EbonyLife's Mo Abudu slams Amazon for axing African originals: 'shows a lack of respect for our continent'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Nigerian producer and CEO of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, is slamming Amazon Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios saying it shows "a lack of respect for our continent" after Amazon's shock decision to cull its Nigerian and South African content teams  and to abruptly cancel further African original content creation.

Amazon Prime Video has retrenched multiple content executives and staff it lured to join its video streaming service in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa as for Nigeria, based in London, after it rapidly ramped up plans over the past two years to create, produce and roll-out localised African Prime Video Originals.

Gone is Gideon Khobane who officially joined Amazon Prime Video Africa 7 months ago in July 2023 as director of Prime Video Africa. The fate of other executives who all jumped from MultiChoice to join Amazon Prime Video in Africa is still unclear.

Amazon is not willing to confirm whether Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu (head of Nigerian originals), Kaye Ann Williams (head of scripted series and movies for South African originals), and Candice Fangueiro (head of planning and programming for Africa) have also been let go, although insiders said that is the case.

Stephen Barber, head of PR for Amazon in the UK, in response to a media query, said Amazon can't provide "names of team members who have left the company".

Meanwhile shocked and angry producers in Nigeria and South Africa who have been developing and producing content are furious with Amazon Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, saying "promises were made and not kept".

A longtime South African producer said Amazon "damaged producers' trust and trust in the streamer".

"Nobody will trust them when they come and present plans again in future about wanting local content. People sat through presentations in South Africa and Nigeria where Amazon laid out their plans and promised to be different; to do things better and differently. Turns out – not."  

While Amazon Prime Video is drastically reigning in content spend in Africa and on African original content, insiders said that Netflix as part of a global realignment has also quietly started to reign in its content budget for Africa. In contrast, MultiChoice has however massively ramped up content spending for its new Showmax done in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal's Peacock, which is rolling out from today in app stores as a new video streaming service.

For the relaunch of the new Showmax, MultiChoice has 21 Showmax Originals that will debut over the course of February to lure potential subscribers to the revamped streamer.

Meanwhile, Mo Abudu who has produced African content for Sony and Netflix over the past few years is slamming Amazon Prime Video for deserting Africa and reneging on promises to ramp up spending on African originals.

"In recent times, we have witnessed the unfortunate departure of several international organisations from Nigeria and Africa, some marked by press statements that have, regrettably, shown a lack of respect for our continent," Mo Abudu says.

"In the face of these challenges, it is imperative that we, as Nigerians and Africans, rise above and build our own infrastructure, creating and serving our markets with pride and resilience. I firmly believe in the potential within us, and in the face of challenges, see opportunities for growth and self-reliance."

She's also praising video streamers and global players who have decided to stay in Africa and continue to invest in Africa's film and TV industry.

"To the international organisations that recognise our worth, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. Your decision to stay, partner, and collaborate with us is a testament to the shared commitment to not only growing the continent today but also for the generations that will follow."

"Let us embrace the challenges, celebrate the opportunities, and collectively contribute to the thriving and resilient future of our beloved continent. With hope and determination, we move!"

ALSO READ: Amazon slashing content funding for Prime Video Africa, retrenching staff including Prime Video Africa director Gideon Khobane with no new South African series or films to be commissioned.

ALSO READ: 'Promises were made and not kept' and 'a very sad day for the industry': South African producers devastated and dismayed in Amazon Prime Video Africa over canning original content creation.

ALSO READ: Amazon cutting hundreds of staff at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.

Candice Fangueiro exits as content boss of MultiChoice's Showmax streamer for new job at Amazon Prime Video for Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has lost Candice Fangueiro as Showmax content boss, with the executive jumping to a new high-profile job at Amazon Prime Video where she will be spearheading the creation of African TV hits for a global audience.

Candice Fangueiro's exit after 7 years as Showmax head of content comes as rival global streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney are actively staffing up their African content operation divisions - Netflix in Amsterdam and Amazon in Cape Town - primarily poaching top TV executive talent from MultiChoice as the continent's largest traditional pay-TV operator.

Candice Fangueiro's departure from MultiChoice follows the July exit of Gideon Khobane who was MultiChoice's group executive of general entertainment also jumping to Amazon.

Nkateko Mabaso who was MultiChoice's group executive in charge of programming is now Netflix director of licensing and co-productions for Africa; the M-Net senior programmer Tracy-Ann van Rooyen left to join Disney; Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu who was the regional director of M-Net West Africa is now Amazon Prime Video's head of Nigerian Originals in Africa, while a string of MultiChoice marketing and PR staffers have also left for similar jobs at Netflix.

Allan Sperling, who was MultiChoice's executive head of physical production is moving over and replacing Candice Fangueiro as Showmax's new head of content. 

Candice Fangueiro who previously worked at 20th Century Fox and Nu Metro Entertainment joined Showmax in September 2015 where she oversaw the commissioning and development of Showmax Originals and co-productions the past seven years.

