Glitzy awards will not be shown on TV

THE glittering and highly anticipated South African Film and Television Awards ceremony will not be televised live this weekend.

Both National Film and Video Foundation CEO Eddie Mbalo and the SABC's Kaizer Kganyago denied that a dispute between the organisers and the broadcaster had resulted in the plug being pulled on the ceremony.

Mbalo said he did not know about any row between the SABC and NFVF.

"I only know they never responded to our correspondence about the matter," he said.

"But there are offers from the other broadcasters who said they were happy and comfortable with the SABC broadcasting the awards. They even negotiated buying space to broadcast the event live.

"We are open to licensing the awards to anyone who wants to broadcast them."

Kganyago said that SABC had not pulled out of the partnership.

"It's not true, otherwise our products like Generations would not still be competing in or be involved in the awards," he said.

"The dispute between us is related to the partnership we had over the past two years. I cannot say much about that."