e.tv grabs Empire and Tumisho Masha; renews telenovela Ashes to Ashes, adds music game show MVP Jam and also brings back Umlilo, Z'bondiwe.

The free-to-air commercial broadcaster e.tv which has found mass appeal for its programming strategy of creating compelling and original local black drama series for primetime has renewed the highly popular funeral parlour set telenovela Ashes to Ashes and handed out further season orders to Umlilo and Z'bondiwe.

E.tv has also scooped up the free-to-air broadcasting rights to the hit American drama Empire which just started its second season on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) with the first and second season which will be seen on e.tv.

While the SABC continues to makes damaging headlines for outrageous executive salaries, court cases, and behind-the-scenes turmoil at the public broadcaster, e.tv is making rating inroads by quickly securing popular overseas programming like Empire and keeping the press attention focused on its programming, on-screen talent and schedule properties.  

e.tv recently grabbed the new big hit Lip Sync Battle, as well as the reality competition show Bullseye on Saturdays at 18:05 and announced that its hit soap Scandal! has added soap actor Tumisho Masha to the cast as a brand-new villain.

e.tv will also be doing a local South African version of Lip Sync Battle in 2016.

TV with Thinus was first to reveal back in May that e.tv's biggest latest viewership hit, Ashes to Ashes, will very likely be back for a new season after it suddenly changed the billing from "series finale to "season finale".

The channel is ready to roll out a brand-new game show, MVP Jam with Dineo Ranaka and DJ Mulo from 4 November at 18:00 targeting a black urban audience similar to what SABC2's Noot vir Noot has been doing for Afrikaans viewers.

After its already taken over SA's Got Talent, The Ultimate Braai Master and She's The One which used to be SABC2 and SABC3 shows, e.tv has now also commissioned a new local black drama which will be set and filmed in KwaZulu-Natal and which will rival SABC1's Uzalo which was filmed in KwaMashu.

e.tv is also bringing back its popular eKasi series for a 6th season with various stories filmed in Soweto, Malelane and Newcastle, starting on 9 November at 21:00, while the second season of the local police drama Traffic! debuts on 6 October at 21:05, this time following a muti serial killer.

Kasi-licious will be back for a 3rd season on eKasi+ (OVHD 105) from 14 October at 18:00 with Tol A$$ Mo cooking with local celebrities.

A 5th season of Nicky Greenwall's profile interview show The Close Up will start on e.tv on 19 November at 18:00 featuring local personalities like Maps Maponyane, rapper iFani, DJ Sbu, Katlego Maboe and Kelly Khumalo.

"We have secured the first and second season of Empire. We currently have Gold Diggers which will be followed, officially, by Ashes to Ashes, the second season. We're in production and Ashes to Ashes will be back on screen on e.tv from 14 March at 20:00," Monde Twala, director of e.tv channels announced at e.tv's summer press preview on Saturday.

"At e.tv we're quite focused on making sure that we remain relevant, that we remain local, we inspire imagination and that we're the window to the world and the window for progressive South Africans to really engage and mirror the culture and who we are and moving the country forward," said Monde Twala.

Umlilo's new season will start in March 2016 on e.tv at 21:00, Z'bondiwe will return for a new season in May 2016 at 21:30. Empire's first season will start on e.tv on 3 February 2016 at 21:30.


Below some images from e.tv's summer press preview day on Saturday held outside Krugersdorp:

SABC1's Generations The Legacy implores viewers to please stay and keep watching; Asanda Foji and Mary Gumede out in latest cast shake-up.

Generations – The Legacy cast members are out the door just seven months after joining the soap with the show now asking viewers to please stay tuned to the reset show watched by millions less viewers than before.

In October 2014 the beleaguered Mfundi Vundla soap Generations on SABC1 abruptly shut down production and restarted in December under a new name after firing the entire principal cast of 16 actors for demanding better contracts.

The shocking derailment of the SABC's biggest show and money-spinner as the public broadcaster's top executives failed to successfully intervene and keep the show on the air, sent shockwaves through South Africa's TV industry and inflicted big brand damage and reputational harm on the SABC, creator Mfundi Vundla, as well as the soap.

Generations – The Legacy has since been overshadowed by Uzalo, the Duma Ka Ndlovu and Gugu Zuma Ncube produced telenovela set and filmed in KwaMashu and on a Newlands sound stage in Durban.

Last month Uzalo for the first time started to pass Generations – The Legacy in the ratings race in an upward climb while Generations – The Legacy is still millions of viewers below its erstwhile perch as the most watched TV show in South Africa, a title it held for almost two decades.

Now the Generations – The Legacy producers, in a statement, are imploring viewers to stay tuned to the SABC1 weekday soap, saying "we promise new and exciting story developments will be taking place".

Asanda Foji, criticised by viewers for her stilted acting in the role of Simphiwe, has been cut with her contract which has not been renewed, with Mfundi Vundla expressing "well wishes for the talented actress".

Jaqui Archilleas, Generations – The Legacy commissioning editor, "praises Simphiwe for the value she brought to the show" in the statement.

