The third season of pay-TV channel M-Net’s locally produced Big Brother Africa will be broadcast throughout Africa on DStv as from 24 August. M-Net has issued a call for contestants from 12 African countries to compete for the USD100,000 prize.
To date there have been 100 versions of Big Brother produced around the world. The format was created by global entertainment company Endemol, whose South African branch will produce Big Brother Africa 3 for M-Net.
Says M-Net Director of Original Productions Carl Fischer: “Reality TV has proven its appeal with audiences around the world and in Big Brother Africa, M-Net has found an ultra-popular format that crosses boundaries with ease, that entertains broadly across age and gender groupings, and for which audiences have shown an unwavering appetite.’
According to Joseph Hundah, M-Net Director of Operations for sub-Saharan Africa, Big Brother Africa 2 generated over 900, 000 SMS messages, with over 14 million page impressions registered on the show website and over four million video clips viewed online. “It was this incredible demand that motivated M-Net to create a third season.’
M-Net is seeking contestants, who must be over 21, in possession of a valid passport and fluent in English, from Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Entries close on 30 April. For more information on how to enter visit www.mnetafrica.com.
Once all entries have been received, a selection team will evaluate and shortlist potential housemates, who’ll then undergo a series of medical and physical tests to check their suitability for show’s tasks and challenges.
The 12 individuals finally chosen as Big Brother Africa 3 housemates will have no contact with the outside world and will be watched 24/7 by audiences tuned in to DStv channel 198. All programming, including the 24-hour channel (channel 198) will have restricted access through the parental guide functionality on the DStv decoder – so parents will be able control viewing of Big Brother.
In addition to DStv channel 198, M-Net will also screen four 30-minute daily shows (Tuesday to Friday), in South Africa on AfricaMagic, and a late-night Uncut show. Audiences can also look out for 60-minute weekly highlights, nomination and eviction shows.
Channel O VJ Kabelo Ngakane will once again host the series, screened live from the Big Brother Africa house in Johannesburg.
