M-Net and Endemol Shine Africa's Big Brother Africa on MultiChoice's DStv canned over 'cash constraints'; lack of sponsors for 2015.

M-Net and Endemol Shine Africa's Big Brother Africa on DStv has been canned for 2015 apparently due to "cash constraints" and a failure to find sponsors.

Anne Sackey, the manager of MultiChoice Ghana, spilled to Razz newspaper that M-Net told them there won't be a new season of Big Brother Africa (BBA) this year. She thinks it is because of sponsorship constraints.

"I think it's mainly because of cash constraints as we all know the show is very expensive to put up," Anne Sackey reportedly told Razz.

Big Brother Africa and Big Brother Mzansi, both produced for M-Net channels in South Africa by Endemol Shine Africa remain mired in controversy.

Last year the 9th season of Big Brother Africa was postponed by a month after a devastating fire swept through the Sasani Studios complex with the blaze which caused millions of rands of damage.

Endemol Shine Africa refused to disclose the cause of the fire as the production moved to another house.

Sudden dramatic changes to South African visa regulations as well as Ebola fears last year this time also saw chosen Ghana contestants dumped from the show, followed by Sierra Leone and Rwanda as countries being eliminated as well before possible housemates from there had even entered the house.

Last year during South Africa's Big Brother Mzansi season on the Mzansi Magic and Big Brother channels, a male contestant was removed after hitting a woman in the show, which M-Net called "an isolated incident".

In April this year, the latest Big Brother Mzansi season exploded incontroversy over alleged rape when a male contestant bragged how he "dipped her" when he allegedly had sex with a drunk and passed out female contestant who was horrified about what she was told happened.

Endemol Shine Africa removed both from the reality competition show after the alleged sexual misconduct which lead to widespread criticism and calls for M-Net and MultiChoice to end the misogynistic and voyeuristic reality show "which keeps encouraging and rewarding" violence and sexual misconduct against women.

M-Net and the production company decided to monitor alcohol consumption more closely in the booze fest series shown across multiple channels on MultiChoice’s DStv platform.

BREAKING. After the fire, Big Brother Africa Hotshots to start on 5 October; reality show finds new production house facility in Johannesburg.

Big Brother Africa Hotshots will now start on 5 October, with the Endemol South Africa produced reality format show which has found a new location and production facility in Johannesburg following the devastating fire at Sasani Studios' stage 1 two weeks ago.

The upcoming 9th season of Big Brother Africa entitled Hotshots was postponed when a blaze destroyed cameras, glass, other equipment, and damaged props, walls, the roof and other instrumentals on 2 September.

Endemol South Africa and M-Net quickly scouted various locations in an emergency exercise - including looking at London and the Big Brother House outside Jerusalem in Israel, but decided to remain in South Africa and make do, so as to lessen exorbitant production costs and insane and intricate visa regulations.

Changed South African visa regulations and Ebola fears from West Africa already damaged the upcoming season which first saw the chosen Ghana contestants dumped from the show, followed by Sierra Leone and Rwanda being eliminated from the season before housemates had even entered the house.

To go through a protracted process to secure visas for African contestants, South African crew and equipment proved too difficult and too high a hurdle for the producers who settled on a studio in Johannesburg.

Big Brother Africa Hotshots will now start on Sunday 5 October at 19:00 on two dedicated MultiChoice channels on DStv across Africa, with regular highlight programmes on M-Net's AfricaMagic Showcase channel.

EXCLUSIVE. M-Net's burnt Big Brother Africa Hotshots on DStv most likely moving house to London or Israel's Big Brother fascilities.

You're reading it here first. 

Big Brother Africa Hotshots will most likely "emigrate" to the Big Brother fascilities in London in the United Kingdom or to the Big Brother house in Israel, TV with Thinus can exclusively reveal.

