MultiChoice's Showmax video streamer adds gay content from OUTtv in distribution deal.

by Thinus Ferreira

Showmax has added a revolving carousel of gay content in the form of series and films after signing a distribution deal with Canada's OUTtv.

Outside of South Africa, MultiChoice's subscription video-on demand (SVOD) service will block the LGBTQ+ content in countries like Kenya and Nigeria where broadcasting regulators and censorship boards deem the content offensive and don't want it to be seen.

The OUTtv offering will further diversify and strengthen Showmax's content offering that will soon compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video as two new over-the-top (OTT) players that will sit alongside Showmax on the revamped interface dashboard of MultiChoice's DStv service as add-in streaming options.

Showmax's OUTtv offering will now also compete with South Africa's existing PrideTV video streaming service offering a catalogue of local and international LGBT films and series.

In October 2018 MultiChoice added the gay-focused OUTtv  aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community as a month-long linear pop-up TV channel on DStv to try out the content under the South African audience.

Showmax has acquired a catalogue of content including the horror drag reality series Boulet Brothers' Dragula, Trixie Mattel: Skinny Legend and Drag SOS and will add further new OUTtv content on a monthly basis.

"This year our efforts are concentrated on growing the accessibility of OUTtv's expansive catalogue of LGBTQ+ content to global audiences," says Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv in a statement.

"We're seeing an increasing demand for LGBTQ+ programming and, by partnering with premium entertainment platforms such as Showmax we are able to make our content more accessible to international audiences."

Showmax was asked for comment about the OUTtv content distribution deal on Wednesday morning and referred TVwithThinus to the OUTtv announcement. Richard Boorman, Showmax spokesperson said the streamer has no further comment.

Netflix orders a second season of its trope-filled South African teen drama series Blood & Water, ensemble cast expected to return.

by Thinus Ferreira

Netflix has renewed its recently released teen drama series, Blood & Water, its Netflix Original drama filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, for a second season.

Netflix renewed the Gambit Films production, executive produced by Bradley Joshua without first locking up contracts with the emsemble cast who were all surprised by the news.

Khosi Ngema, Ama Qamata, Natashoa Thahabe, Gail Mabalane, Cindy Mahlangu, Thabang Molaba, Arno Greeff and Dillon Windvogel are however expected to return for a Blood & Water's second season.

The teen-trope filled Blood & Water apparently did well in views in Netflix in several countries, although the video streaming service doesn't release show-specific ratings, despite lukewarm reviews from TV critics.

As a Netflix Original Blood & Water looks derivative compared to Spain's ELITE also found on Netflix and in its third season, and The Girl from St. Agnes from MultiChoice's Showmax that both also revolve around private high school set teen mysteries.

"It's a privilege and a blessing to return to our beloved characters as we delve further into the greater mystery and scandals of their world," says Nosipho Dumisa in a prepared statement and who is Blood & Water showrunner and director who will return to help the second season.

Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix's Amsterdam-based boss for Netflix Originals from Africa, says "We know our viewers were left with questions and those answers await them in the second season of Blood & Water".

Bradley Joshua says "we can't wait to welcome everyone back for an even more exciting season 2".


ALSO READ: TV REVIEW. Netflix's Cape Town-set youth series Blood & Water is a shallow déjà vu but the teens will splash in it.
ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. South Africa's Blood & Water teen angst drama from Gambit Films looks like it's another rip-off from Netflix's Spanish series ELITE using The Kissing Booth's production design values.

Netflix signs output production deal to get more Nigerian content from Africa with Mo Abudu; EbonyLife will produce 2 original series along with films and licence more existing content for the video streamer.

by Thinus Ferreira

While TV and film producers in South Africa and across Africa continue to struggle to make contact with Netflix to pitch or to try and find out how the video streamer's commissioning structure and process works, Netflix has tied up more low-hanging fruit in a content deal with Nigeria's Mo Abudu and her EbonyLife outfit.

Mo Abudu, through her production company, EbonyLife, will create two Netflix Original series for the video streamer, along with Netflix-branded films and series that Netflix will licence from EbonyLife.

These projects will include the on-screen adaptations of literary works by two Nigerian authors - a series based on contemporary author, Lola Shoneyin's best-selling debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, as well as a film adaptation of Death And The King's Horseman, a play by the author and playwright Wole Soyinka.

Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix's Africa boss for original series, says in a statement that "We're thrilled about this first-of-its-kind partnership in Africa that will bring some of Nigeria, and Africa's most iconic storytelling to screen. We look forward to supporting Mo as she brings all these diverse Nigerian stories to the world".

Ben Amadasun, Netflix director of licensing and co-productions for Africa, says in the statement that "We believe that more people deserve to see their lives reflected on screen and for that to happen, we need to make sure there's a wide variety of content that caters to our members' diverse tastes".

"Our members around the world have been enjoying some of the licensed titles from EbonyLife like The Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, Castle & Castle and Fifty. I'm excited to continue our licensing partnership with the addition of Netflix branded films titles that will grow the variety of quality Nigerian stories on our service."

Mo Abudu, EbonyLife Media CEO, says in the statement "This unprecedented partnership is testament to the Netflix's investment in African storytelling and we at EbonyLife are grateful and excited about the opportunity to work together with the Netflix teams led by Dorothy and Ben to deliver a slate of unique and riveting stories from Nigeria over the next few years for Netflix audiences around the world."


African producers' growing frustration
While Netflix has announced some Netflix Originals for Africa, African producers and production companies - especially in South Africa, Africa's most developed TV and film market - continue to voice frustration about Netflix's Amsterdam-based approach with picking and commissioning content from the African continent.

Producers and production companies say they don't know how to make contact with Netflix's commissioning division and executives, don't know why only certain producers and production companies are favoured by the streamer for cherry-picked projects, and that they would also like to bring and pitch possible projects to Netflix as they do to local broadcasters and pay-TV channels like MultiChoice and M-Net.

Production companies and media in Nigeria and South Africa said they were surprised and shocked to find out weeks later that Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer, and Dorothy Ghettuba were both in Africa and in these countries in late February 2020.

Producers and media said that they were taken aback that Netflix chose not to do general media interviews with the executives to tout its presence or to share their company's forward-looking commercial intentions, and also excluded producers from possible educational meetings or meet-and-greets about how to pitch to Netflix and how to do business with the streamer.

A month later Netflix appointed Marang Setshwaelo since March 2020 as its new publicity director for Netflix Originals for the sub-Saharan Africa region.

"Netflix looks clueless and out-of-touch, firstly when it comes to the creatives in Africa that do exist and who want to do business with it, and secondly a proper avenue for talent to reach them. If you're a company like us Netflix doesn't know about you and there's no way to get your ideas or suggestions to them that we know of," said a longtime producer.

"It's ridiculous that Netflix in Africa only reaches out to people they seem to know of and isn't making effort or helping emerging producers to know how to get in touch with them or what they want," said another independent producer.

Jobs bloodbath looming at bloated SABC as South Africa's public broadcaster once again gets ready to shed staffers and wants to cut massive salary bill by R700 million.

by Thinus Ferreira

A bloodbath of job losses is coming for the extremely bloated and severely over-staffed South African public broadcaster that was forced to put its job cuts plan in 2019 on ice because of political reasons in an election year, and where staffer salaries are the biggest drain on the struggling corporation's finances.

The Sunday World newspaper reported that the SABC plans to retrench a massive number of staffers according to preliminary plans set out in its "Reimagine the SABC through a new operating model" document.

In 2019 the SABC wanted to get rid of 33% of its bloated staff complement - 981 permanent personnel and more than 1 200 freelance workers.

The SABC was forced to abandon the layoffs following political pressure from Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, South Africa's current minister of communications, as well as some political parties, since the country was in an election year where support of job cuts is seen as negative to getting votes.

Not only did the SABC fail to reduce the corporation's headcount in a job cutting exercise but the abrupt arrival of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has seen SABC revenue plunge because of a loss in advertising income.

Now the SABC is back to planning job cuts and wants to reduce the staggering amount that it pays to salaries by R700 million as part of the SABC's latest corporate plan that it presented to parliament.

According to the "Reimagine the SABC through a new operating model" document, the SABC says that "the reality is that the current operating model and organisational structure costs the corporation at least 40 cents in employee compensation for every R1 in projected revenue. We have determined that, in order to break even within the current fiscal year, a R700-million reduction in employee compensation is necessary".

While the SABC spends 40 cents out of every R1 on salaries, only 28 cents out of every R1 is spent on actual content. Meanwhile the SABC has a currently conservatively estimated R1.5 billion shortfall because of the negative impact of Covid-19 on advertising income.

A few days ago the SABC said that the broadcaster is once again restructuring and looking to switch to a new operating model to ensure financial viability.

