M-Net axes Idols after 19 seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net has cancelled the long-running Idols with the upcoming 19th season on its Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel which will be the last for the [SIC] Entertainment-produced reality singing competition show following viewership fatigue and a massive plunge in ratings.

M-Net is calling the upcoming 19th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic - with Gavin Wratten as director and executive producer, along with Anneke de Ridder and host ProVerb (Tebogo Thekisho) as co-producers - its "farewell season", meaning that with South Africans will have one last chance to enter and audition for the show."

"After 18 successful seasons on air, Mzansi Magic and M-Net local entertainment channels confirm the decision to give Idols SA its final curtain call," says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director for local entertainment channels, in a statement to TVwithThinus.

" The international format talent search competition has been a stage of opportunities where many careers were launched and we would like to thank the crew, on-air talent and sponsors for their contribution to its success over the years."

"We look forward to an epic final season and will continue to secure and produce the best content which Mzansi Magic viewers have come to enjoy."

Idols started 21 years ago in 2002 on the M-Net channel. 

It became a simulcast show on M-Net and Mzansi Magic in 2013 from the 9th season, and a Mzansi Magic only show in 2016 from season 12 onwards after M-Net decided to migrate the show to open it up to a bigger DStv audience on lower-tiered packages. 

The cancellation of the South African version of the Fremantle format follows after a dramatic ratings plunge for Idols in season 17 that coincided with a relationship scandal involving Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo after his ex Mohale Motaung made serious allegations of emotional and physical abuse.

While Idols started off its 17th season in South Africa in July 2021 with 1 018 607 viewers as the 4th most-watched show on all of DStv for the month, it suddenly plunged to 10th place on DStv's most-watched list with 693 760 viewers at most in August 2021, shedding 32% or a third of its viewers. 

In October 2021 Idols fell to a season-low of just 683 814 viewers, and finished the season in November 2021 with 753 367 viewers at most.

After the very large drop in viewers and in an effort to revitalise Idols, M-Net's general entertainment channels division and [SIC] Entertainment decided to retain Somizi Mhlongo for 2022's 18th season and axed judges Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi whose contracts were not renewed and were replaced by artists Thembi Seete and rapper-producer JR Bogopa.

About Idols' revamp attempt to lure DStv subscribers back, Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO for general entertainment, told TVwithThinus ahead of the 18th season last year that "To have such longevity in such a fast-changing industry is no small feat, and we're proud to keep giving our viewers what they love. One of the key components in having staying power is evolution, and our new-look panel is part of that".

Asked whether the changes in judges for the 18th season were done to try and reverse the show's declining viewership, Nomsa Philiso said that "In part it is to get the ratings back and also to attract new audiences, right. So, you would know that from around 2017 we started seeing some level of fatigue - some level of viewer fatigue in terms of Idols".

"Part of us refreshing the judges is also us trying to say that we're going to give you guys a much bigger and better Idols".

When the 18th season started, Idols ratings on Sunday evenings fell further, far off from the over a million viewers it managed to pull in years past for season debuts, reaching a meagre 743 516 viewers during July last year. 

Last year's Idols season ended with 739 426 viewers at most during November. The winner's recording contract was also quietly reduced from an album to just an EP.

Following the conclusion of Idols' 18th season, Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, said that "Idols is a brand that we believe in and is a brand that connects us to our youth in the country. It promotes nationalism and healthy competition while it gives young people a stage to showcase their talent".

ALSO READ: Judges juggling unable to stem Idols South Africa's ratings slide on Mzansi Magic.

ALSO READ: Recording contract of Mzansi Magic's Idols winner reduced from album to just an EP.

ALSO READ: As Mzansi Magic's ratings of Idols season 18 cratered in 2022 and its DStv viewership tanked so did MultiChoice's promises to improve media relations and communication around the show.

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Not supposed to Go Pro with 'season 19': M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel shocked after ProVerb announces a next season of Idols on DStv with nothing confirmed yet. 

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Not supposed to Go Pro with 'season 19': M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel shocked after ProVerb announces a next season of Idols on DStv with nothing confirmed yet.

by Thinus Ferreira

Not so fast, ProVerb. With tumbling ratings and with Idols having lost half its total audience on DStv, I reliably hear that M-Net bosses are shocked that Idols host and co-executive producer ProVerb went ahead and announced a season 19 for the viewership-gutted show.

During Sunday evening's season 18 finale, Tebogo Thekisho, known as Proverb, told DStv subscribers that the [SIC] Entertainment-produced show would be back for season 19 and that auditions would be held soon in 2023. 

Mzansi Magic hasn't signed off or approved any season 19 for Idols which is done according to the Fremantle-format.

