MultiChoice developing Afrikaans version of The Office as a Showmax Original for 2025 with Rapid Blue.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is developing an Afrikaans version of the satirical comedy series The Office in South Africa, licensed from BBC Studios and produced by Rapid Blue, which will start filming and debut in 2025 as a Showmax Original and simultaneously broadcast on kykNET (DStv 144).

The Afrikaans version of The Office will be the 14th version of the mockumentary sitcom. MultiChoice has experience with the format with kykNET's long-running Hotel and the recent Pronk Primêr which is similar to Abbott Elementary. 

On Friday morning Showmax was asked but declined to say whether the title would be something like Die Kantoor, or what the initial episode order is, saying that more information about the production will only be made available later.

Nicola van Niekerk, M-Net's head of premium content and co-productions and now also Showmax's acting head of content, on Friday morning told media at kykNET's 2024 12th Silwerskerm film festival in a press briefing that South Africa will get the 14th adaptation of The Office on partnership with Ricky Gervais.

"We recently signed and we're developing in conjunction with Rapid Blue. We're extremely excited. We've started the process and will look at how is going to play the weird office boss," van Niekerk said.

"In Australia it's a woman. Will South Africa get a man or a woman? Will they be old or young? How will the office make-up look? This is one of the most exciting projects we've worked on in years," van Niekerk said.

"The reason you take a project like this is because of the expertise like the BBC comedy team and Ricky Gervais. But they don't have the writers internally for a South African adaptation. We're crewing up completely locally and we're going to get some of the best Afrikaans writers in the writers' room and make it as strong as possible."

"The thing that makes different versions of The Office so good is the adapted nuance of the writing. The cultural nuance and authenticity is critically important. You can't just take a script, translate it and think it will land. It won't land. So it will be a long development period."

Ziyanda Ngcaba, Rapid Blue managing director, says "We are proud to be producing the first African version of The Office for Showmax and kykNET".

The Office created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant made its debut over two decades ago as a British series and was successfully adapted in other territories like the United States and recently Australia.

South African public broadcaster to record another loss of R590 million as 'current budget reflects an SABC in financial distress'.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's public broadcaster is set to record yet another annual loss of R590 million for the 2023/2024 financial year, noting in documents that "the current budget reflects an SABC in financial distress".

The SABC's R590 million loss will be lower than the over R1.1 billion loss it made in the previous year.

The SABC is making a loss on SABC2, SABC3, SABC Sport, SABC News, as well as certain SABC radio channels.

The SABC briefed parliament's portfolio committee on communications and digital technologies on Tuesday.

In documents the embattled public broadcaster says its "current budget reflects an SABC in financial distress".

The SABC only projects to "returning to profitability in financial year 2027" which will be for the financial year ending at the end of March 2028, when it expects to make a R907 million profit. 

The SABC has been loss-making since 2014/2015.

SABC+ is expected to reach 500 000 users by the end of the financial year after the broadcaster restarted and reset for a third time to begin a user-base from scratch. 

According to the SABC, SABC+ has not been monetised yet.

12th Silwerskerm Film Festival: Day 1 | M-Net commissions Namibian film My F*k, Marelize based on viral video.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net has commissioned My F*k, Marelize as a Namibian feature film based on the accident-prone Marelize Horn who went viral for her amateur video of riding a bike into a rugby pole.

My F*k, Marelize as a MultiChoice Namibia production will start shooting in Namibia in September.

Set in Windhoek and inspired by the true events that led up to the iconic rugby pole incident, the film follows the accident-prone Marelize Horn as she prepares to become an au pair in the Netherlands and her mother, Heidi Horn, as she handles a cancer diagnosis.

My F*k, Marelize is written by Safta-winning screenwriter Brett Michael Innes, the film marks the feature film debut of Zandré Coetzer, a television director on the South African hit series Dinge van ’n kind, based on a beloved young-adult novel by Marita van der Vyver. 

"The film is going to surprise everyone," says Brett Michael Innes.

"When people think of a movie based on the phrase ‘'my f*k, Marelize', they're probably expecting a slapstick comedy about a teenager who bumps into things all the time. The story of the Horn family has so much more depth than that, and we can't wait to surprise viewers with it."

Zandré Coetzer says "This story is a celebration of life - a showcase of how our people in Namibia and South Africa greet every challenge with a joke and face it with laughter".

"I was fortunate to spend time with the Horn family and witnessing their dynamic as a unit gave me such a clear vision for the film. As an Afrikaner, it is really special to be able to celebrate my language, culture and people in a story that speaks to our humour and way of doing life."

My F*k, Marelize is a Namibian and South African co-production and a collaboration with Windhoek-based producers Joel Haikali and Sophie Haikali from Joe Vision Productions and the Cape Town production companies Nagvlug Films and Nostalgia Productions.

Paulo Areal rounds out the producing team with financing from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), kykNET Films and MultiChoice Namibia.

