With the proliferation of localised versions of international format shows (One Night with my Ex? Really?) across a flurry of South African and African TV channels, a local version of one reality show - probably the biggest of them all - continues to elude viewers, with the time that's way overdue for ... The Amazing Race Africa.
With the 31st season of The Amazing Race that has kicked off in the United States, the competition reality show that is a mad dash across the globe remains evergreen, brilliant - and nerve-wracking television.
The Amazing Race remains utterly fascinating to watch for the collection of contestants whose personal relationships are truly tested as they race from city to city around the world, trying to find clues and Phil Keoghan or face elimination.
With 31 American seasons and countries from Canada, France, Australia, China, Norway, Israel, Norway, and the Philippines that have done their own versions - and even a general South American and a general Asia version that exist - the ongoing question lingers as to why there isn't a South African produced version of The Amazing Race Africa.
We've seen The Bachelor South Africa, Survivor South Africa, The Apprentice South Africa, The Great South African Bake Off, The Voice SA and The Voice Nigeria, Big Brother from Big Brother SA and Africa to Nigeria, and Crystall and The Real Housewives of Johannesburg along with so, so many more.
Now we need The Amazing Race Africa.
Looking at the new season of The Amazing Race that has won the Primetime Emmy 10 out of 15 times as best reality show, I'm thinking back to when, years ago, I interviewed the creator, executive producer and director of the show, Bertram van Munster, and even asked him if a local version for South Africa or Africa would ever be possible. He just laughed and said it's a question for broadcasters.
Of course it's much more difficult for Africans and South Africans visa-wise than for Americans to race across the world with camera crews in tow but it is possible with extensive pre-production and planning.
The Amazing Race Africa is a show that will wow and that will be watched not just by DStv subscribers in South Africa but across sub-Saharan Africa if MultiChoice and M-Net are smart about it and cleverly and expertly combine all available resources to pull off the biggest reality show of them all with a version for Africa.
Just imagine The Amazing Race Africa as not a particular African country's show but Africa's show - in the same way that Big Brother Africa first wowed and had contestants from across the continent enclosed in a house but this time even bigger and broader in scope.
It's time for that type of once "wow"-worthy television in Africa to take the next step and the next seemingly "impossible" hurdle.
African television needs to truly transcend borders within Africa and worldwide, to take another progressive production step, to break down the walls and to let African contestants race around the Earth.
Beyond just making a TV show like The Amazing Race Africa that M-Net (DStv 101) can and should slot into primetime in South Africa and all the other African countries were the channel is carried to make it true continental, pan-African must-watch television, there's even more value to be had.
So much buzz, marketing potential and DStv subscriber drive and upsell opportunities could be unlocked through a TV initiative like this.
Imagine M-Net and MultiChoice putting enough money aside for The Amazing Race Africa and then getting a South African production company to do it - as well as roping in expertise internationally from people and places to assist who have done localised versions before or who have helped with the American version.
Imagine MultiChoice and M-Net in South Africa, and MultiChoice Africa in the rest of sub-Saharan Africa announcing that entries are opening for exclusively DStv or DStv Premium subscribers to enter for The Amazing Race Africa. Surely people will not just sign up but enter.
Imagine a continental competition, with contestants who will be chosen from countries like South Africa, but also Namibia, Lesotho, Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria and Uganda - 11 or 12 interesting teams of two people each, selected from countries where DStv subscribers have access to M-Net.
Then imagine them all jetting off from Johannesburg in South Africa on a race around the world, limited to using only the available flights of for instance Emirates or South African Airways (SAA), or something like the Star Alliance or the Oneworld network as an airline sponsor.
Imagine the contestants only racing to and touching down in countries where lengthy pre-approved visa applications and requirements aren't necessary or where embassies or consulates have worked beforehand with the show to smooth out the production issues and logistics of what people must have before entering certain places.
As challenging as it would be for contestants, so hugely challenging something like The Amazing Race Africa or The Amazing Race South Africa would be production and logistics-wise.
It's probably the biggest reason why South Africa and Africa haven't been able to follow places like Canada, Australia and others with a local version.
But it's really time. And M-Net and MultiChoice and their combined resources really are the only TV institutions in Africa and South Africa that would be able to make something like The Amazing Race Africa a television reality.
