The high profile reality TV show is produced by Endemol for M-NET at ZSE Studios Balfour Park, Johannesburg and aired on DSTV. The lighting design is by Peter Rieck and all the lighting kit and other technical production for the shows is being supplied by Centurion-based Blond Productions.

The lighting rig is above the main stage outside the house and features 12 Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs, 12 Robe ColorSpot 250E ATs and 12 Robe 575 Scanners as its core moving luminaires.

The ColorSpot 700E ATs are used for back lighting and beam effects from upstage and behind the band area, "They were chosen for the role because of their fantastic optics and bright output," says Blond's Christiaan Ballot.

The 575s are positioned along the sides of the stage in the roof and used to throw beams and colour across the audience. With the movement on the mirrors being so super-quick, they can cover large areas very quickly and easily.

The ColorSpot 250E ATs are all positioned on the floor, providing nice camera-candy, shooting beams and fill colour into the lenses, and adding depth to the wide angle shots.

Rieck controls these and a large generic rig from a grandMA full size console. Blond have supplied lighting for the show once before and, different to previous years, this time it is indoors, which gives them the opportunity to be more creative and work in a more structured and predictable environment.

The series lasts 3 months and sees contestants from 14 African countries battle it out for the $200,000 prize money.