It feels good to be back home – SABC chief
JOBURG – Controversial SABC chief operations officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who was given a sabbatical from his job when the court dealt with accusations against him, said, 'It feels great to be back from exile.'
“I am back with a bang and even more determined to ensure the public broadcaster does its work – and does it diligently. My mission is to ensure the SABC takes its rightful place and becomes the number one broadcaster like it used to be a few years ago.”
He was speaking at a press briefing to announce the programme changes between the three channels, SABC1, 2 and 3, and also to announce a new line-up of shows that will be coming to the small screen.
One of his biggest missions upon his return, he said, was to appease the Afrikaans speakers who have forever complained about the moving of their programmes from SABC2 to 3, claiming the language was being relegated. “Today we’re responding to those requests. It’s important to note that Afrikaans is as… important to this country as the other languages, and we’re moving all their programmes, including Nuus, from SABC3 back to 2 and with exciting time slots as well,” he said.
The strong competition posed by both e.tv and DStv, which have given a home to many ‘rejected’ actors from the SABC with powerful action dramas and programme line-ups, means the public broadcaster had to up its game as well if it was to survive the onslaught, he said.
“I want us to nurture the new talent and those old actors still with us to ensure the SABC becomes their home. We can’t afford to be beaten by new kids on the block. Yes, some of them may have huge resources at their disposal but this means we have to work even harder to bring exciting content which will keep our viewership numbers up there.”
One of the innovations Motsoeneng said he wanted to see implemented sooner rather than later, was to streamline the cumbersome process of auditions and commissioning for new shows, which had seen most of the exciting shows being snapped up by their competitors.
“I want the turnaround time for this process cut dramatically short, so producers could pitch and be accepted or rejected in a whisker,” Motsoeneng said and congratulated SoccerZone as the number one sports magazine show across all broadcasters.
Details: Doulha Domingo 011 714 6269; domingod@sabc.co.za
