Africa Magic is a collection of Pay TV entertainment channels that focus on African programming, most popularly Nigerian series and movies. Africa Magic, which started off as single channel of the same name, is a brand owned by M-Net and now comprises seven channels.

Africa Magic
Africa Magic logo
Broadcast areaSub-Saharan Africa
HeadquartersNigeria
Programming
Language(s)English, Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo
Picture format576i (SDTV, 16:9) - Terrestrial, 576i (SDTV, 16:9) - DStv, 1080i (HDTV, 16:9) - DStv
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
Sister channelsM-Net
Vuzu (closed)
Supersport
Channel O
Mzansi Magic
KykNET
Akwaaba Magic
Pearl Magic
Me (closed)
1Magic (closed)
1Max
History
Launched14 July 2003; 21 years ago (2003-07-14)
Links
Websitehttp://www.africamagic.tv
Availability
Terrestrial
GOtvChannel depends on region
GOtvChannel 2 (Africa Magic Family)
Channel 6 (Africa Magic Urban)
Channel 9 (Africa Magic Epic)
DStvChannel 151 (Africa Magic Showcase)
Channel 152 (Africa Magic Epic)
Channel 153 (Africa Magic Urban)
Channel 154 (Africa Magic Family)
Channel 156 (Africa Magic Hausa)
Channel 157 (Africa Magic Yoruba)
Channel 159 (Africa Magic Igbo)

History

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Africa Magic was launched in July 2003 as a movie and general entertainment channel geared at showcasing Nollywood talent and African culture and couture. At the time of its launch it received high popularity amongst DStv subscribers, especially in South Africa and Nigeria. Thus the launching of a sister channel, Africa Magic Plus, was made possible. The two channels went on another brand identity and over the next decade, the brand expanded to include seven more channels comprising movies, television shows and general entertainment. Africa Magic broadcasts in more than 50 African countries.[1] The channels include Africa Magic Family, Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Yoruba, Africa Magic Igbo, Africa Magic Hausa. Africa Magic Epic and Africa Magic Urban.[2] Africa Magic is also responsible for the annual Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs), the biggest celebration of film and television talent in Africa.[3]

Africa Magic's original programmes

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Stations

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Africa Magic started out as a single Nollywood channel which gained popularity from Multichoice's biggest revenue generators, South Africa and Nigeria, the reason why Africa Magic plus was launched. These were later renamed along with the creation of new channels. In 2017, Its rerun channel, Africa Magic World was discontinued due to lack of viewership.[4]

Africa Magic Showcase

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Africa Magic Showcase
Africa Magic Showcase logo
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Former names
  • Africa Magic Plus
    (2003–2012)
  • Africa Magic Entertainment
    (2012–2014)

Previously Africa Magic Plus then Africa Magic Entertainment. The premium tier channel showing first-run original series, reality shows and latest nollywood movie premiers.

Africa Magic Urban

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Africa Magic Urban
Africa Magic Urban logo
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Launched2012
Closed30 April 2024; 7 months ago (2024-04-30)
Former names
  • Africa Magic Movies 1
    (2012–2014)
Africa Magic Urban Movies (2014 - 16 March 2015)

Previously Africa Magic Movies 1. A contemporary lifestyle entertainment channel with predominantly movies and talk shows, as well as series from Mzansi Magic. Dropped the word 'Movies' in March 2015. The channel ceased operations on 30 April 2024.

Africa Magic Epic

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Africa Magic Epic
Africa Magic Epic logo
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Launched2012
Former names
  • Africa Magic Movies
    (2012-5 August 2014)
Africa Magic Epic Movies (2014–2016)

Previously Africa Magic Movies. A channel inspired by Africa's traditional roots with movies and series depicting cultural aspects.

Africa Magic Family

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Africa Magic Family
Africa Magic Family logo
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Former namesAfrica Magic
(2003–2014)

The parent Africa Magic channel serving family-oriented programs.

Regional channels

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Africa Magic Hausa
Programming
Language(s)Hausa
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Launched2010

Launched = 2010

Africa Magic Yoruba
Programming
Language(s)Yoruba
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Launched2010
Africa Magic Igbo
Programming
Language(s)Igbo
Ownership
OwnerMultichoice
History
Launched2 April 2015

Launched = 2010

  • Africa Magic Hausa – Movies and series broadcast in Hausa
  • Africa Magic Yoruba –Movies and series broadcast in Yoruba

Launched:2010

  • Africa Magic Igbo – Movies and series broadcast in Igbo

Launched:2015

Affiliates

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These are channels affiliated to the Africa Magic and share most of the programs, which are independently sourced from their respective regions. Content from these channels are either displayed in their original soundtrack or dubbed in English.

  • Maisha Magic – Formerly Africa Magic Swahili. A channel catering for the East African diaspora. Has five dedicated entertainment channels, Maisha Magic East, Maisha Magic Plus, Maisha Magic Bongo, Maisha Magic Movies and Maisha Magic POA.
  • Jango Magic – The West African-inspired channel serving Angola and Mozambique with a Kenyan version of The Voice
  • Zambezi Magic – Channel catering for Southern African nations such as Zimbabwe and Botswana. It primarily carries original drama series and content from Mzansi Magic.
  • Pearl Magic – Channel serving the Ugandan diaspora
  • Mzansi Magic – Channel that broadcasts South African series. Many of their programs are shown on Africa Magic Showcase and Africa Magic Urban. Has sister channels Mzansi Wethu, Mzansi Bioskop and Mzansi Music
  • Akwaaba Magic - channel serving Ghanaian audiences
  • Abol TV - channel created for Amharic speaking audiences

Defunct services

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Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards

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The Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) is an annual accolade presented by Multichoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film. The inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony was held in Lagos, Lagos State in Nigeria on 9 March 2013, and was broadcast live in more than 50 countries. Entries into the award ceremony are films and TV series that have been aired in the previous year.

In other uses

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References

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  1. ^ "Africa Magic Launches Igbo Channel - Africa Magic". Africamagic.dstv.com. 2015-03-17. Archived from the original on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  2. ^ Damilare Aiki (2012-04-16). "The Africa Magic Story: "A Dream & a Destination Shaped in Africa"". Bellanaija.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  3. ^ "The Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards 2015". Amvca2015-awards.dstv.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  4. ^ AFRICA MAGIC TAKES AWAY THE WORLD. M-Net and MultiChoice shut down the aimless Africa Magic World Channel on Dstv. Archived 2021-12-21 at the Wayback Machine TV with Thinus. Retrieved 20 December 2020. ]
  5. ^ "The real Africa Magic: Actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde looks incredible for ThisDay Style (PHOTOS)". YNaija.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  6. ^ "Sexy rules: And the viewers' choice award for the 'real Africa Magic' goes to... Omotola (PHOTOS, TWEETS)". YNaija.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2016-07-21.