I can break the news and reveal that Kwêla on kykNET (DStv 144) is not cancelled on kykNET, although the Afrikaans language channel produced by M-Net is parting ways with the show's longtime production company Pieter Cilliers Produksies.
I'm told that a new production company will be taking over the running of the show, producing a new version of Kwêla of kykNET in 2014.
The high quality show, consistently maintaining excellent production values over almost a decade and a half, is well-respected for its current and relevant reflection of the Afrikaans South African culture.
With its mining of the local zeitgeist, well-covered inserts and topical newsmakers as guests from various spheres, the long running weekly Kwêla anchored consistently by Coenie de Villiers has come to be seen as the crown in all of kykNET's schedule.
The production company switch and rumours of Kwêla which turns out not to be cancelled but which will live on produced by a different company, comes as a huge shock to longtime South African producers who are buzzing about the development.
This major change raises dramatic question marks regarding the ongoing format and look of the long running weekly magazine show on kykNET, what presenters, if any, will remain on screen, and whether - if at all - the main presenter Coenie de Villiers is to remain when Kwêla switches production companies in 2014.
When the Afrikaans magazine show Pasella on SABC2 went through three different production companies more than a decade ago, the changes to the look, feel and presenters of that show was markedly different.
Similarly 50/50 changed as production companies changed, as did other shows where production shifted between production companies.
According to M-Net, Pieter Cilliers Produksies decided not to renew its contract for the popular magazine show. M-Net gave no reasons as to why. A spokesperson for Pieter Cilliers Produksies haven't yet responded to a media enquiry made Monday morning.
kykNET says the Afrikaans TV channel respects the decision to no longer produce Kwêla, and is "sadly saying goodbye to the team who've produced Kwêla for 14 years."
Karen Meiring, director of M-Net's Afrikaans channels says "under the leadership of the veteran television producer Pieter Cilliers and co-producer Marié Minnaar the show won several awards and became a kykNET staple."
"We appreciate their team's enormous contribution to the show, the channel and Afrikaans television entertainment," says Karen Meiring.
M-Net says Kwêla will continue and that qualifying production companies will get the opportunity to pitch to produce the show in 2014.
The current contract with Pieter Cilliers Produksies to produce Kwêla fends on 31 March 2014.
