All about M-Net: 'to create the best television entertainment in Africa and beyond'.

Electronic Media Network Limited was founded in 1985 as South Africa's first private subscription television service. The first broadcast, comprising one 12-hour channel, went out in October 1986. Today, M-Net boasts an array of general entertainment and niche channels and broadcasts to over a million subscribers across Africa.

Since its inception, M-Net has led the way in terms of quality broadcasting on the continent. Over the years, subscribers have been able to enjoy increasingly diversified programme line-ups and a compelling choice of channels.

M-Net's programming schedule is positioned to provide world-class entertainment supported by leading edge technology and innovative marketing concepts. Focusing on general entertainment (M-Net) and movies (Movie Magic 1& 2), subscribers can also enjoy sport (the SuperSport channels), youth programming (K-TV and GO) and exclusive entertainment (actionTV, Series Channel, Channel 0).

On 1st August, 1990, M-Net was listed as a public company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and in November 1999 M-Net and SuperSport, two of Africa's most popular television channel providers, were listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, giving Nigerians the opportunity to participate in the success of both channels. (More than 800 000 shares were trading on the first day of the listing)

M-Net's television channels are delivered to subscribers in two ways--analogue terrestrial distribution and digital satellite distribution.

The existing analogue system has been in operation for 17 years delivering the main M-Net entertainment channel, predominantly to South Africa, while the PAS 7 and W4 satellite delivers KU and C-band signals to Southern African and continental African subscribers.

M-Net's growth into Africa via terrestrial rebroadcast began in Namibia in 1992. Other countries including Botswana, Ghana & Nigeria rapidly followed, tuning into the M-Net magic. As of September 1992, M-Net is also available via satellite on MultiChoice's DStv platform and is currently broadcast to 44 countries across the continent and its adjacent islands.

The main M-Net channel is similar to that offered in South Africa. Broadcasts are split into two time zones--East and West--with a three-hour time difference. This allows M-Net to synchronize prime time viewing with the various time zones.

The continental M-Net family works in conjunction with sister company MultiChoice in Africa. MultiChoice, also established as a global player in the broadcast and telecommunications industry, has various operations including subscriber management services, development in the field of business television, telecommunications and sophisticated encryption technology.

To spearhead M-Net's increased commitment to stimulating and developing the continent's film and television production industry, the Local Productions commissioning division was established in 1997. All local content, co-productions, international co-productions and joint ventures, are handled by this unit, which also focuses on the development of new, niche and thematic channels.

The Local Productions division produced programs include:

* Big Brother Africa--the first cross-continental edition of this gripping internationally successful reality TV show premiered on May 25, 2003 and ended 106 days later on September 7 when Zambia's Cherise Makabule (left), walked off with the US$100 000 prize money.

* Face of Africa--the continental model search that launched in 1997 which gave unprecedented opportunities to African women to enter the world of international fashion modelling over its 4-year history. Among its success stories is Nigerian supermodel Oluchi, the first Face of Africa who now appears regularly on the world's biggest international fashion catwalks.

* Carte Blanche Africa--the continent's top weekly actuality programme, produced under the auspices of M-Net Local Productions, features a mix of South African and continental inserts. Boasting numerous awards, in 2002 the program won the coveted CNN African Journalist of the Year Award.

* Gladiators--a 13-week family orientated action game show, shot entirely on Location in Nigeria using Nigerian Gladiators and Contenders.

* New Directions Africa--the highly successful film initiative, launched in 7 countries in 1999, was designed to nurture emerging filmmakers. Among the short and full length films produced under its auspices are: The Sexy Girls, Chikin Biznis, The Whole Story, Prize Maize, Surrender, The Father, Aftermath and Twins of the Rainforest.

Looking to the future, M-Net has re-affirmed its commitment to the continent and is looking forward to a 2004 filled with more excitement, energy and magic!