DStv has announced the imminent launch of two new locally produced youth channels. The first is entitled Koowee and the name of the second is yet to be released.
Koowee will go live first on Monday, 6 April and will be a dedicated children’s channel aimed at preschoolers between the ages of one and six.
The channel will debut 15 new locally produced programmes, combined with various international series. Initially it will launch in Afrikaans and by 2010 it will also broadcast in Zulu, with other language options planned for the future.
On 31 March DStv's current children's channel K All Day will close to make way for the new channel, while the current K-TV block will continue on M-Net.
The GO channel will disappear at the end of June and the second channel aimed at 18 - 24 year olds will launch in July . This channel will be an interactive multiplatform service and will be supported by a social network that is integrated with the onscreen content.
“M-Net is constantly monitoring the performance and positioning of our channels as part of our mission to deliver the best content and service to our viewers,” says newly appointed Channel Director Yolisa Phahle. “These new channels are part of a bigger strategy to focus on local content and a younger market and we are confident that they are going to become firm favourites amongst viewers.”
Further details of the content of both channels will be released over the coming months.