ViacomCBS Africa boss Alex Okosi jumps to YouTube to lead Africa as VCN Africa ups Monde Twala and Craig Paterson to general managers for the African continent.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Africa boss of ViacomCBS Alex Okosi has jumped to YouTube forcing ViacomCBS Networks International Africa (VCN Africa) into a top executive shake-up that is filling the gap by upping Monde Twala and Craig Peterson as co-general managers for the continent.

Alex Okosi who is exiting VCN Africa at the end of February 2020 is becoming the managing director of emerging markets for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region from April 2020 at YouTube, while Monde Twala and Craig Peterson are becoming general managers at ViacomCBS Africa from March.

Before jumping to YouTube, Alex Okosi was a long-serving TV executive and held the fort as executive vice president and managing director of ViacomCBS Networks International Africa and BET International.

In his new job Alex Okosi will be responsible for running YouTube's business and partnership teams across emerging markets in the EMEA region, including Russia, the Middle East, as well as North and sub-Saharan Africa.

Alex Okosi will report to the head of YouTube for EMEA, Cécile Frot-Coutaz and he will relocate to London in the United Kingdom.

"YouTube is a game-changing platform that plays an increasingly important role in our lives today through the dynamic content and innovation that it delivers," says Alex Okosi in a statement. "I am very excited to be joining Cecile’s leadership team to continue empowering creators and elevating value for viewers and partners across the region."  

Cécile Frot-Coutaz says "I look forward to welcoming Alex to our YouTube EMEA leadership team. He brings a wealth of experience in the content industries and has a track record for building businesses and audiences in established and new markets".

"Alex will be leading our existing teams in Russia, sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa to drive further expansion in these key markets."

Meanwhile ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) announced that the departure of Alex Okosi will be filled by Craig Paterson and Monde Twala who are named as co-general managers of ViacomCBS Networks Africa.

"Alex has made an immeasurable impact on our business in Africa," says Raffaele Annecchino, President of ViacomCBS Networks Europe Middle East, Africa and Asia, in a statement.

"Since launching MTV Base in 2005, Alex has spearheaded the development of our business on the continent, which now delivers more channels to Africa than any other international network – reaching 100 million viewers in 48 territories across MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and BET."

VCNI says that Alex Okosi took over leadership of BET International in 2017 and has continued to advance the value of the brand internationally "delivering double-digit distribution growth and improving profitability and margins".

In a VCNI statement, Alex Okosi says "I am proud to have had the opportunity to build our Africa business from the ground up".

"This has played a pivotal role in transforming the music and content space and changing the narrative on Africa. Leading our Africa and BET International businesses to success is testament to the extraordinary teams, colleagues and partners that I have worked with throughout my tenure. ViacomCBS has been my home for more than 20 fantastic years, and I leave behind incredible creative and commercial talent that will continue to deliver growth."

David Lynn, president & CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International, says "I’m immensely grateful to Alex for his contribution to the success of VCNI, including his role in developing such a strong team of successors. Alex’s leadership has been essential to our success in Africa and to the continued growth of BET International".

From 1 March 2020 Monde Twala and Craig Paterson will take over as general managers of VCN Africa. 

Monde Twala, senior vice president & general manager, editorial VCN Africa (pictured left), will focus on content, creative, editorial and marketing across all VCNI brands.

Monde Twala is currently the vice president of ViacomCBS Networks Africa’s BET, youth & music brands.

Monde Twala who joined the company in 2016 is responsible for driving the development and growth of iconic music, youth and entertainment brands BET, MTV, MTV Base and MTV Music24, across the African continent. 

Craig Paterson, senior vice president & general manager, VCN Africa (pictured right), will be responsible for all corporate functions, including business development and strategy.

Craig Paterson is currently senior vice president, business operations for ViacomCBS Networks Africa and is responsible for driving strategic growth and business opportunities in Africa.

