After the country's film and TV biz was frozen to a standstill for over five weeks during lockdown - except for the ongoing production and broadcast of TV news and current affairs programming- there's a new hope.
Other shows that will flicker back to life in a limited fashion with new episodes include local studio-based magazine shows across the SABC, SuperSport and the M-Net channels such as Kwêla on kykNET, produced from Cape Town, that was already out with a newly recorded episode on Sunday night. They may"elect to resume content production based on risk assessment" and are cautioned to only restart shows"that can be produced with minimal risk", for instance soaps and telenovelas shot in a studio environment that are easier to handle than location shoots.
Viewers primarily tune in to get a dramatic entertainment reprieve from the day's problems and issues dominating the news headlines. Nobody is allowed to enter on-site or roam on the studio lot without it. Alcohol-based hand-sanitisers have been set up at various points, and a register is being kept of all cast and crew, including recording daily temperatures and possible symptoms. The cleaning and sanitising process has also been intensified.specifically, only one-third of the cast and crew are now permitted on-site, as staff rotate and others continue to work from home.