Showing posts with label Gareth Cliff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gareth Cliff. Show all posts

Friday, November 6, 2020

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 6 November 2020.


Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:









New evidence suggests that the reporter may have used forged bank statements and other unethical methods to convince Princess Diana to do an interview.


MultiChoice says that in the past 2 years over 145 Ugandan movies have been broadcast on Pearl Magic, 2 of which have been produced by MultiChoice Talent Factory students.










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Monday, November 2, 2020

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 2 November 2020.


Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:








Many viewers feel that the "new" Top Gear seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) doesn't work and is awkward.



"While the host and producer should shoulder some of the blame, serious questions need to be raised about the editorial failure that gave the go-ahead to run the interview."







Creating a fictional world for the 1 percent isn't as easy as it seems.


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BCCSA fines eNCA and e.tv R10 000, eMedia Investment's TV channels ordered to apologise over Gareth Cliff’s Covid-19 conspiracy theorist show.


by Thinus Ferreira

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has fined the South African TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) and the commercial free-to-air channel e.tv with R10 000 for contravening the broadcasting code over a Gareth Cliff broadcast, with eNCA and e.tv that must apologise for an interview with a conspiracy theorist who claimed that Covid-19 is a "pandemic hoax" and that "there is no virus".

On 22 July 2020 eNCA and on 23 July e.tv broadcast a Gareth Cliff interview during his So What Now? programme with the conspiracy theory guest David Icke who made multiple false statements around Covid-19. 

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) complained to the BCCSA and said that the broadcast was unlawful, harmful, and in breach of South Africa's broadcasting code. 

MMA argued that "In the current context, as South Africa and the world grapple with the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, broadcasts of this nature that patently seek to spread disinformation should be carefully scrutinised, as they do not serve the public interest or further any meaningful engagement on the subject."

MMA said that eNCA as a news broadcaster has a heightened responsibility to ensure the credibility and truthfulness of the content that it disseminates.

MMA told the BCCSA in its submission that eNCA's Gareth Cliff show with David Icke "intentionally disseminated disinformation based on facts that were untrue", "promoted unlawful conduct that was in violation of the regulations issued under the Disaster Management Act" and that "by denying the existence of Covid-19 and claiming it to be a scam, the consequence of the broadcast may result in people not following appropriate precautionary and health measures in line with the advice of the relevant authorities".

According to Media Monitoring Africa, eNCA and e.tv's So What Now? "failed to effectively present opposing views", said that "the segment with David Icke did not include any other guests, which might have included a medical expert who could meaningfully counter David Icke’s denial of the existence of COVID-19" and that Gareth Cliff "also did not effectively counter David Icke’s denial, and acknowledged that he was neither a doctor nor a researcher on the subject".

"Moreover, Gareth Cliff also ended the broadcast by expressing his confusion, stating that 'I hope you’re as confused as I am' ".

MMA in its submission said that eNCA and e.tv "have, at no stage, shown any contrition for their conduct".

"Rather, the broadcasters appear to have taken the view that the broadcast of disinformation is permissible and defensible, despite this being below the standard required of responsible broadcasters by the Codes. Not only was the programme broadcast twice – once on eNCA and thereafter on e.tv – it is further relevant that the programme remains accessible on the eNCA website to be viewed by anyone at any time."

The BCCSA ruled that "We find that the potential harm to the population with this broadcast, and the host of the programme falling short by far to counter the misinformation divulged by David Icke, justify the imposition of a fine of R10 000". This joint fine must be paid by 15 November 2020.

The BCCSA also ordered eNCA and e.tv to broadcast an apology at the start of the first So What Now? episode broadcast in November 2020.
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Friday, June 12, 2020

Gareth Cliff in a second TV talk show try will host So What Now? in new e.tv primetime talker.


by Thinus Ferreira

Gareth Cliff is making a TV return 4 years after he was cut loose as a judge from M-Net's Idols and will now be the presenter of a new talk show, So What Now? that will start on Wednesday 17 June at 20:30 on e.tv.

Before he became an Idols judge first seen on M-Net (DStv 101) and later the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel, Gareth Cliff did the topical The Gareth Cliff Show in 2009 with the local talk show that was cancelled after its first season.

 In 2014 ViacomCBS Networks Africa added The Gareth Cliff Show Live on its Comedy Central (DStv 122) channel as a simulcast radio-on-TV broadcast that was a visual showing of the weekday breakfast broadcast of Cliff's CliffCentral media outfit.

 e.tv say that in his new second TV talk show, Gareth Cliff will "talk to influential thought leaders, opinion-makers, and unheard voices about current affairs in South Africa and beyond".

 Khalik Sherrif, eMedia Investments CEO, says in a statement that "eMedia wants to ensure that it remains definitive with outstanding, entertaining, and informative programming".

 "The inclusion of personalities such as Gareth Cliff will ensure that difficult conversations will be had, no matter how provocative it seems at the outset. With Gareth and Devi Sankaree Govender joining us, we are moving towards the narrative of being more informative, more thought-provoking, and more challenging."
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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

In an unsavoury parting gift, former Idols judge Gareth Cliff slams M-Net in his new book, says he went to court to show he is 'unf**kwithable'.


In an unsavoury parting gift, the former Idols judge Gareth Cliff is slamming M-Net in his second book that will go on sale on Thursday, casting scorn on the pay-TV broadcaster who paid him to be a reality show judge, writing that he went to court to show he's "unf**kwithable".

M-Net fired Gareth Cliff earlier this year as an Idols judge from the 12th season after his social media response on Twitter in the racist Penny Sparrow debacle when he weighed in on the swirling controversy, saying "People really don't understand freedom of speech".

After that, saying he's damaging M-Net and "toxic" to the Idols and M-Net brands, the pay-TV broadcaster cut him loose from the show.

