What If The M-Net Series Trademark Were Revived Perhaps In Place Of M-Net 101?

With MultiChoice and M-Net set to axe secondary networks M-Net Essentials (Me) and 1Magic in the coming weeks. It kind of leads one to wonder if the main M-Net channel which had been exclusive to premium consumers since it's inception will get purged.

Unlike Me and 1Magic, M-Net hadn't undergone any rebranding, name change or drastic reshuffling to programming if anything it has seen a decline in audiences. Similar to the United States were brands like HBO and NBC had lost at least 10% of their audience yearly.

M-Net has hit rough patch so much so that neither them or MultiChoice are ever public about the viewing numbers of their programs. When 1Magic debuted, their lowest rated show V-Entertainment had at least 10,000 viewers so M-Net would need to have something around that range.

Not that the channel has become irrelevant, but it's basically how SABC would view SABC 3 - niche. It's still dominant in the field it caters for or at least on linear platforms offering latest seasons to shows alongside films.

But with the downfall of the secondary networks and decline in viewership on M-Net, MultiChoice should consider unifying these brands under one name. I get that Me still had that M-Net trademark but by styling it's more like SABC 3 (S3) making it more alienated.

A brand that comes to mind would be M-Net Series, one of M-Net's most iconic trademarks was basically M-Net Movies but for drama series and reality shows. M-Net has been causing conflict with its premium movie channels airing select content before them.

M-Net Series would help reduce the rift between M-Net and M-Net Movies and if anything could help M-Net lure in viewers. M-Net (better yet M-Net Series 1) could add just add series like RuPaul's Drag Race and Power Book 4 Force in the timeslots allocated to movies.

The other two channels would serve as secondary brands rehashing content viewed on M-Net Series 1 and similar to 1Magic recieve first run programs. The second channel would tailor toward reality and lifestyle and the last would revive the M-Net City/Edge concept.

From my understanding, this concept was used several years back as M-Net Series Showcase, Reality and Zone. Only one out of the three garnered relevance but was partially due to the other two being folded under premium alongside the downsizing of content.

Again, I don't think the M-Net Series concept failed but how MultiChoice executed it was what led to its downfall. If anything, VUZU was more like how one would interpret M-Net Series Reality while Showcase was more like a rival brand to M-Net with content sharing between channels.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Almost Got A Third Season

Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated is often regarded as the best iteration of Scooby-Doo and we all assumed based on how the show ended that it ended on the writer's terms but it turns out that wasn't exactly true.

According to an interview on ScoobyAddicts.Com, Mitch Watson who was the head developers of the season mentioned that they were working on a third season of Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated at one point. They did want to produce a third season seeing as it was a hit overseas before getting cancelled.

The third season would have revolved around the gang driving off to the Harland Alison College and solving other mysteries along the way. Various monsters from previous iterations of franchise would make a comeback and there was also going to be a new mystery surrounding the college.

Unfortunately, two seasons was it and they were going to do a third season at one point. Honestly speaking, it was probably for the best as they had this one plot that consumed over two seasons and wanted to prolong the show with the third season which might have not been well recieved.

There comes a point where network executives want to prolong the franchise that it ends up seeing a drop in quality. It would come to a point where fans would want it to end and that's where Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated would have probably ended up if a third season existed.

If anything, it would have probably been better to make the third season a separate show from Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated.

Development Alert (Rumour): Pretty Freekin Scary Cancelled On The Disney Channel After One Season

During the month, it was reported Bunk'd would end on the Disney Channel with a 7th season. On top of that, the channel had been quietly cancelling shows such as The Ghost And Molly McGee and Saturdays, now rumours have that Pretty Freekin Scary is joining the line-up.

Synopsis for Pretty Freekin Scary:

After her sudden demise, Frankie Ripp, a 14-year-old girl, agrees to a deal with the Grim Reaper that she would go back home but accompanied by her underground parents. Frankie tries to keep the Grim Reaper a secret from everyone, while at the same time she must work for the Grim Reaper by completing a series of given tasks should she wish to keep her life.

