Publications
Partners
The CBS network and producers of the American race competition reality show The Amazing Race has abruptly shut down production on filming of the latest season due to growing fears around global infections of the coronavirus.
It was announced on Friday that the show, seen on M-Net (DStv 101) became the latest casualty in a fast-growing list of international events, conferences, theme parks and gatherings in 2020 to shutter out of fears over the global spread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19. It joins next week's Geneva Motor Show which was also cancelled because of coronavirus fears.
Closer to home MultiChoice in Africa is still silent on whether its revived, upcoming 2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs) will go ahead in Lagos, Nigeria even after a case of the virus has been confirmed there.
On Friday morning Channel24 asked MultiChoice Africa how the coronavirus confirmation in Lagos, Nigeria is impacting and possible changing plans for the 2020 AMVCAs and if it will still go ahead with hundreds of film and TV stars and crew, TV executives and producers from across the whole African continent who will converge on 14 March for the planned awards ceremony. The pay-TV service didn't respond to the media enquiry seeking comment at the time of publication.
"Due to increased concerns and uncertainty regarding the coronavirus around the world, CBS and the producers of The Amazing Race have taken the precautionary measure of temporarily suspending production on the 33rd season of the series," the TV network said in a statement late on Friday.
"All contestants and production staff are in the process of returning home. At this time, no Racers or anyone on the production team travelling with them have contracted the virus or shown symptoms, and we are not aware of anyone being exposed to it."
"Out of an abundance of caution, everyone involved in the show will continue to be monitored when they return home. The health and well-being of the Racers and the production team are our top priorities."
Three episodes of season 33 had already been filmed when the latest race around the world was shut down.
Meanwhile, production on M-Net's latest 8th season of Survivor South Africa entitled Survivor SA: Immunity Island set for broadcast from September 2020 and produced by Afrokaans, is continuing with casting and contestant selection with the production that said coronavirus fears will likely not impact filming of the season in an as-yet-undisclosed international location.