Prior to this role, Craig Paterson was responsible for operations and finance for multimedia brands MTV, MTV Music24, Nickelodeon, Nick Toons, Nick Junior, MTV Base, BET and Comedy Central on the African continent. 

He spent nearly five years at Viacom beginning in 2011 as vice president of operations and finance in Africa and returned to the company in 2018 as senior vice president of business operations in Africa. 

"I am delighted that Craig Paterson and Monde Twala will take over leadership in this important market," says Raffaele Annecchino.

"Both have worked with Alex for years, which coupled with their expertise will ensure a seamless transition. Craig and Monde are experts in their respective areas and in addition to incredible business acumen, have demonstrated leadership and collaborative excellence throughout each of their careers and tenures with the company."                    

Disney moves up Disney+ launch date for Western Europe; remains silent over when its streaming service will come to South Africa and Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Walt Disney Company is moving up the launch date of its streaming service Disney+ in Western Europe where it will now launch on 24 March 2020 while the Mouse House remains silent about its streamer plans for Africa.

Disney on Tuesday announced that instead of 31 March it will now launch Disney+ across several Western Europe countries on 24 March, a week earlier than originally announced, following its success in late-2019 with its launch in the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.

Disney+ will now become available in the United Kingdom and Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Italy on 24 March and bring with it Disney original series like Star Wars The Mandalorian and its buzzed-about "Baby Yoda", along with High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Disney+ will launch in Belgium, the Nordics and Portugal later this year.

Disney gave no reason for the changed time-table. In these countries Disney+ will cost subscribers £5.99 or €6.99 (R112.80) per month or £59.99 and €69.99 (R1129.48) for an annual subscription.

After Disney signed up 10 million subscribers in the United States on Disney+'s launch day there, the company said that it now projects to have between 60 to 90 million Disney+ subscribers worldwide by 2024.

On Tuesday morning The Walt Disney Company Africa was again asked what the plans are for Disney+ to launch in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa and when it would be. A Disney Africa representative said there is "nothing from our side yet" and that "news will follow once we have any".

Viewers in Africa and South Africa have been forced to make use of illegal means, for instance torrent sites, to watch hit series like The Mandalorian with Disney that isn't distributing any of Disney+ Originals through its existing international distribution network to traditional pay-TV operators like MultiChoice's DStv.

Showmax releases 'max-ed out' Christmas season 2019 information, still not giving out any actual viewership and ratings stats.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax has released some information regarding popular programming watched during the late-2019 Christmas period but is still not releasing any viewership or ratings statistics.

According to Showmax South Africans watched "over 100 years worth of video on Showmax over the holiday season" although MultiChoice and Showmax didn't provide any numbers regarding either subscribers or ratings tallies for individually mentioned shows.

According to Showmax the streamer saw a 30% increase in viewing hours compared to the average seen in prior months. Showmax didn't specify either the average number of viewing hours, or what the viewing hours spiked to.

"More people than ever before got on the streaming bandwagon, and those who were watching streamed more than usual," says Showmax.

"For our most popular series, once people had locked on they watched on average more than 30 episodes of the same show over the holiday period. The peak binge by a single account was more than 200 episodes of the same show".

According to Showmax 26 December 2019 saw a peak in viewership although what it was isn't mentioned. Showmax says evenings were the most popular time to watch TV but that the peak over the holiday period saw it start earlier than for the rest of the year at 18:00.

The most-watched local genre was reality TV "with a particularly strong showing from The Real Housewives of Johannesburg". Showmax once again didn't add ratings data for what the "strong showing" entails.

Showmax says comedy, medical drama and crime drama were all popular binge destinations with subscribers apparently watching multiple successive episodes. The River on 1Magic (DStv 103) and the kykNET (DStv 144) series Binnelanders and Getroud Met Rugby "stood out in terms of the number of successive episodes watched".

According to Showmax "people watched way more movies than usual, which could be a reflection of having more opportunities to sit still for several hours at a time".