In the last moments of Sunday's season 18 finale after Proverb announced police trauma counsellor Thapelo Molomo as the season's winner, he also said "I am your boy ProVerb and I'm out but I will see you for season 19 next year. Audition days and info on the website soon, so get them all because this could be you".

This however came as a shock and surprise to M-Net bosses and staffers at Mzansi Magic as well since they haven't said or approved anything yet around a season 19 for Idols.

Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, has definitely not okayed a season 19 of Idols this time yet, and neither has anybody else.

"That was definitely not supposed to happen at all," insiders say. According to them, "Nobody knows who approved it or why it was said and alluded to on Sunday. Nothing of a season 19 was supposed to be said to viewers at all." 

As I'm told, "Things were specifically done to prevent exactly the type of mention that was made on Sunday. It came as a shock and a surprise".

Making things worse: Proverb's script for the finale night broadcast was checked beforehand before Sunday's live broadcast specifically to ensure that it contained no mention of a "season 19" for Idols, and that nothing is said during the live finale broadcast of "auditions" for a next season or alluding to a next season.

Now Mzansi Magic finds itself in the predicament of something being announced as coming and a show happening, when that M-Net channel division hasn't had time to fully take stock and investigate the latest trainwreck season of Idols and its ongoing ratings collapse that this year fired and replaced both Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi and brought back the controversial Somizi Mhlongo.

For its 18th season, South Africa's Idols continued its shocking ratings dive as it shed hundreds of thousands of viewers right from its debut, with just 743 516 DStv subscribers who tuned in at most in July this year.

Idols viewership on Sunday evenings on Mzansi Magic sank lower and lower every month this year, falling further from the 17th season in 2021 which also suddenly experienced a massive loss of viewers.

ALSO READ: As Mzansi Magic's ratings of Idols season 18 cratered in 2022 and its DStv viewership tanked, so did MultiChoice's promises to improve media relations and communication around the show.

ALSO READ: Recording contract of Mzansi Magic's Idols winner reduced from album to just an EP.

MultiChoice and M-Net bring Somizi Mhlongo back as Idols judge on Mzansi Magic despite abuse allegations: 'My private life is my private life'.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net and production company [SIC] Entertainment confirmed that they are bringing back the controversial socialite and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo as a judge to Idols on MultiChoice's Mzansi Magic channel despite unresolved serious allegations of physical abuse.

After Idols viewership plunged with the show that shed over a third of its ratings in season 17 last year with Somizi Mhlongo that abruptly departed, Somizi Mhlongo is returning for the 18th season despite the unresolved allegations.

Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi who didn't see their contracts as Idols judges renewed, have now been replaced by artist Thembi Seete and rapper-producer JR Bogopa.

The South African version of the Fremantle format show has Gavin Wratten as director and executive producer, along with Anneke de Ridder and ProVerb (Tebogo Thekisho) as co-producers, with ProVerb also being the host.

Somizi Mhlongo stands accused of alleged shocking physical violence and emotional abuse - charges he has not been cleared of - including allegedly chasing his former lover Mohale Motaung with a knife. 

TVwithThinus asked Somizi Mhlongo if he thinks that the drama from his personal life will overshadow season 18 of Idols.

"If you have noticed, I've never spoken about anything and I believe my private life is my private life and my work life is my work life, so I'm still staying there," he says.

"I feel like I can't say anything at the moment and I don't want to say anything at the moment with regard to that. All I can tell you is it was one of the toughest times of my life and my career but we move forward and like we say: 'Innocent until proven guilty".

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice's head of programming for general entertainment, says "We're excited to have Idols return for an incredible 18th season".

"To have such longevity in such a fast-changing industry is no small feat, and we're proud to keep giving our viewers what they love. One of the key components in having staying power is evolution, and our new-look panel is part of that."

"Idols is an important part of our creative industry. Not only do we unearth hidden talent, but we also nurture our contestants and equip them with the necessary tools to start or grow their careers. It's a privilege to be able to do that for another season."

ALSO READ: M-Net's Mzansi Magic and Idols bringing back controversial Somizi Mhlongo as judge for season 18, Thembi Seete and rapper JR added as judges.

ALSO READ: Mzansi Magic and [SIC] Entertainment dump Idols judges Randall Abrahams and Unathy Nkayi before season 18 auditions start on Sunday.

ALSO READ: M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel and [SIC] Entertainment plan to bring back controversial Somizi Mhlongo as judge for Idols season 18 and to drop Unathi Nkayi - report

ALSO READ: Mzansi Magic abruptly axes Idols winner media briefing for season 17 after 19 years as ratings plunge.

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Why lazy M-Net's lackadaisical decision to drop the Idols winner Mzansi Magic media briefing damages DStv, Idols and South Africa's entertainment press. 