Also out is Mary Gumede who played Denise Zimba and who wanted to be released from her contract. "Her professionalism in aiding us to mount a new show was exemplary. We wish her the best in her endeavours," says Mfundi Vundla.

'We ask that our viewers stay tuned'

Generations – The Legacy is now asking viewers to please stay tuned to the soap.

"Our goal is in advancing the story and keeping our viewers entertained and that's the reason we keep introducing new and fresh stories," says Generations – The Legacy publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi.

"We promise our fans stories that are filled with high drama and intensity, stories that will leave them begging for more."

"As we near the second half of this year, we have new and exciting storylines. Twists and turns that weren't expected are still set to take place. We ask that our viewers stay tuned to see how the story keeps developing."

The soap says Lebohang Mthunzi who plays Angela and Ivy Nkutha who plays Gog' Flo are not leaving.

"These two actresses will still be part of the upcoming season of Generations – The Legacy."

'Pity that Generations has failed to deliver'

"Uzalo has garnered a great following in a short time," Cheryl Dube, media strategist at Carat SA tells TV with Thinus.

"It's important to note that these two shows do not fall into the same timeslot, so it's not necessarily that Uzalo has taken viewers from Generations – The Legacy," she says. "It's a shock but definitely not a surprise that a new show has surpassed Generations."

"Viewers that Generations had lost have opted to watch other shows like Ashes to Ashes on e.tv as they both compete in the same timeslot and we have seen that Ashes to Ashes has also built up a strong and loyal following," says Cheryl Dube.

"The storylines for Uzalo and Ashes to Ashes reflect our society a lot better than Generations – The Legacy does at present."

"The characters are more relatable and exciting and it's such a pity that Generations – The Legacy has failed to deliver on this because it is something that they used to do well," says Cheryl Dube.

SABC1's fired Generations cast joins e.tv's new Ashes to Ashes: 'We're grateful to be growing and not to be stuck in a dark place.'

You're reading it here first. 

SABC1's fired Generations actors and top TV talent like Patrick Shai, Nambitha Mpulwana and others who've now joined e.tv's new telenovela Ashes to Ashes starting 2 March at 20:00 in the same timeslot as their former show are not mincing words, taking clever swipes at the SABC, saying they're "grateful to be growing and not to be stuck in a dark place".

Patrick Shai, Nambitha Mpulwana, Mandla Gaduka together with the entire principal cast of Generations was fired by the SABC and Mfundi Vundla's MMSV Productions in August, and has now joined e.tv and Ashes to Ashes in the same 20:00 timeslot, where they hope viewers will embrace their return to TV and the "regeneration" of 20:00 on e.tv instead of SABC1.

"There is no ounce of regret. We went in search of a good home. And we've found a good home," said veteran actor Patrick Shai .

"There was a time in my life when I thought there is no TV industry in this country. Whatever happened, its created an opportunity for South Africa to think about the industry. Competition is there and its thriving. And television will never be the same again!" said Patrick Shai.

"It's been such an easy transition to building a family and its an amazing team," said Nambitha Mpulwana. "Not only do we enjoy what we're doing, but we enjoy doing it with each other. And we trust where we are because somebody's ready to catch you. And that makes an incredible amount of difference in your production life."

"It is on everybody's mind," said Nambitha Mpulwana, also addressing the elephant in the room.

"There's not an ounce of regret. There is not a single a single person in this world created to relive yesterday again," said Nambitha Mpulwana as she came out on stage on Thursday night when e.tv revealed the new cast and stood hand in hand with her fellow Ashes to Ashes cast members - several of whom were formerly a part of SABC1's Generations before they were fired.  "We're here to face tomorrow".

"We're all here to face tomorrow, and gratefully so. We're also grateful for the lessons we've learned in the past, and the people that help us to grow, and the amazing characters we're going to be on your TV screens," said Nambitha Mpulwana.

"We're grateful to be growing and not to be stuck in a dark place," said Mandla Gaduka who was also part of Generations, fired, and are now part of Ashes to Ashes.

"We're so humbled to have this cast - especially Patrick Shai and Nambitha Mpulwana - such incredible stalwarts. We're really privileged that you're a part of this with us," said Clive Morris from Clive Morris Productions producing Ashes to Ashes.

"Our industry has been through a very rough phase the past few years. And we look to our broadcasters to be our safety net. Without our broadcasters, what are we?"

Clive Morris told TV with Thinus "its an incredible adrenalin rush and very, very exciting".

"We're going to offer viewers something different. It's going to be something that's gritty and very real. We haven't gone into a studio which is all beautiful. We've taken an abandoned building and turned it into a funeral home. So it's very real, it's very gritty and very exciting," said Clive Morris.

"These are talented actors. These are talented people," said Monde Twala, the managing director for e.tv channels division. "Local talent deserves to be put forward and celebrated."

"It's about people and their talent and not about who owns what timeslot. I want to welcome all of you to the channel. I know we are in this journey together and we're in it to win it."

