Cardova

What Cardova does

Cardova is an independent South African media production company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Westlake Business Park, Cape Town, operating with 51-100 employees under founder and Managing Director Patience Stevens. The company produces advertiser-funded television programming (AFP) for South African and international broadcasters, with a portfolio of roughly a dozen active formats spanning breakfast television (Expresso Morning Show), lifestyle talk (Afternoon Express, The Insider SA, Klein Begin), reality competition (Tropika Island of Treasure, The Taste Master SA, Win a Home, My Design Rules, Presenter Search on 3, The Next Brand Ambassador), and food/travel series (Hayden Quinn South Africa, Top Travel, Colour Your Plate with KOO). Cardova's content is distributed primarily through SABC1, SABC2, and SABC3, with international carriage on The Africa Channel (USA), Amazon Prime Video (USA), and Foxtel (Australia), and reaches more than 1 million followers across its social media platforms.

The core technology is conventional broadcast and digital content production: live studio operations, multi-camera filming, post-production, and digital content creation for lifestyle and reality programming. Cardova does not disclose proprietary software or platform architecture; its IP resides in show formats, production know-how, and audience reach rather than software assets. The company distinguishes itself through award-recognized formats (SAFTA 2016 Best Variety Show; five Content Innovation Awards nominations in 2020) and a documented track record of launching on-screen talent careers via Presenter Search on 3.

Cardova's revenue model has two intertwined streams. The primary stream is advertiser-funded programming, where sponsors (Capitec, Clover Beverages, McDonald's South Africa/McCafe, Samsung, Italtile/CTM, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Royal Baking Powder/Mondelez, Woolworths) underwrite specific shows in exchange for branded integration and category exclusivity. The secondary stream is full-service television production for broadcasters, covering concept development through post-production. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; contracts are negotiated directly with advertisers and broadcast partners on a per-show or per-season basis. Customer concentration is anchored in a small set of major South African advertisers and the SABC broadcast relationship.

Name

Cardova

Legal name

Cardova Trading (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://cardova.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Creator Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (MPACAGAB)

Keywords

• Television production services
• Advertiser-funded programming
• Branded entertainment content
• Reality TV production
• Lifestyle content creation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Advertiser-Funded Programming (AFP): Cardova specializes in creating branded content television programs where advertisers sponsor specific shows. Revenue is generated through brand sponsorships of television productions, digital marketing campaigns, and sponsored content across their shows like Expresso, Tropika Island of Treasure, and The Taste Master SA.
2. Television Production Services: Full-service television production including concept development, filming, editing, and post-production for lifestyle content, reality shows, and branded entertainment programming.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cardova is a media production company that creates advertiser-funded television programs and full-service production services for South African and international broadcasters. Its portfolio includes daily live morning shows (Expresso), talk shows (Afternoon Express), reality competition series (Tropika Island of Treasure, The Taste Master SA, Win a Home, My Design Rules), talent search shows (Presenter Search on 3, The Next Brand Ambassador), and lifestyle content (The Insider SA, Hayden Quinn South Africa, Klein Begin, Top Travel, Colour Your Plate with KOO), broadcast on SABC channels and distributed internationally via The Africa Channel, Amazon Prime Video, and Foxtel.

Product overview

Cardova is an award-winning media and production company that specializes in advertiser-funded television programs (AFP) for local and international broadcasters. The portfolio consists of multiple distinct television shows across various lifestyle genres including breakfast shows (Expresso Morning Show), talk/variety shows (Afternoon Express), reality competition shows (Tropika Island of Treasure, The Taste Master SA, Win a Home, My Design Rules), talent search programs (Presenter Search on 3, The Next Brand Ambassador), lifestyle shows (The Insider SA, Hayden Quinn South Africa, Klein Begin, Top Travel), and cooking shows (Colour Your Plate with KOO). These shows are broadcast primarily on SABC channels (SABC2, SABC3) with some distributed internationally on The Africa Channel and Amazon Prime. The company provides integrated digital marketing services alongside its television productions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expresso Show: South Africa's award-winning feel good breakfast show featuring food, live performances, celebrity guests, broadcast on S3 and The Africa Channel.
• Afternoon Express
• Tropika Island of Treasure
• The Insider SA
• The Taste Master SA
• Win a Home
• Presenter Search on 3
• The Next Brand Ambassador
• Hayden Quinn South Africa
• Klein Begin
• My Design Rules

