First teaser for Showmax's Western-inspired Outlaws series that looks like a South African knock-off of Paramount's Yellowstone.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer has given a first look teaser "exclusively" to the American outlet Deadline for its upcoming contemporary Western drama series Outlaws that revolves around two cattle farming families on opposite sides of the Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal border.

Sharing multiple similarities to Paramount's Yellowstone drama series on M-Net (DStv 101) with Kevin Costner, Outlaws is described as "a contemporary Western-inspired drama series", produced by Tshedza Pictures' Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon.

The Showmax Original that doesn't have a release date yet, is set on the "lawless land" on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal where the warring Zulu family of the Biyelas are battling the Basotho cattle-raiding Tseole family in Lesotho. 

The Outlaws cast consists of Lehlohonolo Mayeza as Leruo Tseole and Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku as Sihle Biyela.

Siyabonga Shibe portrays the Biyela patriarch with Mmabatho Mogomotsi as the Tseole matriarch, together with Nolwazi Shange, Mnqobi Kunene and Thembinkosi Mthembu.

1Magic: M-Net confirms the Tshedza Pictures produced The River won't run through it after 6 seasons.

Thinus Ferreira

M-Net confirmed industry whispers that the Tshedza Pictures produced telenovela The River for its 1 Magic (DStv 103) channel will be ending with the upcoming 6th and final season that will start on 6 February.

The River starring Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala and that introduced various new on-screen talent to viewers over the past half a decade, launched in February 2018 as a prime-time drama vehicle to anchor M-Net's 1Magic channel.

1Magic made its debut on DStv at the same time as The River which was positioned as the channel's flagship show, with the channel which was created as a premium version of the existing Mzansi Magic channel for higher-tiered DStv subscribers. 

The loss of The River set in the fictitious Refilwe, leaves 1Magic without an announced replacement, which means that M-Net is set to announce a new telenovela for the channel later this year to revitalise the channel's programming line-up after the end of The River.

Created by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, re-versioned for adaptations in Nigeria and Angola and winning 26 Golden Horn statuettes at the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas), show star Sindi Dlathu also transitioned to become series co-executive producer.

Tshedza Pictures is now producing Gqeberha: The Empire which recently started on Mzansi Magic as the first telenovela being filmed in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.

M-Net in a statement confirms that "1Magic's The River is coming to an end with its upcoming sixth season".

"At M-Net local entertainment channels we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the cast and crew of The River for a memorable five years," says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director for local entertainment channels.

"Their hard work, dedication and brilliance have led to the telenovela's success. The final season is going to be the show's most epic one yet. The drama will be bigger and better, setting the stage for the ultimate finale".

Showrunner Phathu Makwarela says "When we created The River seven years ago, we knew that we wanted to tell a story that will have a definite ending".

"Now on its sixth season, we feel the time is right to bring the story of these beloved characters to an end, on our own terms and when viewers still treasure the show. As the saying goes, 'a good dancer always knows when to leave the stage', and now it's that time for The River."

M-Net cancels Legacy after two seasons, renews The River for a 5th season on 1Magic; Nomsa Philiso upped to MultiChoice programming boss.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net (DStv 101) has cancelled Legacy with its local telenovela produced by Tshedza Pictures that will end after two seasons and with M-Net saying that DStv subscribers no longer want to watch long-running telenovelas.

In stark contrast, M-Net just renewed The River for another DStv Premium channel, 1 Magic (DStv 103) for a 5th season.

In other news Nomsa Philiso has also been promoted to MultiChoice programming boss, replacing Nkateko Mabaso.

M-Net says the DStv Premium channel will be "exploring new avenues to entertain its loyal viewers in order to cater to their new and evolving desire for limited series".

New episodes of Legacy will continue to be on M-Net until September 2022 with episodes that will be produced until mid-February 2022.

"Our viewership surveys guide us to adapt our content to the evolving needs of our customers. Whilst Legacy is a popular show, M-Net (DStv 101) customers have indicated that they now want more limited series rather than long-running telenovelas, says Nomsa Philiso who has been upped into a new position as MultiChoice Group executive head for programming.

Until now Nomsa Philiso has been M-Net director of local entertainment channels with MultiChoice that made no announcement about her promotion.

