Paramount Africa: Launching Paramount+ streamer in Africa in 2023 will help us reach even greater audiences.

by Thinus Ferreira

With the rebranding of ViacomCBS into Paramount, ViacomCBS Networks Africa will now be known simply as Paramount Africa, with Paramount Africa saying it's looking forward to launching the Paramount+ video streaming service across the continent in 2023 that will help it to reach even bigger audiences than through traditional pay-TV alone.

With Paramount looking to rapidly expand its Paramount+ streaming service globally, South Africa is now on the priority list for the streamer, with South Africans who will get access to Paramount+ next year as the next global streaming service after the launch of The Walt Disney Company's Disney+ streamer anytime from June this year.

South African consumers already have a growing access choice of over-the-top (OTT) streaming services ranging from Netflix SA and Amazon Prime Video, to MultiChoice Showmax, VIU, Apple TV+, Vodacom's Video Play, eMedia's eVOD and some smaller players.

Discovery+, WarnerMedia's HBO Max and NBCUniversal's Peacock have not yet launched in South Africa or made any announcements about expanding into South Africa or the sub-Saharan Africa region.

Paramount, which distributes TV channels like MTV, BET Africa, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon to pay-TV operators like MultiChoice's DStv and sells American series like Billions to pay-TV channels like M-Net (DStv 101), now see a new opportunity to go directly to consumers with its own streaming service.

A raft of new content has been commissioned specifically for Paramount+, like the video game adaptation Halo that will launch on the streamer on 24 March but which will not be accessible to South African viewers except through pirate viewing.

"We see a huge global opportunity in streaming, a much larger potential market than can be captured by linear TV and film alone," Bob Bakish, Paramount president and CEO said last week at Paramount's latest investors' presentation where the ViacomCBS to Paramount name change was announced.

"We're broader in four key areas: our diverse content, streaming model, mix of platforms and global reach. As we look forward, the size of the opportunity we see is matched only by our ambition to seize it." 

Craig Paterson, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager, says "The continued global expansion to bring Paramount+ to Africa by 2023 underscores the importance of the stories we create, which are only as powerful as the audiences they reach".

"Paramount+ has established itself as a leading brand in the industry in less than a year, and will strengthen the traditional business and allow greater opportunity for collaboration and growth."

"This is an exciting time for the Africa business, and our future streaming plans across multiple platforms will enable us to reach even greater audiences."

About Paramount+, Monde Twala, Paramount Africa's senior vice president, general manager, and peer lead at BET International, says "This pioneering move amplifies our dedication to innovation, collaboration through partnerships, creativity and global reach".

"It's a great opportunity to further showcase the power and growth of African content across the markets. While encapsulating the business objective and growth spectrum of the brand, the decision also enables us to continue to focus on delivering unique stories from Africa to the world."

"ViacomCBS Networks Africa, now Paramount Africa, will have the impetus to go forward in delivering on driving social change, diverse entertainment content creation and global format production partnerships."

Editor's note: In South Africa, Paramount has now started to use the Vuma Reputation Management PR firm to do its corporate communications.

ALSO READ: Paramount+ video streamer launching in 2023 in South Africa

Clive Morris Productions of ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Isono telenovela on BET Africa reveals 'exceptionally huge challenges' that the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown caused.

by Thinus Ferreira

At an Isono wrap party for ViacomCBS Networks Africa's likely cancelled first telenovela on BET Africa (DStv 129) producers for the first time revealed the "exceptional huge challenges" that the Clive Morris Productions show faced because of Covid-19 and that it oddly never discussed or told the media during its actual production run.

At a wrap party in Illovo in Johannesburg in late November for Isono, it now came to light how the production struggled with Covid-19 challenges.

Clive Morris Productions, ViacomCBS Networks Africa and DNA Brand Architects didn't want to tell the media about the wrap party where executives spoke and didn't bother to involve media, although Isono, BET and ViacomCBS Networks Africa's publicity and marketing division were eager for media support during the show's run.

The Covid-19 challenges of Isono is something that the producers and ViacomCBS Networks Africa for whatever reasons didn't talk to media about during Isono's actual production or broadcast run and that would have been helpful for South Africa's film and TV industry to know at the time. 

Clive Morris who spoke at the event, reportedly said that "Covid is not something anybody could have predicted or planned for, so when you're working on a finite production budget, immediately when you have to start deviating in the way in which you produce it adds a lot of costs".

"So the very first thing was shutting down the production and trying to get some kind of timeline as to when we might be back in production. At that stage, nobody knew how long the first wave was gonna last, or the subsequent waves thereafter."

"Obviously Viacom being a global group, the American head office took a view around when they felt it would be safe for us to re-enter into production. And that was quite a lengthy period. We were off the floor for two months on the production."

"Through the partnership, Viacom was able to raise additional funds to help pay cast and crew retainers over the course of that time so that, you know, people still had income, which was an extra cost of production," Clive Morris said.

"Then because you're not producing the minutes per day, you still have got the running costs. And then over and above that we now had to start factoring in things like PPE, hiring additional space to be able to shift production off the sets so that we could social distance properly."

"We had to limit the number and rewrite scenes that would be deemed as unsafe Covid working environments, at that time."