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net channel director for premium channels, says "kykNET is deeply rooted in Namibia, and we take great pride to be able to support not just any co-production with strong Namibian ties, but this one – a story full of pathos and humour with a unique local character".

Joel Haikali says "This lively Namibia-South Africa co-production is a love letter to Windhoek life".

"It celebrates our quirky Namibian charm and vibrant spirit with plenty of humour and our very own delicious flavour of Afrikaans. It’s a film for the entire family, and we are very excited to be a part of it."

Marelize Horn says "It's crazy how this keeps growing. When I got a random Facebook message from Brett last year about wanting to make a film about our family, I didn't know quite what to expect. Now they’re about to start filming, and I can’t wait to see how our experience is brought to life."

12th Silwerskerm Film Festival: Day 1 | Beer Adriaanse on Zinkplaat biopic: 'A forgotten chapter on screen thanks to a crate of video cassettes'.

Thinus Ferreira

Beer Adriaanse's biographical, band origin and gig film Vergeet My Nie (Forget Me Not) making its debut at kykNET's 2024's 12th Silwerskermfees film festival, would never have happened had his parent not cleared out a storeroom discovering a black crate with multiple video cassettes filled with amateur footage.

In Vergeet My Nie, Beer Adriaanse takes the viewer on a jaw-dropping, archive-compiled journey to yesterday and the late analogue era of the early 2000s when the Afrikaans rock group Zinkplaat had its origin in which Adriaanse was the drummer. 

Beer Adriaanse is also the writer, director and narrator of Vergeet My Nie which depicts the origin and countrywide tours by bus of Zinkplaat.

Produced by Idea Candy and DPK with music from Zinkplaat, Foto Na Dans, eF-eL, the Straatligkinders, Tidal Waves and New Holland, Vergeet My Nie can best be described as a biographical, first-person, band and music concert story.

Through the eyes and shaky-cam clips of Beer Adriaanse and his "were-they-ever-that-young?" bandmates two decades ago, the viewer gets a glimpse of an almost-forgotten, yet seminal period in the rise of alternative Afrikaans music at the start of this century.

In multiple unguarded moments none of them ever likely thought would ever be shown on a big screen, Zinkpaat band members live in tents, collab with other emerging Afrikaans bands and Adriaanse lives out his boyhood diary dreams of having and playing in his own band. 

Ouma would indeed be proud - except for the loud music.  

Similar to Disney+'s 2021 documentary series The Beatles: Get Back, the short film depicting the Zinkplaat origin story, has an interesting origin story of itself: A forgotten black plastic crate filled with DV8-video cassettes, old paper diaries scribbled with notes and dreams, as well as a lot of photos. 

When Beer Adriaanse's parents packed up when they relocated from the Strand, they made the discovery and told their son of his forgotten material.

"Through all the years we recorded our band concerts in the hope of one day making something of it," the 39-year-old tells me. "We found a hard drive with unbelievable material from the first and second tour of Zinkplaat that I thought was lost forever to time."

"For me as a fan of filmmaking and film art it is incredible how the formats of a time period give you this unvarnished glimpse of the time during which it was recorded. It was an immense challenge and a lot of hard work to digitise all of this - from the video cassette to the start of digital cards in handy cams."

"It's fortuitous that somehow, somebody always had a camera and captured what we were busy with," Adriaanse says. 

Two terabytes of footage were captured - each December over seven years - with different cameras.

Beer Adriaanse went through all of this to create the fascinating short film which in the end transitions to how everyone the viewer meets and spends time with during the story - like fellow band mates Bertie Coetzee and Dirkie van der Merwe - look today.

"We were all very young and it was long before the time before people became aware of how selfies would influence and change our lives and how and what cellphones would become. So everyone on camera was really just themselves. Everyone behaved when the camera captured them as if nobody would ever see it."

"People just partied up a storm. The worst is probably joints being smoked and people drinking and making out."

Beer Adriaanse is still good friends with Bertie Coetzee and Dirkie van der Merwe. "Because it's a lost chapter, the people who were a part of it never thought there would be a story about it. We were part of a wave; a movement. Zinkplaat took place within a specific context."

Adriaanse says the filmmaking process "led to so many emotions I'm still processing".

"It was such a crazy experience to spend so many months with my younger self and my friends' younger versions - looking in a mirror back at yourself and how you were."

12th Silwerskerm Film Festival: Day 1 | Programme manager Tina Kruger on 2024's 'full, vibrant and expansive slate'.

by Thinus Ferreira

As kykNET's 12th Silwerskermfees film festival kicks off today in Cape Town with a glitzy raft of film premieres, deal-making, panel discussions and ending with an awards show on Saturday, thousands of film biz cognoscenti are once again set to descend on The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay for what the programme manager promises will be "a full, vibrant and expansive festival".

Over the next few days attendees and panellists - some flying in from as far as Dubai and London - will listen to panel sessions, attend master classes in the Rotunda and Theatre on the Bay, and have a glass of wine on the deck before Saturday night's Afrikaans film and TV awards show at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) that will seat 1 300 people.

