Canal+ May Look To Debut New Channels In Place Of M-Net, M-Net Movies And KykNET Lekker

As reported, Canal+ is planning to do away with Mzansi Music and Mzansi Bioskop alongside M-Net Movies 1 and KykNET Lekker on DStv. This form part of the company's continued cost cutting endeavours with these brands to go dark by 16 September.

M-Net Movies 1 originally launched as M-Net Magic in 1995 before rebranding to M-Net Movies 1 in 2005. It went through several name and and genre changes before M-Net reverted it back to being called M-Net Movies 1 for the second time.

It remains unclear what is to become of AddMovies as the offering had seen in a loss of various TV channels. These would include B4U Movies, fliekNET (permanent addition) and M-Net Movies pop-up channel's offering.

With this loss, consumers will wonder what's the point of paying for this offering if the price doesn't decrease unless plans are underway to do away with the AddMovies add-on.

KykNET Lekker was launched on the DStv platform 6 years ago and tailored to DStv Access consumers with content from other KykNET channels. This would include older seasons to shows and simultaneous broadcasts to things like eNuus.

Much like the 3 other TV channels, this is a brand Canal+ is not looking to replace so we can only assume it was a major flop. As brands like Moja 9.9. had accumulated over 100,000 viewers and continues to broadcast on DStv - for now.

This is a statement issued by MultiChoice

"As viewing habits continue to change, MultiChoice is refining the DStv channel line-up to match," MultiChoice said.

"Rather than spreading similar content across many channels, we're concentrating on fewer, stronger channels, giving subscribers a cleaner, easier-to-navigate line-up and a better viewing experience overall."

More restructuring could be underway at MultiChoice 

Canal+ hadn't addressed what's to become of its remaining M-Net Movies 2-4 channels on DStv but if we had to guess they'll likely be renamed. But what's interesting is the fact that these changes weren't announced as seen with SuperSport.

It could be that Canal+ hasn't thought of anything (which I highly doubt) or they're likely waiting for the perfect moment to unveil the new offering set to replace these channels.

M-Net will be turning 40 in October so what better way to celebrate then to unveil this new offering if not possibly gut what little remains of these brands. There has been talks of doing away with brands names like M-Net for sometime now.

With these reported closures, I wouldn't be too shocked if this is what was happening to both M-Net and M-Net Movies behind the scenes. Assuming they'll be called Canal+ Premiere and Canal+ Cinema if not Canal+ Premium, Canal+ Film.

Worse they probably look to rollout Netherland's FilmBox in place of these channels.

For the movie offering, I wouldn't be stunned if Canal+ reverted back to the genre based offering. Bringing back concepts utilized by the former M-Net Movies Family (Movies 4), M-Net Movies Action (Movies 3) and M-Net Movies Zone (Movies 2).

As for KykNET Lekker, Canal+ has reportedly been developing a TV channel with a Magic Showcase test card. So we can only assume they're trying to simplify this offering onto fewer channels.

Consumers shouldn't be alarmed if most of the content viewed on KykNET Lekker don't form part of this offering MultiChoice looks to allocate soon. Think of the time NBCUniversal decided to replace E! with Bravo and the variations in programming.