Products and services

• Expresso Morning Show South Africa's award-winning feel-good breakfast television show featuring food, live performances, heart-warming stories, and local and international celebrity guests, broadcast live weekday mornings on SABC3 with international distribution via The Africa Channel (USA).
• Afternoon Express Sophisticated and insightful variety talk show focused on health and wellness topics covering mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, broadcast on SABC3 Tuesdays and Thursdays at 17:00 with Saturday repeats.
• Tropika Island of Treasure Popular reality game show pairing South African celebrities with everyday consumer contestants in beach games and challenges on exotic island destinations to compete for a R1 Million prize. Title sponsored by Clover Beverages' Tropika brand across multiple seasons.
• The Insider SA Lifestyle show sharing stories of individuals and businesses that inspire viewers to make better choices, with focus on sustainability, innovation, collaboration, and community, broadcast on SABC3.
• The Taste Master SA SAFTA award-winning reality cooking and baking competition where South Africa's hottest culinary talent compete through challenging tasks to become the next culinary sensation, broadcast on SABC2.
• Win a Home Interior design reality competition where competing design duos transform empty properties into designer homes, with the winning viewer receiving one of the completed multi-million rand homes.
• My Design Rules Interior design reality TV show adapted from Win a Home format for international broadcast, featuring four design teams transforming apartments room by room under expert guidance for cash prizes.
• Presenter Search on 3 Talent search reality series where undiscovered presenter hopefuls compete in challenges to win a dream job as co-host on popular South African television shows.
• The Next Brand Ambassador Reality talent search show for aspiring marketers competing for the opportunity to work with Capitec Bank's marketing team through challenges testing strategic and creative marketing skills.
• Hayden Quinn South Africa Travel and culinary adventure series featuring Australian MasterChef alumnus Hayden Quinn exploring South African local flavors, food producers, and conservation initiatives with focus on sustainability.
• Klein Begin Afrikaans lifestyle music series exploring where South African music stars started their careers, featuring interviews with friends, family, and colleagues who supported their journey.
• Top Travel Travel show exploring South Africa and neighboring countries, hosted by Dr Fezile Mkhize and Dr Anesu Mbizvo.
• Colour Your Plate with KOO Reality cooking series on SABC2 where home cooks are challenged to create balanced and colourful dishes, sponsored by KOO.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million combined followers across digital platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Primary broadcast partner for all Cardova productions. SABC1, SABC2, and SABC3 air flagship shows including Expresso, Tropika Island of Treasure, Afternoon Express, The Insider SA, The Taste Master SA, Presenter Search on 3, Win a Home, and My Design Rules.
• Capitec BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Next Brand Ambassador talent search show and My Design Rules interior design competition. Capitec is South Africa's number one retail bank seeking fresh talent through branded entertainment.
• Clover BeveragescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of Tropika Island of Treasure reality game show across multiple seasons. Clover is a major South African beverage company with Tropika brand positioned as the show's primary sponsor.
• McDonald's South Africa (McCafe)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing sponsor of Expresso Morning Show and Presenter Search on 3: Expresso Edition through McCafe brand. Partnership spans multiple years of branded content integration.
• The Africa ChannelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational broadcast partner for Expresso Morning Show in the United States. Distributes South African lifestyle content to international audiences.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for Win a Home series, which was adapted as My Design Rules for American audiences on Amazon Prime Video.
• FoxtelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian broadcast partner for Hayden Quinn South Africa documentary series.
• Samsung Electronics South AfricaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of My Design Rules interior design reality show. Provides products for apartment transformations featured in the competition.
• Italtile Ceramics (CTM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of My Design Rules, providing tiles and flooring materials for interior design transformations.
• Jacobs Douwe Egberts ZAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of My Design Rules interior design competition, part of JDE's coffee and beverage brand portfolio in South Africa.
• Royal Baking Powder (Mondelez)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Taste Master SA: Baking Edition Season 5, associated with Royal Baking Powder's generational baking tradition campaign.
• WoolworthsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClient/sponsor appearing in Cardova show client logos section, suggesting branded content or sponsorship relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tshedza Pictures: South African production company producing premium drama and lifestyle programming for SABC and other local broadcasters. Comparable in market focus, broadcast dependency, and production scale to Cardova.
• Word of Mouth Productions: Johannesburg-based production house specialising in branded content, lifestyle, and entertainment programming for South African broadcasters. Comparable in AFP model, advertiser-funded branded entertainment focus, and broadcast partnerships.
• Film Afrika Worldwide: South African independent production company producing film, drama and lifestyle content for local and international broadcasters. Comparable mid-sized peer producing advertiser-engaged programming in SA.
• Penguin Films: South African producer of long-running drama series and lifestyle content for SABC and e.tv. Comparable in geographic footprint, broadcast-carriage model, and reliance on South African advertiser-funded relationships.
• Ochre Moving Pictures: South African production house producing long-running drama and reality formats for major broadcasters including SABC. Closest comparable in size, focus on South African content production for local broadcast partners, and advertiser-funded sponsorships.
• Quizzical Pictures: South African production company behind MasterChef SA and other international format adaptations for local broadcasters. Directly comparable AFP-replica model and licensed-format strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Fremantle: Global content producer and format licensor behind American Idol, Got Talent and X Factor. Comparable on advertiser-funded format business but operates globally at much larger scale and competes with Cardova for premium SA advertisers and format rights.
• Banijay: Independent global content producer and distributor with a large reality/lifestyle format library (Peaky Blinders, Survivor production, MasterChef variants). Comparable on AFP-reality format business but competes across geographies at much greater scale.
• Endemol Shine: Global format producer behind Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, MasterChef and many lifestyle/reality titles. Adjacent incumbent offering competing branded entertainment formats that advertisers can choose instead of Cardova's local formats.
• ITV Studios: UK-based global content producer and format distributor producing reality, lifestyle and entertainment shows for international broadcasters. Comparable on the advertiser-funded format-licensing model and international distribution strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/expressoshow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ExpressoSABC/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/expressoshow.sabc3
• Instagraminstagram.com/expressoshow
• TikToktiktok.com/@expressoshow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cardova-trading

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cardova