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A massive mess is brewing and unfolding at SABC3 where I can exclusively reveal that the new reality show Expedition Impossible will not be starting this coming Monday, after the starting date already had to be pushed out from this Monday due to non-delivery tapes and payment issues SABC3 has with international distributors.
A highly embarrassing situation at SABC3 is going to get worse, with SABC3 that had to cancel the start of Expedition Impossible that was set to start this Monday in its primetime Monday night timeslot. SABC3 hoped the show by Mark Burnett would becomethe new jewel in its crown by creating a new triple play of reality shows by alternating The Amazing Race, Survivor and Expedition Impossible as its 3 top-tier reality shows.
Now payment problems at SABC3 is making Expedition Impossible seemingly impossible. Sources are telling me that Expedition Impossible will not be starting this coming Monday 21 November and that SABC3 will again have to fill its primetime with filler - this time a Michael Flatley performance.
ALSO READ: SABC3's impossible expedition: The battle to replace, leads to an amazing race - why SABC3's Expedition Impossible is postponed.
SABC3's programme manager Lefa Afrika said ''although still uncertain at this stage, we will do our utmost best to ensure that the series starts on the 21st of November 2011'' but that is now not going to happen.
SABC3 has major problems with distributors and suppliers because of payment and trust issues and Expedition Impossible tapes still won't be here in time for the show to start on Monday. This is going to have a worsening impact on SABC3's ad revenue in the timeslot (media planners buy airtime for clients based on pre-sold programming and have to get ''good-fors'' if ads don't play in what the broadcaster said would be shown in the timeslot - and of course the schedule which is going to push the start date of other shows further into the future.