Gareth Cliff then went to court demanding to be let back on the show and won, with the court that ordered M-Net to reinstate him for the 12th season of Idols that concluded on Sunday night.

Gareth Cliff is now gone however from the 13th upcoming season in 2017, with insiders saying there's no love lost between M-Net and Gareth Cliff who also did a local TV talk show previously for the M-Net channel.

Gareth Cliff's second book, Cliffhanger: Confessions of a Shock Jock goes on sale on Thursday which he started writing long before the conclusion of the latest Idols season and in which he includes some choice words for Naspers and M-Net about his controversial Idols firing, court case and subsequent re-instatement on the show.

In an extract from the 215-page book Cliffhanger, published on Sunday on the day of the live Idols finale, Gareth Cliff doesn't have nice words for M-Net.

Several journalists from a broad section of media houses who attended Sunday's live Idols finale described the release of the extract on the same day as the Idols finale as "a distasteful move" and "deliberately detracting from what's supposed to be the show's high point that he himself is in and getting paid for".

At the Idols post-win press conference, TVwithThinus asked Nkateko Mabaso, the group general manager for M-Net South Africa, what M-Net and Idols make of Gareth Cliff's comments about M-Net and Idols in his new book, with Gareth Cliff's parting shot awkwardly coming on his last day as part of the show in which he pointedly also slammed the media in his last TV appearance for the "nonsense in the press".

Nkateko Mabaso said M-Net has no comment.

About the Idols brouhaha in Cliffhanger Gareth Cliff slams M-Net for allowing "a trial by Twitter before the matter was even heard in court" and how his lawyer, Dali Mpofu in the South Gauteng High Court "took shots at Naspers, the parent company of M-Net, chastising them at their cheek in asserting that I lacked empathy for the country when their own record was abominable".

While M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle called Gareth Cliff "toxic" to the M-Net and Idols brands in court papers, he writes in his book "I had interviewed Yolisa Phahle just a couple of months earlier, and I was sure that the ugly things said about me didn't necessarily come from her. She's actually a gracious lady".

About why he went to court to be reinstated on Idols when the show didn't want him, he writes that "It was about the important, free conversations our nation needs to have and that were stifled by the outrage of the Penny Sparrow debacle. And it was about showing the loudmouths on social media that I wouldn't be bullied, that I was 'unf**kwithable".

In his book Gareth Cliff says "what can and can't a white man say in South Africa in 2016? Some people will advise you to say as little as possible, like the big corporations who don't want to cause trouble with government or the loudmouths on social media. I say that's nonsense. If you're not free to say what you think, you're really not free, even if what you say is wrong".

Gareth Cliff who stated his online radio station CliffCentral in May 2014 and writes about being a new media entrepreneur, writes that he wants to live "in luxury and happiness and with as many options as I can exploit at any given time".

"Mine will not be a life of suffering or deprivation. There is no nobility in poverty. I want to make myself happy so that there is surplus happiness for everyone else".
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Substitute teacher Noma Khumalo wins 12th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic, breaking female winner dry spell after 7 seasons.


With only 50 000 more votes out of the 14.5 million votes cast last week before Sunday night's live finale, the substitute teacher from KwaZulu-Natal, Noma Khumalo, won the 12th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) over fellow KwaZulu-Natal rival Thami Shobede.

It's the first time in 7 seasons that a woman managed to win the South African version of the singing reality show produced by M-Net, with Idols that is now only broadcast on its Mzansi Magic channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform since the 12th season.

With record vote tallies  - over 83 million votes were cast in total by viewers during the 12th season - and a renewed surge in viewership making Idols the 3rd most watched show on all of DStv by October, Mzansi Magic announced during the live finale that Idols will definitely be back for a 13th season in 2017, with nationwide auditions starting in January 2017.

The controversial Gareth Cliff is now also gone from Idols as a judge, slamming M-Net in newspapers on Sunday as a parting gift, with Mzansi Magic and Idols bosses saying they haven't yet whether he will be replaced or whether the 13th season will only have three permanent judges.

The Idols live finale on Sunday at Carnival City's Big Top Arena had pyrotechnics, a laser light show and included appearances by artists AKA, Kelly Khumalo and Idols season 11 winner Karabo.
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Saturday, January 23, 2016

M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle to fired Gareth Cliff accusing M-Net of double standards in Idols court battle: 'Leave Unathi and Somizi out of this.'


M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle is firing back at the sacked Idols judge Gareth Cliff, saying leave your former Idols co-judges Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo out of this.

Gareth Cliff is now suing M-Net and [SIC] Entertainment for R25 million, wants his judge's seat at the reality singing show back and wants the court to urgently postpone the 29 January start of the auditions of the 12th season of Idols before it starts without him.

He ignited a social media firestorm that spun out of control and led to a call to boycott M-Net, Idols and Mzansi Magic after he waded into the race debate that exploded after Penny Sparrow's racist comments.

Gareth Cliff accused M-Net of a double standard - arguing in his court application that he is being made a scapegoat while M-Net didn't take the same action against Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo who both caused major public outrage and their own social media storms in 2015 for controversial things they've said.

M-Net admitted that Unathi Msengana's social media firestorm impacted M-Net and that months later "we then had to deal with Somizi's inappropriate comments".

M-Net said it had implemented a zero tolerance policy, but Gareth Cliff says the first time he heard about that was when he had to read about it in a M-Net press statement to the media.


ALSO READ: M-Net's answering affidavit in fired Gareth Cliff case reveals several surprising 'secrets' - like a 2016 Idols Theatre Week set at the Wild Coast and not Sun City.


M-Net's CEO Yolisa Phahle in the pay-TV broadcaster's answering affidavit says "following the social media incident involving Unathi Msengana, Lani Lombard [M-Net's head of publicity] spoke to each of the Idols judges regarding their use of social media in order to emphasise that they need to comply with the code of conduct that formed part of their agreements with M-Net and to proceed with caution when engaging with people on social media".

