The South African short film, The Last Ranger, has made the shortlist for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best Live Action Short Film category.
In the category 180 films qualified, which have been whittled down to 15.
The short list will be further reduced and announced on 17 January 2025, with the winner in the category announced on 2 March 2025 when the 2025 Oscars take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and shown on M-Net (DStv 101).
The Last Ranger was directed by Cindy Lee who worked on Desert Rose and Showmax's The Girl from St Agnes, and the short film is the second installment in the When The World Stopped anthology series.
The Last Ranger is produced by Kindred Films and supported by Rose and Oaks Media.
The Last Ranger chronicles the story of Lita (Liyabona Mroqoza) who is captivated by the wonders of a game reserve, guided by the last ranger, Khuselwa (Avumile Qongqo).
Their adventure turns into a fight for survival when they are ambushed by poachers, leading them to confront a painful reality that underlines the critical issues of wildlife conservation.
"To have an isiXhosa film about rhino poaching in the running for an Oscar makes me so proud," says Cindy Lee in a statement. "The film is unique and deserves to go all the way".
"It is a remarkable feeling to see the positive reception this film has garnered on the international film festival circuit."
"This being my first short film, I wanted to create a story that resonates in South Africa and across the world. I am honoured that the film is sparking important conversations on conservation, social change, and empowerment.”
Anele Mdoda, executive producer at Rose and Oaks Media, said "We are immensely proud to be involved in a project that addresses such a critical subject".
"Raising awareness about environmental conservation through storytelling is essential for driving meaningful change. The fact that this story is told in isiXhosa yet resonates with international audiences speaks to the universal relevance of this urgent issue."
The multi-hyphenate producer-presenter Anele Mdoda says South Africa's TV and film industry requires a strong South African public broadcaster that doesn't fail and an SABC that is successful.
Anele Mdoda spoke at the Primedia Studios-sponsored Women in Entertainment breakfast held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) where she was the keynote speaker and addressed a room of women who attended the MIP Africa 2024 TV market.
"We need a SABC. We need to work together to ensure that the SABC not fail, survives, works and is successful," she noted.
"The BBC in the United Kingdom - the national anything - the vehicle through which we speak to the most people in South Africa - it is our job as creatives and as women in this industry to ensure its success. Regardless of whether anyone or anything is in competition with the SABC or not," she said.
Through her Rose and Oaks Media production company, Anele Mdoda in partnership with Primedia Studios is producing a localised format version of The Masked Singer SA as well as Ready, Steady, Cook for SABC3.
Primedia Studios is also doing Wheel of Fortune SA, Deal or No Deal SA, and a new season of MasterChef SA through Homebrew Films for the SABC TV channels.
"The people and places at the top are not competing. They are collaborating," Anele Mdoda said.
"This is how Primedia Studios gets into a deal with the SABC. Everyone was 'How is Primedia Studios there with SABC which is the enemy?"
"Jonathan Procter who is our CEO, simply said 'We are going to make content as Primedia Studios and we are going to give it to the SABC and we're going to sell it, and we're going to make money and we're going to help get the SABC out of its rut because if the SABC collapses then all of us are also done."
"Look at MultiChoice - who can we talk to over there? We've got this thing. Can we do this there? Give us that and we'll do it there or here. This whole thing of 'We don't talk to each other' - it won't take any of us anywhere," Anele Mdoda remarked.
"Put your hands up if you've worked at one media place your entire career. Put your hand up if you've worked at more than one media place in your career," she said as many hands went up.
"If you do things where you block people from doing something, you're cutting yourself off. Do not worry about what you're not. Surround yourself with the people who do it the best. It's an orchestra. It's an ensemble."
"We're all good. We are all playing different instruments. Pick up your instrument and shine at that. Don't worry about the harp if you're not the harp. Don't worry if you're not the violinist. Go where you are skilled and piece it all together and then everyone is going to succeed."
The South African public broadcaster has picked up yet another international format competition show through Primedia Studios with SABC3 that will air 260 episodes of Ready Steady Cook South Africa on SABC3 with presenter Moshe Ndiki.
Ready Steady Cook, a format held by Banijay that's been running for years on the BBC, will be produced by Rose and Oaks Media, also responsible for The Masked Singer SA which has already been renewed for a second season on SABC3.
Besides The Masked Singer SA, Primedia Studios already does a regular and celebrity version of Deal or No Deal SA for SABC1 and SABC2, with the upcoming 5th season of MasterChef SA which will be on SACB3 from September.
There is an ad and sponsorship revenue-sharing deal between Primedia Studios and the SABC for the acquisition and schedule placement of these shows that Primedia Studios does the legwork for and production companies then film for the public broadcaster
In Ready Steady Cook, two teams - a Red Tomato and a Green Pepper - compete in a Red Kitchen and a Green Kitchen, together with a South African chef on each side and paired with enthusiastic home cooks, as they are challenged creatively with a mystery bag of ingredients in a 20-minute cook-off.
