e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: 'e.tv has an exciting winter line-up,' e.tv's channel head Monde Twala tells TV critics.

"e.tv has an exciting winter 2013 line-up," Monde Twala, e.tv's channel head, told South Africa's TV critics, editors and writers covering the television industry, in a video-taped message which formed part of the presentation played at e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013.

"This year we're kicking off with 52 episodes of eKasi, our premiere drama series on Monday nights. Stories this year will come from Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and more stories from around the country."

"From 9 July we welcome back Mzansi Love, a brand-new season starting right here on e.tv. We welcome the likes of Khanyi Mbau, Samkelo Ndlovu and a host of fresh young faces on our screens this winter."

"Lovers of urban street dance culture will welcome back the return of Step Up or Step Out, now in its third season. The big spectacular for the year will be SA's Got Talent. It's back for yet another season on e.tv - you can enjoy Shado, Ian and Kabelo this year as they go out there and find the best talent in a search all around the country. You're going to love this," says Monde Twala.

"We also welcomea brand-new reality show on e.tv called Reality Check. All I have to say about this show is what does Khanyi Mbau, Nonhle Thema and Babalwa Mneno have in common? You'll just have to wait until July."

"Sticking with celebrity news, Nicky Greenwall is back with a brand-new season of The Close Up. On the international front viewers can expect world class movies on e.tv this winter - the likes of Avatar, District 9, Men in Black and some martial arts, Forbidden Kingdom will be hitting screens to warm you up this winter," says Monde Twala.

"We also have a new season of Fantasia for Real, and for the wrestling fanatics out there we're happy to announce that WWE stars will be here in South Africa. Don't miss out it's going to be hot."


Full and comprehensive e.tv Winter Upfront 2013 coverage
ALSO READ: e.tv's new e On Demand online viewing service wants to grow viewer's view of the e.tv world.
ALSO READ: Khanyi! Derek! Only one Twala! No Nicky! e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 lures some e.tv stars.
ALSO READ: Romantic drama series Mzansi Love returning to e.tv for a second season of 6 local romance stories.
ALSO READ: Club 808 adds Thando Thabethe as new field reporter as the music show moves to Saturdays from July.
ALSO READ: Interview: Derek van Dam, e.tv's chief meteorologist keeps going and going whatever the weather.
ALSO READ: Interview: Khanyi Mbau's tearful reality TV breakdown in her new reality show Reality Check with Nonhle Thema and Babalwa Mneno.
ALSO READ: SABC3's Isidingo is kicking e.tv in the ratings on Fridays - which is why e.tv is extending its primetime soap Scandal! to 5 days a week from 5 July.
ALSO READ: The Close Up with Nicky Greenwall back on e.tv for a 3rd season from 9 July.
ALSO READ: Fifth season of eKasi: Our Stories expanding to 52 episodes.

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: Romantic drama series Mzansi Love: Kasi Style returning to e.tv for a second season of 6 new local romance stories.

Mzansi Love: Kasi Style, e.tv's local romance-driven drama series, is returning for a second season of six new episodes from 9 July at 20:30, the broadcaster officially revealed at e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013.

The new second season of six new episodes will start after the repeat of the first season of Mzansi Love: Kasi Style which is based on the Nollybooks novels published by the actress and media mogul Moky Makura's MME Media.

Producers Bridget Pickering and Bobo Mokgoro of Fireworx Media head up the team responsible for bringing the series to life which is conceptualised around the highly successful franchise which delves deeper into the intricacies of navigating through young love.

Episodes of Mzansi Love: Kasi Style are directed by Neo Ntlatleng, Mfundo Mkhize, Johan Baird and Zamo Mkhwanazi.

The second season of Mzansi Love: Kasi Style will tell six new stories ranging from lawyers in a battle for love, passion which trancends borders and racial groups as well as the world of online dating in an episode entitled "sexy.com".

"Mzansi Love is a new concept in the local South African television industry, focusing on the rom-com genre in a context that our viewers can relate to," says Monde Twala, e.tv's channel head.

