SABC pays homage to TV pioneers
The SABC has launched the Golden Plumes Awards - a tribute to pioneers in television broadcasting over the past three decades - in commemoration of 30 years of television broadcast in South Africa and the role players both on screen and behind the scenes. The inaugural awards will take place on Thursday, 14 December 2006, at The Castle Kyalami, Johannesburg and recorded for broadcast on SABC3 on Friday, 22 December 2006 at 20h00.
"The South African television industry has a lot to be proud of," comments group executive public commercial services Pearl Luthuli.
"From that first broadcast in 1976 until today, the evolution of our broadcast industry has been incredible to watch and be a part of. South African television programmes have been winning awards internationally for years, and it's time that locally, we pay tribute to those scriptwriters, producers, directors, sound and light technicians, and presenters who built the industry into what it is today. The Golden Plumes Awards are proud to be able to honour these visionaries, who are the foundation of the South African television industry as we know it."
The event theme, 'From Black & White to Colour', is a literal reference to technological advances in television broadcasting, as well as a telling statement about SA's democratic evolution, from history to broadcasting for total citizen empowerment.
The honourees of the evening will be drawn from the ranks of the individuals who worked within often overlooked yet integral aspects of the broadcast process, including technicians, sportscasting, outside broadcast, news, and live production, among others.
The focus will be on awarding excellence and outstanding displays of expertise from the players who form the hidden backbone of the TV industry. In many respects, the evening will also be a nostalgic walk down memory lane as footage from TV broadcasts from decades gone by will be aired.
The evening will also feature a social responsibility angle, in the form of a donation made to the 'Future of the African Daughter', a trust set up to provide girl children aged 12 - 19 years with safe community centres for after school activities.
