The time to enter for the eighth season of Idols is rapidly running out.

After record entries in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town over the past three weekends, the final auditions for Idols Season 8 will be held at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Kliptown, Soweto, this Saturday, 25 February.

“We have already seen some absolutely amazing singers in Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town,” says M-Net Communications Manager Lani Lombard. “And we’re incredibly excited about the Soweto audience. Idols reached a much broader audience last year, as a result of the simulcast on Mzansi Magic.

We trust that many more undiscovered singers are now aware of the power of Idols and will be at the auditions to take a shot at fame. Idols is all about unearthing new talent and who knows, maybe we find the next Idol this weekend.”

As in previous years, entrants must be at least 16 years old and no older than 30 on the day of their auditions, and all contestants must present a valid I.D. document to enter. A parent or a legal guardian must accompany entrants younger than 18 years of age.

Prospective Idols are advised to arrive early to register and to make sure they are available for call-backs over the whole weekend, if necessary.

On Saturday [25 February] entrants will be screened by preliminary judges of highly skilled musos and if they’re deemed promising they will have to return the next day to sing for a panel of television and music professionals. Only the very best contestants will be invited back in March to perform for the Idols judges.

Season 8 of Idols is a co-production between M-Net and Mzansi Magic and will be broadcast on both channels from June 2012.

Updates and further information can be found on the official Idols Facebook page at “Idols South Africa”, on Twitter @IdolsSA and on the official Idols Season 8 website at www.mnet.co.za/idols.

TRACE Urban looks back at the most powerful couple and new parents in the music industry, Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

Guest Star reveals how the American rap tycoon and R&B diva have succeeded in keeping their private life separate from their public image.

While many celebrity couples sell pictures of their newborn babies for millions, none has yet surfaced of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s baby, Blue Ivy Carter.

The pair has kept its private life under wraps for a decade now. Nothing has managed to spoil the story of this idyllic couple, not even persistent rumours.

Guest Star provides an even closer look at today’s hottest artists with pictures, news and exclusive interviews with the favourite stars of the younger generation.

In-depth, up-front and behind-the-scenes…Guest Star lets you in on the secret lives of the stars, in a way only they can reveal.

Broadcast: Wednesday, February 15, 10pm.

Repeat: Friday 16 at 7 pm, Saturday 17 at 0.45 pm and Sunday 18 at 6 pm.

Taylor needs this job, she doesn’t have any other source of income period.”
Kelsey Grammer’s ex-wife Camille will also apparently not be returning next season.

“Producers are asking Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof and Kyle Richards if any of their wealthy female friends would be interested in appearing on the show,” an insider from the Bravo network said.

“It’s an open secret that Camille Grammer most likely won’t be back for a third season. She came off as such a b***h during season one, whereas this season she has been very reserved, and she isn’t exactly eager to return.”

Source : Cover Media

Source : Cover Media

This happens a few days after Jay-Z and wife Beyoncé Knowles welcomed their first child Blue Ivy Carter.

According to aceshowbiz.com as the new parents celebrated the birth of their daughter, 50c allegedly tweeted a link to the controversial pictures of the newborn on Tuesday and along with it he wrote, “Yal play to much congratulations to Jayz and Beyonce baby #BlueIvyCarter is georgous.”

However, his representative has defended the star saying he was not trying to stare trouble between him and Jay-Z.

Speaking to Access Hollywood, 50C’s representative claimed that the 36 year old did not post the image to mock the new-born baby, on the contrary; he was actually “trying to discourage his followers from doing so.”

The rapper later followed up the tweet with some clarification. “I would never make a picture like that its all over my time line yal play to much I’m sure Jay is the happiest he’s ever been in his life.”

The “Baby by Me” singer went on sharing with his followers his own memory of being a first-time father. “I remember when Marquise (his son) was born I was so happy. I want to have another kid one day.”

1. Introduction of PVR homes and timeshifted viewing:

The first change will occur on the 19^th of December 2011 where 357 000 PVR homes will be added to the TAMS universe.  Total TV homes will increase by 3.3% whilst DStv homes will show a 13% increase.

