SABC2 adds 13-episode profile talk show 30 Winds of Change with Clement Manyathela on Sunday nights

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC is adding a profile talk series, 30 Winds of Change to SABC2 from Sunday 15 December in which various well-known South African personalities will reflect on their journeys and that of South Africa over the past three decades of South African democracy.

The 13-episode 30 Winds of Change on Sundays at 21:30 on SABC2 has Clement Manyathela as the presenter who will have conversations with people ranging from Mfundi Vundla, the Generations creator, to SABC2's Morning Live presenter Leanne Manas.

The other personalities who will appear in the episodes include sports broadcaster Robert Marawa, former People of the South talk show host Dali Tambo, the South African politician Helen Zille, the former chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, former public protector advocate Thuli Madonsela, and the founder of Gift of the Givers, Imitiaz Sooliman.

The business leader Nonkululeko Gobodo, the Standard Bank CEO Sim Tshabalala, former university vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng, the journalists Mzilikazi wa Afrika and Mandy Wiener, as well as businessman Christo Wiese will also feature in 30 Winds of Change.

"It is an honour to engage with such iconic voices, who have played pivotal roles in shaping South Africa’s past, present and future," says Clement Manyathela in a press release about the show.

"This series is not just about looking back - it is about understanding where we are today and envisioning the future as a country."

Yonwaba Pangeni, SABC2 channel head [Note: The SABC didn't previously communicate that Yonwaba Pangeni has been appointed as SABC2 channel head], in a prepared quote, says "SABC2 has always been committed to delivering content that reflects South Africa's journey of progress".

"As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our country's democracy, SABC2 is proud to present shows like 30 Winds of Change that offer insightful entertainment and thought-provoking conversations with key figures."

Yonwaba Pangeni is new SABC2 channel head

by Thinus Ferreira

Yonwaba Pangeni is the new SABC2 channel head. She replaced Gerhard Pretorius.

Yonwaba Pangeni is actually the SABC2 channel head since September 2024 but the SABC didn't bother to inform the industry through any press release or appointment advisory at the time.

Yonwaba Pangeni, a marketing and brand specialist, previously worked for MultiChoice as a brand manager and for eMedia Holdings as a brand specialist.

Warner Bros. Discovery restructures into Global Linear Networks and Streaming & Studios

by Thinus Ferreira

On Thursday afternoon Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it's restructuring again, bundling its linear TV channel networks into one group known as Global Linear Networks, while keeping Streaming & Studios separate, as WBD reorganises its corporate structure from three groups into two.

The move from Warner Bros. Discovery comes half a month after Comcast announced in mid-November that it's getting rid of its traditional NBCUniversal pay-TV channels, carried by international pay-TV operators like MultiChoice's DStv, which it is selling off as its own company.

Warner Bros. Discovery in a Thursday afternoon corporate press statement says the corporate reorganisation, expected to be completed by mid-2025, "is designed to enhance its strategic flexibility and create potential opportunities to unlock additional shareholder value".

David Zaslav, WBD CEO, says "Since the combination that created Warner Bros. Discovery, we have transformed our business and improved our financial position while providing world-class entertainment to global audiences".

"We continue to prioritise, ensuring our Global Linear Networks business is well positioned to continue to drive free cash flow, while our Streaming & Studios business focuses on driving growth by telling the world's most compelling stories."

"Our new corporate structure better aligns our organisation and enhances our flexibility with potential future strategic opportunities across an evolving media landscape, help us build on our momentum and create opportunities as we evaluate all avenues to deliver significant shareholder value."

According to Warner Bros. Discovery, "the new corporate structure to enhance clarity and focus, with each division positioned to deliver on its specific strategic and operational objectives while executing on initiatives to further key priorities for consolidated Warner Bros. Discovery."

According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Global Linear Networks will be its linear television business that runs pay-TV channels like Discovery Channel, CNN International, TNT, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery (ID), TLC, Travel Channel, Animal Planet and Cartoon Network.

Streaming & Studios will be "a globally scaled streaming platform and storied film and entertainment studios with with a portfolio of the world's most-beloved intellectual property" like Max, Warner Bros. Mition Picture Group, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, and New Line Cinema.

