Yeah me neither. Initially, it sounded to me like a new drug being introduced in East Africa. Well I actually did some research and found out what Endomol is. Endomol is a production company based in South Africa that specializes in facilitating content for a variety of independent networks in SA and other countries. Endomol has been successful in implementing Fear Factor, Big Brother, Project Fame and other similar reality based shows. Well of course they buy the licenses from the original production companies in the US or UK but the reality is that they have been successful in this field for years.
Endomol recently accepted EABL’s offer to create the TUSKER Project Fame which is currently going on in East Africa, a move which I must say has left a sour taste in my mouth… all pun intended!! More of this on Leo’s Blog…
I thought it was a new sleeping pill in the market. Wait sorry… it is isn’t it? Because clearly that’s what Tusker Project fame is turning out to be. Kenyan judges, Kenyan teachers, shot in Kenya…Kenyan performers (a majority of them)… what happened to the whole EA twist? But I digress…
I see your point and I’ve been arguing the very same since before the show. Granted it will do great things for certain people’s portfolios but Tusker is being marketed to the wrong market. Someone argued with me that it is no likely to affect the youth. I remember being 15 years old and seeing Embassy Lights – Smooth all the way…10 years later I dare you venture a guess what cigarettes I smoke.
The other issue for me here is that it’s called “Tusker” Project fame. There is a selfish tendency by Kenyan brands to name the event after them. This irritates me because no one seems to be thinking in the long term. What if next year Tusker doesn’t want to sponsor the event; it makes it hard for let’s say Identity and or Insyder Magazine to host it. It also means it would be very hard for a company in Kenya to buy rights and run with the idea. In short Project Fame in Kenya has been amputated at the knees.