Media24's Afrikaans lifestyle TV channel VIA (DStv 147) is adding a new morning show in English and Afrikaans, Goeiemôre, Good Morningfrom Monday 14 April.
Goeiemôre, Good Morning, produced by CoolerBox Brothers with Barry Pretorius as executive producer and director George van Rooyen, will run with four episodes per week from Mondays to Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30, and will repeat 10:00 to 11:30, and again in the afternoons at 14:00.
As a bilingual breakfast show, Goeiemôre, Good Morningis joining a very crowded TV market.
The timeslot is already over-subscribed with other shows like perennial timeslot ratings leader Morning Live (SABC2), Expresso (SABC3), The Morning Show (e.tv), Die Groot Ontbyt (kykNET), The South African Morning (eNCA) and AM Report (Newzroom Africa).
Goeiemôre, Good Morningwill cover entertainment, lifestyle, world events, sports highlights and entrepreneurship with presenters Rozanne McKenzie, Elsa Esterhuizen and kykNET's former Kwêlapresenter Pieter Koen who left for the United States with his family but has returned after just a few months. Thys van Zyl will give financial tips.
George van Rooyen says "I have worked with Rozanne and
Pieter before and know them as extremely hard workers with great personalities,
and Elsa will round off our trio perfectly. This dynamic team is ready to make
a lasting impression."
Elsa Esterhuizen says "Goeiemôre, Good Morning is an
interesting and fresh take on a South African breakfast show – especially
because both Afrikaans and English viewers will be able to join us in the
mornings".
"I remember immediately wanting to be a part of it when the team
approached me and told me that their idea was similar to the concept of my
favourite television series, The Morning Show."
She references the Apple TV+ drama series with Jennifer Aniston, not e.tv's breakfast show.
"It's also a
first for VIA and I'm therefore looking forward to building on this exciting
and fresh concept and being part of its development in collaboration with a
phenomenal, dynamic team."
Barry Pretorius says the show's "approach, concept and content
are from the outset totally focused on our people, who they really are, what
they love and the absolute inclusivity of Afrikaans".
"As our language celebrates
its centenary this year, this breakfast programme is a clear beacon that
Afrikaans will continue to exist inclusively."
Pieter Koen who is back in South Africa four months after emigrating to the United States, says the presenters' team "bring our unique style and personality to the programme and we hope that viewers will find it appealing".
Media24's Afrikaans female lifestyle TV channel VIA (DStv 147) has added a new lowbrow reality fighting show with a nasty and profanity-laced title Moer 'n Boer, while the same utterance this week in a Tshwane council meeting could lead to a case at the South Africa's Human Rights Commission.
Media24's VIA bills itself as a female and family lifestyle TV channel yet decided to add a crass and extremely awfully titled new show Moer 'n Boer to its programme line-up as a new South African television reality TV low.
In this reality series, 12 South African farmers (boers) are trained by Versus Promotions, a mixed martial arts promotions company, to train as MMA fighters. Eventually they will physically fight each other in the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria.
Moer 'n Boer is produced by Versus Promotions president Janneman van den Berg with Cameron Saaiman as presenter.
"Moer" is an Afrikaans swear word, with VIA that says it has no problem adding a show with profanity in its title for MultiChoice's DStv subscribers because that is apparently VIA's type of audience.
TVwithThinus asked VIA why it is fine with Moer 'n Boer as a show's title.
VIA says "The competition
already existed as Moer 'n Boer when we found out about it."
"We think it captures the essence of the show's dynamic and unique blend of farming
and MMA training. The title is bold and reflects the exciting and high-energy
content of the show."
Strangely, Janneman van den Berg told Huisgenoot magazine something different, saying the show considered Klap 'n Boer , as well as a few other titles.
VIA was asked if VIA thinks a show like this and language like this will reflect negatively on VIA and turn off viewers and make them switch away from the channel and its content.
VIA says "The title and content sparks curiosity and engagement rather than offence and so
far the majority of our viewers enjoy content that is slightly different or
pushes the boundaries".