"South Africans clearly take their leisure time seriously, with average hours per viewer up 21% compared to normal activity, while in Nigeria that increase was just 10%, and in Kenya an even smaller increase of 7%," says Showmax.

Without providing any viewing statistics, Showmax says the top 10 most-streamed international series for 2019 on its streaming service were:

• HBO’s Euphoria
• HBO’s Game of Thrones
• HBO’s Chernobyl
• Younger
• HBO’s Big Little Lies
• Vikings
• Billions
• The Girlfriend Experience
• Siren
• The Handmaid’s Tale

In 2019 the 10 most-streamed South African series on Showmax were:

• Trackers
• The Real Housewives of Johannesburg
• Being Bonang
• The River
• The Queen
• Die Spreeus
• Die Byl
• The Girl From St Agnes
• The Bachelor SA
• Boer Soek ‘n Vrou

Forensic report finds that shocking corruption and irregular discounts by ad reps in the SABC advertising sales division has cost public broadcaster at least R1.5 billion over 18 months.

by Thinus Ferreira

Irregular discounts given by several reps inside the SABC's advertising sales division has cost the beleaguered, cash-strapped and technically insolvent South African public broadcaster at least R1.5 billion over 18 months a forensic investigation into its corrupt SABC Commercial Enterprises division has found.

On Sunday the City Press newspaper reported that a forensic investigation by Nexus Forensic Services uncovered corruption totalling at least R1.517 billion between January 2018 and June 2019 inside the SABC's advertising division.

The investigation that concluded in October 2019 scrutinised the top 35 advertisers at the SABC who were responsible for the bulk of the R6.6 billion in advertising income the struggling broadcaster receives.

At least 17 junior account executives and senior managers at the SABC's sales department gave discounts to advertisers as high as 85% of rate card rates while they all ignored several rules pertaining to how much and when discounts for airtime could be granted.

"These discounts and added value devalue the rate card rates and have significantly impacted on the revenue collected by the SABC," states the forensic report.

The shocking corruption and irregular sales discounts were so bad that one SABC sales representative allegedly provided confidential SABC information to his wife, who was running an agency that advertised with the SABC.

The person was able to spend millions of rand on beachfront properties and 20 vehicles.

Nexus Forensic Services says "We recommend that the SABC consider instituting appropriate disciplinary action against the employee,” recommended the investigation findings.

in December 2019 the SABC fired the former SABC Commercial Enterprises executive Tshifhisa Mulaudzi after he was found guilty on a variety of charges including corruption, dishonesty, and failure to act in the best interest of the SABC.

Tshifhisa Mulaudzi also received an international trip to China in May 2018 as well as a job for his wife from a company with a big advertising contract with the SABC. Disciplinary hearings have also been brought against three other employees. Malaudzi denied any wrongdoing.

The SABC in a statement says "Tshifhisa Mulaudzi faces 11 charges of misconduct, including fraud, corruption and doing business with his wife's company without declaring this to the SABC."

"He was found guilty on all 11 charges and the chairperson of the disciplinary hearing recommended his immediate dismissal from the corporation."

TV news channel eNCA finally switching to high definition (HD) on DStv with new curved LED video wall as part of its latest studio make-over.

The South African TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) will switch to a high definition (HD) feed on Monday 13 January, utilising a new curved LED video wall that it says will be the biggest in-studio screen for a TV channel on the African continent.

eNCA's switch to HD comes 11 and a half years after the channel from eMedia Investments launched on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform. eNCA will be carried on DStv as a HD news channel in South Africa and the other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

The new HD studio is eNCA's latest studio revamp coming six months after the Hyde Park based TV news channel's last "white-wash" studio make-over in July 2018 that received a lukewarm reception from viewers and the industry. 

 Competing South African TV news channels, SABC News (DStv 404) and Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) have been HD channels on DStv for some time already.

eNCA's new curved video wall measures 12 x 3 metres with live in-studio visuals that will be captured by 6 HD cameras which include 5 robo-controlled cameras and one jib.

