Present at Mipcom, Keshet International and pan-African broadcaster M-Net announced a new partnership to co-develop international formats, starting with the dating show The Big Five, co-produced with Afrokaans.
Keshet International (KI) and leading pan-African broadcaster M-Net have announced that they are joining forces to co-produce a brand new prime-time English language dating show, called The Big Five, in conjunction with the South African production company Afrokaans.
The Big Five launches a more extensive agreement between KI and M-Net which will allow the two media companies to co-develop a range of high-profile non-scripted formats that will appeal to mainstream South African as well as global audiences.
From five stars to under the stars! In this unique, authentic and feel-good dating show the love journey of five desirable South African singles will start at a luxury resort, from where they will embark on a unique but increasingly challenging hunt for love under the African skies. As their quest for a wedding partner continues, they will gradually be stripped from modern-day comforts to lay bare their true personalities.
The Big Five (13×60’), produced by the local production company Afrokaans, is set to go into production in 2020 for broadcast on M-Net 101. Keshet International will distribute the series and format internationally, with M-Net distributing in Africa.
Revital Basel, Keshet International’s MD of Networks says, “We are really excited to be formally launching our new co-development partnership with M-Net with this revolutionary new dating format. The Big Five is built around authentic storytelling and real love, and it’s exciting to be crafting this meaningful prime-time format with the M-Net team.”
Jan du Plessis, M-Net’s Director of Channels adds, “As Africa’s most loved storyteller, M-Net continues to find opportunities to showcase our top-notch original productions to the world. We have a long-standing relationship with Afrokaans, which has already produced several highly rated shows for M-Net, including the massively successful local version of Survivor. With Keshet’s valuable contribution and backing, The Big Five has the potential to become a global runaway hit.”
The Big Five is the second new format to be co-developed by KI’s new Networks division, following Drive Master, a 10×120’ shiny floor talent-competition show featuring regular people performing extraordinary stunts in vehicles in a 3,400sqm studio. Produced by Weit Media, Drive Master was co-developed by KI’s and NTV and is currently premiering in Russia on Saturday nights at 9pm. On its debut on 28 September, the first episode increased time slot (9-11pm) share with male audiences (18-49) by 20% and (35-49) by 47% and with female audiences (18-34) by 16%.
