New DStv channel to showcase Tanzanian music

Speaking at the recently concluded Multichoice Content Showcase in Belle Ombre, Mauritius, M-Net Regional Director Theo Erasmus said the channel will be premiering exciting local content, like the hip-hop and Bongo Flava music show Mzooka. The show will be run as a four-hour prime time content block. M-Net will begin to create local content for that block and will see how the market reacts to it.

Erasmus added that there will be larger continental footprint for Maisha Magic and Maisha Magic Bongo. "Based on feedback received, we have made the decision to open these two channels (Maisha Magic and Maisha Magic Bongo) to the majority of Africa - all except Southern Africa, due to capacity limitations on the satellite," he said.

M-Net's vision is to create channels for each homogenous target market for Southern and Eastern Africa - be it by language, culture or taste. M-Net will be licensing homegrown East African content as the company seeks to address the entertainment needs of East African viewers and develop the region's industry. The regional director also promised local content from territories including Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as the production of a local version of the popular international reality show, The Voice. A new channel for Angola, called Jango Luxo, is expected to be launched on 11 October on the DStv Premium bouquet. 

The MultiChoice Africa Content Showcase, now in its second year, is a content event where MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, brings together content providers and media personnel at one venue. It is a dynamic five-day content extravaganza, which sees a host of DStv's biggest channels (including Sony, SuperSport, Zee World, A+E, Disney, MTV Base, BET, Comedy Central, BBC and M-Net) previewing their latest and greatest content, soon to be seen across the video entertainment services provider's platforms.