Sandton Times Hour Edition 219 Radio & Podcast Show Notes

Nominated for ‘Podcast of the Year’ in the 2024 African Podcast and Voice Awards (APVA), the weekly Sandton Times Hour is a Sandton magazine show that brings the digital pages of The Sandton Times to life.

Southern Sun’s Group Sommelier, Miguel Chan, shares some background to World Champagne Day this month.
Charles Stuart, Africa Entertainment and Media Leader, PwC South Africa chats about the annual Entertainment & Media Outlook Report 2025-2029.
Tat Wolfen, Entertainment Commentator for The Sandton Times, dives into the cinema trends coming out of the PwC Entertainment & Media Outlook Report 2025-2029.
Ian Fuhr, CEO and Founder of The Hatch Institute, shares the details of his latest nail and beauty business: Popsicle Nail Bars.
Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.

As the only radio show and podcast dedicated to Africa’s richest square mile, this Sandton magazine show is packed with an array of entertaining and informative interviews blended with the best music, every week on 91.9 FM, Mondays from 7pm to 8pm.

The Sandton Times offers readers all they ever wanted online, and The Sandton Times Hour is the go-to weekly magazine show broadcast from greater Sandton. The show features fabulous food spots, luxurious lifestyle bits, first-hand travel tips, motoring notes, and world-class entertainment, business discussions and so much more, even venturing beyond the borders of greater Sandton.

In 2024, The Sandton Times Hour secured the third spot on Feedspot’s list of the “30 Best South Africa Podcasts” highlighting the top South African podcasts from thousands available on the web, ranking them based on relevancy, authority, social media followers, and freshness.

In this week’s show [Edition 219 Week 44] The Sandton Times covers an array of topical news as well as these interviews:

World Champagne Day With Southern Sun’s Group Sommelier Miguel Chan

Sandton Times Hour — Miguel Chan, Group Sommelier at Southern Sun Hotels, has spent over a decade building the group’s champagne credentials. Image: The Sandton Times

Southern Sun Hotels is once again turning October into a sparkling month-long celebration of champagne, marking its 11th consecutive year of partnering with Moët & Chandon for World Champagne Day, which falls annually on the fourth Friday of October – October 24 in 2025.

The day, initiated in 2009, is a global celebration for champagne lovers to share a glass, attend events, or enjoy food and champagne pairings. What began in 2014 as a single-day event at Southern Sun has evolved into a month-long tribute that celebrates not only the drink itself but also the moments it elevates, from personal milestones to everyday joys.

Miguel Chan, Southern Sun’s Group Sommelier, notes that the group was the first in South Africa to introduce Champagne Day in hotels, and over the past decade, the sentiment remains unchanged. Southern Sun continues to offer guests the perfect setting to enjoy champagne, whether paired with classic oysters or indulgent hand-cut fries.

The month-long celebration, running from 16 October – 16 November 2025, showcases the full Moët & Chandon range across participating Southern Sun hotels nationwide. Guests can enjoy over 15 of the world’s leading champagne houses represented on the hotel group’s wine lists, offering everything from the classic Brut Impérial and Rosé Impérial to rarer vintages and Brut Zero cuvées. Bottles start at R760 and are available in bars, restaurants, and through room service.

PWC Entertainment & Media Outlook Report 2025-2029 With Africa Entertainment and Media Leader Charles Stuart

Africa’s entertainment and media (E&M) landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by digital innovation, mobile-first consumption, and the adoption of generative AI, according to PwC’s latest Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook – Perspectives Report 2025–2029. The report highlights Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa as key markets that are not only outperforming global benchmarks but also setting the pace for the continent’s media evolution.

Overall, E&M growth in Africa is expected to outpace the global 2024–2029 compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7%. Nigeria leads with a 7.2% CAGR, reaching a market value of US$5.8 billion by 2029, while South Africa remains the largest market at US$17.4 billion (R321.2 billion), albeit with slower growth at 3.5%. Kenya is projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR to US$5.2 billion by 2029, with its internet advertising market expanding at a remarkable 16% CAGR – the fastest globally.

Connectivity underpins this digital transformation. South Africa’s 5G subscriber base is rapidly growing, with video accounting for 76% of total data usage. Nigeria boasts over 107 million internet users, and Kenya’s mobile connections already exceed its population, reflecting the continent’s mobile-first orientation. Digital advertising is shifting rapidly, with Nigeria expected to achieve 84% digital ad spend by 2029, surpassing the global benchmark. South Africa and Kenya follow closely at 74% and 64%, respectively.