Ready Steady Cook will start on SABC3 on 18 March at 19:00 and feature well-known chefs like Wandile Mabaso, Neo Nontso, Fehmida Osman-Latib, Kamini Pather, Kelly Njokweni, Liziwe Matloha, Lorna Maseko, Lufuno Sinthumule, Mmule Setati and Nthi Ramaboa.
Like Deal or No Deal SA and The Masked Singer SA, Ready Steady Cook will saturate the schedule of the other two SABC channels with weekday repeats on SABC1 at 15:30 and weekday repeats on SABC2 at 17:30, with a Saturday omnibus at 08:00.
"Our new local version of Ready
Steady Cook is like a paella or a 'potjie' of everything that makes for
good television," says Anele Mdoda, co-owner of Rose and Oaks Media.
"While the
dramatic battle between Team Red Tomato and Team Green Pepper is packed with
suspense, it's also sprinkled with star power and non-stop fun. Simultaneously,
the show addresses a nagging question many viewers grapple with every day: What's for dinner tonight?"
She says the production is "thrilled to have Moshe as the
on-screen coordinator of all the magic and madness cooked up by the two
competing teams on Ready Steady Cook South Africa".
"From
his call centre
days creating content that made the entire country laugh from their bellies to
his food trucks that spoke directly to our bellies, Moshe is the perfect
balance of sugar, salt, flavour and heat - funny enough, everything you need to
make a stellar dish."
In the show the chefs will be tasked to create three dishes with the food items brought along
by their Team Red Tomato or Team Green Pepper partner within 20 minutes. Once
the time has run out, the studio audience votes to determine the episode's
winning team.
What makes Ready Steady Cook South Africa more
entertaining is that the two home cooks are somehow related.
They're either
family members, friends, or business partners from the same profession or even
share a hobby. During the cook-off, the audience learns more about their
lives through their interaction with Moshe and the chefs.
Ready Steady Cook South Africa is now looking for contestants who can send a WhatsApp to the producers on 068 675 2542.
Strictly Come Dancing SA and SA's Got Talent are being revived for new free-to-air audiences, with The Masked Singer SA renewed for a further two seasons, Deal or No Deal SA getting a second season, while both The Voice SA and the long-running Idols that ran out of steam on pay-TV is getting free-to-air oxygen.
Like it did last September for the first time, Primedia on Monday held another of its so-called "PrimeX" events where it touted some format reality shows that its expanding Primedia Studios is planning to bring to South African television.
As part of its growing entertainment content slate of reality competition and shiny floor shows, Primedia Studios has renewed The Masked Singer SA on SABC3 for another two seasons, renewed Deal or No Deal SA for a second season, is reviving SA's Got Talent that was on e.tv, is reviving The Voice SA that was on M-Net for a free-to-air audience, and is also taking over Idols that was cancelled as a pay-TV show and bringing it to free-to-air viewers.
Similar to The Masked Singer SA and the revived Deal or No Deal SA that Primedia brought to SABC1 and SABC3 over the past year and announced in September last year, Primedia now plans to bring back and revilatise Strictly Come Dancing SA, SA's Got Talent, The Voice SA and also Idols that stalled on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and is in its final season on pay-TV.
Primedia only told some media about its PrimeX event held at Montecasino in Johannesburg with Primedia CEO Jonathan Procter and issued no press release on Monday after the event.
According to insiders, while several shows were touted on stage, some of the contracts are not yet in place.
As part of the second PrimeX presentation, Anele Mdoda who produced The Masked Singer SA under her Rose and Oaks Media production banner, also did an interview on-stage with comedian Trevor Noah, while Deal or No Deal SA host Katlego Maboe also made an on-stage appearance.
Production company Rapid Blue did eight seasons of Strictly Come Dancing that aired on SABC2 and later SABC3 until 2015. In 2018 the format was revived and taken over by M-Net with Rapid Blue producing a single season for M-Net but rebranding it under the show's American moniker of Dancing with the Stars SA.
Now the show will return to free-to-air - very likely SABC3 - and again as Strictly Come Dancing as the British version is also known as.
After 18 seasons on M-Net, then on M-Net and Mzansi Magic jointly and then on Mzansi Magic, Idols will also move from pay-TV where the show got cancelled, to free-to-air - very likely SABC1 in order to give it the biggest potential new talent pool and TV audience.
With massively declining audience ratings, on pay-TV, Idols that has run out of viewership steam, has barely reached 403 818 DStv subscribers who tuned in during August.