"The show aims to highlight the strength, and resilience
of farmers, and we believe it will resonate with our audience. While the title
is bold, VIA is confident that the show will attract and retain viewers who
appreciate innovative and compelling content."
VIA was asked who is the specific audience that VIA wants to watch Moer 'n Boer on the channel.
"This show
attracts quite a wide audience, for instance people who enjoy reality TV, and human
interest stories, fans of mixed martial arts who will be drawn to the unique
combination of farming and MMA training as well as viewers who are attracted to
dynamic, high-energy shows and are looking for fresh, innovative programming," VIA says.
VIA channel head Azelia Morkel says "Along with the rest of the country, we cannot wait to see how the farmers prepare and harvest success not only in the fields but also in the ring."
Janneman van den Berg says Moer 'n Boer "was an opportunity to establish MMA as a sport in the Afrikaans community. At first Cameron thought it could never work but he soon changed his mind when there was a flood of support from the Afrikaans community".
"The farmers loved the idea, and we were quite surprised ourselves, especially by the farmers who are tougher than tough."
On Thursday the EFF political party council member Obakeng Ramabodu during a council meeting said he "wants to moer 'n boer" because he "wants the blood of an Afrikaner".
Cilliers Brink, mayor of the Tshwane metro and a DA member, said South Africa's Human Rights Commission (HRC) will be approached over the alleged hate speech.
Mncedi Ndzawanana, speaker of the council, asked Obakeng Ramabodu to take back his utterance and to apologise for his "moer 'n boer" remark.
Less than three years after it launched in February 2021, the failed Honey TV, MultiChoice's attempt at a "BBC Lifestyle for Africa"-type TV channel is getting axed at the end of October.
MultiChoice confirms that Honey TV, produced by Media24's TV studio division, is getting shuttered at the end of the month.
Honey TV's closure comes two years and eight months after the channel that attempted to be a homegrown version of BBC Studios' BBC Lifestyle for Africa, failed to capture the essence of pan-African viewers with an apparent misguided offering of locally produced lifestyle programming.
"Please note that Honey TV is closing on 31 October 2023. Thank you for watching," a new on-screen advisory on the DStv electronic programme guide (EPG) states.
MultiChoice confirmed to TVwithThinus that Honey TV is being terminated.
"In line with the strategy to continuously review international and local content line-ups and optimise the suite of channels on offer on DStv, the business has decided to bid farewell to HONEY TV (DStv 173)," MultiChoice says.
"This is done to ensure we deliver unbeatable content to our customers and that our DStv services cater for the needs and viewing requirements of our customers."
While market research and focus group analyses are done before any local TV channel and its content line-up and schedule are created, it's unclear why Honey TV was so far off the mark with its programming.
Questions are now being asked whether Honey TV failed because it attempted the impossible: Trying to package stereotypical and cookie-cutter African lifestyle content in one channel feed shown across different African countries although the continent's viewers are not homogenous with big differences in viewing preferences from country to country.
Honey TV launched in mid-February 2021 with a coterie of shows like South Africa's Anele Mdoda doing a The View-type talk show called The Buzz, the criticised reality series Pastor's Wives, and with promises to "showcase Africans living their best lives and to depict an honest modern-day view of our diverse countries, cultures and peoples".
Honey TV also promised to work with African producers across South Africa and several other African countries to show DStv subscribers "their own talent, food, celebrations and their families as the well-deserved hero".
When it launched, Honey TV said that it would "focus on authentic African storytelling, made possible through a groundbreaking content creation model in which the channel is partnering with producers in different African countries to create hundreds of hours of new African shows".
The Afrikaans lifestyle channel VIA (DStv 147) has been plunged into limbo, with production company Kopwond Films forced to indefinitely postpone production of the second season of its Russian bride dating reality show Ram vir 'n Rus due to Russia's war and invasion of Ukraine.
Responding to a media query TVwithThinus made last week VIA said that the second season of Ram vir 'n Rus, produced by Kopwond Films, has now been put on hold.