Created by Jason P. Hauser, and based on Cloudco Entertainment's property of the same name, the series stars Eliana Su'a, Kyan Samuels, Leah Mei Gold, Yonas Kibreab, and Emma Shannon. It premiered on Disney Channel on June 15, 2023. 

Although the rumours pertaining to Pretty Freekin Scary hasn't been ruled out as yet it wouldn't seem far fetched. Disney Channel hadn't done much marketing for their fresher batch of content and another reason would be issue surrounding Saturday's demise.

According to some outlets, Disney is focusing on building out its multicam strategy and that includes prioritising shows that are based on Disney-owned IP, and creating global tentpole programming. It kind of leads one to wonder what fate awaits The Villains Of Valley View and mainly Hamster And Gretel.

Disney Channel is working on a fifth season to Phineas And Ferb with Dan Povenmire (creator of Hamster And Gretel). One has to wonder if Disney will prioritise both shows or leave one on the air as the creator had refused to have a crossover special for Hamster And Gretel if it bows out with only 2 seasons.

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story (PDF)

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story is a 2012 book by Sean Howe, based on the history of Marvel Comics and published by HarperCollins. Howe decided to write the book because the stories comic creators told in fanzine interview always seemed different from the official narrative. It starts with the comics published during the golden age, the characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and then follows with the later decades. The information presented draws on over 150 interviews conducted by Howe. 

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Development Alert: The Ghost And Molly McGee Ends After Two Seasons On The Disney Channel

The Ghost and Molly McGee is an American animated supernatural comedy television series created by Bill Motz and Bob Roth that aired on Disney Channel from October 1, 2021 to January 13, 2024. The series featured the voices of Ashly Burch, Dana Snyder, Jordan Klepper, Sumalee Montano, Michaela Dietz, and Lara Jill Miller.

Synopsis for The Ghost And Molly McGee:

In the Human Realm, 13-year-old optimist Molly McGee arrives in her new hometown of Brighton, only to discover that her new house is already occupied by a grumpy ghost named Scratch. Scratch curses Molly in an attempt to scare her away; however, this backfires, forever binding him to her. While initially antagonistic toward her, Scratch opens up to Molly with time, and their friendship strengthens. The two go on wacky misadventures together and help each other through the good and bad in their lives (and afterlives). 

The first premiered on October 1, 2021 and ended on July 9, 2022 with 20 episodes while the second season premiered on April 1, 2023 and concluded on January 13, 2024 on Disney Channel with 21 episodes.

TGAMM crew member Noel Belknap confirmed Disney had originally greenlit scripts for a third season while the crew was working on season 2 but the show was cancelled as early as May 2022 between S1 episodes 115-116.

The End was additionally ordered to conclude the series. pic.twitter.com/oHEAtKP89i

— Owlphibia (@owlphibia) January 14, 2024

According to a tweet on Owlphobia, Noel Belknap who served as a crew member on the show revealed that Disney had greenlit a script for a third season while working on the second season. But Disney cancelled it as early as May 2022 while filming the first season.

"The End" which is set to rollout on Disney Channel in various countries served as an additional commission to conclude the show and was initially meant for the third season.

The third season would have tackled more serious topics such as relationships, death and loss. Unfortunately due to the cancellation and possible a change in management, all the ideas were scrapped and "The End" concluded the show.

Adventure Time Series Bible (PDF)

Adventure Time is the quintessential goofball buddy comedy, and it was every bit as goofy and fantastical when creator Pen Ward was pitching it. Here are some of the most clinically algebraic excerpts from the deck that was used to pitch the show, broken out by:

• Finn The Human Boy

• Jake The Dog

• Princess Bettie Bubblegum

• Marceline The Vampire Queen

• The Ice King

• The Lich King

• Ooo and The Awesome Fort

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