After eNCA's 5 year blackout the TV news channel will cover events of South Africa's EFF political party again

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's eNCA (DStv 403) TV news channel will do on-the-ground coverage again of the country's EFF political party after a 5-year blackout, starting with this weekend's national people's assembly gathering set to take place at Nasrec in Johannesburg.

eMedia's eNCA stopped giving any physical coverage of the Economic Freedom Fighters party 5 years ago after eNCA decided to pull out of the EFF's national people's assembly gathering in 2019, after EFF leader Julius Malema called an eNCA reporter "a stupid journalist" after asking a question.

eNCA also said it's exiting from EFF coverage since the political party banned news media like The Daily Maverick, amaBhungane and Scorpio from its conference in 2019.

Since then, for the past 5 years, eNCA has not tried to cover and report on EFF-related on-the-ground news. Although eNCA kept reporting on the EFF, it has not actively attended any EFF events or actively done coverage or interviews with the political party.

In a statement on Thursday the EFF says "Following the fallout when eNCA pulled out of the 2nd national people's assembly in 2019, eNCA and the EFF have started a new chapter".

"eNCA acknowledges that the decision to pull out was unfortunate. Furthermore, both parties acknowledge it took longer than it was necessary to resolve the impasse."

"eNCA and the EFF recognise the vital role the media and political entities play in deepening democracy."

THe EFF says "Moving forward, both parties have affirmed their shared commitment to fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration. We will work together in a manner that prioritises transparency, accountability and the public interest."

eMedia and eNCA haven't issued any statement on Thursday or explained anything about the reconciliation with the EFF party from the TV news channel's side.

Mzansi Magic adds Cobrizi as spinoff series from The River for March 2025 as 'gritty, heart-wrenching tale of survival'

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net is adding Cobrizi with Presley Chweneyagae in the role of Cobra as a 13-episode spinoff drama series from The River from March 2025 to the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) schedule from March 2025.

Cobrizi, like The River, is produced by Tshedza Pictures and added several of The River cast, including Thapelo Sebogodi as Kabzela as Cobra's best friend, and Winnie Ntshaba.

Also part of the cast is Thembsie Matu as Ous Sheila, Sivenathi Mabuya as Bongiwe, Paul Maila as Rajah, Ishmauel Songo as Peanut, Chrispen Nyathi as Raisin, Thobani Mbhele as Bangkok, and Moliehi Didie Makobane as Teresia.

New talent include Siphiwe Radebe as Simphiwe, Kadia Banyini as Nkanyiso, Xolani Mfeka as Bab' Dladla, and Charmaine Mncwabe as Ama.

Mzansi Magic says Cobrizi will be a "gritty, heart-wrenching and ultimately hopeful tale of survival, love and redemption". In Cobrizi, Cobra "tries to do right by his youngest child and prove he is not a loser. He unexpectedly finds love after moving to inner-city Johannesburg".

Cobra's story will start off with the character as "the same troubled, angry man viewers knew from The River - a survivor whose only way out has been through theft and hustling".

"His anger burns at the failed social system that's left him trapped in poverty, fueling his belief in radical change. He is still drawn to his beer, women and taverns but even a man like Cobra can evolve... if life gives him a fighting chance."

Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, in a statement says "Cobra's story really resonated with our Mzansi Magic viewers because of the way it presented the glamorous lives of the Dlamini-Dikanas compared to the struggling Mokoenas. It's a story of hope, resilience, and community".

"Presley really brought tremendous depth and humour to the character and this is a way to explore this tortured man's world and see if his anger could be focused into tenacity to help him try to create a better life for himself."

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Where are the 2024 interviews with SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli?

by Thinus Ferreira

Try to find a print interview with, or any available profile article on, SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli in 2024 in her first year as head of the South African public broadcaster.

I couldn't, and weirdly none seems to exist.

It's striking that the top executive of the South African public broadcaster didn't do any interviews this entire year that South Africa's film and TV industry could read to get a sense of who she is, or her plans and vision for the broadcaster.

Other SABC CEOs in the past have done interviews, and also done interviews when they were appointed - it also happens overseas, so there is precedent - as well as other SABC execs like when SABC News bosses have been appointed. They talk to the media in sit-down interviews for publications.

Nomsa, with a marketing background, hasn't.

Personally, I have myself as a journalist asked the SABC if it's possible to do an interview with Nomsa Chabeli since February this year, and constantly thereafter. 

Originally the SABC replied and said in February that they "haven't scheduled interviews for her as yet". This was odd since she was at that time already months' into the start of her job as SABC CEO.

