Home Authors Posts by M-Net Press

M-Net Press

106 POSTS 0 JOBS
https://m-net.dstv.com/
M-Net spends every magical moment creating the ultimate TV entertainment experience. When it comes to digital television, high definition broadcasting, customer engagement, creating original South African productions and bringing the freshest TV experience to viewers, M-Net is first.

M-Net / PANA TV online content deal

M-Net Press
-
0

Multichannel pan-African pay-TV broadcaster and content provider M-Net has licensed over 1,000 hours of content to stream on the PanaTV.com platform. PANA TV has picked up a variety of content from M-Net’s diverse portfolio across drama, documentaries, lifestyle and kids’ programming as well as a selection of short films.

Highlights include: award-winning documentary Playing the Enemy (1×60’); epic drama series’ The Wild (208×24’) and Jacobs Cross (105×48’); and series one and two of lifestyle show Cooking with Siba (39×24’), fronted by Sibahle Mtongana, one of South Africa’s most renowned food editors.

PANA TV has also acquired a vast array of popular Nollywood films – formally known as the Nigerian video feature film industry – which is Africa’s largest movie industry in terms of the number of movies produced per year.

Says Daniel Ogbonna, founder, PANA TV: “The partnership with M-Net, one of the largest television networks in Africa, gives us a broader content base that helps us in showcasing the talent in Africa. This is indeed, a fantastic partnership as we unpack the African story to the world.’

Mandy Roger, head of Sales, Acquisition and Business Development, M-Net adds: “At M-Net we look to work with forward-thinking partners who reflect our ethos in promoting African content to new audiences, and PANA TV is a prime example of this.
It is a company that is at the forefront of the online content industry and has grown into one of the fastest growing internet platforms. In making this content digitally accessible we are able to reach international audiences – showcasing the quality of African TV and film production to the global audience and challenging preconceptions. We look forward to building on our relationship with PANA TV to grow African content’s global footprint in the digital space.’

Life-size Oscar for M-Net Movies

M-Net Press
-
0

Paralympic champion athlete Oscar Pistorius is the brand ambassador for M-Net Movies during February 2013 for the channel’s Every Night is Oscar Night campaign.

“I am really excited to see how the campaign is received. I had a lot of fun shooting it, as it was totally different from the norm. I’m sure the public will enjoy it as much as I did,’ says Pistorius.

“We are honoured to work with an international icon as renowned as Oscar. The brand’s core values of freshness and adventure will be amplified further by his association and will assist in promoting the M-Net Movies brand and taking it to the next level,’ says Pierre Cloete, channel director for M-Net Movies.

In conjunction with M-Net Movies, Pistorius will jointly promote the channel’s Oscar-winning movies for February, leading up to the actual award ceremony on Monday, 25 February.

His various interactions can be followed on-air, on www.mnetmovies.tv or via social media (M-Net Movies on Facebook and @mnetmovies on Twitter). The promo can be viewed on http://youtu.be/J5yHRZHFGi8.

Every Night is Oscar Night starts on Friday, 1 February 2013 on M-Net Movies Showcase and M-Net Movies Premiere.

M-Net announces TAG winners

M-Net Press
-
0

SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: The Best Overall Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in the Newcomer and Professional categories of the M-Net Television Awards for Good (TAG) competition, as judged by an independent panel of industry professionals, are My Son The Flyer and Exchange Life respectively.

Winners in all categories were announced at a gala event held on 4 December at the Kyalami Theatre on The Track in Johannesburg.

M-Net TAG (formerly known as the MultiChoice Vuka! Awards) falls under pay-TV broadcaster M-Net’s CSI banner, “M-Net Cares’. PSAs entered into the competition are produced for worthy causes and charities and the 30 shortlisted PSAs will be broadcast on the M-Net channel and across other channels on the DStv platform.

Idols SA 2012 runner-up Melissa and the Soweto Gospel Choir performed at the event. Popular TV personality and music artist Unathi was MC for the evening.

Said Unathi: “I love the M-Net TAG competition because it reminds me of my humanity and of the fragility of the planet. I believe that when you shine your light you unconsciously empower others to shine. We’re celebrating that glow today – the light that all these wonderful PSAs will shine on their chosen charities.

“M-Net takes great pride in your work and ensures the PSAs are flighted free of charge. In addition M-Net Cares awards five bursaries to young filmmakers.’

Koo Govender, M-Net’s Corporate & Communications director, said she was honoured to be in the presence of so many talented filmmakers, many of who are students.

