It’s a slaughter-fest over on Mzansi Magic next year when four of the channel’s primetime daily shows go dark – i.e. all of them!
First it was Champions, then Gqeberha: The Empire and now the channel’s announced the end of My Brother’s Keeper and DStv’s ratings winner Umkhokha: The Curse.
Why?
This from their statement:
Mzansi Magic is embracing an exciting new chapter as it opens its doors to new producers and production houses, with the aim of delivering more compelling and innovative local content.
This exciting shift means that new shows will be fresh and shorter to enable more diversity of voices in telling Mzansi stories.
While the channel will always cherish its beloved shows some will be making way for new series and novelas that are sure to captivate audiences.
Clearly they feel that the current production houses who are in rotation aren’t delivering innovative nor compelling enough local content e.g. Tshedza Pictures who make Gqeberha and Champions, and Duma ka Ndlovu’s Rhythm World Productions who do My Brother’s Keeper and Umkhokha.
They’re wanting shorter shows too – which does keep things fresh and storylines tight. It’s also less of a risk, especially if they tank or if the production house turns out to be trouble.
We suspect that Duma’s recent arrest on charges of tax evasion and fraud has a lot to do with the Rhythm World cancellations.
Umkhokha’s the No. 2 show on DStv so it’s highly irregular to ditch such a popular show just to shake up the schedule and give “others a chance”.
And there’s the fact that Rhythm World’s hyped-up Queen Modjadji hit a drought with audiences and flopped.
The production house’s only remaining show on DStv is the paycaster’s No.1 property Sibongile & The Dlaminis.
Will they can this too?
Of course M-Net and Mzansi Magic aren’t saying any of this.
More from their statement:
Director of Local Channels at M-Net, Shirley Adonisi has praised both series for their exceptional contribution to storytelling in Mzansi.
“Umkhokha: The Curse and My Brother’s Keeper have truly highlighted the incredible talent we have in Mzansi,” she says. “From the brilliant minds of our writers and producers to the powerful performances of our actors, these shows have brought our stories to life in a way that resonates deeply with audiences.
“We are deeply grateful to Rhythm World Productions and the outstanding cast and crew who turned these shows into the phenomenon they have become.”
Umkhokha ends on 28 February 2025, My Brother’s Keeper on 18 April 2025, Gqeberha on 10 January 2025 and Champions on 31 January 2025.