Multiple people working in South Africa's TV biz - as well as people overseas - have already been wondering what Nomsa Chabeli might want to do at the SABC, how she sees her job and the position, what she sees as immediate challenges, what her vision is for the broadcaster and what she wants to achieve.

After February the SABC was asked numerous times, again, for months, if Nomsa Chabeli is able to do any interview. I kept follow up from my side, month after month, reaching out again, and asking for feedback on the possibility again.

Of course Nomsa Chabeli is busy and it's understandable. The SABC also said that Nomsa Chabeli is always busy. 

It's however quite striking that it didn't seem to be a priority for the South African public broadcaster to block time out of the SABC CEO's schedule to do sit-down interviews with the press.

Even when Nomsa Chabeli travelled to Mbombela in Mpumalanga to attend the Metro FM Awards in April, or to Cape Town to spend time in Primedia's MasterChef South Africa's kitchen at Atlantic Studios for a MasterChef SA dinner in October, there were no allowance for any interviews.

Compare this to how American and European CEOs of companies and other executives within the broadcasting, TV and film sphere quickly and often do print interviews. 

Somebody new in a position - especially that of CEO - wouldn't be appointed and not grant and do any print interviews at the start of their tenure. They even do exit interviews.

The industry and the myriad professionals working within the TV and film industry have a need to hear and read what CEOs - including the SABC's one - have to say, their stance on issues, and how they chart the part forward.

Believe me, I see and read the emails and messages, and have tried numerous times this year to do any type of interview with Nomsa Chabeli. It proved fruitless.

The last time I asked the SABC was last week (twice in December), and was then told, after being told during the year that she is constantly too busy, that Nomsa Chabeli "is not available for now".

If there are any print interviews with Nomsa Chabeli in future, reach out and I will add then with links, here, below for the benefit of all readers: 

We’ve Got Your Festive TV Line-up Ready with BBC Studios this December

Partner content

If a cosy festive celebration at home is right up your alley, then BBC Studios has an exciting lineup of Christmas specials this December to keep you and your loved ones entertained for hours on end.

As 2024 draws to a close, year-end becomes a time when we spend more time with friends and family, getting into the holiday spirit and celebrating the achievements of the year.

This holiday season, why not make the most of your time with your loved ones by settling in for an unforgettable line-up of festive entertainment with BBC Studios channels, available on DStv and DStv Catch Up? 

From laugh-out-loud comedies, suspicious mysteries, head-scratching game shows, and a lot of scrumptious food and banter, don’t miss the best entertainment for the whole family on BBC Brit (DStv 120), BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174), BBC UKTV (DStv 114), BBC Earth (DStv 184) and CBeebies (DStv 306).

What’s on this Christmas?

Explore BBC Studios’ hand-picked schedule of brand-new and classic shows to make DStv or DStv Catch Up your ultimate Christmas destination: 

Sunday, 15 December 2024

20:00 – Kirstie's Handmade Christmas: Special: 2023

BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174

British presenter, Kirstie Allsopp provides a flurry of jovial festive fun - with enough competitions, makes, decorations, gifts, food and drink to inspire every kind of crafter.

Monday, 16 December 2024

20:00 - The Great Pottery Throw Down Special: Christmas 2023

BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174

Four celebs roll up their sleeves and take on two yuletide challenges set by judges Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller.

Tuesday, 17 December 2024 

 

19:00 – Nigella's Amsterdam Christmas

BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174

With family ties to Amsterdam, celebrity cook Nigella Lawson returns for a special Christmas treat when she travels to the Venice of the North to enjoy the festive season. Nigella visits her favourite places, picks up special ingredients for her festive feasting and makes traditional Dutch dishes.

 

Saturday, 21 December 2024

19:00 – The Great British Bake Off: Christmas Specials 2022 

BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174

Famous faces from The Great British Bake Off history compete for the Christmas Star Baker title.

21:00 – Christmas in New York: Inside the Plaza 

BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174

An access-all-areas look at how Christmas comes to life at one of the most famous hotels in the world, the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York, at their busiest time of the year where the guests expect a five-star service like no other.

 

Christmas Eve (Tuesday, 24 December 2024)

19:00 – Would I Lie to You? Season 11 Christmas Special

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

Enjoy a hilarious evening of outrageous truths and unbelievable lies with this classic quiz show, hosted by Welsh actor and comedian, Rob Brydon.

