On 15 November 1999, kykNET broadcasted for the first time on DStv. Now, 25 years later, those dreams have come true, but there’s no resting on laurels.
“Keep on moving and making noise,” wrote Jan Rabie in his short story “Ek het jou gemaak” [I made you]. In that
spirit, kykNET will keep on creating, challenging and growing.
It started small, like so many success stories, but the dream was big: to launch a TV channel in Afrikaans for everyone who speaks the language. More than that – to create Afrikaans content that could compete with the world’s best, discover new talent both in front of and behind the camera, and give viewers the best possible programming.
The channel started under the capable leadership of Marida Swanepoel and Jan du Plessis. Over the years, several individuals have held the reins at kykNET. Theo Erasmus was head of the channel from July 2001 to May 2009, followed by Karen Meiring from April 2009 until the end of 2021. Waldimar Pelser took over from Karen and is now M-Net Channel Director: Premium Channels, which includes kykNET.
kykNET, proudly Afrikaans, has consistently offered a wide variety of programming. Drama series, the backbone of many TV channels and the incubator for stories, talent and skill, gained momentum when Song vir Katryn, kykNET’s first original series, aired in 2003. Since then, hits like Die Boekklub, Die Boland Moorde, Sara se geheim, Een keer om die son, Alles Malan, Amalia, Vlug na Egipte, Dwaalster, Vallei van sluiers and Nêrens, Noord-Kaap have
followed, to name just a few.
But it’s not just dramas. kykNET also carries the torch for quality content in a wide variety of other genres: lifestyle, current affairs, news, sports, reality series, comedy, soaps and telenovelas. Farmers find wives in Boer soek ’n vrou, Hannon transforms viewers in Die Glam Guru, Kabous (Prontuit) and Lourensa (In gesprek) keep us informed, Hannes has big conversations with remarkable people, on the couch with Kwêla, and in their homes with Hannes aan huis, and Breytie and the team talk rugby on Toks en Tjops.
kykNET’s impact extends even further. With its involvement in, among other things, film production through the Silwerskerm Festival, recognising talent at our arts festivals through the Fiësta Awards, and sponsorships at some of the country’s biggest festivals, kykNET has become one of the largest and strongest anchors in the South African entertainment industry.
kykNET has also grown beyond a single channel. MK, which ran from 2005 to 2013, provided the best in South African and particularly Afrikaans music. In 2012, kykNET NOU!, another music-focused channel, launched on DStv channel 146, and it’s still going strong. kykNET&kie joined the kykNET family in 2013 and is available on DStv channel 145. During holiday seasons, fliekNET has been showcasing the best Afrikaans feature films, short films, and documentaries since 2014.
“kykNET is a beloved name representing the talented creators who develop and produce programs, the subscribers who enjoy and engage with them, and the memories that television stirs within us. We aim for our dramas to resonate deeply with our audience, our comedies to bring hearty laughter, and our reality shows to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting what happens next. Our viewers see themselves in the people on screen, reflecting on their own choices in comparison to those made by contestants, players, or fictional characters. When we do our job well, our viewers feel entertained, informed, and—most importantly—a part of a broader Afrikaans community. To every subscriber who makes kykNET’s grand Afrikaans project possible, thank you. Here’s to curling your toes in delight for another 25 years!” concludes Waldimar Pelser, Channel Director for M-Net Premium Channels.