With growing international sanctions against Russia - together with restrictions on international travel for Russian citizens making it virtually impossible for any Russians to enter or leave their country - coupled with other safety and logistical issues, it's not possible to film a second season of the series that relies on a group of single Russian women, together with a chaperone, coming to South Africa to date South African men.
VIA says the channel has decided to postpone the upcoming
second season of its dating show Ram vir ’n Rus in light of the Russian
invasion of Ukraine that was already in pre-production and was
set to start airing in September 2022.
"The show was
exceptionally popular and had our viewers abuzz," says Azelia Morkel, VIA channel head.
"Nonetheless, there is a bigger
picture to take into account and the show has to be put on hold for now. We are
busy with a new plan to fill the time slot."
TVwithThinus asked VIA last week for what the current situation with the production of the second season of Ram vir 'n Rus is, following multiple readers who asked whether the show's second season will go ahead after what is happening between Russia and Ukraine.
VIA was asked again earlier this week for a response.
A VIA spokesperson said the channel would respond to the media query later this week.
Late on Friday afternoon VIA issued a statement but only after it gave the same statement to an Afrikaans magazine first, and only sent it to other media after it was already published.
Distributors and producers globally have been asked to freeze any work and business dealings with Russian companies, with studios, broadcasters and TV channels that have cancelled and halted a growing number of content licensing deals with Russia and Russian companies.
Meanwhile more and more TV and film industry bodies, organisations, festivals and awards across the world have dropped Russian companies and Russian delegates who are no longer serving or attending.
Britain's Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact) has called on all its members in its extensive network suspend all cooperation, productions and trade with Russia.
The new pan-African lifestyle channel HONEY will launch on 15 February on channel 173 on DStv with a collection of new programming including Anele Mdoda making a TV talk show comeback in a The View-inspired show featuring a set of women from different African countries as the panellists in The Buzz.
HONEY, produced by Media24 that is also responsible for the 5-year old Afrikaans lifestyle show VIA, will be carried by MultiChoice on its DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Cameroon.
HONEY will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.
HONEY is described as a lifestyle TV channel for "curious and connected Africans" and will offer a blend of African lifestyle content, including unscripted reality fare produced by African producers with African on-screen talent.
The channel's thematic programming will span from general lifestyle as well as food and cooking, to relationships and weddings, along with reality shows from various territories across the continent.
HONEY says that its "key ingredient" will be the channel's focus on authentic African storytelling, made possible through a groundbreaking content creation model in which the channel is partnering with producers in different African countries to create hundreds of hours of new African shows.
"HONEY showcases Africans living their best lives and depicts an honest modern-day view of our diverse countries, cultures and peoples," says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment and connected video.
"This is a lifestyle channel made in Africa for Africans by Africans," she says.
"DStv is thrilled to launch HONEY. The channel is part of our commitment to keep bringing fresh, authentic and local content to our African subscribers. For many years we've seen lifestyle is a popular genre on the continent and now our subscribers will see their own talent, food, celebrations and their families as the well-deserved hero".
Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice's head of content, says "Africa's dynamism and way of life is the perfect ingredient for this exciting channel. HONEY is going to add sweet and sticky flavour to our subscriber offering".
"Lifestyle content is the ideal vehicle to reflect the continent's diversity and sameness. Everyone curious about food, style, and weddings is in for a treat."
Izelle Venter, HONEY channel head, says "Media24 is delighted to collaborate with MultiChoice on this new adventure. The goal is to combine both companies' best qualities, experiences and knowledge to serve DStv subscribers with a new channel that is familiar, unique and entertaining".
Zinzi Velelo, HONEY's head of content, says "We are working with producers across the continent to ensure that the lifestyle stories we tell are real and relevant. Our goal is to showcase the characters, talent and dynamics of everyday African life as never before".
Here are some of the HONEY launch programmes and series descriptions:
The Buzz
South Africa's Anele Mdoda is the host of this talks show also featuring Pearl Umeh from Nigeria, Rachel Wakesho from Kenya, Zanna Katoka from the DRC, and Davina Mavuwa from Zimbabwe. Sparks fly as these five women, with different personalities and from different cultures, solve a viewer’s dilemma, whether concerning romance, health, side hustle or family and friends.