In earlier seasons before a dramatic viewership decline set in that co-incided with judge Somizi Mhlongo who was engulfed in scandals, Idols brought close to and over a million viewers on Sunday evenings to DStv.
SA's Got Talent, also produced by Rapid Blue, saw eight very successful seasons between 2009 and 2017 - the first two of which were on SABC2 after moving to e.tv from the third season onwards. It's likely that SA's Got Talent could now re-emerge on SABC2.
The Voice SA will also jump to cater to a new free-to-air audience after M-Net had the reality talent competition for three seasons between 2016 and 2019 and where Anele Mdoda served as host for the third and last season.
SABC1 will strip the half-hour Dealor No Deal SA episodes in which contestants get to choose which of 20 boxes to open to win possible cash prizes ranging from R1 to R250 000, on weekdays at 19:30. Repeats will run on weekdays on SABC3 at 17:30.
Primedia decided to revive the game show which lasted for two seasons on M-Net (DStv 101) in 2007, together with a version for Southern African countries which was carried by MultiChoice for DStv subscribers outside of South Africa.
"We are delighted to offer this exhilarating, upbeat show to our audiences," says Lala Tuku, SABC head of local content.
"While we will be using the winning format that has seen Deal or No Deal become a global broadcasting phenomenon, the show will feature new innovations and be distinctively South African. Every day, a contestant will have an opportunity to win up to R250 000. With an electric energy that makes dreams come true in an instant, this is television entertainment at its best."
About choosing Katlego Maboe as the show's host, Lala Tuku says "We needed an all-rounded host for this very special show, and we are convinced that he has the requisite flair and finesse, and the generosity of spirit to ensure that Deal or No Deal becomes an essential, not to be missed, part of the daily life of South Africans across the nation".
"His charisma and compassion will ensure that each episode of Deal or No Deal is an emotive, highly charged journey for both contestant and viewers."
Lindile Xoko, Primedia Broadcasting CEO, says "Deal or No Deal is a result of collaborative work and we are very fortunate to be in a position to leverage our relationships with our advertisers".
"It was through a synergetic partnership approach that we have successfully identified a suitable sponsor for the show and to indeed make it a reality. Deal or No Deal, an uplifting show which can make the dreams of ordinary South Africans come true, is a definite winner and it is a much-needed antidote for the people of Mzansi".
South Africa's Primedia primarily dabbling in radio has picked up the rights to The Masked Singer South Africa which will be produced by Anele Mdoda's Rose and Oaks Media for an as-yet-unnamed TV channel, potentially putting a spoke in the wheels of the SABC's SABC3 TV channel which has been trying and looking at producing a localised version of the singing competition show.
Primedia also plans to revive the game show Deal or No Deal South Africa which lasted for two seasons on M-Net (DStv 101) in 2007, together with a version for Southern African countries which was carried by MultiChoice for DStv subscribers outside of South Africa.
At Primedia's Tuesday evening event, Anele Mdoda revealed that Primedia has secured the rights to The Masked Singer SA which Rose and Oaks Media will produce in at least three different South African languages.
SABC3 channel boss Pat van Heerden has been trying to get a local version of The Masked SA off the ground as the channel's big new local variety competition show with the channel which has been carrying the American version of The Masked Singer on its schedule.
It's unclear if SABC3 will be able to or has secured a deal with Primedia to broadcast The Masked Singer SA, or whether the show will go to another channel like e.tv, or one of the M-Net produced channels for MultiChoice's DStv.
Primedia also plans to launch video versions of its Eyewitness News (EWN) news bulletins - an English version done by the former eNCA anchors Jane Dutton and Shahan Ramkissoon now at the Eclipse PR company, and a Zulu version anchored by Kwazi Kwaza.
NBCUniversal International Networks has renewed its South African version of celebrity game show Celebrity Game Night produced by Rapid Blue and shown on E! (DStv 124) for a 10-episode fourth season that will premiere in 2023 and with production set to start in September.
Multi-hyphenate producer-presenter Anele Mdoda returns, together with team captains Ayanda Thabethe and Jason Goliath.
In the fourth season which will once again be filmed in Johannesburg, an array of South African celebrities will once compete in a string of party games that will test their pop culture knowledge, physical skills and acting mettle.
Lee Raftery, managing director for the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region for NBCUniversal International Networks & direct-to-consumer, says "We're delighted to bring a brand-new season of our award-winning original
production Celebrity Game Night, which has just been nominated for its second
SAFTA, to E! Africa".
"Expect
big celebrities, bigger games and most importantly the biggest laughs yet!"
The Hollywood Game Night format is distributed globally by NBCUniversal
Formats, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of
Universal Studio Group.
The original NBC version of the series was
created by actor-producer Sean Hayes and producer Todd Milliner and has since
been adapted locally in Greece, French Canada, Spain, Iceland, Indonesia,
Vietnam and Thailand.
