I was first to break the news RIGHT HERE a week ago that SABC3 will be moving its soap Isidingo to 19:30 - permanently - from October.
Then I asked SABC3 for context. ''During the ICC Cricket World Cup earlier this year, Isidingo was moved to 19:30 for six weeks during which the audience figures increased dramatically,'' Renette Bengis, SABC3's On-air presentation manager told TV with Thinus when I asked what prompted the permanent timeslot change happening from October.
''This showed us that there is a real appetite for Isidingo from viewers that may be frustrated by the clutter at 18:30. The move to 19:30 is therefore a direct response to our audiences,'' she said.
And how and why did SABC3 decide to fill the new vacant 18:30 timeslot on SABC3 with American comedies? ''SABC3 needs to offer an alternative option to soapies,'' she said, ''and because comedies have always been signature properties, we are confident that we will be able to draw audiences that don't watch soapies, to this timeslot.
''At 19:30 there are more audiences available at that time and we hope to increase the audiences of SABC3 as well as attract past viewers that no longer watch Isidingo [back to watching it].'' Renette Bengis said that SABC3's ''entire primetime schedule was affected by this move''.
''We had to ensure that we still offer top quality entertainment. We believe Isidingo will ensure that we can provide good lead-in audiences for the 20:00 slots. The most of the 19:30 programmes, Survivor, and Top Billing for instance are moving to 20:00. Our dramas will be from 21:00 onwards. We are theming our nights and will ensure that we still provide top quality entertainment,'' said Renette Bengis.
