There's a funny scene in Friends where Monica and Chandler fight over the TV remote control since he wants to watch something else at the same time, but Monica always catches a daily entertainment news magazine show called Entertainment Tonight.
South African viewers have never been able to see Entertainment Tonight and just like Oprah on SABC3 (both distributed by CBS Studios International co-incidentally) probably doesn't come cheap. It's however almost a sure bet to - just like Oprah - definitely get and maintain a high viewership. The premium show that deals with the latest entertainment news out of Hollywood with hosts Mary Hart and Mark Steines also does a multitude of set visits and interviews. Entertainment Tonight is de rigeur television for the latest breaking news and coverage of the best and most popular shows - TV properties found mostly on M-Net (DStv 101) and Top One (TopTV 150).
Since M-Net is now obviously relooking its 19:00 timeslot and getting ready to ditch the Carte Blanche spin-offs Carte Blanche Consumer and Carte Blanche Medical, and Top One has not yet found a solid, signature show to anchor its daily line-up as must-see appointment television, my suggestion would be that one of these scoop up Entertainment Tonight and strip it on weeknights at 19:00. Entertainment Tonight is newsy but not the news and can then go head to head with the current crop of news bulletins (and do very well I would venture to guess). The show that's currently celebrating its 30th anniversary would make for a great fit on either one of these premium content pay TV general entertainment TV channels.