Netflix has announced its first-ever Afrikaans TV drama series Ludik which will be released on 26 August as a 6-episode action series starring Arnold Vosloo, Diaan Lawrenson, Zane Meas and Rob Van Vuuren.
Ludik, produced by Rose and Oak Media of Anele Mdoda, Paul Buys and Frankie du Toit, revolves around Arnold Vosloo in the title role, appearing to be a wholesome family man running a successful furniture business - although behind-the-scenes he is involved in the crime underworld in South Africa where he crosses paths with murderers and mobsters.
Netflix tells TVwithThinus that the whole season was shot in 6 weeks on location, mostly
around Pretoria but also in and around Johannesburg.
Arnold Vosloo was recently in South Africa to appear in the Netflix Original feature film Silverton Siege.
According to the official Ludik logline from Netflix, "With his family in turmoil, jail time on the horizon and death imminent, Ludik must rely on both his old and new allies to prevail and save his everything"
Rose and Oaks Media says "Maximum woes (chaos) is what ensues. The series mixes some knuckle-busting action, over-the-top Afrikaans humour and loads of twists from start to finish".
Ludik is executive produced by Anele Mdoda, Paul Buys and Frankie du Toit, with Ian Gabriel and Harold Holscher as directors. Ludik was created by Paul Buys and Annemarie van Basten.
The rest of the Ludik cast includes Jandre LeRoux, Inge Beckman, Lea Vivier, Sean Cameron Michael, Tina Redman, Mzu Ntantiso, Tshamano Sebe, Dirk Stolz and Terence Bridgett.
Ludik forms part of the ongoing resurgence in the South African film career of Arnold Vosloo who returned to the country after a long Hollywood career to appear in 2019's feature film Griekwastad from Scene23 that was released on MultiChoice's DStv BoxOffice.
Arnold Vosloo followed that up with Silverton Siege that released on Netflix earlier this year.
The Miss South Africa 2022 beauty pageant will be broadcast live on Saturday 13 August as a simulcast show on two of M-Net's channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.
Anele Mdoda who was a co-host with Nico Panagio in 2021 will return as the sole host on 13 August for the beauty pageant that will be simulcast on M-Net (DStv 101) as well as Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) at 18:30.
After it took place in Cape Town for the previous two editions, the Miss South Africa 2022 beauty pageant broadcast is moving back to Gauteng and will take place in the SunBet Area at Time Square in Pretoria.
"Mzansi Magic as the official broadcaster and simulcast on M-Net, is pleased to bring Miss South Africa 2022 to our customers and with Anele Mdoda as host," says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net's director of local entertainment channels, in a prepared statement.
"We have faith in her ability to keep our audiences engaged and entertained. Miss South Africa is a platform for showcasing women's empowerment, diversity, intelligence, and leadership which resonates with our purpose as Mzansi Magic and our audience."
Anele Mdoda in the statement says "I'm very excited that we are back to a full capacity arena because a packed arena suits my energy levels and always motivates me to work just that little bit harder to ensure that everyone has a good time and really enjoys the evening."
A second season of Celebrity Game Night SA has started on E! in South Africa with Anele Mdoda back as the host, as well as Jason Goliath and Ayanda Thabethe reprising their roles as respective team captains in the South African adaptation of the format game show.
The second season of Celebrity Game Night SA is broadcast on Sundays nights on E! (DStv 124) at 20:00.
South African personalities who have previously appeared to take part in the various games are who are back for the second season include Maps Maponyane, the sisters Refilwe, Bontle and Candice Modiselle, Roxy Burger, Boity Thulo, Khanyi Mbau, Mpho Popps and Chris Jaftha.
Personalities who will be making their first appearance on Celebrity Game Night SA include Schalk Bezuidenhout, Loyiso Gola, Lesego Thlabi, Celeste Ntuli and Donovan Goliath, as well as Thando Thabethe, Natasha Thahane and Thembi Seete.
Also making an appearance will be the musician Amanda Black, Kelly Khumalo and Moonchild Sanelly, as well as the rappers Kwesta and Riky Rick, the Idols judge Unathi, Warren Masemola, Seabelo Senatla, Lasizwe and Lamiez Holworthy.
Celebrity Game Night SA done for NBCUniversal International Networks is produced by Rapid Blue based on the Hollywood Game Night format distributed globally by NBCUniversal Formats.
The new pan-African lifestyle channel HONEY will launch on 15 February on channel 173 on DStv with a collection of new programming including Anele Mdoda making a TV talk show comeback in a The View-inspired show featuring a set of women from different African countries as the panellists in The Buzz.
HONEY, produced by Media24 that is also responsible for the 5-year old Afrikaans lifestyle show VIA, will be carried by MultiChoice on its DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Cameroon.
