Coronavirus: Cape Town's Okuhle Media reopens its studio for TV production, 'stepping up to the plate like never before'.

by Thinus Ferreira

Cape Town's Okuhle Media has reopened its studios for television production after South Africa's national lockdown period was changed to Level 4.

"We're stepping up to the plate like never before,"’ says Wilna van Schalkwyk, Okuhle Media managing director, production & executive producer.

Okuhle Media is responsible for shows like SABC3's youth strand Hectic on 3, Hectic Nine-9 on SABC2, and the advertiser-funded production (AFP) reality competition show Ultimate Braai Master on e.tv and Travel Channel (DStv 179).

"These are days of isolation and uncertainty, and our youth needs a strong, collective guiding light. It is not only up to us guide them in awareness and communicate the most up-to-date information in their own voice, but to give them back their platforms so that they get to have their own discussions, find their own creative outlets, and stir their own inspiration," says Wilna van Schalkwyk.

"It is a new world for all of us and as the Okuhle Media team, we have used this unusual reprieve of lockdown to have robust conversations, dream new possibilities, and explore new ways to remain relevant to both our audiences and our clients, continuing our philosophy of delivering beyond expectation."

The Cape Town based production company, Okuhle Productions, reaches a new milestone with 7 concurrent shows on TV across SABC2, SABC3 and e.tv.

The Cape Town based production company, Okuhle Productions has reached a new milestone in its 15-year history, with the concurrent broadcast of 7 TV shows at one time on South African television across SABC2, SABC3 and e.tv.

Okuhle Productions is now responsible for Neill Anthony - Private Chef (SABC3), the daily live youth strands Hectic on 3 (SABC3) and Hectic Nine-9 (SABC2), the game show Beter Assie Bure (SABC2), the children's programmes Yum.Me (SABC3) and Siyabonga Gogo (e.tv), and the teen drama series, Signal High (SABC2) currently in its 3rd season.

Meanwhile Okuhle Productions is also busy with the production of the second season of the small-town talent search competition show, Showville, that will be returning to SABC2 within months.

"We are very proud of this accomplishment," says Wilna van Schalkwyk, Okuhle Productions managing director and executive producer.

"It's not easy to provide a consistent level of production quality, creativity and attention to detail across 7 shows, all in production at the same time.This is a testimony to an extraordinary team of dedicated writers, creatives, producers and, of course, the functional life blood - our line producers and administrative team," says Wilna van Schalkwyk.

Okuhle Productions says that a strategic growth plan, started in 2017, has seen the production company achieving significant success across many aspects of its business that operates in the tough and volatile industry that is South Africa's film and TV industry.

"The South African film and TV industry, provider of local and international quality entertainment,is a valuable and vital source of job creation, social upliftment and skills development. Okuhle remains committed to its values and vision of contributing significantly towards the film and television industry's growth and success," says Wilna van Schalkwyk.

The SABC's Hectic Nine-9 youth strand changes, expands: SABC2 show will now target teenagers as new Hectic on 3 block on SABC3 will be aimed at tweens.

The SABC is changing the focus of its afternoon youth strand Hectic Nine-9 by targeting an older skewing demo on SABC2 from today, and also expanding the brand to SABC3 with the introduction of a new afternoon block on that channel entitled Hectic on 3 aimed at a tween audience.

From today the SABC2 youth show Hectic Nine-9, as part of a revamp ordered by the channel and the SABC Children division, is targeting older youth viewers, specifically those between the ages of 14 and 16, although younger viewers can still watch the 30-minute programme between 16:30 and 17:00 on weekdays.

Hectic Nine-9 on SABC2 that launched in 2007, retains the established presenters of Chanelle Davids, Anomsa Vantyi and Esona Sogayise and have added Zintle Tunce, Clint Sawyer and Charnte Hartzenberg.

The show says its skewing older to adapt to kids who are more tech-savvy and socially conscious in the age bracket now dropping the tween audience on SABC2 and focusing on teens.

Tweens can tune in to SABC3 from today with the new Hectic on 3 strand that will play out on weekdays between 15:00 and 15:30 aimed at viewers between 8 and 12.

Hectic Nine-9 and Hectic on 3 are both produced by Okuhle Media.

Okuhle Media says Hectic on 3 will "address issues that affect our sophisticated tween audiences, as they navigate the changes from childhood to teenage years and discover who they want to be as their independence grows".

The Hectic on 3 presenter will be Boitumelo "Melo" Moloto.

"With over a decade worth of experience in children's television, we're extremely proud about the new shift for the Hectic brand," says Wilna van Schalkwyk, series producer.

"We can now focus specifically on our teen audience with Hectic Nine-9, and can now branch out and focus on a brand-new tween audience with Hectic on 3".

SABC2's Hectic Nine-9 from Okuhle Media reaches its 2000th episode on Tuesday; will feature Freshlyground and fans to help celebrate.

When the cameras roll tomorrow, Tuesday 25 August, the youth focused afternoon programming block Hectic Nine-9 on SABC2 will reach its 2000th episode

Since 2007 Hectic Nine-9, also abbreviated as Hn9, has seen a revolving door of teen presenters come and go as the show grew not just its timeslot ratings but also its timeslot duration to an hour from the beginning of 2012.

As the production changed studios a few times over the past 8 years, incorporated social media and tackled current youth issues, it also incorporated the highly successful and well-liked teen drama mini-series Signal High.

Former Hectic Nine-9 presenter Danilo Acquisto who moved behind the scenes as producer, transitioned earlier this year to SABC3's weekday afternoon variety and talk show Afternoon Express.

The Hectic Nine-9 studio hosted not only local bands and celebrities but saw soccer teams, dance crews, horses, a cheetah and even a 45 member choir visit.

Hectic Nine-9, currently broadcasting Mondays to Fridays at 16:00 on SABC2, is produced by Okuhle Media in Cape Town and is currently being done live daily from MagnaTude Studios in Observatory, sourcing content from all of South Africa's provinces.

"I am incredibly proud of the growth of the show," says executive producer Louise McClelland. "Hectic Nine-9 touches lives every day, in a way we never expected.”

"2000 episodes is a milestone most TV shows only dream of reaching," says Wilna van Schalkwyk, series producer. "What a proud moment to see this incredible show grow into one of the biggest and most successful youth shows produced in South Africa."

"Eight years of Hectic Nine-9 means that a person who started watching the show when they were 12 is now 20 – a significant leap – and our interaction with this viewer shows us a fun, creative, determined and independent thinker who has his or her future firmly in their hands," says Mpumi Ngidi, SABC commissioning editor of the show.

Tuesday's 2000th episode will celebrate the milestone in style on-air with band Freshlyground making an appearance and performing. Hectic Nine-9 will also have fans in the studio.

At the moment Hectic Nine-9 producers are working on a technological treasure hunt celebrating South Africa's diversity. From there the show goes into planning episodes for the upcoming festive season at the end of the year and then brainstorming the new season.