Mzansi Magic abruptly axes Idols winner media briefing for season 17 after 19 years as ratings plunge.

by Thinus Ferreira

In a shocking decision MultiChoice and M-Net have decided to drop the post-finale Idols press conference for the 17th season that will conclude this evening on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) with neither Karabo Mathe nor Berry Trytsman who will be given an opportunity to appear before the media and answer questions as the winner kicks off her professional music career.

For the past 19 years M-Net has held an Idols post-finale press conference with the national media from across South Africa in attendance for every single season of the Fremantle format singing reality competition show dating back to the conclusion of the first season in mid-2002 with Heinz Winckler.

Idols press conferences with national, regional and community journalists from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth working at newspapers, TV, radio and online took place when the show was on M-Net, continuing the tradition when the series switched to being a joint M-Net and Mzansi Magic show and eventually crossing over to a Mzansi Magic channel only show.

For the 18th season in 2020, M-Net and MultiChoice held the Idols post-show season finale press conference that had become institutional, with Mzansi Magic, the production company[SIC] Entertainment, as well as the winner and runner-up on the stage of the State Theatre in Pretoria.

It took place virtually on Zoom, with MultiChoice and M-Net that put in special effort and broadcast it to media across South Africa on DStv channel 196 as well with the TV channel that was unencoded for an hour specifically for journalists who wanted to watch it on their TV screens and submitted submit typed questions to the panel.

By Saturday South Africa's media got not notification or advisory from M-Net about Sunday's press conference for season 17. 

Philly Khubheka, M-Net publicity manager for Mzansi Magic, on Saturday confirmed to TVwithThinus that the Idols press conference has abruptly been dumped without any notification to media.

Tonight either Karabo Mathe from Hebron in the North-West, or Berry (Berenike Trytsman) from Cape Town will be crowned the winner of Idols' season 17 on Mzansi Magic, with a next season - in this case season 18 for 2022 - usually announced as the winner readies their Christmas album debut as part of a record deal with Kalawa Jazmee Records.

The live Sunday shows of the 17th season of Idols - with director and executive producer Gavin Wratten and co-producers Anneke de Ridder and ProVerb (Tebogo Thekisho) who is also the presenter - switched to Urban Brew Studios this year and a triangular stage, with Vodacom, Old Mutual, Truworths, Darling and Yamaha as the various sponsors this season.

For close to almost two decades the country's media would ask the winner and runner-up various questions at the Idols post-finale press briefing and their next plans, where the producers and M-Net would also field questions about aspects from the show, and with M-Net officially congratulating the winner before the media.

It would be followed by an official prize handover ceremony from the various sponsors in front of the media.

Philly Khubheka told TVwithThinus in response to a media query that M-Net decided to axe the Idols press conference because media allegedly prefer one-on-one interviews.

"Based on the take-up and feedback last year, our assessment is that most media prefer one-on-one interviews. Our anticipation is that post-Covid we will revert to the traditional in-person press conference set-up," she said.

She said M-Net's decision to dump the Idols media briefing is part of "a different approach and media are still an integral part of our process".

On a question of how M-Net will make up for the winner's loss of exposure and earned media derived from the collective big-buzz Idols press briefing to help launch their careers, Philly Khubheka said that "there are still opportunities to interview cast, crew and winners. We have already set up these for other media houses".

Asked if the Idols sponsors were told that there won't be a press conference with media and a prize handover before media following the end of the season where they get exposure, Philly Khubheka said that "our partners are aligned with our revised process".

Besides MultiChoice and M-Net axing the media briefing Idols suddenly appears to be in sharp decline with ratings that precipitously fell this season by hundreds of thousands of viewers as DStv subscribers tuned out.

While Idols previously reigned supreme as the most-watched or second most-watched show on DStv during a season's run with over a million viewers, the show suddenly shed hundreds of thousands of viewers this year and lost a shocking third of its usual viewing audience.

Idols started off season 17 with 1 018 607 viewers on Mzansi Magic in July as usual, as the 4th most-watched show on all of DStv for the month.

Instead of climbing and the usual ratings increase as interest would build, Idols suddenly plunged following a scandal that saw choreographer judge Somizi Mhlongo exit the show under a cloud of physical assault allegations. 

DStv subscribers were no longer interested in watching Idols following the scandal and the show plunged to 10th place on DStv's most-watched list with 693 760 viewers at most in August.

In September Idols stayed flat at 9th place on DStv with 709 655 viewers. 

In October Idols sagged even further to a season-low of 13th position with just 683 814 viewers. It's far off from where Idols used to rank during the live Sunday live spectacular phase of the show.

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Why lazy M-Net's lackadaisical decision to drop the Idols winner Mzansi Magic media briefing damages DStv, Idols and South Africa's entertainment press.

