Viewership wars stepped up

The guerrilla warfare tactics for viewership numbers being played by the SABC and e.tv has just jumped to another level.

The cash-strapped public broadcaster launched some programmes aimed at countering the onslaught of e.tv which has over the years come up with some brilliant material that has seen a sizeable chunk of viewers drifting in their droves to the private television station.

This has placed the onus on the SABC to keep freshening up its programmes from time to time as well to keep pace with the onslaught and challenge for viewership numbers which are believed to be dwindling on the public broadcaster’s side.

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Speaking at a launch, Jacqui Hlongwane, channel manager for SABC 2, which is the Sotho-aligned languages channel, said it has become imperative for SABC 2 to always freshen up with programming in order to keep up with the onslaught.

“If you are to stay and remain relevant in a highly competitive environment like the viewership market we’re in, you need to continuously reinvent yourself to stay streaks ahead of your rivals.

“Our relationship with our viewers should not be a one-night stand but one that will last for eternity. We need not take them for granted as they now have more options at their disposal. E.tv is breathing down our neck and the only way to stay relevant is to beat them at this viewership and we can do that by producing top class material for the viewers,” she said.

Hlongwane said in the past few months they had made some changes to the programming, which seemed to touch raw nerves on many of SABC 2’s viewers, who never stop calling, emailing and coming over to the station to vent their frustrations.

“I can assure them today that we have listened and we’re today answering their numerous calls urging us to do something. The omnibus ofthe most popular 7de Laan is returning, including the original signature song of the show,” Hlongwane said.

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Other elements include brand-new shows such as funny man Desmond Dube’s #Karekters, which is a comedy package of ‘ukugwarana’ [teasing each other] which is a hallmark of township street life; Game Plan, which is presented by seasoned television presenter, Mzwandile Ngubeni, which as the name says is a game show and It’s Gospel Time also returns with founder and presenter, Rebecca Malope, who will be joined by former Generations actor, Thabiso ‘Makrokokroko’ Mokgethi.

A travelogue show, Authentiek makes a comeback along with Vlug na Egipte, which is a modern, true South African story about the intimate coexistence of a brown and white community, that appears threatened when The Inkommers move in. SABC2 has secured the broadcasting rights of this licensed Afrikaans drama series.

What do you think of the new line-up at SABC 2? Tweet @AlexNewsZA to share your views