Keshet International & M-Net Enter Co-Development Pact

Keshet International (KI) and the pan-African broadcaster M-Net are joining forces to co-produce a brand-new prime-time English-language dating format called The Big Five, in conjunction with the South African production company Afrokaans.

The Big Five launches a more extensive agreement between KI and M-Net, which will allow the two media companies to co-develop a range of non-scripted formats that will appeal to mainstream South African as well as global audiences. The Big Five is set to go into production in 2020 for broadcast on M-Net 101.

In this feel-good dating show, the love journey of five South African singles will start at a luxury resort, from where they will embark on a unique but increasingly challenging hunt for love under the African skies. As their quest for a spouse continues, they will gradually be stripped from modern-day comforts to lay bare their true personalities.

Keshet International will distribute the series and format internationally, with M-Net distributing in Africa.

Revital Basel, KI’s managing director of networks, said, “We are really excited to be formally launching our new co-development partnership with M-Net with this revolutionary new dating format. The Big Five is built around authentic storytelling and real love, and it’s exciting to be crafting this meaningful prime-time format with the M-Net team.”

Jan du Plessis, M-Net’s director of channels, added, “As Africa’s most loved storyteller, M-Net continues to find opportunities to showcase our top-notch original productions to the world. We have a long-standing relationship with Afrokaans, which has already produced several highly rated shows for M-Net, including the massively successful local version of Survivor. With Keshet’s valuable contribution and backing, The Big Five has the potential to become a global runaway hit.”