"When Lani Lombard spoke to him about the dangers of social media, he specifically stated that he was well aware of of how social media works and the need for caution".

Yolisa Phahle is telling Gareth Cliff to back off Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo, saying the other Idols judges shouldn't be dragged into the court case because "the other two incidents are clearly distinguishable".

"Unathi used inappropriate language in communicating with a member of the public. However, she didn't issue a public statement of her own accord" and according to M-Net "the message also didn't relate to the very sensitive topic of race relations".

"Somizi's statement, correctly interpreted, is a criticism of white South Africans who he perceived to be engaging in racist conduct," says Yolisa Phahle.

"Although the language used was unfortunate, his post was directed to 'racist white South Africans' and not to white South Africans generally."

M-Net in the answering affidavit says that "the controversy generated by Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo and the negative sentiment that they generated was not comparable to to that which was expressed in reaction to Gareth Cliff's statement".

"The context was also entirely different as Gareth Cliff chose to enter the fray in the midst of an acrimonious discussion about race relations in the country and made statements which, by his own admission, were highly insensitive and ill-advised".
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M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle: Gareth Cliff became 'poison' - court affidavit's detailed marketing and social media research show how fired Idols judge damaged M-Net and Idols brands.


M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle, as part of M-Net's answering affidavit in the acrimonious court case with Gareth Cliff after firing him as an Idols judge, submitted detailed marketing and social media research showing how Gareth Cliff became "poison" for the M-Net and Idols brands.

The public's sudden negative sentiment against Gareth Cliff after he waded into the racist Penny Sparrow debate, and with his proximity and association with M-Net and Idols, was part of the motivation for the M-Net CEO giving the longtime Idols judge the boot.


ALSO READ: M-Net's answering affidavit in fired Gareth Cliff case reveals several surprising 'secrets' - like a 2016 Idols Theatre Week set at the Wild Coast and not Sun City.


Gareth Cliff is now suing M-Net for R25 million, wants his judge's seat at the reality singing show back and wants the court to urgently postpone the 29 January start of the auditions of the 12th season of Idols before it starts without him.

Yolisa Phahle says in her affidavit that marketing intelligence and social media analysis showed M-Net that Gareth Cliff became "poison" to M-Net and Idols' image after he made his "insensitive" comments on the Penny Sparrow racism controversy.

M-Net and Idols face "the very real prospect that the negative sentiment surrounding him will continue and poison the success of the show. This could affect viewership numbers, which in turn affects the revenue that will be generated from broadcasting the show," said Yolisa Phahle.

As part of its 141 page answering affidavit, M-Net submitted very detailed marketing research and social media analysis of how Gareth Cliff impacted the M-Net and Idols brands - as well as examples of the press clippings, media coverage and media enquiries it received after he became embroiled in the racism debate and pulled the M-Net, Idols and Mzansi Magic brands into it.

According to detailed marketing and social media research done for M-Net and included in the affidavit "it clearly indicate that the negative mood towards Gareth Cliff on social media continued after his apology on 5 January," says Yolisa Phahle.

The pay-TV broadcaster says the widespread calls from the public for a boycott of M-Net and Idols was not a typical response to get for this kind of debate.

"If M-Net had permitted the 2016 season of Idols to continue with Gareth Cliff as judge and and the threats and calls for a boycott had grown, it would have become even more problematic to address the situation at a later stage and the damage to the Idols and M-Net brands would already have occured," says Yolisa Phahle.

M-Net cites social media research reports indicating that the public "remains critical of Gareth Cliff". "This continued negativity and controversy demonstrates exactly why [M-Net and SIC Entertainment] felt that it was not appropriate to continue to be linked to Gareth Cliff".

Yolisa Phahle says "Gareth Cliff's claim that he received overwhelming support is clearly not correct," and that "a significant portion of the public were clearly offended. Accordingly M-Net was entitled to take action to protect its brand and reputation".

According to social media marketing research M-Net submitted, there were 32 886 tweets mentioning Gareth Cliff between 4 and 12 January this year. Idols, M-Net, Mzansi Magic and DStv and MultiChoice were all suddenly mentioned in some of these tweets and social media discussions.

Other big words that popped in the tweetcloud due to the high frequency of its use together with these words were "racist", "hatespeech", "pennysparrow" and "hate".

After M-Net announced it had fired Gareth Cliff, "although the positivity towards Cliff had increased, there was still significant negativity towards him [23% negativity between 9-12 January compared to 19% positivity]".

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Friday, January 22, 2016

BREAKING. M-Net's affidavit in fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff case makes surprising 'secrets' public ... like Idols Theatre Week at the Wild Coast!


You're reading it here first.

M-Net's answering affidavit in the acrimonious TV divorce and resultant court case with the fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff reveals several surprising secrets and insights - like a 2016 Idols Theatre Week set at the Wild Coast and Gareth Cliff's middle name ... Rhydal!

M-Net says if it takes Gareth Cliff back on Idols that the pay-TV broadcaster believes he will now "poison" the show.

M-Net has finally filed an answering affidavit in the court case following after abruptly firing Gareth Cliff as Idols judge who wants his job back, with M-Net saying it can't and won't delay the upcoming start of the 12th season's auditions.

M-Net is seeking the immediate dismissal of Gareth Cliff's urgent court application with costs.

In the ugliest South African broadcasting court battle since the SABC and its chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng were forced to go to court in 2015 in multiple court cases, early 2016 suddenly pulled the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster into a legal and public image mess - ironically coming in the same year that M-Net will celebrate its illustrious 30th anniversary.

 Gareth Cliff is suing M-Net for R25 million and wants his job back on the reality singing show after being abruptly fired.

He ignited a social media firestorm that spun out of control and led to a call to boycott M-Net, Idols and Mzansi Magic after he waded into the race debate that exploded after Penny Sparrow's racist comments.

Whereas Gareth Cliff's court application is 83-pages long, M-Net's answering affidavit runs to 141 pages.

M-Net reveals that its planned for the 12th season's dreaded Theatre Week of Idols in 2016 to take place at the Wild Coast resort. In the past few seasons it's always been held at Sun City.

(Interestingly Sun City is also being dumped for Miss South Africa 2016 - M-Net and Vuzu AMP will broadcast the pageant from Carnival City.)

M-Net cites wide-ranging social media research from external social media and media coverage companies, showing that " M-Net immediately became embroiled in the dispute as a result of its association with the applicant".

It means that M-Net was dragged into the public debate about racism in South Africa, through what Gareth Cliff tweeted when he tweeted about Penny Sparrow.

M-Net reveals that it received complaints from subscribers. "Subscribers wanted clarity on M-Net's continued association with Gareth Cliff".

"In relation to its brand image, and with less than a month to go before the start of Idols 2016 auditions, M-Net felt that it could not afford to become embroiled in the political and racial controversy surrounding Gareth Cliff's statements," says M-Net's CEO Yolisa Phahle in the affidavit.

Yolisa Phahle reveals that she asked for a meeting with Gareth Cliff and that he showed up with his manager Rina Broomberg.

"I started the meeting by offering Gareth Cliff an opportunity to explain his controversial tweet and subsequent apology."

 Yolisa Phahle reveals that "I was informed by Rina Broomberg that she and Gareth Cliff were not there to answer questions".

Yolisa Phahle reveals M-Net's fear: "We were concerned that the statements made by him and the public backlash that his statements had attracted would have the effect of detracting from the Idols show and the M-Net brand".

"M-Net did not want to tarnish the upcoming season of Idols with a race controversy from the start. I told him that M-Net would not be able to include him in the judging panel for the upcoming season".

M-Net reveals that it offered Gareth Cliff the chance to "save face" by saying that he is voluntarily stepping away from Idols.

"I felt that it was important to give Gareth the opportunity to save face publicly by voluntarily stepping down from the show," says Yolisa Phahle in the affidavit M-Net submitted to court. "He was not interested in issuing a joint statement".

"In the entertainment industry 'perceptions are everything' and public response underlies the very success or failure of that business," says Yolisa Phahle.

M-Net says if Gareth Cliff is taken back as an Idols judge, M-Net and Idols face "the very real prospect that the negative sentiment surrounding him will continue and poison the success of the show. This could affect viewership numbers, which in turn affects the revenue that will be generated from broadcasting the show".

"The controversy relating to this matter is not going to go away," says Yolisa Phahle.

She says she had to take action "in the face of what I assessed to be a serious threat to M-Net's brand".

"The judges of Idols are carefully selected because of their ability to draw audiences and they are appointed to entertain and delight the public - not to shock and offend them".

Gareth Cliff would have gotten a 6% raise for the 2016 12th season of Idols: R377 530.

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LATE BREAKING. M-Net files affidavit in fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff court case: We won't and can't stop Idols, Gareth Cliff damaged himself.


M-Net has finally filed an answering affidavit in the highly acrimonious TV divorce and resultant court case after abruptly firing Gareth Cliff as Idols judge who wants his job back ...

... M-Net says it can't and won't delay the upcoming start of the 12th season's auditions and that M-Net is seeking the immediate dismissal of his urgent court application with costs.

Gareth Cliff is suing M-Net for R25 million and wants his job back on the reality singing show.


ALSO READ: M-Net's answering affidavit in fired Gareth Cliff case reveals several surprising 'secrets' - like a 2016 Idols Theatre Week set at the Wild Coast and not Sun City.


M-Net is slamming Gareth Cliff in its affidavit, revealing that M-Net told Gareth Cliff that he can say that he decided to step away from Idols, thereby preserving his, M-Net and Idols' dignity and image.

 Gareth Cliff declined. Then M-Net issued its own statement.

"In the interest of preserving an amicable relationship with him, he was offered the opportunity to issue a joint statement with M-Net in order to voluntarily step down from the show, which he declined," says M-Net.

M-Net says it can't and won't delay the start of Idols since it will have "far-reaching financial and reputational consequences for M-Net and [SIC] Entertainment should the 2016 auditions be stopped".

"Venues and crew have already been booked," says M-Net and the Randburg based pay-TV broadcaster says " all freelance contractors and crew members would lose out on their income".

"Any changes to the filming schedule would also have a detrimental impact on the Idols contestants themselves, many of whom are students, who have already made arrangements to participate in the scheduled auditions".

M-Net is hitting back at Gareth Cliff as hard as his statements and court application did the past week, with M-Net now saying the only damage to Gareth Cliff's reputation was the damage he did himself.

"Any harm done to Gareth Cliff's reputation is a direct result of his own actions and not as a result of M-Net's decision to exclude him from the Idols judging panel".

"Gareth Cliff chose to enter the fray in the midst of an acrimonious public discussion about race relations and made statements which he admits were highly insensitive and ill-advised," says M-Net.

M-Net says it got rid of Gareth Cliff because as a commercial TV broadcaster "M-Net did not wish to participate in fueling further racially based divisions in the country".

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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Gareth Cliff files urgent court application against M-Net and Idols; says M-Net was racist to fire him, 'being abused as sacrificial lamb'.


The fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff has filed an urgent court interdict against M-Net to reinstate him as Idols judge on the 12th season of the reality show on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) set to start nationwide auditions on 29 January and says M-Net was racist for firing him and that he is "being abused as the proverbial sacrificial lamb".

 Gareth Cliff in court papers also slams Naspers - of which M-Net is part - for how it supported and promoted the racist policy of Apartheid, calling Naspers "propaganda machinery".

