An unscenic vista: State of SA tv address

Take a look at South Africa’s television broadcasting landscape and it’s not the prettiest thing to behold. Let’s review the situation: a pay-TV operator so untouchably powerful that many believe it is stunting the growth of competitors; a public broadcaster that has deteriorated into something of a bad joke in terms of local content, financial and management issues; a fairly recent satellite pay-TV operator who is grappling to live up to its very promising start; and lastly, perhaps the most normal of all, a functional commercial free-to-air broadcaster.

Big Brother calls on pairs to enter

ScreenAfrica,

Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net has announced that entrants for season seven of reality-TV franchise Big Brother Africa must double-up if they want to compete for the USD 300,000 cash prize.

According to the series producers, this means that anyone who wants to enter must partner with another person to enter as a pair. This could be a best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, mom, dad, brother, sister, boss, husband, wife, neighbor or hairdresser, as long as it is someone the entrant is willing to spend a lot of time with.

Liberia and Sierra Leone will also have representatives in the Big Brother house for the first time, while Ethiopia bows out of the game and Mozambique will take on a new role that will be announced at a later stage.

That means that this year, if you want to enter Big Brother Africa you can do so if you and your partner are citizens from one of the following participating countries: Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Both partners must come from the same country, must be 21 years or older, must be fluent in English and must have a valid passport.

Interested persons can collect an entry form from the nearest MultiChoice office in their country anytime from 5 February, or enter by logging on to www.mnetafrica.com/bigbrother and completing an entry form online. Or download an entry form from the website, complete and email it back to bba@endemol.co.za. All online entry forms will also be available from 5 February, and the deadline for entries is 27 February 2012.

As with previous seasons, entrants are expected to be fun-loving, vocal, creative, original and articulate. In addition all entrants must the social flexibility to live in close proximity with others and must be tolerant of views and lifestyle choices other than their own.

Commenting on the surprise turn of events, M-Net Africa managing director Biola Alabi says, “We are thrilled to be offering a huge, new, USD 300,000 prize and to include two new countries who were chosen to participate based on their ongoing interest in the series and their growing DStv audiences. And while Ethiopia won’t have a housemate this year, we’ll look to include them and other non-housemate countries in other ways if the opportunity arises, as we do every season. We are and have always been proudly committed to making this a truly African show. And as for Mozambique, they will be included with a housemate – but that’s all we are saying at the moment!”

She goes on to say, “Of course, the really big news this season is that entrants must enter as pairs. In the past we’ve seen a natural and continuous cross-over between individuals and their families, their friends. So this year, we decided to include that as part of the game. It will definitely make a dramatic addition to the series so we urge people to enter and experience what will be a uniquely different Big Brother Africa!”

Produced for M-Net by Endemol South Africa, the new season of Big Brother Africa will be headline sponsored by Coca-Cola for the second consecutive year and will be screened to 47 countries across the continent, live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198. The series starts Sunday 6 May. 

New local shows on Mzansi Magic

Local content channel Mzansi Magic, part of the DStv pay-TV bouquet, has announced a number of new local shows to start on the channel in October, as well as news of local shows going global.

According to a statement Mzansi Magic’s South African content has proved that it can appeal to audiences worldwide, with season one of popular cooking show Cooking with Siba to be broadcast in the UK as from Wednesday 5 October.

The channel’s award winning [SAFTA 2011 Best Magazine Show] All Access Mzansi has also been licensed to South African Airways (SAA) for their inflight entertainment effective from Wednesday 5 October.

With regard to new shows, a new documentary series, Miami Invasion, will capture the journey of South Africa’s top house music DJs including deejay Black Coffee and Fresh at the Miami Music Winter Conference (MWMC). The series premieres Saturday 1 October at 6pm with an episode that profiles the who’s who of the SA crew as well as their past and present relationship with Miami.

The Road to Miss SA starts on Mzansi Magic on Sunday 9 October at 7pm. South Africans can watch the progress of the 33 Miss SA semi-finalists on this series until Miss South Africa 2011 is crowned in December. The Road to Miss SA is a one hour reality show, hosted by Bridget Masinga.

Mzansi Magic will also delve deep into the world of cutting edge must-have gadgets when Sony presents Mgongo premieres on Tuesday 11 October at 7:30pm. The half-hour show will be presented by Precious Kofi and newcomer Sandile van Heerden, and will feature popular music videos as well as interviews, live performances, behind-the-scenes scoops, the latest movie releases and gadgets.

Comedy show Laugh out Loud will return for season four on Friday 7 October at 7:30pm, promising more gags and even bigger suckers under the helm of its new co-executive producer Rapulana Seiphemo who takes over from Bobby Heaney from episode four.

Mzansi Magic will also continue with their locally produced bubblegum movies on Monday 3 October at 8:30pm, with a film where a Catholic Priest takes up a post in a crime-ridden township with a mission of converting the community members from sinners to saints. Cast The First Stone stars Tu Nokwe and Vuyo Dabula, and is directed by Lehlogonolo Shaft Moropane. 

