SABC settles pay dispute with workers

The SABC has told me that the broadcaster has negotiated a new deal with workers. The three unions has for the past few weeks threatened a blackout of the public broadcaster who was supposed to start paying them more since April. And just didn't.

''The SABC is happy that is has managed to find middle ground,'' says SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

Sign of the Times: MTV leaves Time Square

Goodbye 1515 Broadway, between 44th and 45th Streets!

According to The Hollywood Reporter MTV (DStv channel 321) is shutting down its Time Square studio. MTV didn't renew the lease on its iconic glass-fronted studio overlooking New York's Time Square. MTV got it 12 years ago for Total Request Live (TRL) that often blocked the streets as crowds showed up for acts like Britney and Backstreet.

JUST IN: Heel leuk, heel leuk!

Just confirmed that Greetje Appelmoes will make a special appearance in Pasella on Wednesday evening at 19:30 on SABC2.

The cheesy milkmaid from the lowlands, for those who haven't laughed like crazy at the crazy, is one of the alter egos of local comedian Casper de Vries.

''Ja, ja, ja, ja, ja, ja . . .''

The TV women who control what you watch

It's Woman's Day so let me share a little secret that VERY FEW people know or realize. When you watch television in South Africa you're remote control doesn't really have the power.

Women do.

In a record setting trend, most of our TV channels are controlled and run - as well as a lot of the content - by high powered women in (sometimes) high heels.

SABC1 has a man in charge at the top but that's where it stops.

SABC2's channel head is Bessie Tugwana.

SABC3's channel head is Mathe Mosito.

e.tv's channel head is Bronwyn Keene-Young.

M-Net's channel head is Patricia Scholtemeyer.

Some other women who LOVE television and are PERFECT for their jobs in TV?

Helen Smit (picture) who is the head of local content at M-Net, and Aletta Alberts (previously SABC2's channel head) who is the general manager: content at MultiChoice.

Then you still get powerful women in television like Debora Patta who runs eNews and the eNews Channel, and Patience Stevens whose Tswelopele Productions pumps out shows like Top Billing, Pasella and Top Travel.

A Talented Tuesday?

The South African version of the global reality show XXXX Got Talent is in Cape Town this week. SA's Got Talent is produced by Rapid Blue for SABC2 and on Tuesday I will visit to have a look at the talented and not so talented showing up at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) before the judges that include Randall Abrahams and Ian von Memerty.

Cape Town auditions are taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. SA's Got Talent will start on Thursday, October 1 at 19:30. ''We are happy to confirm the new broadcast dates, which is good news as the show will now air in peak viewing season,'' says Ed Worster, SABC2 programme manager.

There are 10 hour long episodes, as well as four half hour long results shows where the ''talented'' gets sent packing.

From Monday 9 November to Wednesday 11 November for three nights in a row, viewers will be able to see the semi-final rounds of SA's Got Talent from 19:30 - 20:30, followed by a results show from 21:30 - 22:00.

The live finale of SA's Got Talent in Johannesburg - that yet again I'm sure I won't be invited to - will take place on Thursday, 12 November. The top 6 acts will perform and the winner gets R250 000.