Ask a South African of a certain age to complete the names ‘Shaleen’, ‘Ashley’, ‘Trevor’, ‘Brümilda’, ‘Heinz’, ‘Nico’, ‘Somizi’, ‘Ferdi’ or ‘Thuso’ and you’re almost certain to get ‘Surtie-Richards’, ‘Hayden’, ‘Noah’, ‘van Rensburg’, ‘Winckler’, ‘Panagio’, ‘Mhlongo’, ‘Rabie’ and ‘Mbedu’ in response. What they have in common is that their place in South African pop culture as household names was cemented by being part of the M-Net family over the course of the last 40 years.
Since the channel’s first broadcast on 26 October 1986, it has delivered the best local and international entertainment and sport, becoming the first private subscription television service in South Africa and across the African continent. From the iconic programming slot celebrated as ‘Open Time’ to the iconic uninterrupted Sunday 8pm movie – preceded, of course, by the Carte Blanche theme tune – M-Net continues to set the standard for pay-TV entertainment.
In 1988, Derek Watts and Ruda Landman became two of the most feared – and respected – broadcast journalists in the country, thanks to Carte Blanche. In 1992, Egoli: Place of Gold became South Africa’s first daily soap, handing the torch to Binnelanders.Big Brother South Africa dominated the conversation when it debuted in 2001, with the channel doubling down on the reality TV boom the following year with Idols South Africa – with the former still running 25 years later (now on Mzansi Magic) and the latter producing powerhouse performers across 19 seasons, until 2023.
The list of big-name international series which have found a home on M-Net is endless – from sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Malcolm in the Middle and Friends to dramas spanning the NCIS franchise, dramas like ER, True Detective and Lost to becoming the home of the Taylor ‘Sheridanverse’ – the channel has broadcast something for everyone.
“Seeing what has grown from a small channel broadcasting 12 hours a day with a core team of 25 employees to a powerhouse which has set the standard for pay-TV broadcasting is incredible,” says Waldimar Pelser, Director of Premium Channels at Multichoice, a Canal+ company. “Most South Africans born in the last 40 years have an incredible sense memory triggered by series theme tunes, appointment viewing slots, ground-breaking shows, feisty, funny, scary and divisive characters – and we want to keep bringing the ‘Magic’ to more and more viewers, with M-Net now available to more DStv subscribers than ever before after its launch on the new Movies & Series bouquet”.
Former M-Net Continuity Presenter Ashley Hayden says: “What a remarkable time to have joined M-Net at the start of the station’s journey and to see how one pay tv station grew into a streaming giant. Congratulations to the thousands who have worked so hard over the last 4 decades to make DSTV a welcome visitor in homes across Africa.
Actress Brümilda van Rensburg added: “I’m celebrating four decades of M-Net making magic. Our show Egoli: Place of Gold was part of the beginning of an incredible journey. Congratulations to everyone still making M-Net a cornerstone channel in so many homes today.
”As M-Net proudly celebrates its ‘Elder Millennial’ status, it’s also looking to the future with returning favourites, premium international dramas and some of the world’s biggest reality formats. Leading the line-up is the gripping local thriller Invisible, based on Deon Meyer’s Blood Safari and currently airing Wednesdays at 20:00, while A Conversation with Kgalema Motlanthe, an exclusive 70-minute documentary special, premieres on 28 October at 21:00.
Reality fans can look forward to the return of My Kitchen Rules from 11 November at 18:00, followed by the latest season of Survivor USA from 15 December in the same timeslot. International highlights include War starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller (4 November at 21:00), The Five Star Weekend led by Jennifer Garner (9 November at 19:00), the second season of Dexter: Resurrection (12 November at 21:00), and the highly anticipated biographical film Michael, premiering on Sunday 8 November.
Also returning are second seasons of Mobland (16 November at 21:00) and Taylor Sheridan’s Marshals (17 November at 21:00), while the festive season brings even more marquee titles, including new seasons of Sheridan hits Lioness in December and Tulsa King later in the month. New series arriving before year-end also include NCIS: New York (26 November at 19:00).
M-Net has also partnered with Quizzical Pictures, the award-winning production company behind Reyka and White Lies, on a new co-production series. More information will be shared soon.
Just as there always has been, there’s a bit of Magic for everyone on M-Net.
Herschelle Benjamin
Soweto Sunrise News