"So all of that had an impact from the cost on the ground, we brought in a compliance company, which is a public safety company to do regular testing and to help us manage compliance on set.

"So all of these things were exceptional huge challenges that every producer had to work with across the board," Clive Morris said.

ALSO READ: After M-Net axed Legacy, SABC3’s The Estate and BET Africa’s Isono are likely also on the TV chopping block for cancellation.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Clive Morris Productions suspends filming on Isono as ViacomCBS Networks Africa and BET Africa's first South African produced telenovela because of growing Covid-19 pandemic.

After M-Net axed Legacy SABC3’s The Estate and BET Africa’s Isono are likely also on the TV chopping block for cancellation.

by Thinus Ferreira

South African television primetime could likely claim two more TV victims with the cancellation of the telenovela Legacy on M-Net (DStv 101) at 19:00 after two seasons that might very well be followed by the axing of two other local weekday telenovelas, The Estate on SABC3 at 19:00 and Isono on BET (DStv 129) at 21:30.

Both The Estate on SABC3 getting a months-old rebroadcast on SABC1 to try and lure more viewers, as well as Isono on BET, have co-incidentally been produced by the same production company, Clive Morris Productions, and neither have yet been renewed for a second season.

The SABC didn't respond to multiple media queries made over the past week about The Estate and why it hasn't been renewed yet. 

Ratings kept falling for The Estate in the tough timeslot reaching only a measley 286 902 viewers during primetime at most on SABC3 during October in the 19:00 timeslot. On SABC1 older episodes of The Estate as part of a repurposed rerun averaged 2.3 million viewers in October.

The Estate that was never a viewership success for SABC3 plunged further in the ratings race and suffered further damage after e.tv launched its House of Zwide earlier this year in the same competitive timeslot.

At a recent red carpet wrap party for Isono neither Clive Morris Productions nor ViacomCBS Networks Africa wanted to say a word about a second season that had also finished production on the first season.

Asked if Isono is cancelled as BET's first locally-produced telenovela, Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager for ViacomCBS Networks Africa didn't give a specific answer but said "BET Africa remains committed to make significant investment into the local production industry, the launch of our first star-studded daily drama format Isono has been popular with viewers across the continent".

"Africans are among the most devoted and enthusiastic viewers of daily novelas and we are honoured to be a part of this long tradition of true local storytelling."

"We continue to focus on providing audiences with jam-packed locally-brewed content, celebrating black culture and authentic storytelling."

"There will be a number of game-changing announcements for the channel as we get into the new year and we encourage our viewers to keep tuned in for the latest in upcoming local content."

ALSO READ: Clive Morris Productions of ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Isono telenovela on BET Africa reveals 'exceptionally huge challenges' that the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown caused.

Love Island Nigeria to be shown from October on MTV Base on DStv for 7 weeks as the 4th version of the ITV Studios reality format to be filmed in Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

A second iteration of the reality series Love Island done in Africa is coming to the continent with Love Island Nigeria that will be broadcast on MTV Base from October for 7 weeks with an all-black cast and that will mark the 4th version of the show filmed on the continent.

Love Island Nigeria follows months after Love Island South Africa, produced by Rapid Blue, was broadcast earlier in 2021 on M-Net (DStv 101), with the South African adaptation of the ITV Studios reality format that was highly criticised for its lack of a diverse cast, a myriad of ongoing errors and mistakes, and with the show that was plagued by unexplained bad production values.

Love Island Nigeria - the first version that will have an all-black cast of 20 individuals all looking to couple up and to stay coupled up in a Love Island villa to win the prize money or otherwise getting dumped - follows after the recent Love Island SA, and seasons of Love Island UK on ITV and Love Island France on Amazon Prime Video that were all filmed in South Africa's Western Cape province.

It's not yet clear whether Love Island Nigeria will also be filmed in South Africa and in the province - similar to a growing number of Nigerian music videos over the past five years - or where exactly the Nigerian version's "villa" will be located.

Love Island Nigeria will be broadcast from October on a mobile streaming app in Nigeria, including on Nigeria's Free TV digital terrestrial television (DTT), as well as on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's MTV Base channel that is available across sub-Saharan Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

ViacomCBS Networks Africa didn't respond with answers about Love Island Nigeria's MTV Base simulcast made on Friday, seeking confirmation about where specifically in terms of geographic area the show will be carried on MTV Base, whether it includes the MTV Base footprint in Southern Africa, and whether there will be an improvement in Love Island production values. 

Despite the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic and the rise in cases and deaths from the contagious Delta-variant across the African continent, the producers of Love Island Nigeria held a no-socially-distanced and largely mask-less media event on Thursday last week in Lagos.

The event to officially announce Love Island Nigeria, largely ignored Covid-19 safety protocols and was attended by Nigerian journalists, representatives of the United Kingdom's department of international trade, a British multinational TV production and distribution company, as well as Digital Play Africa that is owned by Toyin Subair as executive chairman who is also an executive producer on the show.

Toyin Subeir said that Love Island Nigeria "will air in Nigeria, and would also air, the same way, in different parts of the world".

