I can reveal that e.tv's new local telenovela starting on Monday 2 March at 20:00 will officially be named as Ashes to Ashes.
The telenovela of 104 episodes and set in the world of funeral parlours (hence the title) will star cast members of the former Generations on SABC1 - who will now be seen in the same timeslot as before but on e.tv - part of what e.tv cheekily calls "the regeneration of 8pm".
e.tv has not said anything about Ashes to Ashes or confirmed the name - which should not be confused with a former BBC drama series.
With Ashes to Ashes at 20:00 e.tv plans to inflict as much damage as possible on the SABC's now vulnerable and reset Generations - The Legacy which got a tepid reception from viewers after the principal cast was dumped by MMSV Productions and the SABC in October 2014 and which has plunged in viewership.
e.tv will use its soap Scandal! at 19:30 to help boost the viewership for Ashes to Ashes, serving as the lead-in programming for the telenovela, and is also moving its main news bulletin to 20:30 as the lead-out programme on weeknights.
Ashes to Ashes will be broadcast Mondays to Thursdays on e.tv with an official name, cast and story announcement expected soon.
UPDATED 11:14 - There it is. In a press release issued just issued e.tv says its "brand-new telenovela Ashes to Ashes, a first for e.tv takes over the 20:00 slot on Mondays to Thursdays for a whopping 104 episodes."
Ashes to Ashes on e.tv will premiere on Monday 2 March. Veteran actor Patrick Shai has been announced as one of the lead actors. Also get ready to welcome back familiar talent on a mysterious journey back to the smalls screen".
