Wednesday, December 22, 2010

BREAKING. Several M-Net channel logos set to change in 2011 (again) for a more uniform look using the ''M'' ribbon-device.



You're reading it here first.

Get ready for some more logo changes and on-screen channel ident changes in 2011. M-Net ones.

I can exclusively break the news that the various M-Net channel logos will (again) be changed early in 2011 after channels like M-Net Action (DStv 106) and M-Net Stars (DStv 105) saw quite a few successive logo adaptations just this past year. M-Net channel logos affected that will change in the early part of 2011 include M-Net Action (DStv 106), M-Net Series (DStv 110), M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 103), M-Net Movies 2 (DStv 104) and even M-Net Movies 1 HD (DStv 175) that only came into being a few months ago.

M-Net channel logos not affected and which will remain as they are now are main M-Net channel (DStv 101), M-Net Stars (DStv 105) and M-Net HD (DStv 170). Multiple sources at various levels at the various channels as well as MultiChoice indicated to me that MultiChoice requested the change. I don't want to quote any of the specific and broad pick of people I spoke to but they all say the same two things: Number one is that M-Net wants to be bold(er) with showing off the ''M''-ribbon device of its logo in general. Number two is that there's now a feeling from MultiChoice and now within M-Net to have the various M-Net channels not necessarily look exactly the same, but have more overall, easier and identifiable brand cohesion. Basically the M-Net channels have to all look as if they're all a part of the same family.

The channels that won't change already have this necessary brand cohesion, I'm told. They all start with the flowing ''M''-ribbon device and then wording, if the channel logos of M-Net Stars and M-Net HD are looked at. This idea was already incorporated in the thinking of changing the M-Net Holiday channel to m199 (DStv 199). All the channel logos I'm told will change to all have the ''M''-ribbon device first and then whatever wording. The new channel logos have not yet been designed.

Interesting: Why will M-Net Action (DStv 106) change if it already has the ''M''-ribbon device at the beginning in the new yellow lava-like logo that was only introduced in October? Insiders tell me the feedback from viewers to the logo have been mixed and more negative than positive, a sentiment apparently now shared by M-Net as well. The perception is that the ''M'' ''overshadows'' the ''a'' of action. ''Where do you look? The ''M'', the ''a''?'' quipped an M-Netter. ''The ''M'' is too far over the ''a'' is what everyone is now saying,'' says another, so the M-Net Action logo is getting another sprucing up next year.