Cape Town carries off CNN coup

A CNN crew arrived in Cape Town yesterday to conduct a 'recce' into the city and environs and to decide which are to be incorporated into a number of programmes in which the area will star in coming months. First and foremost, Cape Town is to be the launch city for a major new travel programme to be beamed directly from the city to an estimated global audience of 250 million viewers on March 4. A special segment for CNN's established 'Art Club' programme will be filmed in the Mother City at the same time. Cape Town Partnership's (CTP) chief executive officer, Michael Farr, said that, together with Partnership board member and head of Cape Town Tourism Sheryl Ozinsky, the CTP would be assisting ARTV - who have been commissioned by CNN - in identifying key areas in Cape Town and surrounds for filming. Hotels, restaurants, art galleries, township music and scenic areas will be filmed, as well as specific tourist attractions within the Cape Town inner city for a special section called 'City Guide'. "One of the main objectives of the Partnership is developing and promoting the tourism and leisure activities in the central city. We see our co-operation with ARTV and CNN - and any other international news film crews - as part of meeting this important objective," said Farr. (Elizabeth Sheridan)