MK89
Encyclopedia
MK is a mostly Afrikaans
music channel, launched in mid 2005, as MK89, that is part of the DStv
bouquet of satellite channels owned by MultiChoice
/M-Net
, based in South Africa
. MK is for Musiek Kanaal (Music Channel) and 89 was the original channel number on DStv
satellite decoders. When the channel number was changed to 324, the channel was renamed to MK.
Even though the channel does not feature exclusively Afrikaans
music, it has seen a tremendous boost for the resurging Afrikaans
music scene, especially “indie
” type of music. The coincidence of the channel's launch with a resurgence in South African filmmaking has helped stimulate the creation of high quality music videos, which has driven the look of the channel to a level that few could have anticipated at launch.
While the MTV influence in MK is apparent, it has managed to create an identity that is generally preferred to the international nature of the big music channels.
The Vuilhonne (Afrikaans
slang
for dirty dogs), as the group call themselves, have become celebrities, even featuring on national magazine covers. "AF" is by far the most popular programme on the channel, across gender and racial groups.
Previous shows
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
music channel, launched in mid 2005, as MK89, that is part of the DStv
DStv
DStv is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on Ku band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7 , which only requires a small satellite dish...
bouquet of satellite channels owned by MultiChoice
MultiChoice
MultiChoice is a South African company which operates the DStv satellite television service, the main satellite TV service in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was formed out of the subscriber-management branch of the M-Net terrestrial pay TV company, and broadcasts the full range of M-Net channels on the...
/M-Net
M-Net
M-Net is a subscription-funded television channel in South Africa, established in 1986 by Naspers....
, based in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. MK is for Musiek Kanaal (Music Channel) and 89 was the original channel number on DStv
DStv
DStv is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on Ku band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7 , which only requires a small satellite dish...
satellite decoders. When the channel number was changed to 324, the channel was renamed to MK.
Even though the channel does not feature exclusively Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
music, it has seen a tremendous boost for the resurging Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
music scene, especially “indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
” type of music. The coincidence of the channel's launch with a resurgence in South African filmmaking has helped stimulate the creation of high quality music videos, which has driven the look of the channel to a level that few could have anticipated at launch.
While the MTV influence in MK is apparent, it has managed to create an identity that is generally preferred to the international nature of the big music channels.
Shows on the channel
- "Matrix" (In AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
with parts in English). A South African reality show in which eight girls, who have just finished school, are given a Matric Rage (also known as Matric Rave) holiday (the South African equivalent of Schoolies weekSchoolies weekSchoolies or schoolies week refers to the Australian tradition of high-school graduates having week-long holidays following the end of their final exams in late November and early December."Toolies" refers to older revelers who participate in Schoolies week but are...
). All the young adults who have just finished school migrate to the coastal towns to celebrate. The show documents the girls going to a house in Keurbooms Strand, Plettenberg BayPlettenberg BayPlettenberg Bay, nicknamed Plet or Plett, is the primary town of the Bitou Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of the census of 2001, there were 29149 population...
which is part of South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Garden RouteGarden RouteThe Garden Route is a popular stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa. It stretches from Heidelberg in the Western Cape to the Storms River which is crossed along the N2 coastal highway over the Paul Sauer Bridge in the extreme western reach of the neighbouring Eastern Cape...
. The girls entered this reality show, which boasts a sum of money as a prize, with their best friend. There are multiple occurrences during this holiday that challenge the girls, including dealing with problems in the area relating to a flood which occurred in the area days before their arrival, such as there being no running water for a number of days. The girls vote for a winner each episode and then an overall winner is picked from a final count of the votes at the end of the show.
- “Wys my jou Huis” (Show me your House in AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
). A South African version of Cribs, where the homes of local musicians are shown. The differences between the two shows are apparent, as the South African music industry is much less lucrative in comparison to the American music industry.
- “Susters” (Sisters in AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
). With a somewhat playfully prudish title, this show features all kinds of female interests, from make-up tips to hot rock stars to tattoo artists.
- “ID” (In AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
the sound of these letters corresponds to the word idea). This is a makeover show featuring Fanie as well as Adele. Aimed at a female audience, this show is popular in both gender groups.
- “Hoordosis” (A wordplay on the word oordosis which means overdose, and hoor means hear in AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
). This show has the most airtime as it is a random collection of music videos.
- “Hip-hop”. A magazine show focused on the South African hip-hop scene, and includes international hip-hop music videos.
- “MyMK”. A viewer’s choice show, where one viewer’s selection is played, international or South African.
- “MKchat”. A show with a studio guest which chat in real time with viewers on an Internet chat room while a DJ plays in the background. The chat thread is displayed onscreen with a corner insert of the guest.
- “Jip”. Based on a weekly newspaper insert, this show is a general magazine program which includes interviews and articles. The show is older than the channel and was migrated to MK89 by MultiChoiceMultiChoiceMultiChoice is a South African company which operates the DStv satellite television service, the main satellite TV service in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was formed out of the subscriber-management branch of the M-Net terrestrial pay TV company, and broadcasts the full range of M-Net channels on the...
as it is a better fit here than on the previous, English only, channel “Go (TV channel)Go (TV channel)Go was a a TV channel on the DStv satellite network. The channel was broadcast on DStv channel 84. After a channel shuffle by DStv in October 2007, go was moved to channel 123. go was a channel for preteens, teens and twenty-somethings...
”. It is renowned for its parodic inserts, some of the best film-making on the channel.
- “Stook” (Afrikaans for stoke or burn). A lifestyle magazine show featuring reviews of movies, albums and videogames. The presenter has a celebrity guest to help him with reviews, and includes informal interviewing.
- “Amp”. A show where an interviewer follows an artist/group around for a typical day in their lives, with snippets of the featured artist/group’s music videos thrown in.
- “Gons” (Afrikaans for buzz or hum). This is a studio based interview show with an artist/group or actor. The guests are asked to choose a music video at the end of the show. This show is the most formal show on the channel.
- “Af” (Afrikaans for “Off” in the context of not being correct). A show that features a set group of nicknamed students, doing silly (but almost always hurtful) stunts, annoying the unsuspecting public or just indulging in general strange behaviour. This show closely copies MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s “JackassJackass (TV series)jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
”. The show’s main cast member presents the show in Ashton Kutcher’s style in MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s “Punk’d” (Black and white monologues with an all white background. The camera angles are face and profiles shots while he is talking, and switches randomly).
The Vuilhonne (Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for dirty dogs), as the group call themselves, have become celebrities, even featuring on national magazine covers. "AF" is by far the most popular programme on the channel, across gender and racial groups.
Previous shows
- “Mullets” (Mullet referring to the hair- and lifestyle). A show started by an ex-member of the "AF" team where two hilbilly-like characters tour the country, supposedly myth busting, but in fact just disguising AF-style stunts as myths.
- “Jol24” (Jol is AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
for fun or partying). A reality show where a viewer is given a video camera and a RSouth African randThe rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
1000 for 24 hours to document his/her day as he/she parties and socializes. - “Fliekfix”. A show that highlights the latest movies on the South African circuit.
- “X”. A show featuring only international videos. Three choices, from members of the public, are played at the end.
- “Draadloos” (Afrikaans for wireless). An unplugged studio session featuring established as well as new music artists.
- “Hoenner” (AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
slangSlangSlang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for chicken). Another group of young people doing silly stunts. The stunts sometimes involve assembly of elaborate contraptions. There is a rumored rivalry with the “Af” cast members. - “Petrolkop” (AfrikaansAfrikaansAfrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
for petrolhead). Presented by local star Snotkop, a.k.a. Lekgoa, this show featured celebrities driving racing cars in time trials against each other.