"It offers a welcome relief from the current local content on South African TV screens which tends to delve deep into the social inadequacies we face, and rather offers feel-good entertainment and reminds us of one universal concept - love."

"The first season of Mzansi Love: Kasi Style was an exciting adventure and this winter viewers can expect all new episodes of the second season with a stellar cast of fresh, young talent in the TV industry," says Bridget Pickering, Fireworx producer.

"Viewers can anticipate high stakes and the emotional ups and downs that love brings. We have got a stellar cast comprising some of South Africa's talented actors such as Sipho "Psypho" Ngwenya, Leroy Gopal, Sthembiso "SK" Khoza, Khanyi Mbau and Samkelo Ndlovu," says Bridget Pickering.

"Our focus as a channel continues to be delivering content that our viewers can relate to - simply more story, more diversity, tears and joy, and a new look and feel and overall fresh talent on the screen," says Monde Twala.

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: Club 808 on e.tv adds Thando Thabethe as new field reporter as the music show moves to Saturdays from July.

e.tv's Friday evening music magazine show Club 808 is being moved out of its Friday timeslot of 19:30 to Saturdays at 19:30 from Saturday 6 July to make space for an additional weekday episode of the primetime soap Scandal and the show is adding Thando Thabethe as a new field reporter, the broadcaster revealed to TV critics at e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013.

Club 808 - Make Some Noise pulls just over 2 million viewers to its Friday night timeslot with its mix of celebrity gossip, local and international music videos and interviews since it started in 2010.

"As it heads towards its third birthday, the show plans to go bigger and better as it continues to still bring the best entertainment viewing pleasure," says e.tv.

"The channel prides itself on offering viewers the best with unique and relevant content particularly for our youthful audience," says Monde Twala, e.tv's channel head.

"We believe that the move to a Saturday timeslot will not only compliment the channel's strategy but will be a welcomed move as it sets the tone in entertainment for all our music loving viewers," he says.

The 23 year old Thando Thabethe will join the existing  Dineo Ranaka and Mo Flava on Club 808.

"I'm extremely excited to be joining one of South Africa's biggest music shows," says Thando Thabethe in a press statement.

"I've always wanted to get into TV presenting and doing it on such a huge platform is amazing."

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: Derek Van Dam, e.tv's chief meteorologist keeps going (and going and going) whatever the weather.

Derek Van Dam, e.tv and the eNCA's chief meteorologist probably doesn't own a chair. Why would you, if you never sit still?

Derek Van Dam attended e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 as one of the South African broadcaster's telegenic stars and he graciously slowed down for just a nano-moment to talk to me about running the Comrades, and - of course - the weather.

You just finished running the 2013 Comrades marathon. Why did you do it and how was the experience for you?
Derek Van Dam: Yeah. Wow.It was hands down the most difficult thing I've ever done. Come on, they call it the "Comrades" for a reason! Ha ha. It was insane. It was really like - you test your body's ability to stretch it to extreme limits. I saw so many people collpase. I saw so many people being treated by medics. I'm not trying to blown my own horn or anything but I'm happy I finished it.

And why did you do it?
Derek: Okay, I ran the Comrades in support of a charity, Compassionate Life Foundation, or CLF which we refer to it as. CLF actually originally brought me to South Africa and Swazilandseven years ago. Without this organisation I would literally not live or work here in this country. I hold CLF really close to my heart because without it I wouldn't be here.

