantly in local M-Net prides itself in creating and providing top- Chahine. productions and job creation to make Africa a of-the-notch channels and television content to While the AFL gives movie lovers worldwide significant player on the global entertainment diverse African audiences with a mix of general the opportunity to enjoy films that have not been arena. entertainment and niche channels. available to them before, M-Net also ensured the The business is run by the following divisions, preservation of many films by remastering and which are responsible for these viewer-centric digitizing them. The films come from across the channels, amongst others: continent, in English, French, Portuguese and General Entertainment Arabic. • M-Net M-Net does not only bring magic to viewers’ • M-Net Series screens; behind the scenes it makes a difference • M-Net Africa to the lives of many South Africans with its CSI projects. The M-Net Cares Naledi Literacy Project, for example, seeks to instill a love of reading in grade three learners with a 12-week reading campaign. In its pilot phase, 300 children in six schools in Gauteng and Western Cape attended English literacy workshops for six weeks and graduated. In 2012 the project expanded to over 1500 children in five provinces. M-Net is also passionate about developing budding entrepreneurs and the Mzansi Magic Market THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT Day gives talented young people the opportunity MNET to show off their products and to display their talents. m In 1986, M-Net was one of the first two subscription television services outside the USA - and Africa’s first pay-to-view station m M-Net initially used the payoff line “Your Best Friend”, which has evolved with the growth of a huge and discerning client base to “Where Magic Lives” m Derek Watts, Carte Blanche presenter, started out with the fledgling brand and still presents the popular Sunday programme m M-Net’s first broadcast - one 12 hour channel - went live in October 1986 m In October 2012, M-Net launched 8 dedicated genre-specific Movie Forever Young Channels, of which 6 are in HD MNET_FA.indd 3 10/9/12 1:59 PM.