by Thinus Ferreira
ViacomCBS has decided to postpone its annual 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards set for 22 March 2020 in Los Angeles, although it's still being advertised in promos on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and Africa.
The 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards is the latest award show and event being cancelled or postponed in the United States and globally as novel coronavirus Covid-19 cases and fears spread in America and globally.
"The Kids’ Choice Awards scheduled for 22 March 2020 in Los Angeles is being postponed in consideration of the safety and well-being of every person involved with the show, which is our top priority. We will have further information about a new date in the future," says Nickelodeon in a statement.
The Grammy winner Chance the Rapper was supposed to be the host of the 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2020 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions with Michael Dempsey and Jay Schmalholz as executive producers.
Meanwhile production on the American TV drama series Riverdale seen on M-Net (DStv 101) has also been shut down for the time being on Wednesday after a crew member came into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
In Africa MultiChoice and M-Net are going ahead with this Saturday's 7th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards taking place in Lagos, Nigeria as well as the 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards taking place at The Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.
Collectively thousands of people from across sub-Sahara will attend the two award show ceremonies which will both be broadcast live on the Africa Magic and Mzansi Magic channels on DStv.
The National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) is also still on for 27 and 28 March at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile as the global coronavirus pandemic spreads, M-Net on Thursday told TVwithThinus that it is "re-assessing the timelines and location for the next season of Survivor South Africa and will make a decision soon".
Filming on the new 8th season of Survivor SA, entitled Survivor SA: Immunity Island is supposed to start soon but will very likely now be delayed, likely also impacting the broadcast starting date of September 2020 which might be pushed out as well.