ALSO READ: Season 17 of South Africa's Idols on Mzansi Magic makes history with an all-female top trio.

ALSO READ: Idols on Mzansi Magic sheds a third of its audience in a shocking ratings plunge after Somizi Mhlongo scandal.

ALSO READ: Season 17 of Idols on Mzansi Magic switching to weekly guest judges after exit of Somizi Mhlongo.

ALSO READ: As Somizi Mhlongo abuse allegations swirl, Mzansi Magic doesn't tell DStv viewers on-screen about his upcoming absence as Idols judge; Mohale Motaung insists he 'experienced abuse both physical and psychological'. 

After 18 years Idols allows you to sing from your bedroom – but for 48 hours only.

by Thinus Ferreira

After 18 years Idols is finally allowing contestants to sing from their bedrooms: For 48 hours only, the 16th season of the reality singing competition is accepting online audition videos from midnight tonight.

For the first time ever, the Fremantle format show done by [SIC] Entertainment for M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and executive produced by Gavin Wratten and Tebogo Thekisho (ProVerb), is extending the Idols talent search online beyond the traditional main South African cities.

People, especially those living in remote areas, will be able to send in an online audition from tomorrow from wherever they might be living.

No additional pop-up auditions will be held in smaller cities this year, with the production opting for the first-ever online video auditions following the way other M-Net produced shows like Survivor SA and others have switched to online audition videos only.

From midnight on Tuesday, 25 February South Africans between 16 and 30 years old can enter a 30-second singing video online at www.idolssa.tv until midnight on Thursday, 27 February.

No talking and no introductions should be included - video snippets should strictly be singing only and without using any musical instruments so that the selectors can hear the voice as clearly as possible. "Make sure that you look and sound like an Idol," says the show.

People who want to enter an online signing video can sing anything and successful candidates will get an email back from the producers telling them if their online audition was successful or not. Successful candidates will then get a chance to sing before the Idols judges in person.

Good news is that people who have already audition in person at one of the city venues for Idols can enter the online auditions again if they want to. The Idols city auditions process is wrapping up with the Johannesburg leg that remains and will take place at Carnival City on 7 March.

Viggy Qwabe quits 15th season of Idols after twin sister Virginia gets cut; Mzansi Magic denies allegations of bullying and physical violence behind the scenes of reality singing show.

The Idols contestant Viggy Qwabe decided to quit the 15th season of the reality singing show on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) after her twin sister Virginia Qwabe got eliminated on the Top 5 episode on Sunday night.

Viggy's voluntary exit after a discussion with the production company [SIC ] Entertainment and the M-Net run channel, means that nobody will be eliminated from Idols at the end of this coming Sunday's Top 4 episode.

Idols as a South African version of the Fremantle format show, is executive produced by Gavin Wratten and Tebogo Thekisho (ProVerb) who is also the presenter. 

Meanwhile rumours have been swirling about alleged bullying and physical violence in the Idols house where the contestants are staying but this has been refuted by M-Net who said that there was no bullying or any physical altercations.

"From the beginning of their Idols journey, the twins, Viggy and Virginia have always said they are in this together. After lengthy discussions, Viggy who still remained in the Idols competition post the elimination episode has decided to exit the competition," says Philly Kubheka, the head of publicity for Mzansi Magic.

"We would like to wish both Viggy Qwabe and Virginia Qwabe all the best in their career as they are both extremely talented."

Philly Kubheka explained that the Qwabe twins, their family, the production company and Mzansi Magic met after the show on Sunday night to "formalise" Viggy's official decision to quit the show.

"Mzansi Magic would like to advise all Idols fans to note that all voting lines have been closed for this round and there will be no elimination in the upcoming episode," the channel said.

About allegations of bullying behind-the-scenes, Philly Kubheka said that "we would like to state that we are aware of fake accounts that are posting on social media as the contestants which have been reported to our anti-piracy team and that there was no bullying or any physical altercations among contestants in the house".

Micayla Oelofse, Luyolo Yiba, Nolo Seodisha and Sneziey Msomi remain in the show that will see the Idols live finale take place on 17 November at Carnival City in Johannesburg.

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. At E!'s 15th Africa anniversary party, I tried to ask ProVerb just one question - and then something happened that made me think about what's reasonable to expect from TV stars who decide to be on the red carpet.

During Thursday night's 15th anniversary celebration event of E! Entertainment (DStv 124) in Johannesburg I spotted the Idols presenter and producer ProVerb on the red carpet when he arrived and posed for photos - but something subsequently happened that made me think about, and decide to do this editorial column, about what is, and maybe isn't, reasonable to expect from TV stars who decide to show up and appear at a red carpet event.