"Because of how strong the product value is, and because it's going to be the first of its kind as an all-black Love Island in the whole world, it is also going to be available digitally and on Free to air TVs across the world. It shows that we are about to exhibit everything including our production, relationships, and lifestyle to the rest of the world. That is what we plan to do with Love Island."

"Love Island Nigeria, the first format to have an all-black cast, will give 20 singles an opportunity to come together and share the true essence of love, romance, friendship and relationships with all the twists and intrigues in 7 exhilarating weeks in the Love Island villa".

Odiri Iwuji of the United Kingdom-based Chudor House Productions is also an executive producer on Love Island Nigeria, while Neil Oyenekan is the series producer.

Huub Van Ballegooy, head of global content and productions at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said "As we have already seen in different parts of the world, Love Island works equally well across linear, digital and catch-up platforms".

MultiChoice and ViacomCBS Networks Africa quietly switch placeholder channel MTV Music 24 on DStv to MTV Hits after two years.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and ViacomCBS Networks Africa have quietly changed the MTV Music 24 channel into MTV Hits (DStv 323).

Apparently indicative of the empty space-filler and time-waste that the channel is, neither MultiChoice, ViacomCBS Networks Africa, or ViacomCBS Networks Africa's PR agency DNA Brand Architects could be bothered to notify the media, or to respond with answers to media queries or with the most basic of press release announcement.

The switch from MTV Music 24 to MTV Hits comes just 2 years after the tired VH1 Classic was changed into MTV Music 24. 

Last week TVwithThinus in a media enquiry asked DNA Brand Architects for help about MTV Music 24 upcoming change to MTV Hits. Why is ViacomCBS Networks Africa changing the music channel? What will MTV Hits be showing? What will MTV Hits programming be? Is there an official channel logo?

DNA Brand Architects said that it hasn't public announced the channel's change and that "We will share a statement as soon as possible".

By Tuesday morning at the time of publication of this article, and after MTV Music 24 had now changed to MTV Hits, there was still nothing.

Whatever MTV Hits has or shows is clearly of no real importance to MultiChoice nor ViacomCBS Networks Africa that neither cares for any exposure of press coverage of the change or the channel, or about communicating about it to the media.

UPDATE Tuesday 1 June 2021 12:15:

Fathima Beckmann, ViacomCBS Networks Africa communications director has responded after I reached out to her on Tuesday morning - something one would expect DNA Brand Architects to have done days ago and that actually gets paid by ViacomCBS to communicate on ViacomCBS's behalf, instead of showing an insouciant attitude towards a media enquiry.

The ever-gracious Fathima Beckmann says that "similar to the VH1 transition to MTV Music 24, ViacomCBS Networks Africa has transitioned MTV Music 24 to the current and evolved Music Hits on DStv" and confirms that "the transition was made yesterday on DStv channel 323".

"This channel replacement with MTV Hits offers current and relevant content for our viewers and will continue to play just music videos which we are confident will resonate even more strongly with local audiences."

"MTV Hits will continue to play current, proven and future music videos from all genres, including pop, dance, rock and urban with popular artists from Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Drake, Beyonce to Imaging Dragons and Ariana Grande."

ALSO READ: VH1 Classic on DStv swapped for MTV Music 24.

ViacomCBS Networks Africa calls off its revived 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards in Uganda after growing criticism of the country's alleged human rights abuses.

by Thinus Ferreira

ViacomCBS Networks Africa has called off its revived MTV Africa Music Awards that would have taken place in Kampala, Uganda on 20 February, following ongoing and growing criticism across the African continent against MTV over forging ahead with the awards despite Uganda's allegations of human rights abuses and cutting off its citizens from the internet.

Late on Thursday ViacomCBS Networks Africa announced that the 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards, planned in coordination with Uganda's tourism ministry and that would have been broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, has been postponed without citing any reasons. 

ViacomCBS Networks Africa has not yet issued any statement or given any reason for the abrupt cancellation but over the past few weeks the struggle of forging ahead with the awards in Uganda has become even more difficult for ViacomCBS Networks Africa and its MTV Base brand given the complexities of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the political turmoil and instability in the country.

On social media simply announcing that the planned virtual awards show will no longer be taking place on 20 February in Uganda as scheduled, MTV Base Africa said it is "postponing the 2021 Africa Music Awards".

ViacomCBS Networks Africa in late-2020 announced that it is reviving the so-called "MAMAs" after a 4-year absence.

Bobi Wine (real name Robert Kyagulanyi), the Ugandan presidential candidate who himself has won a MTV award before he became a member of Uganda's parliament in 2017, held a news conference on Thursday and said "It was painful to see how MTV was being used to sanitise the oppressive regime here in Uganda".

"I am glad MTV is also seeing it and acting in respect of all the rights of artists. It would be such a shame for the MTV Music Awards to be held in Uganda under gunpoint."

Last month Uganda's government abruptly ordered an internet blackout and shut off the country's entire population from the web and social media. Bobi Wine and family members were also placed under house arrest.

Bobi Wine's legal representatives have released a 50-page report detailing allegations of human rights violations by Uganda's government and alleged irregularities in regards with the country's violence-filled election that took place on 14 January.

Uganda's decades-long leader, Yoweri Museveni, was once again announced as president for a record 6th term.

