The call for entries is open for the second series of Sanlam Money Game, due to go on air in early June. The basic premise – make as much money as possible from R30 000 in 3 days – is the same but this time round there are even greater challenges for the competitors and even greater excitement for the audience.
It has a new time slot, new look and has been re-designed to test competitors to the limit. Their entrepreneurial skills, their ability to think on their feet and to face direct competition will all be put under the spotlight. As the tension mounts, the end of each episode sees a dramatic new twist when the 'winner takes all' the profits made by their competitors as well as their own. The game will also be open to a much wider range of South Africans.
Unlike the first series, prospective competitors are not required to have had any business experience. Instead, they will be subjected to a comprehensive and rigorous selection process where they'll be judged on everything from their confidence and intellect to their enthusiasm, levels of ambition and ability to express themselves.
"The focus this time is really on outstanding entrepreneurship and challenging people to think as far outside the box as possible" says Deon Lessing Executive Director, Marketing for Sanlam. "That kind of brilliance can come from anywhere so we changed our entry criteria. Sanlam Money Game is about grabbing opportunities and making them soar – which is what we help people to do in real life."
The whole look of the programme will be sharper and more dynamic plus there will be an on-screen presenter. Rules will be rigorously enforced – especially any hint of competitors offering TV exposure in return for deals which will lead to instant disqualification. Deal-making time will be increased with the three hopefuls being dropped in the middle of a city (not their own) rather than a rural location and they'll also be given a cellphone. Competitors will also be set specific challenges without warning during the course of the game, forcing them into direct competition with each other and into situations completely foreign to them.
"We're really throwing down the gauntlet this time" says Rapid Blue Executive Producer Claire Robertson. "We looked at the format and thought – how can we really stretch people? The whole show will have more pace, more excitement and more drama. It's going to be an amazing viewer experience to see people being tested this much – especially knowing they can lose everything if they're outsmarted. The cleverer you are, the richer you get – it's about rewarding entrepreneurial thinking."
Also included in the new look will be interview extracts from people close to the contestants giving some background on them - their talents, how they deal with failure, what really drives them or infuriates them.
"SABC 3 is proud to continue its association with Sanlam Money Game," comments Hannelie Bekker, Head Of Programming for SABC 3. "The second series will see a show in which the competition is fiercer, the stakes higher, the stories more riveting and the tension sometimes near breaking point. Viewer feedback, ratings, and the experience gained on series one have all helped us to streamline both the game and the show itself. The result is a programme that offers much better entertainment".
Anyone who thinks they've got what it takes and wants to enter should phone 086 22 33 123, or visit www.sanlammoneygame.co.za or write to SMG, PO Box 100, Auckland Park 2001. Include name, age and daytime contact telephone numbers. Audition interviews will take place from 2nd April.
