ZIMBABWEAN talent will finally be getting the recognition it deserves with the acquisition of the Idols and Got Talent franchise by a local company. Kenako Media announced this week that they have bought a licence from the franchise owners, Fremantle Media and Syco TV.
by Teddy Mkwesha
Samantha Thodhlana, the public relations officer for Ke Nako Media, said her organisation was ecstatic about the developments.
“Ke Nako Media are proud to announce that we shall be bringing the official Zimbabwe’s Got Talent TV series format to Zimbabwe this year.
“Ke Nako Media will be the official franchise licensee holders of Zimbabwe’s Got Talent and later on Zim Idols which are licensed by the format owners Fremantle Media and Syco TV: who are the original owners of the above formats (Got Talent and Idols).
“These companies are also producers of the TV shows Britain’s Got Talent, X-Factor, American’s Got Talent, American Idols and many other international television programmes.
“To coincide with the launch of Got Talent to Zimbabwean screens will also be Ke Nako TV an online channel that is to debut bringing various exclusive unseen productions, produced locally and internationally,” she said.
Ke Nako Media is a fully fledged media house which deals in publishing, music and television.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Samantha said they recently obtained a TV license and will launch Ke Nako TV later this year.
“As for Idols we are working on the concept and formats but we must meet the standards for international reality television shows as prescribed by Syco TV. We are obviously looking to go beyond our borders just like SA Idols were our own Kudzai Sevenzo took part. We are going to expose Zimbabwean talent across the whole of Africa,” said Samantha.
Idols is a television show on the South African television network M-Net, based on the popular British show Pop Idol.
The show is a contest to determine the best young singer in South Africa.
In 2006 the show had a spin-off on sister channel KykNet where exactly the same format was executed.
However, the entire programme was in Afrikaans as well as the songs that were performed. So far there has only been one season of Afrikaans Idols.
After several auditions the performers are narrowed down to 100 in the theatre rounds.
After that the semifinalists perform live and are chosen by the audience to qualify for the round of the last 10-12 finalists.
Viewers have several hours following the broadcast of the show to vote by phone, SMS or online for their favourite contestant. On the following night’s episode, the contestant(s) with the fewest votes is sent home.
The move could also bring smiles to Zimbabwean businesses as a marketing platform in the region particularly tourism players as the program has a huge international following.
Previously, other Zimbabwe artistes that have made it to Idols are Eric Moyo (the eventual winner of the contest in 2008) Ammara Brown and Adiona Maboreke-Chidzonga among others that had to travel to Kenya.