Historically TAMS has attributed viewership behavior based on standard decoder homes to represent the total DStv platform (including PVR homes).

This was acceptable whilst the PVR incidence was low, it has however grown rapidly over the past couple of years, and it is now necessary to measure PVR homes as a separate sub-sample within TAMS.

As a first step the DStv PVR universe was removed from TAMS in August 2011 update as a necessary first step to bring PVR and time-shift measurement into the system in December.

In summary the changes that we can expect are the following:

• Afrikaans skewed channels tend to show slight decreases in viewing once the PVR sample and universe are included as a result of this sub-group being more English in profile.
• Timeshifting is more prevalent on M*Net, M*Net Series and Movies 1 and 2 and Vuzu.
• Very little timeshifted viewing occurs on the News and Sports channels.
• Other general entertainment channels such as Universal, Sony do not have a significant amount of timeshifted viewing at a broad level.  However as we dive deeper into the data we expect to find much more variation at a programme level.

2. TAMS universe update (AMPS 2011a)

The AMPS 11a 6 monthly TAMS universe update is planned for the 30^th January 2012.

This will result in a further shift in measured viewing as a result of the ongoing growth of the DStv subscriber base  and in particular Compact subscribers.

Contact your DSTV Media Sales representative on 011 686 6005 for more details .

Kicking off with a new Top Gear special in early 2012, series 18 will follow a maximum of 14 days after the UK transmission of the series, on BBC Entertainment in India, Africa and Latin America and on BBC Knowledge in Poland and Asia.

David Weiland, SVP Programming & TV Channels, BBC Worldwide Channels said: “It’s an important part of our programming strategy to bring as much of our acquired content to air as closely on our global network as it does in the UK.

Top Gear is a hugely popular programme with viewers across all our territories and I’m delighted we are able to bring the latest series to them so close to the UK premiere transmission.”

Sold to almost 200 territories worldwide, Top Gear achieves viewing figures of over six million viewers per episode when it premieres in the UK and is regularly the most downloaded programme on the BBC’s UK iPlayer.

Since 2008, four international versions have been licensed by BBC Worldwide in Australia, Russia, China and USA.

The brand also continues to grow with Top Gear game applications available on iPhone and iPad as well as a dedicated website, topgear.com which, to date, has 5.2 million unique users and 40 million page impressions per month.

Top Gear magazine has 29 separate licenses with South Africa being the latest to launch a publication. Fans can also get their Top Gear fix with a range of Top Gear books and toys as well as the annual Top Gear Live event coming to locations worldwide in 2012.

Do you think you have what it takes to whip up winning dishes under the scrutiny of South Africa’s leading culinary experts? If you can stand the heat in the kitchen, your journey begins today!

M-Net’s Channel Head Pierre Cloete says that the entry process has been made as efficient as possible: “The MasterChef series has proven to be so popular around the world and with M-Net viewers that we expect a lot of interest in the show.

As such, we’ve tried to keep the entry process for wannabe contestants as easy as possible. We have introduced a simple pre-entry mechanism.

All that contestants need to do is fill out their entry forms as accurately as possible, and wait for our notification with more details about auditions. This will allow them a fast-track through the registration process on their audition day. After that it’s purely down to the cooking!”

“Auditions are open to the public who have not pre-entered on the day as well, but M-Net encourages contestants to pre-enter online if they would like to speed up their registration and audition process”, Cloete adds. Online entries close on 14 November.

Contestants who would like to be fast-tracked on the day can enter online on www.mnet.co.za and follow the MasterChef SA links. Once you submit your entry form you will receive an sms and email notification to confirm receipt of your entry. You will then be contacted again by the middle of November to confirm your audition date, venue, time and food specifications for your audition.

Every person who fills out an entry form will be registered for auditions. Alternatively one can complete the entry forms in YOU, Huisgenoot or Drum magazines and follow the instructions indicated in the magazine.

