The M-Net channels have been a catastrophe for too long BUT this doesn't make the latest developments any less frustrating because it's all happened before.
Many, many times (#AllThoseDefunctSeriesChannels). Now the M-Net channels are facing yet another overhaul.
It's taken M-Net two and a half years to realise that ripping top quality shows away from M-Net for M-Net Edge was a terrible idea.
M-Net has been so diluted as a result of the constant pushing and shoving of shows from one M-Net channel to another - and from one bouquet to another - that it's become a shadow of its former self. Thankfully, this madness is over.
For now at least.
On Saturday, 1 April M-Net Edge will join with M-Net and M-Net will once again become the DStv channel with the latest shows instead of a confused mash-up of repeats of a few, bizarrely selected new series.
Series that will move from M-Net Edge to M-Net include Elementary, Major Crimes, Grimm, Crashing, Girls, Homeland, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Lucifer.
New week night schedule
M-Net's nightly primetime schedule will run from 18h00 to 00h00 and will look like this:
18h00: Sitcoms
18h30: International reality shows
19h30 - 21h30: Drama, crime, comedy or action series
21h30 - 00h00: "Edgier" shows such as Billions, Magicians, The Leftovers, Bates Motel, Broadchurch, Detour etc.
At the weekend
The reality show repeats are gone and first run sitcoms and dramas will air from 18h00 on Saturdays. The weekends will also have added movies and the white elephant M-Net Movies Showcase channel on channel 107 will go dark.
Hurry up and watch
Of course none of this comes without consequence. The result is that various shows on M-Net and M-Net Edge are going to be burnt off in March in marathons of two, three or four back-to-back episodes.
There's no clarity on which shows this will happen with so the only option is to hold thumbs that the EPG reflects this.
M-Net Family = GONE
M-Net Family has been scrapped from the DStv Family bouquet and Vuzu will be added instead.