Apple TV+ renews Foundation for season 4

Thinus Ferreira

Apple TV+ has renewed the science fiction drama series Foundation based on Isaac Asimov's book series for a fourth season that will start production in early 2026.

The third season finale will become available on Apple TV+ on Friday 12 September.

"There is no series quite like Foundation and and we feel lucky and honoured to be carrying the torch forward as co-showrunners into season four," says Ian Goldberg and David Kob, co-showrunners, in a statement AppleTV+ issued on Thursday night.

"We look forward to continuing the epic, emotional, storytelling that defined the first three seasons of the show, and to be working alongside some of the most talented, passionate creative partners in the business."

Matt Cherniss, Apple TV+ head of programming, in the statement, says "It’s been fantastic to watch Foundation become such a global phenomenon, with fans tuning in from every corner of the world".

"With each new season, the excitement around this trailblazing sci-fi epic just keeps building due to the bold storytelling and collective artistry of this extraordinarily talented cast and creative team. We're excited to keep exploring this universe together in season four".

Foundation stars Jared Harris, Lee Pace and Lou Llobell, along with Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann and Rowena Kingwith. 

The new addition in Foundation's third season dealing with the Mule storyline and the end of the Cleonic dynasty, were Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur and Pilou Asbæk.

Foundation was originally produced for Apple TV+ by Skydance Television that has now folded into Paramount Television Studios.

Ian Goldberg and David Kob will executive produce Foundation season four with Bill Bost, Pace, Michael Satrazemis, Robyn Asimov and David S. Goyer.

Production on Foundation's fourth season will start in early 2026.

Primedia brings more localised format shows to South African television with Denim Richards' Opulent Entertainment

Thinus Ferreira

Primedia Studios that has proven success with bringing and placing localised and adapted global format shows on South African television will bring new seasons of Project Runway, The Voice, Idols and Dancing with the Stars to South African TV.

A misfired, extremely inept and badly done Project Runway SA was attempted by Khanyi Dhlomo's imploded Ndalo Pictures in 2018 for M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and was never seen again, while M-Net (DStv 101) had more success with several seasons of The Voice SA, Idols and Dancing with the Stars.

Primedia Studios is teaming with the American Yellowstone-star Denim Richards and his Opulent Entertainment Group to localise these format reality shows for South African television.

While no platforms have been announced, it's unlikely that Project Runway SA, The Voice SA, Idols or Dancing with the Stars SA will be on any of M-Net's packaged TV channels on DStv, or the financially struggling South African public broadcaster's SABC channels, although it remains a faint possibility.

There is a much greater chance for these localised versions to be allocated airtime on streamers like MultiChoice's Showmax or Netflix SA, eMedia's e.tv, or a number of other third-party supplied DStv channels like NBCUniversal International Networks' Bravo!.

Denim Richards' Opulent Entertainment Group which he co-founded with South African director Mandla Dube, has had success with producing the South African film Heart of the Hunter done for Netflix.

"We are honoured and incredibly excited to join forces with Denim and his Opulent Entertainment Group on a venture that will unearth new stars and infuse these four top-tier ‘shiny-floor’ shows with the spirit of Africa,” says Jan du Plessis, Primedia Studios president, in a statement.

"We share the same vision for the future of African storytelling, and Denim’s extensive experience oscillating between Hollywood and our home ground is part of what will take Primedia Studios’ content slate to the next level."

Denim Richards says "The key to the future and sustainability of entertainment in Africa lies in collaboration and opportunities".

"This collaboration with Primedia Studios is a multi-faceted, significant step forward. Shows like The Voice, Project Runway, Idols and Dancing with the Stars are a powerful platform for undiscovered talent from Africa – not only in front of the camera, but also behind the scenes."

Denim Richards says "Meeting Primedia Group CEO Jonathan Procter and his team has inspired us at Opulent Entertainment Group, since our dreams and vision are aligned."

Jonathan Procter says "Denim Richards is a force of nature. He will fundamentally change the future of creators and the industry in Africa and the way the world understands the creative soul of Africa."

Primedia Studios and Opulent Entertainment's collaboration follows after Primedia's work on revived localised formats for the South African market like Deal or No Deal SA, Deal or No Deal Celebrity, as well as MasterChef SA across various SABC channels of the South African public broadcaster.

