SIMBA NYAMUKACHI writes… Celebrity inspired reality television shows will be a major part of e.tv’s locally-produced spring / summer programme line-up for 2011. This was unveiled last Thursday at an e.tv media launch held at Chaf-Pozi, a shebeen in Soweto, Johannesburg.
The bumper schedule also features the highly popular drama series Ekasi: Our Stories and the comedy show Late Nite News with Loyiso.
New reality TV shows include Blame It on the Fame, Rolling With Zola and So What? are all in line with e.tv’s vision of telling South African stories and keeping up-to-date with broadcasting trends.
“Local content is very important to us because it is what the audience wants,’ said Monde Twala, Group Head of Content. “We are keeping up with the trends and extending our genres to reality TV shows that celebrate our own celebrities.’
Blame It On The Fame is a Keeping up with the Kardashians-styled reality series that will follow Hlelo and Ntando Masina (the YFM “Twinz’), while Rolling With Zola chronicles the life of the charismatic actor and Kwaito musician Bonginkosi “Zola” Dlamini in his personal quest to unearth new talent.
Famous businessman Kenny Kunene, who is known as the Sushi King, is also set to premiere his reality TV show So What? on e.tv later this year. The 13 episode show will give honest insight into the life of the criminal-cum-mogul.
“e.tv is very excited to launch all these new locally-produced celebrity reality shows,” said Twala. “The shows will give the viewer an opportunity to know the essence of the celebrities they find very intriguing.”
The South African free-to-air commercial channel also announced the return of some popular programmes such as Ekasi: Our Stories which returns on Monday, 3 October at 9pm. Loyiso Gola, the anchor of Late Nite News and his team of comedians return with Season 3 on Wednesday, 7 September. The series will continue to put a comedic spin on news stories.
The Showbiz Report will launch another spinoff this summer with The Showbiz Report: The Ten, referring to 10 of the best in entertainment every Saturday in October at 7:30pm.
In celebrating the diverse programme line-up that caters to just about everyone’s needs e.tv launched its new branding campaign- “e is for everyone”. The interactive campaign will allow viewers to step into a e.tv fun photo booth and have their pictures taken for free.
A selection of the pictures collected from the booths will be used to form an eventual collage of the e.tv logo which will appear in the “e is for everyone’ campaign ads across all mediums. The campaign was launched on 1 September and will run until the New Year.