19:00 – The Great British Bake Off: Christmas Special: 2023

BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith celebrate Christmas with the 'Baker Ghosts of Christmas Past', in a festive fete. 

Christmas Day (Wednesday, 25 December 2024)

18:00 – Weakest Link Christmas Special

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

British Comedian, Romesh Ranganathan brings his festive cheer to a star-studded Christmas special of The Weakest Link. Find out who will rise to the challenge and who will hear the dreaded words: "You are the weakest link."

19:00 – Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

Experience the sparkle, sequins, and sensational performances as Strictly adds a festive twist! 

Boxing Day (Thursday, 26 December 2024)

19:00 – The Masked Singer Christmas Special

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

Can you guess which celebrity is hiding behind the mask? Join the fun and festive suspense on the big entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. 

Friday, 27 December 2024

20:35 – QI Christmas Special

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

Sandi Toksvig hosts the ultimate quiz show full of witty banter and fascinating facts. 

Monday, 30 December 2024

20:00 – Death in Paradise Christmas Special

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as we return to the sun-drenched Saint Marie, joining the police team and a new Detective Inspector for a festive feature-length Death In Paradise Christmas special. 

New Year’s Eve (Tuesday, 31 December 2024)

21:00 – Mrs Brown’s Boys: New Year 2024: New Year, New Mammy

BBC Brit, DStv Channel 120

Kickstart your New Year with outrageous humour and heartfelt family moments with Mrs Brown and her three boys.

Keep the festive times rolling with BBC Studios, the home of exceptional British entertainment that offers an eclectic mix of shows for the whole family, full of food, game shows, shiny floor, lifestyle, drama and so much more.

Catch all the fun on DStv or DStv Catch Up, in case you missed some of your favourites. Let BBC Studios bring the joy of Christmas to your home this festive season.

For more information, visit BBC Studios Africa.

Or follow these social media pages:

IG: @bbcstudiosafrica

Facebook: BBC Lifestyle and BBC Brit Africa

X (Twitter): @BBCS_Africa

TikTok: @bbc.africa.channel

BBC Studios achieves standout growth in Africa for its linear channel business, reach on DStv up by 14%, on SABC3 up 24% in 2024

by Thinus Ferreira

BBC Studios says it has achieved record-breaking performance for its linear channel business, with standout growth in Africa, alongside remarkable results across the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

In Africa, BBC Studios' linear portfolio on MultiChoice's DStv - including the BBC Lifestyle, BBC Brit, BBC UKTV, BBC Earth, and BBC News TV channels - expanded its reach by +14% in 2024.

According to BBC Studios, this growth marks the highest-ever performance for CBeebies and BBC UKTV, while BBC Lifestyle achieved its best results since 2017. 

Additionally, BBC Primetime, a bespoke two-hour content block on SABC3, has increased its reach by 24% compared to the same period last year.

According to BBC Studios, in the Netherlands, BBC First - BBC Studios' premium drama channel in the Netherlands - saw 2024 topping 2023 as its biggest year since launching in 2015. The channel has delivered a 2.3% 4+ market share to date in 2024, up +16% from last year.

In Poland, BBC Studios' channel portfolio of BBC Earth, BBC Brit, BBC First, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies is also on track to deliver its highest share in 2024 (0.82%, 4+) since the portfolio launched in 2015.

Here BBC Earth and BBC First delivered the highest annual share ever in 2024.

In the Nordics, BBC Nordic - BBC Studios' multi-genre linear channel available in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland - has ranked as the biggest international channel in its competitive set in Norway in October and November. 

In November, the channel delivered the highest share since launch (1.2%, 4+), and the channel has seen a +53% increase in share in 2024 compared to 2023, when it launched.

Arran Tindall, chief commercial officer, EVP, EMEA Key Markets, in a statement, says "2024 has been a record year for our channels business in EMEA".

"We have seen incredible numbers across our whole channel portfolio in the Netherlands, Poland, Africa and the Nordics, and I am extremely proud of the growth we have seen this year."

"This success is a testament to BBC Studios' extensive breadth of high-quality content and the careful curation by our teams to deliver engaging schedules that resonate with local tastes and audiences in each of our markets."

TV REVIEW. Food Network's Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is a magnificent magical delight

by Thinus Ferreira

9¾ TVs

Is there still something like television for everyone? Something that any combination of people, any combination of ages, any family members and any person can plop down for, switch on, watch, and instantly will love and watch to the end? Yes. And Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on the Food Network is it. 

