M-Net joins CTC in the biggest party in Africa!

The Cape Town Carnival is proud to announce their newly-formed strategic partnership with Africa’s biggest pay-TV channel, M-Net. The broadcast company will be an official media sponsor of the Carnival in the lead-up to the event. The culmination of the partnership will be a dedicated channel on DStv that will cover the parade on 20 March 2010, as well as advertising airtime on all M-Net channels to promote the Carnival.

The Carnival promises to give Capetonians and visitors to the City a true taste of Cape Town’s unique, diverse and vibrant cultures, creative and performing arts, like never before, presented in a spectacular format similar to such world-renowned events as the Rio Carnival and the Mardis Gras in New Orleans, but maintaining a distinctive flavour found only in the Mother City.

M-Net Corporate Marketing & Communications Director, Koo Govender says the channel is delighted to be able to play a role in the inaugural Cape Town Carnival and to become a long-term strategic partner. “M-Net is really looking forward to bringing the magic of the Carnival to viewers across the country on DStv,” she says. “It’s going to be a huge event and we are excited to be able to help share it with the whole of South Africa”.

The parade event will be broadcast in its entirety, live on the dedicated DStv channel, ensuring that the excitement and scope of the Carnival will not be limited only to those fortunate enough to participate in it in person or who are not in Cape Town. “This is our first step in truly creating a national and international event,” says Isabel Meyer, CEO of the Cape Town Carnival Trust.

“The Cape Town Carnival is about public-private partnerships, about partnerships between communities, corporate sponsors, government and the media,” says Meyer. “It is up to all of us to make the Carnival a success that will eventually compete with the best carnivals in the world, ultimately to the benefit of all South Africans. The media will play a very important role in this. We are therefore delighted that M-Net has decided to partner with us on this event. They are making an investment upfront, saying: ‘Cape Town, we believe in you!’”

The broadcast will also incorporate an interactive element for viewers who can’t be there to experience the extravaganza in the flesh. “It is fantastic to be partnering with people that share our passion and vision for the Carnival,” adds Meyer. “Partnering with M-Net also extends our reach to across South Africa, giving audiences the opportunity to also become involved via SMS voting and viewer competitions. We will also be providing international news agencies with footage, starting to speak to international tourists.”

The Cape Town Carnival is taking place from 18 – 20 March 2010, bringing Capetonians, South Africans and the rest of the world a visual and cultural feast, with groups comprising, in total, more than 10 000 participants. An event definitely not to be missed! Stay tuned to M-Net for more details.