According to sources close to the production, the producers Endemol South Africa and M-Net's AfricaMagic on MultiChoice's DStv had identified the Big Brothers in the United Kingdom and Israel as the top two, and most likely, choices following the destructive fire at Sasani Studios which ruined this Sunday start of the 9th season of the voyeur reality format show.

Whether either of the most likely houses or most practical houses will be used is not definite, but it is what discussions centred around on Wednesday in meetings I've learnt.

I asked M-Net and MultiChoice whether its correct that Big Brother Africa is considering using the UK or Israel Big Brother houses, and when there would be an answer as to where the show is being moved to for 91 days.

"At this stage no decision has been made and a multitude of options are all being explored," MultiChoice Africa said on Thursday.

It will mean the relocation of the African contestants to a whole other continent as well as uplinking and other logistical challenges.

"M-Net and Endemol SA have a full team working on an alternative venue for Big Brother Africa," Caroline Creasy from MultiChoice Africa said on Wednesday.

A huge logistical nightmare is looming for the show if its able to secure a new house. The production staff already had a massive headache securing visas for pan-African contestants following abrupt changes to South Africa's visa regulations which first saw Ghawa and then the contestants from Sierra Leone and Rwanda dumped from the show.

Moving house will mean not just a move for the contestants but also some of the South Africa crew and producers who didn't need visas - and a new round of visa applications and changes for the contestants, as well as the shipping of some technical equipment and props.

Sivan Pillay, managing director of Endemol South Africa, and Anton Burggraaf, the head of entertainment television at Endemol SA have so far not responded to media enquiries regarding the fire which gutted the production.

Big Brother Africa Hotshots frantically looking for a new camera house elsewhere in Africa - or in the world!

Following a devastating fire which destroyed the Big Brother Africa Hotshots house at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg yesterday, M-net and Endemol South Africa are frantically working on finding a new camera house which could be elsewhere in Africa - or in the world!

Big Brother Africa Hotshots, the 9th season of the voyeur reality show format was supposed to start this Sunday at 19:00 with a live event, after which cameras would have tracked the antics for 24 hours per day for 91 days on two DStv channels and with highlights shows on the AfricaMagic Showcase (DStv 150) channel.

A destructive fire caused the cancellation of the start of the show and plunged the Endemol South Africa produced show into chaos.

With 56 cameras and special one-sided glass panels destroyed, a frantic search started to find a new Big Brother house - possibly one elsewhere in Africa, or on another continent the contestants and crew would be transported to.

"M-Net and Endemol SA have a full team working on an alternative venue for Big Brother Africa," Caroline Creasy from MultiChoice Africa tells TV with Thinus. "This includes a global review of Big Brother houses that may be available for the production".

"At this stage no final decision has been made on the venue or the possible timing," says Caroline Creasy. "The team is working around the clock to find solutions to get the show on-air".

A huge logistical nightmare is looming for the show if it is able to secure a new house.

The production staff already had a massive headache securing visas for pan-African contestants following abrupt changes to South Africa's visa regulations which first saw Ghana and then the contestants from Sierra Leone and Rwanda dumped from the show.

Moving house will mean not just a move for the contestants this time who are from across Africa, but also the South African crew this time and a new round of visa applications and changes, as well as the shipping of some technical equipment and props.

BREAKING. Fire engulfs M-Net's Big Brother Africa Hotshots house at Sasani Studios; reality show's start on Sunday cancelled.

A massive fire has engulfed M-Net's Big Brother Africa Hotshots house at Sasani Studios, leading to the immediate cancellation of the start of the the upcoming 9th season of the pan-African voyeur reality show which was set to begin this Sunday 7 September on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

No-one was injured in the devastating blaze which engulfed the studio at Highlands North in Johannesburg on Tuesday and sent clouds of billowing black smoke into the air.

The cause of the fire which erupted and plunged the production into further crisis is not known.

Production company Endemol South Africa and M-Net had no choice but to cancel the start of the show which has seen multiple production challenges the past few weeks before the cameras had even started rolling.