Dr Vincent Magombe is a Ugandan journalist, broadcaster and university lecturer, wrote that ViacomCBS Networks Africa's "executives cannot claim ignorance" and argued that the media group should cancel the MAMAs in the country.

"How can they now contemplate, albeit virtually, bringing the best of Africa's musical talent to participate in a global awards ceremony taking place in Uganda at this time?"

"By doing so MTV would not only be lending itself to whitewashing the regime's crimes, but also implicate all nominated artists. How can MTV and Viacom executives, who claim to be supportive of Black Lives Matter, now look the other way when those lives are African?"

Now discontinued, but during its run, WarnerMedia's CNN and MultiChoice that alternated its annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards between South Africa and a different African country every other year, were careful to specifically select an African nation where actions against human rights violations and support for media freedom have been shown.

Wendy Williams back on BET in Africa for her 12 season - but with several changes, episodes a month late and cold topics that's old and dated.

by Thinus Ferreira

On Tuesday at 09:30 Wendy Williams bounced back on BET (DStv 129) for the premiere of season 12 of her American talk show but with several changes - including her signature "Hot Topics" that have now become cold topics and hopelessly outdated with ViacomCBS Networks Africa that is now running episodes a month late.

While MultiChoice's constantly wrong online DStv episode guide (EPG) shows The Wendy Williams Show to broadcast at 10:00 on weekday mornings, Wendy is actually shown from 09:30 to 10:15 on BET.

Wendy Williams is now back in her New York studio for The Wendy Williams Show but her content and the subjects, gossip and the people she is discussing and commenting on, are hopelessly dated. 

BET that previously used to ran episodes of seasons of Wendy Williams first on the exact same date as they are broadcast in the United States on DStv, and then a few days later, hasn't said why it is now showing episodes of the 12th season of The Wendy Williams Show a full month after the original broadcast date on DStv.

Tuesday's debut episode of the 12th season of The Wendy Williams Show on BET was broadcast on 21 September 2020 in America already, with very little that's left that's relevant in it.

Wendy Williams for instance talking about NeNe Leakes leaving The Real Housewives Of franchise, now awkwardly comes across as out of touch with the watching of episodes that feels like a waste of time since topics and stories have moved on so quickly and so long ago already.

In other changes because of the Covid-19 pandemic the Just Wendy/Perler Productions show, distributed by Debmar-Mercury, has ditched the in-studio audience that Wendy called "my co-host" in favour of production crew members.

Crew, now with masks on and adhering to social distancing, are now sitting and clapping on a few of the purple chairs.

Also mysteriously gone without explanation is DJ Booth from the show's DJ booth, replaced by DJ Suss One.

With DJ Booth and Wendy Williams who have unfollowed each other on social media, it has led to rife speculation over the past month that he might have left because of the talk show's toxic work environment, or a personal fight with Wendy, or because of drama between Wendy and Nicki Minaj since he worked closely with the rapper.  

After heavy criticism ViacomCBS Networks Africa backtracks on 'activist' Pearl Thusi's tone deaf planned interview on BET with alleged rapist Tall Ass Mo in 4th season of Behind the Story.

by Thinus Ferreira

Following heavy criticism of its controversial decision, ViacomCBS Networks Africa is retreating and will no longer broadcast an interview between Pearl Thusi and Tol Ass Mo - accused of alleged gender-based violence and involved in an ongoing court case - in the upcoming 4th season of the celebrity profile series Behind the Story on BET (DStv 129).

Controversy erupted when BET Africa announced that Mongezi Mahlangu, known as Tal Ass Mo, together with his wife Mome, would be included in the next series of sit-down interviews in the upcoming 4th season of the celebrity profile series Behind the Story fronted by Netflix's Queen Sono star Pearl Thusi.

With MultiChoice and ViacomCBS Africa running gender-based violence (GBV) campaigns and TV ads during Women's Month over the scourge of violence against women in South Africa, Pearl Thusi was accused of being "tone deaf" after she shared that she would be interviewing Tol Ass Mo who is facing ongoing court action after allegations of rape brought against him by actress Lerato Moloi.

In a statement earlier this month on 4 August 2020 Lerato Moloi revealed that she was allegedly sexually assaulted and raped by the comedian while working on a TV production in 2014 in Paarl in the Western Cape.

Pearl Thusi who initially defended her right to interview Tol Ass Mo later deleted her social media post and has now also locked her Twitter account, with BET and ViacomCBS Africa that initially also supported the celebrity interview inclusion in the upcoming season.

Pearl Thusi initially compared her upcoming Tal Ass Mo interview to that of CBS News' Gayle King in the United States. Gayle King interviewed R Kelly for a news special specifically about the multiple rape allegations swirling around him. Pearl Thusi said that she is not a judge but "an activist".

When Pearl Thusi was asked when she will be interviewing Lerato Moloi, she said she is "still waiting for her to agree".

On Sunday afternoon ViacomCBS Networks Africa in a statement made a a U-turn and announced that the Pearl Thusi sit-down with Tol Ass Mo will no longer be happening as part of Behind the Story.

"BET Africa confirms that the Tol Ass Mo and Mome interview from the upcoming new season of Behind the Story with Pearl Thusi will not be aired on the channel out of respect for the current environment, legal proceedings and the basis of impartiality," ViacomCBS Networks Africa said.