 Gareth Cliff is suing M-Net for R25 million - R5 million for defamation of character and R20 million for breach of contract in the 83-page court application that was filed today.

 Gareth Cliff also wants M-Net to retract "harmful remarks" made in their 9 January 2016 statement, for M-Net to make an unconditional apology, and to cover all his court costs.

 In court papers Gareth Cliff slams M-Net for its "persistent attempt to fake morality for selfish commercial expediency and political cowardice". 

 According to his legal team, Gareth Cliff is demanding that "he be reinstated, and if they don't do that he intends to stop the Idols auditions which are starting on 29 January. He also wants to clear his name and is looking to claim for damages", says his lawyer.

 In papers filed at the High Court on Johannesburg on Tuesday, Gareth Cliff says "M-Net had an unlawful knee-jerk reaction in misguided protection, at my expense, of its commercial interests, which were not in fact under any threat". 

 The court application also reveals that M-Net paid Gareth Cliff R356 000 in 2015 for the 11th season of Idols.

 Gareth Cliff has slammed M-Net as being "opportunistic", saying "the singling out as an easy target is, ironically, an exhibition of racism" and that he is "being abused as the proverbial sacrificial lamb".

 "The response by [M-Net] in axing me was quite peculiar not only because of its inconsistency with how other judges had been dealt with, but also because M-Net itself had for many years been able to withstand criticism of racism and, more recently, gender discrimination due to either the low number of black winners and/or the total absence to date of a female winner," says Gareth Cliff in his court filing.

 Gareth Cliff apparently forgot that former Idols winners include females like Anke Pietrangeli (2003), Karin Kortje (2005), Jody Williams (2007) and Sasha-Lee Jacobs who became a joint-winner after 1009's M-Net's Idols voting scandal.

 Gareth Cliff slams Naspers in court papers,saying the media giant had "put a lot of decisive effort into building, promoting and supporting the hateful, racist and cruel policy known as apartheid", saying Naspers was part of the "highly effective propaganda machinery" and that Naspers is "the last people to lecture me about the pains of our past".

The massive R25 million legal case mounted by Gareth Cliff represents the biggest single law suit against M-Net from an individual entertainer ever and will dull what is M-Net's 30th anniversary this year in October since the pay-TV broadcaster started 3 decades ago in 1986.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, the former SABC CEO, will now represent Gareth Cliff in his case against Idols and the pay-TV broadcaster.

 Meanwhile pressure is also building on M-Net and [SIC Entertainment producing the upcoming 12th season to delay the start, since auditions will start in just over a week.

 M-Net spokesperson Nondumiso Mabece says "at this stage we are not able to comment further on this matter until the legal team that is handling it is able to advise us accordingly on the next steps".

 M-Net told Gareth Cliff last Friday that he's fired over social media comments related to the racist Penny Sparrow debate that ignited a firestorm in South Africa.

After the real estate agent called black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

Last Saturday M-Net issued a press statement that Gareth Cliff has been dismissed from the M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show over "insensitivity" he's shown in his remarks.

M-Net raised eyebrows getting rid of Gareth Cliff when it M-Net executives didn't fire or sanction the other Idols judge, Somizi Mhlongo, for racist comments that that Idols judge made at the end of December.

 Gareth Cliff last week said being on Idols and being an Idols judge on the M-Net and Mzansi Magic show was only a hobby, described it as "an extramural activity" and that "I have felt my time was up a good couple of years ago".

Also last week Gareth Cliff said on his online show at CliffCentral that 'A lot of people are saying I'm going to take them [M-Net and Idols] to court and stuff which is nonsense".

Now he wants R25 million from M-Net for no longer participating in the extramural activity, and is taking M-Net to court.
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Monday, January 18, 2016

Fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff set to sue M-Net for R25 million over alleged unfair dismissal and defamation of character; wants his Idols job back.


The fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff is set to sue M-Net for a massive R25 million in damages over alleged unfair dismissal and alleged defamation of character.

eNCA (DStv 403) reports that Gareth Cliff's lawyer, Eric Mabuza, said the radio DJ is suing the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster for R25 million in damages over his abrupt firing and also wants to return to the show.

The massive R25 million legal case mounted by Gareth Cliff represents the biggest single law suit against M-Net from an individual entertainer ever and will dull what is M-Net's 30th anniversary this year in October since the pay-TV broadcaster started 3 decades ago in 1986.

Ironically, advocate Dali Mpofu, the former SABC CEO, will now represent Gareth Cliff in his case against Idols and the pay-TV broadcaster.

M-Net spokesperson Nondumiso Mabece in response to a media enquiry tells me that "M-Net can confirm that a letter of demand was received from Gareth Cliff and we are currently consulting our lawyers. We will respond to the letter of demand in due course."

The nationwide auditions of the 12th season of Idols, produced by [SIC] Entertainment, is starting in less than two weeks' time on 29 January.

M-Net told Gareth Cliff last Friday that he's fired over social media comments related to the racist Penny Sparrow debate that ignited a firestorm in South Africa.

After the real estate agent called black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

Last Saturday M-Net issued a press statement that Gareth Cliff has been dismissed from the M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show over "insensitivity" he's shown in his remarks.

M-Net raised eyebrows getting rid of Gareth Cliff when it M-Net executives didn't fire or sanction the other Idols judge, Somizi Mhlongo, for racist comments that that Idols judge made at the end of December.

"Gareth Cliff is suing for R25 million, including for defamation of character," Eric Mabuza told eNCA.

Gareth Cliff also wants the start of Idols production immediately halted, until such time as that he can be reinstated as a judge on the panel of the reality singing show.

Eric Mabuza says Gareth Cliff was fired without a proper hearing.

