Carte Blanche

Carte Blanche, produced by Combined Artists, is the flagship magazine and actuality programme on M-Net, a pay-TV channel broadcasting in Southern Africa. Carte Blanche was launched in 1989 and broadcasts during prime time viewing on Sunday evenings. To celebrate 22 years on air on 12 September 2010, Carte Blanche allowed their audience to direct the show live via Facebook and Twitter. Viewers could choose which stories went out and in which order, and could also help write the studio script. It was a first for South African television The programme broadcast a special on 21 September 2008 to celebrate 20 years on air. The Making a difference campaign was launched under the birthday special with the aim of raising funds for paediatric units in public hospitals across South Africa. To date it has raised over R73-million. The show consistently enjoys a local viewership of about 214 000 people every week. Carte Blanche has developed a high degree of credibility in South African television journalism and has been awarded over 120 local and international awards. Stories have included investigations into the abuse of the elderly, the South African Paralympic team, the traumatic journey of a young anorexia sufferer, the tracking and arrest of high profile criminals, and recently uncovering a scandal at Eskom that plunged South Africa into darkness. Carte Blanche has also covered the story of a world champion free diver.