“M-Net believes TAG is an important social innovation because not only does it recognise and reward filmmakers, it acts as a catalyst to highlight numerous worthy causes.

“This year we experienced a slight decline in professional entries which we attribute to the recession and the tough economic climate which is also affecting NGOs. There is a big need for new and fresh outlooks in advertising. This year’s PSAs have really been of a high quality and because the PSAs are broadcast on our channels it means that the charities are also big winners.

“TAG is helping to build a future community of creative voices from diverse backgrounds. We are proud of our previous winners and follow their progress in the industry. Last year the TAG 10 winners went to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and were tasked with making a PSA for the Hope Foundation which treats depression.’

Govender noted that there were 103 entries in the Newcomer category and that 650 newcomers had participated in the TAG Workshops that were held in Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town this year.

Judges for the 2012 competition included Peter Carr, Alun Richards, Adam Thal, Tsepeng Naheng, Palisa Xorile and Thabang Moleya.

Said Moleya: “Six years ago I was a newcomer director in this competition and there after got the chance to direct a primetime TV show produced by Mfundi Vundla. Talent is very important in this industry but you need to committed and you need people to give you a chance.

“I love doing the TAG Workshops because I meet want-to-be filmmakers and I’m a want-to-be filmmaker. This year I was a judge in the competition and I was judging alongside industry professionals who have won Loerie Awards and a host of international awards.’

According to Moleya, the TAG judges loved PSAs that combined humour with a simple idea. “However, among the entries were too many PSAs with bad ideas. I would advise you to spend lots of time in crafting your PSA and in post-production. And, don’t bite off more than you can chew – keep it simple.

“The judges were encouraged by the wide variety of charities represented in the entries. But I have to ask why there were no PSAs in any language other than English. We have 11 official languages in this country,’ concluded Moleya.

The M-Net TAG competition is facilitated by production company The Bomb Shelter.

Here is the list of the 2012 M-Net TAG winners:

Newcomer Best Humour Category – Eye Test (Will Lisa Napier, Gregory Wylde, Alicia Young, Thabang Manyelo and Audrey Lisik)
Newcomer Best Animation – Indigo (Johan Taljaard)
Newcomer Best Sound design – My Son The Flyer (Tapiwa Musvosvi)
Newcomer Best Editor – My Son The Flyer (Donald Leitch)
Newcomer Best Script – Eye Test (Thabang Manyelo)
Professional Best Script – Anti-Cruelty (Marjolein Rossouw and Peter Khoury)
Newcomer Best Concept – Blair Witch Barbie (Alice Toich and Jonah Lewis)
Special Mention for Concept – Drive Blind (Mamta Ramjee)
Professional Best Concept – Exchange Life (Stephen Geldenhuys, Ivan Greyling and Gia Pra-Lewis)
Newcomer Best Cinematographer – My Son The Flyer (Fabian Vettiger)
Newcomer Best Director – My Son the Flyer (Robin Adams)
Newcomer Best Overall – My Son The Flyer (Maggie Leitch, Robin Adams, Tapiwa Musvosvi, and Donald Leitch)
Professional Best Overall – Exchange Life (Stephen Geldenhuys, Ivan Greyling and Gia Pra-Lewis)
The M-Net Cares Rising Star award – Missing Children (Duduzile Mkhize)

Report by Joanna Sterkowicz

Meyer scoops M-Net Literary Award

M-Net Press
-
0

Renowned South African author Deon Meyer has been awarded the Film Prize in the 2012 M-Net Literary Awards for his acclaimed novel 7 Dae. It was judged as the entry that shows the most promise to be adapted into a blockbuster film.

“His outstanding novel was a clear winner, as its story and vivid backdrop provide wonderful imagery that can effortlessly be turned into a top notch South African film,’ explained Hettie Scholtz, convenor of the M-Net Literary Awards.

The winners of pay-TV broadcaster M-Net’s Literary Awards were announced at a function held in Johannesburg recently. These are the only fiction awards that honour novels in all eleven South African official languages.

Five authors received the accolade for best novel written in their mother tongue. Each winner received R50 000 in prize money.

The Award for Best Novel in English was won by Finuala Dowling for Homemaking for the down-at-heart, an “everyday’ story of love, parenting, ageing, housekeeping and the surprising complexities of life, as experienced by a housewife with a midnight radio show and her motley crew of friends and family.

The judges applauded Dowling for her graceful writing and the way she gave a slice-of-life novel a special flavour, achieved by an alchemy of wit, irony, acuity and desperation. “It’s a story of surprising complexity, with brilliant and excruciating scenes that makes a subtle statement about our state of mind in this time of history…’ they remarked during the commendation.

