e.tv poaches SA's Got Talent from SABC2

Cape Town – e.tv has snatched reality show SA's Got Talent away from the SABC2 with a new third season of the reality show set to start on the free-to-air commercial broadcaster in September.

SA's Got Talent is the latest local TV production poached from the public broadcaster, which has scaled back massively on its local TV production budget since the SABC came close to a financial collapse in 2009.

The SABC has previously lost high profile shows such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Popstars to rival commercial broadcasters.

'Just as popular'

About SA's Got Talent's return, the SABC said the show is "not on the fiscal" for the coming year.

Early on Monday, e.tv issued a press release saying that the broadcaster has secured the show, making no mention that it's been taken over from a rival broadcaster or that it's been on South African television before.

"We are excited that SA's Got Talent will form part of our programme offering," said Monde Twala, e.tv's channel head. "This reality show gives e.tv an opportunity to showcase a large variety of South African talent across a variety of categories."

Trish Kinane, president of Worldwide Entertainment, FremantleMedia, said they're "delighted" that SA's Got Talent will make its debut on e.tv.

"Got Talent has been hugely successful around the globe and we think it has enormous potential in South Africa, given the vast pool of talent in the country. We look forward to seeing what SA's Got Talent will uncover, and I have no doubt the show will be just as popular with e.tv's audiences as it has been worldwide."

New seasons

The third season of SA's Got Talent will be produced by Rapid Blue, which also produced the previous seasons aired on SABC2. It's not clear yet which, if any, of the judges will be returning for the new season.

Insiders told Channel24 that new seasons of reality shows So You Think You Can Dance? and Strictly Come Dancing are also in development. And as with SA's Got Talent now moving to e.tv, it's not clear whether So You Think You Can Dance? and Strictly Come Dancing will continue to air on SABC channels.