In a simply brilliant programming move and as a fitting tribute that will come as great news to longtime viewers and fans, SABC3 is moving not only the broadcast of the final three spectacular episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show up by months, but is also moving the show's final three episodes into the best of primetime for what promises to be a viewership ratings smash for SABC3.
The final three episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show - although the show in its 25th and final season will only be ending towards the end of September in South Africa - is moving up to June and July and into a primetime 19:30 timeslot on Thursday nights. SABC3's acting channel head Ed Worster approved the brilliant decision to give The Oprah Winfrey Show a magnificent send-off on South Africa's television by moving the final episodes to primetime. The show has been on the air in the country for 17 years.
The two parter ''Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular'' of The Oprah Winfrey Show - the 3rd and 2nd to last episodes that was filmed in Chicago's United Center - will go out as part one on Thursday 30 June at 19:30 and part two a week later on Thursday 7 July at 19:30 the broadcaster announced. Oprah Winfrey gets surprised and celebrated by Hollywood A-listers who show up as a tribute to her while the 20 000 crowd also have some surprises.
The very final episode where Oprah Winfrey talks to her audience at Harpo Studios once last time and shares her lessons and what she's learned over the years with viewers - a fine hour of television and a great final episode for the show - will go out on Thursday 14 July at 19:30 on SABC3.
SABC3 can expect a massive viewership. In America where the final episode did not go out in primetime, The Oprah Winfrey Show pulled its biggest viewership in 17 years. In South Africa its the middle of winter when television viewership increase as more people stay home. A primetime timeslot also ensures a much bigger potentially available TV audience than at 17:30 where the show is already a viewership success on SABC3 and has steadily been climbing.
Besides the three final episodes moving to primetime, The Oprah Winfrey Show will continue as normal in its weekday 17:30 timeslot on SABC3, with the three episodes that will again be shown at the end of September at the conclusion of the season and the show. The broadcaster wants to give South African viewers the opportunities to say goodbye to Oprah Winfrey and share in the final episodes' tributes to the talk show host in roughly the same time as in America where the show ended a week ago.
Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular - Part 1, Thursday 30 June, 19:30, SABC3
Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular - Part 2, Thursday 7 July, 19:30, SABC3
The Oprah Winfrey Show Finale, Thursday, 14 July, 19:30, SABC3