HONEY will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.
HONEY is described as a lifestyle TV channel for "curious and connected Africans" and will offer a blend of African lifestyle content, including unscripted reality fare produced by African producers with African on-screen talent.
The channel's thematic programming will span from general lifestyle as well as food and cooking, to relationships and weddings, along with reality shows from various territories across the continent.
HONEY says that its "key ingredient" will be the channel's focus on authentic African storytelling, made possible through a groundbreaking content creation model in which the channel is partnering with producers in different African countries to create hundreds of hours of new African shows.
"HONEY showcases Africans living their best lives and depicts an honest modern-day view of our diverse countries, cultures and peoples," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment and connected video.
"This is a lifestyle channel made in Africa for Africans by Africans," she says.
"DStv is thrilled to launch HONEY. The channel is part of our commitment to keep bringing fresh, authentic and local content to our African subscribers. For many years we've seen lifestyle is a popular genre on the continent and now our subscribers will see their own talent, food, celebrations and their families as the well-deserved hero".
Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, says "Africa's dynamism and way of life is the perfect ingredient for this exciting channel. HONEY is going to add sweet and sticky flavour to our subscriber offering".
"Lifestyle content is the ideal vehicle to reflect the continent's diversity and sameness. Everyone curious about food, style, and weddings is in for a treat."
Izelle Venter, HONEY channel head, says "Media24 is delighted to collaborate with MultiChoice on this new adventure. The goal is to combine both companies' best qualities, experiences and knowledge to serve DStv subscribers with a new channel that is familiar, unique and entertaining".
Zinzi Velelo, HONEY's head of content, says "We are working with producers across the continent to ensure that the lifestyle stories we tell are real and relevant. Our goal is to showcase the characters, talent and dynamics of everyday African life as never before".
Here are some of the HONEY launch programmes and series descriptions:
The Buzz
South Africa's Anele Mdoda is the host of this talks show also featuring Pearl Umeh from Nigeria, Rachel Wakesho from Kenya, Zanna Katoka from the DRC, and Davina Mavuwa from Zimbabwe. Sparks fly as these five women, with different personalities and from different cultures, solve a viewer’s dilemma, whether concerning romance, health, side hustle or family and friends.
Pastor's Wives
Meet the women who keep things together in well-known religious households. This reality series, produced by Sonia Mbele who is also responsible for The Real Housewives of Joburg, features pastors' wives from across the continent as they do their best for their families and church communities. Expect opulence and plenty of behind-the-pulpit drama.
Love Swap
This Nigeria reality drama series presents a relationship challenge in which couples swap partners for a home-cooked meal. Each episode will culminate in a joint dinner featuring both couples, during which they share their impressions of each other and what they have learned about their relationships.
Making the menu
In each episode of this proudly Kenyan series, two food bloggers create a bespoke meal for a popular local eatery, with the restauranteur deciding which dish deserves a space on the menu. Viewers will also enjoy a journey through Nairobi's cultural attractions and the city's sights, sounds and traditions as the contestants look for inspiration outside the kitchen.
Yes! Ndio! Beeni!
Singer
and actress Patricia Kihoro and the TV and radio host Foi Wambui team up for
another Kenyan production. The two help lovers to ask someone if they will marry them and act as event planners to design a proposal that not
only stays true to the couple’s love story but guarantees a "yes!".
Ehe, it’s a match
There
is more matchmaking in this colourful dating show shot in Zambia, in which a
cooking cupid invites two potential love birds to his or her home and cooks
them a meal. After the meal, the two decide whether to meet up again at a local
eatery. Will they or won’t they find love?
Shine Shine
Presented
by Mbali Nkosi,this show focuses on personal transformation, with a
makeover squad coming to the rescue of someone in need of a new look and a
confidence boost to take the next big step in their life. Viewers can look
forward to witnessing surprised and deserving contestants undergo dramatic
transformations.
Hoot, cook, go
A
vibrant food culture, particular palates and often curious cultures are put to
the test as three teams compete for a prize on this show. Each team is given a
chance to show off exactly who they are with a plate of food that they only
have an hour to prepare. When they hear the hooter, it’s time to get in the car
and move on to the next team’s house.
The next big trender
From 19 March 2021 the
search is on for Africa’s hottest influencers. Six aspiring social stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa will all compete to win over the opinionistas.
M-Net (DStv 101) has added a half hour Oscars 2020 red carpet special for its prime time schedule on Monday night to intro the 92 Academy Awards with Anele Mdoda who will interview some stars as they make their way into the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
It's the second time that Anele Mdoda will do the Anele at the Oscars special that she presented last year for the first time. It's the third time in history that a South African TV reporter is doing red carpet duty at the Oscars, and the third time that South Africa will have its own red carpet Oscars TV special.