Eric Mabuza says both the Idols judges Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo made inappropriate comments in the past but nothing happened to them while "they [M-Net] simply fired him without even a proper hearing".

Eric Mabuza says Gareth Cliff is of the belief that he would have remained an Idols judge for another 4 to 5 seasons on the show - meaning that according to him, Idols in South Africa would have continued to at least a15th or 16th season.

Gareth Cliff last week said being on Idols and being an Idols judge on the M-Net and Mzansi Magic show was only a hobby, described it as "an extramural activity" and that "I have felt my time was up a good couple of years ago".

Also last week Gareth Cliff said on his online show at CliffCentral that 'A lot of people are saying I'm going to take them [M-Net and Idols] to court and stuff which is nonsense".

Now he wants R25 million from M-Net for no longer participating in the extramural activity, and is taking M-Net to court.

The 12th season of Idols will no longer be a co-production between M-Net and Mzansi Magic with M-Net that has dumped Idols in favour of The Voice South Africa, and with Idols that will now only be broadcast on the Mzansi Magic channel.
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Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Gareth Cliff: 'M-Net fired me on Friday afternoon, then on Saturday morning at twenty past midnight they put out this sneaky little press release'.


"They fired me on Friday afternoon. We had a meeting. We said to them, 'You know what, put out your press release, do whatever you want'. And then on Saturday morning at twenty past midnight they put out this sneaky little press release."

The fired Idols judge Gareth Cliff told listeners on his show on CliffCentral on Monday about M-Net firing him from the reality show, after he also wrote an open letter saying Idols was only an extramural activity for him.

M-Net abruptly axed Gareth Cliff from his perch as an Idols judge for the upcoming 12th season - a position he's held since joining Idols in the second season.

M-Net is also dumping Idols from the premium M-Net (DStv 101) channel, and making it a Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show only - a move that was expected since November last year as audience demographics and viewership for the [SIC] Entertainment produced show changed over the past four seasons.

The swift removal of Gareth Cliff comes in the wake of the Idols judge who waded into the debate over the racist remarks made by the KwaZulu-Natal real estate agent Penny Sparrow she wrote two weeks ago.

After Penny Sparrow sparked a massive race debate in South Africa for calling black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

A barrage of criticism followed, with people calling for the boycott of M-Net, Idols and CliffCentral - something which immediately became a very big concern for M-Net and its channels and started to damage and negatively impact the Idols brand.

"Idols is not my main focus. It never has been," said Gareth Cliff. "It did require me to be present every week for the whole last half of the year. Which kind of meant that I couldn't go anywhere, I couldn't do any long trips. There was very little that I could do to change that schedule. If you're on live TV once a week that ties you down."

"To be fired over this whole mess that took place on social media last week does feel slightly unfair," said Gareth Cliff.

"The M-Net executives who were quoted in the media said that they don't think that I'm any of those things that social media went on its high horse to try and name me X, Y and Z."

"I don't know exactly what their reasons are for not rehiring me on the show," said Gareth Cliff.

"I got calls on Saturday from Randall Abrahams, Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo [the other Idols judges] and they were all kind of supportive and everything else. I'm going to miss them."

"We worked as a family on the show for along time.So I'm going to miss that crew."

Gareth Cliff rubbished reports about court action against M-Net and Idols. "You obviously have to get legal opinion about these things."

"A lot of people are saying I'm going to take them to court and stuff which is nonsense. If anything comes of it, that's for the lawyers to decide."

"I'm sure the show will continue to be successful," said Gareth Cliff.

"There's lot of these reality shows. If you don't like Idols there's The Voice, if you don't like The Voice there's SA's Got Talent [on e.tv], if you don't like that there's ... a hundreds of these goddamn shows. It doesn't really rattle my cage. It doesn't necessarily change the world."
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M-Net blindsided Gareth Cliff by announcing he's fired; the dropped Idols judge slams 'M-Net PR machine', says Idols was only 'an extramural activity'.


Gareth Cliff was blindsided by M-Net announcing that he has been dropped as an Idols judge and wasn't told M-Net is going to make the announcement; the fired radio DJ is also slamming the "M-Net PR machine", and now says Idols wasn't his real job, just an extramural activity.

M-Net abruptly axed Gareth Cliff from his perch as an Idols judge for the upcoming 12th season - a position he's held since joining Idols in the second season.

M-Net is also dumping Idols from the premium M-Net (DStv 101) channel, and making it a Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show only - a move that was expected since November last year as audience demographics and viewership for the [SIC] Entertainment produced show changed over the past four seasons.

The swift removal of Gareth Cliff comes in the wake of the Idols judge who waded into the debate over the shocking racists remarks made by the KwaZulu-Natal real estate agent Penny Sparrow she wrote two weeks ago.

After Penny Sparrow sparked a massive race debate in South Africa for calling black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

A barrage of criticism followed, with people calling for the boycott of M-Net, Idols and CliffCentral - something which immediately became a very big concern for M-Net and its channels and started to damage and negatively impact the Idols brand.

"Gareth Cliff was not aware that M-Net would issue a media statement in the middle of the night," says Rina Broomberg, Gareth Cliff's public relations manager.

In an open letter to readers on his blog, Gareth Cliff slams the "M-Net PR machine" that was "up at midnight crafting their announcement", saying he "woke up to calls on Saturday morning from various newspapers for comment".

Gareth Cliff writes that Idols is a reality TV talent show with singers "to get ratings" and that it was only "an extramural activity" and that "I have felt my time was up a good couple of years ago".

Gareth Cliff writes that "I may have played a role in finding talent but not in developing it as far as this show goes - I just have to arrive, listen and comment. Then I go home. When it's over, it's over. It's entertainment."

"My response on Twitter was not to Penny Sparrow but to a tweet about a survey on freedom of speech which spiralled out of control."