The SABC said that it had started talks with staff, as well as internal and external stakeholders about a new operating model.

The SABC said that a skills audit of staff is underway and that the broadcaster has started engagements with staffers, labour representatives and other stakeholders "outlining the unavoidable and urgent need for this strategic renewal initiative".


ALSO READ: SABC now spends almost double on paying staff than on content - 40 cents out of every rand compared to 28; says its revenue is already R1.5 billion under budget because of debilitating impact of Covid-19 as advertisers withdraw ad spend.

Coronavirus: Award ceremonies for 2021's Oscars and BAFTAs both postponed from February to April 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

by Thinus Ferreira

America's Oscars, the world's most prestigious film awards ceremony, has been postponed from February to 25 April 2021 because of the growing global Covid-19 pandemic, the first time in 40 years that the Oscars are delayed, with Britain's BAFTAs also now moving later in 2021.

The last time that America's broadcast of the Oscars was postponed was in 1981 because of the assassination attempt of the United States president Ronald Reagan, which saw the Oscars broadcast delayed by 24 hours.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 93rd Oscars that was originally set for 28 February 2021 has now been moved out by a further 3 months to 25 April.

The Oscars and preceding red carpet coverage are annually broadcast in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa by M-Net on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service.

Earlier this year the South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) was forced to cancel the physical awards ceremony for the 14th South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) which was turned into an online announcement a month later in April.

The Oscars will now move the eligibility date for films to 28 February 2021.

"In extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalised for something beyond anyone's control," says Academy president David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a joint statement.

America's ABC network that will produce and broadcast the show says it's not yet sure how the awards broadcast will look.

"We find ourselves in uncharted territory this year and will continue to work with our partners at the Academy to ensure next year's show is a safe and celebratory event that also captures the excitement of the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures," says Karey Burke, ABC president of entertainment.

The United Kingdom's British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) also announced that it's now moving its original 14 February 2021 date. The BAFTAs usually takes place two weeks before the Oscars with 2021's BAFTAs that will now take place on 11 April 2021. 

The BAFTAs that is also pushing the eligibility date out, says in a statement "these changes are in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, which resulted in UK cinemas closing on 20 March, and are the result of extensive industry consultation".

About the awards date change the BAFTAs says "this change from the previously announced date of 14 February acknowledges the impact of the global pandemic and accommodates an extended eligibility period. Further details on the ceremony will be announced later in the year."

Marc Samuelson, BAFTAs film committee chairperson, says "We have pushed back by two months to give all films the best possible chance to be released and considered properly".

"As cinemas gradually re-open we know that the major releases will dominate screens. Relaxing the scale of theatrical release required, including releases on VOD in some cases, and pushing back the date of the Awards should help the smaller, independent, documentary, foreign language and particularly the British films to be seen in good time".

The Bold and the Beautiful to resume production as the first American scripted TV series that starts filming again amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic.

by Thinus Ferreira

The longrunning American daytime soap The Bold and the Beautiful that shut down alongside the rest of Hollywood will resume filming on Wednesday 17 June and become the first scripted TV series in the United States to resume production in 2020 amidst the growing global Covid-19 pandemic.

"The health and safety of our cast and crew are of foremost importance to us. We will be following all protocols set forth by the state, city, Television City, and the various guilds," says the Los Angeles-based daytime soap in a statement.

Last month The Bold and the Beautiful produced by Bell-Phillip Television and seen on Vodacom Video Play and EVA (DStv 141), was renewed for a further 2 seasons taking it to at least mid-2022.

The Bold and the Beautiful restarting production although Covid-19 cases in the United States continue to increase is similar to South Africa where the TV and film industry resumed production after an 8-week break because of the country's national lockdown period.

Two local primetime series, M-Net's The River produced by Tshedza Pictures for the 1Magic (DStv 103) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, as well as Skeem Saam on SABC1 have since been forced to shutter again and deep-clean studio and office spaces following positive Covid-19 cases.

M-Net adds Legacy from Tshedza Pictures as the channel's first locally-produced telenovela, squabbling investment firm family series to debut in September 2020.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net (DStv 101) is adding a new locally-produced telenovela, Legacy - the channel's first telenovela - from September 2020, that will run multiple episodes per week and revolve around the family in-fighting between the members of a wealthy investment firm clan.

At first glance Legacy seems to be in the line of the abruptly cancelled High Rollers telenovela that was on SABC3 and M-Net's ertwhile drama series Jacob's Cross.

