DOOM! GLOOM! Why 2011 is (sadly) going to be yet another horrible year for the beleaguered SABC.

It publicly started to unravel at the seams in 2009, which is when the massive implosion gained traction. That year for the South African public broadcaster was disastrous. Then 2010 rolled around which was as horrible for the SABC. Sadly it doesn't take a crystal ball, just a round-up of the brutal facts, to discover the unvarnished truth: That next year in 2011 will definitely be as destructive, controversial and filled with upheaval for the SABC as last year and this year have been.

Looking at the SABC, here's the shape of things to come in 2011 that will all be playing out in the public eye - and none of it's positive:

• The extremely acrimonious disciplinary hearing of the SABC against its suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle set to continue in January.
• The extremely acrimonious disciplinary hearing of the SABC against its suspended group CEO for commercial enterprises, Gab Mampone, set to continue into 2011.
• Political fireworks around the process of finding, interviewing and appointing new members to the SABC board in 2011 in the place of the 4 SABC board members who resigned this year.
• A drop in advertizing revenue since the SABC has no ''big event'' broadcasting rights like the Soccer World Cup in 2011 to look forward to.
• The local TV production industry is still owed millions, a heated issue that's been simmering on the backburner for a while while the acidic infighting of the SABC's top management got all the headlines.
• The SABC's own ''September 11?" The SABC will technically (as per its own latest year report) be out of money by September 2011. It won't go dark, but where will the money come from? Another government guaranteed bail-out and loan guarantee?
• The SABC's new turnaround strategy is in big trouble. All 3 SABC unions, Bemawu, CWU and Mwasa is ordering the broadcaster to stop its implementation (the SABC didn't consult them) of its controversial turnaround strategy - or change it. Net effect: changes to the turnaround strategy in 2011 from how it was presented to parliament. . . if it goes ahead.
• An exodus of major skilled personnel in various departments, for instance IT (and I know many who are going to be gone next year) who are currently irreplacable - and who are retiring in 2011. They're almost one man shows and are the only people knowing how to do certain things and processes.
• The SABC is doing nothing further with digital terrestrial television (DTT) and South Africa's digital migration process, while commercial broadcasters are working hard. Citing a lack of funding, a very harsh reckoning is coming in 2011 for the SABC.

None of these are new issues, its basically a never-ending disaster of the same old, same old that's hampering the SABC from becoming a better public broadcaster. Sadly, like the Titanic, none of these looming battles for the SABC will be escapable in 2011.