Project Description

SOUTH AFRICAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION RE-LAUNCH – 1996

  • Conceived, produced, directed, managed, coordinated and staged the 3-hour prime time television show to re-launch the SABC to what it is known today; SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3
  • Produced, managed, staged and coordinated simultaneously with the live broadcast, nine major events, in the 9 provinces of South Africa, with all 9 shows having a live feed into the main televised event
  • Designed and developed new corporate SABC logo
  • Produced and developed all launch SABC commercials for print, radio and television
  • The company was responsible for the launch of the new South African Broadcasting Corporation, which was awarded in mid-December 1995. Simultaneously, Diversity was awarded the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the CAF/Coca-Cola African Cup of Nations
  • The SABC Launch was scheduled for 4 February 1996 and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 13 January and 3 February consecutively and we delivered despite the December to mid-January holidays and within both budgets
  • The SABC Launch included the main launch event in Pretoria and nine simultaneous regional launches countrywide. In the weekend of the 3 February, we had over 6,000 employees working on both events.
  • The SABC Launch was a massive undertaking
  • The first hurdle to overcome was the securing of a suitable venue where our VIPs would be safe from any public harassment. VIPs included the President, Mr. Nelson Mandela, The Minister of Communications, and various other South African Ministers and Government officials, international celebrities including Stevie Wonder, Robert Guillaume, Shari Belafonte, Johnnie Cochran and international television executives.
  • The second hurdle was that we featured a jumbo jet in the production so the venue had to have a runway capable of accommodating a landing jet
  • The Waterkloof Airforce Base was chosen for its excellent security and its facilities. The event was hosted in an aircraft hangar with two adjacent hangars for the VIP cocktail party and dressing rooms. Once the venue was secure, we had a mere 4 weeks in which to execute the launch

Work commenced in earnest in the New Year and included:

  • Executive production planning and management
  • Site management
  • Military Liaison
  • Negotiation with South African Airways for use of a jumbo jet for the television production for a one week period, technical support crew and flight and ground staff, pilots and liaison staff
  • Negotiation of all sub-sponsorships and supplier sponsorships
  • Negotiation of all television, advertising and press coverage
  • Liaison with all advertising agencies and marketing departments of sponsors
  • Set design, layout and construction
  • Sound direction, recording and final mix
  • Outside broadcasting facilities and satellite microwave links
  • Specialist lighting requirements from overseas
  • Cargo and airfreight
  • Recruitment of over 250 dancers and 1 400 performers countrywide
  • Recruitment of international television stars and performers
  • All travel, accommodation, transport, catering, security and special arrangements for international stars including an audience and special event with President Nelson Mandela
  • A private audience between Stevie Wonder and President Nelson Mandela
  • VIP function for international television executives, South African VIPs, Government Ministers and Officials, Company executives, Military personnel including Airforce, Navy, Army and Police Generals totalling 3 000 people
  • Catering, transport and amenities for 350 technicians, over 1 6000 performers and hundreds of military personnel and South African Airways staff daily
  • Costuming, dressing rooms, special facilities for local and international performers
  • Negotiations and liaison with Air traffic Department at South African Airways
  • Accreditation
  • Press facilities
  • Invitations, RSVP facility and ticket allocation
  • Public relations
  • Recruitment of special congratulatory television messages from Larry King, CNN, Yanni, Tony Danza, the Nanny, The Bold and the Beautiful cast and The Young and Restless cast, for inclusion in the production
  • Production and direction of television inserts
  • Liaison between all television channels, advertising agencies and Corporate Executive Management
  • Co-ordination and management of traffic control, security at gates, liaison with Government and Military Departments, co-ordination of Military and helicopter requirements and liaison with Special Presidential Intelligence and Security Departments
  • Design of the new SABC corporate logo