Pearl Thusi stays getting L's for her absolute and utter tone deafness..

Sis cannot read the room for anything..

Nobody wanted some feel good interview about a rapist. Especially not now when were in the midst of a GBV epidemic..

— A Black Woman 🇿🇦 🇿🇦 (@SneKhumaloSA) August 22, 2020

You are missing the point! Your tone to interviewing Tol Ass Mo was completely different compared to Gayle’s. You were excited to be interviewing him whereas Gayle was seeking to hold R Kelly accountable. It’s ridiculous for you to flip it as if it’s the same thing. pic.twitter.com/Z5voqfp4Fj

— Busi Lethole #JusticeForShoni (@BusiLethole) August 23, 2020

@pearlthusi it would be great to understand what made you want to interview him with the current allegations when GBV is robbing the country of its women. What happened to Wathintabafazi wathintimbokodo? Where is your empathy 🤔

— Lancaster (@Lancast06187973) August 23, 2020

Over the weekend TVwithThinus asked ViacomCBS Networks Africa why Pearl Thusi and BET Africa is doing an interview with an alleged rapist, while a courtcase is ongoing and how such an interview aligns with MultiChoice's latest gender-based violence campaign and Viacom Africa's statements and campaigns about the issue.

ViacomCBS Networks Africa said that "BET Africa and Behind the Story supports the ongoing fight against gender-based violence and we are consistently creating content and using our platforms to amplify and support a positive and urgent change in attitudes and behavious towards gender-based violence. There is an immediate need to drive and champion education of this crucial societal issue".

ViacomCBS Networks Africa was also asked what specifically it and the BET Africa channel's policy is regarding giving exposure to alleged perpetrators of gender-based violence.

ViacomCBS Networks Africa in response to this question said that it is "concerned about the seriousness of this matter, the mature of the allegations and respect the sensitivities".

When asked if ViacomCBS Networks Africa is also interviewing Lerato Moloi and giving her the same airtime as the glossy profile celebrity interview to be aired with Tall Ass Mo, ViacomCBS Networks Africa said "we continue to engage with all parties concerned in relation to the interview".

Coronavirus: Clive Morris Productions suspends filming on Isono as ViacomCBS Networks Africa and BET Africa's first South African produced telenovela because of growing Covid-19 pandemic.

by Thinus Ferreira

Production has been suspended on Isono, BET's first locally-produced South African weekday telenovela, because of the growing Covid-19 pandemic in the country with ViacomCBS Networks Africa that has also pushed out and changed the planned Isono premiere date of 27 July to "coming soon".

In a statement Clive Morris Productions (CMP) says that "In light of the ongoing uncertainty around the Covid-19 in our country, and considering we have entered the peak phase of the pandemic as confirmed by the local authorities, we have made the tough decision to temporarily suspend all production activities on the set of Isono with immediate effect."

Clive Morris Productions' first priority is the safety and health of the Isono cast and crew."

ViacomCBS Africa says that as a result of the temporary production suspension, the Isono premiere date has been postponed.

Isono, that revolves around the "7 deadly sins" of a dysfunctional family headed by an evil matriarch has Rami Chuene, Nthati Moshesh, Bohang Moeko, Senzo Radebe, Anga Makubalo, Tokollo' TK' Sebothoma and Didintle Khunou as part of the cast.

Meanwhile MultiChoice and ViacomCBS Networks Africa have been running for weeks, and continue to broadcast, DStv promos that include Isono and doesn't even list the now postponed 27 July starting date but an erroneous "6 July".

ViacomCBS Networks Africa boss Monde Twala adds BET International responsibilities to job title.

by Thinus Ferreira

The ViacomCBS Networks Africa boss Monde Twala has added BET International responsibilities to his job title and will now hold the title of senior vice president of ViacomCBS Networks Africa, Editorial and General Manager and peer lead for BET International. 

According to ViacomCBS Networks Africa, Monde Twala will now work closely with Kerry Taylor, the executive vice president of VaicomCBS Networks International's entertainment and youth brands, as well as the larger international division to guide editorial direction and identify opportunities to strengthen and grow the BET brand outside the United States. 

Monde Twala will focus on driving brand resonance across key markets says ViacomCBS Networks Africa while working on the media company's ongoing digital transformation.

"As head of BET’s largest international market, Monde Twala has an incredible track record of driving development and growth for all of our ViacomCBS brands across the African continent," says Kerry Taylor in a statement.

"He is a passionate champion of the brand and I have no doubt that he will drive it forward in a strong, impactful way while ensuring BET International elevates black culture globally."

Monde Twala in the statement says that "BET is the unifying platform for all-things black culture. I'm excited to collaborate with Kerry Taylor and the international team to unite, empower and elevate black culture and excellence around the world, spotlighting the diverse voices, stories, music and news that need to be seen and heard."

So far at ViacomCBS Networks Africa Monde Twala has helped with the creation of ViacomCBS Africa's major music events, including the Africa Day Benefit Concert at Home to help children and families in Africa impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the MTV Africa Music Awards.