In South Africa TV ratings crisis looms as Nielsen announces market exit

Thinus Ferreira

TV ratings tabulator Nielsen is exiting South Africa after decades, a change that could plunge the country's TV ratings system and everyone depending on its ratings data, into crisis.

The country's TV ratings custodian, however, says it will start work on finding a replacement for TAMS, although ad buyers and agencies are in shock and calling Nielsen's exit a massive blow to South Africa.

While Nielsen in South Africa remains quiet, news leaked that the ratings collector is shutting shop in South Africa.

Telmar, the service using Nielsen data to give ad planners, buyers, agencies and broadcasters insight into audiences and who all use the data to plan ad spend and track audience numbers, told clients in an email that Nielsen is exiting South Africa.

Nielsen's exit will also affect South Africa's Broadcasting Research Council (BRC) that will also have to find a new ratings provider.

The BRC functions similar to the UK's BARB and Australia's OzTAM.

In a Nielsen memo, the South African biz got a shock when they were told that "After careful consideration Nielsen has made the decision to exit the South African market".

"Earlier this month we notified the BRC of our interest in transitioning leadership of the Television Audience Measurement (TAMS) service to another provider within the next 12 months. They are currently evaluating an alternate partner and we anticipate they will share an announcement in the coming days."

"During this transition, we want to assure you that we will continue to fulfill all of our existing commitments."

Telmar which uses Nielsen ratings data, then told clients in a memo, "You may have seen the recent announcements from Nielsen and the BRC regarding TAMS. Some clients have asked whether this change will affect their TelmarHelixa services in South Africa. We want to assure you that it will not."

"Regardless of the BRC's appointed supplier of TAMS data, TelmarHelixa will continue to load and support the TV data as we always have. There is no disruption to your access, no impact on your systems and no change to transmit. Telmar has always been independent and data-neutral."

The BRC, about Nielsen's South Africa exit, said "A new service provider has been identified, and formal appointment processes are being finalised. Details will be announced within two weeks."

According to the BRC, "Nielsen has communicated its intention to exit the South African market within the next 12 months. The BRC is engaging with Nielsen to secure continuity of data during the handover period."

It said that "The BRC remains confident that the transition now underway will strengthen South Africa’s audience measurement system, safeguard industry needs, and deliver a world-class, future-proof solution."

Nielsen didn't respond to any media queries.

An insider told TVwithThinus that despite promises of no changes, that Nielsen's exit is a huge blow and that the impact of the decision to exit South Africa and switch-over will lead to upheaval, changes and uncertainty.

"It's shocking. The big worry is that when the data changes, the big question is how trendable the new data will be, and how trendable whatever the new data is, with past data".

"From a media perspective rates are set according to audiences. Let's say a show commanded a price of R100 000 for 100 000 eyeballs."

"What if the new data from a new ratings agency suddenly says the show that had 100 000 viewers now just have 50 000 viewers, or 150 000 viewers? Everybody's nervous because of the unknown unknowns. Nielsen planning to leave South Africa is huge."

Mmoni Ngubane, SABC spokesperson, didn't respond to a media query about the SABC's reaction to Nielsen's exit.

MultiChoice which operates DStv and Showmax, said it's monitoring developments.

eMedia that runs e.tv, Openview and eVOD, in response to a media query said "eMedia Investments acknowledges Nielsen's departure from South Africa and recognises this as a significant development in our industry's audience measurement landscape".

" As a major broadcaster and content provider, we understand the critical importance of robust, reliable audience measurement systems."

"While Nielsen's exit presents challenges, we are actively engaged with the BRC to ensure continuity and enhancement of audience measurement services. We note that the BRC has already identified a new service provider and is in the process of finalising formal appointment procedures."

BBC's Bluey barks in Zulu and Nigerian Pidgin for Africa

Thinus Ferreira

The BBC's Bluey is now barking in Zulu, Afrikaans, Swahili and Nigerian Pidgin with BBC Studios that is making the beloved Blue Heeler animation series available in several African-dubbed languages for the very first time.

The BBC made the dubbing announcement at MIP Africa 2025 running in Cape Town, South Africa and further expands on the ongoing dubbing into African languages done by studios ranging from the BBC to Paramount Africa, Paramount's African unit.