Anele at the Oscars as a recorded show will be broadcast at 21:00 on Monday night, 10 February 2020, on M-Net (DStv 101), followed by the prime time showing of the 92nd Academy Awards at 21:30.
M-Net will also broadcast the awards ceremony as a live simulcast on Monday morning at 03:00 on M-Net Movies (DStv 104). This year the Oscars will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide with MultiChoice and M-Net that have the rights for sub-Saharan Africa.
This year's Oscars stage with be a glittering "cyclone" - a Swarovski-covered stage created by Jason Sherwood.
Important to note is that NBCUniversal's E! (DStv 124) for the 5th year in a row will again not have any actual red carpet coverage during the last hour of red carpet arrivals since those rights belong to the ABC network in America that gets exclusive live red carpet access.
While E! will carry the beginning of the red carpet arrivals live, viewers will have to switch to M-Net Movies to watch the red carpet arrivals live from 23:30, as well as for the official red carpet show starting at 01:30 on Monday morning. M-Net acquired these official red carpet pre-shows as part of the Oscars broadcast package.
Here's your comprehensive TV guide on exactly how, the channels, and the times, where you can watch the show as well as the surrounding red carpet coverage:
Oscars: E!'s Insider Guide
▪ 21:00Sunday 9 February, E! (DStv 124)
A recorded special counting down to one of Hollywood’s biggest nights spotlighting the biggest names who might make a showing this year on the red carpet.
On the Red Carpet: Oscars 2020 The Arrivals
▪ 23:30Sunday 9 February, M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) LIVE
The official red carpet coverage broadcast kicks off looking at the fashion as the stars arrive and interviews with the stars.
E! Live From The Red Carpet: Oscars 2020
▪ 00:00Monday 10February, E! (DStv 124) LIVE
E!'s live coverage red carpet coverage of the 2020 Oscars starts. The "E! Glambot" makes a return to the Oscars to capture one-of-a-kind red carpet moments. Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic are the hosts.
E! Stream the Red Carpet: Oscars 2020
▪ 00:40Monday 10February, Twitter @enews
E! does a digital show covering the Oscars red carpet as part of its second screen coverage.
The Oscars Red Carpet Show
▪ 01:30Monday 10 February, M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) LIVE
The official red carpet pre-show with presenters Billy Porter, Tamron Hall, model Lily Aldridge and film critic Elvis Mitchell. Beginning at 02:30 when E! must cut away, Ryan Seacrest, for a second year in a row, will switch from E! to join this show as a presenter to cover the last half hour from alongside the red carpet before the ceremony starts.
Red Carpet Rundown: Oscars 2020
▪ 02:30Monday 10February, E! (DStv 124) LIVE
Since E! is no longer allowed alongside the actual red carpet at this time, fashion correspondents and experts analyse the looks from the stars who've already arrived for Oscar night with photos and commentary.
92nd Annual Academy Awards
▪ 03:00Monday 10 February, M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) LIVE
The ceremony from inside the Dolby Theatre. The Oscars will once again be hostless this year for a second consecutive year.
Anele at the Oscars
▪ 21:00Monday 10 February, M-Net (DStv 101)
A pre-recorded half-hour with Anele Mdoda in Hollywood covering the glitz, glam and excitement of Hollywood's biggest night.
92nd Annual Academy Awards
▪ 21:30Monday 10 February, M-Net (DStv 101)
The prime-time rebroadcast of the awards show.
E! News
▪ 10:20 Tuesday 11 February, E! (DStv 124)
Lilliana Vazquez and Scott Tweedie do a special Oscars 2020 lookback episode with news and commentary about this year's ceremony and red carpet coverage. E!'s team of correspondents will do a special Oscars recap with all the insider secrets, surprises, snubs and backstage shockers, plus the biggest fashion risks and hottest after-parties.
Pop of the Morning
▪ 10:50 Tuesday 11 February, E! (DStv 124)
Lilliana Vazquez, Scott Tweedie and Victor Cruz do a special Oscars 2020 edition of the daily talk show looking back at gossip, issues and sharing their insights of this year's ceremony and red carpet.
Anele Mdoda will be the presenter of the 10-episode game show, Celebrity Game Night on E! (DStv 124) that will start filming this week with comedian Jason Goliath and presenter Ayanda Thabethe as "team captains".