Firstly, I have to say upfront that I've never had even the slightest issue with, and that I've always actually admired and liked Tebogo Thekisho - ProVerb or "Pro's" real name - whom I first met over 8 years ago just before he joined Idols from the 6th season back in 2010 as co-presenter.

I've watched and tracked, with respect, Tebogo Thekisho's career in South Africa's TV industry since the rapper - who launched his TV career on M-Net's Channel O on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service - moved from just being a presenter to also taking on a producer role.

From the 8th season of Idols in 2012 he also took on added responsibility behind-the-scenes when he became co-executive producer of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) together with Gavin Wratten at [SIC] Entertainment.

We once both stayed over in the Big Brother house as part of a media group experience and over the past 8 years during the various Idols seasons I had some quick chats with him, made jokes and would congratulate him - all off-the-record - mostly after Idols season finales during the after-parties and when the winner and runner-up would get their prizes and where he would be the MC on stage.

While most of the press attending would hang around at the bar-side and barely pay attention, I always listened, followed and would stand close to the front of the stage and give my attention, time and applause because to me it matters.

The last time before Thursday that I saw Pro in person was two weeks ago when I did a set visit for Idols' upcoming 15th season where I sat for hours during the new batch of contestants' performances for the judges as they had to make their decisions during Theatre Week as to who they're going to cut and who they're going to keep.

At the end of the day's recording when everybody got up and left, I decided to walk to ProVerb to go and say hello and made a quick joke about one of the contestants who will be part of a wonderful unfolding twist for viewers when the episode is broadcast sometime during August.

Cue Thursday night, and when I spotted Pro, dapperly dressed up in a snazzy bronze jacket on the red carpet at the party of NBCUniversal International Networks to mark the 15 year presence of E! as a channel in South Africa, as a journalist I instinctively approached him to ask him a question for one of the articles I'd be doing covering the event.

When I went to say hi and asked him on the red carpet if I could quickly ask him just one question, his response was not now.

I stood to the side and waited for him to finish the photo-taking and as he then headed towards the Alice & Fifth nightclub where the E! party was taking place, I quickly walked alongside him and asked again if I can just ask him one question.

"No, no, no, no no," he said as he kept walking and disappeared inside as I stopped and he looked back a last time.

To be honest, I didn't know what to make of it and it rarely happens that I feel that way and so weird, but I felt extremely awkward as I was just left standing there, wondering what happened.

Popped into Sandton to congratulate E! on their 15th anniversary in Africa! #15YearsOfE #LoveELiveE pic.twitter.com/srrcOUDSCF

— ProVerb (@ProVerbMusic) April 11, 2019

On Friday morning I was surprised to see a tweet and photo from ProVerb on social media when I looked and scrolled through the Twitter feed for E!'s party. (Neither Pro nor I have up to now followed each other on Twitter but when I discovered him I clicked follow.)

Then I commented on his post of "Popped into Sandton to congratulate E! on their 15th anniversary in Africa!", with how I felt, saying: "But won't stop to answer just one question for the media asking about E!. Disappointing."

Later Friday morning I heard from him in a direct message and responded, and he messaged again - the conversation of which I won't recount here since it was a private chat - and when my flight landed there was another message from Proverb who, after sending another message, also "blocked" my Twitter account making any personal response back impossible.

And been blocked.
Weird how TV presenters and producers sometimes react and act out towards the media. Do we as press expect too much of them? https://t.co/kJPx9faos4

— TVwithThinus (@TVwithThinus) April 12, 2019

After what happened with ProVerb it made me think: Do we as press and the media next to the rope line at red carpet events expect too much of the people on it?

Is what reporters covering red carpet events think they can do and ask there, perhaps too big of an ask? And on the other side of the coin: Are journalists allowed to say "I'm disappointed that so-and-so didn't come to play"?

When people in the public eye and who choose to be in the public eye, appear at media launches and events, is it a right or a wrong assumption for the working press and journalists to have an expectation that the people are there to, and willing to, interact with the media?

Of course people - famous, infamous and the non-famous - have the right and personal choice to decide whether they want to answer a question, "that" question, or any question, and the freedom to say what they want to say, as well as who they want to, or don't want to talk to.

And what about media management - the building, creating, maintaining, and investing in media relationships with the press and journalists?

Does going to a red carpet event where you know media will be present necessarily mean it comes with a type of "responsibility" to engage with that media to whatever degree? Or can you attend in a type of incognito mode and leave personal and professional brand building for another day and other events as and when you choose?

Why would people go to a media event where they know media will be but then not want to talk or engage with the media? Personally, I don't know the answers to all of these questions and I don't know what people think.

What I do know from my side, is that when I'm at a media event I'm there to work - which is why I RSVP'ed. Insofar as people go to a "party", my assumption is that they're also actually there as part of work.

I seek out people that I know, and who are part of my work to know, and I will continue to cover them and the events I'm at, as I constantly seek information and try to ask whoever, questions about whatever, on behalf of the public.

As a TV critic and as a journalist I look forward to the upcoming 15th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic and how it will play out this time. Who knows, maybe next time I might just get lucky, and get ProVerb to answer a question.


ALSO READ: REVIEW. E!'s 15th birthday party in South Africa was fine and looked beautiful but with too many 'standing-room only' guests while TV execs hid away in their roped-off alcoves, it felt more college-years nightclub night than big celebration.
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. As E! marks 15 years in South Africa as a TV channel on DStv, here are 15 things that E! brought into my life that I'm thankful for.
ALSO READ: IN IMAGES. 37 photos from inside E!'s party to celebrate 15 years of the channel from NBCUniversal International Networks in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv. 

ALSO READ: MultiChoice content boss, Aletta Alberts, on 15 years of E! from NBCUniversal International Networks on DStv: 'Africans will continue to be part of the E! story'.

ALSO READ: E! unveils a new E! Africa TV commercial to celebrate its presence of 15 years on the continent; 'it was like a proper film set,' says Roxy Burger.

ALSO READ: E! in Africa announces the recipients of its first-ever E! Africa Pop Culture Awards in 2019. 
ALSO READ: NBCUniversal International Networks celebrating E!'s 15th anniversary in South Africa and Africa with a celebration party and the first-ever E! Africa Pop Culture Awards.
ALSO READ: E! commissions new 10-episode show, Celebrity Game Night, produced by Rapid Blue, as its next localised African series; production starting July for broadcast in late-2019. 

Auditions kick off for 15th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic, starting in Pretoria as cross-country contestants queue overnight, sleep in cars.

Salvation Munyai

Auditions kicked off on Saturday for the 15th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), with the South African version of the reality singing competition that keeps surging in popularity, that saw contestants queuing since Friday night, sleeping in cars and travelling from as far as Port Elizabeth and the Northern Cape.

Idols, a Fremantle format show produced by [SIC] Entertainment with co-executive producers Gavin Wratten and ProVerb (Tebogo Thekisho who is also the presenter), is fresh off another record-breaking season, fueling ongoing surging interest from ordinary South Africans dreaming of possible fame and fortune in a country enduring an economic slump and where the youth unemployment rate of 52.8% is the highest in the world.

On Saturday Salvation Munyai (26) was first in line at the Pretoria State Theatre as Idols' national auditions for the 15th season started, with the young man who had been queuing from Friday night after he travelled from Limpopo and arrived in Pretoria on Wednesday this past week.

He auditioned for the second time and performed Vusi Nova's Ngikuthandile for the judges.

Obri Komane

Obri Komane (28) from Witbank arrived in Pretoria on Friday night and slept in his car, while Natalie Moos celebrated her 23rd birthday on Saturday and travelled from the Northern Cape to spend her day trying out for Idols.

Muneer Holloway (22) from Port Elizabeth arrived in Pretoria on Thursday and queued since Friday evening. For his first-ever Idols audition he sang Sam Smith's song, Dancing with Strangers.

Karabo Sibiya (24) from Tembisa, tried to impress the judges with Bruno Mars' Just the way you Are, while Nhlanhla Mhlari (25) originally from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape province sang Stand by Me from Ben E King.

It was the 4th Idols audition for Divalash (30) from Pretoria, a club DJ with big singing dreams, while Bongeka Ndlovu (22) from Glencoe in KwaZulu-Natal is currently a hairdresser with a big passion for music.

Omphethetse Digopeleng

"My love for music and my will to be the paradigm shifter to people back home is the reason I am here," said Omphethetse Digopeleng. 

"My wish to be living proof to the next generation that it is possible for a rural girl with global dreams to actually chase her dreams and live them, thus paving the way for them to also have faith accompanied by action towards achieving their dreams."

142 million votes: Why the record-breaking Idols keeps growing as the [sic] Entertainment produced singing reality competition show on Mzansi Magic prepares for its 15th season.

Renewed for a 15th season in 2019, the record-breaking Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) keeps barreling full-steam ahead with TV ratings surging and surreal growth in voting numbers as the singing reality competition show surpassed 142 million votes - a new overall record - for the just-concluded 14th season.

After 16 years and 14 seasons since 2002, turn over the can labelled Idols and you won't find an expiry date listing any sell-by year in its second decade on the air.

In fact, Idols that's keeping up its simply phenomenal growth in ratings, voting and social media viewer engagement, has become a true tone example of how a carefully-crafted TV show, slowly but steadily nurturing its audience, can increase and leverage the power of that viewership to greater and greater commercial success.