Among the indigenous languages, novels in Afrikaans, SeSotho, Sepedi and TshiVenda all received awards. This was the first time in many years that a prize was awarded to a TshiVenda author. Takalani Mbedzi scooped the prize for his first novel Murunzi wa Vhutshilo (The Shadow of Life), which reflects on contemporary challenges facing young South Africans struggling to succeed.

The award for the Best Novel in the Sepedi language novels went to Tshweu ya ditsebe (A Gentleman with White Ears) by Herbert Lentsoane. The judges praised the author for his artistic exploration of human nature: “The book exposes the effects of modernity against traditional ways of life and also explores topics of human rights and how the right to dignity continues to exist only in theory in some communities.’

The winner in the SeSotho language entries is a detective novel that takes a fresh look at the malice that shadows South African society in general and black townships in particular. Manong a lapile (The Vultures are Hungry) by Nhlanhla Maake contains high levels of intrigue and provides acute insight into township life.

Sirkusboere by Sonja Loots, which won the award for the Best Novel in the Afrikaans language, is a novel that poignantly captures elements of the Anglo Boer War. The story unfolds in a circus arena in St. Louis, where night after night the battle in the Anglo Boer War is restaged by the same Boer soldiers if the actual battle. Loots boldy addresses issues of degradation, guilt, atonement, downfall and revival.

Novels published between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011 qualified for the awards.

During the awards, M-Net Cares’ Naledi Children’s Literacy Project was also honoured for the incredible work that it is conducting in spreading the gift of reading. To date over 1,500 children have benefited from the Naledi programme, which includes the 12 week reading programme in various primary schools across the country, reading corners and a book collection drive.

The full list of winners:

ENGLISH: Homemaking for the Down-at-heart by Finuala Dowling (Kwela Books)
SOTHO: Winner for SeSotho: Manong a lapile by Nhlanhla Maake (Ekaam Publishers)

SEPEDI: Tšhweu ya ditsebe by Herbert Lentsoane (Maskew Miller Longman)

TSHIVENDA : Murunzi wa Vhutshilo by Takalani Mbedzi (Hibbard Publishers)

AFRIKAANS: Sirkusboere by Sonja Loots (Tafelberg)

FILM AWARD: 7 Dae by Deon Meyer (NB Publishers)

Duality of movies and life in M-Net ad

M-Net Press
-
0

Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg, M-Net, and a dedicated cast and crew joined forces to create M-Net Channel 101’s new brand campaign advert titled My Life as a Movie. The ad, which builds upon M-Net’s 25-year platform as the “Home of Magic’, launched on M-Net and M-Net HD on Wednesday 15 August at 19h00.

The ad brief was to allow viewers to relate to M-Net’s magic in a way that was more personal and real. “We want our viewers to believe that magic happens in their own stories. There are definite parallels between the stories on-screen and our own. Who says that magic only happens in the movies?’ says M-Net Head of Marketing and Publicity, Mpeo Makape.

Filming the ad was not without its share of challenges, including a haunted set and a freak cold front.

Directed by Picture Tree Films’ short film and commercial director, JH Beetge, “My Life As A Movie’, which required over two months of pre-production before the two-day filming of the ad and features local celebrity Emmanuel Castis as the hero of the narrative, used emotion as the predominant language.

Circumstance and location were secondary to creating an intense 60-second rollercoaster, which was a complete collaboration between Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg and Picture Tree Films.

“Just as every great movie is an emotional rollercoaster, so are our lives. The ad invites viewers to climb on-board and live the journey through each high and low on the spectrum of human emotion. Drawing upon the universality of human experience, the ad takes the audience on a personal adventure that we can all relate to on some level,’ says Creative Director Mariana O’Kelly.

Just as the narrator plays with the duality of movie and life content, so too was it important for the ad to be visually cinematic, while remaining real and sincere, O’Kelly continues. “It’s not every day that a brand points out the dark and unpleasant sides of life. But we had to go down to go up again. Such is life. Nevertheless, we hope the ad leaves people with a sense of hope and optimism, as well as the realisation that magic happens every single day – not just on the screen, but off-screen too,’ she says.

To view the ad visit My Life as a Movie

M-Net TAG Awards workshops

M-Net Press
-
0

Pay-TV broadcaster M-Net invites filmmakers to enter its TAG (Television Awards for Good) competition by submitting a public service announcement (PSA) for a worthy cause, produced specifically for television and / or cinema.

