TV CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK. When the TV execs go and sit in the back of the house when they actually run the house: A shout-out to the exemplary zookeepers of South African television who keep showing up - and showing up.

The majority of the people who filed into and took their seats inside the Silverline Studios set of Survivor South Africa: Phillipines to be part of the live studio audience for the season finale on M-Net (DStv 101) this week would have had no idea who, quite unassumingly, sat right next to them.

On Thursday evening, both Nkateko Mabaso, acting M-Net CEO, and Kay Ann Williams, head of local content and independent films for the M-Net channels, unpretentiously slipped inside on the rain-soaked night.

Even though they could have chosen or have demanded better seats - in fact they completely deserved front row seats - both of them literally went and sat in two of the worst seats in the house: right behind the back-end of the techno-crane to its immediate right, basically obstructing their view of the centre stage and blocking probably about 70% of what you can see in the front.

They seemed unperturbed.

Both stayed seated here for the full 2 hours of the Survivor SA: Phillipines finale, produced by Afrokaans - and for the first time from Cape Town - until they, together with M-Net commissioning editor Terja Beney exited stage left.

They then all mingled at the music, drinks and food-filled adjacent stage on the Silverlines Studios lot with media, guests, contestants, sponsors and ordinary fans.

Remarkable? At first glance, possibly not. But in reality, within the context of South Africa's TV industry, it's hugely significant and exceptional.

As they and their predecessors have done for years, and quite remarkably continue doing, M-Net's top level executives - similar to America's HBO, CBS, FX and a few others - keep showing up at things where they don't, at first glance, appear needed or having to be.

These executives literally show up on set and at events and they personally visit their channel's TV productions even though they strictly don't have to.

This continued, personal and hands-on approach, is quite different from how execs at the SABC, e.tv, and several of the other pay-TV channels carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform for instance, behave.

Although this hands-on behaviour is exhibited by several high-ranking American TV channel executives who remain intimately involved in, and in touch with shows even though they don't have to physically be there in person, it's not something that's really seen or experienced in the South African biz outside of M-Net.

The majority simply just don't do it.

It's also why a production like Uselwa on SABC1 "suddenly" implodes with SABC execs only then starting  to scurry to set for the first time after months, get held "hostage" and don't know what to do or how to resolve a production crisis or gridlock. It's because they've never been there.

In almost two decades of covering South Africa's TV industry, this TV critic has never attended the final episode of a local SABC1, SABC2 or e.tv reality competition show where at least one or more of that channel's execs were also in attendance. Ditto for an episode recording.

For the end of SABC3's The Apprentice SA back in September 2005 I spotted some SABC executives who bothered to show up for this. SABC1's channel head was at the launch and filming of Uzalo.

It's not that they're bad. They're busy.

Beyond M-Net's executives, a precious few other high-ranking executives however perpetually show up and show up although they're very busy too.

They're there for their local shows during filming, for media events, for finales, at channels' upfront presentations and at things where their participation and presence are not strictly required, but that they personally deem to be important because it clearly really matters to them.

Count under them BBC Africa boss Joel Churcher. MultiChoice's head of content, Aletta Alberts. Director of M-Net channels, Jan du Plessis. Or someone like MultiChoice content bouquet manager Alet Bench.

The Walt Disney Company Africa boss Christine Service is equally at home doing a set visit at ABC's Cape Town filmed TV series Of Kings and Prophets as she is attending a film biz investment seminar or doing a presentation to journalists about the gains and reach of the Disney Junior (DStv 309) channel herself.

Viacom Africa boss Alex Okosi actually goes to things - to things where he's not talking and where he, if he didn't show face, wouldn't be missed. And yet he goes.

Earlier this year Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment at MultiChoice set-visited HBO's Warrior being filmed in Cape Town. Don't mistakenly think that she had to.

And when she sits in the audience for Dancing with the Stars SA in Johannesburg on a Sunday night, after hours it's not because of a lack of  work or better things to do.

The interesting thing about South Africa's bold type execs who go far above and beyond the call of the job description and who continue to step away from their ever-full inboxes more than they have to, are that they maintain a much better grasp on what's really going on, who's doing what, and what the current industry challenges and movements are.

Instead of only peering through the gauze of middle-men PR, they also know the media directly and very often directly interact with members of the press when they spot them.

Although they run the zoo, they've learnt and know the times the hippo takes a snooze and when it's safe to peek inside. They know personally where the master key to the lion's cage is kept and has no problem to go and get the key themselves when something needs doing.

Seen in isolation, South Africa's 42-year old TV industry is big and continues to expand - the most sophisticated on the African continent by far - but compared across a wider perspective it's much smaller and younger compared to the United States or the United Kingdom where also more of an institutional history within companies and broadcasters reside.

As the country's local TV biz continues to mature, grow and add capacity, it's encouraging that there are TV executives - mostly within the fold of pay-TV - who really take their work seriously, and who really set an example of continuously going beyond the basics and bare minimum of what they need to do.