"Our use of this technologically advanced equipment in the new HD studio is exceptional and will provide a sharp and refreshing feel to all our programmes," says Rose Rogers, group technical general manager in a statement.

"The semi-circular set shape will allow for an increase in camera angles compared to the previous U-shaped set design. It took us months of work to ensure that the new studios are a perfect fit for the upgraded broadcast quality."

 Joe Heshu, MultiChoice's head of corporate affairs, says "In line with our purpose of giving and delighting our viewers with great quality content and entertainment, eNCA’s launch of the high-tech HD studio on our platform is just one more way of ensuring we can play a role in supporting the growth of the local TV industry and creating lasting partnerships with local stakeholders which will guide the success of the industry."

Gay farmer Damian arrives man alone at Boer Soek 'n Vrou reunion show; gets applause 'for guts he had to do what he did' from other farmers for taking part in 12th season.

The 12th season of the Afrikaans farmer dating reality show Boer Soek 'n Vrou ended on Thursday night on kykNET (DStv 144) with three couples who managed to stay together and pitched up for the reunion show - although gay farmer Damian arrived "man alone" but in the end received applause from all of the other farmers.

Damian Engelbrecht (37), a cattle and sheep farmer from Bapsfontein, made history earlier this year when he became the first-ever gay farmer who took part in the farmer-wants-a-lover reality format show, produced by Marche Media.

He made the list of top 5 shortlisted farmers after he garnered the most letters from potential love interest out of all of the farmers, although his inclusion and journey through the season wasn't without controversy.

On Thursday night Boer Soek 'n Vrou concluded the 12th season with a special reunion show that saw all of the farmers back - although some arrived alone.

As expected, all three of the remaining couples were still together: Hentie and Hantie, Graham and Ilne, as well as Willem and Sanel, while Brandon arrived with Llani who he met while visiting the United Kingdom.

Damian, Theunis, Albert, Rohan and Gerrit all arrived alone without anybody in hand.

Albert said that he is seeing a woman who couldn't make it for the recording of the reunion episode, while Rohan said there is someone in his life although he doesn't want to expose her on television since they're taking things slowly. Gerrit said that he has met someone.

Farmer Franco arrived with Nicole who he and presenter Leah initially phoned, although they're not officially a couple - yet.

Damian, as the show's first gay farmer, was asked what his biggest lesson was from taking part in Boer Soek 'n Vrou.

"What's being said out there and the ideas that people have of you - to just start to cut that out because people's opinions are not your reality," he answered.

"I think and hope that a lot of people will look with new eyes at people who don't fit in into their framework but that they'll also see that we're not doing harm to anyone. Why do you want to crucify people who don't fit into the same frame that you're moving in?"

Presenter Leah asked the farmers who surprised everyone the most over the course of the season.

Farmer Albert said "We've had this discussion already and I think everyone can agree with it: I think that what Damian did, and the guts he had to do what he did on national television, I take my hat off to him."

"It's well done," said Albert as all of the farmers spontaneously started to applaud.

532 original American shows in 2019 - and counting - as 2020 will see the number of scripted TV series continue to increase.

Feel like there's nothing much to watch? The FX Networks in America released its annual list of how many original scripted TV series were in production with new episodes in the United States and said on Thursday that it topped 532 in 2019 - a number that just keeps growing.

John Landgraf, FX CEO, in December 2018 predicted that 2019 would see more than 530 original and ongoing drama, comedy and limited series shows.

This prediction came true, with FX's research division that tracks all original shows in production and announced that it came to 532 in 2019 - up 7% over 2018's 495 shows.

The number of original scripted series more than doubled over the past decade from "just" 216 series in 2010 to the 532 of last year - an increase of 153% - and continues to grow. This number excludes reality shows, soaps and children series which would easily increase the 532 to over 1000 ongoing, original shows.