M-Net is hosting TAG workshops for newcomer filmmakers. Here are the details.

JOHANNESBURG

THURSDAY 17 & FRIDAY 18 MAY

VENUE: CITY VARSITY, NEWTOWN

DURBAN

MONDAY 21 MAY

VENUE: BOTTANICAL GARDENS

PORT ELIZABETH

TUESDAY 22 MAY

VENUE: PE TOWN HALL

CAPE TOWN

WEDNESDAY 23 MAY

VENUE: LABIA THEATRE

TIMES: 09H00 – 17H00

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

To book your place candice@thebomb.co.za

M-Net appoints new director of movie channels

M-Net Press
-
0

Pan-African television broadcaster M-Net has promoted Pierre Cloete from channel head: M-Net and M-Net HD to director: M-Net Movie Channels.

From 1 April 2012, Cloete will be spearheading a brand new M-Net business unit, which will focus solely on the acquisition and scheduling of movies for the M-Net family of channels.

M-Net CEO, Patricia van Rooyen, says Cloete’s extensive experience and superb track record in the pay-television environment will stand him in good stead in this new position. “M-Net is delighted to welcome this dynamic television expert to our executive team. He has excelled in the fields of both marketing and channel management and has proven to be a respected leader in our business. We are confident that he will take one of M-Net’s bigger properties – our movies – to the next level.’

After starting his television career as promo producer for Rapid Blue on the SuperSport account, Cloete joined SuperSport in 1996, where he played an instrumental role in launching and marketing multiple SuperSport channel brands.

In 2006, he stepped into the position of M-Net marketing manager: Local Productions and in 2008 his portfolio increased to include the marketing of M-Net’s international programming, as well as M-Net Movies 1 and M-Net Movies 2.

Thereafter, he was appointed as channel head: M-Net and M-Net HD. During his tenure in this position, he increased M-Net’s ratings and channel revenue significantly.

“I am honoured to have been part of M-Net’s magical history for 15 years and look forward to the next chapter in my career. M-Net viewers love their movies and this new movie division will invest plenty of energy to enhance everyone’s viewing experience.’

Throughout his career, Cloete raked in several industry awards, which include Loerie Awards, Promax Awards and People’s Choice Awards.

Cloete holds a B.Com Honours, majoring in Industrial Psychology, Business Economics and Sport Management. He has also completed a Media Management course with the University of Stellenbosch, a Media Leadership Course with GIBS and a Harvard Business course.

M-Net launches MasterChef SA

M-Net Press
-
0

Hundreds of guests turned up to witness the launch of pay-TV broadcaster M-Net’s locally produced version of the hit international reality format, Master Chef, on 15 March at the Southern Sun MondoVino Restaurant at the Sun Square Hotel in Montecasino, Johannesburg.

The inaugural season of MasterChef South Africa, which was commissioned by M-Net’s Ann Davis, begins its 18 episode run on Tuesday, 20 March in the 7.30pm time slot.

MasterChef South Africa is produced by Mariki van der Walt of Curious Pictures and Donald Clarke of Lucky Bean Media. Clarke is also the series director.

Said M-Net head of Channels Pierre Cloete: “We are so stoked to bring Master Chef South Africa to M-Net screens. This series is a historical turning point for us as we’ve never before produced a cooking show of this magnitude and calibre. Our three judges – Pete Goffe-Wood, Andrew Atkinson and Benny Masekwameng – are not only among the country’s top chefs, but great personalities as well. So MasterChef South Africa is creating household names.

“M-Net has seen how incredibly popular the Australian and UK versions of MasterChef have proved with our viewers so the whole country is very excited about the South African series. It’s been great to be able to do a huge series like this locally.’

Cloete thanked the show’s sponsors – Robertson’s Spices (headline sponsor); Woolworths (stocking the MasterChef kitchen); Hyundai (car sponsor); and Nederburg (wine sponsor). Southern Sun will give the MasterChef South Africa winner a two-year run as head of the MondoVino Restaurant.

M-Net publicist Ingrid Engelbrecht noted that Nederburg also provided the venue for MasterChef South Africa – the Nederburg Pavilion in Paarl in the Cape Winelands.
“Visiting executives from Shine, the international rights holder of the MasterChef format, have commented that this is the most beautiful MasterChef set in the world. It was a huge undertaking to convert the Pavilion into a functioning TV kitchen and required five kilometers of underfloor cabling to power the stoves. We also needed 15 tonnes of wood in order to lay the floor.