Protesting the Secrecy Bill

South Africa’s Right To Know (R2K) Campaign is organising a march outside Parliament in Cape Town on Saturday 17 September from 10am to 1pm to once again protest the Protection of Information Bill (Secrecy Bill) which seeks to severely limit freedom of the press.

A R2K statement reads: “It's been almost one year since R2K mounted its first march on Parliament in protest at the draconian Secrecy Bill! Through the efforts of our membership of civil society organisations, social movements and community groups, we have ensured that many of the draconian clauses have been removed or revised.

But despite efforts to reform the Secrecy Bill in Parliament, the final draft that will appear before the National Assembly still metes out harsh prison sentences to whistleblowers, and poses a clear threat to the free flow of information.

“On Saturday 17 September from 10am to 1pm, thousands of South Africans will join in a march to Parliament to reject the final draft of the 'Secrecy Bill'.”

How can you get involved?

1) Join our MARCH! RSVP on the Facebook event page: SPEAK OUT AGAINST SECRECY: MARCH TO PARLIAMENT!

2) Send this invitation to everyone you know!

3) Volunteer to be a MARSHAL on the day. Reply to this email with your contact details and "Marshal" in the subject line.

4) Make a DONATION to support our march! This can be done online on our Donors Page on www.r2k.org.za.

For more information, and to organise transport for your community contact Nkwame Cedile: nkwame.cedile@gmail.com / 021 461 7211 or 078 227 6008

COME DRESSED IN RED, BLACK and WHITE!

http://www.screenafrica.com/

Zola rolls back into TV limelight

After a two year hiatus from the limelight kwaito musician, actor and presenter Bonginkosi ‘Zola’ Dlamini returns to South African television screens with a new reality show, Rolling With Zola.

Produced by Red Pepper Pictures the series begins on Sunday, 25 September on free-to-air commercial channel e.tv. It will give insight into the charismatic star’s life and his personal quest to unearth new talent.

“The show will reveal my metamorphosis over the years,” said Dlamini. “Audiences will see a more personal portrayal of my life in my environment and through my medium.”

A 13-part docu-reality series, Rolling with Zola captures Dlamini’s journey from his tough childhood in Soweto to his multifaceted career as an entertainer. The show will also focus on the star’s tour throughout the country as he seeks to discover six talented youths. Throughout the show, Dlamini will face his demons as he gives viewers a glimpse into his larger-then-life persona.

e.tv Head of Channel Monde Twala is delighted to have Dlamini on board. “Zola is a self-made man with a passionate, creative and open minded approach to South African music,” said Twala. “These qualities and his national appeal make him an obvious choice for a show that aims to give talented ordinary South Africans a platform.”

The show will reveal the real journeys of ordinary South Africans struggling to get their voices heard and uses Dlamini’s background story to demonstrate that not all is rosy in the entertainment industry. Rolling With Zola will tour South Africa looking for six individuals that sing, rap or perform all sorts of music genres.

“There is tremendous talent in South Africa waiting to be unearthed,” said Dlamini. “I learnt the hard way and I want young ‘musos’ to prepare for the fact that living their dreams has certain challenges.”
In Rolling With Zola, Dlamini will serve as a mentor and impart knowledge to new young artists, often guiding them to make life changing decisions. The individuals discovered on the show will record songs with Dlamini.

http://www.screenafrica.com/

Oops.. Gareth Cliff does it again!

5FM’s DJ Gareth Cliff has been taken to task for allegedly making a sexist comment on air. Newspapers reported on Monday that the DJ was reported to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) by Tex Collins, a DA councillor in Durban.

Collins reportedly heard Cliff interview Aids activist Angela Larkin – he had praised the 27-year-old for starting her work when she was 22, adding “girls of 22 usually do nothing but lie on their backs with their legs open”.

Collins was apparently “appalled” by the remark, and called for the BCCSA to take action against him”. In his complaint to the BCCSA, Collins wrote: “I request that action be taken against him for his off-colour remarks” It was added, “He sends out the message that every young girl does not have morals”.

Cliff commented on his website, “I refute the allegation and consider it insulting in turn to be called sexist. The reason I had Angela on my show is because she is precisely the opposite of the kind of girl I am alleged to have offended. It is unfortunate in the extreme that an interview about a terrific cause and effort by a philanthropist should be turned into a controversy about Gareth Cliff. This is a ruinous reflection of the depth to which public discourse has sunk. If my obviously outrageous and laughable comment makes more news than the good work of Angela Larkan, then sexism is the least of our concerns.”

The BCCSA has said the complaint would be investigated.

Khumbul'ekhaya changing lives

SABC1’s local docu-reality television series Khumbul’ekhaya continues to track the journeys of real South Africans who ask for help in their search to heal their relationships with lost or estranged family members.