Monde Twala has also worked alongside local production teams to create a range of programming including MTV Newsish, BET Breaks, scripted biopics and reality formats, and has overseen BET's expanding local production content slate.

2020 BET Awards sees Nigeria's Burna Boy snag Best International Act while Amapiano vocalist Sha Sha makes history by becoming first Zimbabwean to win the award for Viewers' Choice Best New International Act.

by Thinus Ferreira

Nigeria's Burna Boy won the Best International Act Award for the second time at the 2020 BET Awards that was broadcast on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's BET (DStv 129) channel on Monday, while the Amapiano vocalist Sha Sha made history as the first Zimbabwean to win the Viewers' Choice Best New International Act Award.

The 2020 BET Awards with comedian and actress Amanda Seales as the host was held and broadcast virtually this year for two reasons because as she described it "outside it's all Covid and cops".

The French activist, Assa Traoré received the 2020 BET International Global Good Award. 

This year was the 20th anniversary of the BET Awards and the 40th anniversary of the BET TV channel with the 2020 BET Awards that ran under the theme of "Our Culture Can't be Cancelled" in the wake of civil unrest in the United States because of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

"The Best International Act categories over the years have honoured the outstanding achievements of some of the most talented international acts from across the world. BET is committed to shining a light on talent, elevating our culture and promoting diversity through song," said Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager of ViacomCBS Networks Africa and Peer Lead BET International.

"This year’s winners and nominees reflect an abundance of creative expression. We salute all the nominees and winners.

The 2020 BET Awards this year - as a celebration of black culture, love, joy, and pride - made use of dynamic artist-generated performances and packages, filled with inspirational messages of Black Lives Matter and the need for racial equality.

During the show, Beyoncé was honoured with the Humanitarian Award for her years of philanthropic service which she dedicated to the Black Lives Matter protestors.

A slew of performers and stars appeared, including Alicia Keys, Chloe x Halle, DaBaby, D Smoke, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Jonathan McReynolds, Kane Brown, Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, SiR, Summer Walker, Usher and Wayne Brady. 

Several performances addressed the killings of black men and women while in police custody, the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests over police violence.

Some performances also referenced the coronavirus pandemic, incorporating Covid-19 into lyrics or masks into the performance. In addition, Lil Wayne paid tribute to Kobe Bryant while Wayne Brady honoured Little Richard. Both the NBA star and singing legend died last year. 

The complete list of the 2020 BET Awards winners is:

Best International Act
Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Viewers' Choice: Best New International Act
Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Lizzo

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown

Best Group
Migos

Best Collaboration
Chris Brown featuring Drake - "No Guidance"

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Dababy

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Megan Thee Stallion

Video of the Year
DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle & John Legend - "Higher"

Video director of the Year
Teyana "Spike Tee" Taylor

Best New Artist
Roddy Ricch

Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Kirk Franklin - "Just for Me"

Best Actress
Issae Rae

Best Actor
Michael B. Jordan

Youngstars Award
Marsai Martin

Best Movie
Queen & Slim

Sportswoman of the Year
Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year
LeBron James

Album of the Year
Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial (Roddy Ricch)

BET Her Award
Beyonce featuring Blue Ivy Carter, Wizkid & Saint JHB "Brown Skin Girl"

Coronavirus: Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2020 back on and taking place 2 May - with slime - but now done mostly from home with Victoria Justice as host.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Nickelodeon channel's Kids' Choice Awards 2020 is back on and will take place this Saturday, 2 May - and although there will still be slime it will mostly be a done-from-home show.

After the Kids' Choice Awards 2020 that was set for 22 March was called off because of the growing global Covid-19 pandemic, it will now be shown on Nickelodeon in the United States on Saturday.

A broadcast date for the Kids' Choice Awards 2020 on the African Nickelodeon (DStv 305) channel feed of ViacomCBS Networks Africa isn't known yet with the awards that doesn't appear on the latest schedule yet.

The awards will be hosted by Victoria Justice and celebrities scheduled to appear on the Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2020 include Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Camila Cabello, Millie Bobby Brown, Ellen DeGeneres, BTS, Shawn Mendes, Lil Nas X, Dove Cameron, Tom Holland, David Dobrik, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke and SSSniperWolf.

There will also be appearances from cast members of The Avengers: Endgame (Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner), and a sneak peek of Nickelodeon's new live-action series The Astronauts, from Imagine Entertainment.

Segments will include JoJo Siwa discovering slime secretly placed in every area of her home; a performance by recording artist and actor Asher Angel of his chart-topping single "All Day"; and an look at Nick's Slime in Space voyage.

The NBA champion LeBron James will receive the 2020 Generation Change Award. Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2020 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions with Jay Schmalholz as executive producer.

Coronavirus: Trevor Noah upsizes The Daily Show on Comedy Central to 45 minute episodes.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African comedian Trevor Noah is upsizing his late-night talk show done from his New York highrise with The Daily Show that will expand this week from a half-hour show to 45 minutes on Comedy Central.

With less original and new content on television because of the global Covid-19 pandemic that has had a massive negative impact on the South African and international TV and film industry, and coupled with the success of the renamed "The Daily Social Distancing Show", Comedy Central is expanding the show with an additional 15 minutes per episode.