“To give you some idea of the volume of food involved in the production, we used three tonnes of onions in one of the challenges during the boot camp phase.’
Following a brief preview of Episode 1, the three MasterChef South Africa judges adjudicated a cook-out between guests who qualified for competition by correctly identifying a wide selection of herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits in the space of a minute.

Ten semi-finalists were asked to hand whisk egg whites so stiff that the bowl could be held upside down over their heads for five seconds without dripping. The five finalists were then tasked to ice and decorate a cupcake in three minutes. Popular M-Net personality Ashley Hayden beat out her competitors who included former Miss South Africa Amy Kleinhans and Mzansi Magic presenter Siba. Hayden was proclaimed the first ever MasterChef South Africa Media Winner.

MC for the launch event was Mzansi Magic presenter Bridget Masinga, fresh from her co-presenter duties of last weekend’s SAFTA Awards.

Report by Joanna Sterkowicz

The February 2012 issue of the print Screen Africa magazine featured an in-depth story on the MasterChef South Africa production logistics. For the Screen Africa February issue click here.

M-Net exhibits at MIPTV 2012

M-Net Press
-
0

Multi-channel Pan-African content provider M-Net will take a selection of exclusive new dramas to MIPTV 2012 from 1 to 4 April as a first-time exhibitor at the market. M-Net’s new catalogue features an assorted variety of programming spanning the lifestyle, factual and kids genres.

Highlights will include ground breaking daily drama series The Wild from M-Net’s in-house production team. Shot on HD format, The Wild is set against the backdrop of a beautiful South African game reserve, and tells the story of three families from different racial and cultural backgrounds whose lives intersect to provide a visually stimulating and explosive African narrative. The Wild has recently been nominated for six South African television awards at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS).

Jacobs Cross is an epic drama series that follows the journey of Jacob Makhubu, a high-powered oil company executive who longs to travel to New York to experience life’s more worldly pleasures. However, his fortune is unexpectedly turned around when he inherits the family business and sets out on a path to build the next great African empire. Jacob’s Cross gripped audiences when it premiered in South Africa and secured excellent audience ratings.

Other highlights include: Cooking with Siba, a new cooking series featuring Siba Mtongwana, one of South-Africa’s most renowned food editors, as she shares her knowledge of the continent’s culinary trends; Great Africans, a documentary series that delves into African history to celebrate the lives of its prominent leaders; and Crimes Uncovered, a riveting docu-drama crime series that takes the viewer on a journey through real-life South African crimes that have resulted in the successful capture and prosecution of the perpetrators.

Mike Dearham, head of Sales and Library, M-Net said: “M-Net’s presence at MIPTV this year marks an important step in the company’s dedication to the further development and growth of the African production industry. M-Net’s catalogue features a strong selection of new dramas that truly showcase the talents and diversity of African producers and reflect this thriving industry. We are incredibly excited to be taking our portfolio of rich African content to MIPTV and showcasing it to the global market.’

M-Net will be on stand no. 08.08.

M-Net appoints former BBC Worldwide exec

M-Net Press
-
0

Multi-channel pan-African content provider M-Net has announced the expansion of its senior sales team with the appointment of former BBC Worldwide executive, Mandy Roger as Sales and Business development manager.

Working closely with head of Sales and Library, Mike Dearham, she will be responsible for sales across all platforms as well as pushing new business development and strategy in new ventures including formats and channel sales.

Roger joins M-Net following 12-years at BBC Worldwide where most recently she was senior sales executive covering UK and Ireland TV sales to both terrestrial and digital channels, VOD and mobile sales. Her clients included the BBC, The History Channel, UKTV, RTE and 3PlayPlus for which she concluded Ireland’s first ever VOD deal. Prior to this, Roger managed sales to EMEA where she was responsible for clients including Discovery and Universal (formerly Hallmark). During her time in this role, she negotiated the output agreements with Animal Planet across Europe, Africa, Germany and the Middle East.

Dearham commented on the appointment: “Mandy’s appointment marks an exciting stage of growth for the company following a fantastic year. She has an exceptional background within the TV industry and extensive experience in taking content to new global audiences across multiple platforms. M-Net has a strong portfolio of rich African content and I look forward to working with Mandy to showcase this content to audiences around the world.

Roger added: “M-Net has demonstrated a fervent dedication to supporting the African production industry by taking its rich content to new audiences around the world. M-Net has a solid reputation for providing diverse and entertaining programming and I am excited to be working with Mike and the team to bring its unique perspective to new audiences and driving the company forward.’

1...678...11Page 7 of 11
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
© Copyright 2017

Pin It on Pinterest