Idols, a Fremantle format show produced by [sic] Entertainment with co-executive producers Gavin Wratten and ProVerb (Tebogo Thekosho who is also the presenter), continues to ride the crest of the combined waves of growth in pay-TV households, the ongoing expansion of the black middle class in South Africa, smartphone ownership and increased broadband data penetration.

All combined - and through knowing the audience and giving them exactly what they want - Idols has established itself as true tentpole television, making viewers not just feel as if they have a real voice in its democracy-in-action voting mechanics but by literally shaping a carefully choreographed secular version of a Sunday evening church-going experience - one where "pastor" ProVerb as presenter holds sway.

With its now firmly-established formulaic fame-making liturgy set down to the smallest unwavering details - viewers for instance getting equal-parts frustrated and elated in anticipation over things like ProVerb dragging out dramatic announcements with "after the commercial break" and with just enough minor variance in-between to keep things ever-unpredictable - Idols has created the template for a communal shared TV experience in the social media age.

The big Idols winners are M-Net, Mzansi Magic, and the in-show advertisers and sponsors who not only get a dedicated, captive audience but a growing and dynamically active captive audience. Idols viewers don't just watch the show - they live it, and as they live it, they spread it.

"Idols is the biggest talent platform in the country and keeps producing amazing talent. Gavin and ProVerb have done an amazing job. I look forward to Idols' 15th season," said Reneilwe Sema, the director of local entertainment channels at M-Net, just after Sunday's 2-hour 14th season Idols live finale that was broadcast on Mzansi Magic.

TVwithThinus asked Gavin Wratten right after Sunday's finale broadcast what he makes of the show's massive ongoing voting growth, for context about the latest Idols voting records and how he feels about Idols going from 83 million votes in 2016, to 98 million in 2017, and 142 million votes in 2018.

"Last year we were all blown away when we got 98 million votes and I don't think we ever thought we would get anywhere close to that for the season. 98 million was amazing," said Gavin Wratten.

"So ProVerb and I chatted and we said at the beginning of the 14th season let's just throw it out there, let's just try break a 100 million."

"And now, 142 million votes later, really I have no words. It's just unbelievable."

Idols already surpassed the total 98 million votes of the entire previous 13th season by the penultimate Sunday broadcast last week. That was when the total votes cast reached 110 million. What it means it that by Sunday a week ago, Idols already had 12 million votes more than the entire previous season. And the final week was still to come.

Then viewers cast another additional 32.5 million votes during the final broadcast week of Idols, that brought the total to just over 142 million votes for the entire 14th season.

Meanwhile viewership for Idols' 14th season is up by roughly half a million viewers over the previous 13th season - an astounding achievement for a show that viewers have to pay to watch.

Rating wise Idols at 1.55 million viewers during October for its most-watched episode on Mzansi Magic for the month lured more total viewers to the pay-TV channel than what the entire SABC3 as a free-to-air channel get: In October SABC3's top show was its weekday soap Isidingo with 1 020 712 viewers.

In fact, on the entire MultiChoice DStv pay-TV service Idols is the 3rd highest-rated show, behind just The Queen and Our Perfect Wedding - both Mzansi Magic shows on the same channel that's available to just DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers.

Idols that has been renewed for its 15th season, will start auditions in January 2019.

Auditions will take place on:
26 January 2019 – Pretoria, State Theatre
9 February 2019 – Durban, North Beach Amphitheatre
16 February 2019 – Johannesburg, Ellis Park
2 March 2019 – Cape Town, Century City

Several factors work together that could likely see Idols viewership and voting increase again.

From March 2019 an "unused roll-over data" rule will come into effect for cellular operators that could see consumers have access to more of their not yet used data before they lose it.

Elections will be held in South Africa in mid-2019, with the heightened social awareness around the importance of voting that could lead to an uptick in general voting behaviour elsewhere, for instance Idols.

Meanwhile smartphone sales, smartphone use, data use, and DStv subscriptions - especially of DStv Compact - in South Africa all keep growing despite a struggling economy, adding to the base elements fuelling Idols success.

Lastly, almost unnoticeably, Idols is ticking younger in winners - and that undoubtedly means an ongoing broadening of the audience.

It doesn't mean that the Idols audience is getting younger, but it means that more younger viewers are watching, and those younger viewers act as a tether to bring more other viewers with them, making the audience larger.

As viewers relate to, and identify with who they see on screen and reflect them, the inclusion of more younger top participants and steadily getting younger winners means that it's drawing in more younger viewers.

These younger viewers cause other family members to tune in as well for the viewing experience - people who might not have watched Idols but then follow the show.

Parents and older family members tend to watch what their children and younger family members watch, choose the TV to be tuned to and consider to be cool - a viewing trend that doesn't work the other way around.