With over 60 litres of sunflower oil, 40kg of flavouring salts and 2 500 boxes that will be used, attendees will munch their way through over 275kg of popcorn as they watch an array of TV pilot episodes, short films, features and a slate of new documentaries.

"Like all other film festivals internationally, we need to continue to be very agile within this space, to continue doing what the Silwerskermfees set out to do in the first place which is to incubate projects and to give new voices an opportunity," Tina Kruger, the festival's programme manager tells me.

"The Silwerskermfees is doing an impeccable job when it comes to fostering a documentary film slate. Last year was the first time we included screening TV pilots and this year we are expanding on that with full-feature documentaries screening at this year's festival."

"The Silwerskermfees keeps expanding in what it offers. We're not just reaching traditional festival goers but we're also open to the public who can come and see and experience the content so that it goes wider than just the immediate film industry".

"Likewise, filmmakers and executives get the chance to rub shoulders with the people who they are making the content for - viewers - and not just getting together for themselves. I think that's a very important shift for the festival as a whole."

Tina Kruger says she's looking to the 2024 Silwerskermfees "which will be a full and vibrant and expansive festival".

Unique Afrikaans focus

Waldimar Pelser, channel director for premium channels at M-Net, tells TVwithThinus that the Silwerskermfees film festival continues to provide a unique Afrikaans focus with a wide umbrella for South Africa's film and TV industry.

"The Silwerskermfees, firstly, has a unique Afrikaans focus. So when we look for film projects to support, we try to find those stories in the Afrikaans community, mostly but not limited to the Western Cape. This Afrikaans community has had uneven access to platforms for storytelling on the big screen. Our efforts aim to address this."

He says those who make kykNET films for Silwerskerm are seasoned filmmakers "but increasingly new voices who often enter the industry for the first time by making a short film for Silwerskermfees" are included as well.

"This, then, is our second unique focus: Silwerskerm is fundamentally a developmental festival where new filmmakers are guided by recognised mentors to make their big screen début."

"There is a great need for mentorship and capital directed at new voices," Waldimar Pelser explains.

"In this vein, Silwerskerm has yielded hundreds of short films and dozens of new film- and TV makers who started their careers with Silwerskerm. We want to sustain this festival as an incubator for talent in the Afrikaans space, even though many of our filmmakers also produce content in other languages." 

Asked whether Afrikaans film specifically is under pressure, Waldimar Pelser says "One could argue Afrikaans film is under less pressure than English language or vernac films in South Africa because Afrikaans films benefit from a dedicated channel which needs a certain volume of films and TV shows every year to fill a linear schedule and satisfy paying subscribers".

"This level of reliable demand has been a game changer for the industry because the volumes of Afrikaans content required always remains above a certain critical level, enabling a small industry to plan and thrive around it."

"At the same time it is true that the entire film industry is under pressure. Afrikaans films are not immune."

"Cinemas are emptier than before Covid and have not recovered. Films premiering on subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services means they often skip theatrical release and pay-TV, which further diminishes the opportunities to recoup costs."

"We are therefore always developing new models to try and fund local films in a way that squares with our mandate, recognises our budgetary constraints, but also allows filmmakers to seek additional external funding."

Coining it: MultiChoice revamps and gamifies DStv Rewards.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has revamped its DStv Rewards loyalty programme, updating its MyDStv app and adding a layer of enhanced gamification that the pay-TV operator hopes will drive more subscribers to its app and have them stay and interact longer for the chance to collect coins. 

The upgrade to DStv Rewards comes as MultiChoice just passed two million subscribers who have signed up for its loyalty programme.

For people enjoying Fishland or Farmland on TEMU, Wordle on the New York Times app, who play SmartHopper on Pick n Pay's app trying to reach Tilly, or play daily "unlocks" on Vodacom's VodaBucks, it's now possible to visit the upgraded DStv Rewards inside the new MyDStv App to collect coins to spinning a wheel and playing a Memory Vault game.

The newly launched MyDStv App has additional features, including gamification, challenges and a Rewards storefront where points - the currency is DStv coins - can be used to pay for vouchers from Checkers, KFC,Takealot, cellphone airtime, Wimpy, Uber Eats, travel discounts, SweepSouth and Planet Fitness, to competition entries and DStv experiences.

"The DStv Rewards programme was enhanced to create more value for our loyal subscribers and to drive frequent engagement with our brand," Marc Jury, MultiChoice SA CEO, tells TVwithThinus.

"The new programme introduces a broader range of rewards, gamification, and the ability to earn and spend digital coins. More importantly, it gives customers the choice of how they want to spend their digital coins."

The DStv Rewards programme allows DStv subscribers to join for free through the MyDStv App, dstv.com, or WhatsApp, and once enrolled they are placed in a DStv Rewards tier. They then receive monthly discounts, rewards, spins on the Rewards Wheel, and challenges.