Pastor's Wives
Meet the women who keep things together in well-known religious households. This reality series, produced by Sonia Mbele who is also responsible for The Real Housewives of Joburg, features pastors' wives from across the continent as they do their best for their families and church communities. Expect opulence and plenty of behind-the-pulpit drama.
Love Swap
This Nigeria reality drama series presents a relationship challenge in which couples swap partners for a home-cooked meal. Each episode will culminate in a joint dinner featuring both couples, during which they share their impressions of each other and what they have learned about their relationships.
Making the menu
In each episode of this proudly Kenyan series, two food bloggers create a bespoke meal for a popular local eatery, with the restauranteur deciding which dish deserves a space on the menu. Viewers will also enjoy a journey through Nairobi's cultural attractions and the city's sights, sounds and traditions as the contestants look for inspiration outside the kitchen.
Yes! Ndio! Beeni!
Singer
and actress Patricia Kihoro and the TV and radio host Foi Wambui team up for
another Kenyan production. The two help lovers to ask someone if they will marry them and act as event planners to design a proposal that not
only stays true to the couple’s love story but guarantees a "yes!".
Ehe, it’s a match
There
is more matchmaking in this colourful dating show shot in Zambia, in which a
cooking cupid invites two potential love birds to his or her home and cooks
them a meal. After the meal, the two decide whether to meet up again at a local
eatery. Will they or won’t they find love?
Shine Shine
Presented
by Mbali Nkosi,this show focuses on personal transformation, with a
makeover squad coming to the rescue of someone in need of a new look and a
confidence boost to take the next big step in their life. Viewers can look
forward to witnessing surprised and deserving contestants undergo dramatic
transformations.
Hoot, cook, go
A
vibrant food culture, particular palates and often curious cultures are put to
the test as three teams compete for a prize on this show. Each team is given a
chance to show off exactly who they are with a plate of food that they only
have an hour to prepare. When they hear the hooter, it’s time to get in the car
and move on to the next team’s house.
The next big trender
From 19 March 2021 the
search is on for Africa’s hottest influencers. Six aspiring social stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa will all compete to win over the opinionistas.
The media and print extinction-level event in South Africa is accelerating because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic with Media24 that plans to cull the printing of 5 magazines and 2 newspapers from its portfolio that will roughly see 660 positions axed.
Already at the beginning of May Associated Media Publishing folded that used to publish Cosmopolitan, Women on Wheels, Good Housekeeping, Goeie Huishouding and House and Leisure in South Africa.
Then Caxton & CTP Publishers & Printers announced in May that it's closing down the print magazines of Bona, Country Life, Essentials, Food & Home, Garden & Home, People SA, Rooi Rose, Vrouekeur, Woman & Home and Your Family.
On Tuesday morning Media24 in a statement announced that it plans to shutter 5 magazines and 2 newspapers, to outsource and reduce the frequency of its remaining monthly magazines and to go digital-only with some titles.
"The pandemic has accelerated the pre-existing and long-term structural decline in print media, resulting in a devastating impact on our own already fragile print media operations with significant declines in both circulation and advertising since April," says Ishmet Davidson, Media24 CEO.
"For many of our print titles the benefits of prior interventions to offset the structural declines and keep them on the shelf no longer exist and they’ve run out of options in this regard."
"We are fully committed to managing this highly sensitive consultation with compassion while following the process as prescribed by law. Unfortunately, we cannot share any further details until the process has been concluded."
Media24's publication cuts will affect 510 staffers, with a planned closure of proposed reduction of close of 660 positions out of 2 971.
Media24 plans to close Move! and the Hearst portfolio publications that include Men’s Health SA, Women’s Health SA, Bicycling, Runner’s World.
Media24 is ending the print run of DRUM that will be published as a digital title only. Media24 plans to enter into a licensing agreement with editor Helen Schöer to publish the parenting titles Baba & Kleuter and Your Pregnancy independently.
