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The blatantly misleading, morally questionable and totally terrible No Reservations on SABC3 is not so much a new talk show or even ''fresh'' as SABC3 tried to claim when the show started, as much as it's just a shameless, ploy for SABC3 to make money through ''hidden'' product endorsement.
''The strategic intention for SABC3 is to make money and this property serves as such,'' says SABC3 channel head Mathe Mosito-Okaba, SABC3 channel head after viewers reacted immediately and in utter outrage over last night's episode of No Reservations that shamelessly plugged snail slime cream in the show - just for two adverts to go out in the single ad break right after it. Nowhere were viewers told that the product appears in No Reservations because the seller of the product also pays for it. I told you RIGHT HERE immediately after the show aired about the torrent of disgust that readers responded with.
''Please note that SABC3 is a commercial channel and some of the content that is on our schedule is paid for by advertisers, such is the case with No Reservations.,'' says Mathe Mosito-Okaba after I asked SABC3 what the channel's policy is towards product placement, product endorsement, and why SABC3 has no disclaimers to indicate that products are featured blatantly because of commercial consideration.
''As per yesterday's episode and last weeks', the advertiser has paid for the exposure they are getting inside the programme,'' says Mathe Mosito-Okaba. ''The definition of this kind of programme is an advertiser funded programme, or AFP.'' However, nowhere does SABC3 tell viewers that, who are led to believe that the programme content of shows such as No Reservations are seemingly above reproach and not influenced by advertisers. Sadly SABC3 and No Reservations have shamelessly dented their credibility by what seems to be completely inappropriate, non-disclosed commercial deals. Viewers - who are not stupid - are rightly fuming, with several readers who told me they won't watch No Reservations again. That won't be for long though. SABC3 insider sources tell me the original episode order of 26 was dramatically reduced after (irony!) No Reservations failed to find enough sponsors.
ALSO READ: British broadcasters must now indicate product placement with a P on-screen icon.