They're the people who not only show up at work every day because they have to but are TV execs who constantly journey ever further - showing up where they don't have to be because they really want to, inherently recognising the long-term dividends it unlock.

They're the indefatigable handful of TV executives who not only truly live their brands, but their work - and who, incrementally, all in their own unique ways, help to make the television you're getting to watch, better.

BREAKING. Tom Schwartz who lost 16 kg on the island, wins Survivor South Africa: Phillipines as M-Net announces a 7th season called Island of Secrets for 2019.

On Thursday night the adventure camp organiser Tom Schwartz (41) from Port Elizabeth was announced the winner of the 6th season of M-Net's (DStv 101) Survivor South Africa: Phillipines and won R1 million, with the pay-TV channel immediately announcing a 7th season entitled "Island of Secrets" for broadcast in 2019, and opening the call for entries for 18 new contestants.

The season finale of Survivor SA: Philippines was broadcast as a special 2-hour live finale done from the Silverline Studios in Cape Town.

It was the first time a Survivor SA finale took place outside of Johannesburg in the local series' six seasons - first showing days 38 and 39 and the last immunity challenge and jury grilling, before switching to the live, in-studio winner announcement, and a 40-minute reunion show with the contestants.

In a massive improvement and glorious fan-service, Afrokaans that took over production of Survivor South Africa finally for the first time gave DStv subscribers what they wanted and should get: a proper reunion show instead of a few minuted at the end.

Host Nico Panagio asked all of the clean-scrubbed contestants questions and cleverly elicited explainers, feedback and comments from them on various things that happened, and what happened since they've left the island, in front of the in-studio audience.

Nico Panagio ended the show with a teased "big announcement" - that Survivor South Africa will be back for a 7th season in 2019 and that entries are opening immediately.

At the post-show press conference, Tom Schwartz, who lost 16 kg during his 39 days sent on the island, was asked what he wants to do with his R1 million and he said he wants to buy the house he is living in with his family "so that there never comes a time when my family doesn't have one".

About watching himself on television Tom Schwartz said "Do I really look that fat? And, why am I sitting like that? So watching yourself on TV there's little idiosyncrasies that you find out about yourself  - from Mickey Mouse things to holy hell things."

Here's some of the 6th season live studio finale of Survivor SA: Phillipines in pictures:

BREAKING. On the day of the Survivor SA: Phillipines finale, M-Net pulls contestant, Tevin Naidu from its Bachelor South Africa speed-dating campaign after offensive molestation comments.

On the day of M-Net's (DStv 101) Survivor South Africa: Philippines finale, the channel has dumped the contestant Tevin Naidu (24) from M-Net's The Bachelor South Africa speed-dating marketing campaign after his molestation comments.

The controversy follows after Tevin Naidu, the 6th person voted out of Survivor SA: Phillipines, posted an image of himself standing next to a woman saying "Find yourself someone who looks at you the way I look at her (like a molester who found his next victim)".

After a backlash he deleted the comment and switched his Instagram account to private.

Tevin Naidu, an intern at the King Edward VIII hospital in Durban and a former Mr South Africa India, then said "To everyone affected and offended by my social media post directly or indirectly, I would like to issue a formal apology to all of you. My post was made in jest and unfortunately - it lacked sensitivity, was completely distasteful, and offensive."

"I truly regret having posted what I did and I would like to categorically state that I had no malicious intentions. I can only ask that this unfortunate incident be put down to my lack of better judgement at the time."

"Molestation is clearly not an issue to be mixed with humor and I understand that the lack of judgement and error on my part has offended many people and I am truly sorry for this. I can only pray and hope that my indiscretion in this regard can be forgiven and my apology accepted."

M-Net told TVwithThinus that Tevin Naidu has been removed from its The Bachelor South Africa marketing campaign going forward with immediate effect and that involves speed-dating activations across the country.

M-Net says that the pay-TV channels supplier views his comments in a serious light and that he "will not be involved in the remainder of the campaign".

"M-Net does not condone any type of abuse, or references to it, in any context and viewed Tevin Naidu’s offensive Instagram comment in a serious light. Tevin was part of the initial marketing activities to recruit female contestants for the new dating show The Bachelor South Africa but will not be involved in the remainder of the campaign".

Survivor South Africa Philippines on M-Net set for a 2-hour season finale on Thursday 16 August at 7pm.

The latest season of Survivor South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101), Survivor SA Phillipines is set for a 2-hour season finale that will be broadcast on Thursday, 16 August at 19:00.

The episode of NCIS: Los Angeles will be pre-empted next month on M-Net on the evening of Survivor SA Phillipines season finale, with the conclusion of the island set local reality format show that will stretch from 19:00 to 21:00.

The 19:00 first hour of the Survivor SA: Philippines season finale will likely still be a recorded episode with either the entire or the last part of the 20:00 second hour being a live broadcast reunion/winner announcement studio set show. 

M-Net tells me it doesn't have more details surrounding the exact nature of the Afrokaans produced finale yet and what chunk of the last hour will be a live broadcast.

