by Thinus Ferreira
The SABC is replacing the axed Isidingo on SABC3 with ... repeats of Isidingo in primetime.
After cancelling the 21-year old local weekday soap with a large ensemble cast - which like other programming SABC3 has become too expensive given the dwindling ratings of the struggling channel - the SABC isn't replacing it for now with something new immediately, even though it has had months to prepare.
Similar to how repeat episodes of Top Billing fill the timeslot after the last original Top Billing episode when that show was abruptly cancelled, the end of original Isidingo episodes will make way for archive repeats.
The SABC announced in November 2019 that it is ending Isidingo created by Gray Hofmeyr, originally produced by Endemol SA, later Endemol Shine Africa and then Pomegranate Media, with the final episode that was filmed on 24 January 2020.
The axe came down so quick and unexpected that the final episode was already written which didn’t give the production time to plan and rewrite any broad or proper farewell episode although it managed to make slight changes.
Isidingo's axing is part of several cancellations of other local and international shows on SABC3 with the channel's ratings that has fallen to between 900 000 and a million viewers monthly for its most-watched fare.
After the series finale of Isidingo on SABC3 on Thursday 12 March at 19:00, SABC3 will run Isidingo repeats for the next few months in the middle of primetime, selecting specific episodes from across the years to reshow.
According to insiders SABC3 is still searching for new content for the timeslot and will stay with Isidingo repeats until a "new SABC3 schedule kicks in" at some point later in 2020.
The "Isidingo tribute" of repeat episodes will continue for at least two months on SABC3 through April and May, with various "themed" episodes that won't tell any connected story besides being set in the fictitious "The Deep" community.
Friday 13 March and Monday 16 March will be "birthday celebration" episodes, followed by various Isidingo themes starting from Tuesday 17 March.
"We are working on a strategy going forward to ensure that SABC3 becomes a financial and ratings success," Pat van Heerden, the new SABC3 channel head, tells TVwithThinus.
"We are in the process of consolidating this strategy. In the short-term we will be offering our viewers a chance to take a trip down memory lane and celebrate the best moments brought to us by the longrunning program, Isidingo."
"We feel that the curating of the special moments over decades would be a fitting farewell to a longrunning series that has done so well for SABC 3 in the past."
