kykNET's Die Brug and SABC2's Takalani Sesame get 2024 International Emmy Awards nods

by Thinus Ferreira

The reality show Die Brug on kykNET as well as the educational children's show Takalani Sesame both got 2024 International Emmy nominations.

It means that South Africa got two International Emmy Awards nods this year, compared to three last year and is also kykNET's first International Emmy Awards nomination ever.

The two South African shows are part of 56 International Emmy nominees across 14 categories that are competing in the 2024 International Emmy Awards taking place on 25 November in New York.

South Africa's two nominees are part of this year's nominees coming from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

"Every year the international television community competes to be recognized on the International Emmys' much-coveted global stage," says Bruce L. Paisner, International Academy president and CEO, in a statement.

"We congratulate the nominees for their outstanding programs and performances, they are once again a testament to the universal appeal of great storytelling across all genres, countries and cultures."

Die Brug, produced by Red Pepper Pictures for M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) channel on MultiChoice's DStv has been renewed for a second season and is a nominee in the category for Best non-scripted entertainment.

Die Brug, produced by Frederick Louw and Lindi Lucouw, is also a contender in the Best International format category for this year's 18th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) organised by the National Film and Television Foundation (NFVF) taking place in October in Johannesburg.

In its International Emmy Awards category Die Brug is up against Me Caigo De Risa [Anything Goes] from TelevisaUnivision in Mexico, Restaurant Misverstand [The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes] from Roses Are Blue in Belgium, as well as The Summit from Endemol Shine Australia in Australia.

"Die Brug is a very special format and somewhat of an enigma to produce,” says Cecil Barry, CEO of Red Pepper.

"Working with kykNET on this wonderful format was indeed a great adventure and privilege. We are proud and excited about this Emmy nomination, especially because it brings international recognition to kykNET and Red Pepper."

Waldimar Pelser, M-Net director of premium channels, says "When Marguerite Albrecht, one of the commissioning producers at kykNET, suggested in May 2022 that kykNET adapt the international format Die Brug for our viewers, we knew something exciting was coming".

"The end product, produced by Red Pepper, provided our viewers with immense enjoyment. To receive international recognition for an Afrikaans production filmed near the picturesque Swellendam in the Southern Cape is immensely gratifying. And the second season will be airing on kykNET next year."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, says "Die Brug is one of those rare reality shows that come along from time to time that turn the genre on its head".

"We’re proud to have been able to adapt a top-notch international format for our local market – and produce such an amazing local version. Congratulations to our talented crew on bringing a uniquely South African flavour to Die Brug, which stands comfortably alongside versions produced anywhere else in the world."

The first season of Die Brug is currently available on MultiChoice's Showmax streamer.

Takalani Sesame which was also a nominee in the 2023 International Emmy Awards is again a nominee in the Kids: factual category.

Takalani Sesame on the South African public broadcaster's SABC2 and produced by the Sesame Workshop and Ochre Moving Pictures, is nominated for its Takalani Sesame Big Feelings special.

In the category, Takalani Sesame competes against De Mensenbieb [Living Library] from Skyhigh TV in the Netherlands, La Vida Secreta de tu Mente [The Secret Life of Your Mind] from Warner Bros. Discovery in Mexico, as well as My Life: Eva's Having a Ball from Fresh Start Media in the United Kingdom.

INTERVIEW. Rob Kruger walks over kykNET's Die Brug as winner: 'A thousand emotions coursed through my being'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The year's first reality TV winner - and the winner of the first season of the bridge-building in the outback reality show on kykNET (DStv 144) - is Robert Kruger (35) who got to walk over it and decided to keep what was left of the R1 million prize money, telling me that "a thousand emotions coursed through my being".

I sat down with Rob to talk about his win, his time in the bungalow next to a lake, building a bridge and how the whole experience has changed him.

After 14 contestants built a bridge over 20 days at a lake near Swellendam, DStv subscribers on Thursday night watched as the former rugby player Robert Kruger from Midstream in Midrand was voted to be the remaining player to walk over the bridge in Die Brug to claim the treasure.

Of the money from the R1 million that was left, the married father of two - who has played for the Lions, Leopards, the Shining Arcs in Japan and had spent a season with the Toyota Shuttles -  gave commercial diver William Walters R50 000 but said no to all of the other remaining contestants.

Since Rob won R50 000 in an earlier episode, it means his total prize money is R800 000 in Die Brug's first season.

But how was his time in the bungalow and how does he feel about his win? Now Rob shares how difficult it was to tell the other contestants that he won't be sharing the winnings with them and how the experience has changed him.

At the start, you said to the camera that you have faith that at the end of this, there awaits a new version of yourself that will be a deeper person.

I would definitely say I'm living in the moment more. Life can be so rushed. I'm spending more time with my kids. I'm trying to be more in the moment.

Before the vote on who gets to walk over the bridge to the treasure, you became emotional when William motivated why he should be the one. Why were you so touched?

William made me think of myself a lot through what he said and did. 

He was quite quiet and just did the work. I developed a soft spot for him as he started to open up about his life. When he said why he needed the money it became clear to me that he was someone who would get my vote. 

He spoke so beautifully and it gave me clarity that he deserved to get the prize money.

What did you think about when you walked over the wooden bridge you all had built to the middle of the lake?

So much goes through your mind. 

It was happiness but then also about the difficult decision to make - whether to keep the money or to share it, and share how much with whom. People I'm going to disappoint. 

I'm someone who likes to avoid confrontation and now I have to look people in the eye and say I'm not going to share the money with you. A thousand emotions coursed through my being.

'Now I have to look people in the eye

 and say I'm not going to share

 the money with you'

When did you decide not to share the money with the remaining other contestants?

When I entered for Die Brug when it was advertised as an adventure competition show without a name and said the prize money is R1 million - so from since I entered it was my thought that I wanted to win the money. 

When I saw I was one of 12 contestants I realised that it meant I had a one in 12 chance and now we have to build a bridge. One out of 12 isn't great odds so I've put the R1 million on the back-burner. It was no longer my biggest driving factor. 

I wanted to do the journey and complete it and come back as a better person with personal growth.

As the contestants started talking you got a sense of whether would people share the money eventually or not and then it became quiet. Everybody shied away from saying anything about it until Larry brought it up towards the end. 

Several of the contestants didn't really like the idea of sharing the prize money or they didn't want to talk about it. With the picnic, nobody said they would share the money, so all of those things are in your mind as you make a decision.

My family and my loyalty to them is what weighed the most in my decision in the end to keep the money.

You did decide to give William R50 000. Why?

I have a soft spot for William. 

Throughout the entire game he was quiet and he was always the same. Not that the others changed but initially when we had to say who we trusted the least I said him.

After that, he came to me and told me that I could really trust him and from there our relationship just grew. He's someone I thought: I really want to give him some of the money.

The show made it excruciatingly difficult since after you had walked over, each one of the remaining contestants also walked over and you had to tell them in their face whether you had money for them or not. How was that whole stressful situation?

It was definitely awkward. 

It didn't get easier. In the whole show and out of all of the challenges there were I would say that was by far the worst to do.

The hard work and little food were a breeze compared to having to look people in the eye and saying sorry but I'm not going to be sharing the money with you. You don't want to disappoint people and each time I had to say that felt bad. 

You also haven't played rugby for a year so you didn't have any income - I think people will feel you deserve to keep your prize money but what did you decide to do with the money you've won?

I said during the picnic episode I'd like to buy a property. It's still in the back of our brains. We're currently renting. Or to just invest it. 

But you're right, I haven't played rugby for a year and it was a year ago when I went into the show since I last got a salary from rugby. So the prize money is definitely something we can use.

What did this gruelling, physical thing over 20 days do to you?

I've lost 4kg during my time there. I could see in my body I've worked hard there.

We were constantly busy and active but since I come from a rugby background the physical part wasn't really a challenge to me. It was more the mental and psychological aspect of it all.

For me it was more of a mental and spiritual journey to overcome challenges in my own life in the isolation of nature, with hard manual labour. Isolated in the unknown, things bubble out from you that are deep-seated. That was much more difficult for me to deal with.

'Isolated in the unknown,

 things bubble out from you

 that are deep-seated'

What's there that we didn't see because it doesn't fit into the format of the show?

At night around the fire there were some deeper discussions, or during the evening around the dinner table. 

But nothing was left out and nobody was portrayed differently from how they really are and what really happened. If kykNET does another season I would really encourage anyone to do it and to enter. 

Learn from our mistakes and take a blueprint on how to build a bridge! The whole experience of Die Brug was a pleasant experience. We definitely all grew as people.

We saw the remaining contestants vote on who they wanted to walk over the bridge. 

There were two votes for both you and William and then a revote between just the two of you and you won. Then we saw you walk over the bridge but it seemed in the eyes of several contestants as if they still wanted to maybe talk to you before you had to leave.

It was all such a blur!

Until the winner was read I still really thought it was going to be William. 

I was very thankful and happy that it turned out to be me but to be. It could look awkward and as if we still wanted to say something but it was all just more shock and everyone trying to process everything.

Maybe there were people who still wanted to say something, who knows.

M-Net touts local dramas, new kykNET bridge-building competition at showcase.

by Thinus Ferreira

At a blue screen showcase event for ad buyers on Thursday afternoon M-Net announced an Afrikaans reality competition show Die Brug for kykNET and touted the M-Net channel's premium international and local content line-up, including several upcoming Cape Town-set drama series for DStv.

 
M-Net that used to rule the roost with premium and exclusive shows thanks to output deals with major Hollywood studios had to cede some power over the past three years to the growing video streaming services – most notably Disney+ and Netflix – as several major studios also decided to keep their shiniest and most-desired new premium content for their own streamers which are not made available to DStv.
 
Thursday's DStv Media Sales annual event for M-Net channels in Johannesburg was an opportunity to show ad buyers where to park their clients' money and the reach that remains in traditional linear pay-TV in South Africa.
 
Nomsa Philiso (CEO of MultiChoice general entertainment), Waldimar Pelser (M-Net director for premium channels), Shirley Adonisi (M-Net director for local entertainment channels), Piwe Motshegoa (head of sales for general entertainment) and Lucasta Stephen (executive head of sales at DStv Media Sales) were all in attendance who took to the stage to show-and-tell about M-Net, kykNET and Mzansi Magic's current and upcoming programming.
 
While Thursday's event was held for ad buyers, M-Net has notably not held either an in-person or virtual upfront event for South Africa's media to showcase its programming in over three years since February 2020, in contrast to the SABC, eMedia's e.tv, BBC Studios Africa, Disney, Primedia, National Geographic, Netflix and others which have taken the gap to gain buzz and have all done content showcase presentation events for media over the past two years.
 
Speaking about MultiChoice's most expensive TV production yet – the Shaka iLembe historical drama series from Bomb Productions on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) – Nomsa Philiso told the crowd that "We did throw every cent we had into Shaka iLembe and we're proud to say episode one has now hit the four million mark [in viewership] and on the day of its premiere we had 50% audience share". 

Shaka iLembe will run for three seasons with the second season currently in production.
 
For kykNET, Waldimar Pelser announced an Afrikaans adaptation of the reality competition franchise series The Bridge which will run as Die Brug for 11 episodes from Thursday 26 October at 20:00.
 
The Bridge is an original Banijay format, created by Zeppelin, with the winner getting R1 million after contestants must work together to build a bridge, several hundred metres long, to an island. 

"The Bridge is not just a show, it's a global phenomenon that captures the interest of viewers around the world," Pelser said. 

"We are thrilled to be producing the local version of this hit franchise, bringing together the best South African talent, and showcasing our beautiful landscapes to create a series that will have audiences at the edge of their seats."
 
Also coming to kykNET the next few months are the Afrikaans medical drama series Hartklop from 18 July, a rugby game show Koppe Stamp, Laataand with Rian van Heerden as a late-night talk show, the cooking reality competition show Kokkedoor Vuur & Vlam, Dana Snyman as the presenter of a new spiritual lifestyle series Grondpad Geloof, and a new Afrikaans comedy series set in the world of private security entitled Taktiek from October.
 
The M-Net channel will continue to have the remaining episodes of Paramount's Yellowstone drama series when that's released later this year, as well as the various Yellowstone spinoff series, along with American crime procedurals.
 
M-Net also remains in original local drama series production with the BBC co-production Devil's Peak, based on Deon Meyer's novel and filmed in Cape Town which will premiere in the second half of this year on the channel. 
 
The channel will also unspool a second season of Reyka co-produced with Fremantle; as well as Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle's crime thriller White Lies also done in Cape Town. An as-yet-untitled 52-episode family drama series set in Simon's Town will start on M-Net in January 2024 on Sunday nights.

M-Net adapts The Bridge reality competition show as Die Brug for kykNET.

by Thinus Ferreira

At a M-Net showcase event this afternoon for ad buyers Waldimar Pelser, director of M-Net premium channels, revealed that the call to entry earlier this year for a new adventure reality show on kykNET (DStv 144) was for an Afrikaans adaptation of the reality franchise The Bridge which will be on the channel as Die Brug.

At MultiChoice's DStv Media Sales event, an annual event courting ad buyers, M-Net said that Die Brug will be the 11th adaptation of the reality franchise worldwide.

The Bridge is an original Banijay format, created by Zeppelin, with the winner getting R1 million after they have to work together to build a bridge, several hundred metres long, to an island.

Die Brug will air on kykNET (DStv 144) from Thursday 26 October at 20:00 for 11 episodes.

"The Bridge is not just a show, it's a global phenomenon that captures the interest of viewers around the world," says Waldimar Pelser in a statement.

"We are thrilled to be producing the local version of this hit franchise, bringing together the best South African talent, and showcasing our beautiful landscapes to create a series that will have audiences at the edge of their seats."

According to MultiChoice the format adaptation agreement was brokered by Robin Pollok, vice president of sales of Banijay Rights for Africa, Middle East, Greece and Israel.

In a prepared supplied quote Robin Pollak states that "The Bridge delivers a high-stakes reality competition packed with gripping challenges, in a breath-taking location that has proven to be popular with audiences around the world".

"We are excited to watch this incredible show travel to new horizons and license a format with kykNET for the first time. We are certain that viewers in South Africa will be equally captivated when it makes its debut."