And it's perfect.

The very idea and conceptualisation of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on the Food Network (DStv 175) is genius. So is its television production. How did nobody think of this years ago?

In a muggle world so divided, so hurried, so angst-filled, so full of stress and in-fighting and people scattering to their own screens, the cake-make show is a delightful, utterly magical, extremely unifying TV watching experience perfect for any combination of family members to watch together, or just a magical treat for yourself. 

Within the hallowed halls of Hogwarts (the "real" one at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios that was never struck after the films were completed and is a studio tour experience by day), Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is Netflix's Is It Cake? on a flour and icing sugar high.

With the beloved Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef as judges, keep the remote control close: You will want to press pause and also press the rewind-and-play buttons as you stare, and stare again, at what's possible when muggles are able to create magic.

In Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking that transports you to another world - literally - nothing is ugly, as a piece of television that truly transfigurates the viewing experience. Watch just an episode - any episode - and you cannot but go away and be left inspired.

Extremely talented cake makers and pastry artists (of course one will even have an architecture background!) craft the stuff of dreams. 

Here, for an hour, the only challenge is really just themselves to conjure up cakes that truly defy belief but really exist, as if by magic, within a real world bound by things like time, gravity and the stickiness (or not!) of chocolate viscosity. Will it hold?

The Food Network's latest series is a spellbinding culinary TV adventure for any age and any person who just needs that moment of escapism, that moment of getting filled up again, and to literally see that there are still many people aspiring to achieve, be better, and to make beautiful things in a fractured world.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking will obviously captivate fans of the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling, but baking enthusiasts alike, as well as ordinary viewers who might care not for cake baking or the Potterverse.

While this enchanting competition series brings together the magical realm of Harry Potter and the art of baking, resulting in a truly unique and captivating viewing experience, its viewing impact and ability to surprise, stretches much wider than Potter or cake dough.

The attention to detail from both a production design perspective to the detail the creators bring to their cakes are superlatively impressive. 

If you dream of making things - anything - this show and the people in it will inspire you to dream bigger and be better at what you can or want to do.

As an immersive experience, colourful and well edited, the 6-episode Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking crafts and presents an enchanting environment that perfectly captures the whimsical spirit of the Harry Potter world.

The contestants, all skilled bakers and Harry Potter fans, bring their A+ game to the competition.

Throughout the episodes they face challenges that test their baking skills, creativity, and knowledge of the wizarding world. They don't bake - they overwhelm you with head-shaking, jaw-dropping, visually stunning impossibilities.

Of course Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is an owl-delivered love letter to the Harry Potter franchise, with clever references and nods to the beloved books and films. 

At the same time, it's a celebration of the art of baking, with creative challenges and mouth-watering creations that will inspire viewers to get baking. 

It's also a love letter to the better part of what television is capable of and the better part of humanity: Of upliftment, of inspiration, of TV that brings joy. 

Watch Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking and be inspired by seeing people who don't just have big dreams but practically work to turn their magical aspirations into reality.

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is on The Food Network (DStv 175) on Wednesdays at 17:00, from 4 December 2024

MultiChoice: SuperSport isn't going to let streamers steal DStv sports rights

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is fiercely protective of its exclusive local and international sports rights that it pays millions for to bring to DStv and Showmax subscribers and has sown up these rights for several years into the future, with SuperSport that isn't going to let streamers steal it.

Internationally global video streaming services with deep chequebooks are starting to carve out and gobble up sports rights that used to be on linear television in many countries, from basketball and football to cricket and rugby. 

Streamers are also trying to break into live-streaming sports events of their own.

Netflix for instance last month attempted a Mike Tyson and Jake Paul boxing match in Las Vegas that however ended up crashing for millions of users - including South Africans - who tried to watch it, after it suffered production problems and froze due to buffering issues.

While MultiChoice is cognisant that rivals like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are encroaching on its sports rights turf, the pay-TV provider - which is the target of an aggressive buyout from France's Vivendi SE's Canal+ - says it has sown up several of the most valuable local and international sports rights for several years into the future.

MultiChoice also doesn't think that Netflix Africa and Amazon Prime Video have the appetite to acquire sports rights of African sports, and rights for sub-Saharan Africa, for the foreseeable future.

"On all of our critical rights we typically sign multi-year contracts," Tim Jacobs, MultiChoice chief financial officer (CFO), told me in an interview.

