The SABC has lost yet another format show that used to be on the public broadcaster to pay-TV with Take Me Out South Africa that used to be on SABC1 that's getting retitled to Take Me Out Mzansi and jumping to VUZU AMP.
After facing financial trouble at the cash-strapped SABC in 2014 during its first season after sponsors jumped ship, the FremantleMedia/Thames format dating show is jumping to VUZU AMP (DStv 103) complete with presenter Phat Joe.
Take Me Out Mzansi, produced by Rapid Blue, will kick off on Monday 10 July at 19:00 in which an eligible dater picks, chooses and eliminates from a gaggle of potential suitors.
Where the first and sole SABC season focused on a single guy, the Mzansi Magic version is changing the format dating show, allowing for episodes with a line-up of both guys and girls in the parade of 30 wannabe lovers a contestant gets to pick from.
In Take Me Out Mzansi, a contestant is introduced to a panel of 30 men or women and tries to persuade them to keep their "lights" on. If some of the 30 are not impressed, they too can walk away by switching off their podium lights.
As the show continues, a date seeker has to continue to impress the remaining panelists.
"Take Me Out Mzansi has all the ingredients for a weekly dose of great viewing: humour, surprises, romance and unadulterated fun," says Sphumelele Sibeko, the head of reality for local entertainment channels at M-Net, that has picked up the show for a pay-TV audience. "Phat Joe tops off an already perfect mix, to make for brilliant television."