"The success of our local strategy depends on how well we tune into what our customers would like to see on their screens," says Nomsa Philiso.

Nomsa Philiso says that M-Net and Tshedza Pictures will be "managing the impact" of the cancellation of Legacy on the show's cast and crew.

"We would like to thank our loyal viewers on M-Net (DStv 101) and Showmax and assure them that we have exciting plans for our content for 2022. We will share more news on our local content offering in due course."

Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, co-owners of Tshedza Productions, in a joint statement say that "Working with M-Net (DStv 101) has always been a dream for us as a company, and we thank the channel for their incredible support and encouragement in bringing Legacy to life".

"All our writers, crew members and actors have poured their hearts and souls into this project. We applaud MultiChoice Group for continuing to support local content and look forward to working on other exciting projects in future."

SABC2's Xitsonga drama series Giyani Land of Blood back for a second season from 1 November, adds Rami Chuene.

by Thinus Ferreira

The second season of the Xitsonga drama series Giyani: Land of Blood will start on SABC2 on Monday 1 November at 21:30.

SABC2 will broadcast three episodes of Giyani: Land of Blood, produced by Tshedza Pictures, weekly from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Earlier this year SABC2 announced that the second season of Giyani: Land of Blood would replace Muvhango on Thursdays and Fridays in its timeslot but for an as-yet-unexplained reason the plan was scuppered.

When the first season of Giyani: Land of Blood ended in November 2019, the community of Risinga was turned upside down with secrets revealed, Richard Mudau exposed as a corrupt traitor, and with Gladys left for dead.

In the second season viewers will see Richard return home after spending time in prison and with no money and no influence, he gets back into business with the hope of turning his life around and away from crime. 

There is a new lady at his side but she could wreak havoc in his family and the community.

"SABC2 is immensely proud to bring the second season of Giyani to viewers in South Africa," says Gerhard Pretorius, SABC2 channel head.

 Jacqui Hlongwane, SABC2 programme manager, says "Building on the success of the first season of Giyani, the second season returns with more drama, intrigue and an action-packed storyline that will have viewers glued to their screens".

"Not only can viewers look forward to seeing their old favourite characters back on their small screens, SABC is delighted to announce that the talented and much-loved Rami Chuene joins season 2 of Giyani; life will never be the same again in Giyani for sure."

Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon of Tshedza Pictures says the production company is "beyond thrilled to revisit the story world of Giyani - Land of Blood and the amazing characters that viewers fell in love with - including new characters who will capture their hearts as the new season is packed with scandal, drama and dangerous escapades that will entertain and enthrall viewers".

The cast of Giyani's second season is Ndivhuho Mutsila who returns as Richard Mudau and Rami Chuene joining the series as Manoko Ledwaba. 

Other cast members include Mathabo Mothibe as Khensani Mudau, Maduva Madima as Shonisani Mudau, Fumani Shilubana as Vukosi Moyo, Wiseman Zitha as Musawahosi Baloyi, Senzo Radebe as Fezile, Elvis Tshepo Nkosi as Mahlatshe Valentino Ledwaba, Glennis Mabuza as Kokwana Chavalala, Obed Baloyi as Hlengani Chavalala, Candy Tsamandebele Mokwena as Diane Homu and Lina Ebony Ngcobo as Tsakani Baloyi.

M-Net adds Legacy from Tshedza Pictures as the channel's first locally-produced telenovela, squabbling investment firm family series to debut in September 2020.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net (DStv 101) is adding a new locally-produced telenovela, Legacy - the channel's first telenovela - from September 2020, that will run multiple episodes per week and revolve around the family in-fighting between the members of a wealthy investment firm clan.

At first glance Legacy seems to be in the line of the abruptly cancelled High Rollers telenovela that was on SABC3 and M-Net's ertwhile drama series Jacob's Cross.

Produced by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon of Tshedza Pictures responsible for The River on M-Net's sister-channel 1Magic (DStv 103), Legacy has Trevor Brown as director of photography with Johnny Barbuzano of M-Net's local recent local series Still Breathing, along with Catharine Cooke and Krijay Govender as directors.

M-Net didn't specify an episode order for Legacy, produced as a premium drama series for DStv Premium subscribers, although it's believed to be over 200 episodes with likely 4 episodes that will unspool during a primetime slot per week.

