Back in October last year I reported that e.tv will be doing a local version of Lip Sync Battle in 2016, and then in November that Viacom International Media Networks Africa's MTV will be doing Lip Sync Battle Africa - they finally issued an official press release about it today.
VIMN Africa says actor LL Cool J "revealed today on MTV's social media platforms" that there will be a local version of Lip Sync Battle Africa done in partnership with e.tv.
Actually VIMN Africa "revealed" it to the press last year in November, and e.tv "revealed" it a month before that.
VIMN Africa will first show Lip Sync Battle Africa on MTV (DStv 130) and MTV Base (DStv 322) before e.tv will get the right to show the episodes.
e.tv and VIMN Africa have worked together for the past two years in content agreements for the MTV Africa Music Awards and is expanding its partnership.
The first season of Lip Sync Africa in which contestants lip sing to popular music tracks will have 13 half hour episodes starting on 14 April at 20:50 on MTV, and from 16 April on MTV Base at 11:30.
VIMN Africa and MTV says "the weekly show will go live in April 2015" - obviously meaning 2016 - and obviously meaning that a lot of the copy-and-paste Journalists Covering Television simply used and ran the press release as a story without changing or questioning anything.
"We are thrilled to partner with e.tv on localising Lip Sync Battle for an African audience, with its amazing energy and authentic charm that has celebrities lining up to take part and viewers clamouring for more," says Dillon Khan, MTV Africa head.
"We are extremely excited about this groundbreaking partnership," says Monde Twala, the managing director of e.tv channels division in the statement.
"Lip Sync Battle Africa is a fresh and entertaining format, it's an extension of e.tv's goal to bring viewers fresh home-grown content with a special twist".
In 2016. In 2016.
