BREAKING. Helen Smit returns to South Africa as programming director for MTV Networks Africa; will oversee MTV, MTV Base and VH1.

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Guess who's back? There are TV executives and then there are brilliant TV executives. Helen Smit is one of the latter and now she's returning to South Africa to spearhead the music programming offering of MTV Networks Africa as the new programming director for music for MTVNA.

The highly accomplished, much-liked, extremely successful and sought-after Helen Smit is switching Abu Dhai for Johannesburg and will be heading up and driving the programming strategy for MTV's TV channels in Africa which include MTV (DStv 321), MTV Base (DStv 322) and VH1 (DStv 323). Helen Smit will now be responsible for content scheduling, programme acquisition, research and planning for these channels.

Helen Smit left M-Net in July 2010 where she was the head of local productions to become the deputy director of programming for the Baynounah Media Group in Abu Dhabi. She was in charge of the English language service of the TV station targeted at expatriates in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region.

Her resignation in mid-2010 came as a huge blow for M-Net where she worked as a commissioning editor since 2000 and went on to become general manager for KTV, launched the GO channel (now Vuzu) and eventually became the figure head for the pay broadcaster's local content offering.

Now the Rhodes University alum known for her very involved and hands-on management style is back and she will in all likelihood create magic for MTV with her acute sense for TV programming, her knack for show development and programme tinkering and her phenomenal cross-platform, multi-discipline intuitive approach to making television. Helen Smit is very well regarded for her insight into youth media consumption.

''We are delighted to welcome Helen Smit into the fold at MTV Networks Africa,'' says Alex Okosi, the senior vice president and managing director of MTV Networks Africa. ''Her insights into youth media consumption habits and expertise in scheduling across multiple platforms will be a valuable addition to the business as we continue to expand our African TV and content multiplex.''

BREAKING. MTV Networks Africa looking to bring the ''humorous'' Comedy Central channel to South Africa.

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Comedy Central is not a done deal... yet, but MTV Networks Africa that already runs the MTV and MTV Base channels and VH1 and Nickelodeon channels on MultiChoice's DStv for instance is looking and working at bringing this channel to South African viewers too.

MTV Networks Africa that's coy about channels and isn't mentioning any names, calls it a ''humorous new development'' that it's working on for the near future. Comedy Central is of course the only ''humorous development'' that's owned by Viacom that owns MTV Networks Africa.

And speaking of new channels, we'll see who's an April's fool when another new TV channel launches in South Africa soon.

BREAKING. MTV Networks Africa looking to add a brand-new TV channel ''soon''.

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I can exclusively reveal first that MTV Networks Africa is looking to expand its current channel portfolio in Africa and Southern Africa with another popular TV channel from the group.

MTV Networks Africa which already operates and broadcast MTV Europe (DStv 321), MTV Base (DStv 322), VH1 (DStv 323) and kids channel Nickelodeon (DStv 305) in Africa and Southern Africa, wants to add another channel ''soon''.

I spoke to Alex Okosi, senior vice president and managing director of MTV Networks Africa, about MTV Networks Africa's expansion plans and possible channel growth. He confirmed that MTV Networks Africa wants to expand and is looking at the possibility of bringing in another brand-new TV channel.

''Yes we are,'' he says. ''We are definitely looking at it as such. We don't want to reveal what channel we're looking at, because I don't want our competitors trying to put something together – but there is a specific genre that we believe has proven to be one of our best channels globally for MTV Networks. We definitely want to launch that in the market soon, so we're talking about it with our partners.''

INTERVIEW. MTV Base turns 5: ''We want to stay ahead and adapt,'' says MTV Africa Networks' Alex Okosi.

Tonight MTV Networks Africa will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the music channel MTV Base (DStv 322) with a star-studded party for ''Africa's MTV'' which just changed it's channel look and feel (that story HERE).

I have the exclusive first interview with Alex Okosi, senior vice president and managing director of MTV Networks Africa.

I spoke with him about how MTV Base has grown, what some of the challenges are facing MTV Networks in Africa, and the strengths for MTV Base on the continent. He spoke with me about the fickle youth marget that's MTV's target audience, why TV is important for MTV, MTV Base's new on-air look and feel and whether MTV Base will stay with the music.

For the very interesting interview and what MTV is doing and is busy with in Africa, click on READ MORE below.