e.tv and Viacom, the network responsible for MTV and BET, have teamed up for a double whammy of new local shows.
Last year TVSA
spilt the news that e.tv would be a doing a local version of the international celebrity show Lip Sync Battle. We can now reveal that it's going to be Lip Sync Battle Africa which will air on both MTV Base and e.tv in the first half of this year.
It's going to air on MTV first and e.tv will air it in the free-to-air window afterwards, on e.tv and on the pan-African channel eAfrica.
The series has been a smash success for cable network Spike where it airs in America. It first premiered in April 2015 and attracted 2.2 million viewers for its premiere. According to US entertainment website
The Wrap, the episode attracted the largest viewership for an unscripted series premiere in Spike's history.
The first episodes of the first season have gone on to be watched by over 15 million viewers and it was renewed for Season 3 last month so it's a winning formula.
The second show e.tv and Viacom are hooking up for is the unique series Jongo, which claims to be the first African superhero series on mainstream TV.
It stars Congolese-born hip hop dancer Pacou Mutombo as Eli King, a young man who lands himself superpowers after an alien crystal (left to him by his murdered miner father) is found in a cave at the Cradle of Humankind.
His power gives him incredible physical strength which leads him on a mission to find the culprits responsible for his father’s death. He soon discovers that the men he's hunting have crystals of their own and need Eli’s stone to fulfil an ancient and devastating prophecy which will threaten the lives of millions.
The series is produced by Jozi-based film and TV studio Motion Story and also stars Luthuli Dlamini (who will hopefully stay alive beyond the first episode!).
Newcomers Katlego Baaitse and Pauline Zwane play Eli’s best friend and girlfriend and Bartho van Tonder plays villain Benjamin Abaddon.
The series premieres on BET next week, on Monday, 15 February at 21h05, and starts on e.tv on Tuesday, 19 April at 20h30.
As you may know, this isn't the first time Viacom and e.tv have partnered on shows. They've teamed up for the MTV VJ search and the annual MAMAs. Word from e.tv is that they do this when they believe a partnership will be mutually beneficial to each of them.
There is no long-term contract between them, they decide on a case-by-case basis. According to Monde Twala, Managing Director for e.tv Channels Division: "We always aim to ensure that our free-to-air viewers gain access and keep up with worldwide trends."
We'll keep you posted when the premiere dates of Lip Sync Battle Africa have been confirmed.