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In an akward and potentially embarrassing showdown MultiChoice and SABC3 are not just having overlapping press events on Monday in Cape Town, they're having it at exactly the same place!
With MultiChoice and the SABC3 both having press events this Monday at almost the same time, the press has now been divided and basically been forced to choose between two TV blondes. Journalists covering the TV industry have already been in a tussle with each other the past few days on who's possibly attending what - several of whom are irked about having to choose, since both press events are considered important and seen as valuable opportunities.
MultiChoice's general manager of content, Aletta Alberts is discussing TV content and doing a Q&A about content within the South African broadcasting industry on Monday. Meanwhile SABC3 has called - with super short notice - its next quarterly press preview on Monday to co-incide with the first broadcast of its new morning show Expresso where TV stars Liezel van der Westhuizen, Katlego Maboe and Ewan Strydom will be in attendance.
Besides the akwardness of both having their events on Monday and on overlapping times, both MultiChoice and SABC3 are having their Monday events at the new boutique hotel 15 on Orange. MultiChoice was first with its invite and arrangements, while SABC3 is bumbling along and creating a mess and a media dilemma.
SABC3 initially wanted to have its quarterly screening at The Equinox building where Expresso is filmed but I'm told fears were/are high that the sets might not be completely ready and ''show the press'' friendly. Another source tells me the barriers (especially at and around the balcony) is not done and ''safe'' yet. SABC3 changed the venue to 15 on Orange yesterday. In addition, when SABC3 got press complaints about the super short notice quarterly press screening, the broadcaster changed the time from 10:00 (MultiChoice starts at 11:00) on the first invitation to 9:30 on a second amended invitation. Who will show? And who will go where? Which blonde has more pulling power?