"Instead of constructive dialogue, it's a call for the blood of little-known people and one loud-mouthed and sometimes insensitive broadcaster," writes Gareth Cliff, who says that after being fired from M-Net's Idols, he is now "fully unencumbered by any other master and solely an entrepreneur".

Gareth Cliff writes he will continue to build his online radio platform CliffCentral.
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Saturday, January 9, 2016

BREAKING. M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle on firing Gareth Cliff as Idols judge: 'He's not racist but he showed a lack of empathy for South Africa's history'.


M-Net's CEO Yolisa Phahle says Gareth Cliff is not a racist but that the pay-TV broadcaster fired him as an Idols judge because he showed a lack of empathy for South Africa's history with his comments in the wake of the Penny Sparrow racism furore this past week.

M-Net abruptly axed Gareth Cliff from his perch as an Idols judge for the upcoming 12th season - a position he's held since joining Idols in the second season.

M-Net is also dumping Idols from the premium M-Net (DStv 101) channel, and making it a Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show only - a move that was expected since November last year as audience demographics and viewership for the [SIC] Entertainment produced show changed over the past four seasons.

"We don't believe that Gareth Cliff is a racist but his response did show a lack of empathy for our history and it's important to differentiate between freedom of speech and hate speech," says Yolisa Phahle.

"Hate speech is not applicable with regard to freedom of speech and Penny Sparrow's comments were hateful,' she said.

M-Net, tired of on-air personalities swirling in social media firestorms and doing brand damage to M-Net shows and channels on DStv, has now also implemented a "zero tolerance approach" to social media mishaps.

"Over the last few months following [Idols judge] Unathi Msengana's indiscretions on social media, we have been in discussions with our judges, presenters and talent to sensitise them to the risks of using social media," says Yolisa Phahle.

"All the Idols judges were reminded that M-Net holds all brand ambassadors and employees to the highest standards in our ongoing efforts to promote and build a modern and inclusive South Africa".

"Unfortunately we then had to deal with Somizi's inappropriate comments and following the latest issue, we have now implemented a zero tolerance policy for all social media posts that go against the spirit of nation-building. This policy will apply to everyone associated with our brands going forward".

The week's powerful confluence of the worlds of entertainment and politics, combined with the power of social media, once again created a relentless firestorm that M-Net didn't want but couldn't ignore.

It comes in the same week as the eNCA (DStv 403) news channel removed its anchor Andrew Barnes and started disciplinary proceedings when he likewise dragged eNCA into a social media uproar.

Gareth Cliff was the only white judge on the four person Idols judging panel, alongside Somizi Mhlongo who was added for the just concluded 11th season, alongside music executive Randall Abrahams, and artist Unathi Msengana.

M-Net's abrupt axing of Gareth Cliff from Idols as a longtime judge follows after the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster announced earlier this week that it is "reviewing" his contract and ongoing participation in the reality singing competition show.

M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle, who Gareth Cliff interviewed on CliffCentral in September 2015, was swift to respond and to quickly start distancing M-Net and Idols from Gareth Cliff.

Yolisa Phahle quickly started to make it clear this past week that Gareth Cliff "is not currently contracted by M-Net" and that "we will be reviewing his future employment with the company".

The swift removal of Gareth Cliff comes in the wake of the Idols judge who waded into the debate over the shocking racists remarks made by the KwaZulu-Natal real estate agent Penny Sparrow she wrote last Saturday.

After Penny Sparrow sparked a massive race debate in South Africa for calling black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

A barrage of criticism followed, with people calling for the boycott of M-Net, Idols and CliffCentral - something which immediately became a very big concern for M-Net and its channels and started to damage and negatively impact the Idols brand.

Gareth Cliff later apologised for his remark, calling himself "an insensitive asshole", continued to explain what he meant and his views on race relations in South Africa, and saying that he needed to "continue his education" about hate speech.

The nationwide audition process for the 12th season of Idols now on Mzansi Magic only will start on 30 January at The Playhouse in Durban.

It's possible that Idols might now go with just a 3-member judging panel and a city-to-city guest judge when the audition process kicks off.

An online petition, BringBackGarethCliff at  was started, saying "lets not make Idols another politicised platform".
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BREAKING. M-Net fires Gareth Cliff from Idols; drops Idols from M-Net channel, making it a Mzansi Magic show only for the 12th season.


M-Net has abruptly fired Gareth Cliff, dropping the CliffCentral creator and radio DJ from Idols as a judge, and as has been expected, is also dropping Idols from the premium M-Net (DStv 101) channel immediately, making it a Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) show only for the 12th season as The Voice takes centre stage on M-Net.

In a terse statement M-Net says that "Gareth Cliff will not be part of the judging panel for Idols season 12, which is due to commence with countrywide auditions at the end of January 2016."

"M-Net thanks Gareth Cliff for the critical role he has played in seeking out and developing new talent over the years and for contributing to the success of the show to date."

"Idols season 12 will be screened on M-Net's local interest channel Mzansi Magic which is available to both DStv Premium and DStv Compact viewers".

Beyond the uncomfortable statement M-Net, has so far remained silent as South Africa reacts to the news, with the pay-TV broadcaster no saying or explaining at all why and the specific reasons from M-Net's side for ending its Idols business relationship with Gareth Cliff.

The dropping of Idols from the M-Net channel has been expected due to viewership demographic and ratings changes after the pay-TV broadcaster made Idols a co-production since its 7th season in 2011 between M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) for the past four seasons.

Talk of firing Gareth Cliff who has been a judge on Idols since the second season, however only surfaced this week after he inadvertently pulled M-Net and Idols into a controversial national racism debate.

The powerful confluence of the worlds of entertainment and politics, combined with the power of social media, once again created a relentless firestorm that M-Net didn't want but couldn't ignore.

