This Friday (1 April) M-Net will be splitting into two channels: one version for M-Net analogue/terrestrial subscribers (who tune in via the M-Net decoder on channel 7) and another version for DStv subscribers (who tune in via sateliite on channel 101).
The big idea with the split is to make the M-Net analogue channel a channel which includes programming from channels that are on DStv, and to remove these shows from the M-Net channel on satellite - because satellite viewers have these channels.
The result: the analogue channel will include Afrikaans shows are that are on kykNet and sport from SuperSport, while the satellite channel won't include any sport or Afrikaans programming.
KTV falls away on both, completely.
Here's a rundown of the key changes on each:
M-Net Analogue
The analogue channel will be divided into three programming blocks on weekdays: sport, Afrikaans programming and general entertainment.
This is the daily weekday schedule:
| 07h00 to 11h00 |
Sports block: SuperSport programming.
|
11h00 to 13h00
|
The same programming as M-Net Satellite, which includes a daily reality show. (See the Satellite line-up below.)
|
|
| 13h00 to 17h00 |
kykNET programming |
| 17h00 to 18h30 |
The same programming as M-Net Satellite, including the new half-hour soapie The Wild at 18h00. |
| 18h30 to 19h30 |
kykNET programming (including Binneland. Binneland Sub Judice changes name to Binneland and the show returns to being half-an-hour.) |
19h30 to 07h00
|
The same programming as on M-Net Satellite. General entertainment, series, movies etc.
|
|
Saturday schedule:
| 07h00 to 19h30: |
Sports block: SuperSport programming.
|
| 19h30 to 07h00: |
The same programming as on M-Net Satellite. |
Sunday schedule:M-Net Satellite programming all day.
M-Net Satellite
The M-Net satellite channel focuses on 24-hours of general entertainment, with no kykNet shows nor sport.
New talk show slot:
A new weekday talk show called The Talk premieres on Friday (1 April) at 13h00. It's hosted by Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Winokur.
What do they talk about? This from the synposis: "They swap stories, challenge each other on issues and engage the studio audience and viewers at home about events in the headlines and their own homes through the lens of motherhood."
Half-hour soapie slot:
The half-hour soapie The Wild replaces the hour-long Binneland Sub Judice. It airs Mondays to Fridays from 18h00 to 18h30, starting this Monday (4 April)
New reality slot:
A new weekday reality slot is being introduced between 18h30 and 19h30. The first series to start is Masterchef Australia. It premieres on Monday (4 April) and airs Mondays to Fridays.
Repeat weekday slot:
Repeats of various shows will be on in a regular repeat timeslot between 14h00 and 18h00, weekdays.
Shows that will be repeated during this time in April include
American Idol 10,
Desperate Housewives 7,
Human Target 2,
Survivor SA: Maldives,
The Mentalist 3 and Masterchef Australia - the episode from the previous day will be repeated at 11h30. M-Net Analogue subscribers will see the episode for the first time during this timeslot. (See the Analogue: 11h00 to 13h00 schedule.)
Repeat weekend slots:
| Reality omnibus |
Saturdays: 13h00 to 17h00 |
An omnibus of the 18h30 to 19h30 reality show from the week i.e. Masterchef Australia. |
| Soapie omnibus |
Sundays:
07h00 to 09h00 |
An omnibus of the week's episodes of The Wild. |
Keep a lookout on TVSA for the April line-up of new shows on both channels.