Podcaster Nonkanyiso Conco known as Laconco will voice Bluey’s mum in the Zulu-dubbed version, while Omotunde Adebowale David known as Lolo1, will voice Bluey’s mum in Nigerian Pidgin.

The BBC says the dubbing of the BAFTA award winning animated series "marks a significant step in making quality children's in making quality children’s programming reflect African voices". 

"Bluey has always celebrated the magic of everyday family life and now, more children can experience that magic in the language they speak at home," says Barbara Jerzyk Alvarez, Head of CEEMA Content Sales at BBC Studios.

"By localising Bluey in four African languages, the show continues to foster connection, imagination, and emotional learning for even more young audiences across Africa."

Nonkanyiso Conco says "Voicing Chilli has been a deeply personal and joyful experience. Bluey’s stories are universal but hearing them in our own languages makes them feel even more special. It’s a gift to our children.”

Omotunde Adebowale David says “Voicing Chilli has been a whirlwind of emotions, from feeling humbled to excited. This marks my very first voice acting project.”

Produced by Ludo Studio and created by Joe Brumm, the series follows Bluey, a loveable, inexhaustible, Blue Heeler dog, who lives with her Mum, Dad and her little sister, Bingo. Bluey uses her limitless energy to play games that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways.

The series is available in over 140 countries and the new African episodes have been dubbed by Blac Duo Media. The third season of Bluey is currently airing on the version of CBeebies in Africa and Disney+.

e.tv dumps The Morning Show after 7 years as it backs out of original production for the timeslot and replaces it with simulcast of eNCA's The South African Morning

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv has dumped its low-rated breakfast show The Morning Show after seven years and is replacing it from today with eNCA's The South African Morning between 06:00 and 08:30 to save money.

eMedia cancelled its long-running Sunrise in mid-2018 and replaced it with The Morning Show - not to be confused with the American drama series The Morning Show on Apple TV+ set behind-the-scenes of a breakfast show.

The Morning Show, produced for e.tv by Cheeky Media, went through several iterations and multiple on-air changes over the past seven years

It's viewership struggled against SABC2's Morning Live, SABC3's Expresso, and several other cheaply done live morning shows across several of MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV channels.

The Morning Show was cancelled with Lee-Roy Wright, Carla McKenzie, Kgosi Rankhumise, Bolele Polisa and Brighton Mhlongo as the last set of presenters.

Neither e.tv nor eNCA have issued any press release to the media about either the cancellation of The Morning Show on e.tv or the simulcast of The South African Morning on e.tv from September. 

Two years ago eNCA (DStv 403) and e.tv courted controversy when it decided to drop producing an original morning show for its pay-TV news channel and to simulcast The Morning Show on both e.tv and eNCA.

It meant that DStv pay-TV audiences who pay for television and by implication a better product, suddenly got free-to-air content on a pay-TV channel, that they already got access to anyway.

eNCA and e.tv dropped the bad plan and returned The South African Morning to the eNCA schedule after just four days and kept The Morning Show on e.tv.

Now eMedia is doing the reverse and will be using an eNCA programming strand to fill a timeslot on e.tv's schedule that it no longer wants to do original content for. 

It will now work the other way around: Content that DStv subscribers are paying for to see, will now be made available for two and a half hours for free-to-air viewers on e.tv - in other words, original TV content produced for a pay-TV audience will be shown for free on a terrestrial free-to-air TV channel.

The South African Morning that also constantly goes through presenter line-up changes now has Dan Moyane and Masego Rahlaga as the anchors. eNCA hasn't said or explained anything to the media about the latest simulcast plan.

eMedia Holdings in its integrated report for 2025 alluded to the coming change when Khalik Sheriff, CEO, said about eNCA that "In the near future, The South African Morning, the vibrant show aired on eNCA every morning at 06:00, will also be simulcast on e.tv".

SABC removes SABC News anchor Juliet Newell after asking Dr Mamphela Ramphele why she's equating Israel-Gaza conflict to the Holocaust

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster has removed SABC News anchor Juliet Newell from the air and unscheduled her after an interview and testy on-air exchange about the Israel-Gaza conflict with Dr Mamphela Ramphele.

Juliet Newell asked Ramphele "how does your statement likening the famine in Gaza, to the Holocaust - do you not see that as provocative?"