Due to stringent changes to South Africa's visa regulations, Endemol South Africa first had to dump the originally selected contestants from Ghana and start a frantic search for Ghana residents already living in South Africa to put in the show.

Then Endemol South Africa had to also jettison Rwanda and Sierra Leone as countries from the 9th season which was set to start on Sunday with a live launch show at 19:00, followed by highlight shows running on AfricaMagic Showcase (DStv 150) and two 24-hour DStv TV channels on channels 197 and 198 following the housemates.

After fire fighters battled the destructive blaze, M-Net and Endemol South Africa say that "due to a devastating fire at the Big Brother house, Big Brother Hotshots will not launch this Sunday as scheduled".

"The cause of the fire at this stage is unknown and investigations will commence as soon as it is safe to do so."

"At this stage M-Net and Endemol are urgently looking for an alternative Big Brother Africa house in which to film the production, however as this production has highly technical infrastructure, alternative camera and edit requirements are not immediately available".

"Every effort will be made to find a solution as quickly as possible to ensure that Africa's biggest reality TV show will continue".

Sasani Studios has become a hive of television activity over the last few years for South Africa's TV industry.

The studio complex houses a concentration of some of the most watched TV shows in South Africa that is being filmed there, ranging from weekdays soaps like Isidingo on SABC3 - which ironically moved there after its former studio space was destroyed by a fire - to e.tv's Scandal! and Rhythm City; as well as other shows like SABC1's Gospel Gold, and recently e.tv's game show I Love South Africa.

The live finale of M-Net's Survivor South Africa: Champions was broadcast from Sasani Studios' new Stage 8 earlier this year - the first live TV broadcast from that part of the studio complex.

Stage 1 at Sasani Studios housed the Big Brother Africa house since 2007 when the reality show was moved there from M-Net's Randburg studios.

It's not yet clear what the impact of the fire has been on all of the other TV shows and soaps in production in terms of  possible technical and equipment damage and destruction, as well as possible set damage.

TV with Thinus was told late Tuesday night that e.tv's two soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! are both safe and that filming on these two productions will resume on Wednesday.

All of the shows at Sasani Studios besides Big Brother Africa were however impacted on Tuesday through the loss of production and recording time due to the shut down and evacuation of the complex due to today's fire on the studio lot.

Today's fire is the second massive TV fire in Africa involving M-Net TV productions; the second massive fire involving a TV studio in South Africa, and the second massive fire for an Endemol South Africa produced TV programme in South Africa.

It's the second massive TV studio fire in Africa involving M-Net TV productions in just over a year, following the devastating and destructive fire which razed M-Net, SuperSport and MultiChoice's studios in Lagos, Nigeria in March 2013. (Not a studio, but an out-of-control wildfire also threatened, and caused the shutdown and evacuation of M-Net's soap The Wild in July 2011).

Today's Big Brother Africa fire at Sasani Studios is the second massive TV studio fire in South Africa leading to the shut-down of a major TV production following the shocking fire which engulfed the SABC's Isidingo soap in June 2012 which was then filmed at the SABC's Henley Studios in Auckland Park.

Interestingly, both Big Brother Africa and Isidingo are both produced by the same production company, Endemol South Africa.

M-Net's Big Brother Africa Hotshots scandal grows as Rwanda and Sierra Leone follow Ghana and are also dumped from the show.

The scandal around M-Net's latest upcoming season of Big Brother Africa set to start on Sunday on MultiChoice's DStv is growing with Rwanda and Sierra Leone contestants now also dumped from the house, following the decision to dump the originally selected contestants from Ghana.

The 9th season of Big Brother Africa, entitled Big Brother Hotshots and produced by Endemol South Africa from Johannesburg in South Africa, is now also eliminating the selected contestants from Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

It raises questions about whether, and how much, the supposedly pan-African reality format voyeur show is really going to be representative of the continent and the countries where contestants were originally allowed, and asked, to enter from.

Big Brother Hotshots is set to start on Sunday 7 September at 19:00 for 91 days with highlight shows which will be broadcast on AfricaMagic Showcase (DStv 150) as well as running for 24 hours per day on MultiChoice's  DStv 197 and DStv 198 channels.

Endemol South Africa and pay-TV broadcaster M-Net last month dumped the originally selected contestants from Ghana, launching a frantic search for people from Ghana already in South Africa to rather include.

Now Rwanda and Sierra Leone's originally selected contestants are also out of the house just days before the reality show is set to start.

The South African government's dramatic and negative change in visa regulations is to blame, now majorly impacting on South Africa's TV and film industry.

Already the confusing new visa regulations impacted on Homeland, the international and award-winning series currently filming some of its 4th season in Cape Town South Africa and which saw production and filming delayed. Homeland will film until November but would have been done sooner.

M-Net's AfricaMagic's Big Brother Africa has become the first and biggest casualty of the non-sensical new visa regulations, impacting not just the production and production values of the show but directly impacting what viewers - not just in South Africa but across the African continent - gets to see (or rather not see) on their TV screens.

Endemol South Africa and M-Net says in a statement it can "confirm that Sierra Leone and Rwanda will no longer form part of the countries participating" in Big Brother Africa Hotshots.

"Unfortunately, due to schedules and logistical constraints there was insufficient time to follow the necessary procedures in order to process the required travel documentation which has recently become a more complex procedure," says Endemol SA and M-Net without mentioning by name South Africa's sudden visa regulations changes.

"M-Net and Endemol SA wish to extend their gratitude to all those individuals, organizations and parties which assisted in working to secure the inclusion of housemates from both countries".

"Whilst it is not possible to include housemates from both countries in this season, M-Net and Endemol South Africa are confident that they are able to improve the process in order to successfully incorporate housemates from both countries if there are future editions of the series".

Ninth season of Big Brother Africa starting on 7 September on DStv entitled Big Brother Hotshots; contestants will have to 'outshine' to win.

The upcoming 9th season of Big Brother Africa, produced by M-Net for MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform across the continent, will be entitled Big Brother Africa Hotshots.

Big Brother Africa Hotshots will start on Sunday 7 September at 20:00, with two dedicated TV channels on DStv - channels 197 and 198, and summary programmes will also be broadcast on M-Net's AfricaMagic channels.

The 9th season of the show which remains a driver for the uptake of DStv subscriptions across Africa, will run for 91 days.

Endemol South Africa which again produces the show had to dump the selected contestants from Ghana - not over Ebola fears but because of South Africa's restrictive new visa regulations - and is replacing them with people from Ghana already living in South Africa.

The winner of Big Brother Africa Hotshots will get $300 000.

"We work hard to make each season of Big Brother Africa bigger than the last - and we've really upped the ante this year," says Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, M-Net Africa's regional director for West Africa.

The housemate contestants will start the new season of the voyeur format reality show in two glamorous houses and will have to "outshine" each other according to the producers.

"They'll party like A-listers, rub shoulders with celebrity guests and face formidable challenges," says M-Net.

IK Osakioduwa is back as the presenter of the 9th season - the 6th time that he is hosting.

BREAKING. M-Net's Big Brother Africa dumps Ghana contestants not due to Ebola but over South Africa's controversial new visa regulations.

Scandal is swirling as M-Net's Big Brother Africa production in South Africa has dumped the Ghana contestants - not because of fears about possible Ebola as rumour mongers reported - but due to South Africa's more restrictive and highly controversial new visa regulations now directly impacting negatively on South Africa's film and TV industry.

Endemol South Africa producing the 9th season of Big Brother Africa set to start in early September and filmed in Johannesburg dumped the contestants from Ghana not over Ebola fears but over being unable to get the Ghana contestants in South Africa on time - and for them to remain long enough.

The reality voyeur show shown on M-Net channels across Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform now scrambled to find Ghana contestants already in South Africa to put in the house before the 9th season starts on 7 September.

In a statement Endemol South Africa says Ghana's contestants "have not been rejected by MultiChoice Africa or Endemol due to the Ebola scare" but that Endemol SA "had to take the necessary measures to ensure Ghana is represented in Big Brother Africa IX and does not miss out of the show".

"The production company had no option but to find alternative Ghanaian candidates to audition in South Africa, as they could not hold up the process that lead up to the show".

Apparently the Ghana contestants did apply for visas for South Africa for the final stage of auditioning but their visas were not processed in time. There were also delays with the contestants producing additional documents such as bank statements.

Then the contestants from the West African country were only given visas for a maximum stay of 30 days in South Africa. However, two of them might be the final contestants left on the 91 day reality show, meaning that they needed a visa extension or special permit.

If they do want to stay longer in South Africa - the controversial new visa regulations require that application to me made in Ghana. These extensions for a stay in South Africa can no longer be made in South Africa under the new visa regulations.

That has led to the Ghana contestants getting dumped and being replaced with Ghanaians already in South Africa.

Big Brother Africa audition dates for the 14 African countries taking part in the 9th season starting in September.

The audition details of the upcoming brand-new 9th season of Big Brother Africa is now known.

The 9th season of Big Brother Africa will start on television on Sunday 7 September on DStv for 91 days and is once again produced in Johannesburg, South Africa by Endemol South Africa.

People need to be 21 and older and must have a valid passport.

People in 14 countries can enter, although Angola is dropped and has been replaced by Rwanda.

"The inclusion of Rwanda in this season is even more exciting as this displays that our reach and growth into the various sub-Saharan markets is going from strength to strength," says Nico Meyer, MultiChoice Africa CEO.

"We look forward to seeing further growth as well as the impressive social media presence that the show enjoys".

"We have been producing this series for M-Net for a number of seasons now and as partners, together we have seen this show grow to the phenomenon that it has become," says Sivan Pillay, managing director of Endemol.

"Audiences and fans can expect yet another high quality production".

South Africans who want to try for a chance to be in the reality show will only have one city in South Africa to audition in: Johannesburg on 30 June and 1 July at The Pyramid Venue and Conference Centre.


Here's the dates for the various countries for Big Brother Africa's 9th season:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Capital Hotel and Spa)
30 June 2014

Lilongwe, Malawi (The Crossroads Hotel)
30 June, 1 July 2014

Lagos, Nigeria (Protea Hotel Leadway)
30 June, 1 July 2014

Nairobi, Kenya (The Hilton Nairobi)
3, 4 July 2014

Gaborone, Botswana (Cresta President Hotel)

4, 5 July 2014

Lusaka, Zambia (InterContinental Hotel)
4, 5 July 2014

Accra, Ghana (Holiday Inn Hotel Airport)
5, 6 July 2014

Kampala, Uganda (Sheraton Hotel)
7, 8 July 2014

Windhoek, Namibia (Hilton Hotel)
8, 9 July 2014

Kigali, Rwanda (The Lemigo Hotel)
9 July 2014

Free Town, Sierra Leone (The Country Lodge Complex)
9 July 2014

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (New Africa Hotel)
11, 12 July 2014

Harare, Zimbabwe (The Meikles Hotel)
12, 13 July 2014

BREAKING. New minister of communications 'orders' SABC to appoint new SABC CEO within 3 months.

The new minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, today in parliament "ordered" the SABC to appoint a new CEO within 3 months.

Lulama Mokhobo quit in February as the umpteenth SABC CEO to suddenly up and leave and not finish a CEO contract, without the SABC giving reasons as a public broadcaster.

In March the SABC fired Gugu Duda as acting CFO. She was suspended in September 2012 at the SABC in relation to procurement and financial irregularities.

Last month the SABC advertised for both positions - for CEO and CFO - but not yet for chief operating officer (COO), the one currently held by the famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng, currently acting in the position.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng was not suspended not relieved of his position, following a damning Public Protector's report released in February which stated that he "should never have been appointed at the SABC".

Today in parliament Faith Muthambi said and reiterated the decades old government refrain that the department of communications must help to "stabilise their [SABC] leadership".

"I have recently indicated to the SABC to ensure that we can appoint a CEO within the next three months".

Faith Muthambi said that the SABC has a board of directors "who must do their work without needing the minister to interfere in their operations. However, where necessary and as the law empowers us to do so, we will step in as the shareholder on behalf of the people of South Africa".

The 9th season of Big Brother Africa to start on 6 September; Rwanda added and Angola out of the list of 14 countries.

The 9th season of Big Brother Africa will start on 6 September with Big Brother Africa TV channels on MultiChoice's DStv and with viewers in 14 countries which can enter, although Angola is dropped and being replaced by Rwanda.

Besides Rwanda, countries which could see a housemate in the 9th season of Big Brother Africa include Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Audition dates for the 9th season of Big Brother Africa will be finalised this month. The new season is again being produced by Endemol South Africa from a studio house complex based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

DATELINE LAGOS: Big Brother Africa is not a sex show, says M-Net. Reality show is 'not for everyone', but M-Net has entertainment options for everyone.

Big Brother Africa is not a "sex show"- at the same time M-Net doesn't expect all its viewers or all DStv subscribers to like it or watch it - and says as a broadcaster it provides a large number of different entertainment options for different viewers' tastes.

"I appreciate that Big Brother Africa is not for everyone. I would be naive if I said that everyone has to enjoy and watch Big Brother Africa," says Biola Alabi, M-Net Africa's managing director for special projects.

Besides the AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards and the AfricaMagic Original Films project, Biola Alabi is responsible for and the hand that guides Big Brother Africa.

At a press conference in Lagos, Nigeria on the day of the 2nd AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards, Biola Alabi was asked what she makes of accusations and charges from certain African countries that Big Brother Africa is "nothing more than just a sex show".

Biola Alabi said that Big Brother Africa might not be in ever viewer's taste but that there's a wide range of other programming on offer to viewers.

"What I do think Big Brother Africa does, is that it entertains a huge sector of people that watch it and they enjoy it".

"And every year when we do the call for entry, when you see the entries, it is something that Africans have come to love, and that is part of the type of entertainment that we do".

"We are a broadcaster and our job is to provide entertainment for our subscribers and I think we're doing a very good job in that regard," said Biola Alabi.

Big Brother Africa The Chase to be streamed live for free on the internet across Africa from 26 May.

The 8th season of Big Brother Africa entitled Big Brother Africa The Chase will be streamed live on the internet for free across Africa from Sunday 26 May at 19:00 when the Endemol South Africa produced reality show launches for a new season of 91 days.

Besides being broadcast on channels 197 and 198 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform viewers across Africa will be able to watch the show through live streaming, requiring only a computer and an internet connection.

Packaged content from Big Brother Africa The Chase will also be shown on the AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic Entertainment and AfricaMagic World channels on DStv with IK Osakioduwa once again be the presenter.

Big Brother Africa The Chase will launch with Nigerian, Kenyan and South African artists performing on Sunday evening 26 May when 28 new contestants from 50 African countries enter the camera house in Johannesburg.

Big Brother Africa's 8th season subtitled 'The Chase'; will start on 26 May on DStv channels 197 and 198 with IK Osakiodukwa back as host.

The 8th season of the continental reality show Big Brother Africa starting on 26 May on Big Brother Africa channels 197 and 198 on DStv will be subtitled "The Chase".

IK Osakioduwa will once again be the presenter of the AfricaMagic reality show produced by Endemol South Africa and which will start on 26 May for 91 days and a 24 hour daily video feed as 28 contestants from 14 African countries - called "housemates" - are voted out.