"The introduction of gamification was key to raising awareness of the programme and driving frequent engagement and interaction. Our goal was to create value and provide more choices for customers in a fun and enjoyable manner, Marc Jury explains.

"Challenges will include online games, interactive quizzes, and behaviour-driven tasks, such as paying on time, staying connected, and updating personal details."

"These challenges will allow customers to earn digital coins, which can be spent in our store according to their preferences. This functionality is set to roll out soon and promises to make the rewards programme more engaging and dynamic."

MultiChoice launched DStv Rewards in September 2020 and has since been recognised as one of the top 25 loyalty programmes in South Africa.

"Our biggest success has been the response to our unique and exclusive experiences, like Early bird tickets to SA Rugby matches, access to hospitality suites at sports events like soccer, rugby, and cricket), as well as access to hospitality suites at DStv Delicious Events," Marc Jury says.

"There has also been international trips, including the Rugby World Cup, Premier League matches, cruises, and special screenings, meet-the-cast experiences, meet the Springboks experiences, invitations to special awards evenings like the SARU awards, and special TV studio visits."

"Additionally, our loyal customers receive monthly rewards, such as package upgrades, anniversary gifts, Box Office rentals, discounted vouchers, and access to monthly competitions."

Jury says these rewards will continue to be part of the DStv Rewards value proposition, with more options being added.

Currently in its 4th year, MultiChoice's DStv Rewards programme has just reached a membership base of over two million subscribers.

"The programme is designed to reduce churn and encourage loyalty by rewarding customers for their tenure, product holdings, and positive behaviour through a tiered approach," Marc Jury explains.

"DStv Rewards is the only loyalty programme within the paid TV services industry in South Africa."

"We are one of the 25 most used loyalty programmes in South Africa and have been voted the most used loyalty programme in the Leisure category by both economically active and mass-market customers in the 2024 Truth Brand White Paper."

In 2023, DStv Rewards also won an award at the International Loyalty Awards for the best short-term campaign.

"This is just the start of many more exciting things to come," Marc Jury says. 

"We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Moment, a revolutionary payment platform by MultiChoice. This partnership will allow us to create a digital wallet where DStv coins can be redeemed for various goods and services, further enhancing the value and convenience for our subscribers."

South Africa's SOS Coalition demands moratorium on country's analogue TV switch-off date of 31 December 2024 as millions of TV households face blank screens.

by Thinus Ferreira

With millions of TV viewers set to lose basic access to television channels like the SABC at the end of the year, the SOS Coalition demands that the South African government immediately stops it plan to flip the kill-switch on 31 December on the last of the country's analogue TV transmitters.

Millions of South African TV viewers still rely on analogue TV signals to receive and watch the SABC and other broadcasters like e.tv's TV channels.

South Africa's government and the department of communications botched the country's long-delayed digital migration plan and switch-over from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT). 

Delayed more than 15 years and marred by corruption, industry in-fighting, multiple dragged-out court cases, fights over everything ranging from formats and set-top boxes (STBs) to encryption control, as well as tender scandals, undue commercial influence, government incompetence and budget run-overs, the government is adamant to switch-off the last of parastatal sign-distributor Sentech's analogue transmission towers.

While outdated, subsidised STBs for the poor that cost millions to manufacture and procure are gathering dust, unclaimed in locked South African Post offices countrywide and while those that were handed out already broke down, the South African government will cut off millions of indigent households from the signals of the SABC and others on the last day of this year.

While the SABC already took a massive viewership knock over the past three years as millions of its viewers were wiped off the country's TV ratings system after viewers lost the ability of receive public broadcasting television signals, eMedia's e.tv remained mostly unscathed as it refused the switch-off of its analogue signals.

eMedia isn't against the DTT switch-over but told the government that it can't switch off its analogue e.tv TV signals if millions of viewers don't have the ability to watch or receive DTT. 

Although the government-run process is severely flawed and already more than a decade behind schedule, eMedia over the past two years cautioned the government that even more time is needed and that DTT has actually become an outdated broadcasting system which has already been surpassed by better technology.

Now the SOS Coalition, broad industry coalition association that advocates for proper public broadcasting, has launched a "Save Free TV" campaign in South Africa, demanding that the South African government imposes a moratorium on its plan to finally shutter analogue TV signals at the end of December.

The SOS Coalition says the initiative is "an urgent and necessary campaign aimed at safeguarding the constitutional right of access to information, in particular free-to-air (FTA) television, for all South Africans to access".

"This campaign comes in response to the ongoing broadcast digital migration process and the imminent threat posed by the scheduled switch-off of the analogue television signals on 31 December 2024".

"The Save Free TV campaign demands that the department of communications and digital technology immediately halts the analogue switch-off until critical measures are implemented to ensure millions of households do not lose access to FTA TV, their primary source for vital news, information, and entertainment."