Over the past four years since the show's transition to Mzansi Magic the Idols winner's age has steadily crept downwards from 30 (2014), 24 (2015), 22 (2016), 17 (2017) and 17 (2018) - an unmistakable trend line if you look closely.


ALSO READ: Idols winner Yanga Sobetwa on her life’s vision, big dreams including a PhD and starting a music academy – and 'freezing' her R1 million prize money.
ALSO READ: Idols runner-up Thato Makape: 'All of us in Postmasburg are winners because we came second in the greatest music competition show.'
ALSO READ: Yanga Sobetwa (17) from Delft the season 14 Idols winner as the show pulls a record-setting 142 million votes.
ALSO READ: Season 13: As Idols on Mzansi Magic continues to grow its viewership and voting, M-Net says Idols' voting engagement is now as important as ratings.

No snakes in the second season of M-Net's wedding reality competition show, The Wedding Bashers, promises Zavion Kotze.

Viewers will have to make sure they get to the church on time for the second season of The Wedding Bashers starting today on M-Net (DStv 101) at 18:00, with judge Zavion Kotze promising more diverse weddings - without snakes.

The second season of The Wedding Bashers, produced by [SIC] Entertainment, has some format changes, following after the first season as well as a special 4-episode miniseries The Wedding Bashers: With Love, in which the judges became organisers to surprise deserving couples across South Africa and helped them to get the wedding day of the dreams.

The decor-guru and resident "headboy" Zavion Kotze is back, along with "entertainment specialist" Denise Zimba, as well as the chef and food stylist Zola Nene judging the food, and the former Miss South Africa Bernelee Daniell, who will be weighing in on the fashion and style of the weddings.

Zola Nene and Bernelee Daniell replaced Siba Mtongana and Cindy Nell during the 4-episode With Love specials and continue on in the second season.

The second season of The Wedding Bash(ers) is also introducing a new spinning rating wheel representing levels such as "OMG Amazing" and "Ho Hum".

On top of the rating wheel, the judges will also rate each wedding with an overall experience score at the end of each episode that, when added together, will determine the top 5 weddings that make it to the finale of the competition.

The Wedding Bashers was conceptualised by Gavin Wratten, with Gavin Wratten and ProVerb (Tebogo Thekisho) as executive producers.

The second season of The Wedding Bashers on M-Net will have 15 episodes, as well as a 16th live finale with viewers who are going to be choosing the winning couple of the second season.

The couple that receives the best viewer rating from the bashers walks off with the title of Wedding of the Season and will unwrap some amazing wedding gifts.

The winning couple will take home a R250 000 cash prize from M-Net, R100 000 worth of jewellery from Jack Friedman Jewellers and a 5-night second honeymoon from Seychelles Tourism worth R80 000.

The second season of The Wedding Bashers will also feature just one wedding couple per episode instead of the two in the first season.

"We want to give the audience more of a chance to get to know the couple - we felt that that was missing in season one. It's a great season," said Zavion Kotze.

Zavion Kotze spoke to the media and took questions after a special M-Net press screening for TV critics and press of the first episode of the second season this week held inside the MultiChoice City cinema auditorium in Randburg, Johannesburg.

Explaining the scoring changes, Zavion Kotze said "for the flower and decor, the fashion, the food or the entertainment it's no longer as 6.3 or a 5 - it's more a catchphrase wheel".

"And at the end of each episode it's different from the first season because you can see the overall experience is actually revealed to the viewer. So there's an actual leader board throughout the season where you can see how your favourite couple is doing, which is a nice added touch."

"Everything flows exceptionally easily in the second season because I think it's a format that now works and we kind of know what it is. It's much easier to have commentary and you can pinpoint what to comment on."

"Weddings are so different, each one of them that they just throw you with all kinds of different things,so I really have to say The Wedding Bashers is a show where the content is not directed or scripted, it happens organically and naturally which I think is a very nice thing about the show. It's going to be a great, great season."

TVwithThinus asked if, after switching to active agents as the organisers of weddings in the four-episode special The Wedding Bashers: With Love, is was difficult to go back to being passive judges of attending weddings the four bashers didn't help to organise, and had to suppress the urge to help.

"I always have to suppress the urge to help!" says Zavion Kotze. "There's always something I see that I would have done differently, or changed or assisted with, but obviously if you're judging you can't dabble."

"I think the girls got quite a shock as to how much work actually goes into planning and executing a wedding from the give-back With Love episodes we did. So I think they quite enjoyed just being judges again."

"The second season of The Wedding Bashers is a really, really lovely season. There are wonderful, diverse weddings - viewers will see a lot of different weddings - and no snakes. I really think viewers are going to respond to it."

Viewers will also be kept informed of the top five weddings throughout The Wedding Bashers' second season, with the leader board that will be updated weekly.