Saturday, July 26, 2014

M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars celebration at Gallagher Estate to be something out of this world.


M-Net’s Galaxy of the Stars event taking place this evening at Gallagher Estate promises to be an out-of-this-world event as the South African pay-TV broadcaster gets ready to celebrate nearly 28 years of bringing viewers premium TV content – as well as looking forward to its future.

I can reveal that approximately 400 people – TV executives, on-screen talent, government officials, production executives, celebrities, M-Net bosses and the biggest names in the South African television business  – are set to attend the "highly exclusive" black tie, sit-down gala dinner which has several surprises in store.

The bash promises to be the biggest single celebration centered around television since TV started in South Africa in 1976.

M-Net is set to highlight and celebrate its long legacy in creating home grown TV content but will also make a major announcement regarding a new initiative the pay-TV broadcaster is launching to support the South African film and television industry.

An M-Net spokesperson told me that the Galaxy of the Stars event – which will also be broadcast on the M-Net and Mzansi Magic channels on MultiChoice’s DStv on 9 August at 14:00 and 21:30 respectively – will highlight and celebrate the investment of over R1bn the pay-TV broadcaster annually makes into local content creation.

"With enormous challenges and problems facing South Africa’s TV industry in general and various questions about where the industry is heading, as well as new opportunities and challenges like digital terrestrial television, the Galaxy of the Stars event will showcase some of South Africa's proud television achievements, success stories, how M-Net has been and remains at the forefront of TV innovation and a glimpse of the future," an insider told me.

"It will be like the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) – just even better," quipped the source of the event which has Idols judge Unathi Msengana and film and TV legend John Kani as hosts.

M-Net has "spent billions over the years to create home-grown entertainment, across multiple genres, languages and TV channels spanning the African continent," says an M-Net spokesperson.

"The event will highlight the close, varied and strong relationships that M-Net has forged with key industry stakeholders, such as production companies – both large and small – speaking directly to its vision of partnership and collaboration."

Open invitation for new ideas
"The Galaxy of the Stars event will serve as an open invitation to the industry to bring forward their new ideas and fresh concepts, confident in the knowledge that M-Net will be, as it always has been, open to engagement, partnership and dialogue," says M-Net.

"The event will also offer a platform for M-Net to speak about a brand new strategic campaign whereby the company will be focusing on informing and education young students about the opportunities available within the film and TV industry across a spectrumof careers."

M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars made-for-television event will feature a dazzling array of appearances and performances by stars ranging from Siyabonga Twala and Johnny Clegg to Hugh Masekela, Mafikizolo, Zahara and many more.

"It promises to be the biggest, most magical celebration yet seen in South Africa," says Yolisa Phahle, the CEO of M-Net South Africa.