Millions of SA viewers will lose access

While millions of poor South African households who qualify for a free STB has not received one, South African households who are not "poor enough" and who have to buy one for themselves to switch from analogue to DTT, can't do so.

The SOS Coalition says analogue TV shouldn't be killed off before at least 85% of poor TV households don't have a STB.

"We demand that the minister of communication and digital technologies impose a moratorium on the switch-off of any further analogue transmitters. We demand an agreed threshold of 85% for the roll-out of STBs to indigent households, and a timeframe for the procurement/availability of DTT kits in retail stores," the organisation says.

It also wants "a nationwide publicity and campaign on the analogue switch-off to ensure no-one is left behind" for the department "to investigate the future viability of DTT compared to direct-to-home (satellite TV), as well as an exploration of the cost of signal distribution and sustainability of DTT.

"The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, while a significant technological advancement, poses a grave threat to access to free-to-air television," the SOS Coalition says.

"With between 2.2 million to 4.5 million households still reliant on analogue TV, the government's failure to effectively roll out STBs and raise public awareness regarding registering for a government subsidised STB and the implication of analogue switch-off, could result in millions losing access to essential information and services," the SOS Coalition warns.

"In an era where misinformation is rampant, the availability of credible and free news sources is more critical than ever. The Save Free TV campaign aims to ensure that no South African is left behind in this digital transition and that everyone can continue to exercise their right to accessible and reliable information."

The SOS Coalition has now started an online petition as part of its call for the postponement of the analogue switch-off date in South Africa.

SABC silent over broken promises of new Muvhango logo and opening title sequence.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster and Word of Mouth Pictures have been unwilling to say or explain why nothing came of broken promises of a new show logo and a new opening title sequence for the new season of Muvhango on SABC2.

Muvhango creator Duma Ndlovu and the SABC said that Muvhango would restart with a 26th season that would come with a new, updated logo, as well as new opening title sequence. Neither happened.

After Word of Mouth Pictures' contract ran out for season 25 (that had just 130 episodes instead of the usual 260 required to fill a year's worth of weekday episodes) which effectively means that Muvhango was cancelled, the SABC eventually signed a new contract for a 26th season and a further 260 episodes - meaning a full season order.

TVwithThinus reported on 24 July that the SABC had decided to do another season of Muvhango.

The SABC at a hastily arranged media event on 25 July in Fourways, Johannesburg confirmed the reporting.

At this media event, the SABC said that season 26 of Muvhango would start on 5 August. 

On 5 August Muvhango failed to start on SABC2, without any proper media advisory and with the SABC saying that it suddenly had to show Olympic Games coverage on SABC2. 

Muvhango's new season eventually started on 12 August. 

At the media event, Duma Ndlovu and the SABC claimed that Muvhango would have this new show logo with a different font, and "unveiled" it to the media:

When Muvhango restarted belatedly on 12 August, there was no longer any updated show logo. Over the past two weeks Muvhango kept using the same old, existing logo.

At the media event, Duma Ndlovu and the SABC also claimed that Muvhango would have a new, updated opening title sequence. This also turned out to be false.

At the Muvhango media event, Duma Ndlovu claimed that "Muvhango has a new logo, we have a new title sequence, we've listened to the young people. We've come back with what we think is a stunning show."

Since 15 August the SABC was asked repeatedly for comment and for explanations about the broadcaster and Word of Mouth Pictures announcements about a new show logo and title sequence and why it didn't happen.

At the time of publishing this article on 26 August, the SABC hasn't responded to any of the questions.

SABC moves Afrikaans TV news on weekends back to SABC2 without any explanation 6 months after shunting it to SABC3.

by Thinus Ferreira

Over the weekend the SABC's Afrikaans TV news bulletin which was moved from SABC2 to SABC3 six months ago in March was suddenly back on SABC2 without any explanation.

The Afrikaans TV news bulletin which had lost hundreds of thousands of viewers on weekdays when it was moved from SABC2 to SABC3, was back and broadcast on SABC2 at 18:15 on Saturday and Sunday, without any explanation to viewers.

On Saturday evening the SABC's Afrikaans TV news bulletin was replaced by British football on SABC3. On Sunday the SABC decided to replace the Afrikaans TV news bulletin on SABC3 with the BBC documentary natural history series Serengeti.

During the week the Afrikaans TV news remains on SABC3 in its late night timeslot of 20:30 where it barely has any viewers.

It's unclear why the SABC moved the Afrikaans TV news bulletin this past weekend back to SABC2, while the weeknight bulletins remain on SABC3.

This TV news bulletin move six months ago was part of the South African public broadcaster's decision to remove Afrikaans content from SABC2 and shift it to SABC3, since Afrikaans no longer fits with SABC2's latest programming and content strategy.

Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson, didn't provide answers in response to media queries about this past weekend's TV news bulletin shift from SABC3 back to SABC2, which were made since last week Monday.

An advertising executive - who decides on behalf of companies who advertise across various media, including on the SABC, and decides on which channels and what budgets to allocate to TV sports - told TVwithThinus the broadcaster's "creates schizophrenia" with the shifting of shows.

"Viewers become confused and are uncertain of where what is shown."

"Advertisers don't have trust and don't want to book spot packages in advance on a TV channel for specific timeslots, if their TVC is then shown within something else and during different content that is suddenly shown instead of the content that was promised."

The SABC which is technically insolvent will once again have a massive financial loss for its 2023/2024 financial year.

Khathu Ramukumba, SABC chairperson, told SABC News on Friday that the broadcaster "is not where we are supposed to be and not where we want to be but we are glad about the progress that we have made".

ALSO READ: 2014 is 2024: SABC plans to dump Afrikaans content from SABC2 with Fokus cancelled, Afrikaans news and other shows moved to smaller SABC3.

Netflix SA meshes together M-Net's Reyka and HBO's Succession for Gambit Films' Blood Legacy about a sugarcane fields murder and company control fight.

by Thius Ferreira

Netflix South Africa has meshed together M-Net's Reyka with HBO's Succession for the Gambit Films-produced Blood Legacy that centres around the murder of a man in KwaZulu-Natal's sugarcane fields, sparking a battle under his children for control of his company.

Blood Legacy is another South African remake, this time of the Mexican TV series Monarca.

Blood Legacy, produced by Gambit Films, responsible for another South African "blood" series in Blood & Water, kicks off on 20 September with a 20-episode season, starting with the murder of a patriarch in the sugarcane fields of KwaZulu-Natal like M-Net's Reyka.

Then, like HBO's Succession, the drama series revolves around his children vying for control of Spear Industries after the death of their father and CEO. 

The Blood Legacy cast has Xolile Tshabalala as Khanyi Adesina and Buyile Mdladla as Mandla Ndlovu portraying "siblings entangled in a conflict that reaches far beyond the boardroom".

According to Netflix South Africa, Blood Legacy "delves into a world where corruption, greed and power collide, forcing the siblings to test the boundaries of their loyalty".

The rest of the Blood Legacy cast includes Treasure Nkosi, Sello Maake KaNcube, Pallance Dladla, Wiseman Zitha, Unathi Mkhize, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Dineo Rasedile, Dawn Thandeka King, Tarina Patel, as well as the late Connie Chiume.

Beloved South African TV teacher William Smith dead at 85.

by Thinus Ferreira

William Smith, a math and science teacher who became known and beloved to generations of South African schoolgoing kids for his television lessons has died in Australia after losing his battle against cancer. He was 85.

William Smith died in his home in Perth, Australia after a losing his battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer a few weeks ago in Australia where he emigrated to after retirement to live with family.

His daughter Jessica Penfold in a statement announced "It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of William Smith who left us peacefully today at home in Perth, Australia, surrounded by family".

"He faced his final moments with grace, expressing contentment in his accomplishments and the impact he made in the fields of education and conservation. His legacy will endure through the lives he touched and the difference he made."

"William will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him."

For many years during the 1990s William Smith did home teleschooling on the SABC under the banner of the Learning Channel, presenting show-and-tell problem-solving math and science classes.

William Smith matriculated at Union High School in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape province and got a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and chemistry from Rhodes University, then a honours degree in chemistry from the same university, and a master's degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Using felt-tip pens and a whiteboard with a video camera trained on it, William Smith helped generations of South African schoolkids with the answers and solutions on how to solve high school math problems from algebra and trigonometry to physics as well as chemistry, biology and English.

Breaking down seemingly complex and difficult math and science problems, William Smith did groundbreaking work in the years before YouTube existed to show children how to tackle and solve problems step-by step.

William Smith leaves a profound legacy: In spearheading practical educational television in South Africa, in being an entrepreneurial educator who followed his dream to do more with TV and teaching, and in having been a teacher who channelled his pedagogical skills to change the lives of millions of South African high school leaners.

In 2019 president Cyril Ramaphosa bestowed him The Order of the Boabad in recognition of his contribution to math and science.

BBC dubs CBeebies kids content into isiZulu, Sesotho, Tsonga and Afrikaans for September.

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC Studios Africa is dubbing some of its kids' content on CBeebies (DStv 306) into several South African languages besides English for September, including isiZulu, Sesotho, Tsonga and Afrikaans.

CBeebies will air several popular shows in isiZulu, Sesotho, Tsonga and Afrikaans between 2 and 29 September, daily between 19:00 and 21:00.

The shows being dubbed for kids to watch in their home languages include Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans), The Elves and the Shoemaker (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans), The Enormous Radish (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans), The Fox and the Hen (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans), The Magic Porridge Pot (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans) and The Ugly Duckling (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans).

Also getting dubbed are Three Little Pigs (Isizulu, Sesotho, Tsonga, Afrikaans) as well as an episode of the hugely popular Bluey having its second season's 26th episode dubbed into isiZulu.