Produced by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon of Tshedza Pictures responsible for The River on M-Net's sister-channel 1Magic (DStv 103), Legacy has Trevor Brown as director of photography with Johnny Barbuzano of M-Net's local recent local series Still Breathing, along with Catharine Cooke and Krijay Govender as directors.

M-Net didn't specify an episode order for Legacy, produced as a premium drama series for DStv Premium subscribers, although it's believed to be over 200 episodes with likely 4 episodes that will unspool during a primetime slot per week.

The Legacy cast that has been announced so far includes some legacy soap stars including Michelle Botes of Isidingo and Binnelanders as Angelique, Mary-ann Barlow as Felicity, Kgomotso Christopher of Scandal! and Isidingo as Dineo, Anton David Jeftha as SJ and Deon Lotz as Sebastian.

M-Net released a series description for Legacy saying that it has "startling storylines set in the fast-lane world of investment billionaires". 

 "Legacy’s locus of conflict is an upmarket investment empire that was established by Sebastian Price, the patriarch of the super-wealthy Price family, decades ago, when he was in his early twenties."

"Now he is a silver fox approaching retirement and it is clear that a family member will soon have to take over the reins. But who will it be? And, at what cost? Sebastian’s bitter ex-wife and ruthless first-born daughter will do whatever it takes to ensure that Sebastian's second wife, Dineo, does not push her playboy son into the position of CEO."

"Of course the power struggle turns nasty. A witches' brew of betrayal, secrets, lies and revenge."

Jan du Plessis, director of M-Net channels, says "Imagine the machiavellian mega-rich characters living dysfunctional lives in the award-winning HBO series Succession in a fresh, distinctly South African context".

"Add a daily dose of The Bold and The Beautiful, colour the concoction with pure escapism in the topical and aspirational style of the best Brazilian telenovelas, and you have Legacy in a nutshell."

"Moving into this popular genre is an exciting step for the channel. We managed to sign up the most acclaimed production company currently working in this field as well as a cast that combines top-flight established soap stars and hottest up-and-coming talent."

"We’re also pulling out all the stops to ensure that Legacy will be remembered for its arresting plots and new ways of filming. Expect all kinds of innovation to cement M-Net and MultiChoice’s reputation as Africa’s most loved storyteller."

eMedia Investments' satellite TV service Openview suddenly loses all TV channels without any explanation.

by Thinus Ferreira

Openview's TV channels suddenly all went off-air on Friday in an as-yet-unexplained problem and flickered back later on Friday afternoon.

e.tv has so far not responded to a media enquiry seeking comment about what caused the Openview channel outage.

On social media Openview said that "we are aware that all Openview channels are down and we are trying to resolve the problem".

Later on Friday Openview said that "all channels have resumed. We really appreciate your understanding and patience".

eMedia Investments' free-to-air satellite service now carries 18 TV channels including SABC1, SABC2, SABC3, e.tv, eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra, eReality, eRewind, StarLife, Fight Sports, eNews & Sport, BBC World News, DBE TV, eToonz, Mindset, Glow TV and Supa TV.

Gareth Cliff in a second TV talk show try will host So What Now? in new e.tv primetime talker.

by Thinus Ferreira

Gareth Cliff is making a TV return 4 years after he was cut loose as a judge from M-Net's Idols and will now be the presenter of a new talk show, So What Now? that will start on Wednesday 17 June at 20:30 on e.tv.

Before he became an Idols judge first seen on M-Net (DStv 101) and later the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel, Gareth Cliff did the topical The Gareth Cliff Show in 2009 with the local talk show that was cancelled after its first season.

In 2014 ViacomCBS Networks Africa added The Gareth Cliff Show Live on its Comedy Central (DStv 122) channel as a simulcast radio-on-TV broadcast that was a visual showing of the weekday breakfast broadcast of Cliff's CliffCentral media outfit.

e.tv say that in his new second TV talk show, Gareth Cliff will "talk to influential thought leaders, opinion-makers, and unheard voices about current affairs in South Africa and beyond".

Khalik Sherrif, eMedia Investments CEO, says in a statement that "eMedia wants to ensure that it remains definitive with outstanding, entertaining, and informative programming".

"The inclusion of personalities such as Gareth Cliff will ensure that difficult conversations will be had, no matter how provocative it seems at the outset. With Gareth and Devi Sankaree Govender joining us, we are moving towards the narrative of being more informative, more thought-provoking, and more challenging."