The Khumbul’ekhaya team, together with the Mayor of Ethekwini Municipality and Mr Ishwar Ramlutchman unveiled a brand new house for Ntombikhona Zondi and her three siblings who featured on Khumbul’ekhaya.

The event took place on Thursday 1 September at 9am in Greytown, Entembisweni.

Ntombikhona and her siblings wrote in to the show requesting to be reunited with their fathers’ family, whom they have never met before. Their father passed on in 1999 and their mother in 2003. Ntombikhona has been the bread winner of her family ever since, and they have been moving from one extended family member to another without a place to call home.

“After their story was broadcast on Khumbul’ekhaya, we received a very moving response from one of our viewers, Ishwar Ramlutchman, who was greatly touched by their plight and wanted to reach out and extend a helping hand to them. He has in the meantime built a beautiful house for them in Greytown,” said a statement from SABC1.

The story of Ntombikhona and her siblings will be featured in the episode of Khumbul’ekhaya on Wednesday 21 September at 9pm.

local feature film 48 launched

DVD sales for local feature film 48 were recently launched in three Limpopo cities in two days by one of the film’s stars, actress Millicent Makhado of Muvhango fame.

The film was produced, directed and written by Bonginhlanhla Ncube, a.k.a Mr. B. “We thought it was only wise and fair to launch the film first at her (Makhado’s) home province, Limpopo, then the film will enjoy a series of other launch tours to other provinces during the month of August before it becomes available in shops and rental houses,” says Mr. B.

The film is about a man (Karabo Lance) who has 48 hours to live, but must raise half a million rand in order to receive treatment for his deadly ailment. His wife (Mahkado) is caught in a love triangle between him and his brother Fistaz (Jeffrey Sekele).

48 premiered on DStv pay-TV channel Mzansi Magic on 30 May 2011 and has already aired six times, with each screening reportedly receiving very good audience ratings. The film was officially selected for the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) but was later removed because it had already premiered on television.

DVDs for 48 are currently available on the film’s website, http://www.48themovie.com/.

Arnold Schwarzenegger announces next film

Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced the film that will see his return to the big screen.
According to The Hollywood Reporter the actor will play a down-on-his-luck horse trainer who is hired to kidnap a 9-year-old boy in the film Cry Macho by Godfather producer Al Ruddy and Lincoln Lawyer director Brad Furman.
Filming is set to begin in September, with the producer promising that the film will bring Schwarzenegger’s ‘sweetness’, ‘accessibility’ and ‘vulnerability’ to the big screen.  The actor is also attached to a new Terminator film that is currently being offered to studios

e.tv calls for eKasi scripts

In South Africa’s television commissions-challenged environment, it’s encouraging to hear that free-to-air channel e.tv has called for the submission of scripts for its one-hour feature film strand, eKasi OUR STORIES. Twenty-six films will be produced in this new season and a whole new crop of writers, directors and film practitioners will be trained in the process.

SELECTION CRITERIA
WHO MAY ENTER:
The Programme is open only to scriptwriters of South African nationality who are 18 years and older.
Sponsor and Completion Films, along with their directors, officers and employees, and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents or
representatives (collectively “Promotion Entities”) and the immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible to apply
for or be awarded the contract.
Anyone – from first time writers, to professional writers – may submit. All applications must be typed and applicants must have access to the Internet and a computer. The
script must be a contained story based in the township, or urban areas of South Africa. Selected submissions will be notified and are expected to attend at least 3
days of workshops.
SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM http://www.etv.co.za/pages/submissions
SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS ARE:
1. Submission form
2. Disclaimer form*
3. 2 page synopsis/summary of the plot, characters, world of the story (i.e. the
township)
4. 10 - page sample script
5. Your CV
SUBMISSION DEADLINE – DEADLINE IS THE 3rd OF MAY 2011
Submissions may be sent to
info@puopha.co.za
Or dropped off, in a clearly marked envelope at the headquarters in the various
provinces.
JOHANNESBURG
e.tv
5 Summit Road
Hyde Park
2196
CAPE TOWN
e.tv
Block
Longkloof Studios

Darters Road
Gardens
Cape Town 8001
DURBAN
e.tv
214 Ninth Avenue
Morningside
Durban
4001

New video on demand service for SA

South Africa will see a new player in the television content and broadcasting market when SouthTel VOD:TV launches on 1 September, reports TechCentral.

The video on demand (VOD) service will be launched by telecommunications company SouthTel in conjunction with partners, and already has the necessary licence from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.

VOD:TV will offer push-based VOD services similar to the US-based Netflix, but will deliver the content, including series and the latest movies, over satellite to personal video recorders (PVRs). According to TechCentral MultiChoice is rumoured to be planning the launch of a VOD service called Box Office this year, which will also offer the latest movies and other content before it is distributed to conventional broadcasters