"The market is ready for local content. The TV landscape is changing; the landscape is evolving. And only local is lekker in terms of a direction to go."

"Ashes to Ashes is part of that great exciting journey that we've decided to embark on. We are already in production of a follow-up telenovela on e.tv which will come later in the year," said Monde Twala.

e.tv scoops up former cast of SABC1's Generations, reveals the faces of its new telenovela, Ashes to Ashes, as it takes on the 8pm timeslot.

e.tv has revealed the cast of the free-to-air-broadcaster's new Ashes to Ashes with the new local telenovela from Clive Morris Productions which has scooped up big names like Patrick Shai, Nambitha Mpulwana, Zenande Mfenyana, Mandla Gaduka and Maggie Benedict formerly from SABC1's Generations.

e.tv is taking on the SABC's ratings damaged and reset Mfundi Vundla production Generations - The Legacy on SABC1 from 2 March at 20:00 in the very same timeslot with the new drama set at the Namane Funerals funeral parlour in Tembisa for 104 episodes.

e.tv is already working on a second new local telenovela. SABC1 started its first local telenovela, Uzalo, last week and SABC2 said in 2014 that it plans to launch a local telenovela around June this year.

Ashes to Ashes scooped up the popular actors who were unceremoniously fired in August 2014 by the SABC and MMSV Productions and e.tv now hopes that the millions of viewers who've deserted the reset Generations - The Legacy in the highly competitive prime time slot will tune in to e.tv at 20:00 from 2 March for the "regeneration of 8pm" and the saga of "a family dynasty gone wrong".

Few South African broadcasters or TV channels have dared challenge the ratings dominance of SABC1's Generations the past two decades.

Generations was an unassailable viewership juggernaut and the country's most watched prime time TV show and most watched TV soap until the show shed millions of viewers in rapid succession following its return in December 2014 after the scandalous and shocking behind-the-scenes production derailment which saw it disappear from TV for two months.

Now SABC1 and Generations - The Legacy is vulnerable having lost a lot of viewers since its TV return. By last Friday the soap's viewership has sagged to just 3,998 million viewers aged 15 and older, the market demo coveted by advertisers and chased by the TV industry and worth millions of rands in monthly ad spend.

Monde Twala, e.tv's managing director for e.tv channels division says e.tv is going to offer viewers from 2 March "an alternative in this timeslot" - one which includes several well-known and beloved faces back in the same time where viewers were used to seeing them, but on a new TV channel.

"A lot of work has gone unto ensuring that our new telenovela resonates and adds value to the overall growth of our industry," says Monde Twala.

"We have ambitious hopes for this project. The relationships and intrigue will captivate and entertain viewers across the country. Secrets, love and lust for the spine to this story."

The rest of the main cast of Ashes to Ashes includes Nyaniso DzeDze, Chumani Pan and Craig Urbani.

Ashes to Ashes will be broadcast Mondays to Thursdays as part of a radically altered e.tv primetime line-up from 2 March which sees soap Rhythm City pushed to 19:00 and the introduction of a Zulu news bulletin eNews Izindaba at 18:30.

Ashes to Ashes will revolve around the big business of funerals - from designer caskets, limousines and fancy cars to over-catering, slaughtering of cows and high fashion.

"So far death has been good to the Namane family. But their luck is about to run out with the arrival of an estranged family member and a dark secret," says e.tv.

BREAKING. e.tv's new local telenovela to be named as Ashes to Ashes officially, will star SABC's former Generations cast and "regenerate 8pm" on e.tv.

You're reading it here first.

I can reveal that e.tv's new local telenovela starting on Monday 2 March at 20:00 will officially be named as Ashes to Ashes.

The telenovela of 104 episodes and set in the world of funeral parlours (hence the title) will star cast members of the former Generations on SABC1 - who will now be seen in the same timeslot as before but on e.tv - part of what e.tv cheekily calls "the regeneration of 8pm".

e.tv has not said anything about Ashes to Ashes or confirmed the name - which should not be confused with a former BBC drama series.

With Ashes to Ashes at 20:00 e.tv plans to inflict as much damage as possible on the SABC's now vulnerable and reset Generations - The Legacy which got a tepid reception from viewers after the principal cast was dumped by MMSV Productions and the SABC in October 2014 and which has plunged in viewership.

e.tv will use its soap Scandal! at 19:30 to help boost the viewership for Ashes to Ashes, serving as the lead-in programming for the telenovela, and is also moving its main news bulletin to 20:30 as the lead-out programme on weeknights.

Ashes to Ashes will be broadcast Mondays to Thursdays on e.tv with an official name, cast and story announcement expected soon.

UPDATED 11:14 - There it is. In a press release issued just issued e.tv says its "brand-new telenovela Ashes to Ashes, a first for e.tv takes over the 20:00 slot on Mondays to Thursdays for a whopping 104 episodes."

Ashes to Ashes on e.tv will premiere on Monday 2 March. Veteran actor Patrick Shai has been announced as one of the lead actors. Also get ready to welcome back familiar talent on a mysterious journey back to the smalls screen".