For the first time in three years - a period during which more than 17 000 working in South Africa's television production industry lost their jobs - the South African public broadcaster is releasing a new, known in the trade, as its RFP book. The RFP book allows local production companies to tender for new TV productions and tells the production industry what show the SABC is proposing on making and broadcasting.
This usually 140+ page document always details the new local content the SABC is looking for, ranging from education and religious programming to factual, drama, entertainment and children's shows.
The last time the SABC issued an RFP book was in September 2008. With mounting mismanagement and spiraling debt at the time, the broadcaster failed to deliver an RFP book in 2009 and promised one in May 2010. That didn't happen. The SABC then promised one for November 2010. That didn't happen either.
The SABC, announcing the release of the RFP Book, says the broadcaster is looking for 12 TV dramas, 5 entertainment shows, 3 children's shows, 10 factual documentary shows, has 5 briefs around religion programming and there is 7 education shows the broadcaster wants to do.
Queries regarding the RFP book can be made with Blessed Katiyo, the SABC's commissioning manager at 011 714 6855 and katiyobt@sabc.co.za, Thami Nyembe, commissioning co-ordinator at 011 714 5066 and nyembet@sabc.co.za and Lizel George at the commissioning help desk at 011 714 4532, georgele@sabc.co.za.