FX made the annual announcement at the 2020 Winter Television Critics Association (TCA) two-week press tour currently taking place in Pasadena, California in the United States.

What it means is that South African viewers are spoilt for choice with over 500 American series to watch that continue to roll out new episodes and new seasons, besides the original South African productions also being made, in addition to shows from the United Kingdom, Australia, India, South America and the rest of the African continent made available to free-to-air and pay-TV viewers.

This number will increase even further in 2020, largely fuelled by the so-called "streaming wars" of over-the-top (OTT) direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services like Netflix constantly making more shows to attract more viewers.

"Given that the streaming wars are now at hand, that total will increase substantially this year, which to me is just bananas," John Landgraf said.

In 2020 The Walt Disney Company continues to ramp up production on original series for its Disney+ streaming service that it's busy rolling out globally, as Netflix continues to invest heavily in scripted originals.

Meanwhile Apple relaunched its Apple TV+ streaming service, NBCUniversal is getting ready to launch its new Peacock service in April in the United States and WarnerMedia set to launch its HBO Max streamer in May.

2020's Emmys gets a date, Oscars going hostless for a second time.

America's 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday 20 September 2020 the Television Academy announced, while this year's Oscars will go hostless for a second year in February.

The 72nd Emmy Awards will once again be broadcast live on M-Net in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa on Monday morning 21 September, with a prime time rebroadcast later the same day, with the ceremony that's set to take place inside the Microsoft Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, California.

The Television Academy hasn't yet announced whether the Emmys will have a main host this year which went hostless in September 2019 for the 71st Emmy Awards.

In a separate announcement, this year's 92nd Academy Awards will definitely be hostless for a second year after it had no host in 2019 when Kevin Hart withdrew two days after he was announced as the would-be main host when several of his homophobic tweets from earlier years resurfaced.

The 92nd Academy Awards which will also be broadcast by M-Net, will take place on Sunday 9 February 2020 from inside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and shown live in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa early on Monday morning 10 February.

At the current two week Winter 2020 Television Critics Association (TCA) tour taking place at the Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena, California, Karey Burke, entertainment president for America's ABC network, said that the Oscars again won't have a host.

"Together with the Academy, we have decided there will be no traditional host, repeating for us what worked last year. The Oscars will have huge entertainment values, big musical numbers, comedy and star power."

"We expect that we’re going to have a very commercial set of nominations and a lot of incredible elements have come together that make us think we are going to have a very entertaining show again."

e.tv cancels local drama series Isipho after 5 months following dismal ratings.

e.tv has cancelled its local drama series Isipho that won't return in 2020 following extremely dismal ratings.

The local supernatural drama series produced by Herbvision Multimedia and The Ntintili Factory pulled a meagre audience during its 5 and a half months on-air and failed to make the top 20 most watched shows on e.tv during any time or any month of its short run.

The last episode of Isipho was broadcast on e.tv on 19 December 2019 which turned out to be the series finale.

Isipho that started in July 2019 on the channel in the hugely competitive timeslot against SABC1's popular Skeem Saam, was supposed to run until at least June 2020.

e.tv didn't explain why Isipho, filmed on Mulderdrift in Gauteng, was cancelled but Marlon Davids, e.tv managing director says it was a "mutual decision" between e.tv and the producers to can the show.

"It is with sincere regret that we end a locally produced drama series; however, following lengthy discussions with our partners, the decision was made to end the series. e.tv continues to look forward to fulfilling its mandate of producing exceptional and relevant local content," says Marlon Davids.

Herbert Hadebe and Busisiwe Ntintili, Isipho co-executive producers, say in a prepared statement that "This has been an amazing and breath-taking journey for us as independent local producers. The opportunity to tell stories that uplift South African audiences and create employment for South African families is our mission".

"This fantastic experience has given us, as young companies, great courage to continue with the vision of upskilling our people and contributing to the growth of our film and television industry."