Gareth Cliff was the only white judge on the four person Idols judging panel, alongside Somizi Mhlongo who was added for the just concluded 11th season, alongside music executive Randall Abrahams, and artist Unathi Msengana.

M-Net's abrupt axing of Gareth Cliff from Idols as a longtime judge follows after the Randburg-based pay-TV broadcaster announced that it is "reviewing" the often controversial and outspoken personality's contract and ongoing participation in the reality singing competition show.

M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle, who Gareth Cliff interviewed on CliffCentral in September 2015, was swift to respond and to quickly start distancing M-Net and Idols from Gareth Cliff.

Yolisa Phahle quickly started to make it clear this past week that Gareth Cliff "is not currently contracted by M-Net" and that "we will be reviewing his future employment with the company".

Gareth Cliff who in 2009 also had a one season long prime time talk show on M-Net is now apparently no longer welcome at M-Net who doesn't want Gareth Cliff to be associated with Idols going forward.

M-Net, as a premium pay-TV service and channels provider to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform, is highly protective of its channels and show brands.

M-Net that's in the entertainment creation business this week became fearful of possible brand damage and alarmed over ongoing viewer criticism that it might not be able to stem or manage if Gareth Cliff remained connected to Idols through having a seat as a judge.

Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net's move to sever Idols ties with Gareth Cliff was a commercial decision about how to best protect M-Net and the local version of Idols produced by [SIC] Entertainment in South Africa of the format belonging to FremantleMedia.

Gareth Cliff's management was informed that there will no longer be a contract forthcoming to sign for the 12th season of Idols.

M-Net has now also implemented a zero tolerance policy over damaging online and social media comments and utterances that might implicate and damage M-Net and any of its brands and is informing all on-air talent about it.

The swift removal of Gareth Cliff comes in the wake of the Idols judge who waded into the highly controversial debate over the shocking racists remarks made by the KwaZulu-Natal real estate agent Penny Sparrow she wrote last Saturday.

After Penny Sparrow sparked a massive race debate in South Africa for calling black people "monkeys", Gareth Cliff remarked that "People really don't understand free speech at all."

A barrage of criticism followed, with people calling for the boycott of M-Net, Idols and CliffCentral - something which immediately became a very big concern for M-Net and its channels and started to damage and negatively impact the Idols brand.

Gareth Cliff later apologised for his remark, calling himself "an insensitive asshole", continued to explain what he meant and his views on race relations in South Africa, and saying that he needed to "continue his education" about hate speech.

According to sources there is anger in Camp Cliff over the firing, similar to when Viacom International Media Networks' (VIMN Africa) Comedy Central (DStv 122) channel decided to drop the on-air simulcast of Gareth Cliff's CliffCentral show in June 2014 just a month and a half after it launched.

Fellow Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo also ignited a race controversy in mid-December and was forced to very quickly apologise for his "racist white South Africans" comment that drew widespread criticism and a massive backlash from people, including former M-Net presenter and radio DJ Mark Pilgrim.

In 2010 an Idols race row erupted over the Idols judge Mara Louw's comments, with M-Net and Idols and Mara Louw who severed ties in 2011.

The nationwide audition process for the 12th season of Idols now on Mzansi Magic only will start on 30 January at The Playhouse in Durban.

It's possible that Idols might now go with just a 3-member judging panel and a city-to-city guest judge when the audition process kicks off.

An online petition, BringBackGarethCliff at  was started, saying "lets not make Idols another politicised platform".
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Thursday, January 7, 2016

M-Net reviewing Gareth Cliff's future, could possibly be dropped as Idols judge after comments in Penny Sparrow racist debacle.


M-Net is reviewing Gareth Cliff's future as one of the TV faces representing the pay-TV broadcaster with the outspoken personality who could possibly be dropped from his position as one of the Idols judges.

Gareth Cliff's ongoing inclusion as one of the four Idols judges for the reality singing competition that's been broadcast on M-Net's M-Net (DStv 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channels is now in jeopardy after he became embroiled in the racist Penny Sparrow social media furore when the KwaZulu-Natal estate agent described black people as "a lot of monkeys" on Saturday.

Gareth Cliff, the creator of the internet radio station CliffCentral and a former SABC 5FM radio DJ, weighed in on the Penny Sparrow controversy, saying "People just don't understand free speech at all".

After Twitterati turned their anger on Gareth Cliff as well, sharply criticising him for seemingly supporting Penny Sparrow right to make racist comments, he apologised after calls for a boycott of M-Net's Idols and of CliffCentral.

On Tuesday Gareth Cliff apologised, saying on Twitter he's "been an insensitive asshole many times" and that "this whole saga with the idiotic comments of Penny Sparrow has upset me, but I must acknowledge the pain and anger of so many on Twitter who thought I would in any way condone the things she said".

"If you thought I was on the side of a racist, I assume we were all already in agreement about how you can't stand up for racism," he wrote.

"With regard to free speech and hate speech, I need to continue my education".

Now M-Net says Gareth Cliff's ongoing participation with Idols is being reviewed. It means that Gareth Cliff could be dropped as a judge for the 12th season of Idols that will start filming soon with the nationwide audition process kicking off on 30 January in Pretoria at The Playhouse.

"Gareth Cliff is not currently contracted to M-Net and we will be reviewing his future employment with the company," says Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO.

M-Net that hasn't yet confirmed the judges' line-up for the new Idols season will have to make a quick decision within the next two weeks or less.

The just-concluded season of Idols generated over 78 million votes – the bulk coming from social media platforms where the show has steadily been increasing its presence. 

It means that M-Net and Idols are particularly sensitive to how the brands of the pay-TV broadcaster and the singing talent show are being perceived by social media users and DStv viewers.

There's also the possibility that Gareth Cliff's comments could dissuade some people from entering and going for an audition and change their attitude towards the show, which then impacts the production and actual making of the show and the available talent pool for the 12th season.
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