The Daily Show is broadcast in the United States from Mondays to Thursdays and seen a day later in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa from Tuesdays to Fridays at 22:30 on the African channel feed of ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Comedy Central (DStv 122).

It will be the first time in the 24-year history of The Daily Show that episodes will be longer says Comedy Central in a statement.

"The news of supersized Daily Show episodes comes at a moment in time when viewers are heading to host Trevor Noah not just for satire and escapism, but also for an honest point of view and as a source of trustworthy information."

This week is the 6th week of "The Daily Social Distancing Show" that Trevor Noah now anchors from his home without the help of a live audience or the New York-based studio. The show has seen linear TV ratings rise as well as digital gains over the last month.

Coronavirus: Nickelodeon to broadcast a global KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall to offer a kid's-eye view of Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Nickelodeon (DStv 305) channel will broadcast a special KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall globally including South Africa and across Africa with actress Kristen Bell as the host to give a kid's-eye view of life amidst the growing Covid-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.

The hourlong special includes a performance by Alicia Keys and appearances by Charli D'Amelio, Josh Gad, Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, and Ciara and Russell Wilson, as well as two American doctors.

A broadcast date for KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall isn't available yet for ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Nickelodeon channel that runs in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall will directly address kids' questions and concerns about the virus, and include tips and insights from medical experts on ways to be healthy. It will also have first-person accounts from kids and families in the United States who are social distancing and making changes to their everyday lives and relationships.

Dr Nadine Burke Harris, California's surgeon general, and Dr Vivek H. Murthy, a former US surgeon general will also appear.

"It's so important to remember that we are all in this together and our kids and loved ones need outlets to help them process and understand what's going on and, most importantly, to still feel connected," says Kristen Bell.

"I hope kids and families come away from this special, feeling a little more comfortable and that they enjoy some much-needed moments of humour during this difficult time."

The KidsTogether: The Nickelodeon Town Hall is part of Nickelodeon's new global initiative that launched on 18 March 2020, using Nickelodeon's most popular characters and talent to engage with kids and families on tips for staying healthy and also ideas for activities to do together while in the home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Characters used include SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue's Clues & You!, Henry Danger, Bubble Guppies and The Casagrandes.

Coronavirus: MultiChoice makes SuperSport 1 and SuperSport 7 channels available to lower-tiered DStv packages; StarSat says its TV channels are free on its app.

by Thinus Ferreira

Pay-TV in South Africa is starting to following the lead of overseas satellite subscription television services as the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic grows with MultiChoice that isn't yet offering free weeks of service to DStv subscribers as others are doing but that is making premium SuperSport channels available to lower-tiered bouquets.

MultiChoice has made some of its channels freely accessible on its DStv Now streaming platform, while TV channels can also be watched for free on StarSat's app.

Pay-TV services worldwide are grappling with how to make up for the content - especially sport but also other general entertainment - that subscribers have already paid for but that isn't happening anymore due to cancellations and postponements due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Sky's Sky Sports is allowing subscribers to freeze their Sky subscriptions while Viaplay from the Nordic Entertainment Group operating in the Scandinavian countries has reduced the subscription fees on all of its sports packages.

In Germany Sky is giving all its subscribers its Sky Cinema and Sky Entertainment packages for free for the next month.

In France Canal+ announced this week that it is making its service free for two weeks. "Canal Plus goes free for everyone on all set-top boxes. For our subscribers we are opening up the access to all our channels - cinema, series, youth and documentaries," Maxime Saada, Canal+ chairman and CEO said.

Canal+ is also doing the same across Africa in all African nations where it operates where anyone with a Canal+ decoder will be able to access all channels until 30 April 2020.

On Thursday MultiChoice made the SuperSport 1 and SuperSport 7 channels available to lower-tiered DStv subscribers until 30 April 2020.

SuperSport 1 that is only available to DStv Premium subscribers can now be accessed by DStv Compact and DStv Compact Plus subscribers as well. SuperSport 7 can now be watched by DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Access and DStv Family subscribers as well.

SuperSport 1 has programmed the ESPN acquired "30 for 30" documentary series which has been showing since this past Monday.

MultiChoice is also offering a selection of the TV news channels carried on DStv for free to any South African viewer on its streaming DStv Now platform, along with the People’s Weather, SuperSport Play, PBS Kids and Channel O music channel.

Some older library episodes of the series Igazi, The River, Isibaya, Binnelanders, Suidooster, and Die Ware Naarheid are are accessible.

MultiChoice has also made CNN International (DStv 401) available to DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers. Africanews has launched on DStv channel 417. 

The Da Vinci (DStv 318) channel has been added to DStv until the end of May and ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) has been made available to DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers until 14 April.

StarTimes told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry that StarSat's online streaming platform, StarTimes On, is available to all South Africans "with severalnews, kids, educational, sports and entertainment TV channels to view for free, as well as plenty of video-on-demand content".

"Even without subscribing to StarSat's pay-TV account customers can have access to basic and critical information of the current Covid-19 pandemic".

ViacomCBS calls off the 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles that was set for 22 March; awards show postponed indefinitely.

by Thinus Ferreira

ViacomCBS has decided to postpone its annual 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards set for 22 March 2020 in Los Angeles, although it's still being advertised in promos on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and Africa.