With the eNCA website which has gone live, there is much more weather on there of the day's weather report on there, and what is shown on television on the eNCA is loaded on there. 
How do you think the online expansion has helped to grow the eNCA weather brand and to keep people more informed 24 hours a day about the weather?
Derek: Our weather page - enca.com/weather has a really unique aspect to it which you can't get anywhere else on the internet and that is an actual personalised weather forecast from an actual human being.
Now you've got to understand the difference, okay.
You can go to any weather website and receive and fullfill your need for weather information, but is that information correct and is there human interaction with "Hey, I live in Rondebosch and it will rain on this side of the mountain but on the other side in the city bowl it won't rain?"
That's the beauty of our eNCA website, we allow that type of human interactions with our weather forecast. It's actually a human driving that information to you.
Not only that, there's also a lot of interactivity to it. People who like a user experience will enjoy it for that.
You can also catch the latest weather bulletin and we're also sharing a lot of our weather tips and secrets and that type of stuff which I think people appreciate because it brings a human side to the weather reporting as well.
We've got our blog that where my team and I cover everything from the meteor shower which came through Cape Town to why did it hail over the weekend in Cape Town, why did we get the tornado in Bloemfontein and why is it so hot in Johannesburg? We answer and try to explain just anything.

I actually wanted to touch on the eNCA weather blog. How difficult is it or challenging? What changes did it necessitate to now also not just focus on doing an actual up to the minute weather forecast but to also have an ongoing conversation during the day online?
Derek: Actually it was quite a natural transition for me and my department because I've been prepping them for a long time. From day one since I started working in this company I said we need a web, and we need a web presence and we need to be there big time. There was a lot of hesitation for various reasons - that's not important - but the point is that when it finally went live we were ready for it. And now eNCA weather is playing in the social media space and very active on blogs and our eNCA weather website is extremely informative and user friendly as well.

If people have questions about the weather, what is the best or the easiest or the most functional way for them to make contact with you guys?
Derek: Just follow me on Twitter. I respond to people all the time. It's @WXmanVanDam. Then there's also my Facebook page - just go to Facebook and search "Derek Van Dam". You can go to our eNCA weather website which is www.enca.com/weather and you can submit a question directly to us - there's a cool submit function. Or send an email to info@enca.com


Editor's note: Derek Van Dam just jetted off to Europe and will be back in a few weeks on the eNCA.

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: The Close Up with Nicky Greenwall back for a third season from Tuesday 9 July at 21:30.

Nicky Greenwall's celebrity interview show The Close Up on e.tv is set to return to the commercial free-to-air TV channel for a third season from Tuesday 9 July at 21:30.

The new third season of The Close Up is, as TV with Thinus previously reported, one of three TV productions from the busy mother's TV production company, Greenwall Productions.

The Big Picture, a brand-new red-carpet movie preview show will start on e.tv in November and the new 3rd season of the studio celebrity interview half hour Screemtime with Nicky Greenwall is set to return to e.tv in April 2014.

Nicky Greenwall didn't attend e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 to talk to the press about The Close Up but a statement says "an all-new crop of famous faces [are] ready to share all aspects of their lives on and off camera," in the Greenwall Productions show.

"More celebrities are willing to trust us with their stories," says Nicky Greenwall of the weekly show in which South African celebrities reveala more personal and biographical back story to their lives, shaped and narrated through archive material such as home video and photos, as well as interview footage.

"This is by far our best and biggest season yet," says Nicky Greenwall, who says that "I think we've managed to build a solid reputation now - so more and more celebrities are willing to trust us with their stories."

"The truth often gets much distorted in the pages of gossip columns. This is the celebrities' chance to explain things from their point of view."

South African celebrities profiled in the third season of The Close Up include Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane, Bonang Matheba, Hlomla Dandala, Pam Andrews, Pearl Thusi, Zonke, DJ Ready D, AKA, Loyiso Gola and the model Joelle Kayembe.

"Loyiso Gola is one of those rare individuals who have completely made his own luck," says Nicky Greenwall in the press release. "I think his story will surprise and inspire a lot of people."


The Close Up, season 3
09 July: Pam Andrews
Pam Andrews has gone from one-time-pop-princess to one of the country’s most talked about soap stars. In the first episode of our new season of The Close Up she opens up about her childhood, previous relationships, motherhood and her thoughts on what it means to be famous in a country like South Africa.

16 July: AKA (Kiernan Forbes)
Its taken Kiernan Forbes half of his life to make a living out of his chosen career. We discover if this award-winning rapper is as confident as his music suggests, delving into his early childhood, awkward teens and life working as a sound engineer.