MasterChef South Africa will be holding open auditions in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town this December at the following venues:

JOHANNESBURG: Saturday, 3 December at Monte Casino
CAPE TOWN: Saturday, 10 December at The Cullinan, Southern Sun Hotel
DURBAN: Saturday, 17 December at the Sun Coast Hotel and Casino

So how does the selection process work? You will be asked to prepare a cold dish which will be tasted by a member of the MasterChef SA professional preliminary judging panel. There are certain requirements for the dish as stipulated below:

• One must bring all products in an insulated cooler to maintain the cold chain.
• Products not suitably chilled will result in the judges not tasting your dish; which could mean disqualification.
• One must transport all food products in plastic containers.
• Glass containers will not be allowed in the competition area.
• Present your dish on a plain white plate that you have brought with you.
• NO actual cooking is allowed; the dish must be a cold dish.
• All that is required of you is to plate the food on the dish and then present to the judges within the time limit given.

Based on this dish you will either progress further in the audition process or not. All preliminary judges are SACA-certified professionals, and the show’s permanent panel of judges has yet to be announced. Contestants must also be able to make themselves available for possible call-back auditions the following day.

For more information about MasterChef South Africa and how to enter, visit M-Net Website or the MasterChef SA Facebook

SuperSport palmed in seven gold awards, and another six silver, to walk away with top honours at an event that traditionally rewards excellence and creativity.

Promax is the world’s premier association of promotion and marketing professionals in electronic media – those responsible for building audiences and revenues for their organisation.

The Promax awards recognise excellence in on-air promotion, branding and advertising, with winners recognised as the best on the continent.

The awards are open to satellite, cable, broadcast television, radio stations and associated new media, their agencies and production houses.

Judges are local and international people within the industry with over five years of experience.

Among the nominees were SABC1, 2 and 3, eTV, M-Net, DStv, MK, Channel O, MTV Base, BBC Worldwide and Tshwane TV.

THE SUPERSPORT WINNERS
Best themed campaign (Silver – Rugby World Cup).
Best sports promo (Gold – ICC Cricket World Cup).
Best sports campaign (Gold – Rugby World Cup; Silver – Standard Bank Pro 20).
Best special event promo (Gold – Rugby World Cup).
Best use of humour (Silver – Xhosa Commentary).
Best promo not using programme footage (Gold – Rugby World Cup).
Best copy/script writing (Gold – 2011 Look Forward; Silver – US PGA Launch).
SABC integrated marketing campaign award (Gold – Rugby World Cup).
Most outstanding marketing initiative (Gold – Goalmouth).
Best visual FX and composition (Silver – Rugby World Cup).
Most outstanding promo of the year (Silver – Rugby World Cup).

As of 01 November 2011 DStv Premium subscribers can watch M-Net on the DStv Mobile bouquet at no extra cost.

The M-Net mobile channel will replicate the Prime Time shows from the satellite channel excluding movies due to current licensing conditions.

In such cases substitute programming will be scheduled mainly over the weekend. The M-Net Mobile channel will be available from 14:00 until 22:30 daily.

The schedule will be available on the M-Net website

M-Net Marketing Manager Mpeo Makape added “M-Net is thrilled to be able to bring the Magic to subscribers on yet another exciting and enterprising platform.

The idea of watching 101 Days of Magic by the pool or at the office from a device which fits in your pocket is exactly the type of delivery the channel thrives on providing.”

DStv Anywhere!

M-Net Mobile channel will be available in the 9 major cities of South Africa. For details regarding coverage as well any other related information regarding DStv Mobile click here .

The Drifta (R599) and the Drifta USB (R399) are available at MultiChoice branches, agencies and select retail outlets.

The Drifta (WiFi) device is currently compatible with:
• iOS Devices
• Select Android Devices
• PCs & Laptops running Windows XP, Vista or 7 (Excluding MacBook)
The Drifta USB device is currently compatible with:
• PCs & Laptops running Windows XP, Vista or 7 (Excluding MacBook)

“We are glad to have one of DStv’s critically acclaimed channels available to our mobile TV viewers; the award-winning content could prove to be appreciated and popular in the mobile TV space. Consumers have expressed great interest in having the channel on DStv Mobile and acquiring it is a notable occasion” commented Motheo Matsau Head of Sales and Marketing: DStv Mobile South Africa.