BBC Africa will also make the dubbed episodes available on its BBC Studios Africa YouTube channel.

BBC Africa getting into dubbing of kids' content follows what Paramount Africa started doing with shows like Spongebob Squarepants also being seen and heard on its kids channels like Nickelodeon in isiZulu and Afrikaans.

The BBC's CBeebies is a pre-school channel on DStv, providing children aged six years and under a range of programming that encourages learning through play.

Pierre Cloete, BBC Studios Africa commercial director, says "To mark heritage month and celebrate the diversity of our nation, we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of our African languages with the help of our pre-school channel, CBeebies".

"As CBeebies is for little learners, translating a selection of the Sleepy Time Stories into 4 languages will allow our little viewers and parents to learn or develop their language skills while enjoying the shows throughout September."

eNCA shifts Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga to co-anchor The South African Morning timeslot.

by Thinus Ferreira

eMedia's eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel once again did a line-up change on Monday this week with Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga replacing Gareth Edwards and Thami Ngubeni as the hosts of eNCA's The South African Morning timeslot.

Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga are now anchoring The South African Morning on eNCA between 06:00 and 09:00 on weekdays, with Gareth Edwards moved to and now anchoring the 12:00 to 15:00 timeslot.

In response to a media query, eNCA tells TVwithThinus that "eNCA has made some major changes to the morning news show, which was previously anchored by Gareth Edwards and Thami Ngubeni".

Dan Moyane says "It's a privilege for me to be back again in morning news. In a fast-paced world of news, I am excited to have the opportunity to deliver fresh news content every weekday morning".

Masego Rahlaga says "I'm truly humbled by this opportunity to work with Bra Dan bringing news and a bit of fun to our viewers every morning. Thank you to the eNCA management for trusting me with such an important role".

About why eNCA once again changed its timeslot anchor line-up and moved Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga to its morning slot, Norman Munzhelele, eNCA managing director, says "Many viewers have been asking us as a channel, to create a combo between Masego and Dan".

"When they have appeared on screen together for minor projects, their energy has been unmatched.  And now, when the people spoke, we listened and acted".

Here's is how eNCA's anchor line-up looks during the day on the TV news channel looks now:

Disney cancels Lucasfilm's The Acolyte on Disney+ after one season.

by Thinus Ferreira

Ending on several cliffhangers, Disney has cancelled Lucasfilm's Star Wars universe set live-action drama series The Acolyte on Disney+ after a single season.

Several storylines and plot points, as well as new plot points teased at the end of the final 8th episode, are now all left unresolved.

The Acolyte's first and now only season made its debut on Disney+ a few months ago, starring Amandla Stenberg playing twin characters Osha and Mae, with Leslye Headland as creator, director, executive producer and showrunner.

The Acolyte was set during the latter part of Star Wars' High Republic Era as a serial killer murder mystery thriller series exposing the shortcomings of the cultish Jedi order, and the renewed rise of the evil Sith 100 years before the events of the Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace film.

Disney+'s next Star Wars and live-action Star Wars series is Skeleton Crew which will debut on 3 December on the streaming service, following a group of children who go on a Goonies-type adventure through the Star Wars galaxy.

National Geographic cancels Wicked Tuna after 13 seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) has cancelled its reality show Wicked Tuna after 13 seasons.

The reality fishing series which started in April2012 was filmed in Gloucester, Massachusetts and followed commercial fishermen and their intense work trying to catch tuna, and led to a spinoff series, Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks which ran for 8 seasons between 2014 and 2021.

Wicked Tuna was produced by the Pilgrim Media Group for National Geographic, with Mike Nichols, Craig Piligian, Lynn Sadofsky and Michael Cascio as executive producers.

National Geographic's axing of Wicked Tuna is part of a massive Disney downsizing and cost-cutting process, negatively impacting National Geographic's programming output, as well as its staff, with another 60 workers at National Geographic who got fired by The Walt Disney Company at the beginning of this month.

"After thirteen seasons on the high seas and more than 200 incredible episodes, the long-running series Wicked Tuna has concluded its run on National Geographic," National Geographic says in a statement.

"The series celebrated one of America's oldest industries since first premiering on National Geographic in 2012 and made internationally recognisable stars out of the intrepid commercial fishermen who brave the unrelenting North Atlantic waters to catch the elusive bluefin tuna."

"As we reflect on 13 great seasons and 200+ episodes, our appreciation for our production partners at Pilgrim Media Group, our cast and crew, the Gloucester community and the show's dedicated fans is hard to put into words. It has been an incredible journey together and there are only two words that seem to fit the moment: Thank You."

ALSO READ: National Geographic hardest hit with 60 workers gone while it scales back programming as Disney Entertainment Television gets rid of another 140 staffers.

Mola Love silent on another claim of show idea theft and channel boss asking for producer bribes - report.

by Thinus Ferreira

Moja Love (DStv 157) is silent and decided not to comment after yet another producer came forward to claim that the TV channel stole her show idea proposal and that the channel head also asked for bribes which kept increasing.

