Channel O is a
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
n-based music channel which first started transmission in 1997. Its main concept is African music in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
and the
diaspora.
Channel O can be accessed via
DStv, a satellite pay TV service for
pan-African
Pan-Africanism is a worldwide movement that aims to encourage and strengthen bonds of solidarity between all Indigenous and diaspora peoples of African ancestry. Based on a common goal dating back to the Atlantic slave trade, the movement ext ...
households. The channel broadcasts a variety of music videos.
It also holds the annual
Channel O Music Video Awards ceremony, where artists are awarded for their outstanding contribution to music.
Channel O, in recent years, has lost a significant amount of popularity mainly due to the launch of rival channels
MTV Base Africa
MTV Base is a 24-hour music channel from Paramount Networks EMEAA. There are three different feeds of MTV Base Africa; for South Africa, West Africa and East Africa respectively.
History
The channel was launched in February 2005 with a liv ...
,
Trace Urban
Trace Urban (formerly MCM Africa then Trace TV) is a French pay-TV music video television channel owned by TPG Capital. It is the parent channel of the various Trace music channels. It is the third most distributed French television channel in t ...
and
Trace Africa
Trace Africa is an Afro-pop music channel dedicated to airing Africa's top music artists. Trace Africa, Africa’s number one music channel, is dedicated to playing and showcasing music of Africa’s top artists and genres including Afro-pop, cou ...
. The channel has been trying several means to gain popularity including the increasingly popular method of creating a South African feed and a Rest of Africa feed (MTV Base and Trace have also adopted this).
Programming
Playlists
*Only
This playlist views music videos dedicated to a specific artist or genre.
* Facts Only
Similar to Only, this playlist provides information on the specific artist or genre. This consists of mostly the artist background information, their real name opposed to their stage name, where they grow up, when they entered the entertainment industry, etc.
*Crispy Fresh
Crispy Fresh plays the latest newly released music videos of the week.
* O-House
A playlist exclusively for music videos in the house genre, including club and dance.
* Zoom In
Similar to Only, this playlist consists of music dedicated to a specific artist or genre.
*Uncensored
A late-night playlist displaying music videos that are uncensored and unedited, showing videos with nudity or sexual activity and strong language.
* The Hit List
Plays the freshest tracks from the biggest artists.
* Best of The Week
A round up of music videos that have appeared on Crispy Fresh.
* Lyrics On The Beat
Music videos shown with their lyrics.
* Collabos
A selection of music video collaborations
Chart Shows
* Ten2One
The top ten music video of a specific genre or region.
* The Channel O Top 30
These are the top 30 most popular music videos, voted for by the viewers on Channel O's website.
Music Shows
*iRequest: Celebrity Edition
Interviews with music artists and personalities as they request their favourite music videos.
*Massive Music
*
A 30-minute show hosted by
Lalla Hirayama
Lalla Hirayama (born February 10, 1988) is a Japanese—South African television host, actress, dancer and model. Best known for her current work as one of 5 hosts of the live celebrity news show ''V Entertainment'' on DStv channel Vuzu as the ...
and Smash Afrika about the latest music releases, guest interviews, a countdown of the latest releases and live performances. The show airs on
Mzansi Magic
Mzansi Magic is a South African digital satellite and general entertainment channel created by Multichoice and run by M-Net's local interest division, and is broadcast on DStv.
History
The channel launched in mid-July 2010 on channel 107 as ...
and Mzansi Wethu before airing on Channel O. However, the channel offers a blitz-speed bulletin titled Massive Music News during the day, providing updates on the latest music news.
*The Mix Up
Music videos are mixed, blended and mashed up by resident DJ Mikey.
*Remix Studio
*
Remix Studio takes a peek at the artist and what inspired them to create a smash hit. True to its name, it also provides a platform for the artist to "remix" their own song.
* Lockdown House Party
Shimza and PH host live performances and a mix of various music tracks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specials
*''
Channel O Africa Music Video Awards'' (CHOAMVAs)*
*''
American Music Awards
The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Pro ...
'' (AMAs)**
*''
Grammy Awards**''
*Billboard Music Awards**
*
* The Channel O Music Video Awards were last hosted in 2014. MultiChoice is yet to announce whether it will be hosted again
** These award shows are shown live on
M-Net
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
or
One Magic. Channel O acts as a rerun channel for these award shows.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official Site
Television stations in South Africa
English-language television stations in South Africa
Television channels and stations established in 1993
Television channels and stations established in 1997
Music television channels
Music organisations based in South Africa