The Legacy cast that has been announced so far includes some legacy soap stars including Michelle Botes of Isidingo and Binnelanders as Angelique, Mary-ann Barlow as Felicity, Kgomotso Christopher of Scandal! and Isidingo as Dineo, Anton David Jeftha as SJ and Deon Lotz as Sebastian.

M-Net released a series description for Legacy saying that it has "startling storylines set in the fast-lane world of investment billionaires". 

 "Legacy’s locus of conflict is an upmarket investment empire that was established by Sebastian Price, the patriarch of the super-wealthy Price family, decades ago, when he was in his early twenties."

"Now he is a silver fox approaching retirement and it is clear that a family member will soon have to take over the reins. But who will it be? And, at what cost? Sebastian’s bitter ex-wife and ruthless first-born daughter will do whatever it takes to ensure that Sebastian's second wife, Dineo, does not push her playboy son into the position of CEO."

"Of course the power struggle turns nasty. A witches' brew of betrayal, secrets, lies and revenge."

Jan du Plessis, director of M-Net channels, says "Imagine the machiavellian mega-rich characters living dysfunctional lives in the award-winning HBO series Succession in a fresh, distinctly South African context".

"Add a daily dose of The Bold and The Beautiful, colour the concoction with pure escapism in the topical and aspirational style of the best Brazilian telenovelas, and you have Legacy in a nutshell."

"Moving into this popular genre is an exciting step for the channel. We managed to sign up the most acclaimed production company currently working in this field as well as a cast that combines top-flight established soap stars and hottest up-and-coming talent."

"We’re also pulling out all the stops to ensure that Legacy will be remembered for its arresting plots and new ways of filming. Expect all kinds of innovation to cement M-Net and MultiChoice’s reputation as Africa’s most loved storyteller."

South Africa and the SABC's first Xitsonga drama series, Giyani - Land of Blood, set for broadcast on SABC2 from 1 April.

South Africa and the SABC's first Xitsonga drama series, Giyani - Land of Blood, is set for broadcast on SABC2 from Monday, 1 April at 21:30.

Produced by Tshedza Pictures, also responsible for M-Net's telenovela The River broadcast on the 1Magic (Dstv 103) channel, Giyani with two episodes per week on SABC2, will go up against e.tv's Imbewu: The Seed.

Giyani - Land of Blood, written by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, and partly filed at Q-Studios in Johannesburg and on-location in the Limpopo province, has lined up a cast including singer-presenter Yvonne Chaka Chaka in her first dramatic role.

Other cast members include Ndivhuwo Mutsila (Muvhango), Linah "Ebony" Ngcobo, Charles Baloyi (The River), Candy "Tsa Mandebele" Mokwena, and Obed Baloyi (Soul Buddyz).

No, M-Net is not moving its telenovela, The River from 1Magic to Mzansi Magic or making episodes available on that DStv channel.

M-Net is not moving its new local telenovela The River on the 1Magic (DStv 103) channel to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and the pay-TV broadcaster has no plans at the moment to make episodes of the series available to lower-tiered DStv subscribers.

M-Net says The River - produced by Tshedza Pictures where it's written and executive produced by Phathutshedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon with Connie and Shona Ferguson as supervising producers - will remain exclusively on 1Magic as a viewing offering for a DStv Premium audience.

"It was definitely a joke. The River is not moving to Mzansi Magic, Nondumiso Mabece, head of publicity at M-Net local entertainment channels, tells TVwithThinus.

It comes after the writer and producer Portia Gumede on social media told people on Monday - that happened to be 1 April - "Great news. The River on 1Magic is being moved to Mzansi Magic. Now we can all watch it". It turns out that it was an April Fool's Day joke.

The River on 1Magic is only available to DStv Premium subscribers since it started on 29 January this year, while Mzansi Magic is available to more pay-TV viewers including Premium but also DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.

While the ratings of The River of just a few thousand viewers per episode over the past two months has been so-so, it's to be expected and not out of line with some other Premium only DStv channels like M-Net (DStv 101), since the premium audience targeted telenovela is only available to the smallest potential pay-TV audience.

That upmarket audience lured to tune in to the weekday drama starring Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala - although small - are however highly courted and the most sought after by advertisers, justifying higher per thousand viewer ad spot rates for the 1Magic channel.