Media24 will outsource the editorial production of the remaining monthly portfolio of Fairlady, SARIE, SA Hunter/Jagter, True Love, tuis | home, Weg! | go! and Weg! Ry & Sleep | go! Drive & Camp, as well as the fortnightly Kuier.
Media24 will also reduce the frequency of the monthly magazines to 6issues per year, and 8 issues for tuis | home, SA Hunter/Jagter and Man Magnum.
The magazines Huisgenoot, YOU and Landbouweekblad will continue to be produced and published in-house. TV Plus magazine is not currently affected and the Afrikaans print version of Finweek has already been scrapped and is only available digitally.
Within the newspaper portfolio Media24 will shut down Son op Sondag and Sunday Sun, shut down the Eastern Cape edition of Son, publish Volksblad and Die Burger Oos-Kaap as weekday digital editions only that will only be available on Netwerk24. Volksblad will cease print publication on 8 August 2020.
Four community newspapers in KwaZulu-Natal are axed: Amanzimtoti Fever, East Griqualand Fever, Hillcrest Fever and Maritzburg Fever.
Media24 will also combine Noordkaap and Kalahari Bulletin into a single newspaper, and Noordkaap Bulletin, and Kroonnuus and Vrystaat Nuus into Vrystaat Kroonnuus. Meanwhile the Theewaterskloof Gazette and Hermanus Times will be combined.
The Witness newspaper in KwaZulu-Natal will "accelerate" into a digital newspaper.
Media24 also plans to get rid of workers in its media distribution business as well as in divisional and corporate services departments related to the proposed reduced print media operations.
The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) in a statement late on Tuesday said that it is concerned that the continuing closure of media houses will have
a detrimental effect on South Africa's democracy "as it limits the number of sources of
information for the public, leads to regression in media diversity and
multiplicity of voices". "In April alone we saw the closure of two magazine publishers and 80
small print publications operating across the country, leading to the loss of
over 700 jobs for journalists." "We appeal to South African cooperates to spend
their advertising budgets with South African media consciously, and that the
public should take up subscriptions and continue to buy local papers."
Media24's Afrikaans TV channel VIA is producing a second online video streaming soap, Op en af (Up and down), for the Netwerk24 portal that will play out in daily episodes from 3 February 2020.
The comedy of 65 episodes written by Leon Kruger and produced by Jester Productions of Diaan Lawrenson and Jody Abrahams, follows after Die Testament drama that marked Netwerk24's entry into Afrikaans online TV series.
"The soap is about ordinary people who are a little bit eccentric and holds up a mirror," says Diaan Lawrenson. All the couples live in the same apartment building and are seemingly friends - although viewers later see that their interactions are loaded with jealousy and competition, and sugar-coated with some gossip."
The Op en af cast include Charlton George as André Mouton and Quanita Adams as his wife Bev who have been married the longest although Bev is hiding a secret life, while Neels van Jaarsveld's character Frans du Plessis dabbles as a stock broker and Nadia Valvekens' (Leande du Plessis) character is an online vlogger.
Marlo Minnaar and Nicole Fortuin play the recently-married Charlie and Ilse Daniels who are trying but struggling to get pregnant. Diaan Lawrenson also appears on-screen as Christelle, Bev's best friend.
Netwerk24 will roll out episodes of Op en af as 5-minute webisodes with a new episode on weekdays at 8:00 between 3 February and the end of April 2020.
"The reaction to our first soap, Die Testament, surpassed our expectations," says Henriëtte Loubser, Netwerk24 editor. "It's clear that such instant viewing enjoyment in Afrikaans is a format that resonates with Netwerk24's audience."
"While Die Testament had a dramatic approach our second soap is humoristic and provides a whole new experience."
Similar to Die Testament episodes of Op en Af will remain available on Netwerk24 indefinitely with subscribers who can watch a new episode daily or the omnibus over weekends. Eventually the entire series of 65 episodes will be available to binge watch.
Izelle Venter, VIA channel boss says "When we watched the first episodes and the actors felt completely like your friends on a Friday night we became really excited. We believe that Netwerk24 viewers will be just as excited over our new soap from the producers-duo Diaan Lawrenson and Jody Abrahams".
DStv Media Sales, Media24 and Caxton are changing their rate cards, eliminating agency commission and changing the discount structure following an investigation by the Competition Commission.
DStv Media Sales, the commercial airtime sales division selling TV commercials and sponsorships across M-Net's and MultiChoice's various DStv channels, has changed its rate card effective from 1 May 2016 regarding the settlment discount structure for media agencies booking ads on DStv channels.
DStv Media Sales says in a statement that its rate card was changed "to address any legal uncertainty regarding their compliance with the Competition Act. DStv has reduced its rates to reflect this amendment".
In DStv Media Sales' previous rate card worked according to the structure where media owners pay a 16.5% commission or early settlement discount to media agencies. DStv Media Sales says it "is a long established practice in many parts of the world and has been in existence for considerable time".
This practice is being investigated by the Competition Commission and DStv Media Sales says it's working with the Competition Commission regarding its investigation "and will continue to do so with a view to resolving this matter".
"As from 1 May 2016 and thereafter all rates will be published nett of any agency settlement discounts".
Media house Media24 in a statement says it is also changing the way it operates and will no longer follow "the industry-wide practice" that's been used for decades.
"The industry-wide practice of making available a 16.5% early settlement discount or commission to media agencies which book advertising with Media24 properties – including all newspapers, magazines and online platforms – has been in existence for decades."
"In order to avoid legal risk or regulatory exposure we have revised all our rate cards from 1 May 2016 and are in the process of communicating the changes to all media agencies. New rate cards will exclude any agency commissions or early settlement discounts."
Media house Caxton says it will operate "on the basis of a 15.5% advertising agency fee for accredited advertising agencies, with a further 1.5% settlement discount, where payment is effected within 45 days".
Izelle Venter is becoming the new channel head of VIA (DStv 147) from 1 March, taking over from Cheryl Uys-Allie whose one-year contract is ending and who is leaving the channel.
Izelle Venter has been the editor of Media24's editorial solutions team and launched the VIA channel primarily aimed at Afrikaans female viewers in November 2015.
VIA will start selling commercials from March through MultiChoice's advertising division, DStv Media Sales.
"We are delighted that Izelle Venter, whose many skills include an instinctive understanding of various audiences, has agreed to step up to the plate," says Esmaré Weideman, Media24 CEO.
"The knowledge I have gained of the diverse Afrikaans audiences is the main reason I am able to take on this wonderful challenge," says Izelle Venter.
"I'm looking forward to building the channel with the help of our experienced VIA team as well as our loyal producers".
VIA (DStv 147), Media24's new Afrikaans lifestyle channel aimed at women is looking for an Afrikaans speaking commissioning editor to oversee local productions.
Applications close on 21 December and a CV and motivational letter can be emailed to our CV and a short motivational letter to magazineshr@media24.com
The commissioning editor position is based in Auckland Park and the person will report to VIA channel head, Cheryl Uys-Allie.
The VIA commissioning editor will be responsible for commissioning of content briefs, managing of production budgets and contracting production companies as well as reviewing the scripts and viewing of content.
The person needs a minimum of 5 years production experience, a degree or national diploma in TV, media, scriptwriting, drama or music, knowledge about TV broadcasting and be fluent in Afrikaans and English.
DStv is adding a new lifestyle and entertainment TV channel called VIA from Media24 that will broadcast in Afrikaans and be geared towards women and their families.
VIA will launch on 9 November at 16:00 on channel 147 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform as the 5th Afrikaans TV channel in South Africa.
VIA launches with 22 new locally produced shows ranging from food and diets to covering relationships, style and a sprinkling of reality programming.
The channel will broadcast a three hour premiere block of new episodes every weekday between 16:00 and 19:00 which will loop and repeat during the rest of the week and over weekends.
VIA, with channel head Cheryl Uys-Allie, will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Extra, DStv Compact and DStv Family subscribers in South Africa and Namibia.
Via hails from Media24 - unlike ASTV available on the StarSat and Platco Digital's OpenView HD platforms and the M-Net Afrikaans channels like kykNET, kykNET Nou and kykNET & Kie supplied to MultiChoice for its DStv platform.
Media24 will use both its print magazines and Afrikaans newspapers to market and cross-promote VIA, as well as leverage some of its existing titles to introduce new local TV content, for instance using established brands and editorial talent at magazines like Huisgenoot and Sarie as new on-air extensions and to present and appear in certain shows.
In South Africa VIA as a new Afrikaans channel will compete with the likes of existing channels like BBC Lifestyle, TLC Entertainment and Fine Living in the lifestyle entertainment and reality genre.
VIA will also likely further chip away at the eroding audience share of the SABC's Afrikaans viewers. While the public broadcaster is producing little in fresh Afrikaans content to cater to this market segment, Media24 has made a big investment in producing several brand-news shows aiming to attract female Afrikaans viewers and their families.
VIA's creation has been a boon for South African production companies and Afrikaans TV programming. Both established production houses ranging from Quizzical Pictures to newer ones like Afrokaans have been commissioned to make shows in Johannesburg and Cape Town for VIA ranging from reality competition and style shows to food, diet and lifestyle programming.
"They have worked under enormous pressure to deliver fresh, local content in a remarkably short time," says Cheryl Uys-Allie.
"VIA's content strategy is to delight and entertain our audiences with shows that resonate with their lives," says Pat van Heeden, VIA's head of content. "We offer a glimpse of the lifestyles of others, we see the remarkable characters in our midst and we celebrate the quirkiness in the ordinary."
"We are extremely excited to launch VIA and proud that we can treat our Afrikaans audiences to a brand-new Afrikaans channel," says Esmaré Weideman, Media24 CEO.
"We are delighted to include TV as another platform where we can serve our audiences working closely with our magazines, newspapers and digital platforms".
VIA shows at launch include Zavion, a reality show following the Survivor SA contestant Zavion Kotze, juggling his job as events coordinator organising weddings with decathlons.
In Kom Ons Braai three couples huddle around the coals to see who can outdo the other, while three brave women tackle three diets over a period of 30 days in the hopeof fitting into their swimsuits before summer in Die Eet Oorlog.
My Droom-trourok gives brides a chance of taking home a designer wedding dress but only if her guests agree on the winning gown.
In Stylstryd two contestants with dreams of seeing their decor talents in TUIS magazine will duel it out. With a decor blogger alongside them, they will decorate an empty room according to a set challenge.
Inspirasiekos met Sarie sees the women's magazine's food editor Herman Lensing looking for the best ingredients, while Carmen Niehaus, the Huisgenoot food editor choose the best one out of three aspiring chefs who get their recipe featured in the magazine in Jy het 'n Wenresep!.
Rapport newspaper journalist Hanlie Retief has a profile interview show, 'n Halfuur met Hanlie in which she introduces viewers to people who interest and inspire her.
Amore Vittone is the referee in Skoonma se Tong in which the age-old unease between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law is on the table. The man they share is blindfolded and tastes both their dishes - and must choose his favourite.
In Nikki Sê Nee, Nikki Roos, the mother of four who knows how to make the most of her rands and cents, shares her tips to help viewers save money and time.
Other VIA shows at launch include Familiefoto, Kersie op die Koek, Mooi van Binne, Maak My Nuut, Brood & Botter, Deur Dik & Dun, Vrydag 4 uur, Ken Jy My?, Ruil My Styl, Hartskos, Padkos and Die Kliek.
Media group Media24 is dumping yet another magazine with AdVantage, the South African advertising and marketing industry's go-to source ending its existence.
South African TV executives, ad and media buyers and media, marketing and advertising strategists and planners, all used the trade publication for information on the biz.
Media24's unceremonious closure of AdVantage magazine will be other people and places' gain such as online and digital platforms who will move in to provide the information, articles and content AdVantage provided to the local industry the past two decades.
"It is with deep regret that we announce that AdVantage magazine will be closing," says the magazine today. "The July issue will be the last the industry will see of this iconic publication. The AdVantage team would like to thank the industry, our readers and advertisers for their loyal support over the last 20 years."
