by Thinus Ferreira
MasterChef South Africa is jumping from M-Net to SABC3 for a 5th season starting in June where the foodie cook-off show will court a wider free-to-air audience after a run on pay-TV.
Besides second seasons for The Masked Singer SA and Deal or No Deal on SABC3 and SABC1 this year, a new season of MasterChef SA is the next TV title the nascent Primedia Studios is cooking up to revitalise the primetime schedule of the South African public broadcaster's linear TV channels.
Primedia Studios has snapped up a 5th season of MasterChef South Africa, represented
internationally by media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, with the new season which will also be produced by the Cape Town based Homebrew Films which took over production since last year's fourth season.
Likewise, Pick n Pay is also going to be back as the 5th season's headline sponsor.
The winner of the 5th season in the amateur chef competition will get R1 million with entries that will likely open at the end of this month.
Filming of the 5th season of MasterChef SA will likely start sometime around February or March with the broadcast on SABC3 around June. The judging panel will be announced soon.
"It's an honour to collaborate with
these formidable television content creators to extend MasterChef South Africa’s
reach by inviting more Mzansi foodies and families to join us in the hottest
kitchen on TV,” says Jan du Plessis, Primedia Studios president.
"MasterChef
has been a winning television recipe across the globe and a local media
sensation. The new South African season will have all the ingredients this
blue-chip show has become famous for, but the menu will also be spiced up to
cater for a broader audience alongside existing fans."
Lala Tuku, SABC head of local content, says "We're thrilled to
add MasterChef South Africa to SABC3's schedule".
"Deal or No Deal
South Africa and The Masked Singer South Africa proved that SABC
audiences have a huge appetite for high-quality, exhilarating local versions of
top-notch international formats. Besides providing on-the-edge-of-your-seat
entertainment, MasterChef South Africa will shine the spotlight on the
country's rich, diverse culture and cuisine whilst transforming the lives of
contestants with culinary dreams."
