by Thinus Ferreira
The Afrikaans lifestyle channel VIA (DStv 147) has been plunged into limbo, with production company Kopwond Films forced to indefinitely postpone production of the second season of its Russian bride dating reality show Ram vir 'n Rus due to Russia's war and invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to a media query TVwithThinus made last week VIA said that the second season of Ram vir 'n Rus, produced by Kopwond Films, has now been put on hold.
With growing international sanctions against Russia - together with restrictions on international travel for Russian citizens making it virtually impossible for any Russians to enter or leave their country - coupled with other safety and logistical issues, it's not possible to film a second season of the series that relies on a group of single Russian women, together with a chaperone, coming to South Africa to date South African men.
VIA says the channel has decided to postpone the upcoming
second season of its dating show Ram vir ’n Rus in light of the Russian
invasion of Ukraine that was already in pre-production and was
set to start airing in September 2022.
"The show was
exceptionally popular and had our viewers abuzz," says Azelia Morkel, VIA channel head.
"Nonetheless, there is a bigger
picture to take into account and the show has to be put on hold for now. We are
busy with a new plan to fill the time slot."
TVwithThinus asked VIA last week for what the current situation with the production of the second season of Ram vir 'n Rus is, following multiple readers who asked whether the show's second season will go ahead after what is happening between Russia and Ukraine.
VIA was asked again earlier this week for a response.
A VIA spokesperson said the channel would respond to the media query later this week.
Late on Friday afternoon VIA issued a statement but only after it gave the same statement to an Afrikaans magazine first, and only sent it to other media after it was already published.
Distributors and producers globally have been asked to freeze any work and business dealings with Russian companies, with studios, broadcasters and TV channels that have cancelled and halted a growing number of content licensing deals with Russia and Russian companies.
Meanwhile more and more TV and film industry bodies, organisations, festivals and awards across the world have dropped Russian companies and Russian delegates who are no longer serving or attending.
Britain's Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact) has called on all its members in its extensive network suspend all cooperation, productions and trade with Russia.