Celebrity Game Night as a local South African version of the American game show, Hollywood Game Night, with the first 10-episode season that will start filming this week in Johannesburg, South Africa and broadcast in late-2019 on the channel. Anele Mdoda on Sunday finished her first stint as presenter of the third season of The Voice South Africaon M-Net (DStv 101). Celebrity Game Night is distributed by NBCUniversal International Formats and produced by Rapid Blue. In each episode, 2 teams of celebrity African guests will face off as they play party games that test their pop culture knowledge, each with their own team captain. "I'm so excited to host
Celebrity Game Night on E! and can’t wait for viewers to join the party!," says Anele Mdoda in a supplied press release quote on Tuesday. "Hanging out with Jason, Ayanda and our top celebrity guests on my sofas is
going to be hilariously wild. Let the games begin". Jason Goliath in a quote attributed to him said "Be warned – this isn’t
a typical game show. Joining Celebrity Game Night as a team captain and trying
to wrangle a crowd of stars with Anele and Ayanda is going to be epically
entertaining. My team is going to have plenty of laughs – but more importantly, we’re also going
to win". Ayanda Thabethe said "Celebrity Game Night is
going to be the hottest A-list ticket in town. If you've ever wondered how the rich and famous let their hair down and have a good time, this is the show for
you."
Lee Raftery, the managing director at NBCUniversal International for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA) and chief marketing officer, says "Anele Mdoda as host of
Celebrity Game Night – with Jason Goliath and Ayanda Thabethe as team captains
– is a winning combination". "The chemistry of the three stars
will resonate with participants and viewers alike, providing African viewers
with a highly entertaining and high energy experience."
M-Net will be doing another red carpet special from the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, this time with The new presenter of the third season of The Voice SA, Anele Mdoda who will do interviews from the 91st Annual Academy Awards that will be broadcast on M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104) on Monday 25 February.
The Red Carpet Special as a pre-show to this year's Oscars will be broadcast on M-Net Movies Premiere on Monday 25 February at 20:30. The 91st Academy Awards will be broadcast live on M-Net Movies Premiere at 03:00 on Monday 25 February, with a delayed broadcast on the same Monday night at 21:00 on M-Net (DStv 101). "Hosting the red carpet for M-Net for one of the biggest awards shows in the world is an absolute highlight for me," says Anele Mdoda in a statement. "I have watched the Oscars every year and the most memorable moments for me were when Denzel Washington and Sandra Bullock won, and when Charlize won - and gave South Africa a shout out." "This year I look forward to celebrating with the Black Panther cast as they head in with seven Oscar nods. We have to speak to Bradley Cooper and salute his directing for A Star Is Born, as well as his performance in it." "We must also get Spike Lee - who has an honorary Oscar but has his first ever nomination as director for BlackKklansman. And then we hope to chat to Mahershala Ali who was nominated for Green Book and of course Glenn Close for The Wife. We also can't forget about Rami Malek and Bohemian Rhapsody! And then of course, there’s the fashion!"
The Voice South Africa kicks off its 3rd season on M-Net (DStv 101) this evening at 17:30 with a rebroadcast on Mondays on VUZU (DStv 116) at 20:00 starting with the usual blind auditions - but a big format change is happening, with the coaches who will no longer all swivel around in their red chairs to see and talk with whom they missed out on, if none of them turned. Instead, all their backs will remain turned to the contestant who will simply have to exit stage left. Asked about not turning, the sole returning coach from the previous seasons, Lira, says "It's horrible because everyone on The Voice SA can actually sing. So emotionally it really is difficult." "But sometimes you end up with a lot of similar voices and you do need diversity. So sometimes you really do get a great person, but you're thinking" 'I've got two or three voices already that sound like this'. So it's all of those kinds of dynamics that come into play." Lira, the other coaches and show executives spoke at a M-Net press screening and Q&A session of this evening's episode that took place at the Gold Reef City cinema a week ago where The Voice SA formed part of M-Net's 3-day programming upfront.
About being the veteran coach with three new ones added - Riky Rick, Francois van Coke and Riana Nel, Lira says "initially I had feelings of – probably because I've done it longer – that I have to help everyone along". "No. I didn't have to do a thing. Everyone was strong, they were present, I was having a great time, I didn't have to worry about any of that, I could just focus on what I needed to do. It was great competition with confidence and great content." "When you're sitting there, all kinds of people are coming through. What you do is irrelevant – you're there to serve the talent," she says. "If you find a voice that just wows you, you go 'I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I want you on my team'. Sometimes if you connect with somebody, and say nobody else connects, I was going for just whatever resonates, irrespective of music genre."