City Press reports that Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane, known as Shlahlasedlozi, claims Moja Love stole her submitted programming proposal for what became the existing Fake Gobela, and that the channel head asked for a bribe of R15 000 and later R32 000 for her show to make it to air.

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane demands R10 million from Moja Love, alleging intellectual property (IP) theft.

Moja Love has been accused of stealing show ideas for programmes which ended up on the channel ranging from A Se Nna and Child Manyonyoba, to Family Swap, KuRuff, Lekunutu and others.

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane claims that the former Moja Love channel head Bokani Moyo demanded a bribe of R15 000 which she first had to pay in cash to have her show idea be considered by the channel. 

Later, Bokani Moyo allegedly demanded a R32 000 bribe to be paid. 

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane, who owns Shlahlasedlozi Media, sent Bokani Moyo her show idea of Abalaphi Bendabuko in late 2019 and had an in-office meeting with Bokani Moyo, and after that Whatsapp conversations. 

She claims her pitch became Fake Gobela. 

According to her, she was shocked when Moja Love then started promoting Fake Gobela which is identical to the show she pitched which is exposing fake traditional healers in South Africa.

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane told City Press that she saw"a post from a guy that Moja Love had stolen his show concept".

"A month later they advertised my show. I immediately called Bokani Moyo. She told me that the show was not mine and the legal team would get in touch with me to give me answers".

Nonkuthula Maseko-Malungane then contacted Moja Love's legal team after hearing nothing and they told her that they have no knowledge of her show.

Nonzwakazi Cekete, Moja Love spokesperson, promised she would respond to City Press' media query but didn't.

Veteran showrunner Burgert Müller dead at 63.

by Thinus Ferreira

The veteran showrunner Burgert Müller has died.

Yesterday was his 63rd birthday. The cause of his death is not yet known.

The extremely experienced South African producer was a producer on the Afrikaans young adult telenovela Wyfie, done by Homebrew Films at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town at the time of his death.

Jaco Louber, CEO of Homebrew Films, tells TVwithThinus "Homebrew Films and the entire Wyfie team are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Burgert, a mentor and a source of knowledge for so many of us".

"Burgert was not only a visionary, calm, and experienced leader but also a respected member of our team."

"His remarkable contributions to the television industry, particularly in the soap opera and telenovela genres, have left an indelible mark that will continue to inspire us."

"Our thoughts are with his sisters, Susan and Ronel, his partner, Christiaan, and all of Burgert's colleagues, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. His legacy and contribution to the industry will have a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him."

Nicola van Niekerk, head of premium content and co-productions at M-Net, says "Burgert Müller was a big roleplayer within the South African TV industry and made an indelible impact on everybody who ever had the privilege of working with him".

"His passing leaves a void within the industry in which he played such a massive role - from series like M-Net's Egoli to the recent Showmax series Wyfie."

"His calming demeanour and the safe atmosphere he created on every set will leave a major void. Our sincere condolences and thoughts go to his loved ones, family and friends during this difficult time."

Burgert Müller was the executive producer of Egoli, South Africa and M-Net's (DStv 101) first local weekday soap which ran for 18 years.

Burgert Müller started as production manager at Franz Marx Films to create Egoli, and was also the co-creator of the hugely popular Egoli Roadshows which took the soap's cast to shopping malls and stadiums across the country.

Over Burgert Müller's storied career, he produced a swath of TV series ranging from Adam for Franz Marx to the mini-series Veldslag for Danie Odendaal Productions, Die Swart Kat, Wenners, The Game and the young adult drama series The Res, also under the Franz Marx Films banner.

Other TV shows he produced ranged from SABC2's Die Vlieënde Springbokkie to 2022's Makoti, and he was the publicist for M-Net's telenovela The Wild.

Burgert Müller was also the producer of numerous music videos, international films, as well as South Africa films like Susanna van Biljon. He was the director of Edge Entertainment from 2011 developing advertiser-funded programmes (AFPs).

Burgert Müller had a BA Ed degree from the Free State University and taught maths at Grey Kollege in Bloemfontein before he made his jump into South Africa's entertainment industry in the late 1980s.

He joined Urban Brew Studios in 2012 as series producer on the iNkaba telenovela for MultiChoice's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel, and is also responsible for steering the telenovela Zabalaza's three seasons also for Mzansi Magic, as well as telenovela Gold Diggers' two seasons for e.tv.

In 2016 Burgert Müller became production controller at Urban Brew Studios, overseeing the set-up and running of the scripted division. 

He was also involved in the acquisition of unscripted productions for Media24's Afrikaans lifestyle VIA (DStv 147) channel, and setting up new production structures at Urban Brew Studios.

Burgert Müller joined Homebrew Studios in May 2023 as showrunner to steer Wyfie.

... More to come ...