"Because of the high risk that we've had over the last couple of years of some of these big, international streaming services that can afford and have massive balance sheets - Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ - these are guys who can write out a big cheque and compete with us."

"Because of that, we've been very tactical about when we renegotiate these contracts and the duration of the contracts."

"We've managed to secure most of our big sports rights and we've managed to secure them for multiple years," he says.

"In that journey, we have also been able - on some of the really big rights, for example, some of our big football rights - we've actually been around the contract renegotiations been able to renegotiate lower prices," Tim Jacobs explains.

"In the past where there's been a lot of international hype around the leagues, what we've seen more recently, is that as these leagues have introduced some competition in some of the markets - for example, the English Premier League (EPL) - the two big competitors there are Sky on the one and BT on the other side."

"They bid up the cost of those league rights to the point where the guys couldn't monetise it and as a consequence, they all started pulling back. You see this in many instances in other countries in the world, where in France, Canal+ walked away from the French league and it made no sense being the dominant broadcaster there."

"They took a view of 'at a certain price point we can't monetise it'. In our markets what we've been able to do, is to go back and renegotiate with some of these big leagues and say to them 'guys, look at what's happening in Africa, look at the currency pressure, look at the pressure on consumers, we can't afford to pay you these exorbitant amounts".

"We've actually been able to negotiate slightly lower amounts."

Tim Jacobs says MultiChoice thinks it is unlikely in the foreseeable future that streamers like Netflix South Africa and Amazon Prime Video will pick up and show big sports that subscribers are used to accessing and seeing on DStv.

"That doesn't mean that we're not at risk of one of the big players coming in and outbidding us. But we've also got to be realistic about the probability of that happening."

"Amazon Prime Video has stopped doing all development of all general entertainment content in Africa. They're only supplying international content to the African market. Why? Because they're not getting any volume for it."

"Netflix has pulled out of all their Africa productions - that's a recent announcement. They're not producing anymore."

"Now if you don't have enough subscribers to justify local general entertainment offerings, chances are also that buying sports rights means that you're also not going to monetise that."

"We're not saying that it's impossible but it's one area of our business that we are very, very focused on and making sure that where possible we do secure those rights."

M-Net grabs Suits L.A. spinoff for 2025

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net has snagged NBC's Suits spinoff, Suits: L.A. that will start in America and on DStv for South African viewers in 2025, with Gabriel Macht who will reprise his role as Harvey Spencer in a 3-episode arc.

One person who definitely won't be in the new spinoff since she's now married to royalty is Meghan Markle, with Markle and husband Prince Harry producing various TV projects for Netflix.

M-Net (DStv 101) confirmed to me that it will have the highly anticipated Suits: L.A. in early-2025 which was picked up straight to series at NBC in the United States.

Set in Los Angeles just like L.A. Law, Suits: L.A. will star Stephen Amell as Ted Black, alongside Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis, Bryan Greenberg and Troy Winbush.

The only officially released summary of Suits: L.A. so far reads: "Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York, has reinvented himself representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles".

"His firm is at a crisis point and to survive he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career. Ted is surrounded by a stellar group of characters who test their loyalties to both Ted and each other while they can’t help but mix their personal and professional lives."

Suits ran for nine seasons which were all on M-Net and made stars of Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle as well as Gabriel Macht who visited South Africa a decade ago in 2015 to do a press tour and film a DStv TV commercial for MultiChoice and M-Net.

As a library series, Suits was picked up by Netflix globally where a lot more viewers discovered it, and is now also available for local viewing on Netflix South Africa.

Aaron Korsh created Suits and is back as creator and showrunner of the Suits: L.A. spinoff. 

Suits: L.A. is actually Korsh's second spinoff, after the single-season Pearson that was also on M-Net, and starred Gina Torres, who played Jessica Pearson, who moved from New York City to Chicago.

Suits: L.A. will debut on 23 February 2025 in the United States. 

Besides M-Net having secured it, M-Net isn't saying yet whether it will be an Express from the US title with episodes showing close to the American airdates once it starts.

ALSO READ: Suits spinoff Suits: LA with Stephen Amell given a series order

South Africa's annual summer cruise season keeps expanding from Durban and Gqeberha to Cape Town

by Thinus Ferreira

South Arica's annual summer cruise season continues to grow as the MSC Musica has arrived in Durban for its Mozambique rotation, Nelson Mandela Bay will wave to 45 ships, while Cape Town will see 85 cruise ships dock that also just won best cruise terminal in Africa.

