I don't usually pay attention to brand related TV things - they're always full of marketing bumph, which irritates me
a lot.
As far as I'm concerned the rubbishy mumbo jumbo of channels going on about brands, target markets and outward image distracts and undermines what TV's crucial aim should always be - ie. providing
excellent entertainment.
That said, SABC3's been in some serious need of direction and oomph for a long time so on Thursday I decided to hotfoot it to a shindig they held to launch their new image to see what was going down.
The situation is that starting tonight (Monday, 30 July 2007) - just after 3Talk and during it I think - the channel's launching a new look and feel based on a new tagline: "soul and substance."
Obviously it's packed with spin but the thing I like about it is how they've conceptualised it - it's eventually dawned on them that us viewers are actually human and can't be classified according to LSM's.
They didn't mention this insulting term once and they also didn't stereotype us into boxes according to demographics. Instead they said that they believe that people who watch their channel are all different but also united by a similar mind-set and that they'll be focusing on this as a way of delivering their content.
As part of their new image they're introducing 5 new continuity announcers which is cool, but also sucks. Irene Bester, Robyn Poole and Graeme Richards won't be announcing anymore - which is understandable - obviously they can't be around for forever.
The thing that freaked my brain out though is that, get this - Irene's going to be doing the wardrobe for the new presenters and Robyn's going to be doing their make-up. Not just overseeing it but actually doing it.
How crap is that?? I mean it's essentially saying that they'll now be glamming up the very people who took their jobs.
I just don't see that there weren't other jobs and things they could have been offered instead that could have used and respected their experience - things like getting them to run presenting workshops for future hopeful presenters. I'm thinking something along the lines of subsidised presenters courses through SABC3 covering things from presenting to make-up and wardrobe.
I don't know what's what with Graeme properly 'cos I didn't understand what exactly he's gonna be doing - all I know is he's got a guest part in Starship Troopers 2 that's filming in Cape Town.
As for the new fodder of five - they've each got a years contract for a salary that they're happy with. I asked about what they're getting of course - I didn't ask exact figures in case some of them were getting more than others - this is why everyone (except Khanyi) refuses to discuss paycheques - but they were all in agreement that they could live on it comfortably.
Like previous presenters they'll be writing their own links. Here's who they are: (To find out more about what they've done previously, click on each of their names to see their profiles.)
Dennis Tau
Dennis's fave SABC3 shows:'Til Death
Heroes
Jason Greer
Jason's fave SABC3 shows:Heroes
Joey
(Robyn's defs got her work cut out for her with those eyebrows)
Liesel van der Westhuizen
Liesel's fave SABC3 shows:
Going Nowhere Slowly
Heroes
Survivor
The Amazing Race
Oprah
Heroes
Special Assignment
Zinzile Zungu
Zinzi's fave SABC3 shows:
Tyra
Oprah
Will & Grace
Heroes
Sex & the City
To slap up some of the celebs who were at the shindig, please go to my Gold gallery:
SABC3 Re-launch.
You'll see there's a pic of Robyn - Irene wasn't there - she's just had a second baby so she was busy. Graeme was there but I didn't get a pic - he looked so much taller and thinner I didn't recognise him until after I'd left.
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GO GOLD!