LINDA LOUBSER writes…This summer will see three new local shows air on SABC3, it was announced at a press conference on 16 November at the Fairway Hotel in Johannesburg.
According to master of ceremonies, Top Billing presenter Donna Maseko, the purpose of the event was to create hype around the shows coming up on SABC3.
Lefa Afrika, SABC3 programme manager, acknowledged that the channel had experienced some well-publicised glitches during the year.
“Despite the wins and good gains we’ve made, there have been many challenges and problems,’ said Afrika.
He talked about glitches with the non-delivery of programmes such as Brotherhood and Californication, international distributors holding back material due to non-payment by the SABC, as well as scheduling headaches after the move of Isidingo to the 7:30pm timeslot.
“We strive for a consistent schedule with fewer disruptions,’ he explained as he thanked the media, partners and production companies gathered at the press conference for their support.
While the upcoming schedule for the channel includes the promise of lots of drama on local soap Isidingo, as well as an exciting line-up on breakfast show Expresso and magazine show Top Billing, the summer will also see three new local shows air on SABC3.
Local documentary Exploring the Vine, produced by South African production company Cooked in Africa Films, starts on Saturday 4 February 2012 and follows three young, up-and-coming local winemakers over the period of a year through pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest.
The series was filmed in and around Stellenbosch, Constantia and Elgin, and chronicles the adventures of Stuart Botha, Howard Booysen and James Corder as they try to make a name for themselves.
According to Booysen, who spoke at the press conference, winemaking is seen as a “snobbish type of pursuit’. “We wanted to give some insight into the practice, and since the industry is mostly dominated by older men, we wanted to bring some freshness to the image of the industry.’
Corder added: “We all knew each other prior to the programme, having lived together at varsity, which I think will add to the show. Please watch the show and enjoy it.’
On Sunday 11 December the first of 13 episodes of Around Iceland on Inspiration, another Cooked in Africa Films produced series, will start on SABC3.
The local documentary follows extreme adventurer Riaan Manser as he kayaks the 5000km circumference of Iceland, an excursion he completed on 4 September 2011 joined by 30-year-old law student and Cerebral Palsy sufferer, Daniel Skinstad (younger brother of rugby player Bob Skinstad).
They became the first Africans to circumnavigate Iceland in a kayak, and were accompanied by a professional TV production crew of five to documents the feat.
The third new local show will be Food with Friends, hosted by talk show presenter, business women and avid cook Katie Mohamed. The show, starting on Saturday 4 February 2012, is billed as “more than a cooking show’ with each of the 13 episodes aiming to take the viewer on a culinary journey.
Each episode will begin with a short overview of the episode’s theme, including “comfort food’, “mother’s day’, “love is in the air’ and “high tea’, as well as some background to the guest on the show who present a challenge to the chef and presenter, such as a vegetarian who wants to get their friends to appreciate the healthy lifestyle. Mohamed and executive chef Thomas Schmid will create a menu for the guest, supply the ingredients and give tips on how to cook the dish.
During the summer SABC3 will also show movies such as Two Weeks’ Notice, Superman Returns, Casino Royale and Mr Bones II, as well as coverage of the COP 17 conference in Durban and international cricket.
