About Ignition

All you need to know about SA's favourite motoring TV channel, including FAQs and ways you can get in touch with us

We’re proudly South African with more than 25% of our content sourced locally. In-house productions include Ignition GT, Buyer’s Guide, Petrolheads, Tuned in SA, Celeb Rides and Kasi Car Culture, while 4x4ing, biking and restoration shows offer expert advice from external producers. International documentaries explore the great motoring marques of yesteryear and tomorrow, while our weekly auto shows from abroad keep viewers up to speed with global motoring news. In addition, a host of entertainment and reality shows with a motoring angle ensures that even non-petrol heads can enjoy Ignition.

Available on both the Premium and Compact DStv bouquets, Ignition broadcasts across Southern Africa, reaching nine African countries. Twenty hours of fresh content per week premiere on a Saturday, with repeats throughout the week. Weekday prime time is from 6pm to 11pm.

Online content

The best of Ignition's content — videos, TV show clips and more — is published regularly on the TimesLIVE motoring section, which also brings you a daily dose of the latest local and international news and reviews from the Sunday Times Motoring section and beyond.

What would you like to do today?

Submit press releases or requests for online editorial coverage:

Brenwin Naidu: +27 11 280 3252 or brenwin@sundaytimes.co.za
Thomas Falkiner: +27 11 280 5078 or falkinert@sundaytimes.co.za

Advertise on the TV channel or the website:

For TV advertising queries, contact Michelle Arnold, GM: sales, on +27 11 280 5514/+27 82 326 6808 or arnoldm@bdtv.co.za.

For website advertising, view our advertising information page.

Report a technical problem with the website:

Email timeslivenews@timesmedia.co.za with as much detail as possible about the problem.

Frequently asked questions

I am having a motoring event and I’d like Ignition to come and film it.

Send an email to events@ignitiontv.co.za with all the relevant details.

Why does Ignition show so many repeats?

It’s what DStv calls “opportunity to view”. We know you’re busy, so we want to give you lots of chances to catch your favourite programmes on Ignition. There are 20 hours of fresh programming every week, so if you can’t PVR it, you can tune it at any point during the week to catch all the programmes you want to watch. New episodes of everything air on a Saturday with the remainder of the week giving you a chance to catch those programmes again.

I want a copy of one of the programmes I saw on Ignition. How do I get one?

Programmes produced by Ignition are available at a cost of R450 for a DVD. For local programming produced by external production companies, as long as we have their permission, we can make you copies of past shows. Contact yovanie@ignitiontv.co.za with the details of the programme you are looking for or call her on +27 11 280 5596.

Unfortunately, our international programmes are bought from distributors all over the world and we are licensed only to broadcast them, not to duplicate them in any way. Some of these programmes and series have been turned into DVD box sets — a simple Google search should answer that question! You can also watch previously broadcast reviews of cars featured on Ignition GT on YouTube.

I love cars and I want a job at Ignition. How can I achieve this?

You can send a short CV to us along with a motivation of what you can bring to the channel. Please note that while we are a motoring channel, we are still a television channel, which means you need more than just an interest in or knowledge of cars to work here. Some background in journalism and or television would be beneficial but is not essential. CVs can be e-mailed to info@ignitiontv.co.za.

I want to be a presenter on Ignition. How can I achieve this?

You can send us a short video showreel that shows off what you can do. Include a short clip or two presenting the kind of content you’re interested in — showreels should not be longer than five minutes, please. Send your showreel to our address listed at the top of this page.

I’ve got a really cool car and I want to brag about it on the telly.

Send us pictures! Email them to info@ignitiontv.co.za along with a short description of the car, what you’ve done to it and why you love it. If we like it, we might feature it either on the programme or on our website.

I’m looking for a new or used car and I want advice.

Send an email to buyersguide@ignitiontv.co.za with as much information as possible on your budget and requirements, any trade-ins, concerns, and cars you’ve been looking at. We’ll put it to our panel and see if they can help! Unfortunately, for legal reasons, we do not give personal advice over email about buying cars.

I’ve got a complaint about a manufacturer/dealer/service centre. What can I do?

Before you can lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC), you first have to try to find some sort of resolution with the manufacturer/dealer/service provider. You cannot bypass this step and go immediately to the NCC or any other body created under the Consumer Protection Act.

Once it becomes apparent that no resolution can be found, you can ask an independent mediator to step in. There are a variety of options when it comes to alternative dispute resolution agencies but the two most common to the motoring industry are the Motor Industry Ombudsman of SA and the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).

The RMI can only mediate between a complainant and a service provider if that provider is a member of the RMI, which you can check on its website. Also, the RMI can only suggest codes of practice for its members — it cannot enforce a ruling. The ombudsman has more sway but is flooded with complaints so you may have to wait some time before your case is processed.

If you find you are unhappy with the mediator’s verdict, you are then entitled to submit your complaint to the NCC. Choose your course of action carefully and have all your claims and communications in writing. Also note, once the ombudsman is involved, alternative mediators will no longer take on your case.

I’ve got great footage of my car/our club race day/our camper-van holiday. Would you be able to use it?

We are always interested in seeing what you are up to. If you think your footage is up to scratch, then burn it to a DVD and send it to us at the address listed at the top of this page. You can also share it on our Facebook page and we will get in touch should we wish to use it.

I’ve got a great idea for a programme or series on Ignition.

Great — we’ve got some fabulous ideas too, but making telly requires resources! If it’s just an idea you want to share, feel free to send the details to info@ignitiontv.co.za.

If you’d like to be the one to turn your idea into reality, you need to work with a television production house or freelance producer. If you’ve got an idea and you are tied up with a production house already, you’re on the right path. Send a brief outline of the concept (no more than one A4 page please) and how you plan to turn it into great television to info@ignitiontv.co.za. If we like your idea and it doesn’t duplicate something we already have on air, we’ll ask you for a pilot. This will give us an idea of your filming and editing style, presenters and content. You can kill two birds with one stone if you like and do the outline and pilot at the same time if you prefer.

I want Marius Roberts to be the MC at my event.

Visit his website for more information.

I want to start racing! How can I become a racing driver?

First, you need to establish whether you have some talent. Zwartkops Raceway runs driver training days where you can take your vehicle on to the track with an instructor and learn the basics. If you can’t do that, then your best bet is to attend as many race days as possible and talk to the people involved. Most racers are happy to chat in between their time on the track. Motorsport SA has information on all the different types of motorsport in SA and calendars of events.

I want to be a motoring journalist. How do I become one?

Obviously, you need to have an interest in cars, but importantly, you also need to have an interest in journalism. You can contact the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists for advice on sagmj@iafrica.com. The guild also runs an excellent bursary programme every year for one lucky person. The bursar student gets to spend a year experiencing the industry — one month at a time with various publications and industry players. For some interesting reading material, have a look at these links: