RED CARPET. South Africa's TV stars - talent and executives - all come out for M-Net and MultiChoice's Galaxy of Stars celebration event.

South Africa's television stars  -both on-screen talent as well as the executives responsible for making the magic happen - walked the red carpet on Saturday evening at Gallagher Estate at MultiChoice and M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars celebration event.

Whilst not all of the extremely high-profile and notable TV talent and executives from M-Net, M-Net channels' shows and M-Net executives and MultiChoice executives, walked the red carpet but rather went directly to the cocktail area, TV with Thinus managed to lure all who were asked to the red carpet for a photo and they all happily obliged.

The Galaxy of Stars event which celebrated M-Net and MultiChoice's massive contribution to local TV content and local television production in South Africa saw a constellation of star talent and executives come out for the exclusive and premium, invite-only black-tie gala sit down-dinner.

The Galaxy of Stars celebration event looked back at the 27 years of existence of M-Net, as well as towards the future and what M-Net and MultiChoice are doing to invest in the next generation of TV talent in South Africa's television production sector.

Doreen Morris, TV star and executive, and the first black continuity TV presenter on South African television and on M-Net

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of M-Net South Africa

Nolo Letele, MultiChoice South Africa chairperson

John Kotsaftis, CEO of DStv Digital Media

Mark Rayner, chief operating officer (COO) of MultiChoice South Africa

Oluchi Onweagba, model and TV executive

Khanyi Mbau, socialite, TV presenter, reality star, TV talk show host

Vusi Kunene and Kgomotso Christopher, actors, TV soap stars

M-Net Idols and Benny Masekwameng, MasterChef South Africa judge

Randall Abrahams, TV and radio executive and Idols judge

Nonhle Thema, TV presenter and Twitter provocateur

Tumisho Masha, actor, TV presenter, TV soap star

Zwai Bala and Melanie Bala, power couple musician and musical director and TV presenter, actress and talk show host

Derek Watts, (tall) Carte Blanche anchor on M-Net

Bridget Masinga, TV presenter

Akin Omotoso, actor, director, writer, TV soap star

Lele Ledwaba, actress and TV soap star

M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars celebration at Gallagher Estate to be something out of this world.

M-Net’s Galaxy of the Stars event taking place this evening at Gallagher Estate promises to be an out-of-this-world event as the South African pay-TV broadcaster gets ready to celebrate nearly 28 years of bringing viewers premium TV content – as well as looking forward to its future.

I can reveal that approximately 400 people – TV executives, on-screen talent, government officials, production executives, celebrities, M-Net bosses and the biggest names in the South African television business  – are set to attend the "highly exclusive" black tie, sit-down gala dinner which has several surprises in store.

The bash promises to be the biggest single celebration centered around television since TV started in South Africa in 1976.

M-Net is set to highlight and celebrate its long legacy in creating home grown TV content but will also make a major announcement regarding a new initiative the pay-TV broadcaster is launching to support the South African film and television industry.

An M-Net spokesperson told me that the Galaxy of the Stars event – which will also be broadcast on the M-Net and Mzansi Magic channels on MultiChoice’s DStv on 9 August at 14:00 and 21:30 respectively – will highlight and celebrate the investment of over R1bn the pay-TV broadcaster annually makes into local content creation.

"With enormous challenges and problems facing South Africa’s TV industry in general and various questions about where the industry is heading, as well as new opportunities and challenges like digital terrestrial television, the Galaxy of the Stars event will showcase some of South Africa's proud television achievements, success stories, how M-Net has been and remains at the forefront of TV innovation and a glimpse of the future," an insider told me.

"It will be like the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) – just even better," quipped the source of the event which has Idols judge Unathi Msengana and film and TV legend John Kani as hosts.

M-Net has "spent billions over the years to create home-grown entertainment, across multiple genres, languages and TV channels spanning the African continent," says an M-Net spokesperson.

"The event will highlight the close, varied and strong relationships that M-Net has forged with key industry stakeholders, such as production companies – both large and small – speaking directly to its vision of partnership and collaboration."

Open invitation for new ideas

"The Galaxy of the Stars event will serve as an open invitation to the industry to bring forward their new ideas and fresh concepts, confident in the knowledge that M-Net will be, as it always has been, open to engagement, partnership and dialogue," says M-Net.

"The event will also offer a platform for M-Net to speak about a brand new strategic campaign whereby the company will be focusing on informing and education young students about the opportunities available within the film and TV industry across a spectrumof careers."

M-Net's Galaxy of the Stars made-for-television event will feature a dazzling array of appearances and performances by stars ranging from Siyabonga Twala and Johnny Clegg to Hugh Masekela, Mafikizolo, Zahara and many more.

"It promises to be the biggest, most magical celebration yet seen in South Africa," says Yolisa Phahle, the CEO of M-Net South Africa.

BREAKING. Galaxy of the Stars coming to M-Net as pay-TV broadcaster readies TV biz's biggest, 'most magical celebration' SA has ever seen.

M-Net is preparing the biggest gala event and red carpet showcase, filled with celebrities from the world of television, the South African TV industry has ever seen as M-Net readies a Galaxy of the Stars night, described as the most magical celebration yet seen in South Africa.

M-Net's extravagant Galaxy of the Stars gala will see the TV industry's biggest names - celebrities and on-air talent as well as the industry's power brokers behind the scenes making television - all converge for one night at Gallagher Estate to celebrate 28 years of the pay-TV broadcaster's legacy - as well as its future.

TV with Thinus asked M-Net two weeks ago about Galaxy of the Stars and now the pay-TV broadcaster is responding with a press statement, confirming that it will indeed be taking place on 26 July.

The Galaxy of the Stars which will be broadcast on television, will feature big-name musicians doing unique collaborations as the exclusive guest list lift champagne glasses, tuck away at a dazzling menu, hobnob with television's powerful and beautiful, and look back at M-Net's history and contribution to the South African television and entertainment industry - but also towards its future.

Galaxy of the Stars taking place on 26 July will be like the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) - just done bigger and better.

TV with Thinus can be first to report that Idols judge Unathi Msengana and film and TV legend John Kani will co-present Galaxy of the Stars.

I can reveal that the star-studded night will include appearances by Johnny Clegg and Hugh Masekela, Mafikizolo, the entire Isibaya cast, Zakes Bantwini, Zahara, Khaya Mthethwa, Steve Kekana, Ali Katt, Kabelo, Winnie Khumalo, ProVerb, Siyabonga Twala, as well as talent from Mzansi Magic's Clash of the Choirs from this year.

Galaxy of the Stars on M-Net will be a made-for-television event that will be broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101) on 09 August at 14:00 and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on the same day at 21:30.

"The Galaxy of the Stars will showcase and celebrate this continued investment. It promises to be the biggest, most magical celebration yet seen in South Africa," says Yolisa Phahle, the CEO of M-Net South Africa.

Galaxy of the Stars will be the biggest single celebration South African television has ever seen - bigger than M-Net's 25th birthday bash in 2011 and bigger than the SABC's grand relaunch of its three TV channels, SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 in 1996 when the public broadcaster splashed out on an Air Force hangar.

Sources tell TV with Thinus the guest list is "extremely exclusive".

"Absolutely nobody is getting in who hasn't made a real, tangible and worthwhile contribution to M-Net and its growth in television. This golden ticket to a night of thrilling entertainment, stars and mega surprises is going to be harder to get than a Golden Ticket in Idols," says a source.

"If there's one night where anyone who's anyone will want to be its Galaxy of the Stars," says another.

"South Africa will never see anything like this again. It's a celebration of the world of television and what M-Net has created and continues to invest in, not just the possibilities of better television and better entertainment in the 27 years passed but what M-Net plans to do in the future in investing in supporting and fostering  tomorrow's TV talent".