More than 85 cruise ships will dock in Cape Town harbour this summer cruise season, including 15 new vessels like the recent Mein Schiff 6.

The Cape Town Cruise Terminal also won as Africa's Best cruise terminal for 2024 at the World Cruise Awards in Madeira, Portugal.

Wesgro, the tourism agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, says the terminal award "solidifies the region's reputation as a premier global cruise destination". 

This is however not just true of Cape Town, but of South Africa, with the Durban and Gqeberha ports equally showing rapid summer cruise season expansion.

According to Wesgro's Western Cape Cruise Liner Industry 2023-24 Season Report, the cruise industry contributed R1.32 billion to the Western Cape economy during the 2023-24 cruise season. That's up from R1.2 billion the previous season.

Cruise passengers, vessels and crew generated R1.5 billion in expenditure which supported 1 965 jobs across various sectors like retail, hospitality and tourism.

"The 2023-24 season has reinforced Cape Town and the Western Cape's standing as a premier destination for international cruise lines," says Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO.

"Despite a small dip in ship calls, the economic impact has been more substantial than ever. The R1.32 billion injection into the Western Cape economy demonstrates not only the sector's resilience but also its ability to provide consistent value to businesses and communities across the province," she says.

In Nelson Mandela Bay the influx of 45 cruise ships this season is projected to bring as many as 50 000 visitors ashore as Gqeberha is playing catch-up with Durban and Cape Town to become a premier cruise liner destination.

The 45 docked liners are an increase from the 37 in the 2022-2023 season, which was more than the 33 in the 2021-2022 season.

At a municipality-hosted workshop for tourism in Gqeberha, Babalwa Lobishe, Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, said that the plan is to try and double this year's passenger cruise ship docks from 45 to 90 for the 2025-2026 season.

"This can be done through collaboration, integrated, complementary strategic planning and development of South Africa's cruise tourism product," she noted.

Meanwhile in Durban, nearly 243 000 international tourists arrived last season on cruise liners, according to the Transnet National Ports Authority.

According to Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi, Port of Durban acting manager, the port is committed to further strengthening its reputation as a world-class cruise destination.

"We are focused on enhancing service quality and driving sustainable tourism growth, ultimately benefiting the local economy and community."

It's here where the MSC Euribia made a quick visit last month and where the MSC Musica arrived and is currently busy with her Durban-Mozambique rotation before the ship will move to Cape Town for its second rotation in a month's time.

The MSC Musica's local season includes the usual annual itineraries to the Portuguese Island off Mozambique's coast, the remote Pomene in Mozambique and the islands of Mauritius, Madagascar and Réunion. 

In early 2025, MSC Musica will reposition to Cape Town for a rotation of cruises to Namibia's Lüderitz and Walvis Bay. 

"The cruise industry is immensely important to the economy of South Africa," says Ross Volk, MSC Cruises South Africa managing director.

"Cruise tourism is a force multiplier - you are bringing so many people to one location and in a concentrated fashion. If we just look at the Euribia, if we have 6 300 passengers in one day at the Port of Durban, it's a force multiplier in terms of an economic boost."

"Cruise tourism brings an injection of billions of rands into the South African economy," he says.

"Our commitment to South Africa is unwavering and goes beyond providing great experiences and excellent service to our guests. It is also about our ongoing investments in Durban, the local economies and the country's tourism industry."

About the MSC Musica, Volk says "it is a great ship for the South African traveller, with plenty of bars and lounges, ample deck space and endless entertainment for everyone to enjoy. We are excited to welcome new and regular cruisers alike, onboard throughout the summer."

Looking to the end of next year, the MSC Opera will replace the MSC Musica for South Africa's 2025/2026 cruise season from next November. 

One thing South African cruisers are currently without is the MSC Yacht Club which was newly introduced at the end of last year.

The MSC Musica doesn't have the MSC Yacht Club - a private ship-within-a-ship hospitality and cabin set-up. South African cruise passengers experienced that for the first time locally last year with the MSC Splendida.

Ross Volk last year said the MSC Yacht Club and island upgrades were not an experiment and that the Yacht Club offering will be back in future. 

Unfortunately, the MSC Opera doesn't have the MSC Yacht Club either which means South Africans who wanted to pay for the upgraded experience are not able to do so this season locally, and also not for the upcoming local season.