Ramphele responded by saying "What provocative? It is a Holocaust. Why can't I compare them?"

"The Holocaust happened, and it will continue to happen in different forms for as long as we make criticising this kind of behaviour a holy cow. It is a Holocaust by any definition if you look at the deliberate attack on children, on women, on unarmed citizens, and using starvation as a weapon of war. Tell me what that is?"

The SABC says in a statement "SABC News management took immediate action in line with the SABC's internal processes, and the presenter in question is currently not scheduled".

"The SABC editorial policies are aimed at building trust with the public and in ensuring that our content, in all its formats, continues to resonate with the prescripts of our public mandate, and more so in providing universal access to credible content."

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in a statement says "As a publicly funded institution, SABC has a duty to report with integrity, accuracy, and balance".

"As a publicly funded institution, SABC has a duty to report with integrity, accuracy, and balance. We call on SABC to accurately describe the situation in Gaza as genocide, provide full coverage of South Africa's ICJ case against Israel, and stop adopting the framing or talking points of foreign governments at the expense of truth."

South Africa's cash and crisis-riddled NFVF cancels 2025's 19th SAFTAs over 'unforeseen delays', out-of-time industry award show pushed to March 2026

Thinus Ferreira

Exactly as has been whispered by anxious South African filmmakers, the cash and crisis-riddled National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has now been forced to scrap the 19th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) for 2025, pushing it to March 2026 and unfairly making more producers and talent compete against each other.

The last time the NFVF, fully funded by the South African government's department of arts, culture and sports, imploded when it failed to properly organise and host a SAFTAs was in 2008. Now it is embarrassingly not happening - happening - again.

Filmmakers, broadcasters, producers and on-screen talent across South Africa have been complaining for months about the utter silence and disrespect from the NFVF that has failed to give any updates about this year's SAFTAs for eight months.

The NFVF, lorded over by Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's current minister of arts, culture and sports, has been scandalised by ongoing top leadership and board instability, with a choir of voices from within the film biz community constantly complaining that the NFVF ffails to properly support them.

No production company has been appointed to stage the awards ceremony, and broadcasters are in the dark that also have to be approach with negotiations to add it to their schedules and a date on which to air it.

Last year the 18th SAFTAs was held in October at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg but filmmakers complained that they've been told nothing this year and that it would be virtually impossible for the NFVF to mount any kind of glitzy award show in the four months left since nominations were supposed to open in March.

The NFVF failed to appoint a production company in time to do the awards show broadcast, nothing was communicated to broadcasters, while a highly frustrated industy are extremely upset about there not being a SAFTAs this year, not being told anything, and being made to compete with entries as an even larger group next year when eligibility will span across a year and a half.

Now the NFVF confirmed the SAFTAs for 2025 is cancelled and being pushed to March 2026.

 under Dr Rirhandzu Machaba who is the latest acting NFVF CEO. 

The NFVF is desperately trying to put some positive spin on the agency's disastrous inefficiency, saying in a general press release that the 19th SAFTAS "will now take place in March 2026 following a rescheduling from October this year due to organisational changes and a period of renewal within the NFVF".

The "organisational changes" is the constant CEO churn at the NFVF which has limped along with a permanent CEO for two years now and a "period of renewal" that means the entire board got fired by McKenzie, replaced by a new one of which the industry asked members to be fired to, as well as a NFVF apparently fighting with filmmakers allegedly failing in providing proper support. 

The NFVF says that it has "rescheduled the 19th SAFTAs to take place in March 2026".

"The decision to move the awards is the result of leadership changes within the NFVF and related unforeseen delays, which have now enabled a broader period of organisational renewal."

"This transition has provided us with an opportunity to strengthen governance, sharpen our strategic focus, and reinforce the NFVF’s role as the custodian of the SAFTAs. This adjustment also ensures that the SAFTAs align with the international awards calendar, providing South African talent the opportunity to be celebrated in parallel with major global film and television awards."

"Furthermore, it allows the SAFTAs to revert to the original timeline of March, which had changed due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This shift will ensure that the event is marked consistently in the industry calendar every year moving forward in the interest of consistency and forward-planning."

According to the NFVF, the 19th SAFTAs will now be forced to make the eligibility period longer. It is also something filmmakers, producers and talent already complained about and said would happen if the SAFTAs is cancelled for 2025.

