Lindberg had previously only hinted that she was in negotiations with "a very hot channel", which The Times learned yesterday was DStv channel Mzansi Magic, to screen the annual theatre awards show.

Although talks with various channels were "ongoing", Lindberg said she was continually sidelined.

"I'm angry and frustrated [with lack of TV support in general] because I would have thought it would be important to have a celebration to honour our own talent.

"It is outrageous that we have the Oscars and Golden Globes on, and no local special," she said.

"We're in our ninth year and I feel that we deserve a TV special too - we're really praying."

According to her, Mzansi Magic intimated that the ninth edition of the awards - the local version of the Tony Awards in the US - were "top of their list" of projects for the beginning of this year.

Lindberg said she had spoken to channel head Lebone Maema in December about the possibility of airing the March 5 ceremony.

Maema said on Wednesday: "Yes, we have been approached. We're in talks about it, but at the moment we're not broadcasting the awards."

Lindberg added: "We've got the production in our budget and so it won't cost them [the broadcasters] anything because we edit and produce the show ourselves - all we need is a green light and the licensing."

There appears to be confusion over who is meant to make the next move. Lindberg said she was away and hasn't heard from the channel.

The National Film and Video Foundation - which organises the troubled SA Film and Television Awards - might have finally sorted itself out after battling to secure a broadcaster.

Though SABC3 had confirmed it would show the awards live on March 11, its publicity coordinator, Doulha Domingo, said the channel was told at a meeting yesterday afternoon that the awards had been moved to a day earlier.

The foundation's spokesman, Naomi Mokhele, said the owners of the venue had specified that it must be cleared of equipment by March 12 - leading to the awards being moved to the 9th and 10th.

Last year's ceremony was not broadcast because the organisers failed to secure a broadcaster in time. SABC2, its previous broadcaster, dumped the awards, saying it was not its responsibility to broadcast the event every year.

Stage veteran and Soweto Gospel Choir executive director Beverly Bryer said: "There is always so much emphasis on sport and it is such a pity that they do not do the same with entertainment and music. I don't know if it's the perception that it doesn't draw audiences, but you cannot tell unless you have these live shows on TV. It's about time."