The 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards is the latest award show and event being cancelled or postponed in the United States and globally as novel coronavirus Covid-19 cases and fears spread in America and globally.

"The Kids’ Choice Awards scheduled for 22 March 2020 in Los Angeles is being postponed in consideration of the safety and well-being of every person involved with the show, which is our top priority. We will have further information about a new date in the future," says Nickelodeon in a statement.

The Grammy winner Chance the Rapper was supposed to be the host of the 2020 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2020 is produced by Nickelodeon Productions with Michael Dempsey and Jay Schmalholz as executive producers.

Meanwhile production on the American TV drama series Riverdale seen on M-Net (DStv 101) has also been shut down for the time being on Wednesday after a crew member came into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.

In Africa MultiChoice and M-Net are going ahead with this Saturday's 7th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards taking place in Lagos, Nigeria as well as the 2020 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards taking place at The Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.

Collectively thousands of people from across sub-Sahara will attend the two award show ceremonies which will both be broadcast live on the Africa Magic and Mzansi Magic channels on DStv.

The National Film and Video Foundation's (NFVF) 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) is also still on for 27 and 28 March at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile as the global coronavirus pandemic spreads, M-Net on Thursday told TVwithThinus that it is "re-assessing the timelines and location for the next season of Survivor South Africa and will make a decision soon".

Filming on the new 8th season of Survivor SA, entitled Survivor SA: Immunity Island is supposed to start soon but will very likely now be delayed, likely also impacting the broadcast starting date of September 2020 which might be pushed out as well.

American talk shows and late night hosts including Trevor Noah shun studio audiences as coronavirus fears grow.

by Thinus Ferreira

South African and African viewers will soon notice the start of the absence of live studio audiences in several American shows which are doing away with in-studio audiences for an unspecified period as coronavirus cases worldwide and in the United States and fears of in-person transmission increase.

In South Africa, where the number of coronavirus cases is increasing, the TV industry has not yet implemented any changes in terms of in-studio audiences for local talk shows, game shows, youth shows and other programming which are filmed before rows of seats filled with people from across the country.

Producers of The Wendy Williams Show carried on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's BET (DStv 129) is immediately doing away with the New York in-studio audience that Wendy Williams often refers to as her "co-hosts".

"Wendy values her co-hosts and their daily participation but in light of the current health climate, The Wendy Williams Show will not have a live studio audience until further notice. We will continue to produce a daily live talk show and look forward to welcoming the studio audience back when the time is right," the show says in a statement.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show carried on M-Net's VUZU (DStv 116) says that "With the rapidly changing nature of the Covid-19 outbreak and out of concern for our audience attending The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Telepictures will suspend audience attendance during tapings effective Monday 16March," Telepictures says in a statement.

The Real shown on BET - also produced by Warner Bros from the same Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank in Los Angeles as Ellen will however start to screen people before allowing them to sit as in-studio audience members.

"We are asking all guests to confirm that neither they nor any member of their household have traveled within the past 3 weeks to or through a location that has been deemed Level 3 by the Centre for Disease Control, currently China, Italy, Iran and South Korea," says Warner Bros. in a statement.

"These new and temporary precautionary measures have been put in place out of an abundance of caution and out of concern for the health and safety of our guests and staff."

No longer seen in South Africa, Dr. Phil is also axing the in-studio audience for now. "The health of our audience members, staff and crew are the priority," says Carla Pennington, the show's executive producer in a statement

The Late Late Show with James Corden done from Los Angeles and seen on M-Net (DStv 101) will continue with a live in-studio audience. The Talk seen on 1Magic (DStv 103) and done from The CBS Studio Centre in Los Angeles is also still taking audience members during late March and early-April.

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah carried on ViacomCBS Networks Africa's Comedy Central (DStv 122) and that records episodes in New York is currently still making tickets available for audience members this week but will get rid of the audience from next week.

"Our top priority is the safety of our guests and staff. Beginning Monday 16 March The Daily Show with Trevor Noah will film without a live, in-studio audience," says Comedy Central in a statement.

"This move is being made out of an abundance of caution and concern regarding the spread of the Covid-19 virus and per guidance from New York City officials to take appropriate actions. There have been no developments at The Daily Show’s studio to cause concern for audience members who have plans to attend the show tonight or tomorrow."

"Measures have been taken to protect everyone who enters and works in the office and studio with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures."

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert shown on e.tv and also recording in New York from inside the Ed Sullivan Theatre is also stopping letting people in.

"Beginning Monday 16 March The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will film without a live, in-studio audience," says CBS in a statement. "This move is being made out of an abundance of caution regarding the spread of the Covid-19 virus and the uncertainty of the situation for future weeks."

"Per guidance from New York City officials, CBS and The Late Show are doing their part to help decrease the potential rate of transmission in our communities. There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences."

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver seen on M-Net (DStv 101) is also removing the in-studio in New York.

"As of this coming Sunday 15 March Last Week Tonight With John Oliver will film without a live, in-studio audience," says HBO in a statement. "We are taking this precaution in accordance with best practices as outlined by New York City officials. We will continue to monitor the situation."