Candice Fangueiro minted success in her executive role when the streamer's first Showmax Original, Tali's Wedding Diary was not just lauded by critics but enjoyed by subscribers as well, while the mockumentary series raked in multiple awards as the first South African series on a streaming service to win at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).

Devilsdorp, the streamer's first Showmax Original true crime series, also made a successful debut, finding success with TV critics and viewers alike.

Candice Fangueiro is leaving before the release on 28 September of the expensive R85 million Showmax co-production with Canal+, Blood Psalms from Yellowbone Entertainment as a project she also oversaw, with the delayed African fantasy drama series touted as the largest and most expensive TV series ever produced in South Africa.

Showmax confirmed Candice Fangueiro's exit and told TVwithThinus that the streaming service wishes her well with her future career. Amazon Prime Video declined comment in response to a media query.

"Yes, I am leaving Showmax after seven incredible years. Being a part of Showmax since it launched in 2015, to the release of our very first original in 2017, and then seeing how much it's grown since those early days has been so rewarding," Candice Fangueiro says.

"I'm now ready for new career challenges at Amazon's Prime Video and wish my colleagues at Showmax everything of the best."

Meet the cast: The Real Housewives of Lagos starts 8 April on Showmax with a Lagos lawyer, social media influencers, a stylist and creative director.

by Thinus Ferreira

A Lagos lawyer, a social media influencer, a TikTok star, a celebrity stylist, a creative director dabbling as a YouTuber and a real estate CEO are the 6 women starring in The Real Housewives of Lagos that will debut as the latest African franchise of the Housewives reality format on 8 April on MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax.

New episodes of The Real Housewives of Lagos will be released every Friday from 8 April on Showmax, starring Carolyna Hutchings, Laura Ikeji, Chioma Ikokwu, Toyin Lawani-Adebayo, Iyabo Ojo and Mariam Timmer opening their glamorous, drama and conflict-filled lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

The first season of The Real Housewives of Lagos will consist of 12 episodes - 10 episodes and 2 reunion episodes.

Dubbed "RHOLagos", the West African reality offshoot produced by Livespot 360 as the 16th international version of The Real Housewives format, will be available on Showmax in 40 African countries and is distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Formats which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

RHOLagos is the third African adaptation, following after The Real Housewives of Johannesburg and The Real Housewives of Durban on Showmax. 

The Real Housewives of Lagos stars Carolyna Hutchings, the CEO of Hutchings Limited, a real estate, oil and gas, and agriculture company. She is also the founder of Hopeville Foundation, an NGO that caters to women and children and is the mother of three.

Laura Ikeji, a mother of two, is a social media influencer, author, and entrepreneur and is married to the former Super Eagles star Christopher Kanu.

 

Chioma Ikokwu is a lawyer as well as co-founder and CEO of luxury hair brand Good Hair Ltd, and Brass and Copper Restaurant & Lounge, and also runs a women- and children-focused charity called the Goodway Foundation. Chioma has never been married.

 

Toyin Lawani-Adebayo is a renowned celebrity stylist, fashion designer, business mogul and CEO of Tiannah’s Place Empire. She is a mother of three super-talented kids and is married to musician and creative photographer Segun Wealth.

 

Iyabo Ojo is a Nollywood actress, producer, TikTok sensation, brand influencer, entrepreneur and CEO of Fepris Limited. She is a divorced mother of two.

 

Mariam Timmer is a PR expert and chief executive director at Six Sixteen Agency. She's the creative director at Lure Fashion Limited, an online retail fashion line; an online content creator; YouTuber; and entrepreneur. Mariam has a daughter and is married to John Timmer.

Candice Fangueiro, Showmax Africa head of content, says "As an African brand, showcasing and telling African stories is at the core of our content production, so we are excited to be partnering with NBCUniversal Formats to bring The Real Housewives of Lagos to our subscribers".

"The Real Housewives of Durban, now in its second season, has smashed viewing records and delighted fans. Our Nigerian subscribers are in for a treat with the local edition."

Busola Tejumola, MultiChoice Nigeria executive head of content and West Africa channels, says "The Real Housewives of Lagos has long been anticipated by fans of the franchise across Africa, and we're excited to finally bring it to your screens".

"The show will explore the rich culture and lifestyle of Africa’s largest megacity, Lagos, through the eyes of six of the city's most glamorous women. Each of these women is unique, fabulous and watch-worthy. We are certain that our viewers will enjoy the ride."

MultiChoice Showcase 2021: PICTORIAL. A set of new Blood Psalms stills released as MultiChoice's delayed Showmax Original fantasy series from Yellowbone Entertainment waits to be paid its film rebate.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice has released some further new provocative images - what in the film biz is called "stills" - of the fantasy drama series Blood Psalms that has been shifted to a February 2022 release on its Showmax video streaming service.

In the fantasy drama series mostly filmed in the Eastern Cape, Zolisa Xaluva plays soldier Toka with Zikhona Sodlaka who plays Sithenjwa and with the two characters who end up marrying each other.

Thando Tabethe plays Heka, a god manifesting as a physical being, with Faith Baloyi as Queen Assilli and the court's advisor with access to magic, while Bokang Pehalane is cast in the role of the teenage Princess Zazi trying to save her people from a world-ending prophecy.

With MultiChoice and Showmax that organised no group media set visits during the filming of Blood Psalms - something that is very unusual for an expensive production of this size - the only imagery for the show will be the set of stills that the show itself took while it filmed on location.

Blood Psalms, written, produced and directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka and Layla Swart Najaar from Yellowbone Entertainment, was supposed to start in October on Showmax but was delayed due to an ongoing scandal with South Africa's department of trade, industry and competition.

The department abruptly cancelled its payments of millions of rand that were approved for the making of Blood Psalms in the country's shambolic film rebate scheme that is also impacting on other film productions in the country.

Almost half of the R85 million production cost of Blood Psalms is funded through the film rebate scheme of the department of trade, industry and competition. 

R8 million earmarked to pay for just post-production work on the MultiChoice and Canal+ co-production that has over 300 visual effects artists working on the show, was for instance abruptly cancelled in September. 

Besides this there is still another R16 million payment to be made in a rebate payment by the DTIC once Blood Psalms is fully completed.

The government's film rebates are paid out at specific production milestones with producers getting financial support while they're completing their content: At the start of principal photography, when filming wraps, the start of post-production, and then delivery of the completed video production.

After Yellowbone Entertainment took the government department to court, the DTIC agreed to make requisition for payment within three days but failed to respond to the deadline of the court order.

The DTIC in a statement said that "It would be inappropriate to continue these discussions in the media as the discussions have not yet been concluded and both parties have undertaken to work diligently to conclude outstanding matters. The Yellowbone matter is sub-judice and it would be unlawful to comment."

Jahmil X.T. Qubeka says it was "an embarrassment" to be in Dubai in October with MultiChoice, inviting the world to do business in South Africa and to film productions in the country "when we have not put the mechanisms in place for that to happen".

The multi-million rand series that has been in production for almost 2 years as the largest and most expensive series ever filmed in Africa and produced on South African soil, has already been delayed. 

Candice Fangueiro, Showmax head of content, said the Showmax Original would start in October 2021, although the date came and went. 

MultiChoice then announced to the media flown to Dubai for the media junket that Blood Psalms has now been pushed to February 2022 although it's unclear if this target date for release on Showmax will be met with, the future of the R85 million production that hangs in the balance. 

ALSO READ: MultiChoice's expensive Blood Psalms in jeopardy as a Showmax Original as Yellowbone Entertainment producers are forced to go to court over millions due in unpaid South African film rebates to finish their series.

ALSO READ: Blood Psalms to debut on MultiChoice's Showmax in February 2022, 'It was scary and a massive challenge,' says showrunner Layla Swart.

ALSO READ: As MultiChoice previews Showmax's Blood Psalms with a first-look viewing in Dubai the South African media take umbrage: 'Share the content with journalists who report on TV content'.

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. 'A Dubai Déjà vu': How MultiChoice and the champagne brigade at its Dubai Expo 2020 jaunt evoked a big-on-partying, small-on-substance media look - again.

MORE TV TRASH. MultiChoice pits more African women against each other with M-Net West Africa that commissions The Real Housewives of Lagos.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is moving to set up and bring subscribers more African women in conflict and clashing with each other and has commissioned another regionalised format season of The Real Housewives franchise for Nigeria, entitled The Real Housewives of Lagos.

Yolisa Phahle, the MultiChoice Group CEO for general entertainment and connected video, said on Thursday's MultiChoice Showcase held in various African countries, that MultiChoice is bringing subscribers The Real Housewives of Lagos in 2022 and that South Africa's The Real Housewives of Durban will be back for a second season.

The Real Housewives, a format from NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group, is a reality show that selects groups of materialistic women with troubled lives who don't all get along with each other.

Often looking for external validation and showing off their conspicuous consumption as they flaunt their wealth and troubled lives, cameras follow them while they fight and their various dramatic confrontations with other people.

The Real Housewives of Lagos will go first to MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax, after which it will likely make it way to M-Net West Africa's Africa Magic channel. 

The Real Housewives of Lagos is the third African format adaptation of the reality show and will be produced by Livespot 360. 

It follows after South Africa's The Real Housewives of Johannesburg and The Real Housewives of Durban that is produced by Let It Rain Films with Thumeka Hlotshana who will be directing the upcoming second season.

"We are so proud to build on the international success of The Real Housewives of Johannesburg and Durban with our partner Showmax," says Ana Langenberg, the senior vice president, format sales & production at NBCUniversal International Formats, in a statement from NBCUniversal.

"The vibrancy of Lagos and its rich culture, fashion and opulence makes for the perfect setting for the show. We also can't wait to see the second season of Durban come to life and deliver fans all over the world even more extravagance and entertainment."

Candice Fangueiro, Showmax head of content, says "We've seen audiences across Africa devour The Real Housewives of Johannesburg and The Real Housewives of Durban".

"The Real Housewives franchise lends itself to localisation and we know our audience is going to love seeing the show reinvented Naija-style. We can’t wait to show the continent - and the world - another side of Lagos, with all the drama, high fashion and luxury you’d expect from The Real Housewives franchise."

MultiChoice's Showmax on Temptation Island South Africa's diversity question: 'Participants on the show reflect the applications we received'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The upcoming Temptation Island South Africa is the next reality show from MultiChoice that appears to suffer from problematic casting, with Showmax saying that the apparent lack of diversity in casting is because the participants in the show reflect the applications it received.

Temptation Island SA, produced by Afrokaans for MultiChoice's Showmax video streaming service, starts on 26 August. 

Phat Joe is the host of Temptation Island SA, with four couples tempted in the local version of the Banijay-format reality show, by 10 single men and 10 single women.

Asked about the apparent lack of diversity in the cast of Temptation Island SA and for comment as to how the producers and Showmax decided who to include, Showmax, in a statement attributed to Candice Fangueiro, head of content for Showmax in Africa, says:

"We pride ourselves in reflecting diversity and inclusion for all our shows, including Temptation Island."

"The casting for all our shows are open to all race groups and demographics of South Africa. Although the participants on the show reflect the applications we received, Showmax shall always endeavour to be as inclusive as is reasonably possible."

Temptation Island SA follows 6 months after Love Island South Africa, produced by Rapid Blue, made its debut on M-Net (DStv 101).

Love Island SA immediately came under fire for its myriad production problems and production values, including the whitewashing of its cast and lack of diversity in casting.

MultiChoice is yet to explain what went wrong with Love Island SA, with M-Net that said in a statement that "You called us out on the lack of diversity and production quality in our first episode of Love Island SA. We're sorry - we didn't meet our usual standard on both counts."

Temptation Island SA was filmed in a Covid-19 production-safe bubble production in Knysna.

MultiChoice's Showmax once again make an unsubstantiated viewership record claim, this time for Devilsdorp - here's what Showmax and some other streamers don't want to tell and don't want you to know.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Tuesday, MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax once again made an unsubstantiated claim about viewership figures in a press release without providing any actual viewership numbers or viewer data, this time about its well-received documentary series Devilsdorp - but the devil's in the details and in this case, a streamer conspiracy that Showmax is part of.

MultiChoice's Showmax made a similar unproven viewership claim in February this year with The Real Housewives of Durban, providing no actual first-day viewing numbers.

Showmax also fake-release ratings about top titles' performance at the end of a year with vague and nebulous claims like "30% increase" and "21% up compared to normal activity" in press statements, without supporting it with any actual numbers.

Some media republish these press releases without any substance or numbers as is, with no critical approach as to what the meaning - and value - of nothing to South Africa's film and TV industry is when hollow press releases don't actually contain any empirical viewership statistics.

This time, in a hyped press release, Showmax is touting how Devilsdorp, commissioned under Showmax head of content Candice Fangueiro and produced by IdeaCandy, has "set a Showmax record for most hours watched in its first four days of launch".

It's more of the same vague viewership nonsense hyped up to sound like a monumental achievement.

Showmax claims that Devilsdorp is "setting a new record for the most hours watched in its first four days of launch of any film or series ever on Showmax, outperforming the likes of Game of Thrones, The Real Housewives of Durban and The River".

The press release contains absolutely no numbers to substantiate anything - nothing about the viewership or views that represent this claimed record, and nothing about the numbers of hours to substantiate the claim of "most hours".

TVwithThinus asked Showmax in response to, and prompted by, the press release, the simple question: What is the record, and the hours watched?"

A Showmax spokesperson replied and said: "Unfortunately we're not able to share stats at this stage".

Yolisa Phahle is the boss of Showmax as the MultiChoice Group CEO for general entertainment and connected video, which is where the decision had been made not to release any actual real viewership statistics about any Showmax content or titles to the press or the media industry.

The reality is that MultiChoice and Showmax are cultivating a cult of video streaming views secrecy.

Make no mistake: It's very deliberately not being transparent about how many customers are watching Showmax because it doesn't want to be.

But why this "devilish conspiracy"?

Last week The Observer published a must-read article explaining why some companies and streaming services, like your MultiChoice and Showmax, don't want to release any actual, real viewership information publicly.

The article quotes Dietrich von Behren, chief business officer at Reelgood that tracks TV shows and films available online, who says that some streamers don't want the public and industry to know its viewership numbers because "It allows the service to control the narrative, and outsiders don't really know the actual wins versus losses around programming".

"With the proliferation of more services in an increasingly competitive space, streamers may believe that's the way to stay ahead."

Media exec Andrew Rosen says "For every streaming service not named Netflix, streaming is neither the only line item nor a significant line item contributing to operating income or EBITDA."

The Observer article notes that "the benefits of accurate viewership statistics would be to inform the industry and drive more informed decision making overall".

"In establishing credibility, audiences and consumers are more likely to trust the brand and any subsequent reveals the company makes public. This is particularly true as the SVOD industry moves out of its infancy and into maturity."

Dietrich von Behren says "Viewership itself is not a secret formula or silver bullet, it's just a measure of success".

"Strong viewership is simply an indicator of popular content and the opposite holds true, so let the market learn from it and not hide from it. Streaming services will benefit and so will consumers."

MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer picks up local reality format adaptation Temptation Island South Africa from Banijay for 12 episodes produced by Afrokaans.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa is getting Temptation Island South Africa with a new localised format adaptation of the show that has been picked up by MultiChoice's Showmax video streaming service. 

Distributed by Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, the Afrokaans production company will be producing Temptation Island SA as a Showmax Original series with 12 episodes.

Afrokaans is also producing Survivor South Africa for M-Net (DStv 101).

Temptation Island SA is expected to debut on Showmax in the first half of 2021.

In the reality show, several couples with rocky relationships agree to live with a group of singles, under the guide of "testing the strength of their relationships" although the relationships all basically finally implode.

"Temptation Island South Africa is going to be must-watch and must-tweet TV," says Candice Fangueiro, Showmax’s head of content.

"South Africans love reality TV; The Real Housewives of Durban recently set the record for the most first-day views on Showmax ever. Our audience has already devoured the first two seasons of Temptation Island USA so we’re confident there’s an appetite for more, especially when we add some uniquely South African spice," she says.

MultiChoice's Showmax claims that The Real Housewives of Durban, abruptly moved from DStv to streaming, broke its first-day viewing records, but provides no first-day viewing numbers.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax on Wednesday once again made a dubious viewership claim, without releasing any viewership statistics to back up that claim, with the streamer that claimed that The Real Housewives of Durban has become its most-watched first-day viewed show.

Showmax announced that The Real Housewives of Durban apparently "has broken all previous first-day viewing records, claiming top spot on the streaming service" and that the show has remained the most-popular show on Showmax over the last week.

Showmax provided no numbers, ratings, or viewership stats to support or back up its nebulous claim.

Showmax was asked what the actual first-day viewership of The Real Housewives of Durban was since the press release contains no viewing numbers of the show or the previous first-day viewership record but Showmax told TVwithThinus that "Showmax doesn't release subscriber figures".

On 15 January last month, Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO, told South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in the regulator's inquiry into pay-TV in South Africa, that MultiChoice is deliberately not reporting Showmax user numbers or viewership figures for its video streaming service because the subscriber base is too small.

In a supplied quote on Wednesday, Candice Fangueiro, Showmax head of content, says "We know our reality fans come for the drama and if you’re looking for fireworks, the first episode of The Real Housewives of Durban has it all, so we’re not surprised to see it break records.”

M-Net in January announced that The Real Housewives of Durban would start on its 1Magic (DStv 103) TV channel on 19 January, before inexplicably announcing a week later that it is now moving the series to Showmax.

The confusing public announcements - of first saying a show would be on a DStv channel, and then suddenly on Showmax that angered and confused DStv subscribers - once again underscored and revealed how MultiChoice is grappling internally and itself doesn't know what the specific programming strategy and alignment between Showmax and its various M-Net channels are or should be.

The first season of 14 episodes of The Real Housewives of Durban is produced by Let It Rain Films including a reunion and features the Durban socialites and business women Annie Ludick, Ayanda Ncwane, Kgomotso Ndungane, Nonkanyiso Conco, Nonku Williams and Sorisha Naidoo.

ALSO READ: NBCUniversal Formats' Real Housewives reality franchise expands in South Africa with The Real Housewives of Durban coming to M-Net's 1Magic on DStv in 2021.

Showmax renews Julia Anastasopoulos comedy for a second season entitled Tali's Baby Diary, rolls out Kelly Khumalo reality show and commissions two new drama series.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's Showmax has renewed Julia Anastasopoulos' Tali's Wedding Diary for a second season entitled Tali's Baby Diary, will launch a new reality series with Kelly Khumalo and has commissioned two new local drama series to be released in 2021 as the video streaming service ramps up local productions to add to its content carousel. 

"We’ve deliberately ramped up emphasis on local content," says Candice Fangueiro, Showmax’s head of content.

"If you look at something like the first view metric, which asks what’s the first show someone watches after signing up for Showmax under the assumption this is probably what convinced them to join, three out of the top 5 first view pieces of content are now local."