"Endemol is excited to present another season of Big Brother in Africa," says Sivan Pillay, managing director of Endemol South Africa in a statement. "Another vintage season lies in store with fresh new twists and surprises and ultimately great reality entertainment."

"Big Brother Africa remains at the forefront of our plans," says Biola Alabi, M-Net Africa managing director, in the statement. "We want to give audiences and loyal fans of the show a truly unforgettable viewing experience once again."

"This season audiences can expect a show encompassing suspence, emotions, drama, fun, excitement and quite possibly, as we have seen in previous seasons, a little romance."

BREAKING. More Afrotrash banished from the building as Big Brother StarGame evicts 2 more contestants for physical violence.

Very serious questions needs to be asked as to why Endemol South Africa as the producer and M-Net as the broadcaster are allowing people who clearly are not psychologically strong enough, to be part of Big Brother Africa following the immediately elimination of yet another two contestants today from Big Brother StarGame following violent outbursts.

Zimbabwe's Big Brother StarGame contestants became the latest disgusting Afrotrash who can't act like adults after Rockford "Roki" Josphats and Maneta Musanhi were shown the door following them breaching the violence rule.

Maneta Musanhi threw bleach in Roki's face. After the cleaning fluid, Roki poured water over Maneta Mushani's head. Manetha Musanhi then went further and threatened to stab Roki with a knife. Like TV trash of the lowest kind - those who not only have no respect for others but also have no respect for themselves - fought like immature children.

Rockford "Roki" Josphats and Maneta Musanhi were both dumped from the show two weeks after Ghana's so-called comedian DKB and Zambia's so-called model Zainab were banished following physical violence and assault in front of the cameras. 


Something is clearly wrong with the way Endemol South Africa and M-Net screen the Africa trash who willingly submit themselves to be filmed 24/7 in the Big Brother Africa house which is currently in its 7th season.

Despite two removals from the house early in June and stark and stern warnings and seeing what happened, two more contestants have proven that they have a psychological inability to keep themselves from violence even after they saw what the penalty would be.

Why these people have been allowed to be included in the show is a serious question, given their propensity for violent outbursts. Was there not a better indication before they were selected that these 4 contestants are not able to handle stress, provocation and the pressures from being placed in a show like this?

"Despite Big Brother intervening and advising both housemates directly that they needed to amend their behaviour immediately, in line with the clearly stated house rules forbidding violence and provocation, the housemates chose to disregard this instruction," says M-Net as to why another two contestants have immediately been removed from the TV production.

Roki and Maneta Musanhi - just like the removed Afrotrash before them - will now be getting psychological and medical treatment and counceling "to assist them with conflict and anger management".

Endemol South Africa and M-Net will do well to - should there be further seasons of Big Brother Africa - work more vigorously with the selection and screening process and insert people in the camera house who have already mastered anger management as adults.

Clearly Endemol SA and M-Net allowed people in front of the cameras who are not strong enough to cope and who should not have been selected and included in this show.

BREAKING. Two housemates dumped from BigBrother StarGame after slapping and physical violence; DKB and Zainab ordered to leave.

What is an M-Net reality show without drama? Once again casting Africa in a bad light and playing to stereotypes, two African housemates in the reality show Big Brother Africa resorted to violence and started to fight violently, leading to the immediate dismissal of this Afri-trash from the latest seventh season of the Endemol SA produced show.

To give trash and attention-whores like comedian DKB from Ghana and the so-called model Zainab from Sierra Leone exposure and thereby attention is what should not be happening, but to remain a publication of record, note that both these crass and violent housemates have been expelled from Big Brother StarGame and that no eliminations from the show will therefore be taking place this coming Sunday.

Housemates are explicitly told the rules when they're selected and before they enter the house. Despite this DKB and Zainab were involved in in an incident of physical violence on camera in Big Brother StarGame when they started arguing and DKB slapped Zainab. He threatened with violence, she called him out, he slapped her and now M-Net has dumped both.

