All you need to know about the new M-Net Movie Channels launching October 1

M-Net is expanding from 1 October, 2012 with a new set of movie channels and sadly only one in of them in HD breaking down movies into more specific genres.

Why did M-Net decide to launch new channels?
The primary objective is to enhance your movie-viewing experience (with a Movie for Every Mood), and to ensure that you can find your movies easier.

When will the new channels launch?
The channels will launch from 10:30 on Monday 1 October 2012

What will they be called?
They will be called:
M-Net Movies Premiere (also in HD) – DStv channel 103
M-Net Movies Comedy – DStv channel 104
M-Net Movies Family  – DStv channel 105
M-Net Movies Action Plus  – DStv channel 106
M-Net Movies Drama & Romance  – DStv channel 107
M-Net Movies Showcase  – DSt channel 108
M-Net Movies Action  – DStv channel 110
M-Net Movies Stars  – DStv channel 111

How will the channels be broadcast?
Of the 8 channels on the DStv Premium bouquet, 1 of these are broadcast in high definition (HD). The HD channel is:
M-Net Movies Premiere – Channel 103

The channels available on the DStv Compact bouquet:
M-Net Movies Action– Channel 110
M-Net Movies Stars – Channel 111

Why is MM1 (as we know it) now changing to M-Net Movies Premiere?
M-Net is expanding to form a new family of movie channels to cater for every mood. M-Net Movies Premiere will consist of new movies, first-to-television and fresh from Hollywood. To select movies for all your other tastes will be on the other 7 dedicated movie channels.

What will now happen to M-Net Movies 1HD on channel 175?
M-Net Movies 1HD (DStv channel 175) will be replaced by M-Net Movies Premiere on DStv channel 103. M-Net Movies Premiere will be broadcast in high definition (HD). Your decoder is smart enough to detect the correct format and will display the channel in HD or SD depending on your decoder.

What will happen to MM2?
M-Net Movies 2 will be replaced by M-Net Movies Showcase on DStv cannel 108. M-Net Movies Showcase will feature a variety of movies, with a focus on festivals, themes and a viewer’s choice.

If MM1 and MM2 are falling away, what new channels am I now getting?
The four new channels are:
M-Net Movies Comedy
M-Net Movies Family
M-Net Movies Action+
M-Net Movies Drama & Romance

These four channels will all be genre-based, and will cater for the viewer’s specific tastes. For example, M-Net Movies Comedy will broadcast comedies 24/7, with a new comedy (that has not been broadcast on the channel) will be screened in prime time every day of the week.

M-Net Movies Premiere:
The crème-de-la-crème of big budget, hit movies await on the M-Net Movies Premiere channel. This is where Hollywood royalty lives and where you can find the freshest movies appearing on TV for the first time.

M-Net Movies Comedy:
Relax, put your feet up and prepare to laugh until it hurts with M-Net Movies Comedy. Whether you like your comedies tinged with romance, drama, slapstick humour or a little on the naughty side, the comedy channel will leave you in stitches.

M-Net Movies Family:

M-Net Movies Action Plus:
Escape on an adventure, discover what lies in the far reaches of Space, fight the bad guys and save the world.M-Net Movies Action Plus will take you there with a host of blockbuster movies from Action to Westerns, Horror and Sci-Fi.

M-Net Movies Drama & Romance:
Get swept away by an enchanting love story, or lost in a heart wrenching drama with M-Net Movies Drama & Romance. The drama and romance channel features a variety of new and entertaining content including biographies, thrillers, documentaries and war movies.

M-Net Movies Showcase:
Revisit your most magical movie moments and discover new ones with M-Net Movies Showcase. M-Net Movies Showcase shines the spotlight on specific movies and directors with exciting festivals, themes and box sets. Plus you get to take control and recommend movies with our viewer’s choices.

M-Net Movies Action:
Do high speed car chases, massive explosions, hot woman, ripped action stars and giant bloodthirsty mutant animals make your world go round? With M-Net Movies Action, you’ll find everything to keep you glued to your lazy boy.

M-Net Movies Stars:
Your best loved actors and movies shine brightly on M-Net Movies Stars. Featuring cult classics and movie favourites from past and present across a variety of genres from comedy to drama and romance, it’s the channel for young and old alike.

What about the movies on M-Net Movies Premiere?
Every Friday, there are 4 new first-to-television movies from 5:30pm until 11:30pm WAT, with the biggest movie of the week on Fridays at 7:30 WAT.

In addition to this, the M-Net Sunday night blockbuster movie will be screened at 9pm WAT on M-Net. This movie will also be broadcast at 7:30pm WAT that same evening on M-Net Movies Premiere for viewer’s convenience.

Will the existing censoring options also exist on M-Net Movies?
Yes, movies will be broadcast with the original soundtrack and the option to select family audio option. In addition, the parental control facilities will still exist.

Adding additional movie channels will mean more repeats, why can’t we add other channels rather?
They are not just adding more movie channels, we are changing the way the M-Net Movie channels are structured and grouping them into genres.

Will all movies be repeated on all the additional movie channels?
No. A new blockbuster movie will be screened on M Premiere first and will then move to the appropriate themed channel. Some new niche movies will also be screened first on some themed channels.

Soundtracks
What kind of soundtracks will be available on the HD movie channels?
The family and original soundtrack will always be available. When available for a particular movie, the surround sound option will be included. Please take note of the slide at the start of each movie and also on the EPG itself.

Will Dolby 5.1 be available on the HD channels?
Where the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is made available by the studios it will be played out. In all other cases, HD channels will carry Dolby 2. Please take note of the EPG on the specific programme or movie.

What about Hearing Impaired subtitles on the new M-Net movie channels?
Where it is available, the HI subtitles will be played out. There will be a slide at the start of each movie, as well as an indication on the EPG.

What will HD sound quality be like?
M-Net Movies feature 5.1 Dolby surround audio as an option where available. The family and original audio will be available in Stereo.

Are the standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) channels different?
The channel content is exactly the same and movies are screened identically. The format in which the viewer will receive the feed will depend on your decoder type. SD decoders will broadcast in SD, and HD in HD. Your decoder will automatically detect the format.

If I am a DStv Premium subscriber do I automatically receive the HD channels?
No, you will only receive the HD channels if you have an HD PVR decoder (to enjoy the full benefits of HD it is preferable to have a HD Ready or Full HD TV).

If I am a HD subscriber, will I be able to record in SD?
Not at present.

What aspect ratio will I get my movies in?
All eight channels will be broadcast in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 4:3 viewer will have the option to choose the arch setting on their remote.

At what time do the movies start on M-Net Movies?
The movies on M-Net Movies follow a cascading pattern of broadcast. This means that there are two movies starting every half hour.

M-Net Movies Premiere and M-Net Movies Drama & Romance have a movie each at 5:30pm WAT. Next is M-Net Movies Comedy and M-Net Movies Showcase, with a movie each at 6pm WAT. M-Net Movies Family and M-Net Movies Action have a movie each at 6:30pm WAT.