As expected, the award-winning Tali's Wedding Diary has been renewed for a second season, Tali's Baby Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios.

The second season of this first-ever Showmax Original when it launched in December 2017, will be released in 2021.

In Tali’s Baby Diary an unexpected pregnancy forces Tali into a desperate pivot from Insta-influencer to "momfluencer", as Darren (Anton Taylor) and Rael (Glen Biderman-Pam) navigate the choppy waters of the Cape Town property game. 

As the 9-month clock ticks down, Tali and the boys are forced to face the bigger questions about life, love and parenthood.

Showmax will release the reality series Life With Kelly Khumalo, on 6 August that will revolve around the South Africa singer. It's produced by BarLeader.

Showmax says Life with Kelly Khumalo will offer viewers "an intimate glimpse at the woman behind the headlines: a single mother of two who is juggling parenting with the build-up to the release of not just her new album, Undithatha Kancinci, but also her first gin".

Showmax also commissioned two new drama series that will be released in 2021.

Skemerdans, from Nagvlug Films is described as "a Cape Flats neo-noir set at The Oasis, a jazz club and after-dark entertainment venue that becomes the centre of a power struggle between two brothers, a scorned widow and an organised crime syndicate".

"As opposing forces fight to gain control of Glenn Fortune’s legacy, an ongoing murder investigation gets closer to the inconvenient truth." Amy Jephta serves as executive producer and showrunner on the 13-episode Skemerdans, co-directing alongside Ephraim Gordon.

In Dam, a prodigal daughter returns home to the Eastern Cape to bury her father, only to be tormented by spirits in the house as she wonders whether they are real or imaginary. 

Dam is being written and directed by Alex Yazbek, with Picture Tree producing.

Filming starts on 13-episode Woke in Progress as a second local Showmax scripted comedy series.

Filming started on Monday in Johannesburg on the 13-episode Woke in Progress, a second Showmax Original scripted comedy series for MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service.

MultiChoice's Connected Video division on Tuesday announced that it had commissioned Woke in Progress as its second scripted comedy series following Tali's Wedding Diary, and its third scripted series overall after the drama series The Girl from St Agnes.

Rea Moeti (30) is the co-creator and director of Woke in Progress, produced by her Rare View Media production company as a project she first pitched to Showmax in 2017 and developed with Emma Lungiswa De Wet. Karabo Lediga and Sipho Sondiyazi joined the production team later. 

The comedy series that will be released on Showmax on 12 December 2019 is set in Maboneng, and takes place at The Maboneng Marble where two broke 20-somethings become unlikely roommates.

Having just found out she’s adopted, the 22-year-old Martie (newcomer Laura Lee Mostert) has come to Johannesburg searching for her birth parents; while the 25-year-old Amandla (Zandile Lujabe) is trying to reconnect with the motherland after decades of following her political elite father between international posts.

The rest of the Woke in Progress cast includes Lebogang Tlokana, Ebenhaezer Dibakwane, Yule Masiteng and Kiroshan Naidoo.

Showmax describes Woke in Progress as a mix of CBS' 2 Broke Girls that was on M-Net meets Netflix's Dear White People, or Comedy Central's Broad City meets Insecure, or Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt meets Mzansi Magic's Ayeye.

Rea Moeti’s Marikana-themed short film, Mma Moeketsi, won Best African Short Film at the Cape Town, Jozi, and Zanzibar International Film Festivals and she is also the head writer on the first two seasons of Mzansi Magic's prison drama series Lockdown.

"Our first two scripted Showmax Originals - Tali’s Wedding Diary and The Girl From St Agnes - both broke records as the most-watched shows on Showmax ever, so we know our audience is hungry for quality South African series,” says Candice Fangueiro, head of content at MultiChoice’s Connected Video division.

"We think they’re going to love laughing with Maboneng’s Afropunk crowd just as much as they did with Talibabes in Sea Point in Tali’s Wedding Diary."

Kiroshan Naidoo plays Christo, a paranoid misanthrope programmer who shares the flat with Martie and Amandla; while Lebogang Tlokana is the over-entrepreneurial apartment manager, Lerato.

Ebenhaezer Dibakwane is her brother Puma, the receptionist/artist; while Yule Masiteng is the "homeless sage" who camps outside The Maboneng Marble. 

In a supplied statement Rea Moeti says "Working on Lockdown was evidence for me that MultiChoice is offering shows that are becoming more and more daring, and that our audience is ready".

"When I first pitched Woke in Progress to Showmax, it was tamer than it is now, because I thought that was what South African platforms wanted. But Showmax has pushed it to go further."

TV REVIEW. MultiChoice's Trippin' with Skumba on Showmax is a cheap shot embarrassing production, reeks of inexperience and is an insult to viewers who have to pay to see a st(r)eaming mess.

It's really a problem for South Africa's TV industry that MultiChoice, Showmax and Skhumba Hlophe would put out low-class, badly-produced, cheap rubbish like Trippin' with Skhumba and think that this rough - looking like it was filmed with a smartphone camera - content is fine to be placed on a service asking viewers and subscribers to pay to see it.

It's insulting.

Why was Trippin' with Skumba as a so-called "travel-comedy" commissioned? Who exactly at MultiChoice and at Showmax saw this, okayed the end-result, and signed off on this TV-trash as being content that fits a presumably premium brand like Showmax, and the brand values and perceptions attached to a video-on-demand streaming service?

Trippin' with Skhumba as a "Showmax Original" that is a rip-off from Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee looks like something that SowetoTV as a community TV channel or SABC1 would have done, made as a roughly cobbled together collection of video clips someone's cousin recorded over Christmas on his Samsung phone and who knows how to hold a phone up and press "record" and "stop".

It defies understanding and belief how Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, as well as both Niclas Ekdahl, CEO of MultiChoice's Connected Video unit and Candice Fangueiro, head of content for MultiChoice Connected Video division, could honestly put a TV show like this out to market.

Niclas Ekdahl and Candice Fangueiro both placed their names as executive producers on Trippin' with Skhumba, so surely both are aware of it, how bad it is, and the damage that trash television like this does to something like Showmax that they presumably are trying to establish and grow instead of deliberately damage.

Is Trippin' with Skhumba on brand? It's off-the-road st(r)eaming trash.

"Racism" might be a word too far, but why does watching Trippin' with Skhumba as Showmax's first "vernacular original series", clearly targeting a black audience, leave you thinking that somehow MultiChoice and Showmax thought it's "okay" to produce low-class content because it is in vernacular language involving a comedian going to back-valley places?

Showmax is tripping if it think this is fine because this is not okay.

I feel really bad for Skhumba Hlophe. Why was his show not given enough money and proper resources, with sufficient and experienced production know-how, to create a show with adequate production values that fits his brand and that fits with what Showmax markets itself as being?

Something can be done cheaply on a shoe-string budget, something can be done small, something can be done quickly and it can still be good. Why is Trippin' with Shumba vlog-like trash?

M-Net (DStv 101) would never broadcast or put something on like this, and it recently did a local travel show, Wingin' It. So why is Showmax?

Is this Showmax's version of something half-baked if it catered to a Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163) audience? Very bad.

The basics - irrespective of whether something has a big or small production budget - should be done right. In a stage performance, the curtains should open and close. Actors should know their lines whether the script is good or bad irrespective of whether the community theatre or Broadway play is great or terrible.

Trippin' with Skumba is an awkward mess except for the establishing drone shots (the quality of which is so much better, which in itself doesn't fit with the rest, creating another problem. But let's leave that there.)

It's insulting and condescending to the audience to imagine that this is what potential viewers of this show should expect and be satisfied with. The show makes it clear that Showmax doesn't think that the target audience knows better or that they apparently deserve better.

Skhumba Hlophe is a bad interviewer/TV presenter and struggles with proper eye contact with people he's talking to.

To add to this problem it doesn't seem as if a producer beforehand went over a list of open-ended questions with him that he should or could try and ask of guests.

Too much in terms of pre-production was seemingly just left to "let's get in and go". Besides going to a physical place in each episode, where do episodes go? What is the point? What does an episode leave the viewers with to proverbially "take home" in return for their time and for paying to watch it?

Hanging out with local comedians where they grew up, should visually and metaphorically open up and expand on them and the area - not keep viewers guessing, and keeping them guessing with erratic and cropped shots.

Instead, everything and everyone in Trippin' with Skhumba remains firmly boxed in with director Vincent Moloi.

Why the shaky camerawork? Why the boom in frames? Why is almost everything filmed as close-ups? Why does music just start and suddenly stop and then new music start again?

Trippin' with Shumba feels like a film school's first take handed in for a second term assignment. The desire to do video content is there but not the experience or skill. Nobody on-camera or behind the camera seems to have enough experience making TV. Yet this pointless travelogue mess is dished up for viewers on a pay-service, where subscribers are asked to pay for substandard content.

Tripping' with Skumba fails to leave the viewer - who, again has to pay to watch this - not enriched as to the actual places and people visited and spoken with. Why make the effort for superficial chit-chat?

It's not even a travel show, but just compare how magician Drummond Money-Coutts talks and interacts with small-town South Africans in the dusty streets of a backwater town in the South African filmed episode of Death by Magic and how residents are portrayed and brought to life in that episode, in contrast with how the residents are filmed in the dusty streets  in small-town Trippin' with Skhumba.

Trippin' with Skhumba isn't and shouldn't be Top Billing, but what that show masters in terms of production basics with inserts, is to showcase a place and people being interviewed properly.

Those basic tenets of profile-piece television can be properly accomplished in a high-end show, or even a low-budget show like Khumbul'ekhaya, which means Trippin' with Skumba doesn't know or doesn't care to know how to get the basics right.

Showmax shouldn't do "local content" if the output is of this standard. It drags itself and the reputation of South African television production down.

Showmax makes South African TV history as it wins 5 awards at the NFVF's 13th Saftas and the first for a video streaming service.

From left: Ari Kruger, Julia Anastasopoulos, Daniel Zimbler, Keren Setton, and Candice Fangueiro 

Showmax has made South African TV history winning 5 awards at 2019's 13th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) that took place on Saturday, becoming the first video streaming service to win at the awards show for an original production that was also its first.

Tali's Wedding Diary, produced by Sketchbook Studios and created by the husband and wife team of Ari Kruger and Julia Anastasopoulos and with her starring, saw big wins for both.

Tali's Wedding Diary won Golden Horn trophies on Saturday at Sun City for Best achievement in directing (Ari Kruger), Best achievement in cinematography (James Adey), Best achievement in editing (Richard Starkey), Best actress (Julia Anastasopoulos), and for Best TV comedy.

Tali's Wedding Diary was the show with the most wins out of the 13 comedy categories at the Saftas.

Julia Anastasopoulos in her acceptance speech thanked Showmax, Sketchbook Studios and her director husband for bringing Tali's Wedding Diary to life.

Candice Fangueiro, the head of content for MultiChoice Connected Video division, on Sunday told TVwithThinus that "When we were making Tali’s Wedding Diary we joked about winning a Safta - it seemed totally crazy given it was our first fully-fledged Showmax Original and all of us were learning as we went".

"Fast-forward and we're on stage not just winning one Safta award but taking home five. I'm still pinching myself."

"Julia and Ari have been amazing partners in bringing to life a character who South Africa has come to love."

"Tali's Wedding Diary has become bigger than we ever could have expected and this gives us the confidence and appetite to get out there and tell more stories. I’m really grateful to everyone involved - what an incredible outcome," said Candice Fangueiro.

Showmax adds 18 films, from 18 February, made by South African AFDA film school students.

Showmax is adding 18 films, from 18 February, made by South African AFDA film school students in a wonderful new initiative to showcase local emerging South African film talent.

The roll-out on the video streaming service provides additional new content for Showmax subscribers while helping to showcase local talent in an entirely new way as part of a recent deal between Showmax and AFDA.

From 18 February, 18 of the best recent short films made by AFDA students from their Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth campuses will be made available on Showmax, spanning the genres of drama, documentary, fantasy, and animation, in films running from under 8 minutes to almost half-an-hour long.

"AFDA, is proud to kickstart this exciting and meaningful journey with Showmax and AFDA students, ensuring emerging young African filmmakers' voices are heard and given a platform," says Teresa Passchier, CEO of AFDA.

"It's ground-breaking to share young, local, culturally relevant content on the same platform as Hollywood blockbusters. I am certain that this unique initiative will serve to boost and develop the African film industry and the careers of many young South African and African students alike."

Included in the short films coming to Showmax are the award-winners Junior and O-Puncha.

Junior, directed by Bert Dijkstra, picked up the Audience Award in the Made in South Africa Competition at the shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival Awards 2017.

O-Puncha, directed by Adam Hansen, won two awards at the 5th annual Eldorado Film Festival: Best Student Made Short, and Best Editing - Alexander La Cock.

Another celebrated film is Sicela Amanzi directed by Mlu Godola, which talks to the subject of water shortage. 

The film's heroine Zoleka is a mild-mannered young woman forced to go to extreme lengths when a small community's only source of water unexpectedly collapses.

Candice Fangueiro, Showmax's head of content, says "There's immense depth of film-making talent in Africa and it's a privilege to be able to give that talent a home and a platform".

"Showmax is becoming part of the fabric of film and TV production in Africa, and importantly we're doing this as a partner rather than just as a consumer. This is a key competitive advantage of being local and something we aim to continue to work on."

The list of AFDA short films that will be available on Showmax is:

Film title	Director	Genre
Lullaby from the Crypt	Keenan Lott & Raven Davids	Animation
Ko Ga Cherenyane	Sibonokuhle Myataza	Documentary
Izilwane	Kyllian Roux	Drama
Mallemeule	Jaco Van Bosch	Drama
Canal Street	Brodie Muirhead	Drama
On the Fence	Warrick Bews	Drama
The Righteous Few	Lindo Langa	Drama
Hlogoma Peak	Luke Ahrens	Drama
Frozen Flame	Cameron Heathman	Animation
Wolf	Brett van Dort	Fantasy
The Walk Home	Sisanda Dyantyi	Drama
Bear	Wesley Roodt	Drama
Junior	Bert Dijkstra	Drama
O-Puncha	Adam Hansen	Drama
Umngeno	Siphosethu Ndunge	Drama
Doreen	Luvuyo Equiano Nyawose	Drama
Forever	Lindo Langa	Musical
Sicela Amanzi	Mlu Godola	Drama