Retail display and paid search are among the fastest-growing segments, while ad-supported OTT streaming platforms are gaining traction, enabling wider access and market reach. By 2028, digital ad revenue is set to surpass print in magazines, and digital out-of-home advertising will overtake traditional formats.

Generative AI is increasingly shaping local storytelling, enabling personalised content and efficient production. Gaming and esports are also emerging as major growth drivers, with Nigeria’s sector projected to surpass traditional television revenue by 2028, and Kenya showing strong growth in casual and social gaming.

PwC notes that Africa’s E&M sector is redefining itself at the intersection of technology, creativity, and consumer demand. To fully unlock the continent’s potential, stakeholders – from content creators to regulators – must scale infrastructure, support local content, and build inclusive digital ecosystems. With the right investments, Africa’s E&M industry is poised to become a global hub for innovation, engagement, and growth.

Effie Awards South Africa Announces The 2025 Winners

The 2025 Effie Awards South Africa celebrated a record-breaking year, with entries growing 44% year-on-year, reflecting the local marketing industry’s sharpened focus on measurable results. The awards, held at The Venue in Melrose Arch, recognized campaigns that delivered real business impact, with 26 trophies awarded and 44 campaigns shortlisted as finalists. Effie, a global non-profit dedicated to marketing effectiveness, continues to champion campaigns that fuse creativity with measurable outcomes, with all winners contributing to the global Effie Index.

The highest accolade, the Grand Effie, went to City Lodge Hotel Group and TBWA\Hunt Lascaris for their “Save Our Stay (SOS)” campaign in the Travel & Tourism category. The campaign also secured Gold awards across multiple categories, including Travel & Tourism, Media Innovation, and Marketing Disruptors, highlighting the brand’s disciplined creativity and strategic execution. The campaign demonstrated how insight-driven, imaginative marketing could directly drive growth, setting a benchmark for effectiveness in South African marketing.

Other notable winners included Volkswagen South Africa, Sanlam, and Pineapple, with campaigns recognized for social good, finance innovation, and sustained results. In particular, Nedbank earned a Bronze Effie for its “Bank Your Time” campaign, which reframed digital banking by turning time into a currency – a creative approach that emphasized the value of customer-centric innovation in the finance sector.

Gillian Rightford, ACA Executive Director for Effie South Africa, noted that the winners exemplify the discipline of combining strategy, creativity, and measurable results, reinforcing that marketing effectiveness is more than a buzzword. The 2025 awards reaffirmed South Africa’s vibrant marketing landscape, with City Lodge Hotel Group and Nedbank among the brands demonstrating how thoughtful, evidence-led campaigns translate into tangible business impact.

The Effie Awards continue to serve as a global benchmark for excellence, with Gold winners qualifying for the Global Best of the Best competition, and all winners contributing to worldwide effectiveness rankings.

Popsicle Nail Bars With CEO and Founder of The Hatch Institute Ian Fuhr

Popsicle Nail Bars looks to transform South Africa’s nail care industry, combining service, digital innovation, and high-impact branding. Launched as a strategic partnership between Sorbet founder Ian Fuhr and entrepreneurs Anil and Trisha Bhogayata, the brand aims to expand the successful Popsicle Nail product range into a national franchise network of retail nail bars.

Leveraging Ian’s expertise in culture-driven customer service and the Bhogayatas’ product innovation, Popsicle positions itself as more than a salon chain – a scalable business model rooted in consistent, exceptional customer experiences, according to the team.

The brand differentiates itself through five key pillars. Medical-grade hygiene protocols exceed current industry standards, ensuring client safety and trust. Augmented reality (AR) consultations allow clients to preview nail designs in real time, enhancing personalisation and confidence. Exclusive signature treatments, unavailable elsewhere in South Africa, provide unique service offerings, while first-to-market adoption of international trends and technologies ensures Popsicle remains at the industry forefront. Finally, the fully integrated brand experience – from in-salon services to professional-grade products – creates a cohesive lifestyle proposition.

Franchise-led growth underpins Popsicle’s expansion strategy. The first two locations will open in December 2025 at Bedford Centre and Fourways Mall in Gauteng, with further expansion planned throughout 2026. The company is actively recruiting franchise partners and experienced nail technicians to join its growth journey, offering a turnkey solution supported by proven operational systems, comprehensive training, and strong brand equity.

Ian emphasises that Popsicle embodies a broader mission aligned with his work at the Hatch Institute and The Human Bridge Movement, which focus on leadership, culture, and customer experience transformation.

Sandton Times Hour Music Playlist

Connell Cruise – All Day
The Proclaimers (Boyce Avenue Acoustic Cover) – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Prime Circle – Calling On Angels
Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up (Mark Knight Remix)

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