Dstv Says Goodbye to MK (On TV, At Least)

After 8 years providing obtuse late-night viewing when nothing exciting was on Africa Magic, MK (Musiek Kaneel Kanaal… Music Channel) is bidding goodbye to TV screens across our fine nation. While this may not mean much to the average South African, it certainly marks a sort of milestone for me, since the first thing I ever covered with any semblance of professionalism (so, while wearing a tie) was an MK-related event. It was also a pretty big deal for Wrestlerish lead singer Werner Olckers. What do you think, dude?

From Werner:

MK is dead. But before everyone plans a riot or starts painting banners for protest, let’s all just remember this was inevitable. I know the channel had its naysayers and people felt that the original content might have been sub par, but have you ever thought about the fact that MK was a channel that from Day One had to fight for budget and was always doomed to be the fat kid picked last for the game? A South African “Alternative” music channel was always going to have to fight and approach things in a DIY manner against other channels that are main market orientated. They took what they had and created a culture around it. It was never perfect, but it was ours.

Like it or not, MK provided a platform for many different artists to showcase their music to people who would never have even had the chance to hear them. In MK, artists found budgets to make music videos and the channel supported and created live shows, moved the medium towards live streaming content, and even handed out a couple of awards and nominations to artists who helped contribute to the channel. Towards the end of the channel you could at any time see artists ranging from “traditional” MK bands such as Van Coke Kartel to work from artists who took the platform and made it work for their art. Artists like The Frown. And all of this happened 24/7 in most suburbs.

I, for one, am excited at the prospect of having a digital funnel for content. MK as a brand is established enough for people to still take note. Bands are just going to have to get smarter about the content they put out and how they use all digital fields to their advantage. It doesn’t take money to have a great music video, all it takes is a good concept and execution.

MK might be dead on DSTV, but I’m pretty sure if we keep supporting the ideal of the channel they’ll be haunting the internet pretty soon. I don’t know… I might be too positive and soppy.

I also want to add that the great thing is that now there isn’t that “TV” restriction. They’ll be able to push edgier materiel and content and have the freedom to do so…

“The MK audience is an online generation and in due course these free-spirited, on-the-go world citizens will be able to enjoy MK wherever and whenever they have internet access,” says M-Net.

M-Net says “this move will open up countless exciting possibilities for both the brand and the music featured on MK”.

“It’s mindblowing to think that internet users across the globe would be able to enjoy MK’s content and that you only need a smart phone, tablet or PC with an internet connection to be exposed to the great South African bands and musos that rock MK.”

Considering the cost of running an online channel vs the cost of a TV one, this seems like a wise move. I can only hope they also start pushing interesting and dynamic new content, because the internet also doesn’t have the same silly old rules we developed for TV back in the 70s. And hey, if the MK guys ever need a couple interviews done, they know who to call.