23 July: Khan Morbee
The front-man of South Africa’s biggest selling rock band opens up about what it's really like to be famous in SA. The usually publicity shy Khan Morbee gives viewers a rare insight into his unusual childhood and shares the many trials and tribulations that he and his band, The Parlotones, have experienced along their road to success.

30 July: Ready D
One of the country's most respected hip-hop DJ’s gives us a rare glimpse into life growing up in District 6. From his time as a member of the once-banned hip hop crew Profits Of Da City to his new role as Radio DJ and music mentor – Deon Daniels AKA Ready D has a life story that will both surprise and inspire.

06 August: Joelle Kayembe
Congolese-born model Joelle Kayembe has become one of South Africa’s most in demand faces. But while her image can be spotted in countless TV commercials and magazine spreads – she has also become a target for gossip columnists. How much of her story is fact and how much is fiction?

13 August: The Masina twins
A closer look at the rise to fame and future plans of one of South Afric'’s most recognizable twosomes – Hlelo and Ntando Masina.

03 September: Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane
Siyabonga "Slikour" Metane is nothing if not outspoken. The rapper is known for stirring controversy through his lyrics as both a solo artist and a member and founder of one of SA's biggest selling hip hop acts Skwatta Kamp. He gives insight into his upbringing and how it's shaped the way he sees the world.

10 September: Pearl Thusi
Former beauty queen Pearl Thusi is now a regular on local small screens. When she’s not appearing on reality shows – she’s also an in demand television presenter whose trademark has become her impressive head of hair. But before she became the social butterfly that she is today; this mother of one made headlines for different reasons.

24 September: Loyiso Gola
As the host of SA's most watched political satire show – Loyiso Gola has become a powerful presence on local small screens. In this week's show we explore how Loyiso went from being a petrol pump attendant to become one of the country's most respected comedians.

08 October: Zonke
Zonke Dikana has become one of the most awarded local musicians in the past three years. She opens up about her childhood, her "backing-singer" past and her relationship with her equally famous sister.

15 October: Hlomla Dandala
How did the son of one of South Africa’s most respected ministers and political leaders become embroiled in so many tabloid stories about his relationships? That's just one of the many questions put to actor Hlomla Dandala as he opens up about his past, his present and his future.

29 October: Bonang Matheba
Arguably one of the country’s most photographed faces, Bonang Matheba has risen the ranks of South Africa's social circles to become the most followed SA female celeb on Twitter. How did she forged a career for herself?

12 November: To be confirmed

e.tv Winter Upfront 2013: Khanyi! Derek! Only one Twala! No Nicky! e.tv's Winter programming upfront lures some e.tv stars.

e.tv's Winter Upfront 2013 in Cape Town where the free-to-air commercial TV channel unveiled its upcoming shows and programming plans to South Africa's TV critics, editors and writers covering television, and spoke to the press about it lured some of the channel's TV talent as well.

Khanyi Mbau who will soon be seen on the new e.tv reality show Reality Check dazzled and delighted. Khanyi Mbau remains extremely open and forthcoming and wonderful and remains a darling of the press behind-the-scenes for always being willing to talk and pose for a photo, and answer questions.

Derek van Dam, e.tv and the eNCA's main weather man also pitched. Just like Khanyi Mbau, he also knows and has a fundamentally solid understanding of the media - specifically the press - and is always willing to talk, willing to mingle and socialize and answer questions and be what a media and television personality should be: accessible and "present" at events.

Also spotted: the hilarious Shado Twala, judge of SA's Got Talent, the next new season which will get underway on e.tv soon as well.

Notably absent was Nicky Greenwall although a new season of her profile interview show The Close Up is starting on e.tv.

Also absent was Monde Twala, e.tv's head of channels who really should have been at the channel's Winter Upfront, although he did appear and spoke in e.tv's video sizzle reel showcasing upcoming programming slate, scheduling changes and talking about e.tv's local programming expansion.

e.tv's publicity division did apologise for Monde Twala's absence saying he's busy and can't make it but will try again next time.