by Thinus Ferreira
At a blue screen showcase event for ad
buyers on Thursday afternoon M-Net announced an Afrikaans reality competition show Die Brug for kykNET and touted the M-Net channel's premium international
and local content line-up, including several upcoming Cape Town-set drama
series for DStv.
M-Net that used to rule the roost with premium and exclusive shows thanks to output deals with major Hollywood studios had to cede some power over the past three years to the growing video streaming services – most notably Disney+ and Netflix – as several major studios also decided to keep their shiniest and most-desired new premium content for their own streamers which are not made available to DStv.
Thursday's DStv Media Sales annual event for M-Net channels in Johannesburg was an opportunity to show ad buyers where to park their clients' money and the reach that remains in traditional linear pay-TV in South Africa.
Nomsa Philiso (CEO of MultiChoice general entertainment), Waldimar Pelser (M-Net director for premium channels), Shirley Adonisi (M-Net director for local entertainment channels), Piwe Motshegoa (head of sales for general entertainment) and Lucasta Stephen (executive head of sales at DStv Media Sales) were all in attendance who took to the stage to show-and-tell about M-Net, kykNET and Mzansi Magic's current and upcoming programming.
While Thursday's event was held for ad buyers, M-Net has notably not held either an in-person or virtual upfront event for South Africa's media to showcase its programming in over three years since February 2020, in contrast to the SABC, eMedia's e.tv, BBC Studios Africa, Disney, Primedia, National Geographic, Netflix and others which have taken the gap to gain buzz and have all done content showcase presentation events for media over the past two years.
Speaking about MultiChoice's most expensive TV production yet – the Shaka iLembe historical drama series from Bomb Productions on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) – Nomsa Philiso told the crowd that "We did throw every cent we had into Shaka iLembe and we're proud to say episode one has now hit the four million mark [in viewership] and on the day of its premiere we had 50% audience share".
Shaka iLembe will run for three
seasons with the second season currently in production.
For kykNET, Waldimar Pelser announced an Afrikaans adaptation of the reality competition franchise series The Bridge which will run as Die Brug for 11 episodes from Thursday 26 October at 20:00.
The Bridge is an original Banijay format, created by Zeppelin, with the winner getting R1 million after contestants must work together to build a bridge, several hundred metres long, to an island.
For kykNET, Waldimar Pelser announced an Afrikaans adaptation of the reality competition franchise series The Bridge which will run as Die Brug for 11 episodes from Thursday 26 October at 20:00.
The Bridge is an original Banijay format, created by Zeppelin, with the winner getting R1 million after contestants must work together to build a bridge, several hundred metres long, to an island.
"The Bridge is not just a
show, it's a global phenomenon that captures the interest of viewers around the
world," Pelser said.
"We are thrilled to be producing the local
version of this hit franchise, bringing together the best South African talent,
and showcasing our beautiful landscapes to create a series that will have
audiences at the edge of their seats."
Also coming to kykNET the next few months are the Afrikaans medical drama series Hartklop from 18 July, a rugby game show Koppe Stamp, Laataand with Rian van Heerden as a late-night talk show, the cooking reality competition show Kokkedoor Vuur & Vlam, Dana Snyman as the presenter of a new spiritual lifestyle series Grondpad Geloof, and a new Afrikaans comedy series set in the world of private security entitled Taktiek from October.
The M-Net channel will continue to have the remaining episodes of Paramount's Yellowstone drama series when that's released later this year, as well as the various Yellowstone spinoff series, along with American crime procedurals.
M-Net also remains in original local drama series production with the BBC co-production Devil's Peak, based on Deon Meyer's novel and filmed in Cape Town which will premiere in the second half of this year on the channel.
The channel will also unspool a second season of Reyka co-produced with Fremantle; as well as Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle's crime thriller White Lies also done in Cape Town. An as-yet-untitled 52-episode family drama series set in Simon's Town will start on M-Net in January 2024 on Sunday nights.
Also coming to kykNET the next few months are the Afrikaans medical drama series Hartklop from 18 July, a rugby game show Koppe Stamp, Laataand with Rian van Heerden as a late-night talk show, the cooking reality competition show Kokkedoor Vuur & Vlam, Dana Snyman as the presenter of a new spiritual lifestyle series Grondpad Geloof, and a new Afrikaans comedy series set in the world of private security entitled Taktiek from October.
The M-Net channel will continue to have the remaining episodes of Paramount's Yellowstone drama series when that's released later this year, as well as the various Yellowstone spinoff series, along with American crime procedurals.
M-Net also remains in original local drama series production with the BBC co-production Devil's Peak, based on Deon Meyer's novel and filmed in Cape Town which will premiere in the second half of this year on the channel.
The channel will also unspool a second season of Reyka co-produced with Fremantle; as well as Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle's crime thriller White Lies also done in Cape Town. An as-yet-untitled 52-episode family drama series set in Simon's Town will start on M-Net in January 2024 on Sunday nights.