Non-turning chairs "We have 100 people auditioning for the coaches and they can only choose 48 of them, so literally 50% of everyone who's brilliant enough to have got there is no longer on the show," says Darren Hayward, The Voice SA producer. "It's a tragic thing. And the coaches have to strategically build where they want to go with their teams of 12. So sometimes you look and think: 'They made such a mistake', but actually they were making a decision based upon their strategy." "We do have a couple of people who are no-turns. This is a global decision – the non-turning chairs at the end of nobody turned." "A lot of research was done with the talent who didn't get a turn, and the coaches would have to turn around and in the nicest possible way tell them why they didn't turn and what goes into that. And in actual effect what was happening was that the talent didn’t hear a thing." "It was just so much easier, after no-turns, to just walk away. So it feels very tragic and it feels like we're not finishing the story necessarily from the coaches' point of view, but in actual fact, the talent just feels better. They don't have to face them, they don't have to go through all that kind of stuff." "We run a very positive show, we do encourage them to come back, we do encourage them to keep on trying, and a show like this doesn't define you as a musician – it literally just enhances opportunities," says Darren Hayward. "Besides the non-turning chairs at the end of nobody turned – a new change to the format, in the last season we had battles first, and then we had knock-outs. And for this new season, we've actually swopped those around. We've created a really nice dramatic build-up to our live shows." "Those are the major ones, there are a couple more which I’m not going to talk about. Another format change was putting the family room in the studio itself." The Voice SA coach Francois says "there's so much emotion when you don't turn. And the reason for not turning is a thousand things – not just one thing. It's a crazy experience".
New presenter Anele: Trying to find all the Dr. Phil-isms'
Another new addition to The Voice SA is Anele Mdoda as the new presenter replacing the previous ones and hanging out backstage with the friends and family members of contestants.
"Myfeet are not great, because I was standing the entire time. The families are holding me, they're squeezing me; every breath they take I'm taking it with them." "It's so much fun when a coach turns. I won't lie – it's not great when nobody turns. And I'm out there trying to find all the Dr. Phil-isms in my head like 'This doesn't mean the end' and 'It's okay'. But I mean, because the families are there, and the support is there, they knew they were talented before the coaches' chairs turn or not." "And that's what I try to remind them of – the fact that you had the support means that you can sing and there are no limits to The Voice SA – there's no age, there's no cut-off, it's not like 'this has to happen before I turn 35'. You can come at 65 and if you can sing, you can sing," says Anele Mdoda. Live shows of the third season of The Voice SA will take place at The Mosaïek Teatro in Johannesburg where the previous seasons took place, with tickets that will go on sale at Computicket. ALSO READ:REVIEW. Third season of The Voice South Africa on M-Net less jack-in-the-box, more tempered; just as much fun as before.
The third season of The Voice South Africa starting on M-Net (DStv 101) on Sunday, 3 February at 17:30 with a rebroadcast Mondays at 20:00 on VUZU (DStv 116) has somewhat less in-show exuberance, the new collection of coaches are less jack-in-the-box, but it doesn’t mean that the reality singing competition isn’t still as much fun and enjoyable to watch. With both the well-liked swivel-chair music matriarch Karen Zoid, the bouncy and easily excitable puppy-dog like Bobby van Jaarveld, as well as Kahn Morbee gone, and replaced by Riana Nel, Riky Rick and Francois van Coke, with Anele Mdoda replacing the previous presenters, the third season of The Voice SA is more tempered in tone yet still a fun and joy-tension will-they-or-won’t-they viewing experience. The more mature poise of songstress Lira – the sole returning coach – seems to rub off on her fellow red chaired coaches who are less jumpy, less showy, taking more time to actually listen during the blind auditions.
Unconsciously it’s now very clear that the coaches – although all competing against each other – are now taking their cues from Lira as the queen bee in the new pecking order.
Counter-intuitively but a positive format change, is that the coaches no longer turn at the end if none of them turned. It spares and cuts out the obligatory schmaltz when coaches have to give a pandering “soft-landing” goodbye to people who didn’t make it.
Anele Mdoda is a great addition as new presenter, wonderfully emoting without coming across as insincere, behind-the-scenes with parents and family members of singers. Often too stressed to visibly react, Anele Mdoda picks up the slack on their behalf as a well-fused version of the British Ant and Dec and how they visually and cleverly emote backstage at Britain’s Got Talent auditions.
Problematic are the multiple scrapes, marks, and dull surface bits on the supposed high-gloss black stage that are constantly visible in panning shots and detract visually from what is supposed to be a premium, high-definition show. Was the amended stage chunks simply taken out of storage and plonked down with no meticulous producer look-over and touch-ups?
Some other slight format changes are coming, for instance where and how the battle round fit in, but The Voice SA in its third season remain sparkling as a Sunday night TV outing.
While it probably won’t worry or be noticed by ordinary viewers, it’s off-putting that the producers and editors ae deliberately slo-mo’ing the studio audience reaction during performances. While singers sing and perform at normal speed, their backstage walk-in and audience shots are slowed down. It’s slightly jarring since a purported reality competition show at least has to present the appearance of unaltered “reality". As before the performers’ emotional video backstories are well crafted, “wow”-moments are done to great effect, and the on-stage band and musical instruments actually functional in showing how much of a difference a live on-stage band can make to a show like this (“Do you want to use one of their guitars?”).
