Rapid Blue


BBCS’s South African prodco Rapid Blue replaces co-founder Duncan Irvine

BBC Studios-owned South African producer Rapid Blue has rejigged its senior management team after CEO Duncan Irvine confirmed he would be stepping down from the role after three decades. Ziyanda Ngcaba, who will replace Irvine on 1 April, joined Rapid Blue in 2020 as executive producer and business director, stepping up as MD in April last […]

News round-up: ‘Model Railway’ goes Dutch; Sky scores Liverpool FC doc; South Africa opens ‘Love Island’; Oz Directors’ Guild hire

Great Model Railway Challenge leads to Netherlands NPO Max in the Netherlands has optioned rights for a local remake of The Great Model Railway Challenge, following a deal with distributor Silverlining Rights. The format was sold to MGM-backed prodco Concept Street last month and NPO has now optioned a Dutch version of the show, which was […]

Steve Harvey to produce African versions of ‘Family Feud’

Steve Harvey, who hosts the US version of Fremantle-owned gameshow format Family Feud, has secured the rights to create African versions of the classic franchise – for South Africa and Ghana. The deal was done through Harvey’s company Steve Harvey Global, with the local versions to be produced by Fremantle’s local production partner in the […]

South Africa’s Southern styling

South Africa has become a key strategic territory for international players, while local producers seek new ways to retain rights in a constricted market and subscription on-demand services emerge as the latest battleground. Juliana Koranteng reports. Locally and internationally, the South African TV production business is buzzing. Thanks to an exotic but diverse geography and […]

BBC seals format deals for Mastermind

BBC Worldwide has struck agreements for international versions of long-running UK quiz show Mastermind. Mastermind has been on the BBC in the UK for 35 years and Worldwide, the commercial arm of the public broadcaster, has inked two format agreements for the show. It will air in Turkey and West Africa. In Turkey, Dogus Media […]