They say they already struggle to stand out and will now have to compete with a period of 18 months in film and TV, instead of 12 months.

The NFVF says " If the 19th SAFTAs took place in 2025, eligibility would pertain to projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas or streamed online between 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024".

"Given this shift back to March of each year, the eligibility criteria for the 19th SAFTAs will expand to a period of 18 months for projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas or streamed online between 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2025. This will be a once-off exception given the unique circumstances."

"Moving forward, eligibility will revert to a 12-month cycle, meaning that for SAFTAs20 in March 2027, eligibility would be for projects that have been on air, screened in cinemas or streamed online between 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026."

Dr Rirhandzu Machaba, in a prepared corporate communications quote, says "In 2026 we look forward to celebrating an industry that continues to rise, inspire, and unite. SAFTAs19 will mark a moment for the industry to come together, reflect on our journey, and re-imagine the path ahead under the theme One Story, One Industry, One Future."

"It is both a celebration and a commitment: to tell our stories with pride, to stand together as one,

and to work towards an even brighter future for South African film and television."

E! axed in Africa as it ends after 21 years, replaced by Bravo on MultiChoice's DStv from October 2025

Thinus Ferreira

NBCUniversal is dumping E! in Africa after 21 years, with the steadily dismantled channel that will be gone and replaced by the reality-saturated Bravo on 7 October.

It's an awful and tragic end for E! that MultiChoice added to DStv in December 2004.

As with all things corporate, dying and reaching the end of service as it disappears into obsolescence, there is absolutely no explanation from NBCUniversal on why it's axing E! but one, or a combination of these reasons is likely true.

E! as a pay-TV channel has been dying on the pay-TV vine for a very long time, with less and less content investment, a schedule littered with repeats, stale and old programming and repurposed Bravo content. 

E!'s only remaining "real" show - once its flagship programme and schedule staple - E! News also got cancelled, and once your sole remaining anchor programme is gone, there's nothing left of what was once signature E!.

E! is also one of the channels NBCUniversal decided to get rid of, spinning it off as one of the Versant-held channels. 

E! as part of the upcoming Versant collection may or may not be available to NBCUniversal International Networks to distribute. In fact, even if it is available, NBCUniversal International Networks might not want to distribute it because of its low relevance as a zombified pay-TV channel.

We don't know because NBCUniversal International Networks hasn't communicated to the media about changes, plans, or programming in a very long time.

What happens to the remaining E! content is unclear; NBCUniversal International Networks didn't explain, but was asked, and comment will be added here when received.

In a prepared corporate quote attributed to Hendrik McDermott, MD, Hayu, EMEA Networks & International Direct-To-Consumer, NBCUniversal, about pulling the plug on E!, he says "We are thrilled to be launching Bravo Africa, with our partners DStv, and to build on the success of the NBCUniversal channel portfolio in Africa by bringing audiences even more of the mega-hit global franchises that they already love – now as part of Bravo, the linear channel brand that is synonymous with top-quality reality content".

"This rebrand reflects the strong slate of Bravo programming that had already been added to E!, and now makes exclusive original programming and a wider selection of Bravo's immensely popular reality programmes available to DStv subscribers."

Byron du Plessis, MultiChoice South Africa CEO, in a prepared quote, says "DStv subscribers that are fans of great reality programming are going to love Bravo Africa, and we are delighted to be able to give these hugely popular shows a home on our platforms. The channel will be available down to DStv Access, as we continue to improve our customer value proposition across our packages".

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.

MultiChoice adds 4 kids channels to DStv Family

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is making the three kids channels, Paramount Global's Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, as well as DreamWorks available to the DStv Family bouquet from 25 August.

MultiChoice says it is repositioning DStv Family as "South Africa's home of kids entertainment" in a pivot to add more value for DStv Family subscribers. The DStv Family bouquet will now include all 14 DStv kids' channels.

"While our broader packaging review remains ongoing, our research shows that DStv Family customers value kids' content as much as they do local shows and movies," says Byron du Plessis, MultiChoice South Africa CEO.

"By adding Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, and DreamWorks to the DStv Family package alongside favourites like Cartoonito and Disney Channel, we are making DStv Family the undisputed home of kids' entertainment."