It will very likely include all 18 of this season's South African castaways with host Nico Panagio once again playing devil's advocate during flashback clips, leading up to the eventual vote counting and reveal of this season's winner.

Survivor SA Philippines will then have an off-TV post-show press conference with the winner, M-Net and producers.

BREAKING. Days after its debut, M-Net's latest 6h season of Survivor SA: Philippines is once again popular under pirates as viewers worldwide clamour to download and illegally share the show.

Survivor South Africa has gone global (again), with the latest 6th season of the show, Survivor SA: Philippines seen on M-Net (DStv 101) that has once again become an instant must-watch show for viewers around the world who are illegally downloading and sharing the first episode on pirate viewing and torrent sites.

While the majority of illegal file sharing around TV show content takes place around American TV series, the last time that a locally produced M-Net show was so popular that it popped up on torrent sites was in April 2014  - also with Survivor SA when the 5th season, Survivor SA: Champions was shown on the pay-TV broadcaster.

Although illegally captured, uploaded and shared online, the rabid fandom and desire from people around the world who want to also watch the latest, 6th South African version, gives an indication of just what a hot TV property Survivor SA actually remains to M-Net.

M-Net revived the show last year after 4 years, previously produced by Endemol Shine Africa and now done by Afrokaans, with filming around the Philippines archipelago that wrapped earlier this year.

The first episode of Survivor SA: Philippines, again with host Nico Panagio, was broadcast this past Thursday evening on M-Net and is screened in South Africa as well as across Africa.

Moved from its former timeslot on Sundays to Thursdays, the first episode popped up online on several sites just days after its debut, having already been shared and downloaded by apparently thousands of people.

While ratings for Survivor SA: Philippines' debut episode on M-Net is not yet available, the illegal pirate viewing is unlikely to negatively impact on the channel's viewership, since pirate viewers who want to see the show are presumably largely based outside of South Africa and the African continent where they don't have access to MultiChoice's DStv or M-Net.

The previous season of Survivor SA made the top 10 list of most watched shows on M-Net.

How far stretches the reach and popularity of M-Net's Survivor SA: Philippines? Well, on the other side of the world, Brink of Reality in Australia with Ryan Brink and Jess Kent just finished doing a podcast recap of the first episode.

M-Net on Monday afternoon didn't immediately respond with its view when asked for comment in a media enquiry what the pay-TV broadcaster makes of the new season of Survivor SA: Philippines that like the previous season, also found pirate viewing popularity.

When there's a M-Net response to publish it will be added here.

M-Net however did respond in 2014 about the illegal downloading and sharing of the show and then  told TVwithThinus that "even though the illegal downloading and sharing of Survivor South Africa indicates how popular the show is and demonstrates the great demand for top-notch local productions, M-Net does not condone piracy in any form or in any region".

"Piracy has a negative impact on the development of the local television and film industries and harms the investment of broadcasters and sponsors," said M-Net.

Survivor SA: Philippines is available on MultiChoice's DStv Now and DStv Catch Up services.

M-NET UPFRONT 2018: M-Net's 'local content safari' to showcase its upcoming new TV shows at the Legend Golf & Safari Resort in Limpopo in 28 photos.

This past week M-Net (DStv 101) held a press-wow "local content safari" where the pay-TV broadcaster pulled out all the stops to dazzle selected press and South African TV critics with a jam-packed content upfront for its upcoming new TV shows.

Over the 3-day event that took place at the sprawling Legend Golf & Safari Resort in Limpopo, M-Net unveiled the second season of The Wedding Bashers that returns first with 4 special episodes, the new season of Survivor South Africa set in the Philippines, a new natural history series, The Wild Ones, and the second season of My Kitchen Rules South Africa.

M-Net not only flew in stars, on-air talent, journalists and advertising executives from across South Africa, but also screened episodes of its new shows to the press in advance before broadcast, and did comprehensive and wide-ranging Q&A talent sessions with the stars and producers of the various shows - besides a game drive, a visit to an rhino orphan rehabilitation sanctuary, as well as breakfast, lunches and dinners.

M-Net lux-de-lux local content upfront was the biggest ever held by a TV channel in the history of South Africa's 40-year television industry.

The upfront was more encompassing and immersive than any others held by other TV channels in the past, in the way that it allowed journalists covering TV, access to producers and talent, and screened full episodes followed by Q&A panels.

With its "local content safari" M-Net raised and set a new benchmark for top notch content upfronts in South Africa.

M-Net surpassed the level of content upfront information and press session media engagements that have been done by premium TV content and channel providers like Discovery Networks International EMEA, BBC Africa's BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide Africa), Viacom International Media Networks Africa, FOX Networks Group Africa and some others in South Africa until now, and who all run channels on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

M-Net wanted to emphasise that the pay-TV broadcaster places a high value on its premium content and that it also places a high priority on showcasing it to TV critics and the press. 

Here's 28 photos that capture just some of M-Net's terrific 3-day local content upfront that it held for the media: