M-Net Essentials,[a] branded on-air as Me, was a South African pay television channel originally launched by M-Net on 9 July 2013 as M-Net Series Zone, one of three channels from the parent M-Net Series channel.
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| Country | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Sub Saharan Africa |
| Network | M-Net Series (formerly) |
| Affiliates | M-Net |
| Headquarters | Johannesburg |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | MultiChoice |
| Sister channels |
|
| History | |
| Launched | 1 April 1998 |
| Replaced | Vuzu (merge) |
| Closed | 31 March 2024[1] |
| Former names |
|
| Links | |
| Website | Official website |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| DStv | Channel 115 |
| Streaming media | |
| DStv App | |
It rebranded as M-Net City in 2015 and as Me in 2021, the latter from a merger with Vuzu. It currently broadcasts on satellite television service DStv on channel 115.
History
editThe channel began on 1 April 1998 as The Series Channel, eventually rebranded as M-Net Series to align with the parent M-Net channel in 2005.
On 9 July 2013, the channel broke into a three-channel network consisting of M-Net Series Showcase,[2] M-Net Series Reality and M-Net Series Zone. M-Net Series Showcase was touted by M-Net as "its main network for the launch of current serial programming, M-Net Series Reality airing reality television programming and M-Net Series Zone (this channel's adopted name) airing delayed programming from M-Net. However, within a year of launch, the channel formats of M-Net Series Showcase and M-Net Series Reality failed and got respectively rebranded as Vuzu Amp and M-Net Edge on 13 and 20 October 2014.[3]
As "M-Net City" (2015–2021)
editOn 6 April 2015, M-Net Series Zone was rebranded as M-Net City #115,[4] the channel number suffix getting dropped the following year.
Typically, M-Net City featured reruns of international television serial programming previously aired on parent channel M-Net along with some homegrown shows, the former M-Net Edge, and sister channel 1Magic (rebranded from Vuzu Amp on 1 March 2018) and Mzansi Magic.
As "Me" (2021–2024)
editOn 1 October 2021, M-Net announced that Vuzu would be merged into M-Net City and be rebranded as Me effective from 1 November.[5]
M-Net City signed off the air after 29 October for a 2-day channel reel promoting the premiere of its successor, along with Vuzu, with the successor assuming its channel run 3 days later at 16:00 CAT. As of 23 June 2023, the channel's official website designates the channel as M-Net Essentials whiles still maintaining its Me on-air branding.
The channel ceased operations on 31 March 2024, along with 1Magic.
References
edit- ^ The channel's official website designates it as Me channel 115 - M-Net Essentials.
- ^ "Developing Story: MultiChoice Bids Farewell To Both M-Net Essentials (Me) And 1Magic On DStv By The End Of March". Developing Story. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "M-Net Series Showcase". TVSA. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "M-Net Edge and VUZU AMP coming to DStv". Channel24. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ "M-Net Series Zone to become M-Net City". YoMzansi. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ Ferreira, Thinus (1 October 2021). "DStv ends M-Net City and VUZU for new channel coming in November". News24. Retrieved 1 October 2021..