DKB and Zainab has now become the pathetic low-class "role-models" nobody wants to see: more reali-trash who perpetuates the image of Africa as a place where people are unable to have arguments and settle their differences without having to resort to violence.

Both DKB and Zainab will get a councelor to give their anger management and teach them like children about conflict resolution which they've clearly failed to master as so-called adults. This season M-Net actually expanded the "anti-violence" rule, telling housemates that they will be dumped if they exhibit "provocative behaviour" and creating a hostile and aggressive environment in which violence is the result.

Zainab which has brought shame on her formerly war-torn country of Sierra Leone will probably return her country but this so-called model is no role-model. And DKB who wants to be a comedian has clearly never learnt that violence isn't funny. Both are losers. Good riddance to bad trash.

The 7th season of Big Brother Africa will be entitled Big Brother Stargame.

The upcoming 7th season of Big Brother Africa starting on Sunday 6 May will be entitled Big Brother Stargame.

Couples will be competing in the Endemol SA produced show which will again be shown on DStv channel 198 and this time for 91 days.

In the new logo a large curved font highlights the new name in a deep red garnet colour, while the iconic Big Brother eye gets a liquid platinum finish with a glittering gold mirror-ball at the centre.

Adding to the Big Brother Stargame logo is a glossy space pushing forward between the eye and the new name, hinting at speed and movement.

Programming note: Big Brother Africa's 7th season will kick off on Sunday 6 May on DStv channel 198.

The new seventh season of Big Brother Africa produced by Endemol South Africa will start on Sunday 6 May and will run for 24 hours per day on DStv channel 198.

BREAKING. Biggie's back. Big Brother Africa set to return to M-Net for a 7th season in May 2012 with one winner, and a new twist.

M-Net and production company Endemol South Africa is bringing the voyeuristic reality show Big Brother Africa back for a 7th season in May 2012, with entries for potential contestants that will open soon for the show the pay broadcaster refer to as ''a high demand property''.

''This show is definitely a high demand property that draws and holds audiences from start to finish,'' says Biola Alabi, M-Net Africa managing director. ''While the basics are the same, every season is different from the last. Re-invention is crucial so I am very pleased to confirm that this year we're doing something that has never been done before in the history of Big Brother Africa!'' she says.

''Big Brother Africa remains relevant because it constantly surprises audiences with everything from two houses, more housemates, unexpected guests and new participating countries to unveiling two winners, an All Star reunion, super star performers and the list goes on. So to be able to say that we're doing something that has never been done before in Big Brother Africa is wonderful.''

''We look forward to surprising and entertaining Africa's viewers with more twists and turns that have seen this compelling format continue to succeed on the continent as it has around the world,'' says Sivan Pillay, Endemol South Africa's managing director. Endemol is the format owner and producer of the reality show.

The seventh season of Big Brother Africa will again last for 91 consecutive days, or three months, and this season there will only be one winner. The show is seen in 47 coutries throughout Africa and remains a strong driver of DStv pay TV uptake in Africa. According to M-Net entries for prospective contestants for the house will open soon.

BREAKING. ''Big new concept'' for new 6th season of Big Brother Africa will work differently and have a ''major twist''.

You're reading it here first.

Apparently the new, upcoming 6th new season of Big Brother Africa done by M-Net will revolve around a ''big new concept'' that will set the show apart from anything that's been done before.

Nobody wants to talk but I was told ''it's big. It will still be Big Brother but it's going to work differently. Major, major twist''. I asked M-Net who refused to say anything, saying that 'to say even the slightest thing will spoil everything.'' The 6th season of Big Brother Africa kicks off on 1 May for 91 days and Endemol SA will once again be producing it out of the same venue at Sasani Studios.

Mmm. Could it be that the enigmatic ''big brother'' controlling the house and the housemates, will turn that duty over to viewers who get to decide - en masse through the power of social media not only what the housemates have to do, but what happens next?

ALSO READ: Big Brother Africa is back in May for a 6th season on M-Net.