This past week M-Net held a 3-day press tour in Johannesburg, with an "FBI investigation" theme since the new American drama series FBI just started on M-Net (DStv 101) this week, inviting journalists covering television and TV critics from across South Africa to Gold Reef City.
M-Net did Q&A sessions with the talent of several of its new and upcoming local shows like The Voice SA, The Bachelor SA, Finding the One, and Trackers; held panel sessions with producers and M-Net executives regarding the broader M-Net, M-Net's local content, M-Net's international content slate, its M-Net Movies division, and took media to the recording of the second season finale of The Wedding Bashers.
Besides a full, set schedule of morning and afternoon press events and breakaway panel sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, including evening events, and ending Friday afternoon; M-Net also constructed a "Case File" to be solved.
Journalists were all allocated to different coloured FBI hat teams, having to work together to gather clues and evidence to "solve" the overall case, as well as complete several tasks in-between.
The entire M-Net press tour was extremely well conceptualised, creative, beautiful, well thought-out and flowing, and very well-organised, especially given the large media contingent who were invited and attended - certainly the biggest South African one I've ever been a part of.
Here are photos of M-Net's 3-day #MNetCaseFile programming upfront press tour:
Arrival and registration at MultiChoice City
Wednesday morning: The Voice SA season 3
Wednesday afternoon: Finding the One
Wednesday late afternoon: The Bachelor SA personal grooming, makeup and makeover session
Wednesday night: The Bachelor SA dinner and press event
(Heavy, continuous thundershowers caused a wash-out of the event that was beautifully set up at the Gold Reef City pool - I saw pictures.)
Instead of cancelling, M-Net pushed the start time out to later, constantly messaged the media Whatsapp group with updates and jumped to Plan B reorganising and redressing an available conference room.)
Thursday morning: The Bachelor SA exercise with Lee Thompson Fitness and "FBI training"
(Kill me now.)
Wednesday mid-morning: M-Net international content slate panel session
Wednesday afternoon: M-Net Movies press session
Thursday night: The Wedding Bashers season 2 finale studio recording
Friday morning: M-Net scripted local content panel session (like new drama series, Trackers)
Friday afternoon: "Graduation" and lunch
And finally, the haul from the M-Net swag bag, as journalists received gifts and promotional items from M-Net and the sponsors of various shows on M-Net over the course of the 3 days.
